Colorado Country Life October 2015 Yampa

October 2015

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How to Carve a

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[contents]

October 2015

[cover]

Colorado’s master pumpkin carver, Barry Brown, displays one of his creatively carved pumpkins. Photographs by Brent Ward, brentwardphoto.com.

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4 Viewpoint

20 Recipes

5 Letters

22 Gardening

Energy Innovations Summit offers a glimpse into what’s ahead for energy

Who knew a waffle iron could create breakfast, lunch and dessert?

6 Calendar

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24 Outdoors

Co-op News

12 NewsClips 14 Home Energy Storage System

Could a battery in your house change the electricity industry?

16 How to Carve a Perfect Pumpkin

Colorado’s master carver shares tips and tools that make carving fun

Testing soil now makes for a better garden later Cashing in on carp beats out big money for one man

25 Energy Tips 29 Funny Stories 30 Discoveries

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Extra content:

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coloradocountrylife.coop

This month’s online extras ➤ F IND fun things to do in every corner of Colorado ➤W ATCH pumpkins light up the night ➤ L EARN how to carve a memorable jack-o’-lantern ➤D ROOL over delicious waffle creations that are not just for breakfast ➤C ONNECT with spooky science experiments your kids will love

231,840

cases of invasive breast cancer are estimated to be diagnosed in the United States annually.

1943

Paul “Grampa” Bardeen began creating safer, sturdier tools for pumpkin carving

$35

the cost to have the Colorado State Extension test your soil for a better garden

— Source: Susan G. Komen

®

The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 46, Number 10 COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276, advertising@coloradocountrylife.org; NCM@800-626-1181 SUBSCRIPTIONS: info@coloradocountrylife.org

EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: facebook.com/COCountryLife • Twitter: @COCountryLife Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.

[viewpoint]

Inventing Our Way into the Future

Upcoming Energy Innovations Summit gives a glimpse into what’s ahead for energy

BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

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“Technology Trumps Policy” was the title of a column that apsuch as Hawaii, New York and Alaska. The company plans to sell peared in POWER magazine a couple of years ago. The column, its commercial-grade Ambri “cores” (rated at 200 kilowatt-hours, authored by Dr. Robert Peltier, made the case that the pace of roughly enough power to run 10-15 homes per day) in 2016 and technological breakthroughs often trumps the best-intentioned eventually market its product to large industrial and commercial policies in the ever-changing energy world. In other words, at users of electricity. The big advantage of the Ambri technology the same time that legislators, regulators and other policy-makis that there is little degradation of the battery shells; and the ers are crafting complex and expensive energy policies, inventors company says the batteries have a life span of a decade or more. and entrepreneurs are developing new technologies that make Ambri has ambitious plans to open factories near clients around those policies irrelevant or obsolete. the world, each employing as many as 150 people.

A prime example of this theory is the continuing evolution Battery storage technology is just one example of our changof battery storage technologies that will complement electricity ing energy world, and at the Colorado Rural Electric Association generation from renewable resources. While renewable resources we do all that we can to further our collective understanding of are becoming more cost effective with each passing year, they are this changing world. At CREA’s sixth annual Energy Innovations still intermittent and must be backed up with “dispatchable,” non- Summit on October 26 in downtown Denver, we are honored to renewable power resources that will provide electricity at all hours welcome Dr. Sadoway as our featured luncheon speaker to talk of the day or night. This limitation for renewable resources would about the latest developments at Ambri. He will also participate be negated by an affordable, reliable source of battery storage. on a stellar battery storage panel later in the day that will also Knowing that an effective battery solution is the “holy grail” for include a discussion of the Tesla Power wall and other battery higher levels of renewable integration, many scientists, engineers storage products. and venture capitalists are hard at work The summit will once again include searching for the most viable solution. top-notch speakers from across the country Ambri has developed a liquid One of the pioneers of battery storage discussing a wide variety of energy-related metals battery that could enable research is materials science professor issues. Beyond battery storage, they will Donald Sadoway of the Massachusetts Inshare information on the status of wind broader integration of renewable stitute of Technology. Dr. Sadoway and his generation, new utility regulatory modpower sources. The objective of team at a startup company called Ambri els and natural gas markets. Colorado’s the Ambri technology is to store developed a liquid metal battery that could leading utility executives will look into the large amounts of electricity in a enable broader integration of renewable future of Colorado’s electric industry. power sources. The objective of the Ambri It’s a challenging time for all electric relatively small space for dispatch technology is to store large amounts of utilities, including electric co-ops. From when renewable power sources electricity in a relatively small space for efforts such as the Clean Power Plan, which aren’t available. dispatch when renewable power sources will restrict fossil-fuel based generation, to aren’t available. the evolving state of technology, the future Ambri was created in 2007 when Sadoof electricity production is uncertain. way and co-founder David Bradwell reWhat is certain, however, is that this ceived a $7 million federal grant to develop country’s vast intellectual firepower and their technology. dynamic markets will likely solve our energy challenges in new In 2010, after taking one of Dr. Sadoway’s courses online ways that regulations and policymakers can’t presently predict. anonymously, a Washington state resident was so impressed with Come to the CREA Energy Innovations Summit and get a glimpse Sadoway and the battery technology that he decided to invest in into that exciting future. the startup. It turns out that the student from Washington was a reasonably successful businessman named Bill Gates.

Fast-forward to 2015. This year Ambri intends to test several prototype batteries in places where electricity is more expensive, Kent Singer, Executive Director

For more information about the Summit

Visit www.crea.coop 4

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CREA’s Energy Innovations Summit October 26 • 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Westin Denver Downtown Hotel coloradocountrylife.coop

[ letters] The Bright Side of Solar A year ago in April we installed 20 solar panels on two roofs and after the La Plata Electric rebate and tax rebates, we paid $13,306 for the system. We had $20,000 in a certificate of deposit that was paying one-half of 1 percent in interest. We cashed in the CD and bought the solar installation.

My first electric bill and those for the next six months were $21 for the basic charge. In the winter months we had stored electric credits that reduced our bill as well. Instead of getting a couple of dollars on our CD, we were getting back hundreds. We have saved over $1,000 and expect a payback in less than 10 years.

Watch for little goblins crossing streets on October 31

Carlos Kummel, La Plata Electric member

Protect Those Blue Spruce Caught your July article on blue spruce.

Although the blue spruce is essentially deer proof, its top stem is not. If the deer eat the top stem, it stunts the tree’s vertical growth while a new top is developing and the tree starts to grow laterally.

The top of the tree must be protected until it is over 7 feet tall to protect that top stem. If the deer do get it, a new stem must be propped up to accelerate the tree’s recovery.

Follow us at facebook.com/ COCountryLife

Dick Riethmiller, Pagosa Springs

Memories from a Fire Lookout Thanks for the interesting article on fire lookouts (August ’15). My husband and I were lookouts in Dinosaur National Monument in the early 1970s. We were in Round Top Lookout. Across the Yampa River Valley was another one on Zenobia Peak. Our tower was wooden and built on top of a trailer. We used the Osborne Fire Finder and experienced a lightning storm, which took out our radio communication with the outside world for a week. We were also snowed in in June.

Jean Campion, Hesperus

GOT A COMMENT? Send your letter to the editor by mail to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org.

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OCTOBER 2015

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[calendar]

Through October 18 Denver “The Nature of Horses” Sculpture Exhibit Denver Botanic Gardens botanicgardens.org October 9-11 Durango Colorado Archaeological Society Conference Fort Lewis College coloradoarchaeology.org October 9-10 Durango 10-Minute Play Festival Durango Arts Center 970-259-2606 x 16 durangoarts.org October 9-11 Littleton Pumpkin Festival Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield botanicgardens.org October 10-12 Abiquiu, New Mexico Abiquiu Studio Tour Various Abiquiu locations 10 am-5 pm • 505-257-1004 October 10 Colorado City Autumn Car Show Greenhorn Valley Park 10 am-3 pm • 719-251-6097 October 10 Colorado Springs Haunted Brew Fest Colorado Springs Event Center 719-229-7697 hauntedbrewfest.com October 10-11 Colorado Springs Reynolds Ranch Harvest Festival Western Museum of Mining and Industry 10 am-3 pm • 719-488-0880 October 11 Castle Rock Pygmy Goat Classic Colorado Pygmy Goat Club 9 am-6 pm • cologoatlady@ yahoo.com

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October 13 Longmont “Stage Fright” Teen Theater Longmont Youth Center 4-6 pm • 303-774-3755 October 16-17 Loveland Women’s Ranch Rodeo World Finals The Ranch Events Complex womensranchrodeo.com October 16-18 Telluride Telluride Horror Show Film Festival Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theatre telluridehorrorshow.com October 17 Colorado Springs “Boo at the Zoo” Opening Day Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 4-8:30 pm • cmzoo.org October 17 Fort Collins Open-Air Market Civic Center Park 9 am-3 pm thefrenchnestmarket.com October 17 Greeley Community Fest University of Northern Colorado 10 am-1 pm unco.edu/communityfest October 23 Colorado Springs “Wine and Roses” Fundraising Event ProRodeo Hall of Fame 6-9 pm • tlwc.net October 23-24 Glenwood Springs Historic Ghost Walk Linwood Cemetery 970-945-4448 glenwoodhistory.com October 24-25 Beulah Fall Into Christmas Craft Show Beulah Community Center 10 am-4 pm pjsmith1120@yahoo.com

Featured Event

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS SCNEIDER

October

October 11 Cortez “Ride of the Ancients” Century Ride Parque de Vida 6:30 am rideoftheancients.com

Fall Festival and Corn Maze

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, October 2-31, Harvest Farm, Wellington Get lost in the fun at the Harvest Farm Fall Festival and Corn Maze. Guests will enjoy the corn maze, hay wagon ride tour, obstacle course, hay bale pyramid, pig races, petting zoo, corn cannons, face painting, roping arena, pumpkin junction and more. For more information, visit harvestfarm.net.

October 24 Wheat Ridge Halloween Cemetery Crawl Mount Olivet Cemetery 1-4 pm • 303-866-2394 October 24 Pueblo Golden Dragon Acrobats Center Stage at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center 7:30 pm • 719-295-7200 October 24 Trinidad Black & White Western Ball A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art 6 pm-12 am • 719-846-4224 October 25 Durango Chili and Craft Fair La Plata County Fairgrounds 10 am-5 pm • 970-375-7925 October 29-November 7 Pueblo “Handwoven Holidays” Sale Vail Hotel 719-676-2065 October 31 Denver “Paranormal Palace” Halloween Costume Party McNichols Civic Center Building 9:30 pm paranormalpalace.org October 31 Elizabeth Harvest Festival/Trick-o-Treat Street Main Street 12-3 pm elizabethchamber.org

October 31 Golden Trick or Treat Train Colorado Railroad Museum 10 am-4 pm • 303-279-4591

November

November 1 Calhan Bazaar and Turkey Dinner Calhan School 11 am-2 pm • 719-360-4445

November 7 Colorado Springs Veterans Day Parade Downtown Colorado Springs 10 am • csvetsparade.org November 7 Ellicott Craft and Art Fair Ellicott Middle School 9 am-4 pm • 719-966-7465 November 7 Walsenburg Quilt and Craft Show United Church of Walsenburg 9 am-2 pm • 719-738-3023

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: CALENDAR Colorado Country Life 5400 N. Washington St. Denver, CO 80216 Fax to 303.455.2807 or email calendar@ coloradocountrylife.org. Items will be printed on a space available basis. For more information on these and other events, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. coloradocountrylife.coop

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

[YVEA News] Yampa Valley Electric Association Celebrates National Cooperative Month

BY DIANE JOHNSON || PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER || DJOHNSON@YVEA.COM

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October is National Cooperative Month, and co-ops across the United States, including Yampa Valley Electric Association, are celebrating the benefits and values that cooperatives bring to their members and communities.

While co-ops operate in many industries and sectors of the economy, seven cooperative principles set us apart from other businesses: voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; mem-

bers’ economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community.

The co-op business model is unique and rooted in our local communities. Co-ops help us build a more participatory, sustainable and resilient economy.

YVEA maintains 7,000 miles of line, bringing power to 26,000 members and we are proud to be part of America’s

cooperative network, which includes more than 47,000 cooperative busiDiane Johnson nesses.

Electric co-ops provide power for many Coloradans, with 22 electric co-ops serving approximately 640,000 total meters and roughly 1.5 million members.

To learn more about Yampa Valley Electric Association, visit www.yvea.com.

A Flawless Furnace Can Help Cut Energy Costs

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With winter just around the corner, knowing how to prepare your home this fall can help reduce the amount of money you spend on heating this winter.

In 2014, energy.gov reported that home heating accounted for approximately 42 percent of the total energy used in an average American home. So it accounts for a significant portion of a utility bill and is a sensible area of focus for energy efficiency improvements and savings.

Make a habit of cleaning your furnace annually in the fall months.

Removing a season of built-up debris (especially if you have pets) can reduce the risk of fire and make your furnace run more efficiently.

Also, remember to replace your furnace filter during the winter.

Replacing a dirty filter will increase the airflow, make your home more energy efficient and keep the air cleaner in your home.

If it is time to replace your furnace, look for energy-efficient models.

Furnaces with an Energy Star rating usually exceed federal standards for energy efficiency and can make choosing the right model that much easier. Installing an energy-efficient furnace can reduce your energy consumption and the cost of heating your house.

coloradocountrylife.coop

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[YVEA News] YVEA NEWS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR October 9....Economic Summit

Colorado Mountain College October 31...Halloween Stroll Steamboat

YVEA “WORK IN PROGRESS,” UPDATES In an effort to serve our members better, we added a “work in progress” tab on our website to keep you informed about work in your subdivisions and neighborhoods, as well as larger projects along highways and county roads. We will also put updates to these projects on our Facebook page. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 970-871-2297.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW COMMUNITY REBATE PROGRAM — CEN$IBLE ENERGY Cen$ible Energy, a community rebate program, is in full swing and after four months provided $6,400 in rebates to 91 YVEA members in Routt and Moffat counties.

Rebates are available for LED lighting, Energy Star appliances, programmable thermostats, energy audits and air sealing. Check it out at www.censibleenergy.org or call our offices at 970-879-1160.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF OPERATION ROUND UP? It’s a new program at YVEA that helps 501 (c) (3) organizations. By rounding up your electric bill to the next dollar, those pennies go to organizations in need. Did you know that some of the organizations Round Up helped are Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, Community Ag Alliance, The Haven, Humane Society, Soda Creek Elementary, SOROCO Ram Fans Booster Club and Steamboat Art Museum, (just to name a few). If you would like to round up your electric bill or have any questions, please send an email to ORU@ yvea.com or call 970-879-1160. You may also check the box on the return portion of your payment. The average cost per year is $6.

Colorado’s Touchstone Enery Cooperative’s Junior Livestock Sale at the Colorado State Fair.

COLORADO’S TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVES JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SALE

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Electric co-ops across Colorado were proud to sponsor the Tuesday, September 1 Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Junior Livestock Sale at the Colorado State Fair. According to preliminary totals, the 2015 sale accumulated approximately $531,300 for 4-H and FFA exhibitors from the state’s most dedicated bidders. Last year’s sale totaled $481,200.

This year set the record sale for Grand Champion Market beef at $60,000. It was shown by Dalton Lind of Eaton.

“This sale is the culmination of long hours and dedicated work by Colorado’s 4-H and FFA exhibitors. The participants are a showcase of tomorrow’s agricultural leaders,” said State Fair General Manager Chris Wiseman. Over the past 36 years, the Colorado State Fair Junior Livestock Sale has raised over $9,215,550 for the youth involved in these programs.

Preliminary results are available at http://www.coloradostatefair.com/p/events/competitive-events/237 Grand & Reserve Exhibitor Name Champion & Hometown Buyer Bid Grand Beef Dalton Lind, Eaton, CO Sam Brown & Family $60,000 Reserve Beef Julia Frye, Johnstown, CO Denver Rustlers $22,000 Grand Hog Ridge Kayser, Eaton, CO Denver Rustlers $32,000 Reserve Hog Alli Stromberger, Iliff, CO Sam Brown & Family $31,000 Grand Lamb Alyssa Deporter, Eaton, CO Crabtree Amusements $15,000 Reserve Lamb Kayla Frink, Eaton, CO Sam Brown & Family $11,000 Grand Goat Jakob Juul, Manzanola, CO Denver Rustlers $6,000 Reserve Goat Cameron Shepherd, Silt, CO Denver Rustlers $3,500 Grand Rabbits Chloe Smith, Yuma, CO Friends of the Fair $3,500 Reserve Rabbits Chloe Smith, Yuma, CO Denver Rustlers $2,700 Grand Chickens Cole Hooker, Fort Collins, CO Fair Ladies $3,000 Reserve Chickens Ryan Gruntorad, Ordway, CO Legacy Bank $2,500 Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, including Yampa Valley Electric Association, have sponsored this auction since 2007.

Congratulations to all these great kids from everyone at Yampa Valley Electric Association.

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[YVEA News]

NEW EMPLOYEES AT YVEA MIKE BEYER MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN Mike Beyer took a position with our facilities team as maintenance technician. Mike is originally from New Holland, Pennsylvania and attended York College of Pennsylvania. He moved to the area in 1994. He is part of a team responsible for grounds facilities maintenance and repairs. He loves what he does because he finds great satisfaction in making broken items work again. He is married and has a 16-month-old daughter. He rock climbed Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

STEVE VESTAL MECHANIC Steve Vestal has taken a mechanic position as part of YVEA’s operations team.

Steve is orginally from Kansas City, Kansas, and moved to the area in 1989. He is married and has three children and two

grandchildren. In his role as mechanic, Steve performs repairs and minor and major maintenance on all of YVEA’s equipment fleet, including vehicles, power-operated equipment and other perpheral equipment, to ensure safe operations and extended service. In his spare time, Steve likes hunting, fishing and just about anything that involves being outside.

KRISTI ROZELL MEMBER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE Kristi Rozell has took a position on the member relations team as member relations representative. Kristi comes to us from southwestern Missouri with 14 years of utility billing experience in the water, sewer and trash sector. She graduated from Marionville High School and attended Draughon Business College. She is married and has a son and a daughter. In her role as member relations representative, Kristi provides customer service to our members in all aspects of member relations including directing phone calls, answering billing questions, processing

payments and answering inquiries about any of YVEA’s programs. In her spare time she attends rodeos, camps and hunts. Also, she and her husband, Tom, breed and train working border collies.

KATIE CHASE MEMBER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE Katie Chase took a position on the member relations team as member relations representative. Katie is originally from Connecticut and attended Newington High School. She moved to the area in 2005. She is also presently working on an associate’s degree. In her role as member relations representative, Katie provides customer service to our members in all aspects of member relations including directing phone calls, answering billing questions, processing payments and answering inquiries about any of YVEA’s programs. Katie loves helping people and working as a team.

In her spare time she enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding and cooking. She also traveled to 14 different countries.

EVERYONE HAD FUN AT YVEA’S MEMBER APPRECIATION DAYS

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[YVEA News]

TO SERVE YOU BETTER …

In the September issue, Yampa Valley Electric Association addressed more questions and answers regarding the implementation of advanced metering infrastructure.

Each month as we work to modernize and upgrade the electric grid, we want to give you a better understanding of the steps we are taking to accomplish this. This month we want to address a few more questions you may have regarding AMI.

Who will install AMI and how will I be able to identify them?

AMI installation is being performed by YVEA staff and a designated YVEA contractor. All representatives will be driving vehicles marked with “Yampa Valley Electric Association” logos. If you are not sure if persons in your area are part of the AMI deployment project, feel free to call YVEA at 970-879-1160.

How will I be notified that I will be receiving the new meter?

As a courtesy, the installer will knock on your door to inform you that your

meter is being exchanged and that a brief electric interruption will result. You may need to reset your digital clocks on your electronic devices.

Will I need to be at home or at my business when you install the AMI device?

In most cases, you will not need to be at your home or business when the meter is exchanged. If no one is present, meter exchange technicians will either leave a door hanger at your premises, indicating that the meter was successfully exchanged, or they will advise you that an appointment is required to access the meter for the exchange. In most cases, business services will not be interrupted during normal business hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and we will schedule a convenient time to make the exchange.

For up-to-date information on this project as well as a video explaining AMI, please visit our website at www.yvea.com.

We also created an icon on our website next to our Facebook and Twitter icons for easy access to AMI information.

Educational Session

Understanding Advanced Meter Infrastructure Hosted by

Yampa Valley Electric Association

October 20 5:30-7 p.m.

YVEA Steamboat office 2211 Elk River Road

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Tip of the Month GFCIs

PROTECT YOU

Does your home have ground fault circuit interrupter protection? GFCIs help keep your family safe from burns and shocks. If a person’s body starts to receive a shock, the GFCI senses it and cuts off power before the person can get injured.

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Don’t let vampires suck the life out of your energy efficiency efforts. Unplugging unused electronics — otherwise known as “energy vampires” — can save you as much as 10 percent on your electric bill.

Source: energy.gov

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[newsclips]

Will There be Electric Companies in 10 Years?

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What does the future hold for the utility industry?

For electric co-ops? For companies such as Xcel Energy? Find out what those in the electric industry expect to change for utilities as they discuss new paradigms during the opening panel discussion at the Colorado Rural Electric Association’s Energy Innovations Summit.

Other panels and presentations during the Monday, October 26 Summit will include an update on wind generation technology and integration; a look at Donald R. Sadoway balancing the costs and benefits of solar net metering; and how battery storage may change the industry.

The luncheon speaker, Professor

GET NEWS ON CO-OPS’ RENEWABLE AND EFFICIENCY PROJECTS

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Interested in Colorado electric co-ops’ renewable energy projects? Want the latest news on energy efficiency programs at the co-ops?

Subscribe to the co-ops’ Innovations

in Energy newsletter, emailed about 10 times a year to your in box. Simply send your name and email to energy. news@coloradorea.org and we’ll add you to the subscription list.

Stay current on what’s happening in Colorado’s electric co-ops.

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Donald R. Sadoway of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will give attendees a glimpse into the future of energy. Chosen as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2012, Prof. Sadoway is excited about what is ahead and the possibilities that we don’t yet know about.

Working with the brightest minds at MIT, he mentors students who are inventing ways to improve our energy situation. He is leading the way as a world-renowned expert in batteries and grid-level energy storage.

Register now at www.crea.coop to attend the summit at the Westin Denver Downtown hotel. CREA member co-ops will also conduct their fall meeting in conjunction with the Energy Innovations Summit.

Dalton Lind of Eaton with his grand champion.

Co-ops Sponsor Kids at Livestock Sale

More than half a million dollars went toward supporting Colorado’s rural 4-H and FFA students when Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives sponsored the annual Junior Livestock Sale at the Colorado State Fair September 1.

Buyers and buying groups spent more than $531,000 on 135 animals, including market beef, hogs, goats, lambs, rabbits and chickens. The grand champion market beef shown by Dalton Lind of Eaton went for $60,000, a new record. The reserve champion market beef shown by Julia Frye of Johnstown went for $22,000.

STILL TIME TO SUPPORT CO-OPS’ BIKE TEAM

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Want to help those who will struggle to pay heating bills this winter? You can by supporting the electric co-ops’ Powering the Plains bike team.

Seventeen team members rode 172 miles in the Pedal the Plains bike tour of eastern Colorado September 18-20. And they rode to raise money for Energy Outreach Colorado, which helped 115,000 low-income Colorado households pay their heating bills last year. Donations for the team’s project will be accepted through October 15.

Send your check payable to CEEI/PTP to 5400 Team member Gregg Goodrich wears this Washington St., Denver, CO 80216. For more infor- year’s team jersey. This was his fourth year riding for the team. mation, visit www.poweringtheplains.coop.

Supporting the Powering the Plains team and its efforts for Energy Outreach Colorado are the Colorado Rural Electric Association, Colorado Country Life, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs, K.C. Electric in Hugo, Highline Electric in Akron, Poudre Valley REA in Fort Collins, Morgan County REA in Fort Morgan, Mountain View Electric in Limon, San Isabel Electric in Pueblo West, San Miguel Power in Ridgway, Southeast Colorado Power in La Junta, United Power in Brighton, White River Electric in Meeker, Lewis Roca Rothgerber in Denver and Wright & Williamson in Sterling. coloradocountrylife.coop

[newsclips]

Colorado Student Wins Grant

Co-op Power Supplier Adds More Solar

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More of Colorado’s co-op electricity will soon be coming from solar power.

A new, 30-megawatt solar project is being developed near Trinidad in the southern part of the state, and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., which supplies power to 18 of the state’s 22 electric co-ops, will buy the output. Built by juwi Inc., a Boulder-based North American subsidiary of juwi AG, a German renewable energy company, the facility is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Known as the San Isabel Solar Project, the solar farm will consist of more than 100,000 photovoltaic solar panels located on 250 acres about 20 miles north of Trinidad in Las Animas County. The project is in San Isabel Electric Association’s service territory.

This is the second renewable energy addition that Tri-State announced in 2015. In June, the power supplier announced it would buy the energy from the 76-megawatt Twin Buttes II wind farm south of Lamar, in the southeastern corner of the state.

Prior to the addition of these recent renewable projects, about 24 percent of the energy Tri-State and its member cooperatives distributed to members came from renewable resources. In February, the U.S. Department of Energy recognized Tri-State and San Isabel as the 2014 Wind Cooperatives of the Year in the generation and transmission cooperative and the distribution cooperative categories, respectively.

Coal Mine Avoids Shutdown

The shutdown of Colowyo coal mine in northwestern Colorado was narrowly avoided in early September when the U.S. Department of the Interior approved a modified mine plan following an updated environmental review of the mine.

The new mine plan allows Colowyo Coal Company to continue to operate. The completion of the environmental assessment, which found no significant impact, satisfied the court.

The question on the future of the coal mine was raised May 8 when a judge ruled that the U.S. Office of Surface Mining failed to adequately provide public notice and address environmental impacts prior to issuing mine approvals in 2007. The judge gave the OSM 120 days to address these deficiencies.

The OSM held hearings, completed the environmental review and approved a modified mining plan.

Colowyo Coal Company is owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and supplies coal to Craig Station power plant near Craig, which, in turn, supplies power to Colorado’s electric co-ops.

coloradocountrylife.coop

A Colorado Youth Tour student was awarded a $500 grant for a local project. Ben Swift, who was sponsored in this year’s Washington, D.C., Youth Tour by Gunnison Ben Swift County Electric Association, was announced as a winner in September. He applied for the community service grant from GenerationOn, a youth organization partnering with the electric co-ops’ Youth Tour.

Ben’s proposal is designed to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags and cut down on the use of plastic bags. He will use the $500 grant to buy customized reusable bags and distribute them to stores in Gunnison County.

He will also be placing containers around town to collect plastic bags to be recycled. The education campaign will include promotions at local libraries and in newspaper and radio ads.

This grant program for Youth Tour students is another way electric co-ops are showing their commitment to community, one of their co-op principles.

Cover Story Update

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Readers enjoy the cover stories featured each month in Colorado Country Life. Often, those stories continue after the magazine is published. Here is an update on one of those stories.

A March 2014 story was about a movie on hall of fame mountain biker Mike Rust and his unsolved disappearance. That movie, “The Rider & The Wolf,” made its debut this summer and is now being shown in selected venues. There are plans to show it in October at Vail, Breckenridge, Salida and Durango, as well as at the December Denver Film Festival. Visit www.gritandthistle.com/films/the-rider-thewolf for information on how to buy tickets.

And you read about this in Colorado Country Life first.

OCTOBER 2015

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[industry]

HOME ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS Could a battery in your house change the electricity industry?

BY PAUL WESSLUND

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The latest energy gizmo is a battery, about as big as a medium-size flat-screen television, that looks good enough to hang on a wall in your home. It could supply backup electricity during a power outage. Or, if you are someone with photovoltaic cells on your roof, you could charge it from the sun during the day, then run your home at night on stored solar energy.

While this battery will be too exhomes anytime soon, it could lead to innovations in the electricity industry.

“It’s one of the first really major steps of modernizing energy storage systems,” says Andrew Cotter, program manager for renewable and distributed energy research at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The battery is manufactured by Tesla Motors, which formed Tesla Energy to adapt the battery used in its high-end

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TESLA MOTORS

pensive for most of us to want in our

In April, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk announced the formation of Tesla Energy, which he said he will adapt the battery used in its high-end electric cars. The new batteries would be designed for homes and businesses to use as backup in a power outage, or to use with photovoltaic cells that would charge the battery during the day so that electricity could be supplied from solar power at night.

electric cars. Production is scheduled to begin this fall.

At the Powerwall battery announcement in April, Tesla CEO

voltage. That higher voltage, according to the NRECA analysis,

You don’t have to have a room filled with nasty batteries.”

“could be a game changer” because of the resulting increases

wall’s main advances.

“This is not a scientific or research breakthrough,” says Cot-

in efficiency and lower costs.

The announced prices for the Powerwall are $3,000 for a 7-kilowatt-hour model designed to run small home appliances

ter, who wrote a technology analysis of the Powerwall with

as part of a regular daily routine. A 10-kWh model is designed

technical consultant Doug Danley.

for providing backup in case of a power outage and goes for

Cotter credits several improvements over other batteries that could help the Powerwall catch on with consumers.

4

home, large-scale manufacturing plans and a higher battery

Elon Musk said, “It looks like a beautiful sculpture on the wall.

In fact, appearance and convenience are among the Power-

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Those include the design that makes it easier to place in a

OCTOBER 2015

$3,500.

A customer would actually end up paying at least twice

coloradocountrylife.coop

[industry]

those amounts after adding necessary costs like installation and an inverter to change the deep cycle battery current to household alternating current electricity.

evenly through the day.

According to the NRECA technical report, the Powerwall could “accelerate the move toward residential time-of-use and

Those costs for the Powerwall, Cotter says, would move home batteries from “outrageously expensive to just really expensive.”

demand-based rates.”

Another reason it will take a while for the Powerwall to catch on, Cotter says, is its limited capacity. The new battery can

Cotter adds, “This is the first product, not the last, for making

power small but important electric loads like a computer, re-

an affordable solar energy system for the home.” He predicts

frigerator or medical equipment, but not high-users like central

the most immediate use will be by “the guys and gals who like

heat or air-conditioning.

to play with toys. They’ll have a lot of fun hooking up their

Cotter says the Powerwall could be used in other utility appli-

photovoltaic system to the battery and seeing how little power

cations, like adding reliability to sensitive industrial processes, or

they can use.”

powering remote or seasonal electricity needs like crop drying.

Those hobbyists could help bring about other changes in how

Because of its cost and limited abilities, Cotter says the

energy is used, such as the more widespread availability of what

Powerwall is still “a luxury good.” But according to the NRECA

are called time-of-use electric rates. Some states and utilities

technical analysis, “The Tesla offering has the usual sizzle associ-

allow lower rates when people are using less electricity, like the

ated with the brand, but it also has meat… We expect Tesla’s

middle of the night.

high voltage battery will create a market dynamic that will

As more options develop for large uses of electricity that

reduce costs and sizes for battery systems and drive adoption.”

aren’t needed immediately, like charging electric cars or home batteries, utilities and state utility commissions could begin

Paul Wesslund writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural

making those kind of rates more available. Those different rate

Electric Cooperative Association.

structures could also help utilities by spreading demand more

BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT

CREA’s ENERGY INNOVATIONS SUMMIT October 26 • Westin Denver Downtown Hotel Electric industry experts will discuss several energy-related topics at the

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TESLA MOTORS

Energy Innovations Summit, including in-home energy storage systems. Phillipe

coloradocountrylife.coop

Bouchard, vice president of business development at Eos Energy Storage, and Donald Sadoway, professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will shed light on this new energy-saving concept and discuss its impact on the world.

For more information about the Colorado Rural Electric Association’s Energy Innovations Summit and to register to attend, visit crea.coop.

OCTOBER 2015

15

How to Carve a

PERFECT PUMPKIN

Secrets from a Colorado pumpkin-carving master

BY AMY HIGGINS PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRENT WARD

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OCTOBER 2015

coloradocountrylife.coop

Barry Brown, master pumpkin carver, hangs out with some of his favorite jack-o’-lanterns.

Barry Brown — Pumpkin-Carving Master Barry Brown’s eyes twinkle with the mere mention of pumpkins. It’s no wonder: His pumpkin carving dates back to his early childhood when he recalls not being satisfied with a triangleeyed jack-o’-lantern, so he pulled out a paring knife to give the gourd some pizazz.

Fast-forward to 2015 and there’s no doubt the master pumpkin carver can tell you all you need to know about pumpkins. Our pumpkin powwow shifted in several directions, from pumpkin shenanigans growing up in Erie, to his career with the Bardeen family (the creators of the first-ever pumpkin carving kit), to his dream of one day creating a unique family experience with a display of 5,000 carved pumpkins. “It’s funny to be a pumpkin geek,” Brown says.

Throughout his pumpkin-carving career, Brown bedecked stages, film sets and museums with his elaborate creations, including the films

coloradocountrylife.coop

“Hocus Pocus” and “The Santa Clause,” as well as the 9News set. He carved for weddings and exhibits, and etched out numerous company logos, including Colorado Country Life’s. The more elaborate the design, the longer it takes.

“There are very few people that I would say are as good as I am, and he’s probably better,” says John Bardeen, who heads the family business Grampa Bardeen’s Family Pumpkin Carving Set along with his four sisters and two daughters.

But what really moves Brown is how carving pumpkins creates family traditions. “It’s this craft that has a moment of pride,” Brown explains. “Once the lights come on, all the mistakes go away. What you see is this great image that comes out.” More than that, parents and children enjoy a special moment that makes them want to carve together year after year.

OCTOBER 2015

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Step 2: Creating the hole

Step 1: Picking a pumpkin Fresh is better. The pumpkins you find at grocery stores often become stringy on the inside because they sit around, Brown says. This time of year, pumpkin farms advertise their “pick a pumpkin” events. Take advantage of these festive events and pluck your perfect pumpkin straight from the vine.

Pumpkins that are lighter in color are juicier and easier to carve. Darker pie pumpkins are not good for carving.

Find a pumpkin that has a bit of a flat side. This is a beneficial trait that will make transferring an image easier.

The key to the entire pumpkin-carving process is holding the saw like a pencil. “I see people using it like a steak knife,” Brown says. “Don’t use your strength. Use the upand-down motion.” Think of a lumberjack cutting down a tree with a saw. The saw does the cutting. The lumberjack operates the saw with motion, not strength.

The majority of people carve out the top of the pumpkin to get inside, but Brown prefers cutting out the bottom, keeping the top intact and pretty. Eye the bottom of your pumpkin and find a “ridge of light” where you can see a circle.

This is where you carve the opening. Cutting straight up and down, like a sewing machine or jigsaw, create a hole that’s just big enough to fit your hand in. Don’t go too big.

Brown suggests making a straight cut in the circle cutout to create a handle, otherwise you’ll find yourself thumbing out the cutout or lose it inside the pumpkin.

Avoid the blossom scar though. It’s really difficult to carve through.

Step 4: Transferring the pattern

Step 3: Scooping out the “stuff” Brown says the best way to scoop a pumpkin is to use a Grampa Bardeen scraper scooper. A store-bought scooper will get the job done, but it will take more time.

You will extract more of the stringy stuff with the scraper scooper. “It’s so much less messy and it just dumps out all at the same time,” Brown explains and dumps out the innards in one fell swoop. The inside of the pumpkin is pristine.

Grampa Bardeen’s scraper scooper has a patented cutting edge. “That’s important for the end user,” Brown explains. “It’s not easy to make. It’s not easy to manufacture. It’s not easy to ship. But the tool is right, and that’s important to me as a pumpkin carver.

“The way that others make that scoop now, they have to take a lot of plastic out of it, the handle is super short, the scoop is little. It’s great to transfer and it’s great to ship from China, but once you get it into your hand and into a pumpkin, the patented cutting edge isn’t there.”

Grampa Bardeen’s scraper scooper is made in the USA and works right, Brown says. “It makes me feel good and I can say to the people that I’m carving with and who pay me to come as the master pumpkin carver to teach them how to carve pumpkins, this tool works.”

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OCTOBER 2015

To create your pattern, you can wing it or use an image as a type of dot-to-dot guide. Far too often parents are left carving the pumpkin because the process is just too difficult for the child. This is why it’s so important to use the tools correctly and to thin the pumpkin shell from the inside at the design site with a scraper scooper.

“What I love to do is teach a parent how to teach a kid how to carve,” Brown says. “A little hand can saw through a half an inch of pumpkin as opposed to an inch and a half of a pumpkin. A kid can be successful and feel like, ‘I did that,’ as opposed to, ‘I can’t do that. I’m going to go play video games and my dad’s going to finish the carving.’”

Place your image where it works best, usually the flattest area of the pumpkin.

Look for where the paper bubbles and then pinch and fold the bubbles flat, avoiding the pattern lines, and tape the folds down.

Use your pounce wheel — the tool with the handle and toothed wheel — and follow the pattern’s outline. When you can’t get around the curves, use your poker instead.

The dark part of the image on the pattern is what you will carve away and the light part stays behind. “But when you take the pattern off, it’s all orange, so you want to keep your pattern,” Brown suggests. To save his pattern, the master carver gently uses his saw to undo the tape. “When it’s transferred, sometimes it’s a little hard to see, so one of the magic things is to take some (moist) flour and rub it into the holes,” Brown says. This process lights up the holes so you can see more clearly where you need to carve. coloradocountrylife.coop

Step 5: Carving the pumpkin Brown carves his pumpkins in his lap because he can control how it moves. He suggests carving at the top, or the “North Pole,” in a straight up-and-down motion.

“The blade is pretty strong straight up and down, but it’s bendy. So you can’t treat it like this,” he says, making a stabbing motion.

As you carve, turn the pumpkin in your lap so that you consistently work from the “North Pole” and the blade is always moving straight up and down. Think of how a sewing machine functions. You are the sewing machine.

As a master pumpkin carver, Brown can push large pieces out of the pumpkin as he goes. For the novice carver, however, he suggests cutting smaller pieces and gently removing them. Wiggle them from the inside and outside to figure out which way works best.

Step 6: Lighting it up Often a carved pumpkin doesn’t look as amazing as predicted. But that’s before the light comes on.

“We’re making cracks. We’re making openings in this beautiful, round, bountiful thing and now we’re putting a light in it,” Brown says. “When the light isn’t in it, you can’t really tell what’s going on — it’s like negative space — but when the light comes on you see this image.” And more times than not, that image is pretty extraordinary.

If the hole was carved on the bottom of your pumpkin, use a battery-powered, LED or plug-in light to illuminate it. Without the ventilation up top, the heat and smoke from the candle won’t have a “chimney” to escape from.

Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in.

— Leonard Cohen

Amy Higgins is a freelance writer from Centennial. She is enchanted by Halloween and looks forward to starting a new tradition of carving pumpkins with her son Jack using their own set of Bardeen carving tools. Have a local story idea? Email her at ahiggins@ coloradocountrylife.org.

Step 7: Enjoying your achievement Don’t let your hard work go to waste; your pumpkin should be enjoyed to its fullest potential. “What would you do with a portrait of your mother? Leave it on the porch? At night?” Brown asks. “Light it as long as you enjoy it. Put it where you can see it. If you’re watching television, put it by the television.”

But how do you keep it fresh? Brown compares a carved pumpkin to a sandwich.

“You want to keep the moisture in and the air out,” he says. “If you put it in the refrigerator, it slows down that (deterioration) process.” Wrap your pumpkin in plastic wrap first and then refrigerate.

But showing off your pumpkin outdoors on Halloween night is part of the fun, right? Go ahead and display your pumpkins with pride, but cater to their needs.

Brown says pumpkins don’t like concrete, so place them on plates. But be sure to bring them inside before bedtime. No one can enjoy your pumpkins while you’re sleeping, except for the Halloween hoodlums who want to smash them in the street. coloradocountrylife.coop

No time for carving?

Win a beautiful glass pumpkin beverage jar by sending your name, address and phone number to contests@ coloradocountrylife.org. You must put Pumpkin Jar in the subject line.

We will draw one name October 16 as a winner.

Scan this page or visit youtube.com/COCountryLife1 and watch three fun jack-o’-lanterns blaze away. Also watch Barry Brown carve one of his amazing pumpkins.

OCTOBER 2015

19

[recipes]

Will it Waffle? Yes, it Will!

Cooking with a waffle iron makes delicious dishes

BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Get creative with your waffle recipes, but keep in mind that food items with too little liquid, too much liquid or too much butter will hinder your endeavors.

Make adjustments as necessary.

WIN THIS COOKBOOK! This month, enter to win a copy of Will it Waffle? Yes, it Will! by emailing your name, address and phone number to contests@ coloradocountrylife.org.

Be sure to include “Will it Waffle” in the subject line. We will choose a winner on October 19.

All-Purpose Apparatus When using a waffle iron, keep a silicone spatula within reach.

It won’t scratch your iron and will come in handy when you remove food items and during the cleaning process.

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OCTOBER 2015

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There’s something delightful about pouring batter onto a waffle iron knowing that within minutes you’ll have a work of art to indulge in. But author Daniel Shumski takes waffles to another level in his book Will it Waffle?

Yes, it Will! with waffle creations that look as tantalizing as they taste. From breakfast to dinner and dessert, with this cookbook your waffle iron might find a permanent spot on your countertop.

Waffled Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips nonstick cooking spray Preheat the waffle iron on medium. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric hand mixer until mostly smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla, then continue beating until they are fully incorporated. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until few streaks of flour remain.

Add the oats and chocolate chips and stir to combine.

Coat both sides of the waffle iron grid with nonstick spray. Place a heaping tablespoon of dough onto each waffle section, allowing room for the cookies to spread. Close the lid and cook until the cookies are set and beginning to brown, 2 or 3 minutes. The cookies should be soft when you remove them and will firm up as they cool. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Repeat cooking with the remaining batter.

Photograph by Maes Studios, Inc/Will It Waffle

What Won’t Waffle?

Caprese Salad With Waffled Eggplant Visit colorado 1 small eggplant, cut into round slices, countrylife. about 1/2-inch thick coop for more waffle kosher salt or coarse sea salt, recipes. salt and ground black pepper, to taste 2 medium-size tomatoes 4 ounces fresh mozzarella 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 1 large bunch basil, washed and dried, stems removed Place the eggplant slices on a layer of paper towels and generously sprinkle both sides of the slices with salt. Allow the eggplant to sit for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes into rounds. Do the same with the mozzarella. Preheat the waffle iron on high.

Rinse the eggplant slices in cold water to wash off the salt. Pat the slices dry. Brush both sides of each eggplant slice with olive oil. Place the eggplant in the waffle iron, close the lid and cook for 4 minutes, or until the eggplant is soft and cooked through.

Remove the eggplant from the waffle iron and set on a serving plate, layering it with slices of tomatoes and cheese. Scatter the basil leaves atop the salad. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. coloradocountrylife.coop

[gardening] Enter CCL’s Photo Contest • Enter CCL’s Photo Contest

Enter

Colorado Country Life’s

ENTER TO WIN!

Photo Contest 1. SPRING

2. SUMMER

3. FALL

4. WINTER

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place $150

$75

EACH CATEGORY

Rules: Please follow all guidelines carefully. All

photos and files become the property of Colorado Country Life and will not be returned. Winners will be published in the April 2016 magazine.

1. E ach photo must be accompanied by the entry form (right).

It must be signed. Do not paperclip to photo.

EACH CATEGORY

$50

COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY FORM

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2. Do not write any information on front or back of photo.

Name Phone

3. M aximum number of entries per photographer per category: 2

Address

4. Photographers may win no more than one first place prize.

5. Digital entries may be submitted to info@coloradocountry life.org with the form on the right scanned and signed.

Digital entries must be at least 8- by 10-inches in size and at least 300 dpi.

6. Printed entries must be at least 8- by 10-inches and printed on glossy paper. Send printed entries to: Colorado Country Life, Photo Contest, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216. Remember to include a signed entry form with each photo to be eligible.

EACH CATEGORY

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Electric co-op you are a member of Email By submitting this photo, I am giving Colorado Country Life permission to use the submitted photo in the magazine and/or on its social media sites.

Signature Date

7. P hotos printed on home printers will not be accepted.

8. Photos must be received by 5 p.m., January 4, 2016. coloradocountrylife.coop

OCTOBER 2015

21

[gardening]

The Scoop on DIRT

Testing your soil now makes for a better garden later

BY KRISTEN HANNUM || GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

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One of the glories of fortunate beginning gardeners are those first harvests. If you lucked into loamy soil, it turns out to be amazingly easy to grow more tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans and corn than you ever guessed possible. Visions of selling your own veggies at farmers markets seem just a matter of a few more raised beds and a little more time and organization.

And then there comes the decline. Your harvests aren’t so bountiful. And unless you take some classes, read a couple books and columns or have a knowledgeable friend, the joy of gardening just keeps retreating.

You probably already know the secret: it’s in your soil. You need to amend your soil regularly, because with every harvest it’s depleting. Even natural gardening depletes soil’s vital nutrients.

Not only will your harvests diminish if you don’t fertilize, the nutrients in what you harvest will too. If your soil, for instance, is low in phosphorus, your vegetables will be less nutritious.

But then it gets complicated. How much fertilizer? When?

What kind? The numbers for the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content stare from the bags like some physics formula for dirt.

There’s nothing more important in your garden than the dirt you grow your plants in. But like everything worth knowing, the science of soil nutrients can’t be learned in a day. It’s more complicated than how much to water or the slam dunk of knowing what plant hardiness zone you’re in, but once you have a grasp of soil you’ll be armed with knowledge every bit as valuable as knowing not to plant that palmetto in Glenwood Springs or how not to drown or dehydrate your petunias.

A good start in learning about your soil is through testing.

Jim Self, manager of the Soil, Water and Plant Testing Lab at the Colorado State University Extension, says that autumn is a good time to test your soil. In the fall, your plants already used some of the nutrients in the soil, so you have a good idea of what you need to focus on to amend it.

Self says the kits you can buy at the store are a fine place to start — they’ll give you a ballpark idea of your soil’s needs and pH. If you want a more detailed understanding, send a sample of your soil to the Colorado State Extension along with $35 and it will be tested for pH, organic matter, nitrate, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, boron, lime and even its electrical conductivity. (Go to www.soiltestinglab.colostate.

Visit www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu If you want a more detailed understanding, send a sample of your soil to the Colorado State Extension along with $35 and it will be tested for pH, organic matter, nitrate, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, boron, lime and even its electrical conductivity. edu and choose “Horticultural Applications for Gardeners” for directions.)

The report you get back isn’t a spreadsheet of numbers, but is rather written up in a narrative — a kind of story about your soil, what it has too much of, what it longs for and what’s just right.

Testing will help you apply the right amount of fertilizer, something that even experienced gardeners can get wrong.

“People tend to over apply fertilizer, whether chemical or organic,” Self says.

Like overwatering, overfertilizing can actually be worse for a plant than not enough fertilizing. “Too much fertilizer will spoil the soil,” Self says.

Plants getting too much nitrogen all at once, for instance, can cause the plant to grow faster than its root system can keep up with, stressing the plant and reducing the numbers of flowers and fruits. Too much fertilizer can also attract pests, increase soil salinity, lower the pH and cause the plant to get too much of one type of nutrition and not enough of another.

Read

previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Gardening. Kristen Hannum is a native Colorado gardener. Email or write her with wisdom or comments at gardening@coloradocountrylife.org. Scan this page with the Extras app and link straight to the CSU testing lab.

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OCTOBER 2015

coloradocountrylife.coop

CREA Energy Innovations Summit There’s still time to register for the CREA Energy Innovations Summit, Colorado’s leading electric industry conference. This year’s topics include: • Wind Generation: An Update on Policy, Technology and Integration Issues • Solar: Balancing the Costs and Benefits of Net Metering • Battery Storage: Will the Power Wall Change the World?

• Energy Efficiency: More Low Hanging Fruit?

• Colorado’s Renewable Energy Policy: What’s Ahead?

• Clean Tech: What are Colorado’s Brightest Minds Working On?

CREA’s Energy Innovations Summit October 26 • 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Westin Denver Downtown Hotel

Go to www.crea.coop to register coloradocountrylife.coop

OCTOBER 2015

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STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT & CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE 2. Publication No.: 469-400; 3. Filing Date: 09/18/2015; 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5.

No. of Issues Published Annually: 12; 6. Annual Subscription Price: $9; 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; Contact Person: Mona Neeley; Telephone: 303-455-4111; 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor Publisher: Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; Editor: Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; Managing Editor: Not applicable; 10. Owner Full Name: Colorado Rural Electric Association; Complete Mailing Address: 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None; 12. Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organization authorized to mail at special rates). The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months; 13. Publication Title: Colorado Country Life; 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2015; 15.

Extent and Nature of Circulation - Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months; a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run): 217,554; b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies): 216,317; (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): None; (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: 667; (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail®): None; c.

Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)): 2016,984; d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541: 97; (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: None; (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail): None; (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): 525; e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)): 622; f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): 217,606; g. Copies not Distributed: None; h. Total (Sum of l5f and g.): 217,606; (i) Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100): 99.7%. • No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date; a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run): 218,261. b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies): 2136,979. (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): None; (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS®: 667; (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail®): None; c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)): 2147,646; d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Free or Nominal Rate OutsideCounty Copies included on PS Form 3541: 90; (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: None; (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (e.g.

First-Class Mail): None; (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): 525 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)): 615; f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): 2148,261; g. Copies not Distributed: None; h.

Total (Sum of l5f and g.): 2148,261; (i) Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100): 99.7%. 16. We are not claiming any electronic copies on this form. 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership: If the publication is a general publication, publication of this statement is required. Will be printed in the October 2015 issue of this publication.

18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner: /s/ Mona Neeley Date: 09/18/15 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

PS Form 3526, July 2014

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OCTOBER 2015

[outdoors]

An angler heads to a Colorado foothills farm pond to fish for October carp.

Cashing in on Catching Carp Fly-fishing carp beats out big money for one man

BY DENNIS SMITH

O

October may be an odd time of year to be thinking about fly fishing for carp, but I met a guy last week who fishes for them year-round and who said he’d rather catch carp on a fly than win the Florida Lottery. At first I thought he was joking, but then he is a fly fisherman, so there’s a chance he was serious. Either that, or he’s slightly crazed.

“They’re big, smart and spookier than a sack full of Halloween cats,” he said.

Then he added, “A carp in clear water is as much fun to take on a fly as any trout, and a lot more difficult to approach.” If you ever tried to put the sneak on a big old carp tailing in the shallows, you know exactly what he means; more often than not, you’re greeted with a swirl the size of a bathtub and a humiliating cloud of mud trailing off in the vague direction of never-never land before you ever get to cast your fly.

It’s not for nothing fly-fishing for carp has been compared to fishing for bone ­ without the fish on the Caribbean flats — tropical breezes, of course. He made that point by saying he’s done both and it’s a fair comparison. “Carp aren’t as fast as bonefish,” he said, “But they’re every bit as powerful and just as tenacious. They won’t smoke your reel with line-blistering runs like bonefish do, but neither will your average bass or trout. And carp fight harder for a longer period of time than either of them.”

He said he’s taken carp on the surface with fluffy, white dry flies when they’re feeding on fallen cottonwood seeds, but it’s a short-lived, seasonal thing that lasts about as long as a green drake hatch in June. “By far, the most consistent way to take carp year-round on the fly is with a nymph pattern crawled slowly across the bottom in front of a feeding fish. It’s strictly a sight-fishing game with the odds loaded dramatically in the carp’s favor.”

He uses sink-tip lines, medium-weight fly rods in the 6 to 8 weight class, fluorocarbon leaders and a selection of fly patterns he developed exclusively for use on the big bottom feeders. The flies resemble a cross between a marabou crappie jig and a short-shanked woolly bugger tied with dumbbell eyes for weight. He substitutes rabbit hair for the marabou and ties them on small (size 10 or 12) hooks.

Black, brown and dark olive are the best colors. Get your fly within a foot or two of a feeding carp, watch him inhale it and then hang on for a long, powerful fight.

“It’s a gas,” he said.

On the one hand, I can appreciate his passion for the game, but forced to choose between $40 million of lottery winnings or a day of wading a local farm pond with a fly rod, I’d probably opt for the money.

On the other hand, I stand a far better chance of catching a carp, so I’m headed for the farm pond.

Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Outdoors.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[energy tips]

BALANCING HOME TEMPERATURES

K

BY JAMES DULLEY

No Tablet or Smartphone?

Wishing you could scan the magazine pages and bring them to life?

ENTER NOW

Send your name, address and phone number via the U.S. mail to:

***Contest rules at coloradocountrylife.coop Winner will be drawn

October 16

iPad Contest Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St. Denver, CO 80216

One entry per month will be accepted. coloradocountrylife.coop

Keeping all of the rooms in a home comfortable is a common problem, particularly in a two-story home. Unless you install an expensive zone-control system with multiple thermostats, your heat pump can only respond to the temperature of the room where the wall thermostat is located.

The standard builder-installed sheet metal ductwork often has many leaky spots, so some of the heated or cooled air leaving the heat pump never makes it to the rooms in your home.

The joints between the duct segments are the most common areas that leak.

Wrapping the joints with highquality duct tape will take care of most of the problem.

Check the ducts near the heat pump. If you see short handles on each This register booster fan has a winter or summer switch and one, they are for an adjustable sensitivity knob control dampers to fine tune for your room. inside the ducts.

When the handle is parallel to the duct, the damper is fully open.

Partially close the dampers in the duct leading to the rooms that are getting too much heating or cooling to force more to the problem rooms.

Don’t try closing the damper in the room’s floor or wall registers. First, they’re typically leaky, so the airflow will not be reduced by much.

Second, because the ducts inside the walls are probably leaky and you have no access to seal them, conditioned air is lost inside the exterior walls.

A simple do-it-yourself option is to install a register booster fan. This small, rectangular fan mounts over the register cover in the room and is plugged into a standard electrical wall outlet.

Learn more about balancing room temperatures at coloradocountrylife.coop. Look under the Energy tab for Energy Tips.

OCTOBER 2015

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[marketplace]

SA L E

CL EX

US

IV E

FO R

Advertise

In MarketPlace — call Kris for information at 303-902-7276

Opt for solar Halloween lights this year and watch your electric bill drop.

WiseSaver Affix clear plastic film to your windows to keep cool drafts from entering your home. This allows your heating system to work less and reduces your electric bill.

"The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don’t let it get the best of you."

— Will Rogers

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OCTOBER 2015

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[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/ month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad before the 10th of the month to: mail: Colorado Country Life

5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303.902.7276 fax: 303.455.2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

ANTIQUE RESTORATION

BOOKS/CDs/DVDs

CHAIR CANING Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning.

Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-15)

FAST-PACED, LIGHT-HEARTED romantic mystery book series by Colorado author, Cricket Rohman is available at Amazon.com or www. cricketrohman.org (259-12-15)

ANTLERS ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 56” elk mount, giant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 18 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! 970-627-3053.

(085-09-16)

BOOKS/CDs/DVDs CHANT OF A CHAMPION: Auctioneering DVD from World and International Champion Auctioneer John Korrey. Let John show you how to improve all aspects of your auctioneering chant. Order online at www.chantofachampion.com (210-11-15) “CHERRY VALLEY, 92223” – Newest book by award-winning humor writer Carol Dunn. Laugh, groan, shake your head in disbelief!

On Amazon.com or send $18 to POB1213, LaVeta, CO 81055 (151-10-15)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)

HEALTH FOOD STORE & DELI: 2 turnkey businesses in one. Strong income/customer base. Colorado mountains (970-641-5175), leave name & number. (252-12-15)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-12-15)

FOR SALE BEER HOME-BREWING SUPPLIES. Basics + 34 qt. brew pots, Wort chiller, mini-kegs, high output propane cooker. Lots of other accessories & extras. Will deliver within 50 miles of Durango. $299.

Dusty, 970-799-2873. (265-10-15) COVERED WAGON METAL AND WOODEN PARTS for restoration (18th century). $750. 303-772-5952.

(266-11-15)

FIND HIDDEN TREASURE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to WIN a $25 gift card. It’s easy. You could WIN. The classified ads September winner was Bill Gollam.

He correctly counted 33 ads.

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OCTOBER 2015

FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

VACATION RENTAL

HOWARD MILLER OAK FLOOR CLOCK, $1500. 2001 KX250 Kawasaki motorcycle, $1500. Both in excellent condition. Mark, 970-520-5470.

Sterling. (262-10-15)

FSBO / DURANGO — GREAT PROFESSIONAL OFFICE on Main Ave. Conveniently located downtown in modern building across from Buckley Park. Two rooms, large windows, two assigned, covered parking spaces. $155,000. Roger, 970-799-2871.

(265-10-15)

KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-2456500; mokihana@hawaiian.net; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-16)

LARGE STEEL BUILDING, 60x25x18.

Two 14’ overhead doors. Not erected. $12,000. Ignacio 970-9466836. (264-10-15) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies.

Repair and service of equipment.

Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-12-15)

FREE FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite!

Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-12-15)

HELP WANTED LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided.

Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.workathomeunited.com/ ourabundance (932-02-16)

MACHINERY & PARTS www.sawmillexchange.com SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148. (26709-16)

REAL ESTATE 40 ACRES, 15 miles west of Walsenburg, CO on CR520. Fenced.

Prime grazing. Small 2bd recently upgraded trailer on property with tenant. 8-10 gal./min. domestic well. $89,500 OBO. Owner may carry. 719-251-1131, 719-989-0850, 719-738-3500. (207-10-15) ARROWHEAD LOT — CIMARRON, CO. Beautiful, level, tree-covered lot. ALL utilities in place, ready to build cabin or bring your RV. Gravel drive, parking, and RV pad.

Rock patio, firepit, barbecue. 2 sheds with electricity. Much much more. $65,000. Carol, 970-497-9740 (109-10-15)

HERE’S YOUR TICKET! Win a $25 gift card. Email the number of classifieds on this page and your address to classifieds@ coloradocountrylife.org. Put Classified $25 in the subject line.

We’ll draw one name October 16 to win.

HORSE RANCH, BARN, HOUSE on 6 acres or more available. NE Colorado, $380K, 970-466-1464 (257-10-15) IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR VACATION GETAWAY! 136-156 Kinnikinnik Drive, Red Feather Lakes. Two private lakefront cabins.

One lot. Enough for you and family!

Secluded, yet stroll to village shopping! Sean Dougherty, RE/ MAX Alliance, 970-402-5642, www.

HawaiianShirtGuy.com $275,000.

(261-11-15) OWN PROPERTY? NEED INCOME? We’ll rent exclusive hunting rights from you. Looking for antelope, goose, duck, coyote, & prairie dog habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules.

303-460-0273 (069-12-15)

RELIGION BECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 West Thunderbird Rd, Ste 1 - #114, Peoria, AZ 85381. http://www.ordination.org (44112-15)

TICKETS NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS — Las Vegas. Call 1-888-NFR-Rodeo (1-888-637-7633). www.NFR-rodeo. com A+ rated BBB Member. (91201-16)

VACATION RENTAL BAYFIELD ATTIC INN – A vacation rental in downtown Bayfield, Colorado. 970-759-6957, bayfieldatticinn@gmail.com (26310-15)

WANTED TO BUY BUYING AUTOGRAPHS (all kinds), sports cards (pre-1980). Vintage sports and music collectibles (albums, etc.). Cash paid.

Established dealer since 1986. Mike 720-334-0206, mmunns1@hotmail. com (245-01-16) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-12-15) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303757-8553. (889-02-16) OLD COWBOY STUFF — hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts! We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-01-16) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered.

Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721.

(519-11-15) OLD MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES, unbuilt airplane kits. Cash. Will pick up or pay shipping. Don, 970-5993810. (233-10-15) OLD POCKET WATCHES — working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209.

(870-12-16) VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Gary, 970-222-2181 (170-10-15) WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.

(402-03-16) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets.

888-735-5337 (099-04-16) WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (09902-16)

coloradocountrylife.coop

[funny stories] Moving from another state to a much higher altitude, along with a chest cold, put me in the hospital. Next to my name on the information board was “SOB.” “I just got here. How can you judge me so quickly?” I asked the nurse.

She smiled and said, “Shortness. Of. Breath.”

Gary Anderson, Steamboat Springs

When our grandson Anthony was 5 years old, he

Advertise in the Gift Guide Call Kris at 303-902-7276 for information on how to get your product or service in front of 217,000 subscribers. Our readers want to know about your product. Our readers want to buy American made products.

discussed various things with his mother. He always asked, “Why?” One day, his mother was frustrated with all of Anthony’s questions and asked him, “Why do you have so many questions?”

He calmly replied, “Why do YOU have so many answers?”

Lois Merezko, Cotopaxi

One day, my grandson asked how old I was and I told him 77. A few days later, after grocery shopping in town, we decided to go to Dairy Queen. He ordered a cone and I ordered a pop.

On our way home he held my pop for me. After he read the announcement on the cup, he asked, “Grandma, did you know Dairy Queen is 75 years old?”

“No, I did not,” I said.

He looked up at me and said, “Grandma, you’re older than Dairy Queen!”

Jeanette D. Dean, Cortez

Larry and Carol Enderson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, took CCL with them to visit Hoonah, Alaska.

Take Your Photo with Your Magazine and Win! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@ coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win a $25 gift card each month.

The next deadline is Friday, October 16.

This month’s winners are Larry and Carol Enderson of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They receive the High West Energy version of the magazine and took it with them when they visited Hoonah, Alaska.

See more of this month’s entries on page 31. Colorado Country Life is a world traveler and loving it. Where will you take the magazine this month?

coloradocountrylife.coop

My 3-year-old grandson loves to hunt and gather spiders, so he was sad when I told him it was too blustery to go outside.

Living out here on the prairie, we have a good supply of spiders year-round, even in the house. I felt confident he would be able to find some house spiders if he looked in the corners and along the baseboards. I showed him how and where to look.

He spent lots of time patiently searching. After a while, he came to me with a long face and announced with a reproachful voice, “Grandma, all you have is dirt!”

Carol Vogan, Colorado Springs

$15

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2015 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

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[discoveries]

Spooky Science

PRODUCE PROCUCE the PERFECT PUMPKIN In pumpkin carver Barry Brown’s opinion, a Grampa Bardeen’s Family Pumpkin Carving Set is the only solution to creating an intricate, high-quality jack-o’-lantern.

Unlike the $10 carving kits at some big box stores, these pumpkin carving sets are manufactured with powerful elements like steel and Teflon,™ meaning your tools won’t bend and break before your creation comes to fruition.

“Grampa” Paul Bardeen created pumpkin carving tools in 1943 and the family keeps manufacturing these superior tools today in its Denver-based facility. A Grampa Bardeen’s Family Pumpkin Carving Set costs $44.99 and comes with 10 Teflon™-coated saws, three drills, three steel-tipped pokers, two scoops and 16 fun patterns, all in a locking, sturdy box. Bonus: The company’s website offers how-to videos and bonus patterns. Visit grampabardeen.com.

John Bardeen shows you how to prepare your pumpkin for carving: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=l79A6oUX6eM.

Create a spooktacular scene at your child’s Halloween party with Steve Spangler’s Halloween Decorating Kit. Kids will go bananas experimenting with growing body parts, ghost eggs, glow powder, toxic zombie blood, growing brains and more.

Steve Spangler Science is an Englewoodbased company that makes science a fun learning experience. The Halloween Decorating Kit costs $49.99 and comes with enough supplies for 15 miniature mad scientists to perform 10 experiments and go home with two party favors.

For more information, visit stevespangler science.com.

What’s in the kit? Check it out at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ynt3FnIaew.

Win Grampa Bardeen’s Family Pumpkin Carving Set. Go to coloradocountrylife.coop and go to Contests.

Pumpkin Playtime Pumpkin events you don’t want to miss this Halloween season.

The Switch Witch

Kids revel in their Halloween candy cache. But while swarms of children are merrily munching on their treasure, some kids can’t — or are not allowed to partake in this ritual. Kids with allergies or healthminded parents have a friend on their side: the Switch Witch. After the little ghouls and goblins finish trick-or-treating, they simply set aside their stash for the Switch Witch, who then turns their loot into a book or toy that Halloween night.

Created by Denver mothers, The Switch Witch and the Magic of Switchcraft gift set is $29.99 and comes with a plush Switch Witch toy and an illustrated book that explains the Switch Witch story.

For more information, visit switchwitches.com.

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Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Offs October 3 Nick’s Garden Center & Farm Market, Aurora 303-696-6657 • nicksgardencenter.com The Flower Bin Garden Center & Nursery, Longmont October 10 303-772-3454 • www.theflowerbin.net Old Colorado City, Colorado Avenue and 25th Street, Colorado Springs October 17 shopoldcoloradocity.com Punkin Chunkin Colorado and Fall Festival October 10-11 Arapahoe Park Racetrack Aurora 303-326-8659 auroragov.org

coloradocountrylife.coop

Readers Travel With Colorado Country Life Colorado Country Life is excited to get to travel to all the corners of Colorado as well as across the country and around the world thanks to its readers. Electric co-op members recently took the magazine to neighboring states, to Russia, Spain and beyond. Here are a few of those vacation shots from the last few months.

Mountain View Electric members Tiffany and Skip Phillips of Franktown read as they enjoy Lake Powell.

James Frederick of Salida took this photo of his wife, Jane, in front of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Derrick Holland opts to read the magazine in front of the Harley Davidson store in Cadiz, Spain where he served a temporary duty assignment with the U.S. Army out of Fort Carson.

coloradocountrylife.coop

Morgan County REA member Cathy Goss of Brush sits on the world’s largest jackelope as she reads the magazine in DuBois, Wyoming.

Ron Reno of Fort Collins takes his magazine from Poudre Valley REA with him camping in Albany, Wyoming.

Geri Mulligan reads her copies of Colorado Country Life in Santa Rosa de Cabal, Colombia.

San Isabel Electric member Carol McElmurray takes her magazine along on a visit to the LL Bean Store in Victor, New York.

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[discoveries]

coloradocountrylife.coop

OCTOBER 2014

31