At OACC 40: Green Building workshop, Ecological Land Tenure, Expand Your Garden panel discussion, Bryant Creek State Park update, Superb Sauerkraut workshop, Lessons from a Tree: Deep Ecology, OACC Roots & Fruits slideshow, vendors State of the Ozarks presentations, Climate Models and Climate Policy, Food Systems Sustainability, Ozark Environmental Advocacy, Talent Show
FREE KITCHEN CABINETS with SOLID PINE DOORS COUNTRY LIVING CHARM AT NO COST FREE KITCHEN CABINETS with doors made of solid pine. There are five base cabinets and four wall cabinets for a straight or an L-shaped kitchen, as seen in the pictures. Pictures show some doors removed from the wall cabinets, but these doors are included as well. Handmade, country living charm, and they've been well stored out of the weather. We'll give preference to someone who needs the complete set and can put it to good use, but if you need just some of the items, please let us know too. Located near Gentryville. Email Leo at bees@horizontalhive.com Or call (815) 301 1845 and leave a message. Email works best, please put "CABINETS" in the subject line.
To register or for more info visit http://ozarkareacommunitycongress.org /
State Park Hiking Tours The Sierra Club will team up with Ken McCarty of MO State Parks to lead hiking tours of our two brand new state parks. The parks have recently begun the Conceptual Development Plan process to open the park to the public. Hikes will be 3-4 miles with rough terrain and steep ascents and descents. Please note there are no trails in the parks yet. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and consider bringing trekking poles, rain gear, snacks and water. Free and open to the public. Bryant Creek State Park near Ava, Sun. Oct. 6, 12-4pm RSVP:https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=70 10Z000001vxX7QAI Ozark Mountain State Park in Branson, Sun. Nov. 3, 12-4pm RSVP:https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=70 10Z000001w0EkQAI 4X4 Brewery Social in Springfield, Wed. Oct. 16, 68pm The White River Group of the Missouri Sierra Club would like to invite everyone to a social evening of Craft Beer and Food truck Pizza. There will also be live music. Hopefully you will bring your best ideas for finding Fall Color in the Ozarks. RSVP:https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formca mpaignid=7010Z000001w7IgQAI
Ozarks Section Sierra Club Meeting in Ava, Tues. Oct 8, 6-7:30pm The Ozarks section of the White River Group will meet to discuss our key environmental priorities in the Ozarks region. Representative Karla Eslinger, District 155, will attend the meeting to speak and hear our comments. Find more information and register here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7010Z00 0001vqspQAA
It's sorghum pressing time again! The sorghum cane is getting sweet and will be ready to harvest in two weeks. Please come join us for a work party Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th. We will likely harvest the cane on Friday and press and boil down the sorghum on Saturday and Sunday. We'll have a potluck and all are welcome to come participate! We are hoping to use Roy's new mules to turn the press this year - though the tractor is always handy back up. Come press cane, skim scum, feed the fire, fill jars, and taste some fresh sorghum! 15187 Trace Branch Rd West Fork, AR 72774 e-mail avivazoe@gmail.com for directions or more info!igh -Aviva and Roy
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes and yellow peppers –Amelia
University of Missouri Extension
Agricultural Programs
South Central Regional Grazing Schools: West Plains, MO October 8,9,10 Contact: Howell County Extension 417-256-2391 Springfield, MO October 15,16,17, 2019 (daytime) Contact: Greene County SWCD/NRCS 417-831-5246 Ext. 3 Ellington, MO October 28,29,30 Contact: Reynolds County Extension 573-648-1035 Ozark County Century Farm Presentation Friday, Sept. 20 at noon on Hootin an Hollarin main stage in Gainesville 2019 Alternative Tree Crop Field Day - Friday, September 20th 1-5pm in Mount Vernon Southwest Missouri Cattlemens Beef Tour - Saturday, September 21st at 1:30pm in Pierce City Missouri Woodland Steward-Call Before You Cut - Monday, Sept. 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m in West Plains Food Preservation - Jam Making Class - Thursday, September 26th from 5-8pm in Mount Vernon Fall Gardening Workshop - Saturday, September 28th at 9:30am-2:30pm in Kimberling City Christian County Master Gardener Plant Sale - Saturday, September 28th from 8-11am in Nixa Join the Extension event mailing list here: http://extension.missouri.edu/ozark/ozark-county-extension-news-&-events.aspx?P=Y
Garden Romance Imagine my surprise when I came upon these walkingsticks mating this morning in the garden. At first I thought it was dead (how many creatures having sex can you say that about?), but upon closer examination, I noticed two intertwined forms connected at the base. Walkingsticks are usually tropical creatures and only 30 species exist in North America. The adults die back every year due to frost, but before they do so the female drops her fertilized eggs, one by one, into leaf litter below her. I suppose she thought this spot in the food forest would be a good mulchy place! They nip the foliage on trees, encouraging new growth, which can at times lead to drastic pruning, but which usually isn’t troublesome. A cool Missouri native! -Wren Haffner, Luna
Chinese Long Green beans They are quite good and it was convenient to be able to grow them on my deck where the deer wouldn't eat them! I call the deer my lawn crew because they browse in my yard on a regular basis. Unfortunately they also enjoy eating stuff that I intend to eat. My sweet potatoes have "chicken wire fence" around the bed. But sweet potatoes grow up and over it and the cattle panels that I fence my garden with. The deer have pruned the vines back to the fence. –Elda Edwards
Mountain Jewel Sauna Build: Get Yer Hands Dirty w/ Slip Straw & Earthen Plaster
We are building a sauna using natural building techniques! If you're interested in learning these techniques, you're invited to the events at our homestead and we welcome you to attend our presentation at OACC as well. Sept. 28th: Intro to natural building workshop at Ozark Area Community Congress Oct. 5th: Mixing & applying clay plaster using local Ozark clay. Learn the ratios behind what makes a beautiful earthen plaster and get your hands dirty!! All events are potlucks. Dress in clothes that you don't mind getting stained with clay. Bring your own gloves (if you want them), safety goggles/sunglasses, hat, water bottle, and you're welcome to bring friends. Please RSVP to Wren at lunagrow@gmail.com. I made this batch of pear leather from a couple flats of the neighbors’ pears that needed to be used…
Preserving Project: Pear Leather Cook on the stove until it’s pretty thick, stirring often. Spoon a thin layer onto trays lined with parchment paper and cook several hours in a very low oven. Switch trays around every so often.
Wash, trim out bad spots, and puree (stick blender) soft, ripe pears. I added cinnamon for color, and a packet of instant pectin I had around.
It’s ready when the sheet of “leather” has hardened and can peel off the paper easily.
This tray got cooked a bit long and was getting more like caramel candy than chewy fruit leather. Just make sure there aren’t any goopy wet spots.
Roll up the pieces of parchment paper, long or short ways, then cut rolls into serving size sections. Store in the freezer enclosed in a bag or container.
Try it out!
- Amelia
Mid-America Organic Association is
‘Digging Deep’
By Deni Cary Phillips
What’s more important than gaining organic knowledge so we can keep our planet clean and thriving, and place good food on people’s plates? Nothing, except getting to the heart of that knowledge. That’s why the MOA January 2020 Conference is named ‘Digging Deep’-- deep information and great community connections. Three days packed with presentations by folks who really know their stuff. With time built in to talk to them, and get to know other organic growers, farmers, and suppliers, as well.
Half-day Intensives New this year, you’ll have the option to attend 5 different Intensives over the 3-day period. Each morning and each afternoon a different intensive. 1) Raising Elderberries as a Cash Crop, Terry Durham – get ready to add this highly profitable crop to your diversified operation by learning absolutely everything you need to know about cultivation and where to market your flowers and berries (yup! It’s a two-crop for the price of one deal). National expert, Terry Durham, is taking lead for this workshop. And you know elderberries are good for you 2) Lessons from Mushroom Mountain’s Tradd Cotter – author of Organic Mushroom farming and Mycoremediation, will teach us how and why to grow mushrooms, and the benefit to organic growers. 3) Value-added Processing – what can you produce in your kitchen and what products require a commercial kitchen, how to package it for sale will be covered. Who regulates the product in your area? How to get the help you need. We’ll deep dive into adding value to your raw materials, helping you make more income and increase your visibility in the marketplace. 4) Large-scale Poultry – meet with a dedicated group of poultry and egg folks to learn how they are raising poultry, marketing and what’s what in the marketplace. More interested in Small-scale Poultry? We’ll have separate sessions on that in the Specialty Crop track, too! 5) Hemp – that’s right! This one is the only intensive offered on Saturday, so it will be both morning and afternoon. There’s a lot to learn about this recently-declared-legal to grow- and process-crop. We’ll start at the top and work down on this one, the what, where, why and how.
The Specialty Crop Track Bringing insight into topics from Raising Mealworms to Diversified Produce Marketing, to Lavender Production, to Financial Assistance, to Interplanting long- and short-term crops, to Crop Alternatives, and many, many more. The Row-Crop & Livestock Track MOA is thrilled to welcome Ray Archuleta, renown soil scientist and Missouri farmer who teaches Biomimicry Strategies and Agroecology Principles, to the conference. Ray is the founder of Understanding Ag and travels widely teaching and training. There will also be sessions on Organic Weed Control, Alternative Field Crops, Fertility and Pest Management for row-crops. And, we are hoping several different livestock producers, who we are still getting onboard, will present. We’re expecting beekeeping, dairy goats, pork, and cattle producers. Obviously, we’re still putting together the final program. Soon, you’ll be able to track our progress on the website, at https://moaorganic.org/ and register. Registration includes a membership in MOA, a quarterly newsletter, other event specific incentives, and the opportunity to create community with other ecologically-minded folks. But for now, put this info in your calendar: January 23 – 25, Stoney Creek Inn, Independence, Missouri. AND, hop over to the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/midamericaorganicassociation/), for periodic notices about speakers and features of the event. Or, keep up on Instagram: midamericaorganic. And hashtag #midamericaorganic to share. Like and follow so you get the notifications as they come up. Hope to see you in January. Questions? Ideas? Go ahead, email me: Deni, denicaryphillips@gmail.com
“Vision is to culture what gravity is to Matter�
-Daniel Quinn
-Amber Johnson Manes/ Isabella johnsonpossibilities@yahoo
Oran Mor Ripple
Native MO Trees: We have ordered 250 native Missouri trees, just a few for example - Hickory, Persimmons, Black Gum and Witch Hazel. Ordered from the Missouri Department of Conservation, they are due to arrive in February. Excitement is mounting as we contemplate positively adding to the health of the forest that so abundantly provides for us. As planting time draws nearer, we will be planning and announcing a tree planting party and potluck to share and rejoice with our tribe! Canning: To date, we have canned a total of 18 Gallons of tomatoes. Last year 25 gallons of tomatoes were canned, 100 jars. We are confidently progressing as we learn efficiency by learning the ins and outs of effective canning techniques.
Subscribe at greenearthalive@gmail.com for more
Gardening: We have planted greens and root crops for our fall harvest. To name a few: Radish, Turnips, Beets, Swiss Chard, Kale, Chinese Cabbage, etc. . Members have daily diligently given the garden loving care and attention. Innovative ways have been discovered to keep the garden watered in the face of lack of rain and other long standing water challenges.
When Walnuts Fall When walnuts fall it is time for... Ozarks Bowling! Write to Amelia.LaMair@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list -8 issues a year plus submission reminders. Got a photo, poem, story, classified, event, or something else to share? Send submissions to Amelia.
Just put a few sticks into the ground, in any pattern straight or round. Just place 'em anywhere you please, then just roll a walnut at your ease. It's a pleasant social time, everyone can play well past their prime. Another something to do, while living in Oz experiences are always coming into view.
Image: MO Dept. of Conservation
BASSWOOD (LINDEN) TREES - SEED WANTED We are looking for big local basswood (linden) trees to get seed from to grow seedlings for honeybees. If you know of any beautiful basswood trees, please let us know! Email Leo: bees@horizontalhive.com or call (815) 301 1845 and leave a message - we'll call back!
Such a fun outing enjoying together again, hanging around leisurely with all kind of friend. Don't need an indoor bowling lane, simple is well enough along the river cane. Remember to bring your kin, and also your big old friendly grin. All are invited back, to give the bowling sticks a great big whack! Another year that we play this annual game, it's mostly always the same. Following a well known rendition, to carry on a long held Ozarks tradition. Walnuts are falling so it's time for... Ozarks Bowling! c Kevin Kaiser October 1, 2018
www.PoetCatalysta.Wordpress.com
Are you ready for the
Pawpaws?
By Gene Gerue
Where oh where is sweet little Chrissie? Where oh where is sweet little Chrissie? Where oh where is sweet little Chrissie? Way down yonder in the paw paw patch. The pawpaw (paw paw, pawpaw and paw-paw are all acceptable) is the largest native American fruit. Here in Ozark County it ripens mostly in September. And it is delicious, way too delicious to miss. It tastes like a mango-flavored banana. Some say it has a hint of pineapple. Most eat it fresh but some use it to flavor ice cream or various breakfast or desert treats, like the yummy pawpaw cheesecake we just ate, courtesy of baker Kaci Freeman. Others use it to make beer. In Ohio they have an annual pawpaw festival that attracts thousands of pawpaw lovers. And on July 11 of this year, Governor Mike Parson signed a bill making pawpaw the Missouri state fruit. Dependably found along edges of streams but also on moist hilltops, the tree has spread over our part of the world thanks to birds and beasts eating the fruit and poop-planting seeds all over the place. Find trees early so you can be ready to beat the raccoons to the fruit continuing through September and maybe extending into October depending on location. Check fruits for ripeness with a gentle squeeze. When your thumb goes in easily it's ripe. Do not eat the skin or the seeds; they are toxic to our tummies. Spit out the seeds and enjoy the mushy pulp. Wait too long and ripe fruit falls to the ground. Then it's a race with the coons and other critters. Yeah, I know that the original ditty version speaks of Susie or Nellie, not Chrissie. But a married man does what works best for a married man.
- Chelsea Lynn
Next Issue: HALLOWEEN. DEADLINE: Oct. 19 Amelia.LaMair@gmail.com