American Heirlooms - May 2019

American Heirlooms - May 2019

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MAY 2019

GARDENING AND ENJOYING NATURE AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP

One of the most intriguing parts of spring is the abundance of new life, especially as buds start to blossom and baby animals are welcomed into this world. Those who follow the Word know that new life takes on a larger meaning than anything that is tangible here on Earth. For my family and me, spring is a reminder that we are afforded a new life after death and that we must commit our lives to God. life he gave us, my family has also been busy cultivating our garden. Since March, we’ve had our peas, potatoes, and lettuce in the ground, and we’ve been busily caring for our crops and preparing the ground for more seeds. My wife, Bethany, has been working outside since it was still relatively chilly because she knows there isn’t much time to waste once the snow starts to melt. (In fact, peas love the cool ground.) Bethany enjoys spending the day in our garden, investing her time and energy into our family’s crops. Together, Bethany and I want to pass on the green thumb to our children. Whether or not you save money is hardly the point of measure with gardening. Instead, it’s about giving your children something worthwhile This spring, as we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and the new

and interactive exhibits about the heavens and nature. Weather permitting, organizers at this event will have a telescope set up with various filters to safely view the sun, and there will also be presentations on photography and the most recent eclipses. Personally, I’m looking forward to hearing from Kevin Shank, the editor of the magazine Nature Friend, and author Morris Yoder. Yoder is a particularly interesting chap whose book, “The Celestial Message,” explains how stargazing led him back to his heavenly Father. After losing his dad at a young age, Yoder, now a married family man who raises chickens, has a story that Bethany, our children, and I can all relate to. The heavens have a difficult but powerful connection for us, too. Springtime is busy for us, as we spend more days and evenings in the yard. I’m looking forward to the harvest we can produce in our garden this summer while continuing to teach our children about hard work, faithfulness to God, and the beauty of the nature He created. –Ethan Zimmerman

to do, as they are taught the value of hard work and performing jobs that are less than glamorous. They learn to care about another living thing by pulling weeds, cultivating crops, and adhering to the discipline of gardening. In addition, they are taught about fresh, healthy eating, gathering food from a trustworthy source, and the satisfaction of their hard work producing a tangible item. This adds to the savings and health benefits of planting and harvesting a garden. As frequent readers of this newsletter might have been able to tell, my family enjoys what the Creator has crafted, and this summer, we will take a trip to celebrate it. Our family will attend the seminar Amazing Creation, which will feature speakers, presentations,

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Now that spring is here and the days are getting longer, your to-do list keeps growing. As you care for your lawn, tend to your garden, and stack your firewood, make sure you and your family are prepared for cuts, scrapes, bruises, and injuries. Below are a few essentials to include in your springtime first-aid kit. Tweezers Working with wood or prickly plants puts you in a position to get splinters wedged into your fingers. The most prepared gardener will have a set of tweezers with them, and whoever is experienced at prying these tiny yet painful shards of wood from their fingers will know that the correct pair of tweezers will do the trick. Look for ones that are sharp and pointed, rather than flat. These will allow you to pull out the splinter easily and quickly, rather than excavating into your skin for hours while searching for the source |of your pain. Creams With spring and summer come plants, pests, and weather that can lead to dangerous conditions. Poison ivy, poison oak, bees, fire ants, and the sun can cause your skin to become inflamed or irritated. Search for anti-itch and antibiotic creams that will help your skin find relief, and make sure you properly apply sunscreen every two hours. If you do get sunburned, apply the juice from aloe plants or packaged aloe vera to your burn, drink plenty of fluids, and cover your burned area when working outside. Teacher Appreciation Week runs from May 6–10 this year, and there are plenty of ways students of all ages can thank their educators for everything they do. Being a teacher isn’t an easy job, and the people who make it their profession are passionate about helping children learn. Depending on how old your child is, they may need a parent’s help in showing their appreciation. Here are a few ways parents and children can appreciate teachers together. Thank-You Notes This gesture is simple and sweet and can be very thoughtful. Telling a teacher what makes them outstanding can often be just as valuable as a gift. Help your child write an appreciative note and then write one yourself. Teachers often have to maintain the happiness of students, administrators, and parents. Your card could relieve some of the stress of that balancing act and let them know that you acknowledge their efforts. A Homemade Meal Making a homemade meal (or dessert) shows teachers that you appreciate their hard work. You could make a favorite dish of yours or try to find a new recipe online. Either way, encourage your child to help you with the process so that the meal is truly a gift from both of you.

Donating School Supplies Many teachers use their own money to buy school supplies for their classroom. This is just one of the ways teachers go above and beyond on a daily basis, and buying some extra school supplies can help ease that cost. Take your child shopping with you and help them pick out supplies that you know their teacher will appreciate. Your children spend several hours a day with their teachers, so fostering relationships with them is vital. Use this day to help your children understand the importance of teachers, to teach them the power of gratitude, and to encourage them to show respect for everyone who helps them in life.

Bandages Bandages are an essential part of any first-aid kit, and when you’re doing more handy work outside, they become a necessity. Pack bandages of all sizes and include wound creams and cleaners, gauze, and medical tape in your kit. For more extreme wounds, these items will help you patch it until you can seek help from a medical professional. Remember, in any emergency, always call 911.

When you arm yourself with these tools, there’s nothing stopping you from taking full advantage of this season.

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As the weather warms up, snowy and chilly temperatures may seem like a distant memory, but now is the perfect time to prepare for the future cooldown. Properly seasoning your firewood for at least one complete year prior to it hitting your fireplace is essential to keeping your home toasty with a long, high burn. This means that you should have enough firewood drying right now for all of the next winter, and you should not rely on purchasing wood that suppliers claim is properly seasoned when it has likely only dried for a few months. If wood isn’t correctly dried, it can clog your chimney with soot and create more headaches for you and your family. The key to properly seasoned wood is found in the woodpile, and when your stack sits for a complete year, you are in control of the seasoning and heating of your home. There are many different ways you can stack your firewood, and ideally, you want a narrow stack that can sit for 6–8 months with access to sunshine. By May, most wood cutting and splitting is finished, but it’s not too late to assess your wood stack. Below are two common styles to give you some inspiration.

My first attempt at the Holz Hausen style of wood stacking.

End Pillar To achieve this pile, lay three logs down, and then lay three more logs in a different direction on top of the first three. Keep stacking with this pattern until you’ve reached an ideal height, and then start on the next pile. The spaces between the logs allow a nice breeze to dry out the wood all season, while the perpendicular pattern of the logs gives the pillar some stability. Holz Hausen This style is unique, but it can be effective when done correctly. The technique can dry wood faster, and its round shape gives the pile extra stability. According to the experts at Popular Mechanics, this space-saving option is achieved in three steps. Start by creating a circle of logs — bark facing out — on the ground. Then, stack logs on the initial ring, sloping each piece down toward the middle of the circle, and create a cone-shaped stack in the center of the ring. Top off your pile with a bark-out log roof.

INGREDIENTS • 3 large eggs • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

•

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

INSTRUCTIONS 1. In medium bowl, beat eggs with plastic fork until last traces of white are just mixed in. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter, swirling over medium heat until foamy but not browned. Add eggs, stirring rapidly with fork, while moving skillet to agitate eggs. Break up all curds by scraping bottom of skillet as they form. Stop stirring when eggs are softly scrambled and creamy (but loose enough to come together into a single mass), 1–2 minutes. 3. Using fork, gently spread egg in an even layer around skillet and scrape down any wispy bits around the edges. The top surface should be loose and creamy, but if still liquid, swirl skillet to bring raw egg to the edge where it will set faster. 4. Remove from heat. Tilt skillet up by handle. Using fork, gently roll omelet down over itself until nearly folded in half. Using fork, push omelet to edge of skillet so that the lower edge of egg just begins to overhang. Use fork to fold overhanging edge of egg back over, closing omelet. 5. Turn omelet out onto plate. It should have the seam on bottom.

An end pillar bracing my stack.

Inspired by Saveur Magazine

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Brought to you by Kenton Chair Shop Builders of American Heirlooms and Penns Creek Furniture The Swiss Craftsman

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Inside this Issue

Celebrating Spring Page 1 Teacher Appreciation Week Is Here!

What to Include in Your Springtime First-Aid Kit Page 2 Seasoning Your Firewood Classic French Omelet Page 3 Black Gold Page 4

processed food, meats, or fish products in their compost bin. Compost can stabilize gardening soil, keep the soil from contracting diseases, and help the ground retain moisture. Why Do We Compost? Besides giving gardens and lawns significant nutrients, composting also reduces landfills. According to the United States EPA, “Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up about 30 percent of what we throw away.” Organic material often takes longer to decompose in a landfill due to being wrapped in plastic. The more organic material that is composted, the quicker it can deteriorate. Learn About Composting Day The best way to recognize this holiday is to learn as much as you can about composting. When you look deeper, you’ll discover you can compost materials you never knew you could, including latex balloons and cardboard egg cartons. Once you do your research, you can start your very own compost by dedicating a part of your backyard to disposing of organic matter or by purchasing a compost bin. This article covers the basics of composting, but there’s still plenty more to learn! Head to your local farmers market or botanical garden and talk to the experts about it— they’ll be sure to give you some great tips.

NATIONAL LEARN ABOUT COMPOSTING DAY!

Most people have heard of composting one way or another. Your mom might have kept a bin in the backyard for overripe Halloween pumpkins, yard clippings, and egg shells. You might even have a coworker who boasts about the giant compost pile they use to fertilize their garden and lawn. Whatever your level of composting knowledge may be, there is always more to learn about this popular and extremely beneficial method for handling organic food waste. Fortunately, May 29 is National Learn About Composting Day! This day provides a great opportunity to introduce yourself to and begin the conversation about composting if you haven’t already. Below are a few answers to your basic composting questions to get you started. What Is Compost? Compost is decomposed organic matter, which is especially good for people who have gardens or aspire to live a sustainable lifestyle. People put coffee grounds; vegetable scraps; paper products, including receipts, paper towels, and tissues; wood chips, leaves, and other types of waste that are not categorized as

4 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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