Yesterday, I picked the latest ripe tomatoes in my garden. Several have the sam
e problem as others — spots and blossom end rot and a few odd shaped ones. This time, however, I think I got one that’s a little different. I’m wondering if the chickens got into the garden but since we don’t have any that’s not the case. This one does not seem as much a tomato as it resembles a baby chicken – with an eye, a (broken) wing, and even a small beak! If there was a way to preserve this as is I’d probably do it. Is it slaughter if I chop off the head of the chick? Do we let this one survive only to rot? Do I let it loose? It can’t run far! I think we’ll try to keep it a bit longer but it will most likely find the same fate as the other tomatoes. Maybe it would sell on E-Bay!
Category: Nature
Stop & Smell the Flowers
I went to the Friendly Garden Club’s annual plant auction at the Nordland Lutheran Church parish hall on May 19 and had a blast. Some people may think that a plant auction would be kind of boring, but the Friendly Garden Club members are not boring. First of all, they had a fabulous meal which, in itself, was worth the effort of getting ready to go someplace. And the plants… Every kind, every color, some fragrant, some not, some in creative and beautiful containers, some in cardboard boxes. But, they all were sold amid some heavy duty bidding wars. Ann Erickson and Susan Fust were very entertaining auctioneers and had the bidders laughing and having a great time. We have the Friendly Garden Club members to thank for the beautiful flowers that adorn the various areas of the City of Rutland. They use the money raised from their plant auction to purchase the flowers they place around town. They also make sure the flowers are weeded and watered, so they have work cut out for them all summer.
Envirothon Team Wins State!
A note of congratulations is long overdue for our area youth. The “Water Bugs” Envirothon Team are the First Place Winners of the North Dakota Envirothon Competition that was held at Crystal Springs Bible Camp near Medina last month. The photo at left shows the team: (L-R) Jordaan Thompson, John Breker, Maria Breker, Shelly Pherson, Brady Haussler, Bre’Anna Hanson. The “Water bugs” will travel to Flagstaff, AZ, to compete in the national competition July 28 through August 3, 2008.
The Envirothon Competition is a problem-solving,natural resource competition for high school students. The students are tested on their knowledge of forestry, soils, water, wildlife, and a current environmental issue, which this year was “Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.”
The goal of the Envirothon is to cultivate awareness and enhance knowledge of natural resources and environmental issues, while developing critical thinking skills, building partnerships, and being committed to take responsible actions as adults. Thanks to the Wild Rice Soil Conservation District for sponsoring them, to Joe and Patty Breker for being advisors and to Amanda Slykerman for being their coach. Others who helped them prepare for the competition also deserve recognition: Aquatics—Trace Hanson, 319 Watershed Coordinator and Dales Esser, Bureau of Reclamation; Wildlife—Kristine Askerooth, Tewaukon Refuge; Soils—Dave Breker NRCS; Forestry—Joe Zeleznik, NDSU Forestry; Current Issues—Julie Hassebroek, NDSU Extension.
Good luck at the Nationals!
Hunting Education Course
The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club, along with the ND Game & Fish Department, is sponsoring a Hunting Education Course on Saturday, June 7 and June 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club. Persons born after 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course and present the certification card earned to the license vendor to purchase a North Dakota hunting license. Youth must be 11 years old prior to taking the course. Information on how to enroll for the course is available on the State’s website.
Free Fishing!
June 7th and 8th are free fishing days for all North Dakota residents. That’s the weekend for Dad and the kids to get out there and enjoy the sport. How about nearby Silver Lake?? Sorry Dads (or should I say Moms!), it’s not Father’s Day weekend this year. Non-residents are required to have a North Dakota fishing license.
Boats are required to have current registration and numbering, personal flotation devices (one per person), a throwable for boats larger that 16 feet, fire extinguisher for boats having permanently installed tanks or enclosed flammable storage, and an audible whistle for boats larger that 16 feet.
Send us your fishing photos!!
North Country Trails
Last Sunday, Mark Wyum, Peder Gulleson and Deborah Banish attended a meeting in Lisbon on the North Country National Scenic Trail which starts in NY and presently ends in ND. They are attempting to form a local chapter to help expand the trail through the State. We made new contacts and received information on establishing and maintaining trails, working with landowners and the railroads, obtaining easements, and learning of potential grant funding sources for our future trail. The Rutland Trails Committee will review the information when it meets sometime in April.
rutlandramblings 
