August 21, 2006 – Last Martin-Daddy Day!

I still can’t believe this day is here. Most MWFs since Martin was born were “Martin-Daddy” days. Today was the last one as he starts Kindergarten on Wednesday. I’m not sure what it means to him or me with him gone each weekday at school. He was my constant companion and helper for the last five years. He has shown a great willingness and aptitude for helping on the farm.

I sensed that he too knew today was the start of a new adventure for both of us. One way this expressed itself was that he made two lists:

One list was things that Daddy wanted to do. The other list was things that Martin wanted to do. He carried the lists around all day and if you look closely, you can see he crossed a few things off the lists.

Martin wanted to put together the baking rack that was in pieces in the barn.

Dad wanted to get the leftover tomatoes from Market canned – 7 quarts and 7 pints. There were more things on the list, but that’s just one from each of our lists.

August 20, 2006 – Today’s Bounty

Fellow scavenger and bargain hunter neighbor calls me about 5:00 yesterday and informed me of this “rummage sale” at a former small state nursing home. Everything was for sale, but nothing was marked – it was make an offer.

The best bargain, I think, is an 8 ft long stainless steel table.

I did a quick check on e-bay and found a used one for $650.00, so I’m probably all right on that one. They wouldn’t sell me the stainless 3-section sink off the wall though.

I also got a couple of 5 foot bakers racks with about 5-6 shelves, two gym style locker towers, a CD player, some food service items (cookie sleeves, portion cups) and cases of old food for chicken food – chow mien noodles, oatmeal, ice cream cones and a bunch of other things. Total bill for everything $72.00.

It was a sad place – all the old beds, institutional-type furniture and dormitory-type rooms – even some people’s personal effects were boxed up in a closet – clothes, tapes, Christmas decorations etc. It was as if the place was closed suddenly and everything was just left as it was.

August 19, 2006 – Unnatural Fruit of the Garden

You’ve all seen the unnaturally shaped garden vegetables – misshapen potatoes and squash seem particularly amenable to be Rorschach Test subjects. Some are even purposely grown in uncommon shapes in special vegetable molds.

We have a tomato entry (unmodified) in the non-standard tomato shape contest.

I will let the readers jump to their own conclusions regarding the particular resemblance of this tomato to other natural forms. Suffice to say that many drug companies will no doubt want the genes from this tomato!

August 18, 2006 – Mildred Grimes

A notable person in our community passed away this week. Mildred Grimes was perhaps most notably known for the Nature Center at Grimes Farm. Mildred and her husband had tended the farm with TLC by planting trees, restoring wetlands, and reintroducing prairie. They donated the farm to conservation groups for all to use as an educational and recreational facility.

Mildred is pictured in the middle of this snapshot from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Today there is a nature center managed by the local Conservation Board. The place holds a special place in my heart as I wrote a grant that helped build the nature center.

Here’s a bit of an article by local state legislator, Mark Smith, reflecting on Mildred:

My grandfather was an eighth grade educated Iowa farmer who lived by these simple rules: feed your family, honor the soil, and be a good neighbor. Nothing could better describe Mildred Grimes. Anyone who knew her was aware of how valuable family was to her. She honored the soil by working constantly to return the land to its native conditions. She was a good neighbor who always found the best in everyone.

Mildred was not without enemies. But her enemies were plants that had been imported and provided environmental contamination: Reed’s Canary, Multiflora Rose, and Musk Thistle were some of her archenemies. There was not a person on her list of enemies.

Mildred’s husband served as a successful Marshalltown area attorney for many years. He was Mayor of Marshalltown. Mildred supported everything he did. In 1965, he and Mildred purchased their farm and began to work more actively for land conservation. Together they began efforts that resulted in the development of the Grimes Farm Nature Center.

As a result of Mildred and Leonard’s generous donation, Mildred’s love of nature will live for years to come. Each time a child visits the Nature Center and experiences the natural environment and wildlife, Mildred’s teaching will be present.