October - More than Colorful Leaves

 

                  

October History

On October 16, 1859 John Brown began his failed assault on the federal fort at Harpers Ferry. He and his followers were captured two days later and eventually hung several months later in December.

Brown was an abolitionist and was active in the Underground Railroad. For ten years, he had a farm and a tannery not far from here in a small place called, New Richmond, PA. His first wife and two children remain buried at the site which now is a museum which documents his life in northwestern Pennsylvania.

This year, the nation began commemorating the beginnings of the tragic Civil War and it is worthwhile to recall some of the events which led up to that bloody conflict. Slavery was certainly an issue for many particularly in many of the churches and isolated farms which were active in helping slaves win their freedom.

In many of the cemeteries, large and small, graves are still marked noting service in the Civil War. There are a lot of them, including a few Confederates who settled in this region after the war and worked in the oil fields around the Titusville area.

Brown for some was a cold blooded terrorist, for others, a freedom fighter. Needless to say, he was and remains a controversial figure. A lot of histories overlook his ten years in Pennsylvania, but they were important years in the nation's history.

It is important not to forget the events and the men and women who died and suffered in that war. Sure it is a war that began a 150 years ago, but it's scars remain and fester every now and then.

October – A Reminder - Winter is Coming (as if we all didn't know that already)

Now is the time to get the garlic planted, divide perennials and plant spring/summer bulbs. Potatoes, onions and even some greens can also be planted at this time for an early spring harvest. Actually, there are some interesting crops which can go in the ground before the snow gets here. Doing the little extra work this fall is actually an investment, and will help avoid sticker shock at the supermarket and healthier eating (think cantaloupes and listeria). The most recent case of dangerous food, melons from Colorado is a horror story about the hidden dangers in large farms and the food supply.
If your safety isn't a big worry, government studies indicate food prices will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.

Enjoy the colors on the trees this month.

Garden 2011

For the most part, the garden was mediocre. The spring was cold and wet and there was a serious problem with woodchucks. But the tomatoes were fantastic. I mainly grow a variety called Speckled Romans. This tomato was developed at Seed Savers and is a cross between Antique Roman and Banana Legs.

I have grown them for about five years and save the seeds. I just seem to get bumper crops. This is a good variety to try. The seeds are available at SeedSavers.

Searching for Information and the Half King

First Old Mossback – I wrote a story for Yahoo on Old Mossback and the LeBoeuf Creeper lure. Old Mossback was a legendary muskie which lived in Lake LeBoeuf and out smarted many anglers back in the 1930's – 1940's. One angler, R. Exley made a lure called the LeBoeuf Creeper lure which caught plenty of other muskies but not Old Mossback. The lure became very popular and was made at the LeBoeuf Bait Shop. Along the way, there was a patent dispute over the lure and it was made by another company and then discontinued.

A researcher recently emailed looking for more local information on the lure and the patent dispute. If you have any information, send it along at the comment page. Thanks.

Lake LeBoeuf is in Waterford, PA and was the site of an old French Fort during the settlement years. George Washington, who was then a British General, traveled to the Fort, under orders from the governor of Virginia, to ask the French to get out of the territory. To commemorate Washington's visit, the citizens of the town had a statue erected, perhaps the only one which depicts Washington attired in a British uniform. Read more about the historic statue and the events at the Half King.

Climate Change

Here is a brief article which is, well alarming, ICE MELT.

My Rant for the Week

Issues in Christianity

http://koyotehill.blogspot.com/

Good Blogs to Read and Follow

Step by Step in theKitchen by Kathleen Richardson – This is a good blog about healthy eating and cooking. Kathleen has some great recipes here that she has discovered. I tried the Sloppy Janes but added venison burger. There wasn't anything left over.

Corning New York Stepby Step – another good pictorial blog by Kathleen Richardson

Uncle Sam's HistoryBlog – An interesting blog on early pioneer history in western Pennsylvania. Sam is a noted author and you can check out his books at samhossler.com

Urban Veggie Garden – Always some fascinating here about gardens and cooking.

Energy Justice – A good environmental and social justice blog, well worth the time.