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.

Fomalhaut might be Lonely, But Equinox is Busy Here.

September 23 marks the beginning of the autumnal equinox. Summer 2011 is officially over, history. For those in the northern hemisphere, it is time to hurry up and get ready for the winter months.

It is also a time to plant the garlic and divide perennials for next spring; squash, onions, red beets and potatoes, as well as many other vegetables can be canned, froze and stored in root cellars or dried. Tomatoes are great dried and used in recipes.

Equinox is also the time to clean up the garden area for a better start next spring.

One fascinating star during this season change, which can be found in the low southern sky is called Fomalhaut or the Autumn Star. It is the brightest star in the southern sky and thus is also sometimes called the Lonely One.

September 23 is also Dogs In Politics Day – an interesting story. It seems that there was some speculation that Richard Nixon misused some $18,000 campaign contributions (laughable in this equinox) and he addressed the nation regarding the issue. At the time, he was running as a vice-presidential candidate (Dwight Eisenhower was running for president). The address was made on September 23, 1952 and during the course of his speech, he made mention of a dog given to his daughters, named “Checkers”. Dogs in Politics was a day enshrined in American political campaigns ever since.

September 23 is also Native American Day, a day much more important in American political life and history. The changing of the seasons were an important event in Native American lore and religion.

Unfortunately, only the Native American sacred and religious grounds are not protected under the First Amendment, thanks to a 1988 Supreme Court Ruling. Developers continue to trample on sacred grounds and burial sites. No other religion in the U.S. has their churches or cemeteries taken away. For some background information, Sacred Lands.

It should also be noted that thousands of Native Americans have served honorably in our Armed Forces, locally in western PA and NY the Seneca Nation has served with distinction..

On a lighter note, September 26 is known as Johnny Appleseed Day. Apples, even the wild trees, are plentiful this year. Apple trees need the bees for pollination early in the spring and the trees provide plenty of food for out native wildlife from deer to rabbits.

Acorns also seem to be plentiful this year in many areas. The nuts are an important source of food for native wildlife, and for the Native Americans and early pioneers used them as a sort of flour.

The oak tree is the official national tree of the U.S. and it's easy to start one from the acorn. To learn more, click, Oak Tree.

So Happy Equinox Day (season). While Fomalhaut might be a lonely star out there, there's plenty to do on this planet. For example, the following:

Grapes:

Another autumn tradition is the grape harvest along the southern shores of Lake Erie. It seems that the grapes will be plentiful this year and the wineries, most of them small family owned operations should have a good wine making year. There are plenty of wineries which offer tours and tasting, it makes for a good weekend adventure. The region grows plenty of native American grapes for wines, juices and jellies, the Concord.

Frontier at Three Rivers

Same Hossler is a gifted writer and historian. While his books are historically accurate, the events and some of the characters are fiction. The books are enjoyable and informative reading for persons of any age and deal with the pioneer days and the relationships between settlers and the Native Americans in western Pennsylvania.

For great reading, or if your shopping early for unique Christmas presents this equinox season, samhossler.com

Sam is also writing a history blog at Word Press. Well worth the visit.

Equinox Steelhead Run

The southern shores of Lake Erie, in Ohio, Pa and NY will be elbow to elbow soon as the Steelhead Trout begin their traditional run up the creeks which flow into the lake. The Erie County, PA shoreline is noted as one of the best regions and is known as “Steelhead Alley”. The best fishing seems to be in October, November and into December, although the steelhead can still be caught in the early spring before they head back out into Lake Erie.

Sunchokes

For some strange reason, Sunchokes, are also called Jerusalem Artichokes; they are now beginning to bloom. Members of the sunflower family, they are nutritious, healthy, and delicious. They can be collected in the wild, with permission, or grown in the garden. Learn more about Sunchcokes. They bloom with the golden rods and make for a golden equinox every year.

The Stuff of September

September:

Wow. Labor Day has come and gone. September is going fast, like all the past several months. Around the yard, September can be a busy month.

September is a good time to get the beds ready for garlic which should be planted in the fall; it will be ready for harvest in mid-July next growing season. Chose a good sunny location which drains well, and add plenty of organic material. For more information on garlic, click Garlic.

There is also assorted other work to do in the garden for a better start next spring and a better harvest next year, without a lot of hassle. For some thoughts and information, click Fall Garden.

September and October are also great months to enjoy Nature. There will soon be colorful leaves to experience and already many native wildflowers are in full bloom. It's quite the free show.

The cooler weather, along with the more frequent rains, are bringing some smiles. The Steelhead Trout in Lake Erie will begin moving into the tributaries to spawn. Steelhead are actually a species of Rainbow Trout. Along the southern lake shore in Erie County, the fish are so numerous, the area is often called “Steelhead Alley”.

Maybe that is why September seems to always zip by. There's just a lot of things to do and see.

If you are in the area this fall, and have a few extra moments, be sure to check out the Hurry Hill Maple Syrup Museum which is now open every Sunday until the end of November from 2 pm. to 5 pm. Admission is free and there are plenty of artifacts to observe and activities for children. It's also an opportunity to purchase a real Maple Sundae and other maple products which are on sale throughout the year.

The museum is located at 11424 Fry Road in Edinboro. More information can be found at hurryhillfarm.org

Thanks to Paulette Dininny for sharing the photo of the museum.

Upcoming Nature News:

It won't be long before the leaves will burst into all sorts of colors and shades; there are already a few early “birds” beginning to turn. The oaks and the maples in particular put on a great show.

The oak is an impressive tree, embedded in Americana; from Tie a Yellow Ribbon to gatherings under it's refreshing shade during a hot summer day, to quality woodworking. It is also a highly important food source for our native wildlife.

The oak tree is so much about America, power strength, majestic, that it has also been proclaimed Congress as the national tree of the USA.

Now, this month and into October, acorns are readily found on the ground. Get a couple and start your own oak tree. It's easy and the young tree will sprout in a pot this spring. I use pots, instead of placing them in the ground, because there are certain critters who will dig them up in the ground. Learn more, OAK.

Tweet

September 11

One of the things I remember about that morning was the clear blue sky; it was a perfect autumn day weather-wise. I was up early, watched the local and national news and turned the television off.

My newspaper editor, Peg, was set to arrive within the hour. We were covering the burials at the Erie County Almshouse cemetery that morning. The service, as I recall was set for 10 or 11 that morning. I needed to eat breakfast and grab a quick shower.

When she knocked on the door, she quickly asked me to turn the television on, a plane had crashed into the Twin Towers. It was awful news which turned worse as the morning turned into afternoon.

On the car radio, to the burial service, we heard about the plane crash at the Pentagon and then in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We both had the same thought: Pearl Harbor, again.

The situation was even more grim at the cemetery, which is actually a beautiful wildflower area with towering pine trees; within a short distance, where acres of corn, further off on the horizon was Lake Erie. Small groups of people huddled together passing the latest news between groups.

A small band started to play, a violin and harmonica and a guitar, the service began and the ashes of those who had died were scattered among the pines and the wild flowers. It was solemn and dignified. A preacher spoke a few words and the band played Amazing Grace.

A week later, I was on an Amtrak train heading west to visit friends and family in Las Vegas. It was an amazing 2 ½ day journey. The passengers were somber; there were two families from New York City going to weddings on the west coast. The planes were still grounded and the train was one of the only options.

I guess I could write a book, but then again, everyone has their story about that morning. Someone recently asked, how did that morning change your life?

After several days of thought, I realize how proud I was to be an American and a Christian. Over these last ten years I have been to many other funerals; the Our Father is always recited and the words “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” always seem to conjure memories of that blue September morning.

We lost a lot of good fellow citizens in those tragic events of that morning; citizens, brothers, sisters, who should all be respectfully remembered. And we lost some of our finest men and women in the Armed Services and emergency first responders.

In the last ten years, I have made some very good friends, whose traditions are Muslim, and I appreciate their friendship. They are not part of the radical elements; likewise, they do not judge all Christians because of a few radical extremists.

I guess what I am learning from that blue, fall morning is a re-affirmation of my Christian faith, a re-newed respect for my fellow Americans, and a deeper appreciation of the peoples of, what we call, Earth.

Some Recent Thoughts

Newborn Deaths in the U.S.

Plant Garlic

A Turtle Gets Freedom

Tweet