Jerry Apps's Blog, page 15

Making Hay in October

Making hay in October. Cutting it with a rotary mower. Raking it with an ancient side-delivery rake. Stacking it in bunches that line up across the little field to dry. With a pitchfork. Just like farmers did many years ago. Why do all that work?

It was probably 15 years ago that the septic system at the farm froze up. From one end to the other. Nothing worked. Not a pleasant situation as anyone with a septic system quickly understands.

Remembering what I learned as a kid when the winters seemed considerably more fierce at least in terms of below zero days, Pa would say, “If you wanna keep something from freezing, cover it with some straw or hay.” And that’s what I’ve been doing every year since that freeze up. My hay crop goes on my septic system. I have not had a problem since I began doing it.

When spring arrives, I remove the hay from the septic system and we use it to mulch the cabbages, broccoli, and tomatoes in our garden. The mulch helps keep down the weeds, and also helps to hold moisture.

In the fall, when we put the garden to bed for the winter, we disk in what’s left of the mulch to add e organic material in our sandy soil. (I also plant winter rye, which, when worked into the soil in spring, also helps improve the garden soil.)

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Hay cut in October can have multiple uses.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 22, (Tuesday) 6:30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI CCC History.

October 24, (Thursday) 1:00 p.m. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St., Seymour, WI. Sponsored by Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps”

November 14, (Thursday) 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. The Land Still Lives launch.

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”

For those interested in purchasing my book (Christmas is coming) get a signed copy from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org
.

Rain, Rain, & More Rain

In January 2017, I published a book titled Never Curse the Rain. A few months later public television aired an hour-long documentary with the same title. In both the book and the TV show, I talked about the importance of water and how we must work to keep it available, safe and pure.

When I was a kid, it seemed our sandy farm never had enough rain. When it did rain and my brothers and I complained about cancelling a fishing trip, my dad would remind us, “Never Curse the Rain.” I’ve never forgotten those words.

As luck would have it, not long after the book and TV show appeared, it began raining, and it continues. I checked some records. Wisconsin’s annual average rainfall is supposed to be about 34.5 inches. In 2018 the total rainfall for the state was 58.65 inches, with some areas receiving much more.

In 2019 the rains continue. Green Bay weather people report that this year is the wettest year in that city since 1890. As of October 2nd, Green Bay received more than 39 inches of rain.

Farmers had trouble putting in their crops because of wet spring weather. Now, like a double whammy, farmers are having trouble harvesting their crops because of too much rain. For those who remind me of my words, “Never curse the rain,” I suggest a few negative words may be in order. But no cursing.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Rain is important, but, but . . .

UPCOMING EVENTS:

.October 22, (Tuesday) 6:30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI CCC History.

October 24, (Thursday) 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie
County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St., Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps”

November 14, (Thursday) 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. The Land Still lives launch.

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”

To learn more pick up a copy of Never Curse the Rain, Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Signed copies of Never Curse the Rain are available for purchase from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

Bees: Not to be taken for granted.

As a farm kid, I took bees for granted. I knew not to tangle with a hornets’ nest, or a paper wasp’s special paper-like construction or a bumble bee’s nest. I learned that if I stayed away from their nests, the bees didn’t bother me much. One of my uncles had beehives and I came to like honey, especially during World War II when sugar was rationed. He would give us some comb honey; I really liked it smeared on a thick slice of home-made bread. I didn’t think of honey bees, in the same way, I thought of other bees—and they were different of course.

At the time, I didn’t know how important bees were to farmers, especially for our gardens and fruit. Bees do heavy-duty pollination. Without them we’d have few apples or cranberries, just to give a couple of examples.

I recently read an article with the headline, “The Bee is declared the Most Important Living Being On the Planet.” That that may be pushing it a little. But I got the point. The article went on to say that “the pollination that the bees make allows the plants to reproduce, of which millions of animals feed.”

And here’s the bottom-line. Bees are disappearing. To add a personal experience. For the past five years, I’ve had a steady decrease in the number of pumpkins and squash I grow in my garden. I plant the same amount of seed, the plants come up and look good. They form blossoms—but no pumpkins and squash. I see few bees in my garden.
THE OLD-TIMER ASKS: What can we do to increase the bee population?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 12 (Saturday) 1:00 p.m., Fox Cities Book Festival, Menasha Public Library. CCC

October 22, (Tuesday) 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI CCC History

October 24, (Thursday) 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St. , Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps."

November 14, (Thursday) 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. "The Land Still Lives" launch.

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”

To learn more about my gardening efforts, pick up a copy of my book, Garden Wisdom, Wisconsin Historical Society Press.

Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

Smallest Pumpkin Contest

Tiny Pumpkin Photo by Jerry Apps
As we slowly move into autumn, one national event captures attention each year—who has grown the largest pumpkin? I thought about the big pumpkin contests for a couple of years when I managed to grow a pumpkin that weighed nearly 150 pounds if I remember correctly. Perhaps a memory about big pumpkins is like big fish, they grow bigger in memory over time, but it was a big pumpkin.

I did a little checking and discovered that in 2019, 34 states held or are holding a big pumpkin contest, beginning with Alaska with its “Midnight Sun Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off” held last August in Palmer. California has eight different pumpkin festivals scatted around the state. New Hampshire has five, as does Michigan. Four pumpkin festivals are noted for Wisconsin including the Nekoosa “Giant Pumpkin Festival slated for October 5-6.

Wondering who got the prize for the biggest pumpkin in 2018? This giant of all pumpkins for the year weighed 2,528 pounds and was grown by a fellow in New Hampshire and exhibited at the Deerfield Fair in that state.

Quickly realizing that with my sandy, western Waushara County soil, my chances of growing a pumpkin weighing a ton were nil to none. So, taking the pumpkin by its stem, I decided to begin a new pumpkin contest. It’s a contest for the poor soil gardeners who never win anything in the “Big” category. Who can grow the smallest pumpkin? I offer the above as my entry. It is one inch across—a fully formed, orange pumpkin. Anyone with a smaller pumpkin?

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Small can be beautiful.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 1, (Tuesday), 12:15 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum, on the Square in Downtown Madison. Topic: The Land Still Lives.

October 5, (Saturday), 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing with Daughter, Sue.

October 22, (Tuesday) 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, (Thursday) 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St. , Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps

November 14, (Thursday) 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. The Land Still lives launch.

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”

To learn more about my gardening efforts, pick up a copy of my book, Garden Wisdom, Wisconsin Historical Society Press.
Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

Abundant Grape Vines

Grapevines on the Woodshed
Photo by Jerry Apps

With all the rain this summer, the wild grapes have outdone themselves. We have grapevines at Roshara climbing to the tops of trees that are fifty feet and taller. We have grapevines crawling to the top of the woodshed. We have grapevines crawling over the lilac bushes. We have grapevines hanging over the back trail to the prairie.

I’m reminded when I was a kid on the home farm; one summer produced an abundant grape crop. Pa came home one day, after seeing more wild grapes than he usually did and told my mother we should bottle up some of the grapes so we might have some grape juice during the long, cold days of winter. Ma agreed that would be a good idea.

Pa fetched some unused beer bottles from the cellar where they had been gathering dust, washed them, and began stuffing the little wild grapes into the bottles until each bottle was mostly full. Ma filled the bottles the rest of the way with well water, and then with a bottle capper, they fitted caps to each bottle. They stored the bottles on shelves in the cellar along with all the other fruits and vegetables that Ma had canned.

A month or so later, in the middle of a dark night, a loud explosion awakened us. My brothers and I ran downstairs. Pa had already figured out what had happened. One of the grape juice bottles had exploded. The grapes had fermented. There was glass and juice and grapes everywhere. What a mess they created.

THE OLDTIMER SAYS: Be careful what you stuff into a bottle and seal with a cap.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 5, 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing with Daughter, Sue.

October 22, 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St. , Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps”

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”

To learn more about Roshara, pick up a copy of my book, OLD FARM: A HISTORY.

Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

Saving the Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly on Blazing Star. Photo by Jerry Apps
.
The Monarch Butterfly depends on the milkweed for reproduction. With ample rains and warm sunny days, the prairie at Roshara is flourishing. Wildflowers are everywhere and milkweeds are abundant. Along with all the milkweeds in the prairie, the Blazing Star wildflower (Liatris) is also outdoing itself this year. Never have I seen such a display of this beautiful plant. And guess what? Monarch Butterflies feed on the nectar of Blazing Star wildflower.

With several acres of milkweeds and Blazing Star wildflowers, we have, dozens, maybe hundreds of Monarchs flitting about, enjoying the sunshine and feeding on their favorite wildflower. And preparing for their winter migration. On a sunny day, I stood on the prairie and just watched the Monarchs. They would feed on a Blazing Star for a time, fly a few feet, and then feed on another.

Monarch butterflies spend their winters in Mexico. Hard to believe, but these rather fragile butterflies fly many hundreds of miles to escape Wisconsin winters. Why don’t they remain in Mexico, one might ask? Well, they can’t survive the freezing temperatures of the north, but, alas, the plants they need for reproduction don’t grow in Mexico, so the spring generation of Monarchs flies north where the plants are plentiful.

One way we can help Monarchs survive is to plant some milkweeds—a plant that, when I was a kid, was considered a weed and we cultivated and hoed it out of our garden, the potato patch, the cucumber patch, wherever they grew. Now, we should let them grow.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Plant some milkweed seeds, save a Monarch butterfly.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 18, 9-4 Writing Workshop, Wyocena Public Library, Wyocena.

September 20, 12:30 p.m. UW-Platteville, Baraboo Campus, 1006 Connie Rd., Baraboo, WI. “History of WI Agriculture”

October 5, 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing.

October 12 1:00 p.m., Fox Cities Book Festival, Menasha Public Library

October 22, 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St. , Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps”

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”


To learn more about the prairie at Roshara, pick up a copy of my book, OLD FARM: A HISTORY.
Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

Early Fall Harvest

Photo by Jerry Apps
It’s only a red maple leaf, but seeing it brings back so many memories. When the first maple leaves began turning from green to red and yellow, farm work turned from summer activities to fall work. We had already harvested at least one cutting of hay and had filled the hay mows in the dairy barn to full and overflowing. We had cut the oat crop and the threshing crew came by the farm in mid-August to thresh the grain and refill the bins in the granary with oats.

Now, in September, with cooler evenings, and shorter days, we looked to the first harvest of fall—silo filling. Everyday Pa would walk the rows of our 20-acre cornfield, checking an ear here and there, looking for what he called corn in the “milk stage.” By this he meant, when poking a corn kernel, a milk-like substance appeared. When he was satisfied that the corn was ready, he hitched our trusty team of horses, Frank and Charlie, to the one-row corn binder. Soon rows of green, heavy, corn bundles appeared on the ground.

Pa phoned Ross Caves, who did custom silo filling, that our corn was cut and asked when he could come to the farm. In a day or two, he did. Pa summoned the neighbors, the same ones who helped with threshing. By night time, the silo was filled with corn cut into little pieces. It would immediately begin fermenting, and by late October and early November, it was ready to feed to the ever-hungry cows.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Fall, such a wonderful time to be alive.


UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wisconsin Public Radio (Ideas Network), Chapter a Day. Reading at 12:30 September 9-13: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Wisconsin. Read by Jim Fleming.

September 12, 7:00 p.m. Belleville H.S. Auditorium, Belleville. “Simple Things: Lessons From the Family Farm.”

September 18, 9-4 Writing Workshop, Wyocena Public Library, Wyocena.

September 20, 12:30 p.m. UW-Platteville, Baraboo Campus, 1006 Connie Rd., Baraboo, WI. “History of WI Agriculture”

October 5, 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing.

October 12 1:00 p.m., Fox Cities Book Festival, Menasha Public Library

October 22, 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St., Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps”

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI. “Wisconsin. CCC”

To learn more about farm life in the 1940s and early 1950s, read EVERY FARM TELLS A STORY and LIVING A COUNTRY YEAR.
Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

First Day of School

My one-room school, west of Wild Rose, long closed. Photo by Jerry Apps.

With schools starting, I remember my first day of school years ago. There was no kindergarten, so I was destined for first grade. I had just turned five in July. I stood by our dusty country road waiting for the neighbor boy, Mike Korleski to come by. He was in sixth grade, and my mother had talked with his mother and asked if Jerry could walk with Mike to school... I stood with my lard pail lunch bucket, two new yellow pencils and a five-cent pad of writing paper, waiting for Mike. Finally, he appeared and we began walking toward the school.

Elderberries hung heavy along the road, which was heavily shaded with elm and oak trees. As we walked along, we watched a squirrel scamper up an oak tree. We saw goldenrods’ yellow heads hanging over the road. Mike was more interested in these things than I was. My thoughts were all about school and what it would be like. What other kids I would meet, and would I be able to learn all that kids were supposed to learn?

When we got to the top of Miller’s hill, we heard the school bell ringing, echoing down the valley and rolling up the hills that surrounded the school. Mike told me we had to hurry for that was the eight-thirty bell and we didn’t want to be late. Once there, Mike pulled the big schoolhouse door open for me and I entered. My life would be changed forever.

THE OLD-TIMER SAYS: So much was learned at the one-room country school that was not in books.

ANOTHER WRITING OPPORTUNITY:

WHAT: A “Telling Your Story Workshop”
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019—9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Wyocena Community Center, Wyocena, WI
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Contact Wyocena Library (608-429-4899) or Portage Public Library (608-742-4959)
Workshop fee includes a copy of my book, “Telling Your Story,” and a catered lunch.
Sign up soon, limited seats available.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 12, 7:00 p.m. Belleville H.S. Auditorium, Belleville. “Simple Things: Lessons From the Family Farm.”

September 18, 9-4 Writing Workshop, Wyocena Public Library, Wyocena (see above for details)

September 20, 12:30 p.m. UW-Platteville, Baraboo Campus, 1006 Connie Rd., Baraboo, WI. “History of WI Agriculture”

October 5, 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing.

October 12 1:00 p.m., Fox Cities Book Festival, Menasha Public Library

October 22, 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library and Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St. , Seymour, WI “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 9, 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. “Farm Winter With Jerry Apps”

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI “Wisconsin. CCC”

To learn more about country schools, read my book ONE-ROOM COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

The County Fair Evokes Memories

Merry-Go-Round at Waushara County Fair. Photo by Jerry Apps

What would Wisconsin be without its fairs? The first one opened in Waukesha in 1842, six years before we became a state. We’ve had fairs almost every year since, somewhere in the state—or better said, about everywhere in the state.

Last week my brother Don and I attended the Waushara County Fair—and the memories began flowing. I showed cattle at that fair from 1946-1955, the years that I was a 4-H member. All summer long during those years, I couldn’t wait for the fair to open, as I not only showed my 4-H calves there, but I got to stay overnight. My 4-H Club purchased a surplus tent left over from World War II—I think we paid $25.00 for it, and several used army cots for around $5.00 each. And it was in that old tent where the boys slept so we could take care of our calves.

It was my introduction to cotton candy and the Merry Go Round, plus a ride on the Ferris Wheel. It was my first look at a harness race and a horse pulling contest. It was the first time that I saw an airplane up close as a “barnstorming” pilot with a double-wing open cockpit plane offered rides. “See your farm from the air,” the pilot announced. I didn’t begin to have the money he wanted. So I watched as the plane bumped along the cow pasture just to the east of fair grounds and climbed into the air.

So much more. Fairs are as Wisconsin as cheese.

THE OLD-TIMER SAYS: What could be more fun than attending a fair?

ANOTHER WRITING OPPORTUNITY:

WHAT: A “Telling Your Story Workshop”
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019—9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Wyocena Community Center, Wyocena, WI
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Contact Wyocena Library (608-429-4899) or Portage Public Library (608-742-4959)
Workshop fee includes a copy of my book, “Telling Your Story,” and a catered lunch.
Sign up soon, limited seats available.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 7, 5-8:30, (Cancelled) Autumn with the Al Ringling Theater.

September 12, 7:00 p.m. Belleville H.S. Auditorium, Belleville. Simple Things: Lessons From the Family Farm.

September 18, 9-4 Writing Workshop, Wyocena Public Library, Wyocena (see above for details)

September 20, 12:30 p.m. UW-Platteville, Baraboo Campus, 1006 Connie Rd., Baraboo, WI. History of WI Agriculture.

October 5, 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing.

October 12 1:00 p.m., Fox Cities Book Festival, Menasha Public Library

October 22, 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library. Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St. , Seymour, WI Rural Wit and Wisdom

November 9, 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. Farm Winter With Jerry Apps

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI Wisconsin. CCC

To learn more about my prairie restoration project, read my book OLD FARM: A HISTORY.
Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org

Prairie Restoration

Daughter, Sue in Roshara Prairie. Photo by Jerry Apps.

When my two brothers and I first got our farm in 1966, we decided to grow corn on the only field that wasn’t too steep for cultivation. It was about six to eight acres. We asked our neighbor and longtime friend, David Kolka if he’d be interested in planting corn in the field for a share of the profits.

For three years, if I remember correctly, David planted and harvested corn from this sandy, stony field. Our goal was to make enough money from the corn to pay the taxes on the place. David made little money. We made little money. We pulled the plug on corn growing on the field.

A few years later we divided the farm into three equal pieces, and later I purchased my brother Darrel’s share, which included most of the old cornfield.

Along the way, I had been researching the history of the place, discovering that Tom Stewart, a Civil War veteran, had homesteaded the farm in 1867. I wondered what he saw when he first broke this land. I began calling the former cornfield “the prairie.” I set out to restore it by doing nothing, except keeping out the brush and trees that wanted to grow there. For a couple of years, we had weeds, but then, slowly the native grasses and wildflowers began returning.

Now, some forty years later, we have a prairie of wildflowers and grasses. Something new almost every week as new wildflowers come into bloom.

THE OLD-TIMER SAYS: Nature has its own way of healing—if given a chance.\

ANOTHER WRITING OPPORTUNITY:

WHAT: A “Telling Your Story Workshop”

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019—9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Wyocena Community Center, Wyocena, WI

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Contact Wyocena Library (608-429-4899) or Portage Public Library (608-742-4959)
Workshop fee includes a copy of my book, “Telling Your Story,” and a catered lunch.
Sign up soon, limited seats available.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 7, 5-8:30, Autumn with the Al Ringling Theater, Wild Rose Ranch, E12311 Cty. Rd. W, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Circus stories.

September 12, 7:00 p.m. Belleville H.S. Auditorium, Belleville. Simple Things: Lessons From the Family Farm.

September 18, 9-4 Writing Workshop, Wyocena Public Library, Wyocena (see above for details)

September 20, 12:30 p.m. UW-Platteville, Baraboo Campus, 1006 Connie Rd., Baraboo, WI. History of WI Agriculture.

October 5, 10-2:00 p.m. Dregne’s, Westby. Book signing.

October 12 1:00 p.m., Fox Cities Book Festival, Menasha Public Library

October 22, 6;30 Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, WI

October 24, 1:00 p.m. Friends of Muehl Public Library. Outagamie County Home and Community Education Assoc. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main St., Seymour, WI Rural Wit and Wisdom

November 9, 9:00 a.m. 2nd Sat. Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. Farm Winter With Jerry Apps

November 18, 1:00 p.m. Kiel Public Library, Kiel, WI Wisconsin. CCC

To learn more about my prairie restoration project, read my book OLD FARM: A HISTORY.
Available for purchase from your local bookstore or buy them from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org