It looks like it will be a long, drawn-out harvest across the country. We had two weeks of harvest, were down for two weeks, and now are back at it. Some parts of the country have been less fortunate. When we are pressed for time, it never hurts to be reminded of the importance of farm safety. Often we want to finish the field, get one more load in the bin, or move to another location before the day is done.
I was personally reminded of the need for caution. I was weighing the truck near the end of the day, slipped and did a face plant on the scale I-beam and ended up with stitches, bruises and face numbness. Although our bodies are miraculous machines, I was reminded of the need to slow down and pay attention. As on many farms, our three adult children will be home at some point as we piece together our harvest help.
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This article sets out some of the legal considerations to start a business to sell home-grown product, such as vegetables, herbs, fruit or honey.
Farm safety is always important, and even more so at a busy time when family, friends, and casual labourers work together to pull off the harvest. They may not be as familiar with the machinery and equipment, hand signals and expectations.
Self-improvement book
While we are all working together at this busy time of year, it is a time to accept, respect, and celebrate the differences in people. I’m Not Crazy, I’m Just Not You describes how we can identify, understand, and value these differences in productive ways. The better you understand yourself and how you tend to think and act, the easier it is to understand your assumptions about others.
For example, a sigh can mean different things to different people. A sigh to one person may be expressing fatigue; to another it may be their expression of frustration, and to another something else. It is important to avoid assumptions.
Simply asking others what they mean is a small step in recognizing that different people perceive things differently. We each look through our own rose-coloured glasses. Sometimes we may disagree, experience disappointment or feel confusion about being misunderstood or misunderstanding someone else. Is one perspective more right than the other, or just different? Some of the questions we may have are: Why can’t I get my ideas across clearly? How can I learn to be a better listener or communicator? If I was just trying to be helpful and considerate, why do I feel like I made a mistake?
What would be the normal, reasonable and acceptable thing to do here? What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. It depends on one’s perspective. Understanding differences in people can help the way people interact with each other. Tolerance and acceptance are worthwhile goals
in families or worldwide.
Source: I’m Not Crazy, I’m Just Not You by Roger R. Pearman & Sarah C. Albritton, Davies-Black Publishing.Ê
National Family Week
National Family Week is
Oct. 3-9. One of the strengths of families is the connection between generations; families value members at all ages and stages. Connecting Canadian generations with each other enhances respect, understanding and feelings of belonging. To encourage this intergenerational connectedness in your community, you might:
- Reach out to a person from a different generation than yourself.
- Try to plan events that would be appealing to all generations at your school, on your street and in your community.
- Plan an intergenerational program.
- Talk to children about safe ways that they could be helpful to older people. For example, they could run an errand, send an e-mail or help with yard work.
nVisit a museum that shows how previous generations lived.
- Research websites that focus on intergenerational issues, such as www.bccf.bc.ca, www.gu.org, www.intergenugo.org.
For more information about National Family Week, contact Family Service Canada, 800-668-7808 or check out its website at www.familyservicecanada.org/nfw.
When we received the unwelcome harvest rain, Don suggested we go to the South Saskatchewan Landing Golf and Country Club restaurant for an early birthday celebration, As we sat in the restaurant enjoying the ambiance, two couples we knew from Don’s School of Agriculture days came in to celebrate the men’s upcoming harvest birthdays.
They invited us home for a visit and coffee, and Dorothy served this tasty zucchini loaf. It is a great way to make use of the fall zucchini harvest.
Zucchini loaf
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar 250 mL
1 cup brown sugar 250 mL
1 cup oil 250 mL
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
2 cups grated zucchini 500 mL
3 cups flour 750 mL
1 teaspoon baking soda 5 mL
1 teaspoon baking powder 5 mL
1 teaspoon salt 5 mL
1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon 2-5 mL
1/2-1 teaspoon nutmeg 2-5 mL
1/2 cup chopped nuts, 125 mL
optional
1 cup chopped dates 250 mL
1/2-3/4 cup chopped 125-175 mL
cherries
Mix the first five ingredients well. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix well. Put in two loaf pans.
Bake one hour at 350 F (180 C).
Source: Community Favourites, Park Parents, Stewart Valley cookbook.
Stain removal
Dear TEAM: I read with interest your column about household hints, but would like to know if you can also help us wives who have trouble with diesel fuel and oil stains on clothing. In the past, I have had to throw away diesel fuel-stained clothing, because neither the stain nor the odour can be removed. – I.V., Picture Butte, Alta.
Dear I.V.: Following are a few hints from other readers that include farm grease removal. I used Avon vanilla cream bubble bath on old grease-stained and grass-stained clothing with good results. Betty Ann finds that spraying the spot with WD-40, letting it soak for 10 minutes, and then working in undiluted liquid dishwashing detergent before machine washing also works well. Another novel idea suggested in The Queen of Clean’s Complete Cleaning Guide is pouring a can of original Coca-Cola into the washer with your detergent and laundering as usual. I didn’t try that one.Ê
Dear TEAM: I have a hint for cleaning. Use Avon bubble bath for all your cleaning. Put a capful in a four litre (one gallon) pail and wash walls, floors, and mirrors with it. Then take the water and feed your plants. You can also put straight bubble bath on a stain on the carpet or your clothes. Rub well, and rinse the carpet with water once the stain is out, or throw your clothes in the laundry machine. I got hydraulic grease out of my husband’s jeans with it. The only bubble bath I found that worked was Avon – any scent. So just imagine cleaning your house with the smell of strawberry or peach. It will really make you smile. – S.W., Kendal, Sask.
Dear TEAM: This household hint I am quite excited about because it really works. How do you remove fresh or old red wine stains from tablecloths or clothing even if they have been laundered several times and the stain turns brownish? Mix together Dawn dishwashing liquid soap (even if it is coloured and you are applying it to a white item) with hydrogen peroxide. Apply to the stain generously and let pre-soak in your laundry hamper until the next laundry day. The stain will be gone before you launder. Incredible. It works. I have also tried this on a blouse that had black grease splattered on it and laundered several times with other products – gone. – J.R., Livelong, Sask.
Dear TEAM: Just thought that I would send you this little tip that has proven itself time and time again. I owe gratitude to my high school shop teacher for this one – maybe he should have been teaching us home economics. To remove a stain from clothing, simply spray the stain with hairspray. Yes, hairspray. Wash as usual. If the stain has not disappeared after the first wash, repeat, spray, and wash. I have used this tip not only to remove grape juice stains, but bloodstains and grass stains with great success. I now always keep a cheaper bottle of hairspray in the laundry room, but at times may have to use it for the purpose it was intended, hair. – S.Z., Bengough, Sask.
Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@
producer.com.
