Dear Farmer John, Can you give me an idea what to look for when purchasing an African violet and how to care for it? Thank you so much. Carol, Norwich
Dear Carol, When buying an African violet make sure there are no brown patches and there are plenty of buds, not just blooms. They seem to do best in a window where there is light, but they do not like the hot sun from March to October. They enjoy a more constant temperature from 70 to 78 and a spot without drafts. They do not like cold water and do best if watered in saucer removing the water not used after 30 to 40 minutes. A good plant fertilizer used every two weeks during the growing season makes the delightful and popular plant happy. Finally divide plants when they become root bound into plants of two or more crowns. And a strange fact from readers is that if you have three or four plants in a window they seem to do better than if alone, something no one seems to understand ... maybe they talk to each other... good luck, house plants can be so enjoyable, especially in cold weather when almost everything is brown and resting.
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A chance for readers to help another reader --
Dear Farmer John, A friend gave me soybeans from his field several years ago. I stored them in gallon glass jars in our attic. I was short of storage space and unaware how to use them. What might be a reasonable life span stored in this manner and how might one use them? SH, Fostoria
Dear SH, A lot depends on how much moisture was in the beans when stored, whether treated for pest eggs, and how hot your attic got.
The best way to test is to take a few seeds and try them in some moist soil in a pot.
I would try like 10 seeds from each jar and mark pots and jars and see the percentage of germination. Lets see what ways the readers have to suggest for uses. Of course, you can plant in a garden area and harvest crop yourself, or turn crop under as green manure for building up a soil. What do you think readers?
From Grandma B of Cambridge to Tina in Barberton who asked for advice for graduating seniors -- I have been through some very hard tunes; most seemed devastating at the time. I often felt like giving up. These were the things that helped me grow stronger so my advice to young people is:
1. Everything in life is temporary.
It is full of ups and downs. Enjoy the good times and hang in there through the bad. You can survive all kinds of overwhelming disasters and go on to find joy and happiness. Have faith in the future.
2. Try not to make foolish mistakes or hurt other people. When you do learn from it, don't repeat it accept responsibility for your behavior, make restitution if needed and forgive yourself.
3. Like yourself. Do things that make you proud and happy, random acts of kindness, working toward worthwhile goals, spending time with people who love you ... be who you are. Not what you think someone else wants you to be.. Be the friend you would like to have ... live life with integrity.
4. Value yourself ... embrace your power ... You will meet people who will try to bully or manipulate you to do things that you do not want to do or that is wrong or dangerous. These people are not your friends, stand up to them. The most powerful word in the English language is the magic word you learned by age 2, "NO," "NO" I don't want to ..."NO." I don't feel like it ... "NO." It's too risky or not right. Use that word "NO." Embrace your power to control your life.
5. Do not accept abuse. Anyone can say I love you. Those who really do, show it through their actions. They want you to be happy and successful. They will not try to isolate you from others. Love is not selfish or controlling.
6. Learn the art of negotiation. Being able to get what you want without making someone else feel like they lost is a valuable skill.
7. Protect your health and well being.
8. Love ferociously -- family friends, puppies, kittens, flowers, trees, children, the environment -- protect them.
9. Relish life -- dance, sing, laugh, and notice the beauty in ordinary things., a dandelion from a child's hand is more precious than any orchid, ice on trees sparkle with a rainbow of colors, and the tiny brown bird has an astounding song.
10. Learn from the experience of others. Listen when older people tell their stories or offer advice. Everyone you meet knows something useful
Thanks for listening.
Dear Grandma B., We all thank you for sharing that wonderful, beautiful advice ... which I might add is great for everyone of us -- no matter what our age is. So many people are abused mentally or physically everyday ... they can profit from your advice ... So many have a low opinion of themselves ... they can profit from your advice. So many in the world have traded love and kindness for greed and selfishness, and we can get your message out there to them. Doing something nice for yourself and others can make each of us live a happier and, I believe, a longer life. God Bless you and every reader.
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Biscuits Ala Nancy from Millersburg -- 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/3 cup shortening, 1 heaping tablespoon sour cream, 2/3 cup milk or buttermilk. Cut shortening in dry ingredients, add milk and knead 25 times. Drop on cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes or till brown and done.
Sausage gravy -- 2 pounds sausage, 1-1/4 cup flour, 2 quarts milk, salt, pepper, season salt and Natures Seasoning dry mustard. Fry sausage, add flour and stir well, add cold milk all at once, stir and keep stirring till it boils. Add more milk if too thick, season to taste, we really enjoy your news ... Thanks ...(And thank you -- FJ)
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Biscuits from MY of Millersburg -- 2 cup flour, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup shortening, 4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and 2/3 cup milk.
Sift dry ingredients, cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs, add milk all at once, stir, roll or drop on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Good luck. I use part whole wheat flour.
Sausage gravy -- 2 pounds sausage, 1/2 cup butter, 1-1/4 cups flour, 2 quarts milk (I use half water), salt, pepper and seasoned salt to taste.
Fry sausage in butter, add flour and stir well, gradually add watery milk, continue to heat and keep stirring, it will thicken as it cooks. Add more milk if too thick.
Thank you all for sharing ... FJ and if you have a question or tip or great meal recipe, please write me at Farmer John, P.O. Box 234, Groveport, OH 43125 ... and till next week ... smile and stay happy, warm and healthy.
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