Today's Feature

Master Gardener Program.

News release

Jasper County University of Missouri Extension will be sponsoring a Missouri Master Gardener program beginning in January. The program is designed to train volunteers in various aspects of horticulture. The Master Gardeners participate in a wide variety of community service projects and assist University of Missouri Extension in providing unbiased educational information to the public.

A person who wishes to become a Master Gardener is required to attend 30 hours of training, and agree to return 30 hours of volunteer service during the following year. The fee is $125, but thanks to the support of the Ozark Gateway Master Gardener organization, the cost to those enrolling will be $95.

Topics to be covered in the basic sessions include an orientation to the Master Gardener program; plant physiology; winter tree identification and tree care; soils and plant nutrition; woody ornamentals; insects; annuals and perennials; plant diagnostics; vegetable production; home lawn and turf; and home fruit production.

To apply for the program or to obtain further information, contact Ed Browning or Janet LaFon, Courthouse Basement, Carthage, MO 64836, 417-358-2158.

Mornin'
I thumbed a ride or two, back in the good old days. Ever’ now and then I see a hitchhiker out on the four lane. When I drive past, I know what they’re sayin’. Can’t tell ya here. I wonder if these are still the good old days for those folks who are still hitchin’ rides.

‘Course, you could say that the good old days are just that period of time that we didn’t know any better. As much as folks talk about it, I don’t see many settin’ up an outhouse and turnin’ off their electricity.

Ridin’ a horse ta work musta had its own peculiar hazards. I suppose folks would get so they could overlook a fella’s wrinkled pants and a little dust on his lapel. Not to mention the stuff on his boots.

Those musta been the real good old days.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• "I do a whole lot of traveling, and have always done this when I go out of town. I try to use up as much food as possible before I leave, but I also freeze what I can in order to reduce the amount of food I waste. I put a few ice cubes in a tied plastic bag and put it on the shelf of the freezer when I leave. If I come back to one large ice blob, I know that the power has been out for a substantial amount of time while I was gone. Then I know that the stuff in the freezer/refrigerator has to go." -- H.A. in Ontario, Canada

• Here’s a wonderful tip from the Insurance Information Institute: Keep your toolshed locked. You might not be worried about losing that old shovel, ladder or set of screwdrivers, but you might be worried if someone uses them to break into your house. Lock it up for safety.

• If you have smelly shoes, here is a "stocking stuffer" to try: Take the foot portion of an old pair of pantyhose. Fill it with tea leaves and stuff it into the shoe. Leave for a couple of days. It should soak up the smell. You can also use kitty litter or charcoal, but I find that the tea leaves leave a pleasant scent behind.

• "I love patent-leather shoes for the kids. To make them shine (and to keep them from cracking), I give them a good buff with plain old petroleum jelly. It’s cheap and works perfectly." -- O.C. in Wisconsin

• When making cookies that are dropped by teaspoon, dip your spoon in milk before collecting the batter. It won’t affect the taste or the way it cooks, but it makes it much easier to get a true teaspoon for even-sized cookies.