Natural Nutrition
By Mari An Willis
Wow! We’re talking cold.
Today I just couldn’t get warm. I’m
sure it had nothing to do with the fact that I
ran out with just a light jacket and my slippers
first thing this morning to give the birds a
little extra food! Finally I thought of
something, add a little cayenne pepper to some
water and a little maple syrup and drink... sure
enough, in a couple of minutes, the beads of
perspiration were popping out and I was on my
way. When my dad was still with us, he had
diabetes and the circulation was always a
concern, he would put some cayenne between two
pieces of gauze and put that between his socks
and shoes when he went out to chore on a bitter
cold day. He got that tip from my great Uncle
Carl who used it during WWI to keep his feet warm
in the trenches.
We had an interesting story
come through the store once and I want to share
it with you. It is a testimonial of sorts, but
one that is worth repeating. A woman had some
stomach problems that just wouldn’t go away.
She had done the wise thing and went to her
health care professional for tests and scpoes and
the whole works. She came away with mixed
emotions. They told her they couldn’t find
anything wrong... good news. But... she’d
just have to live with it as there was nothing
that could be done. Now I trust some old remedies
which have proven themselves beneficial over the
years and one of my favorites is Jethro
Kloss’s remedy for stomach problems. I
showed her he book and she found that slippery
elm and marshmallow were used to treat
"gastric disorder." Well, she bought a
few ounces of each and took it every day for a
couple of weeks. "Nothing to lose" she
decided and cheap to boot. She returned to the
store about three weeks later to let me know that
she was feeling GREAT! It’s nice when there
is an easy solution.
Hire a
Skilled Arborist for Storm Damage Recovery
The series of ice storms that
ran through Southwest Missouri this week left
families stunned and without power.
Unfortunately, many trees were damaged by the
weight of the ice causing limb breakage. If more
than half of the main structural branches are
broken, it may be better to remove the tree and
replace it. If less than half of the main
structural branches are broken, properly pruning
these branches can help your tree heal itself
Unfortunately, a few people try
to take advantage of this unfortunate situation.
Avoid "Fly by Night" tree trimmers when
hiring a company to prune your trees. Here are
twelve tips on how to hire an arborist.
1. Check the phone directory,
usually under "Trees, Tree Service, or Tree
Care Service." Anyone can list in the yellow
pages, but their listing indicates some level of
permanence.
2. Beware of "Door-Knockers." Most
Reputable companies will not and do not need to
knock on doors. They will have all the business
they can handle.
3. Find out if they are "Certified" by
an state or private organization. Some good
certifications are with the International Society
of Arboriculture (ISA), Tree Care Industry
Association (TCIA), Kansas Arborist Association
(KAA), and the Society of American Foresters
(SAF).
4. Find out if they have a city business license.
If they do not, and your community requires one,
they are not to be working in your town.
5. Ask for proof of insurance for both liability
and worker’s compensation. Then call the
insurance company to verify it.
6. Ask for local references. They should be happy
to show you other work they have done.
7. Determine if they are a member of a
professional organization like ISA, TCIA, KAA
SAF.
8. Do not be rushed by bargains like "I will
take ten percent off today only". The tree
can wait a few days. NEVER PAY IN ADVANCE.
9. Check with multiple companies to get the
best-qualified and best price.
10. Good arborists offer a wide range of
services. This displays their knowledge and
skill.
11. A good arborist will not recommend topping.
It is better to remove a tree than do this.
12. A conscientious arborist will not use
climbing spikes unless removing the tree.
Not every competent arborist
will meet all of these requirements, but the more
they meet the better job you will get. If your
selected arborist is busy, it is ok to wait for
them. Waiting for a good job will pay off with a
healthier tree.
The Department of Conservation
has facts sheets on properly pruning a tree. If
you would like this free information, please
contact Jon Skinner at 417-629-3423 or visit
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/features/tree_storm.htm.
Watch for announcements of "Tree Care After
the Ice Storm" workshops in mid-December and
early January.
Jon Skinner is an Urban
Forester for the Missouri Department of
Conservation. He works at the Department’s
Joplin office and reached at 417-629-3423.
How to Save
Food After a Power Outage.
By Susan Mills-Gray, Nutrition Specialist, Cass
County Extension Center, University of Missouri
Extension
Whether your
freezer and refrigerator are shut off due to
storm, forgetfulness or accident, the food safety
rules about what to keep or toss are the same.
Why not print this article and post it near your
freezer and/or refrigerator for easy reference?
Moldy Jar
Throw away food that is moldy or has an
unusual odor
The Freezer
The basic rule is that if a food still has
ice crystals inside its package, it can be
refrozen. Use a permanent marker or crayon and
mark each salvageable package in the freezer with
a large "X" to indicate that it has
been partially thawed. Use these items as soon as
possible. Items with no remaining ice crystals
should be thrown away.
What if the
freezer has come back on and you don’t know
how much your food has thawed? Since you are
dealing with an unknown, the rule is "if in
doubt, throw it out." If you notice blood
from once-frozen meat on neighboring packages or
in the bottom of the freezer, advanced thawing
has certainly occurred.
The
Refrigerator
Since your refrigerator should be at or below
40 degrees F during normal operation, going two
hours without power will mean you need to do some
tossing. Follow the guidelines below to help you
salvage as much as possible.
Foods that need to
be thrown away if kept above 40 degrees F for
more than 2 hours:
• Raw or cooked meat, poultry, fish
• Hard cooked or cracked eggs
• Egg substitutes
• Milk, cream, yogurt, or soft cheese
• Casseroles, stews, or soups
• Lunch meats and hot dogs
• Cream-based salad dressings
• Custard, chiffon, or cheese pies
• Cream-filled pastries
• Cookie dough
Toss condiments,
such as opened jars of mayonnaise, tartar sauce
and horseradish, if they were above 50 degrees F
for more than 8 hours.
Foods that can be kept at room temperature for a
few days (throw away items that are moldy or have
an unusual odor):
• Butter or margarine
• Spices
• BBQ sauce
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Ketchup
• Fruit juices
• Relish
• Cakes without cream filling or cream
cheese frosting
• Opened bottles of vinegar-based salad
dressings
• Taco sauce
• Hard and processed cheese
• Fruit pies, bread, rolls or muffins
• Mustard
• Dried fruit, coconut
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
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