Thanksgiving
Hard to believe a year went by so fast. But a happy holiday to all. In case your not sure what to do, there are many communities which have Thanksgiving Day dinners like the one held annually at the Beaverdam Mennonite Church near Elgin.
The meals are a great place to meet people and make new friends. If your unsure about where to go in your community, send a comment.
Check in with the elderly and those alone, maybe they would appreciate the opportunity to get together and go along. It never hurts to ask.
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Thanksgiving is really an ancient holiday; a celebration which happened centuries before the Pilgrims. Crawford County and much of northwestern Pennsylvania has a rich pre-settlement history and even today, many of the names we use originated with the first inhabitants of this area. Many of the early Thanksgivings involved fasting and Thanks for the harvest followed by religious dances, songs and a communal meal. It’s somewhat similar today except for the Macy Day parade and football games.
Thanksgiving also signals the opening of Pennsylvania rifle season for whitetail deer. It opens on Monday. New York state opened last Saturday. A lot of hunters are paying to hunt in New York because of the earlier season, less restrictions and Sunday hunting.
Pennsylvania needs to allow hunting on Sundays. I know several people who have given up on Pennsylvania hunting because with work Monday through Friday, there is only one day to get out. And if the weather is miserable or there are other commitments, time in the woods is decreased even further.
I suspect New York is making some extra cash.
Bee Thankful
Linesville – Beekeeper Charlie Vorisek and his wife spent a hectic week, “information overload”, according to Charlie in an email last night after they returned to Linesville.
The Vorisek’s tend to a hundred beehives and have dealt with a lot of the issues regarding the mystery illnesses facing the bees. They attended several bee-related meetings last week.
There is a growing consensus that some pesticides and new diseases from China are playing a role in the deaths of thousands of bees. No-till farming practices are being examined closely, according to Vorisek. In no-till farming, the weeds are sprayed and then treated seeds are planted; none of which is healthy for beneficial insects.
“I think we are on a collision course between modern “conservation farming” and the survival of beneficial insects,” Vorisek wrote in an email. “Conservation farming” is no-till, where you spray down the weeds and plant the crop. Unbeknownst to most farmers, they are planting seed that has been treated with systemic pesticides. Conservation farming is part of the CAP and Trade stuff. You get credits for being green. Greenhouses use this stuff exclusively and don’t understand the effects”.
I’m going to bet some money this is going to be a spirited debated in the next couple months.
For backyard gardeners, some are suggesting using no pesticides and to plant native wild flowers which contain more healthy nourishment for the bees, both native bees and the honeybee. Bees are essential to agriculture and our food production. It is estimated that every third bite of food is the result of bee activity.
Hunters should also take note. Bees are necessary for wild apples and berries, food sources for wildlife. Without the bees and other pollinators, wildlife would be facing critical food shortages.
Crawford Grange News
Hayfield- Tonight, November 23rd at 7 pm, an organizational meeting at the Hayfield Grange to get the schedules and events for next year.
Atlantic – December 5 at noon a Pomona Grange meeting will be held in Atlantic beginning with a tureen lunch at noon.
Canadohta
Word has it that land has been donated to be used as a community garden for next spring. More information coming.
Save those aluminum cans. They will be collected and cashed-in to help fund next year’s fireworks display.
Happy Thanksgiving!
