Grit March - April 2016

FEATURED COMMENT “I just purchased myfirst plant and planted it in a large pot. It is growing incredibly fast. Thanks to your article, I will resist the temptation to sample the spears that are growing among the ample ferns. A recipe I came up with to cook asparagus is also very simple. I marinate it in a mixture of toasted sesame oil and Montreal seasoning, then cook it on the grill for about six minutes. My kids will fight over the last few spears, which is unusual for kids and vegetables.” — Jim Minor on “How to Grow Asparagus” GRIT YouTube Channel Check out the latest featured videos on GRIT’s YouTube channel. Learn how to split and stack firewood, churn homemade butter, cultivate your garden, and much more. Go to…

THE DAY I INTERVIEWED for a job at Grit, I had one burning question. Sure, I had done some research and knew about the history of the brand and its historical and cultural significance, but I still hadn’t found an answer to what exactly the name, Grit, stood for: Was it an acronym for something, or did it stand for that ideal that we often hear about when people talk “grit and determination,” that resiliency of spirit and ability to look adversity in the eye and roll on? As it turns out, no one can say for certain Di-etrick Lamade’s or his colleagues’ inspiration for, or intended meaning of, the term when the brand was born in 1882, but when you look at the content of the publication through our…

Share your visual perspective with the Grit community. Post your photos at Facebook.com/GritMagazine, Facebook.com/CappersFarmer, or tag us on Instagram (GritMag). We chose several images you see here from those platforms, and you can find more within the blogging community on our websites. Share your best shots, and we just might select one of your photos for a future issue of the magazine. To admire even more readers’ photos, visit Grit.com and CappersFarmer.com.…

YIELD OF DREAMS Some gardeners are finding that by not following the straight-and-narrow, they can triple, even quadruple, their vegetable harvest while spending less time weeding and watering their plants. Gardens laid out in traditional long rows with packed-down walkways between may be pleasing to the eye, but not necessarily to the plants growing there. Narrow rows restrict root growth and are prone to compaction and drying. Instead, replace tidy rows with raised beds prepared with generous amounts of compost or manure. This creates an excellent environment for root growth, earthworm activity, and the microorganisms that break down organic matter into plant food. Plus, the soil in raised beds warms up quickly in spring, allowing for early planting. Each bed should be no more than 3 to 5 feet wide,…

The year my father was 71 years old, he bought a 10-acre wheat field in central Kansas. He and Mom built their retirement home there, and then he put all his energy into developing his new homestead. That first spring, he planted more than 40 fruit trees and berry bushes. Besides his orchard with a wide variety of fruit, he and Mom also had a large garden. Along with the usual tomatoes, corn and beans, they grew long rows of carrots, stored them in sand for the winter, and made fresh carrot juice every morning. Dad also experimented successfully with peanuts. I remember piles of peanut plants covering the garage floor in the fall. Those peanuts made some mighty good peanut brittle for the Christmas holiday. During those first years,…

YEARBOOKS. I am searching for yearbooks from 1943 to 1945, from New Richmond (Ohio) High School. Delores Bell 1016 Longview St. Cedar Falls, IA 50613-1372 MAGAZINES. I purchased a full series of Farmstead magazines from the 1970s, but it’s missing issues No. 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17, which I’d like to find and purchase. William Lewallen 4890 County Road C Delta, OH 43515-9781 PEN PALS. I’m a married woman looking for pen pals who are interested in horses, gardening,fiber crafts, painting, RV camping, and living a country lifestyle. Carolynn Yeo 38024 N. 23rd Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85086-9623 SWEATERS AND FRIENDS. I am looking for old, used wool and cashmere sweaters in any color and any condition – even full of holes or threadbare is fine. I use…