Hobbies
Be Adventurous! Try Hügelkultur!
No, that's not a typo in the title! Hügelkultur (hoo-gull-culture) is a fascinating German word that means "hill mound," it's a gardening practice that has its roots in the Middle Ages. As more gardeners embrace sustainable gardening, Hügelkultur emerges as a brilliant method of harnessing natural resources. If you have access to fallen trees, trimmed shrubbery, branches, and other organic matter, then Hügelkultur may be a concept worth exploring.
Getting started with a Hügelkultur raised bed is a simple and practical process. Imagine a large compost pile, and that's essentially a Hügelkultur garden. Select an open area about 4-6 feet wide and 8-12 feet long and begin by laying logs lengthwise within the chosen space. Opt for natural logs that are easy to handle, avoiding Black walnut due to its toxins. The logs can be freshly cut from a downed tree or, even better, already in a state of decomposition. Pack the logs as tightly as possible to promote decomposition more effectively. Build the mound at least 2-3 feet high for a 4-foot-wide bed and even more for wider beds—also, layer branches in with the logs. When I built mine, I scoured my woodland for deadfall and gathered more than enough for a 4-by-8 bed. As you build your base, add organic matter like leaves, grass clippings, spent soil, and manure so that open areas begin to fill. Keep layering with organic material as you diminish the size of the logs and branches. I "cheated" with my first Hügelkultur bed by containing it in a four by eight raised metal container without a bottom. Still, traditional beds are narrowed as the pile gets higher. As you near the final height desired, add more soil, manure, and peat so you end up with a solid area for planting. What makes a Hügelkultur bed better than traditional raised beds is that the decaying wood provides nutrients over a long period. A note of caution, though, because with a Hügelkultur bed, decomposition is slower, so nitrogen may be less available. Using grass clippings and manure solves the nitrogen problem. The only other significant downside is that Hügelkultur beds require more space. The greatest advantage of Hügelkultur raised beds is the bountiful harvests they yield due to the nutrient-rich soil that is created over time. As the logs and branches decay, the addition of organic material continues to enrich the bed. Other benefits of using Hügelkultur include ease of construction, and the beds never require turning. Additionally, you can use readily available materials by simply picking up logs and branches, composting your organic waste in the bed, and reducing the need for watering as these beds retain moisture. So, what do you plant in a Hügelkultur bed? Just about anything from vegetables to flowers to shrubs. There are a few constraints on what you might grow, including strawberries and fruiting shrubs like raspberries. Vining vegetables like cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, and pumpkins do well; you may choose not to trellis any of them. If you're still uncertain about Hügelkultur, go to www.vegega.com, where you will see a Hügelkultur bed built inside a metal containment, as I did on my first try. Just type in Hügelkultur and then click on the "images" tab. You will see many pictures of what a Hügelkultur raised bed "in the raw" looks like. If you've got a lot of logs, branches, twigs, and organic matter, give Hügelkultur a try. Senior cat’s arthritis is impacting
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Eagle Symbolism
Kovels.com
Folk art is an important part of American history. American symbols, especially eagles, are favorite subjects, like this wooden sculpture attributed to artist Wilhelm Schimmel.
The Fourth of July is a time to display American symbols like stars and stripes; red, white and blue; Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty and, of course, the majestic eagle. The bald eagle became the national bird of the United States with the creation of the Great Seal in 1782. Eagle symbolism was already well established by then.
Eagles are sacred to many Native American nations. European colonists brought their own eagle symbolism to the Americas. Eagles were associated with the divine in mythological pantheons and appeared in heraldry. The eagle, “aquila” in Latin, was used as a standard by ancient Roman legions. “Aquila” is also the name of a prominent constellation in the summer skies of the Northern Hemisphere. Eagles also appear in American folk art. This carved and painted wooden eagle, wings outstretched like the eagle on the Great Seal, sold for $5,000 at Brunk Auctions. It is attributed to Wilhelm Schimmel, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in the late 19th century. Wandering around Pennsylvania, having run-ins with the law, doing odd jobs at farms and selling his wooden carvings, he was something of a folkloric figure himself. • • • Q: I’d like some information about Wallace Nutting and his work. One of his pictures has been in my family for over 50 years. The words “The Swimming Pool” are written below the picture on one side and it’s signed “Wallace Nutting” on the other side. There are some stains, water spots and discoloration. It’s in the original frame. A: Wallace Nutting (1861-1941) was known for his colored pictures of New England landscapes and Colonial interiors. He also made reproduction furniture and wrote several books. Nutting opened Wallace Nutting Art Prints in New York in 1904. He moved to Connecticut in 1905 and then to Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1912. Collectors call his pictures “prints,” but they are hand-tinted photographs. Nutting took the photographs and his staff printed, colored, titled, signed and framed the pictures. Millions of copies were sold. There are over 10,000 different titles. Twelve of the pictures were reprinted by machine in the 1930s and early ‘40s. Some prints sell for $10 to $20, some for over $100. If the picture is in poor condition, it will be hard to sell. • • • TIP: Don’t frame a good print in a clip frame. There should be air space between the paper and the glass. • • • CURRENT PRICES Textile, bunting, red, white and blue, five stripes, blue center stripe with fiv stars, two brass grommets, cotton, c. 1900, 39 x 58 inches, $260. Toy, train set, Canadian Pacific, locomotive, tender, passenger cars, track, transformer, tin lithograph, box, Marx, 14 x 16 inches, $610. Barber, chair, Congress, red velvet cushions, hydraulic pedestal, silver tone fittings, Koken, 44 1/2 x 26 x 45 inches, $750. Pottery, bowl, Hopi, turned-in rim, tapered base, migration pattern, black trim, signed, Fannie Nampeyo, 3 x 4 3/4 inches, $805. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Oven Baked St. Louis Ribs2 racks Cremer’s St. Louis style ribs, thawed (approx. 7 lbs.)
1 bottle Big Rack Rub (dry rub available at Cremer’s) Heavy duty aluminum foil 2 cups BBQ sauce (Cremer’s BBQ sauce) Preheat oven to 300°F. Remove membrane from the back of the ribs. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Season both sides of ribs generously with Big Rack dry rub. Turn the ribs meat side up on the foil. Fold the foil over, making sure to seal it tightly at the top. Place the baking sheet on the middle oven rack and bake for 3 hours. Remove the ribs from the oven, carefully open foil pack (it will be steamy hot, so be careful). Discard foil. Place the ribs on a clean sheet of foil and return to roasting pan. Brush ribs with BBQ sauce, if desired. Turn oven to broil (low) and broil ribs 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and cut ribs and serve with additional BBQ sauce. |