the character of the American west: stories, landscape, lifestyle
Colorado sunset
In a break from our regularly schedule all-U.S. Route 89-programming, here’s a photo I made in 2004 in Colorado. Someday I will get to travel east and west again, instead of north-south on my favorite highway, which is where I’m going…today. Posting may be light, dependent on internet access, photo opps and marital harmony. Especially that last point.
Seedlings for the winter garden
I blogged in mid-July about my plans to implement the winter garden ideas in Eliot Coleman’s Four-Season Harvest. In past years, by the middle of September, my tomatoes were sprawled on the ground, the snails getting more than their share, and I couldn’t wait for first frost to mercy kill the whole affair. Here we are at the end of September, and the palace potager actually looks well-kept and the fall harvest is nearly ready.
I made the photo of these transplants on August 30, transplanted them on September 7, and now the lettuces are almost ready to harvest. The pak choi (blurred at top) will take a little longer. Once I got them in the ground, I still had time to start even more seedlings. I spent yesterday sacrificing ageing pepper and squash plants so I could tuck in just a few more transplants. I’m trying several of Coleman’s suggestions for winter-hardy vegetables: staghorn, tatsoi, and winter scallions. Now I am looking forward to a frost so I can harvest my giant amaranth plant, not to put away the garden.
Since this is all new, I have no idea how much I need to plant. I may have created the autumnal equivalent of the ginormous zucchini harvest. I’d better start looking for some pak choi recipes.
Highway 89 news round-up
The maple leaves are crimson between Fairview and Spanish Fork, Utah today. The farmstands are overflowing with apples, the last of the corn, and a few early pumpkins. The weekend weather forecast looks spectacular along most of historic U.S. 89–it looks like we will have a great first fall weekend anywhere on America’s greatest highway. Saturday is a special day at all of the National Parks on the highway (more about the fee-free day after the news).
Blackfeet program gives students construction skills, improves housing (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
Demonstration home is the end result of a coalition of labor unions and employers teaching construction skills to Blackfeet workers who then renovate down-and-out rental housing units.
Star Valley resident receives Bronze Star 63 years after service (Star Valley Independent, Afton, Wyoming)
In 1945 at the age of 18, Vern Bloxham earned a Bronze Star, but it wasn’t until 2008 that he was formally honored with and received the medal.
Lehi cornmaze in shape of American Idol star David Archuleta (Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
12-acre cornmaze at Thanksgiving Point Utah (photo)
Salina Company recognized for service to its employees on military deployment (Richfield Reaper, Richfield, Utah)
A Salina based company was one of 15 employers that was presented with a Defense Department Freedom Award Thursday night in Washington, D.C., for financial and emotional support of National Guard and Reserve members.
Page hospital celebrates 50 years (Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona)
“Page Hospital had 25 beds when it opened in the autumn of 1958, and still has 25 beds. But the difference in services is as vast as the medical technology that has mushroomed over 50 years. The current Banner Health facility is four to five times the size of the original hospital administrated by dam contractor Merritt-Chapman & Scott.”
Ready, set, fold: Housekeepers compete (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona)
Mesa hosts housekeeping Olympics
Glacier National Park to Waive Entrance Fees On September 27 and September 28 (National Park Service)
In observance of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27th, and to honor newly naturalized citizens on Sunday, September 28th, Glacier National Park will not be charging entrance fees.
All 391 NPS units are waiving entrance fees on Saturday.