Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

Food and its production seem to be the next battle ground. From the Dutch farmer’s uprising against emission controls to Bill Gates and his lab meat and bug diet, we need to be thinking of where our food is coming from.

Some may find gardening daunting, but I find it freeing and grounding. True, the work is never done, but I think it was never meant to be. It is a lot of work and sweat, but food fresh from the garden tastes so good.

The basic ingredients of sunshine, water, air, dirt, and a seed are all there is to it. “He who plants a seed beneath the sod, and waits to see, believes in God.” Tilling and weeding are the main chore. Building the soil with aged manure, chopped leaves, peat moss, sand, and wood ashes is on-going. I like to till my additives in instead of mulch. I never seem to get my mulch deep enough to stop weeds and then it’s a major mess.

With the shortages of fertilizers, we can compost most natural things. I think green manuring is going to be very important. I haven’t used it much, but am thinking of it. The books all say, use what you have and what is close to you; peanut shells, crushed grapes from wineries, wood chips, saw dust, etc. The humus holds water and makes the soil lighter.

A couple friends are master gardeners. They have my respect. I’m a give-it-a-trier. Each year, my husband and I never know what will turn out. We don’t know the weather or the bug situation, so we just give it a try. I’d encourage everyone to garden as much as possible. Not only do we get vitamin D from the sun, but there are bacteria in the soil that make us happy. I feel that gardening is a very important part of being healthy and self-sufficient. I enjoy the solitude, the buzz of the insects, and the sound of the sprinklers.

Kathryn Tapio

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I’m writing this letter to let people know what has happened to the stall renters down at the Fairgrounds.

The first thing you need to understand is the Fair ride of 4-H horses is August 27 and 28. Therefore, seven head of 4-H horses need to be at the barn until their 4-H ride is done.

The Fair Board decided not to let ANY horses stay at the barn because last year the stall renters (4-H basically) struck an arrangement with the Fair Board that the stall renters would pay the Fair Board stall rent and a deposit by a certain date. Everyone but one person, who was not connected to 4-H, paid rent by the deadline.

My question is: Why are the equine 4-H group, Hearts & Horses 4-H Club, being penalized for something they didn’t do?

What message is the Fair Board sending to these 4-H kids?

Two 4-H members have pasture for three of their horses, but they have no way to transport the horses, let alone it is 60 miles round trip to get the horses to the fairgrounds. The other four horses have no pasture in town and no way to haul horses.

So once again, I ask why is this happening to kids who are community-minded, who help with fairgrounds projects, and who want to be committed to their 4-H horse projects.

Lee Ann Literal

Dayton, Wash.