25th Street- A New Farmers Market

             For years, there has been a farmers market located just off Main Street in Logan, UT. This market has continually grown over the years and has provided many opportunities for the community and vendors alike. However, there is a new farmers market just in the town over, in North Logan, that is ready to make their headway into providing for the community. The 25th Street Market is located in the backyard of the North Logan Library and is every Saturday from 9-1 p.m. This is the very first year that this market has been implemented and everyone there is excited to see where this market will go in the years to come. From what is said about the market, found on the website for the 25th Street Market, is that, "It is a place for all of us. It is also a place that takes us all back to the hometown safety and sense of community that we all yearn for in our busy lives. It is the place where you can come to feel welcome, and a part of your hometown," (Winger) showing that having this market, in this location, was just perfect for the community. From this, we can see how one idea, one spark of interest, can create an environment that everyone can love and get involved in, no matter which side of the booth you're on.

           There are many aspects that make up a farmers market. One thing that I came to find out, as I made my way over to the 25th Street Farmers Market, was that there was not just produce that would be found. As Bittman states,"Farmers' markets are not just markets. They're educational systems that teach us how food is raised and why that matters," discussing the great value of having a farmers market and what they have to offer. I learned how the market works a different way by actually attending and experiencing the market for myself. I figured, by the given name of a farmers market, that the only people that sold anything were farmers. Upon arrival, I found that I was very mistaken. There were many kinds of vendors, some that were indeed selling produce: vegetables and fruits, but at the same time others that were selling a wide variety of items they had crafted. 

            Every single vendor, participating at the farmers market, seemed to show dedication and enjoyment for having a chance to be there and support the community. Each vendor has to pay a fee in order to have a booth at the market. If a vendor chooses to be there throughout the entire season then the cost is $90. From there, there are a lot of other options that the vendors can choose from and then the price will vary. The season started in June and will go until October for those that still wish to go. With this in mind, there are a wide variety of vendors that are at market that make it very intriguing to see what they have to offer. As Bittman states, "What's inarguable is that farmers' markets offer food of superior quality, help support smaller-scale farmers in an environment that's more and more difficult for anyone not doing industrial-scale agriculture, and increase the amount of local food available to shoppers," they are offering more than we could have ever realized. After taking this course, I definitely understand the work and effort every single person is putting into creating an amazing experience for those that come to the market. In all aspects, these markets benefit everyone in the community, including both the farmer and consumer. 

            With my visit to the farmers market, out of all the booths, I only saw four vendors, out of twenty, that were selling only produce. The rest were definitely rich in variety and were not selling the same thing. There were still quite a few vendors that were selling food, such as Duncan's Homemade Goods, Kettle Corn, Maggies' Lemonade, and Baja Street Tacos. The rest of the vendors were selling anything from homemade headbands, for both adults and kids, to handcrafted soaps and one of a kind sewn skirts. Elizabeth, from the booth, LizzyLous Lambs, stated, "I really enjoy the selling part; being able to sell what was created," focusing on the variety of crafted lambs, mittens, and  hats that they sell. There really were a ton of different vendors that kept the entire market well-rounded. With all the hard work that is put in to create the market, we also look at how the farmers or craftsman feel toward the market. 

            Getting a feel for what each vendor, and booth, had to offer, I was excited to ask questions to fully understand why they chose to come and sell at the market and what they felt they were getting out of it. I wanted to ask those that were selling produce to understand their thoughts on growing food and selling it versus those that were selling non-produce items. I spoke with Cache Valley Poultry and Produce who told me all about the different vegetables that they were selling as well as ways to cook them. They said that beets were their most popular item that was sold. Beets are definitely not on the top of my vegetable list, so I asked why. Emily, one of the owners of the booth, told me that, "When you cook beets from the garden, not from a can, they are ten times better," which makes sense because they are not sitting in liquid and salt for ages. Emily also stated that they were selling these beets for $.50 or a $1 based on the size of them. What really caught my attention was how she then sold me on why I should buy theirs instead of ones at Wal-Mart. She had stopped by Wal-Mart, to check on the prices, and said that for the same size as one of her beets that were $1, it cost almost twice as much to purchase at the store. Plus, the beets she brought came straight from the garden, where she had not idea where the ones from Wal-Mart came from. 

            When it came to presence, I was always drawn to the booths where their sign was bright and easily spotted. I found myself, as I was walking around, drawn to the ones where I knew exactly what they were selling and if it was put together in an orderly fashion. As an example, there were two main produce booths, but I immediately was drawn to the Tagge's produce because of how clean it looked and their sign was bold and let you know exactly who they were and what they were selling. The other, Cache Valley Poultry and Produce, had their vegetables on the table in a tad more scattered manor. Plus, I had to specifically ask what their name was because their sign simply said "organic produce" instead of their business name. What also was interesting, was with Tagge's, they constantly had people checking out their booth, where the other was a little more separated with the times that people would show up. Both received more customers than a lot of the other booths, but I definitely was interested why more people went to Tagge's. Because they were so busy, I did not get a chance to talk with any of them, but I felt that they had a better presence than the other booth, which could have contributed to their customers. Or, perhaps, they might be a more well-known company. For me, personally, I definitely was drawn more to one than the other and I definitely think that makes a difference. 

            For every vendor that I spoke with, every single one was manned by the actual farmer or craftsman, or at least helped in making the products on a daily basis. Most of the booths were also run by adults, where some kids were helping out, or their kids were just running around. With all the kids that are tag-a-longs while their parents sell, what was nice, was there was a booth, Maker Corp, that was specifically for kids. They are free, run through the library, where they come up with different ideas, that revolve around the STEM program, and let kids create, make, and play with a variety of things every week. They do not sell anything, they simply are there for the kids to have a good time, like the adults. 

            All of the vendors seem to really enjoy being at the farmers market, and I would believe so, otherwise they would not return. Each one that was interviewed had positive things to say about the market and why they enjoy being here every week. Jessica, in the Kettle Corn booth, said, in regards to why she enjoys the farmers market, is that, "[It] bring[s] the community out, [you get to] know your neighbors, [and] its a fun experience," which instantly states one of the many great reasons that come from having a farmers market. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found out at the farmers market and what dedication people have to coming to the market and displaying what they do. I do believe that these markets really are designed for the community to bring out the best possible outcome for both the producers and the consumers. I know that I will definitely return in hopes for fresh produce and a few more peeks into what is being crafted each week. 

List of Vendors

• Lemon Polka Dots
• Duncans Homemade Goods
• A Skin Affair
• Friends of the North Logan Library*
• Created by Laela
• LizzyLous Lambs*
• Ashcroft Bee Company
• Snow Family Eggs*
• Intermountain Family Farms
• Maggie's Lemonade
• Cache Valley Poultry and Produce*
• Balloon Animals
• Flowers
• Maker Corp*
• Tagge's Famous Fruit & Veggie Farms
• Crochet Hand Towels and Other Items
• Skirts Unlimited
• Kettlecorn*
• Baja Street Tacos
• Handcrafted Decorations

Fieldwork

9:00 am: Time of arrival; begin looking around at the vendors. Some were still setting up, others were completely ready to start selling. Most were ready and waiting for people to come up and ask questions.

9:15 am: There were about 20 people that showed up right at the beginning that were making there way around. 

9:30 am: Started talking with a few vendors to see what they were selling. There was everything from goat's milk soap to headbands and of course produce. 

9:45 am: Spoke with Cache Valley Poultry and Produce for a while and was taught how to cook certain vegetables and why what they sell is much better than canned food and even those that are found in the grocery store. 

10:00 am: There were a small amount of people walking around at this time. However, the produce booths constantly had people that were showing up to talk with them and buy goods. A performer, around this time, started playing music. 

10:15 am: Talked with Kettle Corn company and how they feel about being at the Farmers Market. They actually go to both the Logan and North Logan markets to have twice the opportunity to sell to more people. 

10:30 am: Spoke with Friends of the North Logan Library to see how everything was going, how things come together, and what why they feel the market is a good thing to have in North Logan.

10:45 am: Looked at Tagge's Produce, waited for a moment to talk to someone, but there were constantly people coming up and needing to be helped out, so I wasn't able to talk to them. 

11:00 am: The start from this time, until about 12:00, had the most people that I could see. The day itself was kind of slow, from what everyone was saying. They figured people were gone for last minute trips before school so not as many people were showing up like they have in the past. 

11:15 am: Discussed with LLL about their products and how their homemade sheep are the most popular item that they sell. 

11:30 am: Found myself looking through a lot of the products and items that many of the vendors were selling and even bought myself a delicious cinnamon roll. 

11:45 am:Found myself looking through a lot of the products and items that many of the vendors were selling and even bought myself a delicious cinnamon roll. 

12:00 pm: Spoke with Snow's Family Eggs about how they always have so many eggs from the many chickens that they own. They love coming to the market and seeing people light up when they want to buy their eggs. 

12:15 pm: Talked with the Maker Corp table. They focus on having fun activities for kids that are free so when the parents bring them, whether working at a booth or not, they can do something while the parents shop. 

12:30 pm: The crowd was definitely dying down at this point and a few stragglers were making their last minute purchases. 

12:45 pm: Some people were already cleaning up because they either were sold out, or were not getting enough customers. 

1:00 pm: The day was done, all vendors were closing up, and everyone was beginning to leave.

Transcripts of Interviews

1. What made you decide to come and have a booth here at the farmers market?

LizzyLous Lambs (LLL): When you like to keep busy with arts and crafts, its nice to sit and sell them to be able to afford your hobby. 

Kettle Corn (KC): First year for Kettle Corn and mingle with the community. We wanted to also make our kids work and have that kind of experience. 

Cache Valley Poultry and Produce (CVPP): My love of growing produce, years of experience, its close to home, and its a new experience having this being the first year in North Logan. 

Snow Family Eggs (SFE): Because we have so many eggs, its right by our house, and we thought about doing it at the Logan one, but this one just felt right. 

2. What is your favorite part about it?

LLL: I really enjoy the selling part; being able to sell what was created. My mother and I are both scientists and enjoy making new creations. Selling things in a relaxing setting. It makes you feel good. 

KC: The people and getting a chance to visit. And the music.

CVPP: Meeting new people.

SFE: Like getting fresh produce as well besides what we sell. 

3. What is the most popular thing that you sell?

LLL: Baby lambs, mittens, children's hats. 

KC: Regular kettle corn because people enjoy the sweet and salty aspect. 

CVPP: Beets. When you cook beets from the garden, not the can, they are ten times better. 

SFE: Eggs. Pretty obvious. But we have both brown and white eggs, and most people don't mind having them mixed together so just all the eggs we can. 

4. What response do you feel from the community?

LLL: In Logan, people like to frequent the market, economy is different, purchases are usually a spur of the moment, or an impulse buy.

KC: They have been great, people connect with our Facebook page and asking about how they can get some all the time.

CVPP: They like meeting a new place of getting good food for their money.

SFE: [didn't have a comment for this one-didn't know what to say]

5. What do you enjoy most about having a farmers market in North Logan?

LLL: Really a social experience and the weather. People are nice. 

KC: Bringing the community out, knowing your neighbors, its a fun experience. 

CVPP: Barbecuing the produce if people want it. The people, telling them all about the produce.

SFE: Supporting your local farms and craftsmen. My kids also say the food. 

Pictures

The sign that welcomes everyone into the market!

People had their tents lined up along the sidewalk so customers could walk through.

LLL booth had some eager customers.

A view of the backyard to showcase how the Farmers Market was set up.

This area is for performers to come and play and others to listen to. 

Cache Valley Poultry and Produce is getting ready to lay out all the delicious variety of vegetables and eggs.

Tagge's had everything from jams, fruits and vegetables, to meet everyone's needs. 

Friends of the North Logan Library conducted the Farmers Market. Everyone else is set up down the sidewalk!

Works Cited

Perry, Winona, Winger. 25th Street Market. North Logan. 2015. Web. 16. Aug. 2015. 

http://north-logan-farmers-market.myshopify.com/

Bittman, Mark. Farmers' Market Values. New York Times: The Opinion Pages. 5 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Aug. 2015.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/opinion/mark-bittman-farmers-market-values.html?_r=0

LizzyLous Lambs: Elizabeth. Personal Interview. 15 Aug. 2015. 

Snow Family Eggs: Megan. Personal Interview. 15 Aug. 2015.

Cache Valley Poultry and Produce: Emily. Personal Interview. 5 Aug. 2015. 

Kettle Corn: Jessica. Personal Interview. 15 Aug. 2015. 

Friends of North Logan Library: Winona Perry. Personal Interview. 15 Aug. 2015. 

Maker Corp: Skyler Higley. Personal Interview. 15 Aug. 2015. 

Angelus

The Angelus by Jean Francois Millet

1859, France, 21.9 in. x 26 in., Oil Painting

            There are many paintings and pictures that represent what life on a farm might be like or how they can contribute to the world. After learning many aspects within the farming community, there have been countless pictures that have come across, in museums and on computer screens, indicating what life might have been like on the farm years ago, and how things are in today's world. There are countless views on what the farm does, is, looks like, produces, etc,, and everyone, regardless of where they come from, sees this in their own way. 

            Upon looking at a variety of paintings that depicted life on a farm, one that stuck out, in relation to farm life, was the Angelus that was created by Jean Francois Millet. Although the main purpose of the picture was to indicate those on the farm, showing a man and a woman, that were, "Reciting the Angelus, a prayer which commemorates the annunciation made to Mary by the angel Gabriel," basically describing the reason why the two were bowing their heads while on the field. The basic purpose was to express, not any thoughts toward a religious aspect, but to show, as stated from the website, Musee d'Orsay, "the immutable rhythms of peasant life in a simple scene," (Lewandowski) by indicating the simple, yet powerful, message behind his masterpiece. The message behind the scene, when recognized by interpretation, really dives deep into what the artist was trying to portray to his audience, however, when the picture was first introduced, an entirely new meaning was brought about. 

            Based on what has been discussed and reviewed during the time within this class, and how farming has been depicting in this day and age, there was a different interpretation from my point of view that I felt really describes how I feel, personally, toward farming. Although the picture itself, as said to have been from Millet's perspective on the piece, was not about religious purposes, and neither is my viewpoint, but sort of falls under a similar category. I felt, while looking upon the picture, that the man and the woman were in prayer because of what they were grateful for. They were looking upon their fields and understanding all of the hard work that they had done while being appreciative for what they were given. They, like Millet said, were not praising any religious beliefs, but more so praising the moment that had brought them to where they were. I will admit, my view does lean more toward the religious aspect, and having a way to do so, but acknowledging all possible results that lead them to where they needed to be. Which is why Millet's perspective is so rich because he focuses on the peasant life itself and how important that is all wrapped up into one intricate scene that was painted. 

           With looking at rhetoric, I felt as though this particular painting adhered to the direction of pathos. Because pathos focuses more on the emotional aspect of rhetoric, the connection, to the piece of the Angelus, really worked for both the thoughts from the artist and from my personal point of view. Millet is able to focus on pathos by feeding the moments of those that were peasants and how important their lives were to the world. Since this piece of art was created so long ago, it would seem that those that worked on the farm would not have the same relevance as they do today, but the simplistic nature of what Millet was trying to get across proves just that. We could not be more grateful for what farmers did hundreds of  years ago and Millet portrays that in multiple ways. Seeing what they had to offer, seeing how far farmers have come, is equally represented from the progression since that painting was first created. 

Works Cited

The picture was obviously created by Jean Francois Millet, but was not seen in person, but by located on the internet. The credit does go to him, but the source from where it was found.

n.a. Our Catholic Prayers. 2015. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.
http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/the-angelus.html

Lewandowski, Herve. Musee d'Orsay. 2006. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.

n.a. WikiArt: Visual Art Encyclopedia. n.d. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.
http://www.wikiart.org/en/jean-francois-millet/the-angelus-1859

Sugar, Sugar, & More Sugar

Sugar Reform Act of 2013-2015

Upon looking at the different kinds of legislative acts that revolved around Agriculture, I had a hard time really discovering on that I could relate to. Although I eat foot every day, there weren't many that I had a strong connection with that I felt had really benefited me in the way that it might with other people. However, I was not afraid of figuring out how some of these might really affect me, which in turn really put into perspective what I eating, what clothes I wear, etc. However, when I came across the Sugar Reform Act of 2013, I realized that this one was especially close to home. 

For me, as someone who is married, I have come into the understanding of how important it is to havefood at home. With this in mind, it has become quite hard to always have a wide variety of food at home based on our spending budget and maintaining a good diet. Although I am married, both my husband and I are still going to college, and it is not always easy to have lots of money to spend on groceries when we have to pay for other things. One aspect of having sugar in many products is that, "Archaic sugar policies have driven costs up for U.S. bakers and consumers to unmanageable levels for far too long," (Sterk, Mackie) basically stating that it would be great for all types of consumers that purchase sugar. 

Although the Sugar Reform Act went from 2013-2015, it was never actually enacted. However, I feel as though it would have been a good Act that would benefit everyone. They are once again reviewing this particular Act to see if they can get it passed in the future. From the Congress.gov website, we see the first version of the Act and what is focuses on which, "requires that sugar allotments be appropriate to maintain adequate supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all domestic supply sources, including imports," this statement discusses that the supplies that are sold need to be sold at reasonable prices in all different matters. Since they have looked into the Act again, they looked into having the same promises from the Act and some new ones such as having, "18 cents per pound for raw can sugar for each of the 2015 through 2018 crop years," (GovTrack) indicating some of the changes they would like to make and a process of making that work.  I do understand how hard it can be, in today's world, being able to well manage money and to create a chance for everyone to still make money and keep the economy under control. This is a hard thing to do because of the way people work and how they need to keep their products in check to make sure everything runs smoothly. If this Act would to pass and make headway in the upcoming years, I really think it would benefit the economy and help make a difference for the production of sugar and how we, as consumers, will be buying in the future. 

Works Cited

Pitts, Joseph. Liberty of Congress. Congress.gov, 14 February 2013. Web. 26 July 2015. 

Shaheen, Jeanne. GovTrack. Sugar Reform Act of 2015. 12 February 2015. Web. 26 July 2015. 

Sterk, Ron. Food Business News. Sosland. February 15, 2015.  Web. 26 July 2015. 

Morrill-Notes 7/22

Justin Morrill: Land for Learning Notes

• Genes were limited to fruit and vegetables before the 19th century.
• More practical subjects had to wait until 1862 to change for good; these involved agriculture and engineering.
• In 1862 the American Civil rage was high.
• Vermont, Act through congress for higher education.
• The result would be 135 years later, universities would be all over
• Morrill started that Morrill Land Grant College Act
• He missed out on a college education; instead he received a country education.
• Library filled with books and he wanted everyone to be able to learn.
• Became a merchant in his home town and he taught himself.
• Morrill became an expert on what he needed to know. 
• Retired at age 38 and designed a cottage; extensive garden: experimental agriculture.
• In 44 the Wiig party had other plans for him, farming had to be turned aside for the rest of his life. 
• Morrill was 12 years in the House of Representative; over 30 years in the Senate.
• Because Morrill served so long, he truly was a representative for his people. 
• He was extremely thrifty.
• Well known national political figure.
• Took the country through reconstruction and beyond. 
• No-nonsense hard worker. 
• If it was important to him, he would study it. 
• The big issue was access to higher education; formal education ended after elementary school.
• Others had proposed similar ideas, but never got anywhere.
• The colleges did not have desire to teach agriculture and some sciences.
• For practical people.
• Lands were changing, Morrill knew that others (Belgium) were taking care of lands better than Americans, better this knowledge would be helpful for those in America.
• Education was a great way to do that.  
• Finding ways to help others.
• Faith in the working class to move forward with his plan.
• Tried twice to get the plan in motion.
• With the Civil War on the horizon, it just wasn't the right time according to Congress.
• Morrill bill passed both houses with one more hurdle
• Southerners told the president during the time to veto the bill.
• 2 1/2 years later with the new president, Abraham Lincoln, there was success. 
• Lincoln, "Education is the most important subject."
• 30,000 acres to each state to establish Land Grant programs.
• Grants pay for teachers and materials.
• Some states channeled their money into other or new schools.
• Lean enrollments, not enough qualified teachers.
• Disagreements on how and what to teach.
• The inclusion of women was in 1870.
• Three decades of agriculture struggled; offered high school and college classes.
• Land grants began to expand their programs.
• "Aggies would be treated as secondhand students" because people still weren't sure about the Land Grant colleges.
• Inclusion for population for more races.
• Schools that denied this would lose their funding.
• 1890 Schools-confronted with huge problems; serious lack of funding. 
• Because of lack of funding students had to do most of the work in maintaining the schools. 
• 3 of 17 schools at first, but by 1940, 15 were fully accredited. 
• 700,000 students; 60,000 black students each year. (today)
• New Age elimination between haves and have nots.
• Farming-agricultural science and engineering still go the lack of respect they needed.
• Worked on homemakers to increase quality.
• Education for the people, then you have to bring education to the people. (Extensions)
• America is the most successful country in the world in agriculture-all colleges of agriculture. 
• Engineering out passed agriculture for students. 
• 31% to 70% in Land Grant schools.
• Always included liberal arts; these were more popular than the other schools.
• Started to incorporate other classes into student classes. 
• Have to have liberal arts and the sciences have to have both.
• First half proved the point of Land Grant institutions.
• Depression farm business management condition of the nation.
• World War ll Land Grants the opportunity to really shine.
• ROTC Armed Forces getting specialized training.
• Training, we would have been far behind.
• 2 year basic program.
• Food demand helped during the time of the war. 
• Aironotics and technology improvement from engineers.
• GI bill for free college tuition. 
• Needed more, not less to compete with the enemy.
• Land Grants took a more global view, 1950.
• Food, clothing, power to underdeveloped countries.
• Students across the globe traveled here.
• Over 500,000 out of country students attend land grants.
• Learning matters from all points of views.
• Remained strong through the Cold War Era.
• 1970s tribal colleges started to see money. 20 years for them to be admitted into the land grant college community.
• Expansions of progress to provide land grant themes.
• Large number of people in agriculture, better life for cattle is a hope.
• Have a lot of dreams if they had resources.
• Morrill delighted to provide for the nation.
• Dignified man, stepping out of character, warm and friendly person.
• Served longer than anyone before him.
• Pushed for additional funding even with frail health.
• Buried at the nation's capitol.
• He knew his act would be good for the country. 
• Morrill Act was large enough to evolve
• Education must vary for the variation of life.
• Variety of interpretation-keeps being fresh.
• These colleges have impacted our nations.
• Over 20 million graduates and 5,000 degrees.
• We all have something to contribute. 
• Constant working out what is needed.
• Without brain power, progress does not happen.
• Education is tied to practical ideas.

The Chicken, The Peas, and The Topaz.

Each category that we had to pick from, and the animal, vegetable, and mineral, actually worked out really great when I had to find resources. Because I was close by the library, I was able to make my way up and find the books that would be very good resources. I was able to find each category and a book that corresponded with what I was looking for so I could find what I needed to know about each. There were definitely more books on chicken than the other two, but I was still able to find a book for each that gave a lot of great information that made me understand more of each animal, vegetable and mineral. For this assignment, I chose chicken for the animal, peas were the vegetable, and topaz was chosen for the mineral.

Animal: Chicken

I chose chicken for my animal because chicken is the main meat that I eat. Whenever I go out to eat, or eat at home, if chicken is an option then I will eat it. According to Smithsonian.com, the origin of chickens, "Were discovered, according to legend, by the side of a road in Greece in the first decade of the fifth century B.C.," which definitely shows that chickens have been around for a very long time. Because animals were on the earth, even before humans, this definitely makes sense. Who knows if the chicken was around before we actually were on the earth, but from the record of man, they didn't come about until that fifth century B.C. This is quite amazing because we don't realize how long something has actually been around until we actually look up that specific information. There are a lot of reasons why I chose to have chicken as my animal. After reading more about the chicken, I realized that there is a lot about the chicken that I don’t know. For instance, the fact that, as Striffler says in Chicken: The Dangerous Transformation of the Dangerous Food, “At the Millennium, the average American was eating over a hundred times more chicken than a person was eating on the eve of the Great Depression,” (32) showing that the chicken has had a dramatic change over the many years that people have been eating it. Striffler does a lot of research on how the chicken has changed, including within fast food, and how it is not always the best choice for us to eat. However, chicken still, “has been transformed into the most studied and industrialized animal in the world,” (Striffler, 15) representing that the chicken has a great influence on the meat industry which is why there are, side by side, burgers and chicken sandwiches. For me, I still love chicken and whenever I go anywhere I will still get my chicken. I will, because of the information that I have learned, choose my chicken choices more wisely.

Chickens come in all sizes and shapes. This one represents one of many.

Vegetable: Peas

For this particular part, I am not a huge fan of vegetables and I will definitely admit that. My favorite vegetable is the tomato and there is debate on whether or not tomato is really a fruit or a vegetable. Other than tomatoes, it takes a lot for me to want to eat vegetables. I especially do not like peas. However, the reason I took an interest in the peas, was during a recent family reunion, my family and I took time to shell peas from my Grandma’s garden. I wanted to learn more about peas because I was watching them come from a garden instead of out of a can.

Peas come in a shell and you have to break the pod open to get to the actual peas.

From what I gathered from Genetics and Breeding of Peas, was that wasn’t a specific time in when the peas were first found, but during the “Early Paleolithic Age [and] Neolithic Age” (1) was when men would have been known to work within the early stages of agriculture. However, the first recording of the peas was in 1935 where there were “eight major centers of origin of cultivated plants” (2) which made it seem like peas would be a part of it, but they weren’t really narrow in which they discussed the peas origin. This was probably the hardest I had with finding an exact date, but still gave me a lot of information. I did, however, find a lot of information on peas that I obviously didn’t know otherwise. 

For the most part, I find peas that come in the can and not in the garden. But I wanted to see if there was a difference between canned peas and getting the peas straight from the garden and if that would affect their nutritional value. I had a hard time finding a particular article that related the canned pea to the fresh one, however, there was some information that I found that discussed what any canned food versus the fresh one might be like. I understood that canned peas still have a lot of the same nutrients as garden grown, but the biggest difference is a lot of the time when they put fruits and vegetables in cans, the companies that produce canned foods will add extra sugars and salt (sodium) to keep them better preserved. From Livestrong.com comes the statement, "One drawback to canned fruits and vegetables is that manufacturers often add salt to enhance the taste and help preserve the food so it can be sold and stored for longer periods of time," this statement makes sense, because unless we ourselves add the additional salt and sugar, we are getting a lot different intake from the can and from fresh produce. 

When we did shell the peas from my grandma’s garden, I found that I had a better liking to the peas than the canned peas. This makes sense because they are fresh and are not set in a lot of sodium and contained over long periods of time. However, studies have also found that the canned fruits and vegetables are not necessarily bad for us, they still pack all the nutrients that come with fruits and vegetables. The difference here is that the more salt put into the cans to prevent them from going bad, is the part that is worse for us. With this in mind, I think it is important to be aware of this, but not to be afraid of it. We can still have canned foods, we just need to have them in moderation to balance everything out.  I’m not sure if I will switch over my diet and start eating more peas, but I do have a lot more appreciation for them because of what it takes to produce and how many people do enjoy them.  

Mineral: Topaz

I am not too familiar with many minerals, but I have always enjoyed topaz it’s beautiful color. I enjoy having it in jewelry, even if it’s fake, because of the way it looks.

The first thing that I found out, that I didn’t know before, was that there were many different colors of topaz that can also be cut into many different shapes to fit all kinds of jewelry or displays. I honestly thought that there was only one and the color is that light blue color. However, a lot of this came from the fact that I don’t always think about different kinds of minerals, but also, people have been doing studies on minerals for decades. One thing that Hoover mentions in Topaz was, “Whenever one begins to examine the history of gems…the study must be based…on relatively few (if any) examples of reliably dated examples, plus surviving literature,” (1) telling that there are specific ways to work with the minerals and scientists really take a lot of time and energy studying the process and outcomes of minerals. Topaz was kind of like peas where I didn’t know a ton of information about it, but a mineral that I have always liked. There are many amazing attributes to topaz, one being, “Topaz is unique among the gem materials capable of being faceted, with the exception of quartz, for the considerable size of its crystals and for the large flawless gems that have been faceted,” (Hoover, 21) with this, I was surprised how highly topaz is looked at and how often people use it. There are many minerals out there, depending on what you are looking for, and in general, that make up parts of the world. I was highly intrigued by the genetic property that is topaz and what it takes to use this mineral. Although this particular mineral is not the first one you would think of when you picture a mineral, for me, most of the time, I will picture something like sand, but more as a gemstone is what you would think of for topaz. However, it was amazing to really understand all types of minerals, since topaz was under that list, and just what they are used for. 
My biggest thing now, would be, to find all the different colors of topaz when actually looking at jewelry. If, and when, I happen upon a jewelry store, I really would like to see if there are pieces of jewelry that are used, with topaz, that represent all the various colors that come with the gem. We don't often think about how the minerals are always used, so it would be really neat to see what the possibilities are, and what people have been able to accomplish with it. 

This picture shows the vast colors that topaz can come in!

Works Cited:

Striffler, Steve. Chicken: The Dangerous Transformation of America’s Favorite Food. New Haven and London; Yale University Press. 2005. Print.

Hoover, D.B. Topaz.  Oxford; Butterworth-Heinemann. 1992. Print.

Khvostova, V.V. Genetics and Breeding of Peas.  Springfield; Oxonian Press Pvt. 1983. Print.

Adler, Jerry, Lawler, Andrew. Smithsonian. June 2012. Web. 13 July 2015. 

Impatenco, Sara. Live Strong: Nutrition Difference in Canned vs Fresh Produce. 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 July 2015.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/260270-nutrition-differences-canned-foods-vs-fresh-produce/

Pictures:

*All found through google; all were related to a website so didn't have a particular author. 

http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=9881

http://www.gemstones-guide.com/Topaz.html

http://www.smoothfm.com.au/article/peas

Modern Potatoes

Tracing My Roots

             With this assignment, we were asked to see if anyone in our family, now or in the past, has been involved with any sort of agriculture. This was a very easy question for me to answer because all throughout my life I have always known someone that has been involved with farming in some form or another. My dad grew up in Aberdeen Idaho where there are millions of potatoes that are harvested, among other things, every single year. A huge part of my father's childhood was out working on the fields, he says, "As a child I was always out working on the farm, being put to work, but I loved being a part of it," which is something that has continued on today. My mom also helped out on a farm growing up working a lot with her grandfather, but once they got older, the farm was not a huge part of my mom's life. She has definitely said that she has kept solid roots with farming because of marrying my father. As I have grown up, I was never really involved with working on a farm since my family lived in the city; we always traveled up to Idaho to spend time with the family. I always knew that farming was a huge part of our family, especially the potatoes. 

            Going up to Idaho always meant that we were going to have potatoes at every meal, even breakfast, because to us, that was normal. There are many different ways to make potatoes and they have definitely become a way of the "food life" in our family. I have always enjoyed that our family is able to produce potatoes and make that a big part of our meals together. My Uncle Brock is actually the one that owns his own potato farms and has a huge company, Driscoll Potatoes. His wife, Tena, and their kids, worked the most on the farm. My Aunt Tena said, "Farming is a real up and down game of life! Some year the prices are good, some are terrible. Farm life is a sacrifice and a lot of hard work, but it has been a good life for us," which was a great statement to show how much effort they put into their farm and how it might not always be easy, but it is definitely worth it. I also have other cousins, that grew up in Aberdeen as well, that helped out during harvest time. That was one thing my siblings and I were always jealous about, the fact that our cousins got to take two weeks off of school to help with harvest. We always said that we would rather go help with harvest than go to school any day. 

            The "Agriculture in the Classroom" timeline was a little hard to try and settle down with the exact time that I felt connected with my family because the latest it went was up to the 2000s, which we are still in, but the majority of the information came during the 1990s. Since my family is still doing farm work today, I found it hard to find certain connections that I was looking for because I felt slightly off base with the exact times they were given and what was present during those times. There was one aspect from the timeline that states, during the 1990s, "Information technology and precision techniques [are being] increasingly used in agriculture," that really connected with something my Uncle Brock said, "We have had many advancements to work with over the years, things are always changing, new machines, new equipment, which has been very helpful in being able to produce more crops," which in turn continued by explaining the machines and other aspects of technology. In this world today, we are very overrun with technology, my uncle said that, "technology has been good for us, but not always what you might have in mind," stating that, with any technology, you have to get used to it and be careful because you don't want to take out the greatness that comes from being able to grow food. 

            Because of the advancement that I was seeing with farming, through the timeline, and from my Uncle's perspective, I definitely wanted to dig a little more to see how much advancement were we talking about. Obviously, when farming was first beginning, man did most of the work before we had animals to help out, as part from what we learned in Guns, Germs, and Steel. Now, when we look at today, coming from The Advances in Agriculture website, it states that, "The 21st century and farming has gone all high-tech and is talking about GM food and agricultural biotechnology," showing how different the start of farming began and where they are finding themselves at today. Farming can still be a struggle and can even make people wonder based on these advancements. People might still be scared of how farmers are able to produce their food, but as my cousin Emily put, "Farmers, care about the land, they want to feed the world, and we can't feed them on organic alone. Their biggest drive is to produce more, because there are less people producing crops," by saying this, I think she is pointing out that people might be afraid of some advancements, but that farmers are still doing everything that they can to produce the best quality food that they possibly can. There are still many advancements that are taking place today, and we have come a long way, so it is very interesting to see what has been done with farming previously and what is being done today. This kind of information has really made me appreciate what my family has done with farming and what they are continuing to do today. 

My dad has a sign that hangs on the outside of his childhood door that reads, "Don't complain about farmers with your mouth full," and with my Aunt Tena's words by ending her interview, "In conclusion, EAT MORE POTATOES!" I am more grateful for what my family does with farming. I feel like there is a lot I am continuing to learn, but I am very happy for being able to grow up in such an amazing family and gaining a love for potatoes.

(Thank goodness for family reunions, and for having them this week, which is why I was able to gather quite a few interviews all at once!)

Works Cited

Anderson, Nathan. Personal Interview. 10 July 2015.

Anderson, Kristin. Personal Interview. 10 July 2015.

Driscoll, Brock. Personal Interview. 10 July 2015.

Driscoll, Tena. Personal Interview. 10 July 2015.

Driscoll, Emily. Personal Interview. 10 July 2015. 

NA. The Advances in Agriculture. 2006. Web. 12 July 2015.

http://www.ad-nett.org/

Notes-PRA-7/7/2015

Search & Study on Poor Richard's Almanack.

*I typed this in Word and then pasted it to the blog and I don't know how to make it so the white behind the words doesn't show up.

Who was Richard?

The text, that is given as a summary, states that Richard, Richard Saunders, comes from which the author Franklin would sign his prefaces. This was what I found, and not sure if this was entirely what I was to look for, because it didn't seem to tell any story. He would use characters, one named Richard, that was used with the "humor and wisdom" in the author's writing which seemed to hold popularity for people that would read these works of literature. 

What is an almanack or almanac (you may want to go through the same search process, except choose Oxford English Dictionary)?

An Almanac, according to the dictionary, is "An annual table, or (more usually) a book of tables, containing a calendar of months and days, with astronomical data and calculations, ecclesiastical and other anniversaries, and other information, including astrological and meteorological forecasts." When I looked up the other spelling, with a k, the definition that I received was the same. 

What does this have to do with farming?

I wasn't really sure at first what Poor Richard's Almanack, or an almanac in general, might have to do with farming, but then when you actually read the definition, the word almanac, and how it is used for the author, that it made more sense. When it comes to farming, you cannot just plant anything in the ground and expect it to grow; this seems like fairly common sense, but then again.. Regardless, there are some things that you need to know such as: knowing when to plan certain crops, what kind of weather might occur, when and where the best plants will grow and in what kind of soil, etc. These have a lot to do with astronomy because of the different times of the year and weather. If you try and plant a certain crop that will only grow in the summer and you try to do it in the winter you will not have a lot of luck.

What does this have to do with literature and where does it fit into the different literary eras?

Well, as an English major, I can see this as it's own kind of literature. That being because I have seen so many different aspects of writing and how the writing is used. Just because it does not read like a normal book, does not mean it does not have any resourceful information. 

I do believe that this could fit into different literary eras, depending on the information that is used as well as how it is used. There are many types of literature, ones that I feel could fit in all eras, but some that do better than others. With almanacs I know that I have seen them since I have been alive, but they were probably more prevalent to previous eras, but could very well be beneficial to today's age if we knew how to use them. 

Sources:

http://www.oxfordreference.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780195065480.001.0001/acref-9780195065480-e-3842?rskey=dnWal1&result=1

http://www.oed.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/search?searchType=dictionary&q=Almanac&_searchBtn=Search

"Almanac" Infoplease. Infoplease; The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. n.d. Web. July 7, 2015.  

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/almanac.html