Benedict T. Palen, Jr. On Best Gardening Tips

Gardening is a great pastime to take up; it takes you outside, helps to burn calories, and produces satisfying results. Whether you are searching to grow some scrumptious produce or stunning flowers, these tips and tricks for beginners will get you start on the correct note:

• Do not worry about finding an appropriate plot in your backyard; just start a container garden anywhere you would like. Apart from this way you can make sure the soil is lush and easily stop wild plants! You will be more expected to abide throughout with your gardening in case your container garden is next to your window or back door you use frequently. First start small, then work your way up to a larger garden.
• Some plants grow in shade, while others need sun, and some need both shade and sun. The best thing that you can do is place your container garden on trolley or wheels, so you can move it around in the event your chosen spot does not get as much sunlight as you thought of.
• Make sure the container that you are using has excellent drainage and soil option, which means lots of manure! Composting is simple, just put aside your food misuse, particularly coffee pounds, egg shells, and fruit peels! Creating appropriate drainage is also very convenient. Make sure that your container garden has gaps in the bottom, and then line the bottom of the container with a coating of rocks.
• If you want to succeed with your garden you need to plant the correct kind of plants, at the correct time. You can check at the United States Department of Agriculture's plant hardiness zone map. When you have confirmed that your plants will grow in your zone, ensure you plant them at the correct time of year! Be sure to also check the seed's information, it will probably be spring or summer.
• Make sure to offer young plants lots of irrigate, but at all times stay away from wetting the leaves of the plants! Wet leaves can lead to rot, mold, and an unwell plant easily! As your sprouts develop, keep in mind that the general rule of thumb is to offer plants an inch of water per week. Be on the watch out for yellow leaves that means extra water!
• Some plants are known to grow easily than others. If looking for easy-to-grow produce, then peppers, tomatoes, chard, onions, basil, and bush beans are the best. Easy to maintain and grow flowers include sunflowers, clematis, foxglove, dahlia, petunia, roses etc.
• Trimming and pruning your plants enables for enhanced air circulation and fewer leaves to spill water on

Benedict T. Palen, Jr., has more than three decades of experience functioning in agricultural speculations, management, and operations. At present, Benedict T. Palen, Jr., serves as manager and co-owner for Great Plains Farms, LLC, running all from the purchase and evaluation of farmland to providing recommendations on irrigation development and operator training.

Benedict T. Palen, Jr. On Benefits Of Organic Farming

Organic farming can be lucrative, and organic food appeals to customers as it is a healthy and moral option. Apart from cash and principles, though, organic farming practices cause several environmental advantages.

·         Lessened Exposure to Chemicals and Pesticides

Pesticide and chemical utilize results in numerous negative environmental problems:

Ø  Pesticides enable disease confrontation to build up in weeds, plants, fungi, plant-eating-insects, and bacteria.

Ø  Pesticides and chemicals scattered on plants pollute the air, water supply, and soil. At times, these destructive pesticides bond around for decades.

Ø  Synthetic chemicals also deject smart farming practices for instance, crop rotation and cover crops, which in turn, might cause other damaging environmental issues such as erosion.

·         Organic Farming Builds Healthy Soil

To grow healthy food, you must begin with healthy soil. If you treat the soil with damaging pesticides and chemicals, you might finish up with soil that cannot flourish on its own. Natural cultivation practices are far better than chemical soil management.

·         Fighting Erosion

Apart from building healthy soil, it assists fight serious land and soil problems, such as erosion. A key study comparing neighboring chemically and organic treated wheat fields established that the organic field marked eight more inches of earth than the field chemically treated and also had less erosion loss.

If you are not concerned about erosion; you should be. Erosion issues are tremendously serious, which can have an effect on the food supply, land, and humans. But, organic farming practices do assist dampen erosion from taking place.

·         Combating the outcomes of global warming

According to a recent survey, it has been shown that a healthy organic agriculture system can decrease carbon dioxide and assist slow climate change.

·         Supports Water Conservation and Water Health

Decreasing water supplies and deprived water health are extremely real threats. When the water supply is at risk, people and the planet finish up suffering. Organic farming assists keep our water supplies clean by stopping that contaminated runoff. Organic farming also assists preserve water. Organic farmers, in general, tend to spend time changing soil correctly and using mulch - both of which assist conserve water.

·         Support Animal Health and Welfare

Fish, birds, insects and all kinds of other things experience issues when humans pounce in and annihilate their natural environment. Organic farming not only assists conserve more natural habitat areas but also persuades birds and other natural marauders to live gladly on farmland, which helps in natural pest control.

Moreover, animals who remain in organic farms are exposed to chemical-free, dirt free, grazing that helps keep them naturally resistant to illness and healthy. As a bonus for organic farmers, happy and healthy organic animals are productive organic animals.​

Organic farming persuades healthy biodiversity, which acts a vital role in how tough, or not, a ranch is to problems like pests, disease, and bad weather.

Benedict T. Palen, Jr., has more than three decades of experience working in agricultural investments, management, and operations. At present, Benedict T. Palen, Jr., serves as manager and co-owner for Great Plains Farms, LLC, managing all from the purchase and evaluation of farmland to providing recommendation on irrigation development and operator training.

Memories Of Loved Ones By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

It is human nature that, as the holiday season approaches, we think of loved ones who are no longer part of our lives.    This time of year is bittersweet as we enjoy time with our friends and families, but also we rue the absence of those who were such essential parts of our lives.  For me, my parents are greatly missed.   Even though they have been gone since the early 2000s, I still carry in the folder that goes with me whenever I am away from home, two now faded and wrinkled sheets of paper.  On that paper, I wrote thoughts that spoke of the feelings in my heart when my mother passed away.  One of the passages was especially meaningful; all these years later, I have forgotten where I found it, but here it is:

 

When elephants come across the bones of one of their species, they appear to mourn. The circle the bones, curl their trunks around them, marvel at their feel, and sometimes carry them for a short distance.  They show no interest in the bones of other animals.  It is only when they realize that a fellow elephant has been lost that they are compelled to perform such rituals.

     Humans share this intense need to memorialize.   It may be that, when the story of a life has ended, there is part of ourselves forever lost, the reflection of us that we see in another’s eyes. Through remembering, we keep this part of us alive along with the deceased. It is the ultimate paradox; by recalling death, we invoke life. 

     Of all the technological brass rings human have grabbed, eliminating pain, suffering, and death, have not been among them.  It seems that we are unable to build upon the wisdom of our ancestors when we face the hardest of tasks. We all, in one way or another, must start from scratch when we confront the essential lessons of being human—lessons of life, lessons of love, lessons of loss.

     Somehow, we manage to learn them.

     Elephants finally drop the bones of their brethren, and start off down the dusty trail that leads to the future.  But it is likely true that they never forget.

     Neither do humans.

     And that, after all, may be the most bittersweet of gifts.

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What Is Your Favorite Holiday Memory? By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

As the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukah, approach in America, many of us recall fond childhood memories when times seemed simpler.   Today, we live in a world where technology is a blessing and a curse, and we form impressions based on “tweets” and whatever Google says. 

For myself, and others whom I know, the holidays are a time to set aside the clutter, and focus on what really matters.  Many families gather for meals and other special occasions, and that gives us time for those one on one conversations that may seem antiquated to some, but which are, in truth, so important to  your well being and sense of community.

It is ironic in some ways that, as we get to early adulthood, we are anxious to “leave the nest” where we spent our childhoods.  People scatter far and wide, and pursue careers that may take them far away from their roots in more ways than one.   

All of this said, it is important that each of us uses the holidays as a time to reconnect, and to recall, in a good way, those childhood memories of family get togethers.  After all, every day is a gift; we do not get them back after the clock strikes midnight.  Cherish each day that you have with your family, and especially when you have that one on one time during the holidays.

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Feeding God’s Creatures By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

I do volunteer work at a food bank, and there is always a large quantity of pastries and other “sweets” that are turned into compost because the policy of this particular food bank is to encourage its clients not to have diets with high sugar content foods.  

There is a cost associated with the compost because the surplus pastries have to be taken to another location for that purpose.  In my small way, I am helping with this issue of the pastries, and have provided sustenance to all creatures, great and small.

It turns out that squirrels, blue jays, crows, magpies, and raccoons, love sweet things.   So, every day, once in the early morning, and then again in late afternoon, we put out pieces of pies, cakes, cookies, and other such goodies, that were graciously provided by the food bank.  Everything goes into a wooden box about three feet wide, and five feet long.    Almost as soon as the food is put out, the masses descend on it, and pick out their favorites.   Some of the visitors will eat right in the box, while others will carry a piece back to the nearby trees.

In a world where humans have such trouble getting along with others with “look different” than them, I find it interesting that these creatures of all shapes, sizes, and colors, eat right alongside each other in the box, and near it, with rarely any conflicts.   How is it that these creatures have figured out how to get along, when we humans cannot seem to do so?  Alas, that is a topic for a long conversation.

Suffice to say that our back patio is the gathering place every day, twice a day, for these creatures.  It is a source of much amusement to watch the massive nibbling that takes place in “the box.”  We are keeping them fed, although we sometimes wonder if they get too much sugar…..

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Of Blue Jeans, Great Speeches, And Leadership By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

One usually does not think about blue jeans and great speeches in the same sentence as leadership.  But they go hand in hand.   Let me explain.

In the world that we live in, social media and changing values can often drive our political views; what is captured in a sound bite might be the news of the day for some political leader.   Some of our so—called leaders are missing two crucial elements of giving hope to their constituents for a better future.  Let’s use Donald Trump as an example.

How many photos of Trump in blue jeans have you seen? Probably zero.  More often than not, he is in a suit and tie, or when “going casual,” khaki pants and a jacket to hide his obese figure.   Why does it matter that he does not wear blue jeans?   It matters because that is a way to relate to the ordinary person, to show that “he’s one of us.”   Imagine talking to a bunch of, say, farmers or factory workers while dressed in a suit and tie. What kind of message, subliminal or overt, does that send?   It matters how we appear to others.   Some politician wearing blue jeans is more likely to be perceived in a positive way rather than some guy who dresses better than us because he thinks that he is better than us.

As to great speeches, they can serve to inspire a nation, to give it comfort in times of tragedy, to give it hope when things are tough, and to create common goals.  How many great speeches have you heard from Trump?  If you are being honest, the answer is none. The Teleprompter is his speech.   For those of us who remember the echoes of history, nothing that Trump has ever said has matched, say, the “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” speech of John F. Kennedy, or the words of hope and consolation expressed by Barack Obama or George Bush during some of our most trying times.   We remember those great speeches; they help to give meaning to our lives, and to remind us that we are in this together.

Wearing blue jeans—a simple thing.  Giving a great speech—a simple thing. But, oh so meaningful at many levels.

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The Importance Of Mentors For Personal And Professional Development By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

One of the things that stands out in my life is the importance of having a mentor.   Too many times, we are focused only on such things as getting a degree, getting a job, and getting from one day to the next.  Years later, one may look back and regret that kind of focus, and realize that a mentor would have provided needed perspective and advice.

It is never too late to have a mentor.  But, of course, the earlier one starts on that path, the better.  In my own experiences, I went from a tiny rural high school to a large university, and by sheer happenstance, formed bonds with two professors who shaped my college experience, and, indeed, my paths in life.  Those professors gave me guidance about my education, but also about life.  I did not realize it at the time, but the foundations that they provided have stayed with me to this day—some 40 years later.

I was recently with a group of students where I attended college, and the topic of mentors came up. All of them were very interested in mentoring. They realized that their focus on getting a degree had been, in a way, very narrow, and that there were many life skills and such that they were lacking. 

My experiences with my mentors some four decades ago have helped motivate me to help others in this way.    One of the ways to lead a good life is to help others; as the saying goes, it is more important to give than to receive.   In my case, there are experiences that I can share, experiences that come only from going down life’s paths, not always knowing what is in store.  

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The Responsibilities That Come With Being An American Citizen By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

Being a citizen of the United States comes with privileges, such as voting, the right to express oneself freely, and so forth.   But it also comes with civic duties, and the trends in modern society reflect a loosening of the standards that we, as citizens, must follow in order to (a) help ensure a nation that holds true to the principles upon which it was founded, and (b) maintain good relations with our neighbors.

There are some simple things that reflect a me first attitude.  They include disregard of basic principles of being a good neighbor—maintaining the appearance of one’s home and yard, respecting the right to quiet enjoyment by our neighbors of their homes, obeying the laws for speeding, and keeping noise levels down.  To some, these may seem silly and irrelevant.  But, take it from those of us who have the advantage of perspective as the generations have evolved—we have strayed from these fundamental things.

This is also very apparent, extremely worrisome, when it comes to our choices for our elected officials.  Whatever happened to voting based on what is good for the country, and being sure that those for whom we vote have the moral character to do the right thing, and to put their country first rather than themselves?  What has happened to the notion, indeed, the requirement, that we, as voters, must educate ourselves about the issues, and have a clear grasp of what a candidate stands for?   We must rise above those who seek to divide us, and who cannot do something as basic as being honest with us about who they are, and what they stand for.

The answer to these issues is not complicated. It is in the mirror; we must look at ourselves, and ask ourselves how do we improve our civic mindedness?  It starts with each of us.  It means going back to the basics—civic awareness, voting responsibly, and showing respect for our neighbors and all around us.   Those things are part of our social fabric.    They are the enduring qualities of America, and we must refresh our focus on them.

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Hemp Production By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

Hemp production has become the hot new trend in agriculture in parts of the US, with acreages tripling, or more, from prior levels.   This has caused the prices received by farmers to nosedive in many cases.  From the perspective of a 40 year veteran of agriculture’s cycles, things will level out, and those producers who know what they are doing, and who follow sound agronomic and marketing practices, will do well over the long run as the demand for the multiple uses for hemp continues to grow.

For anyone looking to get into the business for the first time, there are a few things to put at the top of the list of factors:

·         Do you have enough capital to get the crop from planting through harvest?  Many ag banks will not provide financing for hemp growers, so cash in pocket may be a necessity.

·         What % of your farm will you devote to hemp?

·         Have you talked to other growers in your area who have tried and failed/succeeded with hemp?

 Do you understand why some fail, and some succeed?

·         Do you have a reputable seed source?

·         Do you have a marketing plan?  Is the price guaranteed?  Do you have an act of God clause in

          your contract?

·         Are you better off (less risk) to partner with an experienced grower and share land, capital, and

           other assets

By no means is this a complete list of key topics, and each situation and growing area will create other variables.  A word to the wise—walk before you run, into this business.

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The Carbon Footprint For Organic Food By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

There is no doubt that the popularity of organic foods has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 years.  Consumers believe that organic foods are healthier for them, and safer for the environment.

But is the latter really true?  I have addressed that question in a couple of ways, and a thoughtful reader might come to a different conclusion about the carbon footprint of organic foods after considering my rationale.

There are climatic limitations on where organic crops can be grown. For example, avocado production is limited to a few relatively small areas of the US, with heavy imports from Mexico during times of the year when there is no US production available to the markets.   This means that, far from the “local food” movement that has become so much in vogue in many areas of the US, significant transportation costs, and petroleum based emissions, play a larger role than consumers might expect when comparing the organic versus conventional avocados.  The same examples can be made of a variety of other crops, which, even if fairly widely adapted in parts of the US, offer organic availability only in limited production areas, which may be further away from most consumer demand centers than the non-organic versions of the same crop.    While the US has country of origin labeling for many products, would it not be sensible to have labeling about the carbon footprint of a certain product?  To be true to the health and environmental benefits that are often part and parcel of organic marketing, would it not be important to disclose this to consumers?

     The other element of this question has to do with farming practices.   Farmers use herbicides and pesticides to control weeds and bugs, respectively.   Without those products, weeds and bugs can lead to greater use of water for the crops (because weeds consume water that the crop would otherwise use, and bugs can increase plant stress, thus increasing plant water needs).    And, because many organic crops will not produce the same quantity as, say, the same crop conventionally grown on a given acre, the result can be that more land, and more water, and needed to grow X amount of organic crops to match the same conventional crop quantity raised on fewer acres of land.

     All of this said, there is not necessarily something “bad” about organic crops.  The fact is, though, that many consumers buy into the sometimes over-hyped notion of organics without considering the environmental costs associated with those crops.

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A Tasty Recipe For Lentil And Pea Soup By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

This is an inexpensive, simple to put together, recipe that works especially well for a family because it can be enhanced in ways that fit each diner’s wishes.

The following will make about eight generous servings.

INGREDIENTS

Two large onions, diced.

Three medium carrots, and three celery stalks, diced.

Two cups of a mix of yellow or green split dry peas, lentils, in roughly equal portions

Eight cups vegetable broth; water can also be used as a substitute.

Seasonings to taste—I used Penzey’s minced garlic (2 teaspoons), ½ teaspoon of salt and black pepper, and about ½ to ¾ teaspoon of Penzey’s Lemon Pepper seasoning.  Note—other brands can, of course, be used, and you can season to your individual tastes; remember to be bold with the seasonings as that will produce a very flavorful dish.

PREPARATION

Dice the vegetables, and stir fry for about 7 minutes, under medium heat, in a pan pre-heated with a thin layer of olive oil; a tablespoon of butter can be added for extra flavor.

While the vegetables are cooking, mix the broth and dry pea/lentils, and put in a large pot under medium heat, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to slightly above simmer. 

When the vegetables are done, add them to the soup, and cook, slightly above simmer, stirring occasionally, and uncovered, for about 45 minutes, being careful not to cook too rapidly, and adding more broth if needed.

SERVING

While this is a vegetarian dish, each person can tailor to their own culinary tastes, by adding small pieces of cooked chicken, sausage, fish, or beef.  One way that I enjoy this dish is with small chunks of ham that I have sautéed in butter for above 3-4 minutes before adding to my soup. 

This can be garnished with a dollop of sour cream, and with a sprig of parsley or dill.

ENJOY!

Photographs And Memories By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

There is an old Jim Croce song with this title, and I think of it when I am in my study, the walls of which are lined with photographs that go back some 40 years.   All of the photos bring back cherished memories, whether of wheat harvests back home in Kansas, holding my infant son in the first few months of his life, and photos of my wedding day.

Many of these photos were taken long before the internet, and all of its permutations, came into our lives.   We might get instant gratification from some photo that was just posted on the internet, but the memory fades in a few days.

These photos on the walls represent a sort of permanent presence in my life.  They bring sadness in some cases when I see photos of my parents; they bring great joy when I see photos of my son, and think about the good person that he is, all these years later; they bring comfort when I see photos of the simple farm house in Kansas, home, the house that built me.  These dozens of photos of the walls wrap their arms around me as they serve as important bookmarks in the chapters of my life.

Take the time to preserve the old family photos that you probably have stuck in some box in the attic.  They are the links that help to bind us, individually, and as families, and they will keep that special meaning for all of our days.

Kitchen Sink Spaghetti Recipe By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

This is a simple yet very tasty main dish that is aptly named because the list of ingredients is very flexible—basically, you build the recipe to suit your tastes.  The example below is one of my favorites:

INGREDIENTS

8 oz (dry weight) of angel hair pasta, broken into half

4 oz feta cheese, cut into small cubes

4 to 6 oz tomato paste

Small jar of sun dried tomatoes, in oil

Olives—pitted black, medium size, cut in halves

Two medium onions

One or two bell peppers—red and green for color

Italian herb seasoning

PROCEDURE

·         Prepare the pasta as per package directions; when done, drain, cover, and set aside

·         Chop the onions and peppers into bite sized pieces

·         Put enough olive oil a cast iron skilled to cover the bottom about 1/8 inch deep, and put

                     the onions and peppers to cook with medium heat until they show a bit of brown on

                     the edges

·         Add the sun dried tomatoes, with the oil that they are packed in, and cook for 3-4 minutes

              under low heat

·         Add the pasta, the tomato paste, and the chopped olives, along with one to two teaspoons of

               the Italian herb seasoning, and mix thoroughly, while cooking over low heat for about

               five minutes; stir every minute

·         Add the chopped feta cheese just before serving; mix in

·         If desired, top with dried dill or grated parmesan or asiago cheese

ENJOY!

Note—I often add small pieces of sautéed shrimp or chicken to the recipe just before adding the feta

cheese.

This can be made with almost any kind of cheese. I like the feta because it gives some kick to the rest of the ingredients.  The sun dried tomatoes are a key ingredient; they provide a lot of flavor.

Other ingredients could be chopped artichokes, sautéed mushrooms, or pine nuts.

Whenever I make this dish, I scour the refrigerator to use up whatever leftovers can contribute interesting flavors to this dish.

Serves at least six people generously.

Leadership By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

There are common traits to being a true leader, whether it involves leading a Boy Scout group, or a nation. At the core of leadership is having a moral code, e.g., understanding the difference between right and wrong, and applying that guideline to everything that we do.  

Doing the right thing means, for example, treating people equally regardless of race, color, or religion, and it means contributing a fair share of one’s wealth for societal good.  It means keeping in mind that we take nothing with us when we leave this earth, and that how we are truly remembered is by the legacy that we leave behind.

  

There is a leadership vacuum in this country now.  Hurling insults, tweeting falsehoods, and demonizing certain groups, is NOT leadership. It is reminiscent of tactics used during Hitler’s reign of terror in the 1930s and 40s.  Have we forgotten the lessons that that historical period taught us?  Have we left behind the democratic principles upon which the United States was founded?

The social fabric of this country has been torn by some who want to lead us down a path of nationalistic, racist policies.   The vast majority of Americans know that that is wrong on all counts.  It is time for the sometime “silent majority” to exercise its democratic right to create change, and that begins with electing leaders who have the best interests of the country, not themselves, in mind, when they run for office. 

Leaders are not born into it.  Principles of leadership can be read in many books. Real leadership comes from living by a set of principles every day, and in every situation, and never selling out for the appeal of the moment.  It means doing the right thing for all those who look to you, and inspiring them, by your words and deeds, to do the right things in their daily interactions with their fellow citizens.

Tips For Farmers When Working With Lenders By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

There are signs everywhere in the farm sector that credit availability is tightening for 2019, and that lenders will exert extra scrutiny of many loan applications, whether for renewals, or new financing.  What can a farmer do to be prepared?

The first and foremost thing is to be proactive, and upfront with the lender.   This will give you, the borrower, the opportunity to frame the discussion, rather than being on the defensive from the get go.

Second, be organized, detailed, accurate, and prepared.  Have your financial ducks in a row. Analyze with great attention to detail your costs per unit of production over the last 3-4 years, and be ready to justify certain expenditures from the standpoint of ROI.

Third, have a good handle on your risk management strategy.   Be ready to explain to the lender how you are mitigating risk, whether it be on the cost of, say, diesel fuel, or with regard to the price potential for your crops.  

Fourth, put yourself in the lender’s shoes. Ask yourself whether you would lend money to someone wearing the same shoes as you, and think about what you would ask the prospective borrower.

Fifth, even if you have been with one lender for a long time, look around, and have a Plan B in case things do not pan out with the current lender. 

Finally, perceptions matter.  Do a drive through of your farm with the lender; show him a clean farmstead, well maintained machinery, and fields in good condition. 

Civility And Morality In Public Life By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

Inherent in the idea of a “leader” is the idea of showing, by example, the ways in which we should conduct ourselves as part of a civil society where differences are tolerated, opinions are freely expressed, and good rules of social interaction are followed.

 

Sadly, in today’s world, especially in America, our “leader,” and some of his disciples, have completely disregarded these principles, and that reflects poorly on us as a leader among nations.  Some of my friends in Europe believe that we have lost our way, and that America is now a dark place where the worst of human emotions are on display.  

There is hope.  The majority of people are good and decent human beings, and their “better angels” will carry the day.  People, young and old, know that each of us must lead by example, and that the seemingly small things like respect, civility, and decency, matter, in this life.  All of us need to remember that each of us have a moral duty to make a difference, each and every day, in how we live our lives, and that means showing respect to others, and conducting oneself in a way that sets an example for our children, and others.

Societies are built on many things. One of the most important of them is hope; hope for a better tomorrow for our children, and their children, and for ourselves.  We must not lose hope that things will get better, and that we will return to the American society that we knew before it became tarnished by the politics of hate and divisiveness.  The ability to change is in our hands.  And it is our moral duty to facilitate that change.