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.