Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous’ Category
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
It finally arrived! I had been anticipating the CHS magazine with a feature story on the Nutrients for Life “mommy blogger” (that’s me). It’s not every day your blog is featured in a Fortune 100 company magazine with a circulation of 235,000. I quickly thumbed through and found the article. I called my three girls to the kitchen and showed them the article. They giggled and recalled the photo shoot with CHS photographer, David Lundquist. This “mommy blogger” is humbled and honored to be featured by CHS Inc. (more…)
Tags: CHS, Dee McKenna, Education, farmer, fertilizer, Gardening, Iowa, Kansas, Nutrients for Life Foundation, spokesperson
Posted in Education, Life, Miscellaneous | No Comments »
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
World Famous French Fries
Go ahead and judge me…we eat McDonald’s…often. I know, I know! I have to give the mega franchise credit for being convenient and affordable. You know the scene, we are running errands, and the whines from the backseat are getting louder. The cries for “food break, mom” so she pulls under the golden arches. I know I am not the only mom swinging in the drive thru for a quick meal, because they sell approximately 4.2 million hamburgers a day (yep, a day) in the United States. That’s a lot of beef! However, my favorite McDonald’s indulgence is the french fry. McDonald’s restaurants report that they buy 3.42 billion pounds of potatoes each year. Hmm, looks like I am in good company and not the only one craving their french fry. My point: McDonald’s is a large consumer of American agriculture.
(more…)
Tags: agriculture, beef, Farmers, fries, hamburger, McDonald's
Posted in Education, Miscellaneous | 5 Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Mrs. Claus is on the ball this year. Gifts for our three blue-eyed elves are wrapped and ready to go under the tree. I don’t know who is more excited for Christmas, me or the girls. I have never been this prepared, and it’s difficult to manage the anticipation for Santa’s big day. Santa on the other hand, is still shopping for Mrs. Claus. I am supposed to be writing my Christmas wish list, so being the multi-tasker that all moms are, I am combining a blog entry while at the same time, creating my Christmas wish list (a list for all gardeners). (more…)
Tags: Christmas, compost bin tumbler, fertilizer, garden center, garden gloves, garden gnome, gardener, holidays, mulch, pruning shears, rain barrels, Red Wiggler Worms, School Garden, seeds, wish list
Posted in Gardening, Life, Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »
Friday, August 26th, 2011
With school back in session (thank goodness for routine) I want to remind you that I blog for the Nutrients for Life Foundation. We are an education foundation that has free resources for educators interested in bringing science to life. The Nutrients for Life curriculum, Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century, is available in three grade levels. Developed and tested by science teachers, the six-lesson curriculum makes the connection between science and everyday life. (more…)
Tags: Education, fertilizer, kids, Soil
Posted in Education, fertilizer, Miscellaneous, Soil, Sustainability | 2 Comments »
Friday, August 12th, 2011
My husband had business in Belgium and invited me to go with! Castles, gardens, and chocolate…why wouldn’t I go? Crazy as it may sound, initially I said no. I gave my dear husband a long list of reasons why I just couldn’t go. For me to leave for a week means calling on family and friends to care for my daily responsibilities. Who would watch the girls, the dog, water the garden, blah, blah, blah? I came to my senses when everyone I shared my reservations with gave me a list of reasons why I should go. That list was longer than my list. I renewed my expired passport and booked a ticket. (more…)
Tags: Dee McKenna, family, flowers, garden, Gardening, gardens, Life, planting, plants
Posted in Gardening, Life, Miscellaneous | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
When the TV is on, my girls are motionless and non-responsive. Confession, I need a little peace in my day so I like them comatose for about 30 minutes a day. Just 30 minutes, that’s all I need! Despite weeks of brutal heat, we have continued to spend time outside. Lubed up with sun screen, we water and weed the garden, and go swimming. That’s about all we can handle; the rest of our time is spent enjoying the benefits of our over-worked, but not underappreciated, air conditioner. (more…)
Tags: Dee McKenna, Education, family, flowers, garden, kids, Life, nature
Posted in Education, fertilizer, Life, Miscellaneous | 3 Comments »
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Whew, nothing like 12 hours in a minivan to bring out the best in a family. We drove from Wichita to San Antonio for our much-needed summer vacation. The girls have been dreaming of petting dolphins and meeting a killer whale named Shamu. Sea World was our vacation destination and the most economical way of getting there was driving. I like driving, although less than 12 hours is more desirable. (more…)
Tags: agriculture, Crops, family, family farm, farm, farm land, Farmers, Feeding the world, Landscape, production, Soil, Sustainability, Sustainable Agriculture, world hunger
Posted in Education, Gardening, Landscape, Life, Miscellaneous, Soil, Sustainability | No Comments »
Friday, February 18th, 2011
I attended the 2011 Fertilizer Marketing Business Meeting in Arizona last week. My home in the Midwest was covered in snow; the Arizona sun was a warm welcome change. I delighted in the opportunity to explore and investigate the local vegetation. I was most intrigued by the Saguaro Cactus. (more…)
Tags: Bob Beckel, cactus, Fertilizer Marketing Business meeting
Posted in Education, fertilizer, Gardening, Landscape, Life, Miscellaneous, Service Projects, Soil | No Comments »
Friday, October 1st, 2010
All I can think about is scratching my left arm. Unfortunately, I have poison ivy. If you have had it, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you have never had it, be grateful. (more…)
Tags: animals, birds, deer, hiking, itching, Nature trail, poison berries, Poison Ivy, rash, trails
Posted in Landscape, Life, Miscellaneous, Service Projects | No Comments »
