Magicland Farms' Blog

Archive for Whatever

Some Helpful Info For New Blog Readers

March 17, 2013 Tom No comments

Since I am getting many new people looking at my blog, I would like to fill the newcomers in on where I am and where I am coming from.

The original name for this blog was Tom’s Blog. I am Tom and, so far, have written all the posts for Tom’s Blog, now known as Magicland Farms’ Blog. In the near future I hope to have guest bloggers writing posts for me. I have one lined up already and if you are interested let me know by leaving a comment. To subscribe to this blog Click Subscribe

In addition to running Magicland Farms, where our family grows and sells a huge variety of fruits and vegetable we grow ourselves on our 67 acre farm (4380 S.
Gordon, Fremont, MI 49412) I am the Workshop Editor for Boys’ Quest and Fun For Kidz’ magazines as well as a freelance writer. In addition, I operate an online business selling electronic parts and electronics kits. I also am a movie producer…sort of anyway. I now have 27 videos on two YouTube channels … Magicland Farms and Cool ContraptionGuy

Farm News, Whatever Boys' Quest, electronic kits, electronic parts, kits, microcontrollers, picaxe, resistors, YouTube

Please, please don’t tell me it ain’t so!

January 27, 2013 Tom No comments

I bet you are wondering about what ain’t so. Simple. My wife has told me that I should stop using the word “ain’t”! Actually she has told me numerous times to not use that a…. word in conversation–as far as I know I never have used it in writing or texting until just a few moments ago. I have agreed with her about this but a…. still comes into my conversation since it has become a habit. I have found using the a…. word is easier. I can use it to replace “am not”, “are not”, “is not”, “has not”, “have not” and even “do not”, “does not” and “did not”. I am sure some even use it as a contraction for other word groups. I wonder what would happen if you used it for a contraction for “love you” you then say to your spouse “I a….” In other words what is basically wrong with a…. as a contraction is that it is a contraction for many different two word word groups. So I agree completely with most English teachers that a…. shouldn’t be used ever! English, as well as math, is based on good sound logic. That is why double negatives, such as, “I never saw nothing!” or “I sure can’t get no sleep!” don’t mean what the speaker meant (unless they are doing it for a joke). Logically, “I never saw nothing!” means I did see something and “I sure can’t get no sleep anymore!” means I can get sleep. What do you think, “I ain’t saw nothing!” really means other than I broke my word about using a….!

What really bothers me is the television ad put out by a lawyer and he loudly speaks the a…. word. That’s almost like okaying it. My wife is right. Now I just have to break my nasty habit of using the a…. word!

Whatever

2012-2013 Winter Forecast

December 15, 2012 Tom No comments

Last year, during November, all you seemed to hear on the Grand Rapids Michigan news/weather TV was about the winter weather forecast. To say it was hyped up is an understatement. This year nothin’! While I imagine someplace it’s out there I have been listening and haven’t heard it! Am I surprised? No, since last year they hyped how cold and snowy a winter it was going to be because of the La Nina, and the NAO and AO and whatever…seems to be everyone said this, (including Joe Bastardi), everyone except yours truly. I said it was to be a slightly warmer than normal winter. Was I right on? No, it was warmer than that but, but, but my forecast was closer than anyone else…as far as I know! To be honest, I don’t remember if I put my forecast out on this blog. However, I did put it out on my newsletter! To sing up for my FREE That’s right totally FREE!! newsletter click the link below.

This year I put out, on my December 2, 2012 newsletter, this winter’s forecast. I am repeating it here below.

As I promised last week, I am now issuing my winter weather forecast for Newaygo County. Keep in mind this little rhyme “The winter will remember the weather pattern of November.” If we go just by that, this looks like a slightly milder winter coming up. But there is more to it. We have the equatorial Pacific in a slight el Nino (warm) phase. Since the El Nino is so weak it is not a relaible gauge this year. However, it does have a slight edge toward slightly warmer than normal winter. Then we have the snow cover over the US and Canada. Despite no snow here, there is a lot more in Canada (actually it starts 100 miles north of here) than last year which means it will be colder than last year -which is obvious since two super warm winters never happen two years in a row. This seems to call for a normal winter. The North Atlantic and Arctic oscillations are often meaningless here since they often change every few weeks so lets ignore them. And of course there is that very old Native American friend of mine Chief Misty Sky. I asked him what was the winter going to be like. He said “Some days squaw’s water will freeze in bucket before she can get it to me in my warm teepee. Other days squaw won’t need to tend fire at night for me.” I shook my head and asked “What are you talking about?” “Eat more fish!”, he replied.

“What?” I asked

“Fish brain food!”

“Oh, I responded–you think winter will be normal.” Injun nodded his head slightly.

“What makes you think that?”

“White men have average sized pile of firewood.”

Well that cinches it! It looks like a normal type of winter at least with regards to the temperature. Snow? Who knows? I sure don’t!

Farm News, Nature, Weather, Whatever

Warning! Don’t Pick Up and Use a Jump Drive You Find!

December 11, 2012 Tom No comments

I have heard reports of people finding jump drives in parking lots, on sidewalks and other public places and then using them in their computer. There is a good chance that the jump drive was a plant by someone who wants to spread computer viruses. The computer virus program in the jump drive is so small that you your computer will be infected no matter how quick you are pulling the jump drive out!

Science/Technology, Whatever

My Farming Roots

April 18, 2012 Tom One comment

While I was born and raised in Chicago–and I mean in the Gage Park area which is in Chicago itself and not a suburb– my farming roots go back to my Grandmother who was born and raised on a farm in Verdigre Nebraska. (Present population 500.) I remember some of the interesting things she told me. For instance, when our basement flooded for the umpteen time she mentioned despite the fact that Nebraska was noted for dry, hot summer weather, it was the super-rainy summers that were the hardest for crops. She also mentioned there was so much relentless bitter cold winter winds that her family actually burnt their kitchen table to keep warm. Trees you see, were almost unknown there. It was soon after that when her father picked up and moved to Chicago and was fortunate to buy, with the help of a mortgage, a coal company! What else? He never had to again burn any furniture to keep warm!

My grandmother seemed to have a lifetime subscription to the Farm Journal. Ever once in a while Farm Journal sent her a questionnaire to make sure she was in farming–I guess they started to wonder since the address they sent the magazine was in the heart of Chicago. When I was just a few years old she and I sat together in the winter looking over the latest Burpee and Vaughan’s seed catalog picking out stuff like carrots, beans, white marigolds, etc. Then with her guidance, I spaded our little garden, one shovelful at a time in that blue clayey ground. When the carrots were just big enough to chomp on, which was in early June me thinks, I pulled some up and rinsed them at an outdoor faucet–not really well, thinking back–and bit into sheer delight–I also shared them with my friends who also delighted in them. Tthinking back this was also about the same time of the year that the Deadly Nightshade berries were ripe and also about the time of the year the kids of the neighborhood had Nightshade Fights–no snow anymore so we had to have something to throw at each other…

Farm News, Nature, Whatever

Spring is Officially Here Today! Also, Next Week it is Going To be Shockingly Warm!

March 1, 2012 Tom 2 comments

Important News Flash! Maple sap is running!

Believe it or not, today, March 1st, is the first day of spring! “What about March 20th?” you might ask. Well, that too is the first day of spring. To make things even more confusing, this year April 4 is also the first day of spring. The difference in dates mentioned is based on how you define spring. Meteorologically Spring begins on March 1 and ends on May 31, Astronomically Spring begins on March 20th and ends on June 19 and economically it begins on April 4th with the first game of Major League Baseball (Cardinals vs Marlins), which is played in Miami and ends on May 27, the Friday before the Memorial Day weekend.

Now we get to the weather next week. Its going to be unusually warm. Too warm I fear. Those who have been anxiously waiting for winter to really get started will have to wait longer–perhaps even to November or December. This is a good time for those meteorologists who have been first calling for a severe winter–they were sure of it–and then calling for a severely cold start to March, to be humbled. While I was calling for a rather mild winter, I am shocked by the lack of cold weather in February. I have never seen anything like it! While the start of March will perhaps be too warm (get trees out of dormancy too early) I would be surprised to see March average out warmer than normal–although that’s the way it now looks, and I am not too happy about that! What about normal weather! Where has it gone? If trees start to get too active next week, I will post about it!

Farm News, Nature, Weather, Whatever

CLOSED!!! Giveaway: Signed Copy of My Book “Snowball Launchers, Giant-Pumpkin Growers, and Other COOL CONTRAPTIONS.”

February 22, 2012 Tom 11 comments

My Book

Robyn is the WINNER of my book! I will be contacting her shortly! You can tell your hubby that it does have something to do with a remote control gadget. I will explaining exactly what it is in a new post. I want to thank everyone for all your kind comments and suggestions about my book!

My book “Snowball Launchers, Giant-Pumpkin Growers, and Other COOL CONTRAPTIONS” was published by Sterling in 2006. It has gone into its second printing and, I think, Sterling does not have plans for a third printing. I am looking into publishing for Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. The book is targeted at children from 6 to 15 who like to make stuff. Many of the projects in the book were adapted from my articles that I had published in Boys’ Quest and/or Fun For Kidz magazines. I am the Workshop editor of both magazines.

Project 15 in the book is titled “Sidewinder Thingamajig.” Do you have any idea what this project is about? Hint: Believe it or not it is useful and practical! I plan on giving away a signed copy of my book to the person that describes the project the best. This contest ends on the Ides of March (March 15). If there are ties I will have my wife draw the winning name from my Stihl hat! Remember, March 15th is the last date to enter this contest!

The following are two reviews of my book you might want to read. By the way, if they weren’t flattering do you think I would mention them?

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—The 20 projects in this collection range from a simple “Heartbeat Monitor” to a fairly complex “Moth-Bot,” a wheeled vehicle that moves toward light with the flick of a switch. Most have strong kid appeal, though the “Snowball Launcher” and “Super-Duper Water Shooter” are likely to generate more interest than the “Drinking-Straw Dispenser.” Energetic writing makes all of the projects sound intriguing, and the process of creating working gadgets can be as much fun as the end result. Instructions are written in an engaging, conversational tone, with background information about concepts such as gravity and electricity woven into the text. The directions are fairly easy to follow, although the complexity of some of the later “contraptions” will require especially careful attention and possibly adult consultation. Diagrams are also helpful; several steps are often combined in a single illustration, but clear and consistent labeling makes them effective. Most of the projects use household materials, along with basic craft or electronic supplies. The last seven involve electricity; they are more complex and require more purchased items, such as DC motors and transistors. Fifteen of the projects have a clearly highlighted “Adult Supervision Required” note, mainly for use of drills, saws, or other sharp tools. This is a good resource for students looking for out-of-the-ordinary science projects and for curious and creative kids who just want to make something fun and different.—Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

“Does your arm get tired and start hurting right in the middle of a snowball fight?” The solution to these and other conundrums (how to get maximum range out of a water shooter; how to turn a toy car into a rocket) are presented in this accessible selection of projects, many of which have appeared in magazines such as Boys’ Quest and Hopscotch for Girls. The open layouts present diagrams and step-by-step instructions for projects that include a giant-pumpkin grower, a stethoscope, and a robot, and the author encourages kids to use recycled materials, such as empty oatmeal canisters and paper-towel tubes. Fox also discusses the scientific principles each project demonstrates, making this an excellent choice for classroom use. Younger kids will need help with both the science facts and the tools (notes indicate the projects requiring adult supervision), but older ones can confidently tackle several simple contraptions on their own. Adults will welcome this selection of high-interest projects that are ready-made for collaborative, educational fun. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Health, Whatever

CLOSED, Winner Chosen – Win a dozen hardy pecan seed nuts and grow your own hardy pecan trees!

February 12, 2012 Tom 26 comments

Thank you to all who participated!

The first person to name the town and state of the farthest place north in the US where native pecan trees have been found growing wild will win 12 hardy pecan seed nuts. Also included will be instructions on how to raise your own hardy pecan trees from seed nuts. To win, simply be the first to comment on this post with the correct answer. Please leave your email address so I can contact you. Contest ends on March 1, 2012. You must reside in the United States to qualify for this contest. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer.

Farm News, Nature, Whatever

Coldest morning of the winter so far–maybe safe now for ice fishing!

February 11, 2012 Tom No comments

This morning (2/11/2012) the temperature dropped to 2F with crystal clear skies. If it wasn’t for that 2 inches of snow that fell yesterday I would say for Pickerel and Kimbal lakes would be generally safe for ice fishing except for those normally slow to freeze spots. I plan on checking the ice this morning and leaving an update on the ice condition.

(I sure hope my lettuce planting survived last night. I did put a red 75 watt light bulb beneath the low tunnel yesterday.)

UPDATE AT 10:40AM — the ice in front of my home on Pickerel Lake is about 3 inches thick and the quality of the ice is fairly good. Most, but not all, people think this is safe enough ice to walk on but not snowmobile on — definitely not to drive on! Unless we have a warm rain or lots of snow the ice should stay fairly good all week. Clear nights really help make ice even with air temps slightly above freezing. The reason for this is simple — a clear sky has a temp reading of between -100 and -150F. This is true even on hot summer nights as long as you can see stars clearly. If you don’t believe it get yourself a good infrared thermometer and point it up at the clear sky. Try this on a July day with temps in the 90s and you will get the same -100F reading–as long as you don’t point the thermometer at the sun or at a cloud. Also, checked the lettuce and it seems to have come through last night’s near zero temps!

Farm News, Fishing, Health, Weather, Whatever

We started Transplanting Our Buttercrunch, Freckles, Winter Density and Green Ice Lettuce!

February 9, 2012 Tom 3 comments

As I mentioned in earlier posts going back to January 4, we are attempting to grow lettuce in an unheated (almost so anyway) greenhouse. While we are growing the lettuce directly in the ground in the greenhouse, we modified the ground by making a raised bed by adding a 2.7 cubic foot bag of the
Sunshine LC1 Professional Growing Mix, which is soil we use when growing plants that are to be transplanted.) (Tomatoes, peppers, onions, eggplants, muskmelon, seedless watermelon, giant pumpkins and sometimes a few more types like early cucumbers and early broccoli.) Since it is so early in the season I decided to provide a little protection from really cold nights so I added three soil heating cables that are controlled by an inexpensive controller that turns on at 35F and shuts off at 45F. For extra protection I also put a low tunnel over the lettuce so now it is protected by both the 8 foot greenhouse and a three foot low tunnel. I have added to this blog a few photos so you can get some idea what we did. We have taken many other photos and even a video with thoughts of another article fluttering through my gray matter — if we actually get lettuce.

Starting to get the patch set in the greenhouse.

What gave me the incentive for attempting to grow lettuce during a Michigan winter was my wife Annemarie. You see, she has joined Weight Watchers online and lettuce is something she has always liked–especially the lettuce we grow on our Magicland Farms — and all lettuce like most fruits and vegetables has zero points! She really likes the way Weight Watchers works–the points are so easy to figure out and it apparently has worked so far. I want it made clear Annemarie never asked me to grow it I just wanted to. When she told a coworker about my attempt to grow lettuce during winter the gal said “Isn’t he sweet!” That made me feel good.