The Millers Mills Community in the town of Columbia is again planning their annual Ice Harvest for Sunday, Feb. 13. As always, this event is subject to Mother Nature’s fickle ways. Both sufficient ice to cut and snow for sleighs to carry the ice are critical. The Millers Mills Grange sponsors the ev...

In light of it being International Hoof Care Month, we thought we’d share this story from Country Folks columnist Judy Van Put, who writes the monthly “Horse Tales” column. Lameness issues and possible bowed tendon? This past year has been a difficult one for our 17-year-old mare, Morgan. Back on Ma...

Some of my fondest memories of my grandfather involved a not-so-silent war he was involved in for years. It was Grandpa and the birds versus the scavenging squirrels. My grandpa loved passively birdwatching, seeing who would flit up to the bird feeder throughout the year, noting all the different co...

What are the perks of homemade soup versus something from a can? The obvious answer is love, but another obvious answer is health. February 4 is National Homemade Soup Day, and it’s an excellent reason to get into the kitchen and experiment with fresh foods. Think about it – that canned soup you buy...

It’s never a bad time to learn a new skill, and as we settle into month three of winter, maybe you should try your hand at canning. January is Canned Food Month, and while some people’s first thoughts are the cans at the grocery store, we know you, Country Culture maven. You’re a home canner. But ma...

National Seed Swap Day was made official in 2006 and falls on the last Saturday in January. According to Seed Savers Exchange ( www.seedsavers.org ), humans have been swapping seeds for over 10,000 years. During 2020, as more people were staying at home, many turned to gardening and now many new gar...

Today is National Museum Selfie Day, so we at Country Culture are giving into our vain urges and turning the lens on ourselves. We’re also turning the lens on the small, local museums that may not immediately come to mind when you think about museums. Many small and rural communities have local hist...

It is National Cheese Lovers Day and you know what that means. I, your trusty Country Culture editor-in-chief, will be eating the fanciest of cheeses with wild abandon. If you’re like me, you can’t exactly put into words why you love cheese so much. Yes, taste is good. Yes, texture is nice. Some hav...

New year, new habits – that’s the idea behind National Hobby Month. Every January, we’re encouraged to try something new and, more importantly, stick with it. As a regular rural resident or a new one, there are countless ways to try something new in 2022. If you’re a regular gardener, try expanding ...

Green, red, kidney, lima or soy are just a few of the different kinds of beans recognized on National Bean Day – Jan. 6. This day celebrates the bean in all sizes, shapes and colors. Humans have been cultivating beans (legumes) since the early seventh millennium BCE. And today, just as throughout th...

It seems almost too appropriate that January is National Soup Month . With winter really settled in, we all crave something cozy, and a big bowl of something warm and tasty is the perfect prescription. The beauty of soup is that you can literally put whatever you want in it. Want to use up some stor...

December 17 may be one of my favorite holidays going forward, because it has been declared National Maple Syrup Day. While the sugaring season is still a few months away (hopefully – the weather hasn’t exactly been cooperating of late), today’s a day to celebrate what we already have. Today’s a good...

December 9 is National Llama Day, and to help you learn why these interesting animals are worthy of their own holiday, check out this passage (adapted from a post on their website) from CriVen Llamas farm in Marshfield, MO : Llamas and their relatives are no strangers to our land.Llamas are members ...

Many fruits are out of season during the winter months, but pears are available nearly year-round, which makes them a great addition to any meal. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and skin colors, including green, golden, yellow and red. Pears can be eaten raw or cooked. They are great as a qu...

Small Business Saturdayis an American shopping holiday that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Believe it or not, the “holiday” is already more than a decade old, with the first Small Business Saturday taking place back in 2010. It’s considered a counterpart to both Black Friday and Cyber ...