State park trail entry point.

Journey Home

Tales from the pilgrimage.

Paul Deaton

  • Garden is In

    With planting of Fairy Tale eggplant, Turk’s Turban squash, a sweet potato that sprouted on the counter and 18 bell pepper plants, I declare the initial garden planting finished. Food is growing in six plots this year and all that remains is the weeding, water management and harvesting. The days get longer for another week… Read more

  • Chinese Chicken

    My current inspiration is a decorative image of a rooster, made in China, and purchased at a home, farm and auto supply store. Eying the clearance aisle wooden chickens for weeks, I finally bought one at a deep discount. The price tag was not much and the cash register receipt describes it as a 17-inch… Read more

  • Briefly on Politics

    BIG GROVE TOWNSHIP, Iowa — On Tuesday, June 7, Hillary Clinton won the California, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota primaries, securing enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination for president at the July 25 national convention. I agree with Jeff Weaver and Tad Devine, key Bernie Sanders advisors, that Clinton isn’t nominated until the… Read more

  • Pickled Items

    I’ll be taking a break for a while. I’m as busy as ever figuring out what life is and what my life will be. In August I’ll be filling in for the editor of Blog for Iowa. Regular posting will resume no later than then. Like the air traffic controller, we can only land one… Read more

  • Mostly Outdoors

    Sunday’s indoor task was to process 14 quarts of soup stock made on Saturday in a water bath. That was easy because mostly it is about filling jars, waiting for the water to boil, then setting a timer. That part of the mission was accomplished. The rest of the day was outdoors where I planted… Read more

  • Cemeteries and Decorations

    BIG GROVE TOWNSHIP, Iowa — A couple of years ago the Solon American Legion moved their annual Memorial Day commemoration from Oakland Cemetery to the new service memorial at American Legion Field. As remaining World War II veterans depart on their long journey after this life, the new field is level, lessening the possibility of… Read more

  • Plenty of Seedlings

    With zero percent chance of precipitation until 10 p.m., I expect to finish spring planting today. The plan developed yesterday was modified. Carmen decided there wasn’t enough soil blocking to make it worth a trip to the farm this weekend. It was alright by me. My soil blocking work is almost finished with only winter… Read more

  • Into Memorial Day Weekend

    The Weather Channel application serves gardeners with a busy schedule. The forecast called for rain through the 4 a.m. hour. At 4:22 a.m. the gentle rain we crave is ending. Garden soil will be too wet for planting, so I’ll switch my soil blocking schedule at the farm for today after a work session in… Read more

  • We Like Amy Nielsen

    Once Amy Nielsen of North Liberty set her mind on getting involved with government in one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities there was no stopping her. When Mayor Tom Salm died unexpectedly in 2014, she pursued a council appointment after nine-year councilor Gerry Kuhl was appointed mayor. The city council chose someone else. Nielsen then ran… Read more

  • In the Kitchen Garden

    Radishes, spring garlic and turnip greens were ready for harvest. It was the beginning of a day of gardening and cooking as good as takes place anywhere in the world. The combination of today’s harvest, previous pickings in the ice box and bits and pieces made for a day close to the soil and replete… Read more