Bowdon, ND

I just got back from a three week plus trip to the East Coast to visit friends, and while it was nice to see them and sample some of the fresh seafood that’s always available, I can’t begin to tell you what a relief it was to get back into the wide open spaces of North Dakota and home to Bowdon.

Just to illustrate the contrasts in “lifestyle”, let me tell you about traffic. After leaving a shopping mall at a little before 4:30 one afternoon, I managed to drive 5 miles by 7:00. Now I have to admit that the roads had iced up and many ramps to the highways had been closed, so what seemed like a bazillion cars had to get to their destination on surface roads, but I think I could have walked home faster! The next instance was driving from suburban Washington, D.C. to suburban Baltimore, MD–a whopping 50 miles–at 1:30 on a partly cloudy afternoon. The trip took over three hours and the only thing contributing to the delay was cars, trucks, vans, and busses, waaaaaaaay too many of them for my taste. During one of the many times I was at a dead stop on the Capital Beltway, an interstate highway, I took the picture that accompanies this blog.

Now when I got back to North Dakota on Tuesday, February 19, I drove Loren and Patti Patrie’s van back from Bismarck; from Steele to Bowdon, about 60 miles, I had the road to myself–I didn’t meet, follow, or get followed by one car! Granted, it was the coldest night of the year, so most people with any sense were home keeping warm and toasty, but I cannot tell you how relaxed and free I felt not being surrounded by people, people, people and cars, cars, cars.

We here are so blessed to be living in such lovely surroundings with our wonderful friends and family in communities that are working to always be a little bit better.

Patti Patrie was just elected president of the ND Farmers Market and Grower Association at its 4th annual conference in Carrington, ND on February 15 and 16. Patti grew up in Michigan on a fruit farm and now raises red raspberries on the Patrie grain and cattle farm southeast of Bowdon. Raspberries are sold fresh and in processed products made in the Patries’ on-farm commerical kitchen. A fruit stand was built by Clayton Patrie (Patti’s oldest son) when a Junior at the Bowdon High School. It is located on the northwest corner of Highways 52 and 200 where they intersect just 1 mile north of the Patries’ berry patch.

For several years Patti has been encouraging others in Bowdon to grow produce and sell it along with the raspberries at the fruit stand. Now people are realizing that growing a few more vegetables in their gardens may be a good way to increase the amount of local foods available for purchase in ND. Local food production and a local foods diet are two ways to build upon the new trend of eating by health conscience consumers. Customers inquire about more choices. ND people are agricultural. So its a perfect fit to match the local skills with demand.

Patti and daughter, Anne, attended the conference session on high tunnel production by Terry Nennich of Bemidgi, MN. The tunnels serve as greenhouses but have no artifical heat. Temperature is controled by rolling up and down the plastic walls of the tunnel. Tunnels serve to extend the growing season of both fruit and vegetables which make them very popular in northern climates.

The farmers market group will work to bring Terry back again to speak in more detail on the tunnels and plan a tour of tunnels in the Fergus Falls area of MN this summer. For more information on the farmers market organization and events go to www.ndfarmersmarkets.com or call Patti at 701-962-3355.

Meanwhile the local foods interest is growing in Bowdon and the Horizons team has asked Dwight Duke of Hensler to do a presentation on raising organic fruit and vegetables and marketing at Farmers’ Markets. He will be in Bowdon at the school building library on Sunday, March 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. Everyone is invited.

Current equipment available in the Bowdon Fitness Center:
A Bowflex Sport, 2 Treadmills, 2 Cardiogliders, Eliptical Machine, Rowing Machine, ab lounger, ab swing, schwinn air bike, bike
We have a tv with a vhs recorder and a dvd player, so come and workout on the treadmill or bike while watching a movie. Before you know it, you will have walked those 4 miles or rode those 6 miles.
We also have a cd player available, so bring your favorite cds with and listen to music while you workout on all the machines.
Currently there are 9 members using the Fitness Center.

On Feb. 8th, Denise Spanjer of the Center for Technology & Business, came to Bowdon to give the Train-the-Trainer Class in Computer Education Courses.  Denise was very helpful in giving us the tools we need to competently hold Adult Education Computer Courses.  The following classes will be given:
1. Computing 1 - A beginners guide to computers & the internet.
2. Computing 2 - Word Processing & Spreadsheets
3. Intermeditate Course
4. Windows Management
5. Powerpoint
6. Microsoft Word
7. Microsoft Excel
8. Power-up with Projects
a. Intro to Genealogy
b. Intro to Online Shopping
c. Finding Answers to Your Computer Questions Online
d. Online Investing Resources
e. Getting Acquainted with the Photo Editing Program
f.  Intro to Digital Photography
g. Projects Using Digital Images, Part 1
h. Projects Using Digital Images, Part 2

For more information, contact Pam Hoff at 962-3697.