Crystal FCE meets

Posted: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:00 pm

The April meeting of the Crystal Family and Community Education Club was held at the Obion County Museum recently.
The meeting was called to order by President Nadine Killion and the devotional was led by Anita Simpson. Mrs. Simpson’s topic was “The Night Light.” The subject of her devotional was that people should learn to take the good, bad and the ugly and lay those at the foot of God — He will take care of it.
The club voted to give a donation to the Cameron Thompson fund. Cameron’s mom works for Obion County Farm Bureau. It was announced that the fair board would meet on April 16. This year the Obion County Fair will be held Aug. 12-17. Fair entries will be due on Aug. 3 and will be judged on Aug. 7.
The club voted to recommend that Achievement Day be held in the spring and  include the dress revue since this year’s event was so successful. A county-wide workshop for making “snap bags” will be held at the Farm Bureau on May 13. Mrs. Simpson and Jane Fisher will lead this workshop. Participants will need a sewing machine, material and thread. The leaders will furnish the metal rule needed to make a snap bag.
All CVU reports are due in to Mrs. Simpson by Wednesday. Creative writing entries for regional judging are due July 1. These are to be turned in to Mrs. Fisher. Crystal FCE Club will visit Discovery Park of America for its May meeting. The club will plan to meet at the Obion County Museum at 10 a.m. and conduct its regular business before going out to DPA.
Benita Giffin conducted the monthly program on container gardening. She reminded the group that fresh vegetables may be grown in containers on the deck, patio, balcony, doorstep and windowsill, as well as in gardens. If using a container from last year, it should be scrubbed well and rinsed in a mild bleach solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. This keeps down mold and other plant disease. Another suggestion is do not use 100 percent garden soil, as it will dry out rapidly, may be too acidic or too alkaline, and may contain fungal, weed seeds or diseases. Try to use a mix that has peat moss, vermiculite, compost and manure for best results.
She said to remember that plants need full sun for best growth and to water frequently and never let the soil dry out completely. Fertilizer should be applied every week or two. Plants that require caging should not he allowed to “shade out” other containers in the area.
“There is nothing better than fresh vegetables and herbs in the summer, especially if you have grown them yourself,” she said.
Mrs. Simpson served as hostess and provided a very refreshing spring snack to the group before the afternoon craft session.
Twenty items were collected for the women’s shelter this month. For craft time, the group constructed button bracelets.

Published in The Messenger 4.30.13