Three Fires

Originally the Anishanaabeg in Michigan were a col-lection of closely related tribes: Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. Their alliances were established when they reached the area of Michlimackinac on their journey westward from the northeastern Atlantic coast. The Midewiwin scrolls revealed that the formation of the Council of Three Fires was dated back to 796 AD at Michilimackinac. The Ojibwe were addressed as the Older Brother, the Odawa as the Middle Brother, and the Potawatomi as the Younger Brother. The Ojibwa were referred to as the keepers of the faith, the Odawa were the keepers of trade, and the Potawatomi were the designated keepers of the fire. Their alliances were established when they reached the area of Michlimackinac which is currently referred to as Mackinac City, Michigan, on their journey westward from the northeastern Atlantic coast.

            The Three Fires Council had several meeting places. Michilimackinac became the preferred meeting place due to its central location. The Council met for military and political purposes. Through the totem system based on the clan structure and promotion of trade, the Council generally had a peaceful existence with its neighbors.

            During the 1750s, France expanded its territorial claims into the Ohio River Valley, which further instilled animosity between France and Britain. In 1754 and 1755 the French defeated the young George Washington, General Edward Braddock, and Braddock’s successor, Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts. The British military efforts were thwarted by a lack of interest at the home front, opposition among the American colonies, and France’s success with gaining more support from Indian allies. In 1756 the British formally declared war against the French beginning the Seven Years’ War or better known as the French and Indian War. The new British commander in America, Lord Loudoun, was confronted with the same issues as his predecessors. He met with the same defeat against the French and their Indian allies. 

            Circumstances changed drastically in 1757 due to William Pitt’s vision, his vision of expanding the British Empire. Pitt served as the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs for Britain during the time of the French and Indian War. The colonial conflicts provided the tools to accomplish this goal. To fund this venture Pitt borrowed heavily and offered reimbursement to the colonies to acquire troops in North America. He also paid Prussia to fight in Europe for the British. In 1758, the British won their first great triumph at Louisbourg near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.

            The British conquered the French at Fort Frontenac at the western end of the St. Lawrence River. The French lost command over the Plains of Abraham in 1759 which resulted in the fall of Montreal in 1760. The French lost their foothold in Canada. Spain joined France against England. Britain increased its efforts to seize more of the French and Spanish territories in other parts of the world.[i]

            In March of 1762 the King of France, King Louis XV, ordered a formal request for peace talks with the British government. The British government was also interested in stopping the war. The war was extremely expensive and was financed by accumulated debt. The creditors financing the British military efforts were wondering if Britain could pay off its loans. Also British King George II died and his successor George III was interested in ending the war. The peace talks between France and Britain resulted in the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In the terms of the treaty, France turned over all its territories in mainland North America which ended the military threats to the British colonies.[ii]

            Dissention continued to occur between the Anglo-American colonists and the British Government because of conflicting interests. The British were tired of providing a military presence to manage the post-treaty policies which were supposed to address the interests of the Indian people and the colonists. An argument transpired about the levying of taxes to pay for debts concerning wartime expenses. The Treaty of Paris resulted in the colonists moving towards independence even under the tyranny of a stalwart British Empire.

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This excerpt is taken from my book "Shadow Travelers"

The Importance of Lavender

Historically lavender has been used for aromatic, medicinal, decorative, culinary and other purposes. With references in ancient times, lavender as one of the best known and most loved all all herbs, and the wide range of lavender appeals to many people.
     Lavenders (genus Lavandula) are summer flowering, perennial shrubs with many small fragrant flowers clustered in spikes that extend above the green or grey-green narrow lanceolate or toothed leaves. Flowers range from deep purple through violet, blue, pink to white, depending on the cultivar.
     Lavender can be found around the world, but thrives at the 45th latitude, both north and south.
     Excellent growing conditions begin with the proper soil. This would consist of well drained soil with a pH of 6-8. It is a happy in stony, calcareous (limestone derived) or sandy soils. Water is most important when planting young plants. After plants are settled in, they can tolerate droughts. The most common cause of failure n the home garden is over-watering. It is also important to prune the shrub after harvesting the flowers. This will promote a healthy, long-living plant.

Medicinal Uses for Lavender:
*calming
*antiseptic
*antibacterial
*analgesic
*antipyretic-fever reducing

Lavender oil is antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. It enhances the immune system, and has cell regenerative properties. It promotes the healing of scars and burns, and is great for eczema and other skin problems. It soothes insect bites, stings and aids in settling the mind, and body before sleep. It is safe to apply directly to the skin (though for infants it should be always well diluted in a carrier oil). It is used the following ailments:
*colds/flu/fever
*cuts/scrapes/burns/bug bites
*eczema
*bruises
*sleep problems
*growing pains

Lavender essential oil is the only oil safe enough to use undiluted on the skin or open wound. This was demonstrated in WWII when British physicians used lavender oil as the antispetic in the field. It has proven to be an effective antiseptic and promoted rapid healing of wounds.
Lavender is very effective at killing cold and flu germs. It is best used as a preventative measure. During flue season, when traveling, or in crowded rooms, inhaling the essential oil will protect against many germs.

Culinary and Other Uses:
Lavender is a marvelous flavor enhancer and should be included in the spice cupboard along with other herbs. It is in the same family as mint and rosemary and can be used interchangeably. Of the three  herbs, lavender is the strongest and should be used sparingly. It is found in both sweet and savory recipes.

Dairy: Delicately flavor creams in desserts by steeping lavender buds in warm milk or cream before making ice cream, whipped cream or creme brulee. Combine lavender and other herbs with soft cheeses such as goat cheese or bake with brie for a delicious appetizer.
Tea: Use Lavender steeped in hot water for a tisane. This can be combined with you favorite tea, or can be sweetened and used as part of the water for making lemonade. Include lavender shortbread cookies for a lovely afternoon treat.
Recipes are abound on the internet, but be certain to use cooking lavender in your recipes. Other lavenders can taste bitter. The best cooking lavenders are the augustifolias.
Marinades: Use with olive oil, garlic, soy and lavender for a tasty marinade for fish, chicken or grilled vegetables.
Laundry Bar: Lavender Hill Farms has created a stain removing bar with lavender. It is designed to stopthe use of harsh or poisonous chemical as a pretreatment for laundry. The laundry bar successfully removes all food stains, including the hard ones: coffee, tea, red wine, dried blood, tomato sauce, makeup, ring around the collar, grass stains, grease and many more. The product is wrapped in biodegradable paper to avoid adding more plastic bottles to landfills. This addition to our line of products is another way to use all parts of the valuable plant.
Sachet: Lavender is an insect repellent and is often used in closet and drawers to keep moths and other bugs away from linens and woolens. It also keeps closets fresh smelling when closed for long periods of time.
The stem, leaves, and flowers of the plant are aromatic and useful in the home.

Source:
Lavender Hill Farms
07354 Horton Bay Rd., N.
Boyne City, MI 49712
1-231-582-3784

The History of The Old Farmer's Almanac

Robert B. Thomas was the first editor and the driving force behind the first issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac which was published in 1792. This was during George Washington’s first term as president. Thomas’ almanac was an immediate success although there were other almanacs published. The second year of publication tripled from 3,000 to 9,000. The original Almanac cost only a six pence (approximately nine cents).

            The purpose of an almanac was to record and predict weather, tides, and the rising and setting of the sun as well as other astronomical events which I imagine would be solar eclipses and the possibility of a meteor shower. What may have made Thomas’ the more popular almanac may have been that his predictions were more accurate. Thomas used a comprehensive set of natural cycles to come up with a successful weather forecasting blueprint.  Thomas’ last edition was published in 1846 and was not much different than the one he published 50 years earlier. He died in 1846 at the age 0f 80, and it was rumored that he was reading page proofs for the 1847 edition. Talk about dedication.

            A new editor came on board and his name was John H. Jenks and he was aided in his new role when he used the calculated astronomical material for several future editions prepared by Thomas. In 1848 Jenks added the word Old to the title of the Almanac which was previously referred to as The Farmer’s Almanac. Jenk’s made an additional change to the Almanac in 1851 when he added a four seasons draewing on the cover by an artist named Henry Nichols. This drawing has been used ever since.

            In 1861 another editor came on board by the name of Charles L. Flint. He decided to provide his readers with more importance placed on farming. The next two editors John Boies Tileston and Loomis Joseph Campbell did not serve as editor for very long and they decided to keep the Almanac going in the traditional way.

            Robert Ware became the sixth editor in 1877 and his main interest in the publishing business and it appeared that he delegated more of the editorial tasks. Ware’s brother, Horace,  took over in 1900. Horace took a turn in another direction with the Almanac and replaced the scientific agriculture articles with articles about nature and modern life. The Old Farmer’s Almanac  was kept alive during the Depression and times of war by the eighth and ninth editors, Frank Newton and Carroll Swan.

            Robert Scaife, the editor appointed in 1936, made a huge blunder and resolved to not provide weather predictions. He replaced weather predictions with temperature and averages. Circulation went from 225,000 in 1863 to 88,000 in 1938. Due to public outcry he changed his mind and went back to the old format, but his reputation was already damaged.

            Robert Sagendorph’s vision was to return the Almanac to its original format during Thomas’ time. The Almanac picked up a more interesting format and it became more amusing, astute and more entertaining. It returned to the popularity it received 100 years earlier.

            Something interesting happened in 1942. A German spy was caught and taken into custody by the FBI after he landed on Long Island, New York. He was dropped off by a U-boat the night before. The Old Farmer’s Almanac was found in his coat pocket. The U.S. Government made the determination that the Almanac was being used by the Germans for weather forecasts. This meant the book was supplying information to the enemy. Sagendorph, after much effort, got the government to agree that the Almanac was in violation of the “Code of Wartime Practices for the American Press” if the Almanac featured weather indications instead of weather predictions. This the first time the Almanac was threatened to be taken out of publication. The story of the history of the Almanac has been one of growth and expansion. The Almanac passed a four million circulation mark during the early 1990s. Robb Sagendorph died in 1970 and the role of editor was passed on to his nephew, Judson Hale.

            Janice Stillman took on the role as editor in 2000 and she is the first female editor to do so. She has made the determination to maintain the style that was established by her predecessors of Judson Hale and the dedication of hundreds of years of tradition. She also strives to have the Almanac appear to be fresh and interesting.

Source: www.almanac.com/content/history-old-farmers-almanac