What People Are Saying

What People Are Saying About "The Coulter Plough" DVD Show!

"Watched it when I got in from work yesterday, could NOT stop watching...so dinner was late!! It was fascinating, funny, entertaining, educational and very well done indeed!" - Debra, Newport, KY

"I'm gonna mix me up a batch of honey remedy tonight!!! Wish I had his honey to start with!!" - Donna, Lexington, KY

"Great journalism and wonderful cinema!" - Pat, Bardstown, KY

"I just watched "The Coulter Plough." You did an amazing job...can't wait to see the next one. If you haven't seen this DVD...please do!" - Peggy, Bloomfield, KY

"We really enjoyed the DVD. As always your background music choices were spot-on. I especially like the how-to piece and the how-its-made bits. My six-year-old really enjoyed the bit about the bees and honey and also the guitar making." - Amy, Bardstown, KY

"LOVED IT! We got it on Monday and watched it Monday night! I've already told 2-3 other people they need to buy one! Very well put together." - Jennifer, Bloomfield, KY

"This is a must see for small town Kentucky folk!" - Missy, Chaplin, KY

"LOVE The Plough!" - Charlene, Bardstown, KY

"It brought back some very fond memories! Great work!" - Kathy, Lexington, KY

"I am very impressed with the scope of The Coulter Plough. It came off as a very professional piece of production especially considering as much ground covered." - Jody, Louisville, KY

Baked O'Possum Recipe (for amusement)

A friend gave me a copy of the 1981 Edmonson County Homemaker's Cookbook called "Kitchen Art." On page 76 I found a recipe for "Baked O'Possum," something you just don't see these days in cookbooks. I'll admit, I was rather amused by this unique recipe. (By the way, the photograph seen here is plastic, not real...even the peas and bread!)

Baked O'Possum

by Edna R. Sanders

1 fat O'possum 1 small pod red pepper

1 c. vinegar 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. water 1 clove garlic

Solution for coating O'possum

1 tsp. mustard 1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. horseradish 1 tsp. salt

1 minced onion 1/4 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. paprika

Remove head from "possum", slit down belly side. Remove insides and skin very carefully. Hold under running water 1 minute. Combine vinegar, water, red pepper, and brown sugar and garlic. Soak "possum" overnight in solution. Next day, remove "possum" ; dry well. Wash a brick well and stretch "possum" over brick in baking pan large enough to place sweet potatoes around the "possum". Cover loosely with foil. Bake 1 hour at 350˚. Remove foil and bake 1 more hour. Remove from oven, let stand 15 minutes. Now, throw the O'possum away and eat the brick and sweet potatoes. P.S. O'possum can really be eaten, if desired.

Episode 1 Mailing

Hey all! We are excited to announce that Episode 1 of The Coulter Plough will be shipping to subscribers this Saturday - most will receive them on Monday! Stay tuned to your mailboxes!

Antibacterial soaps: More Harm than Good?

More Harm Than Good
For starters, there is little proof that the antibacterial soap you buy at the drug store actually kills the most-dreaded microbes: S. aureus (staph) and E. coli. Plus, living in a disinfected bubble can actually be bad for your health and the environment. Many experts believe that too much sanitization weakens the immune system and may create lethal superbugs that are antibiotic resistant. If that's not enough, the bacteria-killing chemicals go down the drain and into our waterways, harming wildlife and potentially ending up back in our bodies where they can present health risks.

Although you have likely heard at least some of this before, you probably still reach for the antibacterial soap to clean your bathroom and wash your hands. The psychological draw is undeniable. In fact, scientists' warnings have not dampened the burgeoning market. Antibacterial products are a one billion dollar industry and make up nearly 80 percent of all liquid soaps. In 2003, there were fewer than 200 antibacterial products on the market; currently there are over 3,000.

The biggest--and most publicized--concern is whether antibacterial products, like the overuse of antibiotics, will eventually create more of the untreatable bacteria we fear. By creating a hostile environment, antibacterial agents promote strains of bacteria with certain mutations that allow them to survive. These superbugs are also more likely to be immune to antibiotics. The most commonly used antimicrobial in soaps--triclosa--has already shown resistance to S. aureous.

No Better Than Regular Soap
Still, the most important piece of information when you are staring at an aisle full of cleansers is whether or not the antibacterial soaps fulfill their promise.

According to the Food and Drug Administration and the American Medical Association, they are no more effective at preventing infections than regular soap. The bacteria-killing chemicals in common over-the-counter soaps are too diluted to kill the heartier microbes that pose the most threat to humans; they do not present any advantage over using regular soap. Plus, the average person is a lazy hand washer. Most of us wash our hands for less than ten seconds--five seconds is the norm--which gives the toxins little chance to bind to the bacteria and do their job. In one study, a standard strain of E. coli had to be bathed in store-bought antibacterial soap for a minimum of two hours before being killed. Mutated strains survived for twice as long.

So, these antibacterial agents, having failed at their mission, are then washed down the drain where they go on to cause serious environmental problems. Even after water purification, a large percentage of the toxins remain, entering our waterways and our bodies. A 2007 study detected triclosan in seventeen of twenty-one people. The chemicals were found in blood samples, urine, and breast milk. While it's not yet clear that these chemicals negatively impact humans, animal studies show that triclocarban interferes with rat reproduction and triclosan triggers tadpoles to mature into frogs at a much more rapid rate. Because of their unknown effects in humans, many scientists advise against taking the risk. There is also evidence that when triclosan is mixed with chlorine--even the low levels common in drinking water--it creates a toxin that has been identified as a probable carcinogen.

While the research on the negative effects of antibacterial soaps is far from definitive, the evidence that they are no better at preventing illness than regular soap is. So why use them? It doesn't mean giving up on hygiene. Don't stop washing your hands--or start eating off the floor, for that matter. Buy a regular bar or hand soap that doesn't contain unnecessary chemicals or look for brands with natural ingredients. And when you are washing your hands with your non-antibacterial soap, do it right. Lather up for ten seconds and rub hard. Exfoliation is the best way to rid your skin of bacteria. Most importantly, until more is known about antimicrobial chemicals, avoid them if you are pregnant or have an infant. If triclosan and triclocarban are dangerous to humans, the smaller the body, the greater the harm they can cause.

Dear Season: Tree Stand Safety

• Use a tree stand only during daylight hours.
• Practice first with your tree stand and FAS at ground level, using all safety devices that were included with the stand. Then continue to practice, gradually going higher. Practice shooting from your stand while wearing your FAS.
• Get enough sleep to ensure that you are well rested before using a tree stand.
• Carry a signaling device, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, or personal locator beacon (PLB), to let others know if you have a problem.
• Take your time and plan every move you make while installing and using an elevated stand.
• Check your stand carefully prior to each use. Do not leave a stand attached to a tree for more than two weeks.
• Never exceed the weight limit of your stand or FAS. Remember that the weight includes you plus your equipment.
• Do not climb with anything in your hands or on your back.
  • Use a haul line.
  • Raise and lower all hunting equipment on the opposite side of the tree from your climbing route.

Episode 1 Update

Hey all! We are currently finalizing Episode 1 of The Coulter Plough. We expect the premier episode to arrive in your mailbox in less than 2 weeks. We appreciate your patience as we unveil our unique series! For more information about subscribing, contact us at (502) 507-2810 or click the subscribe link on the right hand side of the blog page. Thank you.

Seasonal Update

20 Days until Autumn!