Lehman’s Country Life

There is a big sign in the entrance of our Kidron store with a picture of my dad. It says, in part, “We believe in offering products made in the United States wherever possible. When we offer imported items, we choose the best quality we can find.”

This is not just something we say to sound good. We spend time every day, sometimes hours every day, hunting down USA-made products.

I will make this claim and stand by it with confidence: We have more USA
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We have a fun section in our store, titled What in the world is it? There is also a sign, much to the delight of both parents and children, that says Please DO touch. The shelves are right next to our busy check-out registers, so while parents are paying attention to, well paying, the children can be guessing what the items were (and still are) used for.

Today, when you get a hole in your sock, what do you do? Throw it away and buy a new pair? Well, in the old days when you had to raise the sheep, shear the wool, spin the wool and then knit the sock, you didn’t throw the sock away. You fixed it. You darned it. And you needed this round sock darning ball, or egg, as some call it, to ensure a smooth mend. Why? Because the most common place to get a hole in your sock is the heel. And if you don’t have a smooth mend, you will get a blister. So this product, while it takes no batteries, IT equipment, or extension cords, was a much-needed part of every home in the 19th century.

Don’t touch that mouse — tune in next week for the second installment of WHAT IN THE WORLD IS IT?

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE KIDRON, OH – May 12, 2009: Dutch oven enthusiasts from all over northeast Ohio are holding their second annual Dutch Oven Gathering at Lehman’s in Kidron on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Over 30 cooks have already signed up for this fun event but more are welcome. Dutch oven cooks of all skill levels are invited. Individuals as well as groups like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are welcome. Bring all your supplies and a favorite dish or two to cook.

Never cooked in a Dutch oven before and want to learn? No problem: “Dutch Oven” Dave Horton will be here from Buffalo, NY to put on one of his Dutch oven training classes in Lehman’s Buggy Barn. And Lehman’s has a large selection of cast iron pots and accessories for you to choose from.

Last year’s Dutch Oven Cook-off at Lehman’s drew lots of great cooks – and great taste testers! The cooks will begin set up at 10 am – so plan on eating a great pot-luck style meal at 4:00p.m.

For more information on this event or to sign-up, please call or email: Matt Buser at 330-603-7266 or mebuser@neo.rr.com

In addition, the popular local bluegrass band Northwest Territory will be playing at Lehman’s from 11 am to 2 pm. Since 1989, Northwest Territory has been entertaining audiences with unique style and enthusiasm. Bluegrass, gospel, country, fiddle tunes and more are all in the band’s repertoire. It’s foot tapping fun for the whole family!

There is no charge for either event – don’t miss the great food, entertaining music, and fantastic shopping at Lehman’s, on the Square in Kidron, on Saturday, May 23.

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On almost any Monday morning, you’d catch Mom in the kitchen, first filling the old wringer washer with hot water, turning it on, then filling the swishing tub with dirty clothes that hit the suds one by one with a satisfying plop and blurble. Like a hungry monster, the washing machine pulled the clothes downward into the steaming, soapy water. After a moment, they’d rise like undersea monsters, pale colors and shades of white, mounded like the smooth back of some creature… then they’d swish and swoop downward, only to rise and do it again.
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We’re constantly looking for new product ideas. Funny how they find us sometimes!

Last year I attended and spoke at the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) convention in Columbus, OH. MEDA is a charity that was founded by family business owners like me. Pioneers in micro-finance to the poor, they also provide advice to entrepreneurs.

For the first time, several Amish business owners attended. As is a common practice among the Amish, they hired a driver and van to get from the Kidron area to Columbus.

Unfortunately, one of the women missed the van because she was attending a
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We want your new product ideas, dead or alive.

Some of the coolest and most practical items we carry came from your suggestions! Best of all, we will give you a $100 gift certificate for every idea we use!

Here are some great ideas that customer sent us:

Diamant Grain Mill - The world’s best grain mill! (Special thanks to Peter V)

Water distiller - Safe, pure water without electricity. (Special thanks to Kristina F)

Victorian Sewing Bird - Your third hand, it holds pins and fabric for you. (Special thanks to Carol P)

Steam Canner - Faster, lower temperature canning! (Special thanks to Karen L)

Waspinator - Banish wasps from your yard! (Special thanks to Kristin R)

There are hundreds more on our website. We’re grateful for your help! We’ll take all the ideas we can get.

We’re willing to try most any idea. What doesn’t make the cut? Only the most far out ideas. Here’s one that didn’t:

The main thing that kept us from trying this idea, outlandish as it may seem to some, was that it was not a “ready to go” manufactured item. Sorry to be skeptical, but I’d like to test the prototype before I bet on it.

For the “insider’s secrets” on how to choose a winning product idea, click on “Read the rest of this post”, below!

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Last year I blogged about hypnotizing chickens. Recently, I visited a friend with a small homestead farm. As the 10 or so guys in our group sat around the kitchen table, I found myself talking about the phenomena. Guys being guys, I was immediately challenged.

“Prove it!” they said.

Little did they know that one of them would soon be in a trance.

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I have rewritten this entry for my Lehman’s friends several times, never quite feeling as though I can convey what a mixture of emotion this Spring brings with it.  On the one hand, there is the purely joyful and timely:  the beginning of March, marked by the lionine ferocity of a major snow storm, Bluebirds waiting each morning for their ration of mealworms to make up for a food supply that is either blanketed in white or frozen solid; (as I write, one of those selfsame little balls of color sits at the corner of a back porch roof gable, enjoying the last warmth of a setting sun); the landscape tub by the front steps, cleaned of the remnants of last year’s tomato vine, revealing emerging tips of tulips I had forgotten were tucked into the soil at Summer’s end; the countdown on my calendar to a solid week I will take as vacation time to perform that age-old tradition, Spring Cleaning.
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It’s time to prune your fruit trees again, if you want large and healthy fruit. In fact, time is already running out if you live in planting zones numbered six or above.

Here’s some tips:

- Start by cutting off every branch that grows straight up. They seldom bear fruit.
- Now that you can see into the overall health of the tree, remove anything that shows signs of disease, missing bark or is dead.
- Next, remove every branch that grows toward the center of the tree.
- Finally, remove any branches that are left that cross the path of another branch.

I grow dwarf trees. I intend to pick without a ladder, so I remove every branch whose tip I can’t reach.

On my more mature trees, I remove every branch within a foot or two of the center of the tree. This allows lots of sun into the center of the tree.

How to cut? First, use a good pruner with sharp cutting edges. Cut about 1/4″ above bud points or close to the trunk. Always cut at an angle.

A well pruned tree will always bear fruit. I inherited my love of fruit trees from my Dad, who got it from his Dad. Grandpa’s pruning advice was simple. Prune until you think you’re going to kill the tree. Then, prune some more.

Like shedding the bad habits of life, it’s not always easy. But, ending a bad always makes us a better person.

Pictured with me in the photo is my trusty garden cart. I’ve owned that cart for over 20 years. I’ve hauled firewood through a foot of snow. Moved fill dirt from one side of my lot to the other. Carried tons of manure out of the barn with very little effort. I did all these things without starting the tractor or breaking my back. It’s a great piece of equipment I heartily recommend for any size lot! Click here for more information.

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Tune in to Cleveland’s Fox 8 on Friday, March 27, at 10 am for That’s Life with Robin Swoboda.  Robin and crew spent a day at Lehman’s, learning everything you wanted to know (but were afraid to ask) about gardening.  Titled “From Plant to Plate,” the segment features the Lehman family and employees and local organic gardener Karen Gesier, as well as a store tour.  Robin’s show is always entertaining and educational — don’t miss it!

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