Month: October 2021

I’m pretty sure everyone who works wishes they had more free time. And that would definitely be amazing for a little while. But believe it or not, you would eventually get sick of that too. (Shocking, I know!)

You need more free time

I realize as our tremendous Iowa farmers are in the fields, free time seems like a total anomaly. According to a new study out of the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA and published on a website called Boing Boing, the right amount of free time to have is actually a sort of science as it’s oddly specific. You should have exactly the amount of time they suggest each day.

That amount is two-and-a-half hours a day. No less, but also no more. I guess we need to monitor our downtime with a stopwatch?

No more, no less because… why?

If you have less free time than that, it’ll have a negative impact on how satisfied you are with your life. But if you have more free time than that, you’ll eventually feel like you don’t have enough of a purpose and that will also have a negative effect on how satisfied you are with your life.

Here is a challenge, though. During your free time, try putting your smartphone down, and try doing something away from screens. THAT seems like the real challenge. And I’m not saying I’d do well with it either! Also, you wouldn’t be able to read articles like this one so… maybe use your screen time for a bit of that R&R time? Just a bit.

Midwest Home for Sale has Spooky Salesman

Want to sell a home that’s… um, a fixer-upper? “hire” a spooky salesman who matches the mood! Check out a fun-loving realtor that’s done just that!

Fun Facts About All of the 99 Counties in Iowa

Iowa has 99…

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MUNCIE, Ind. — Zoning has been cleared for development of a 180-acre “sustainable living and farm center” that would feature a hotel, a conference center, a restaurant, a brewery, an amphitheater and golf venue among other amenities at the northeast corner of Ind. 332 and Interstate 69.

A closed gas station sits a the front of the site today.

Developer of the project is Munsee Farms Holdings, LLC, which has connections with Munsee Meats in Muncie and Constant Canopy Farms in Gaston, through Jonathan Lamb and Jason Mauck, who are officers in those enterprises. Lamb is an economist and an owner in the companies. Lamb and Mauck practice regenerative agriculture at Constant Canopy.

Lamb, who also ran in the GOP primary for the 6th Congressional District seat in 2020, said the sustainable farm center is still in its early stages of development with no date set for construction. The rezoning application says Munsee Farm Holdings recently acquired multiple adjacent parcels of land at the site with the “intention of developing an East Central Indiana Regenerative Farming Institute.” 

The development, which is near Yorktown town limits, would promote agritourism and sustainable living.

“The carbon negative agricultural technology hub will demonstrate, train and issue certificates in sustainable, regenerative farming practices, renewable energy and livestock management,” according to the application.

More: Munsee Meats looks to disrupt the system as pandemic wreaks havoc on meat industry

Plans call for the development to feature recreation along with education.

“…The proposal calls for a hotel with an event venue, restaurant, welcome center with with gift shop, a small market, brewery, and gathering place for community outreach.” the document states. “However, what sets this development apart is the inclusion of livestock, for food and energy production and agrivoltaic farming. Agrivoltaic farming is a relatively new concept; in simplest terms it takes solar panels and raises them off the ground to create an…

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Danielle Campbell – Copy Editor

The story given to me about my family was my great-grandfather moved to Connecticut for a better life than the one he had on a Native American reservation. Which one? I am not sure. I know my grandfather’s lineage is Black, White and Native American. I was told his father wanted better for his children than the life of depression you can so readily find on the reservations in America. People we have forgotten and stolen everything from. My ancestors, somewhere down the line.   

I have always connected with the original people of this land and wanted to put their faces forward, but in general, I am all for culture to be celebrated, period. I am torn when cultures are clashing for recognition on certain days when we all deserve to be celebrated. There is no competition in my eyes when we all are supposed to be recognized. America is a melting pot.  

Personally, as a history minor, I have a love of culture which goes deeper than just those I know. I am an African-American woman with roots in multiple countries. I am a lover of people and want us all to celebrate and understand each other. With that said, I think the difficult history behind Columbus Day and the recent recognition by President Joe Biden is important to unpack.   

According to Native Land Digital, New Haven is Quinnipiac, Paugussett, and Wappinger land. It is deeply important to me to have people know those who have been forgotten and erased. We have so much we owe to Native Americans.   

President Biden’s recognition of Columbus Day as Indigenous People’s Day is necessary but hurtful. In the days where we are silencing these people on their lands, can we say we are celebrating them by simply giving them a day of recognition?  

America owes Native…

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