What does a path to citizenship mean to undocumented workers? This would ensure that some of the workers already in the United States have the option to stay and a way to do it legally. It would improve conditions for workers going forward, giving them the ability to advocate for fair wages and working conditions.

What does this mean for farmers? The problem for farmers is that once those workers are able to leave the fields, they might. Current immigrant workers work in certain industries because they don't have another choice. Many fear that once workers have another choice, they will no longer be interested in the tough, manual labor for low pay.

We want to hear from you, especially you all closer to the action! What do you think? What are your fears? What do you think are the pros? Do you think the pros outweigh the cons?

Share your thoughts by emailing jill@jillsjunction.com.

Be patient. You don't have to use a coupon the day you find it. Sometimes your local grocery will have a sale which will make your coupon even more valuable. So be patient. But make sure you use your coupon before it expires!

Cast a wider net. There are tons of ways to coupon besides the Sunday paper. Look online, in magazines and on the product itself. Your local store may have its own coupons on its website, on its Facebook page or even on its receipts. You can also check coupons.com and other couponing sites.

Trade. If you have other friends who coupon, you can trade coupons you don't want or need. If you don't, consider starting a group in your community to share coupons and tips. This will help everyone learn and grow through this experience.

Start small. You don't have to coupon everywhere to be successful. Pick one or two stores where you will focus so that you don't get burned out. Once you get comfortable, you can start adding more stores.

Be flexible. You can save money by steering away from your usual brands. Brand-loyalty doesn't always pay when you coupon so consider trying a store brand if it means you can save extra money! But only do this if you will use it. If it's something you are picky about, like lotion or shampoo, don't skimp.

Be organized. The best way to keep your couponing as successful as possible is to be organized. Find a strategy that works for you, whether it's by store or by product, for example. Get a binder and keep everything arranged logically so you don't have to search for anything! It's also helpful to be prepared going into the store.

How does it work? The EAB attacks ash trees and all ash trees are at risk.  First, adult females lay their eggs in the tree bark. When the eggs hatch into larvae, they chew tunnels just under the bark. This cuts off the supply of nutrients and water to the tree. The tree starves and dies in just a couple of years.

Are your trees at risk? Below is a map of the infected states:

Map by USDA.



Ash tree wood.

Because the larvae cause damage under the bark, it can be a challenge to tell when a tree is infested until it is too late. Some signs that you could have an EAB infestation are:

• Canopy dieback, usually starting at the top of the tree
• Sprouts growing from the trunk as the upper portions of the tree die
• D-shaped exit holes where the beetles chewed their way out of the tree
• Vertical bark splits that expose the larvae's tunnels

For more information on this insect, check out the USDA website.

Here is what you need:

1 bunch of asparagus

1 onion, chopped

1 cup mushrooms, halved

1 head of broccolini

Olive oil

Parmesan cheese

Lemon juice

Butter, salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Place the vegetables on a cookies sheet with foil.

Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice.

Roast for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and browned.

When you have approximately 10 minutes to go, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and let finished cooking.



Once the vegetables are cooked, you can use them in a variety of ways such as a side dish for steak or over rice or pasta as a meal. 

Cheddar bacon hamburgers

Green chile burger

Mini burgers

Apple 'n' Pork Burgers

Butter Burgers

Blue cheese burger

Veggie burger

Black bean burger

Garlic burgers

Brown sugar burgers

Take a trip to a memorial museum.

Attend a parade in your local community.

Hang an American Flag outside your home.

If you don't have a flag, make a flag with your kiddos or grandkids. You just need red, white and blue construction paper, scissors and glue.

Work on a craft to decorate or give as a gift, like a Patriotic wreath.

Have a picnic in a local park or a cookout for family and friends. For some easy recipes, keep reading.

Write a letter to a current soldier thanking him or her for their service or send a care package full of helpful food or supplies to a soldier. If you need to find a soldier, check out AnySoldier.com.

Hold a fundraiser to raise money to help the families who have lost a loved one to a war. Some ideas are lemonade stands or bake sale, a fundraising concert or a car wash.

Make a festive dessert, like this American Flag Cake.

Have other ideas to share? Send them to jill@jillsjunction.com.

Warning, they may surprise you. Some are a little stinky, but better than the alternative.

Manure: If you have chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits or cows, manure can be used on your garden. If you don't, you can get some manure from a neighbor or local farmer. Manure is cheap (free) but you should keep in mind that some may be contaminated by herbicides, which means it's not organic and may not help your garden, so check with your source if possible to find out what the animals are exposed to regularly.

Urine: Yes, you read that correctly. Using 6:1 water to urine ratio, this combination is incredibly helpful in growing a gorgeous garden. Urine is surprisingly clean because the kidneys don't allow bacteria to pass through, making urine safe for plants.

Seaweed: This option is only going to work if you are close to the beach. But if you have a beach nearby, you can pick up seaweed and use it in your garden. Rinse the salt off of it and keep the seaweed in a bucket. It's a great source of nutrients for your plants.

It's always fun to experiment, so try one of these fertilizers and see how it works. You can always try another one! It's especially fun when the experimenting is cheap! Good luck and green growing!

For more information on natural fertilizers and other options, keep reading.

Here's what you need to can your own pickles:

8 pounds pickling cucumbers

6 tablespoons dill seed, divided

2 tablespoons pickling spice, divided

12 whole black peppercorns, divided

12 garlic cloves, divided

12 grape leaves, divided

6 cups vinegar

6 cups water

3 tablespoons salt

Prepare 12 pint canning jars.

Wash and drain cucumbers. If cucumbers are larger than 4 inches, cut in half lengthwise.

Pack cucumbers in clean, hot jars.

For each quart jar, add 1/2 tablespoon dill seed, 1/2 teaspoon pickling spice, 1 whole black peppercorn, 1 garlic cloves and 1 grape leaf.

Combine vinegar, water and salt in large saucepot; bring to a boil.

Fill packed jars with boiling vinegar solution to within 1/4 inch from top of jar.

Process in boiling water canner, 10 minutes for pint jars.

For more on canning, keep reading.

For easy, no-bake cookies, you will need:

1/2 cup margarine

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons cocoa

3 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup nuts (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla

In saucepan, combine margarine, sugar, milk and cocoa.

Bring to a boil while stirring; boil for 1 minute.

Remove from heat. Add oats, peanut butter, nuts and vanilla, and stir until well-blended.

Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet lined with wax paper; allow cookies to  cool.

Enjoy!

In her twenties, Mary was a young mother to five. She could fix the fence and drive a tractor. She could lift buckets of grain and feed the livestock. With the help of her husband, Mary taught her children to always be polite and respect others. She also taught her children the importance of being kind to everyone, all the time. She and her husband used the farm to teach their children important lessons. Her children learned to take on responsibilities such as nursing a baby calf back to health, helping shear sheep, and dressing countless chickens each summer. Mary was always one to put the farm and family first. Once her fifth child had begun kindergarten, Mary finished college.

Mary knew that she could make a difference in the lives of others and became a sixth grade teacher. Because she believed so strongly in agriculture as a way of life, she took it upon herself to use agriculture to educate her sixth grade students. Mary went above and beyond any expectations by expanding her curriculum to include details about agriculture as a way of life and how it relates to the kids. She helped them understand how it affects them in their everyday lives. Mary also assists with an Ag Day that allows students to grasp the profound impact that agriculture has on the world. This helps her to drive home the idea that it all begins in our small rural communities.

When Mary is not teaching or helping out on the farm, she is spending as much time as she can with her six grandchildren, whom she adores. Her daughter Jill explained that she "continues to set an unmatched example for all who follow in her footsteps. She is an amazing woman." We absolutely agree. We are thrilled to bring you this story of Mary today and share her with you.