I am so impressed with the quality and quantity of the gardens I see along the way this summer. I want to shout HOORAY! Sorry to say my garden is a few tomatoes planted in containers. I want to do more but sometimes it is hard.

I know I get caught up in these things but the quality of home grown fruits and vegetables is far more of value than "store bought." Thank goodness there are some things available at Farmers Markets.

The cave man was a nutritionist  ahead of his time. His circumstances had him eating berries, nuts and raw vegetation. He may not have known the value these things were back then, but thank goodness they were there for people to eat and enjoy.

Did you know that the heaviest part of the trash we throw away is food and other things that could be used as compost and reused to enrich the soil? Reducing food waste saves money and really does serve a purpose.

It is easy to buy a container of juice, but whole fruit is far better than bottled juice.

I recently read where scientists are studying compounds in bromelain, an enzyme in the pineapple stems, as a potential cancer-fighting agent. What is in that stem that we so often we throw away as it is kind of tough? CCZ stimulates our immune system, which helps kill cancer cells. CCS blocks a protein involved in many cancers. I often use my little electric chopper to grind up the middle of the fruit so I can enjoy that part of the fruit as well.

I have also found out that if I leave out a dish of berries or fruits on the counter instead of a candy dish, it will disappear as the kids will nibble at it as they pass by. Berries deserve a place in our diets because they aid in disease prevention.

Blueberries get high honors because they are a sweet treat loaded with fiber and vitamin C, as well as contain phytonutrients. They can be used in many different ways, including being eaten raw or frozen as a quick treat.

Often overlooked are blackberries. My mother loves them. They are a good source of fiber, vitamin C and vitamin K. A cup of blackberries has 7 grams of fiber and they are also full of phytonutrients like anthocyanin,

Raspberries, red, black or golden, are high in fiber and vitamin C and are good to eat just as they are, just like popcorn, but they are good in salsas, salads and desserts too.

Strawberries are favored among both children and adults. They are high in folate and vitamin C and can be found year-round in the grocery stores. Kids like the big red berries but the red, shiny, medium-sized berries are usually sweeter and more flavorful than the large ones.

Berries are nutritious, as well as delicious, and can be used in so many different ways. Fruits and berries are as varied in taste as their looks. Sometimes we pass them by because we weren't brought up eating them as they were not as easy to obtain as they are now.

And don't forget the nuts. Though high in calorie count, they are loaded with good stuff that is prime for both your appetite and your health.

I am glad to see companies have gotten the message that people don't want additives and color added, which can contaminate their processed foods.

Summer is also a time we see a great deal of road construction, but this does not make me shout hooray — just the opposite. Road construction is necessary and often confusing and very frustrating. Construction zones are not a place for speeding or hogging more than your share of the road. I realize trucks have to be at a certain place by a certain time but it is a little scary to see some trucks or cars coming at you full speed ahead. I guess we have to remember that once the road construction has been completed, things will be better. Then we can shout - HOORAY!

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements.  In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us.  Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, July 9th: Larry Otto, Corey Pence, Mavis Knudtson, Joni Calderon, Lisa Worke, Dale Peterson, Jenny Bunn, Julie & Dean Hunt, Jennifer & David Lageson

• Friday, July 10th:  Kalene Larson, Ethan Green, Brett Dunlap, Sally Hanson Sadden, Suzanne Skroch Larkin, Carley Ray Talamantes, Holly Swearingen, Anna Uetcsh, Todd Borchert, Kym Cameron, Paulette Nelson, Ryan & Amy Crabtree their 8th, Dustin & Jenna Quimby

• Saturday, July 11th: Zoie Marie Jensen, Shirley Wallace Tennant, Nicholas Lee Shultz, Helen Scripture Schubert, Kelly Sauke, Nataniel Lizarazo, Michele Degan Reistad, Rochelle Thompson, Lisa Goodnature Noble, Christopher Olson, Jessica Mangskau, Elaine Peterson, Naomi Hemingway, Randy Borchert, Scott Knutson, Celina & Richard Drecher, David & Bonnie Jensen, Carrie (Thompson) & Danny Wichmann

• Sunday, July 12th: Daniel Christensen, Kimberly Peterson, Rick Pelzl, Daryl Waltz, Herb & Lori Moon

• Monday, July 13th: Megan Elizabeth Nowariak, Audrey Lillian Peterson, Marayah Mae Mortenson, Kolette Lageson Stevenson, Brenda Misgen, Sandra Cerney Collins, Joseph Adrian Parks, Ed Nelson, Cynthia Fuerniss, Dick Larson, Amber Anderson, Jean Johnson, Corey & Danielle Wangsness, Jason & Shannon Peterson

• Tuesday, July 14th: Budach Martin Perry, was born in 2013, Kallen Reed Rasmussen, Gavin Cole Halverson, Sharon Richards Lucas, Annette Hove, Madison Larkin, Dana Simonson, Jeff Kitzer, Jerry Langlie, Lee Cummins, Shane Davis, Peter Kasper, Roger Swearingen, Bethany & Ashley Ashton

• Wednesday, July 15th: Nathan Daniel Wayne, Nathan Joseph Bauers, Levi Peterson, McCoy LaVerne Schwierjohann, Thad Aaseth, Judd Aaseth, Stacy Seath Tempel, Lacinda Jensen, Vicki Utpadel Knudson, David & Kim Killian

• Thursday, July 16th: Sue Stieglbauer, Hudson Mrotz, Kyle Ladlie, Jeff Helmers, Nancy Wilder, Kenny & Sarah Price, Dave & Deb Oeltjenbruns

• Friday, July 17th: Kaylee Christine Hanson, Merton Nelson, Ralph Diaz, Sandi Vangen, Victor Christenson, Larry Molenaar, Leslie Schwartz, Lisa & Bob Wayne, Kristine (Simon) & David Freitas

• Saturday, July 18th: Anika Christine McDonald, Nancy Anderson, Matthew DeShane, Katie Dobberstein, Michael Graif, Luke Rye, Roger & Betty Davies, Mark & Mandy Boehme

Wishing that each day is happier than the one before!