February 8th, 2010
Posted by Michelle Boman
Saturday, February 13th, 2010 ( 9 am to noon )
It may be winter but it’s never too early to start planning your springtime pasture management routine. In this workshop learn how pasture management and horse health weave into managing horse pastures. Alayne Blickle from Horses for Clean Water will cover pasture management and how it relates to horse health. Learn basic techniques for good pasture management including how grasses grow, creating a winter paddock, liming, spreading compost, rotational grazing, managing small grazing areas, weed control, fencing options and small farm equipment. We will also discuss what constitutes a “lush” pasture & how to manage horses and grazing so a horse doesn’t become fat. Harris Statema, a feeds expert from LMF Feeds, will speak on the horse’s digestive system and understanding forage and nutrition. Learn about carbohydrate intolerance in horses and how sugar levels in your hay or pasture affect your horse’s health. Find out about hay probes and how to use them. Learn how you can borrow (for free!) the KCD hay probe to take samples of your hay. Meet resource staff from the King Conservation District who can suggest options for pasture management problems, soil testing, liming and other recommendations. Start the grazing season out right by learning how you can make your pastures become more productive and your horses healthier! The Grange Supply, Issaquah, WA. Saturday, February 13th, 9 am – noon. FREE! Register & receive directions: King Conservation District at 425-282-1949 or
signup@kingcd.org
Horses for Clean Water
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February 6th, 2010
Posted by michael aguilar
Winter Brightness by Grant MacDonald
NO, NO, NO, No, No….Regardless of the weather outside, it is not Spring. Last blog I told you to go ahead and plant primroses, pansies, and violas and so far they’re doing fantastic. Chances are ,even if we have a short term freeze these hardy annuals will survive.
there are times I think I need a whip and chair for those customers who want to get a really early start and are buying corn, tomato and squash seed to plant outside. folks, it’s too early. We all know the unpredictability of the weather here in the Northwest, and we could be shoveling snow in three days or canceling that Hawaiin vacation because it’s warmer here!
Okay, that’s a bit farfetched but seriously, we need to wait a little bit more. If this current weather pattern continues until late February, (20th+) I’ll probably start some peas and other winter veggies.
A lot of customers are asking about reseeding their lawns now. this too is a bit premature. My fear is that if we have a cold snap over the course of a few days it will kill the freshly germinating seed. For your lawn, pastures etc, I think it’s best to wait until the start of March.
Now is a good time to prepare your garden. Add some good compost, or steer gro, or chicken manure and till it in. Look at your garden and plan out what veggies you want and where to plant them for maximum production. If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse or you do a lot of seed starting in the house, come on by the Grange and look at our full line of Territorial and Ed Hume seeds in addition to seed starting soil, peat pots, peat pellets and starting trays.
I’m also bringing in some exciting new items to the Lawn and Garden Dept. including Dr Earth organic fertilizers, (which will flagship a renovated “Eco friendly” section. In addition to the pre-mixed ferts we will also carry the individual components for you to create your own recipe to nourish your plants.
For now, be patient. It looks like we’ll have another gorgeous year for growing veggies, but planting them early, even if it doesn’t freeze ,will slow and stunt their growth often times to the point that they won’t recover.
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February 6th, 2010
Posted by Patti Kreager
Pat & Kevin work the warehouse...in Cinch!
Hey Guys!
Stop by and see our new selection of men’s Cinch shirts. Great solids, strips and paisley are perfect to wear with Cinch jeans or khakis!
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February 5th, 2010
Posted by Michelle Boman
It might feel like spring now, but remember, it’s only February!
At the Grange, all of our winter dog blankets, dog rain coats and heated dog beds are on sale this month. Plan ahead for next year and save now!
Members save 15% & Non-members save 10%
Come in soon before somebody else beats you to it!
Bowser toasty warm in his winter blanket!
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February 3rd, 2010
Posted by Michelle Boman
My baby boy Bowser, showing off his big mouth! (and teeth!)
February is National Dental Health month!
Oral Health is not just about teeth! When dental disease is present, the heart, kidneys and intestinal tract can also be at risk. The tartar and infected areas of the mouth contain bacteria that can spread to other parts of the body. Luckily, we can prevent most serious dental disease by brushing our animals’ teeth regularly and providing chew toys. In addition to satisfying our dogs instinct to chew, chew toys help strengthen teeth, massage gums and scrape off soft tartar.
Many animals show signs of dental disease early in life. Some common signs of a problem are:
-Bad Breath
-Tartar
-Excessive drooling
-Inflamed Gums
-Missing/Broken teeth
-Reluctance to play with toys or eat
Brushing is best! Most vets would like to see us brush our pets teeth twice a week. But, recognizing that such frequent brushing is unlikely, there are more options to help prevent and reduce dental disease. What Can You Do:
-Tooth Brushing (see my next blog for detailed information about how to brush your pets teeth!)
-Bones
-Chew Toys (Like FIDO dental chews)
-Dental Paste (Like PetzLife Oral Gel)
-Dental Chews (Like Greenies and Z-Ridge Dental Bones)
With some preventative maintenance and care, a lot of dental disease can be avoided. Look for my next blog, “All About Brushing…Teeth!” for more information!
Happy Dental Health Month!
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January 21st, 2010
Posted by Michelle Boman
Photo courtesy of alykat on flickr.com
Do you purchase Oxbow products at The Grange? If so, we have an exciting promotion for you! When you purchase $15 of Oxbow product you will earn 1 raffle ticket. Use it to enter for a Oxbow Guinea Pig or Oxbow Rabbit basket. These baskets are filled with exciting Oxbow products, including the new freeze dried treats and Oxbow’s new Organic food! Each basket has a $41.00 retail value!
Come in soon, the raffle is only going on until January 31st! On February 1st, we will announce and contact the winner! Good Luck!
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January 21st, 2010
Posted by Simone Mauhl
The Grange will have baby chickens again, starting the week of 03/01/2010. We have all the supplies you need to get started. Please call us at the Grange for more information. The chick schedule is available on our website www.grangesupply.com
We look forward to see you at the Grange.
Hot Chick by JOE M500 on Flickr
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January 17th, 2010
Posted by Simone Mauhl
….for your tires. That’s right, we don’t charge for it. The Grange also sells propane for $3.39/1 – 9 Gallons; $3.34/10 - 19 Gallons; $3.29/20 -39 Gallons, $3.27/more than 40 Gallons and Bio Diesel B50 for $3.349/Gallon. Stop by and see what else we carry and you might be surprised. (Prices are subject to change without further notice). We are open Mo. – Fri. 7a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Photo from Flickr and by ronnie44052
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January 16th, 2010
Posted by Patti Kreager
Hey Guys! Just because it’s raining buckets outside doesn’t mean old man winter isn’t coming back. Don’t miss out on our Men’s Carhartt Coat and Jacket sale! The sale has been extended until the end of January. Don’t miss out on GREAT savings where member’s receive 20% savings and non-members 15%.
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January 16th, 2010
Posted by Liam Shaw
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance (IR) include:
Obesity, easy weight gain, “Easy Keepers”, Abnormal, lumpy, patchy fat, a cresty neck, fat at the base of the tail and above the eyes, history of laminitis or grass founder, stretched white line, seedy toe, tender feet, low energy, unwilling to go
What is Equine Insuline Resistance (IR)?
IR is a metabolic disorder, not a disease, and is controlled with diet and exercise. Horses originally survived in the wild on poor forage and roamed for miles in search of food. Natural selection allowed those that could get by on very little food to survive. Now, we provide lush pastures more suited for cattle, feed grains and processed foods high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC= sugar and starch) and limit their movement to stalls or small pastures with occasional exercise on the weekends. Unmanaged IR often leads to laminitis or founder (rotation and/or sinking of the coffin bone in the hoof a painful and potentially fatal condition) and is often referred to as “grass founder,” commonly seed in the Spring and Fall. Symptoms such as those listed above can suggest IR but a veterinarian should diagnose it with a non-fasting blood test for glucose and insulin and the calculate the glucose to insulin ratio. Ratios of less than 4.5 confirm IR.
Managing IR:
The most important step in managing IR is to limit the amount of NSC in the diet. Depending on the severity of the condition, grazing should either be completely eliminated, limited to an hour at sunrise or controlled with a grazing muzzle. High NSC foods including grain, corn or wheat based pelleted feeds, “senior” feeds, molasses, apples and carrots should not be fed. Grass hay or an acceptable low NSC feed (<10% NSC) should make up the bulk of the diet at 1.5-2.0% of the horses ideal body weight. Beet pulp (molasses free or rinsed clean of molasses) is an excellent source of fiber and provides the same calories as oats without an increase in blood glucose. Exercise, even as little as 30 minutes a day of hand walking, will increase the muscle demand for glucose and will reduce IR symptoms. (Note: Exercise only if the horse can tolerate it – never during an acute laminitis episode.)
Mineral Deficiencies and IR:
IR has been linked with some dietary deficiencies and mineral imbalances; for example, high iron and low magnesium have been associated with IR. The most practical and economical approach is to have the hay analyzed and provide only the vitamins and minerals that are needed, which has already been done for you in the Mid Valley Milling Low NSC feed program.
Where to get more information:
To learn more about IR and/or Equine Cushing’s disease from leaders in the field, go to: www.ecirhorse.com or http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/
Where to find low NSC foods for the IR horse:
A complete food source for the IR horse is Mid Valley Milling Low Non Structural Carbohydrate Pelleted Complete Feed and Balancing Minerals. This product is assured to be low NSC and balanced in minerals so that additional mineral supplementation is not needed. The pellets can make up 100% of the diet or can be supplemented with a source of low NSC hay and/or unmolassed beet pulp pellets or soaked and rinsed beet pulp pellets if unmolassed beet pulp cannot be found.
*Article courtesy of Mid Valley Milling www.MidValleyHayPellets.com
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