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The Rural System, Inc.'s Rounds are delicious cookies or biscuits that have been perfected over years of use by me in the field for over 50 years. They are derived from a recipe that is over 150 years old, one that was carefully guarded by Mrs. Lena Bosserman Rinsland of Staunton, Virginia, as many favorite specialty recipes were guarded years ago. The recipe, one of only several found for pfeffernusse, is from the Black Forest of Germany. It bakes up into hard cookies that one forester has carried each year for over 50 years in his field jacket. They are great to "put between your cheek and gum" to soften and to while away the time while hunting, fishing, passing the boring part of a long hike, doing field research, or poaching. They're especially good on Christmas bird counts. The "real people," those with a long term view of life and their environment, savor their Rounds for a long time (the record is said to be 55 minutes). Most people cannot wait and risk breaking their teeth, but eat them anyway. They are light-weight and the spices within them are intriguing within the energy-rich survival food on the long hikes into the backcountry. They're hard as a hickory nut. You don't want them in your hip pocket when you slip on the wet log or leaves! When the rain is falling on the tent and the campfire goes out, they are great for a snack in the cold and dark.
Placed in a spoon and "floated" in the top of a cup of steaming coffee or tea, they soften and make any coffee break special while you discuss the problems and solutions for rational rural and wildland management.
Don't let the kids break their teeth on them because they are hard little things. Once they learn to soften them in their mouths, they'll appreciate you giving them a pocket full or putting some in their backpack for a snack at the end of the day or for their walk to the park or an outdoor learning experience.
Possible addition: The Rounds are made and cooked by church people in licensed kitchens of the Counties. Five percent of the profit from these sales goes to their churches. Another 5% goes to a group promoting strong relationships among churches, theology, and environmental stewardship. Another 5% goes to wildland research, especially that related to food habits and nutrition of wild animals, horses and goats, geese, and humans when in the great outdoors.
A Rounds Box (a wooden box for a big bunch of these special field cookies) is available and it is made from local woods that are thinned from Certified forests. The careful thinning allows the forests, animals, and water supplies related to them to improve from past abuses. You help by buying, eating, and giving Rural System Rounds as presents. Start an annual tradition of giving a Rounds Box (or several) to a friend, relative, employees, or someone you really dislike (but who will surely grow to love you because of the magic of the Rounds.)
They keep coming around!
The Old Ranger |