Open to the Sky

BUSH CUCUMBER - vs VINE ... Am going to try these in my garden in 2012!

2012-01-28T14:42:00.003-06:00

Cucumber, Bush Champion
You won't believe the large number of crisp, bright green slicers you'll get.
Burpee Exclusive
Customer Favorite!
No room for vines? Bush types take one-third the space, so they're great for containers and raised beds. Bush Champion. 55 days. Huge 8-12" cukes make this our favorite mini. You won't believe the large number of crisp, bright green slicers you'll get from the pint-sized plants. Mosaic-resistant and productive. Proven tops for productivity, flavor and wide adaptability. Sun.
Product Details
Sun: Full Sun
Height: 6-8 inches
Spread: 24 inches
Days to Maturity: 55 days
Sowing Method: Direct Sow
Fruit Size: 8-12 inches

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/cucumbers/specialty-cucumbers/cucumber-bush-champion-prod000686.html?catId=cat30006&trail=

My fish - Summer 2011

2012-01-08T10:55:00.000-06:00

A butterfly visitor

2011-09-06T16:49:00.001-05:00

Bees on the Sedum Blossoms

2011-09-06T16:20:00.003-05:00

Mr. Frog Guy

2011-09-06T12:53:00.001-05:00

Labor Day 2011 butterfly on my white butterfly bush

2011-09-05T15:39:00.001-05:00

THIS YEAR'S BABY SQUIRREL THINKS HE'S HIDING FROM ME BY THE FEEDER .. TOO CUTE.

2011-09-05T12:35:00.001-05:00

Poke Berries beginning to ripen for the birds

2011-09-03T14:29:00.001-05:00

Poke berries are eaten by cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, orioles, mockingbirds and other fruit-eating birds. These plants as they mature can grow up to 10 feet high so they can provide a heavy production of berries. Today, I watched robins eat Poke
berries!

http://www.altnature.com/gallery/pokeweed.htm

Pokeweed is edible (cooked) and medicinal. It has a long history of use by Native Americans and in alternative medicine. The young shoots are boiled in two changes of water and taste similar to asparagus, berries are cooked and the resulting liquid used to color canned fruits and vegetables. The root is alterative, anodyne, antiinflammatory, cathartic, expectorant, hypnotic, narcotic and purgative. It is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, tonsillitis, mumps, glandular fever and other complaints involving swollen glands, chronic catarrh, bronchitis and diseases related to a compromised immune system it has potential as an anti-AIDS drug. Some of the chemical constituents in the plant are triterpenoid saponins, lectins, antiviral proteins and many phytolaccagenic acids, which are not completely understood.
New research has revealed that a possible CURE for Childhood Leukemia called (B43-PAP) is found in the common Pokeweed. Anti-B43-pokeweed antiviral protein, B43-PAP, PAP is a pokeweed toxin. The B43 carries the weapon--the PAP--to the leukemia cells. It has been touted as a smart weapon. In one study 15 out of 18 children who had participated had attained remission. The following is part of a repot from Parker Hughes Institute: The two parts of this drug are the B43 antibody (or anti-CD19) and the pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) immunotoxin, a natural product in the pokeweed plant. B43 is designed to recognize specific B-cell leukemia cells just as natural antibodies attack and recognize germs. When the antibody finds a leukemia cell, it attaches and B43 delivers the other part of the drug, PAP. Inside the cell, PAP is released by the antibody and inactivates the ribosomes that make the proteins the cell needs to survive. With the cell unable to produce proteins, the specific leukemia cell is killed. More than 100 patients have been treated with B43-PAP and shown only minimal side effects.

PHOTOGRAPH OF BUTTERFLY TAKEN THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON

2011-09-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

GROWING CLIMBING ROSES

2011-09-01T03:31:00.001-05:00

Climbing roses are a popular plant for vertical gardens. Interestingly, botanists do not consider them true climbing plants like vines because they don’t grow their own support structures to hold onto a surface. Therefore, they need a helping hand and a vertical space to attach to and grow on.

If you’re interested in growing climbing roses, you can choose to purchase a trellis or an arbor so that they have a suitable place to grow. You can also be creative and train your roses over a fence, a pillar, a garden shed, or other structures in your yard.

Professional gardeners often refer to climbing roses as pillars, ramblers, trailing roses, and everblooming roses, depending on how they grow. You can find varieties of climbing roses that bloom during the entire growing season (everbloomers), or that only bloom only during the spring (spring bloomers).

I am anxiously waiting for some of my cumcumbers this year!

2011-07-31T20:21:00.002-05:00

The humble cucumber is actually a little gem. And not just for its nutritional benefits...

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day

Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber

Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?

Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror: it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?

Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool?

Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes. The phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?

Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body has lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, and avoiding both a hangover and headache!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?

Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes?

Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe. Its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Need to fix a squeaky hinge?

Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for a massage, facial or visit to the spa?

Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finished a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints?

Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath. The phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your taps, sinks or stainless steel?

Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean; not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake?

Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing. Also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

Five pints of tomatoes from this mornings picking ...

2011-07-29T22:15:00.001-05:00

Am very pleased - so far - with my heirloom BUSH acorn squash plants

2011-07-16T17:48:00.005-05:00

2011 Table King Bush Acorn Squash Plants

I will always remember the growing season of 2010 as the Year of the ATTACK SQUASH. The following picture displays my OUT OF CONTROL squash in 2010:

Out of control squash take over my 3 dogs morning sunning patio!

The above out of control squash was my teacher on saving seed from plants that are NOT an heirloom variety. Teachers arrive in all kind of sizes and shapes!

My brother had grown the tasty acorn squash in 2009 and I had saved seeds carrying the DELUSION that I could then grow my own in 2010... WRONG. The squash turned out to be a variety that resembled and tasted like zucchini .. and VERY prolific. I continue to have some frozen and have found out my dogs like cooked green squash and lentils. There was perhaps one plant that produced an acorn looking squash from those seeds I had saved.

This year in 2011, I spent a great deal of mental energy contemplating upon WHERE to grow squash so they are NOT near my tomato and pepper plants. The solution was to plant them in the back corner of my yard ... in what I term my Mulberry Tree corner that is destined to have creeping charlie as its ground cover.

CREEPING CHARLIE is termed a weed ... however, I can picture the women that brought this plant over to the 'new world' to insure their source of mint tea. In the early spring this part of my yard is covered with dainty purple flowers that serve to attract bees into my yard. Those little bees insure that my two cherry trees have been pollinated and provide fruit for me in July.

My Mulberry Tree Corner

I need to add the following picture ... of my Mulberry Tree corner when I bought my home in 2007 ... I have carried alot of bricks and dug alot of holes and planted alot of plants since my backyard was just a vision in my mind.

Winter 2007-2008

Newest backyard visitor

2011-06-07T16:24:00.004-05:00

My Black Lace Elderberry bush over pond

2011-06-06T12:58:00.002-05:00

TOMATO GARDEN - JUNE 6, 2011

2011-06-06T11:33:00.003-05:00

My backyard sunflower seed eating raccoon visitor

2011-05-15T20:19:00.000-05:00

Little Inspectors look over rows for tomatoes

2011-05-03T08:41:00.001-05:00

Squirrel tears down my Jute Sting Pea Trellis ... what a way to start spring?

2011-04-20T16:16:00.006-05:00

METAL POST AND JUTE STRING PEA TRELLIS

I had built my trellis and planted the peas .... and the squirrel decided he did NOT like my handiwork!

ATTACK SQUIRREL AT WORK - TEARING APART MY JUTE STRING PEA TRELLIS!

*By the time the squirrel was done ... he had taken down all the jute string! My new pea trellis design is now made with metal fencing ... the squirrel most evidently did not approve of the jute string!

My sand pathway is appreciated by Blue Jays needing grit!!

2011-01-17T08:08:00.001-06:00

Grit

Pigeons, Doves and many other birds must swallow small stones, sand and similar materials (“grit”) in order to break down seed coats and other foods before digestion can take place. Grit is often in short supply during the winter, being either covered with snow or frozen to the ground (in NYC, I’ve observed English sparrows on buildings, pecking at gravel within brick mortar).

http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatbirdblog/2010/01/05/grit-calcium-salt-and-water-wild-bird-feeding-%E2%80%9Cextras%E2%80%9D-part-1/

Paul Parent Garden Club : Grow your own pineapple plant

2010-12-30T13:31:00.001-06:00

You can grow your own pineapple plant with your kids this week while they are on school vacation. All you will need is a 6 inch pot, some good potting soil and a fresh pineapple from the supermarket. With the holidays now, most supermarkets will have fresh pineapples available for you to do this. Try to select a pineapple with the best foliage on the top of the fruit and you're ready to go.

Lay the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Use a large sharp knife or a knife with a serrated blade to cut into the pineapple. Just below the foliage of the pineapple, measure a good inch into the meat of the pineapple and cut the top of the pineapple.

Now with your hands pull off the meat away from the foliage, leaving you with a spiral whirl of foliage of leaves and the stump where the meat of the pineapple was attached. Slowly pull off some of the lower leaves from the whirl of foliage until you see small buds on the stump at the bottom of the whirl. When you have uncovered 8 to 10 of these bumps, your pineapple top is ready to plant.

These small bumps are dormant roots and when they are in contact with soil they will begin to grow and develop into a new plant. Put the remaining part of the pineapple aside to eat when the top is all planted.

Now fill your pot with potting soil to the top and firm the soil in place. You should have about 1/2 in of space between the soil and top of the pot to help hold water later. Push the pineapple top into the soil so all the dormant roots are covered with soil and so the foliage sits right on top of the soil. Now water well until all the soil is moist.

Place the pineapple plant in a warm room with good light in the morning or afternoon as it will not need a sunny window until the roots begin to develop and move into the soil. If you can keep the soil moist and the room warm, the roots should begin to move into the soil in about 2 to 3 weeks. A gentle tug on the plant will let you know if the roots have begun to form.

When the roots develop, move the plant to a sunny window. The more light it has, the faster is will develop. Once the roots form, add a tablespoon of Osmocote fertilizer to the pot to help strengthen the developing plant. I also begin monthly feedings at this time. Then, treat this plant like any other houseplant until spring arrives. When the threat of frost is over, move the plant outside in an area with full sun all day, like your deck or patio.

The foliage will begin to develop and will spread to 18 to 24 inches wide and also grow up to 15 to 18 inches tall. The only thing you will have to do is make sure that you add water in the middle of the whirl of foliage on top of the plant. This whirl of foliage will develop into the shape of a pitcher; keeping water in this pitcher is important as that is where the new pineapple will develop!

In the fall when you get ready to bring the plant back into the house for the winter, the fun will begin. Put the plant in a clear plastic bag, making sure there is plenty of room for the pot and the foliage to grow in. Now take a new apple and bang it on your counter top until the entire apple is bruised and dented--but don't break the skin, if possible. Put the apple in the clear bag with the pineapple plant and seal the top of the bag with a twist-tie.

You're going to leave the apple in the sealed bag for 2 to 3 weeks. As the apple breaks down it will produce ethylene gas that will fertilize the plant and induce fruit development. After you remove the plant from the bag place the plant in a sunny window, keep the pitcher filled with water and resume normal care for the plant.

A small pineapple will form in the pitcher in the next 3 to 4 months and slowly move out to form on a thick stem about 6 to 12 inches above the foliage. The pineapple will grow to 4 inches of meat and another 3 to 4 inches of foliage on top.

This miniature pineapple should last on the plant for 3 to 6 months and, like all pineapples, will turn yellow when it is ready to harvest. It will also have a nice smell to the fruit, just like the pineapple it originated from. When the pineapple fruit has ripened it will begin to fall over and it now time to discard the plant and start a new one from a fresh pineapple from the supermarket again.

I use a dry cleaning bag to force the pineapple into fruit development and to hold the plant and the gas that the apple will make. Keep the top of the bag always sealed to hold the gas in. Keep the bagged plant in a bright window but no direct sun during that 2 to 3 week period or it will get too hot in the bag.

When the pineapple begins to smell like it is ripe cut it up into pieces for the kids to eat, they will love it and so will you. Try it this winter and your children will have a lot of fun.

PaulParentClub.com | Mistletoe - Nowadays it is mostly used as an excuse to still a kiss

2010-12-02T18:55:00.002-06:00

Every holiday seems to have its own flowers and decorations, and Christmas is no exception. We have greens and pine boughs from our yards, but have you ever wondered how some of these other plants were selected for the holiday?

When you consider mistletoe, most people think of kissing. At Christmas, mistletoe is as identified with the holiday as the wishbone is to Thanksgiving tradition. Mistletoe is a parasite plant; that means it lives on tree branches and steals what it needs from that tree. It does make its own food but relies on the host tree for water and other minerals. Mistletoe only dies when the tree dies. It loves to grow on the top branches of trees. It prefers mostly leaf trees but when those are not available, evergreens will do.

The foliage of the mistletoe is leathery and the fruit resembles a cluster of tiny pearls. Be warned, the seeds in the fruit are very poisonous! If you have small children, decorate with the plastic berry type. Mistletoe is nearly indestructible, thriving under difficult growing conditions. Wind, rain and drought do not affect its growth. Insects do not like or bother with this plant.

Because the plant grows on the top branches of trees it is not easily harvested for the holidays. Long poles with hooks are used to pull it off the tree. In rural areas, the tree branches that mistletoe grows on are shot off by experienced hunters. This method is much faster and less time consuming--and it's a lot safer than climbing each tree to harvest the plant.

Scandinavian mythology includes the tradition of hanging mistletoe as a cure-all for many ills. Ancient Greeks considered it an antidote to poison. It was also thought to protect from fire and keep out evil spirits and witches. Swiss hunters used bow and arrows to shoot down the plant, and if the falling mistletoe was caught in the left hand, it was believed the hunter had a panacea for all his children's diseases. Generations of farmers used it in the fields to protect their crops from insect and diseases.

University of Nebraska at Lincoln University Extension Horticulture Update

2010-11-24T10:33:00.001-06:00

Hort Update for the week of 11/24/2010
Bold items are new topics is this issue.

Lawns
1. Avoid winter traffic on turf- Traffic can cosmetically damage frosted or frozen grass
2. Dormant seeding- Certain conditions needed for success
3. De-icers- Select right product and follow label directions to avoid plant injury
4. Mulch leaves- Remove or mow leaves to avoid a too heavy leaf layer

Trees & Shrubs
5. Pruning- During dormancy for shade trees. Spring for most evergreens.
6. Transplanting- Transplanting of woody plants not recommended now; wait until spring
7. 'Living' Christmas trees- Pre-dig planting hole now. Be aware of steps to be successful.
8. Christmas trees & allergies- Best to visit with your doctor or allergist for information
9. Snow/ice loads- Allow snow and ice to melt naturally once it builds up on plants
10. Anti-transpirants- Apply in November; repeat application twice during winter

Landscape Ornamentals
11. Cutting back perennials- Late fall or early spring are the two times to cut back dead tops.
12. Winter mulching- Apply winter mulch in mid to late November most year
13. Mulching/pruning roses- Mulch, prune if needed, after plants are dormant; best to prune in spring

Houseplants & Holiday Plants
14. Holiday plant care- Remove plastic/paper sleeves. Keep moist; somewhat cool
15. Poisonous holiday plants- Know which plants are poisonous.

General Issues
16. Fall/Winter watering- Watering can continue as long as soil is dry and not frozen
17. Firewood insects- Do not store firewood indoors to avoid nuisance insects

Picture: My Guard Squirrrel chasing a Baby Bunny

2010-08-23T13:19:00.002-05:00

Notice the sign in the background of the pictures (Wildlife Habitat) ... however, the squirrel that lives in the tree above my patio table considers it His Habitat and he evidently DOES NOT LIKE Baby Bunnies trespassing in His Habitat!!

Was too cute watching the territorial squirrel chase the baby bunny around ... now I have a Guard Squirrel!!

A few BEFORE-NOW pictures - to remind myself why I am tired!

2010-08-11T11:28:00.001-05:00

MY YARD PICTURE OF THE DAY - Blue Dragonfly

2010-08-01T15:34:00.002-05:00

This is one of the beautiful blue dragonfly hunters that evidently have claimed my pond as home.

My yard picture of the day

2010-07-30T09:41:00.003-05:00

See if you can find my sneaky little squirrel in the attached picture I just took this morning. He was just comfortably hanging onto the tree - looking in through my sliding glass door - like I'm providing a type of squirrel television station.

He's the little guy who has a nest above my umbrella table and I swear chews off small branches that drop down to bomb me - He is one of last year's babies. Frequently he just sits there and chatters at me when I'm sitting at my table and he loves to tease the three dogs!

Neatest plans for a small cattle panel greenhouse I have ever seen!

2010-03-30T12:14:00.004-05:00

http://www.fyall.net/greenhouse2.htm
http://www.fyall.net/greenhouse3.htm

This guy deserves an award for the easy to follow idea!!

Tap water contaminant 'castrates' frogs - European Union has banned Atrazine

2010-03-11T07:15:00.000-06:00

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

An herbicide that contaminates the tap water consumed by millions of Americans has been found to produce gender-bending effects in male frogs, "chemically castrating" some and turning others into females, a study shows.

Frogs in the experiment were exposed to amounts of the weedkiller atrazine that are comparable to the levels allowed in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency, says lead researcher Tyrone Hayes of the University of California-Berkeley.

The study was released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In Hayes' earlier studies, atrazine caused male frogs to begin growing eggs in their testes. In this experiment, 10% of the males exposed to atrazine — one of the most commonly used herbicide in the world — actually changed sex; some were able to breed and lay eggs. Nearly all of the other males had low testosterone and sperm levels, which made them unable to reproduce, Hayes says.

The experiment can't tell scientists whether atrazine affects humans in a similar way, Hayes says. But it does raise new questions about the safety of atrazine, which other studies have linked to human birth defects, low birth weight, prematurity and low sperm count.

The EPA said in October that it planned to reassess atrazine's safety, including its cancer risk. The European Union has banned the chemical.

About 75% of stream water samples and 40% of groundwater samples contain atrazine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, detected atrazine in 90% of tap water samples from 139 water systems. Inexpensive faucet-top water filters can remove the chemical, says Jennifer Sass, a scientist with the group.

Several water systems in Illinois, where atrazine is commonly used on corn and other crops, are suing the chemical's manufacturers, asking them to pay the cost of taking the herbicide out of drinking water.

The principal scientist for Syngenta Crop Protection, the leading manufacturer of atrazine, says the chemical is safe. Company-sponsored studies that met rigorous EPA standards found atrazine has "no effect on frog sexual development," Tim Pastoor says.

He criticized the new study and notes that Hayes tested only one dose of atrazine. A stronger study would have exposed frogs to several doses and noted any trends, he says.

Given that atrazine has survived years of scrutiny by the EPA, Pastoor says, he sees no reason to re-examine atrazine's safety now. "As far as we're concerned, it's unnecessary," he says.

Although scientists still have many questions about atrazine, Sass says, the chemical should be phased out as a precaution.

Crop Moisture Index

2010-03-11T06:49:00.001-06:00

Officials say despite unideal weather conditions, good numbers of sandhill cranes and tourists are migrating to Central Nebraska.

2010-03-10T18:15:00.001-06:00

The annual migration of sandhill cranes and tourists to Nebraska has begun.

Officials say the first wave of cranes arrived with good numbers, but the weather is making it tough for both birds and people.

It's the rain that's keeping the Goodridges-here from New Hampshire to view the sandhill cranes-indoors.

"Because of the cold weather and the rain you don't spend much time outside. You spend more time inside and in the car," said Ron.

"The weather's been a little bit overcast and rainy, and when it's been good weather visitation has been strong," said Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center Director Brad Mellema.

People from across the United States and even Canada have already come to view the cranes, who may also be effected by the rain and rising Platte River.

"They like a sand bar that's surrounded completely by water so they'll shift and change a little bit," said Mellema. "Sometimes they get a little smaller and so they'll bunch in a bit tighter to find those things or they'll spread out to other habitats in the region."

Mellema says the birds have been adapting for centuries, and they likely already have this year because of below-normal temperatures.

"The cranes basically look for these nice southerly breezes and they're looking for open water, and all that's here now," said Mellema. "The cranes will start to come in, so it may hold them up for a day or two but it's not a significant barrier to the cranes."

Mellema says even if the cranes are late they will stay for three weeks, which could lead to a larger build up of cranes in the next few weeks.

The Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center kicks off a schedule of events and speakers this weekend. For more information, click on the links below.

Soil Temperatures - Wednesday March 10, 2010

2010-03-10T06:14:00.003-06:00

Soil Temperatures

Nebraska's Rowe Sanctuary - Sandhill Cranes Viewing 2010 - Crane Cam

2010-03-09T06:46:00.004-06:00

Rowe Sanctuary Crane Cam 2010
March 6 - April 10

Click to be transferred to website for viewing Crane Cam:

http://www.rowesanctuary.org/crane%20cam.html

Rowe Sanctuary Crane Viewing 2010
Planning Your Trip &
Fall Viewing Opportunities

Reservations can be made by calling between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST, M - F, starting January 4th, 2010. To make reservations or if you have questions, please call 308-468-5282.

Dates:
March 6 - April 10

(Note: Please call for availability during the Rivers & Wildlife Celebration, which will be held March 19 - 21. If you are a tour group operator, and are thinking of bringing a large group, please contact us for viewing options.)
Fees:
$25.00/person/trip (price does not include tax)

Pre-payment is required and can be done with Visa or MasterCard. Cancellations are refundable up to 48 hours prior to your trip.
Field trip start times: (Note change in start times due to Daylight Savings Time)
Morning: 5:30 a.m. March 6 - 13; 6:30 a.m. March 14 - April 10
Evening: 5:30 p.m. March 6 - 13; 6:30 p.m. March 14 - April 10

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your field trip start time in order to check in with your guide and to gather your gear. Please do not be late!

Where to Meet:
All field trips start at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center (see map - click on map to enlarge). The easiest way to get to the center from Kearney is to take I-80 to exit 285 (Gibbon exit) and follow the signs. From I-80, it is roughly 2 miles south to Elm Island Road and then another 2 miles west to the center. You will receive further instructions once you reach the visitor center parking area.

Drive time from south Kearney to the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center is approximately 20-25 minutes.

March and April can be very cold and you will be standing in an unheated blind for about 2 hours, so dress appropriately. It is better to wear too much than not enough!

What to Wear:

The warmest boots you have - do not wear cotton socks
Very warm mittens or gloves
Stocking cap or insulated hat
The warmest jacket and clothing you have, including long underwear

Also, please wear dark clothing as this helps us to blend in with our surroundings when walking to and from the blinds.

What to Bring/Not to Bring:

Binoculars and spotting scopes
Cameras (NO FLASHES)
Video cameras - these are BEST for recording the whole experience, sights and sounds
Warm drinks (there are clean chemical toilets outside each blind)
Food or snacks
NO cell phones or flashlights

The Viewing Blinds

Our viewing blinds are wooden structures with carpeted floors, that hold from 26 to 32 people. They offer shelter from wind, rain, and snow, but are not heated and will be as cold or colder than the outside. Inside the blinds, rectangular holes of all heights can be found and are large enough for spotting scopes.

~ Photographers ~

Please be aware that our blinds offer excellent panoramic views of large flocks of cranes, but may not provide good opportunities for close-up photographs unless you have at least a 400mm lens or larger. For a more intimate experience, Rowe Sanctuary has special photo blinds set up near major crane roost sites on the river.
http://www.rowesanctuary.org/viewing%20info.htm

Duckweed - the fishes water plant - full of nutrients

2010-03-08T10:51:00.001-06:00

http://plenty.150m.com/My_Links_Pages/duckweed_01.html

DUCKWEED (Lemna spp.) is any of a set of fast growing aquatic weeds which can double its biomass in about 10 days, making for fast sustainable harvest of bulk plants for livestock fodder, aquaculture feeds, waterfowl grazing, compost materials, biofuel carbon. Additionally, duckweed can absorb nutrients and minerals, helping in a water purification process. These are internet website links to useful and factual pages offering information about duckweed usefulness. Each link is followed by a quotation from the page cited, offering a sample of the quality of information located there.

http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/

The Charms of Duckweed
An introduction to the smallest flowering plants

The family of duckweeds (botanically, the Lemnaceae) are the smallest flowering plants. These plants grow floating in still or slow-moving fresh water around the globe, except in the coldest regions. The growth of these high-protein plants can be extremely rapid. Lemna is one of the best known of this group and has been the subject of much research. Researchers are using these plants to study basic plant development, plant biochemistry, photosynthesis, the toxicity of hazardous substances, and much more. Genetic engineers are cloning duckweed genes and modifying duckweeds to inexpensively produce pharmaceuticals. Environmental scientists are using duckweeds to remove unwanted substances from water. Aquaculturalists find them an inexpensive feed source for fish farming. ... ... Duckweed physiology, biochemistry & molecular biology Links to on-line research. Nutritional composition ...

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/3631/ DEAD LINK

Mr. Wastewater's Duckweed Application Page - by Louis Landesman

Duckweed - The Super Plant

Duckweed consists of 4 genera of monocot plants belonging to the family Lemnaceae. The Lemnaceae consist of 4 genera: Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia and Wolffiella. Of these 4 genera Spirodela is the largest and Wolffiella is the smallest. Duckweed normally reproduces by budding (asexual reproduction) although it is capable of sexual reproduction. Duckweed may be the most promising plant for the twenty-first century for the following reasons:

Duckweed produces more protein per square meter than soybeans.
Duckweed is easier to harvest than algae or other aquatic plants.
Duckweed can be used to feed fish, poultry and cattle.
Duckweed can purify and concentrate nutrients from wastewater (sewage effluent).
Duckweed provides food for wildlife, especially waterfowl. ...

http://www.ntrnet.net/~skilli/duckweed.htm DEAD LINK

Duckweed Aquaculture
A NEW AQUATIC FARMING SYSTEM
FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Paul Skillicorn, William Spira and William Journey

THE WORLD BANK

EMENA TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
AGRICULTURE DIVISION

TECHNICAL WORKING PAPER
DUCKWEED AQUACULTURE

Nutritional value Fresh duckweed fronds contain 92 to 94 percent water. Fiber and ash content is higher and protein content lower in duckweed colonies with slow growth. The solid fraction of a wild colony of duckweed growing on nutrient-poor water typically ranges from 15 to 25 percent protein and from 15 to 30 percent fiber. Duckweed grown under ideal conditions and harvested regularly will have a fiber content of 5 to 15 percent and a protein content of 35 to 45 percent, depending on the species involved, as illustrated in figure 2 . [see next footnote] Data were obtained from duckweed colonies growing on a wastewater treatment lagoon and from a duckweed culture enriched with fertilizer.

Duckweed protein has higher concentrations of the essential amino acids, lysine and methionine, than most plant proteins and more closely resembles animal protein in that respect. Figure 3 [see next footnote] compares the lysine and methionine concentrations of proteins from several sources with the FAO standard recommended for human nutrition.
...

Cultured duckweed also has high concentrations of trace minerals and pigments, particularly beta carotene and xanthophyll, that make duckweed meal an especially valuable supplement for poultry and other animal feeds. The total content of carotenoids in duckweed meal is 10 times higher than that in terrestrial plants; xanthophyll concentrations of over 1,000 parts per million (ppm) were documented in poultry feeding trials in Peru and are shown in figure 4 . [see next footnote] This is economically important because of the relatively high cost of the pigment supplement in poultry feed.

[Footnote: Source: Haustein et al, 1988.]

A monoculture of Nile tilapia and a polyculture of Chinese and Indian carp species were observed to feed readily on fresh duckweed in the Mirzapur experimental program. Utilizing duckweed in its fresh, green state as a fish feed minimizes handling and processing costs. The nutritional requirements of fish appear to be met completely in ponds receiving only fresh duckweed, despite the relatively dilute concentration of nutrients in the fresh plants. The protein content of duckweed is compared with several animal feed ingredients in figure 5 .
...

Urea contains approximately 45 percent nitrogen and is the most commonly available and lowest cost nitrogenous fertilizer. Urea is the most efficient form of nitrogen supply to terrestrial crops, but its volatility in water and its elevating effect on pH makes it problematic for hydroponic applications. When applied to water with a pH above 7.0, nitrogen losses through ammonia volatility can often exceed 50 percent. For example, urea is applied to the duckweed crop in Bangladesh at the rate of 20 kilograms per hectare per day (kg/ha/day), which is equivalent to 9.0 kg/ha/day of nitrogen. Assuming a 50 percent loss before the crop is able to utilize the nitrogen, 4.5 kg/ha/day is then available to support growth. This is enough nitrogen to sustain a yield of at least 1,000 kg/ha/day of fresh duckweed and is adjusted seasonally as growth rates accelerate in moderate temperatures.
...

A dense crop cover also reduces dissolved oxygen in the water column and suppresses nitrifying bacteria. An increase in anaerobic bacteria enhances the denitrification process and swings the nitrogen balance further in favor of ammonium over nitrate. This tends to lower pH as ammonium ions are assimilated by duckweed. The ability to form a mat over the surface of the water is one of the competitive advantages of duckweed. ...
...

Duckweed-fed carp polyculture
Practical objectives The fish production methodology discussed in this study extends carp polyculture by: (1) making more efficient use of top-feeding carp varieties that live in the more highly oxygen-saturated surface zone of ponds; (2) making more efficient use of bottom-feeders to extract marginal nutrients from fish fecal matter before they can contribute to pond BOD; and (3) simplifying pond management to a single input -- duckweed, a floating biomass feed.

A duckweed-fed fish pond appears to provide a complete, balanced diet for those carp that consume it directly, while the feces of duckweed-feeding species, consumed directly by detritus feeders, or indirectly through fertilization of plankton and other natural food organisms, provide adequate food for remaining bottom and mid-feeding carp varieties.

Early results suggest that the duckweed carp polyculture methodology permits increases in carp polyculture production to between 10 and 15 metric tons/ha/year in non-aerated ponds, and it also increases the financial and economic viability of the production system.
...

http://www.fishfarming.com/recirc.html

Facing the Economic Reality of Sustainable Commercial Aquaculture

What is the number one problem facing the rapid advancement of sustainable aquaculture?

For many commercial operations, the answer is simple - bad economics. The hard reality is that, all too often, the bottom line gets in the way of the development of innovative solutions for sustainable aquaculture. But what if there were a system that could actually result in huge operational cost reductions from year one and greater profits on the bottom line? Sound too good to be true? Well then, perhaps you have never heard of duckweed.
...

What is the Value of Duckweed to Sustainable Tilapia Culture?

Perhaps the most important feature of these little aquatic plants to freshwater fish culturists is that they are extremely efficient absorbers of ammonia, nitrate, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, chlorine, boron and iron. In a properly designed water recirculation and purification system, duckweed can remove as much as 99% of the nutrients and dissolved solids in wastewater. Unquestionably, the potential contribution of duckweed to the advancement of sustainable freshwater aquaculture is enormous, yet surprisingly very little research has been done in this area.

The Integrated Tilapia & Duckweed Farming System

In the integrated tilapia and duckweed recirculating system, the fish and the waters of the tilapia growout ponds provide the nutrients upon which the duckweed will thrive. In turn, the duckweed removes unwanted nutrients and waste products from the system, converting the nutrients into plant biomass. This plant biomass, in turn, becomes a high protein food for the tilapias. While all this is going on, water within the integrated system is conserved and purified. The entire system is a natural and sustainable approach to aquaculture.
...

University of Nebraska | Hort Update for the Week of 8/31/09 - Current Problems in the Lawn & Garden

2009-09-04T06:36:00.000-05:00

http://extensionhorticulture.unl.edu/
Hort Update for the Week of 8/31/09
Current Problems in the Lawn & Garden

Lawns
1. It's time to... Fertilize, seed, aerate, and power rake cool season grasses
2. Stinkhorns- Orange, slimy, smelly fungi growing in wood mulch
3. Winter annual weed control- Apply pre-emergence herbicides if winter annuals are a problem
4. Billbug damage- Turfgrass areas appear drought stressed
5. Brown patch- Roughly circular patches of reddish brown grass
6. Dollar spot- Small circular patches of brownish tan grass
7. Summer patch- Circular or serpentine shaped areas of tan grass

Trees & Shrubs
8. Hackberry leaves yellowing- Premature leaf yellowing and leaf drop
9. Kermes scale- Off color or dead branch tips in oaks
10. Oak twig girdler- Dead and clipped branch tips in oaks
11. Honeylocust spider mite- Bronze colored leaves
12. Burcucumber/ wild cucumber- Rampant growing annual vines in windbreaks

Landscape Ornamentals
13. Black spot (rose)- Yellow leaves with black spots, defoliation
14. Soldier beetles- Reddish orange beetles with two black spots
15. Thrips- Flower buds fail to open or petals damaged when buds open

Fruits & Vegetables
16. Rosy apple aphids- Deformed and stunted fruit and leaves, sooty mold
17. Pear harvest- Harvest when mature, but not ripe
18. Picking rhubarb now- Best to wait until spring
19. Flowers, but no cucumber fruits- Poor pollination, environmental, gynoecious cukes
20. Slow ripening (tomato)- Cool nighttime temperatures likely cause
21. Fruit cracking (tomato)- Maintain consistent soil moisture, harvest when ripe
22. Internal blossom end rot- Blackening of inside of tomatoes, often Romas
23. Fall vegetables- what to plant- NebGuide on available on what and when to plant

General Issues
24. Wolf spider- Large, hairy spiders found indoors and outdoors, beneficial
25. Cobwebs on evergreens- Spiders, not spider mites, these are not a pest

Time to focus on surviving the upcoming EPIC times

2009-07-23T11:41:00.004-05:00

I started this particular blog and my home project during the time period when I was asleep to the economic take-down of our nation by off-shore banksters and the resulting consequences that are and will begin to bloom to a point they can no longer be denied by sheeple and the main stream corporate-owned media that has worked to totally pollute our society and culture in poisonous crap.

If people want to think that the fluoride in their local water supply is a needed chemical commodity not the truth that it is an industrial waste BigPharma makes the big bucks from ... so be it. European Court Ruling Ends Water Fluoridation There is an awaken occuring.

I started my first Stevia plant this year - in the sunflower family. This natural sweetner will be taken inside before the first frost and hopefully will produce some seeds. Starting Stevia from Seed. People can keep ingesting their sodas full of Rumsfield's aspartame and argue about how they believe this government exists to take care of them like trying to argue that scorpions don't sting.

Our nation is but the military arm of the off shore banksters - and our country has been pumped and will be dumped very shortly to transform into total revolution and killing hunger when the shelves are no longer stocked and our $dollar is dead once it is no longer the global currency.

It is time to focus upon surviving what Clif High of HalfPastHuman.com has termed a time period history that will be given the EPIC by future generations.

July 21st CoasttoCoastAM inteview with Clif High & George Ure - Alta Report "Shape of Things to Come 2010" Volume Zero Issue 1 (12 videos)

With the latest about New Zealand having moved closer to Australia as a result of the huge 7.8 mag quake the other day - inactive volcanoes now coming to life all over the planet, the sun's and earth's magnetosphere revealing great changes ... we are in the time period of earth changes. Contemplating the survival of a cloud of atomized radioactive carbon resulting from the Israel drop of a bunker buster potentially on Iran is my newest personal contemplation - since it is said such cloud will take 9 passes around the globe ... leaving death in its wake.

Well .. until you hear futher from me on this blog - get your food preparation and water filter filter and start paying attention to news beyond that from main-stream corporate bought off media, i.e., television.

HR875: Lose your property for growing food? Big Brother legislation could mean prosecution, fines up to $1 million

2009-03-18T08:57:00.001-05:00

By Chelsea Schilling

Some small farms and organic food growers could be placed under direct supervision of the federal government under new legislation making its way through Congress.

Food Safety Modernization Act

House Resolution 875, or the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, was introduced by Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in February. DeLauro's husband, Stanley Greenburg, works for Monsanto – the world's leading producer of herbicides and genetically engineered seed.

DeLauro's act has 39 co-sponsors and was referred to the House Agriculture Committee on Feb. 4. It calls for the creation of a Food Safety Administration to allow the government to regulate food production at all levels – and even mandates property seizure, fines of up to $1 million per offense and criminal prosecution for producers, manufacturers and distributors who fail to comply with regulations.

Michael Olson, host of the Food Chain radio show and author of "Metro Farm," told WND the government should focus on regulating food production in countries such as China and Mexico rather than burdening small and organic farmers in the U.S. with overreaching regulations.

"We need somebody to watch over us when we're eating food that comes from thousands and thousands of miles away. We need some help there," he said. "But when food comes from our neighbors or from farmers who we know, we don't need all of those rules. If your neighbor sells you something that is bad and you get sick, you are going to get your hands on that farmer, and that will be the end of it. It regulates itself."

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The legislation would establish the Food Safety Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services "to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional contamination, and for other purposes."

Federal regulators will be tasked with ensuring that food producers, processors and distributors – both large and small – prevent and minimize food safety hazards such as food-borne illnesses and contaminants such as bacteria, chemicals, natural toxins or manufactured toxicants, viruses, parasites, prions, physical hazards or other human pathogens.

Under the legislation's broad wording, slaughterhouses, seafood processing plants, establishments that process, store, hold or transport all categories of food products prior to delivery for retail sale, farms, ranches, orchards, vineyards, aquaculture facilities and confined animal-feeding operations would be subject to strict government regulation.

Government inspectors would be required to visit and examine food production facilities, including small farms, to ensure compliance. They would review food safety records and conduct surveillance of animals, plants, products or the environment.

"What the government will do is bring in industry experts to tell them how to manage all this stuff," Olson said. "It's industry that's telling government how to set these things up. What it always boils down to is who can afford to have the most influence over the government. It would be those companies that have sufficient economies of scale to be able to afford the influence – which is, of course, industrial agriculture."

Farms and food producers would be forced to submit copies of all records to federal inspectors upon request to determine whether food is contaminated, to ensure they are in compliance with food safety laws and to maintain government tracking records. Refusal to register, permit inspector access or testing of food or equipment would be prohibited.

"What is going to happen is that local agriculture will end up suffering through some onerous protocols designed for international agriculture that they simply don't need," Olson said. "Thus, it will be a way for industrial agriculture to manage local agriculture."

Under the act, every food producer must have a written food safety plan describing likely hazards and preventative controls they have implemented and must abide by "minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water."

"That opens a whole can of worms," Olson said. "I think that's where people are starting to freak out about losing organic agriculture. Who is going to decide what the minimum standards are for fertilization or anything else? The government is going to bring in big industry and say we are setting up these protocols, so what do you think we should do? Who is it going to bring in to ask? The government will bring in people who have economies of scale who have that kind of influence."

DeLauro's act calls for the Food Safety Administration to create a "national traceability system" to retrieve history, use and location of each food product through all stages of production, processing and distribution.

Olson believes the regulations could create unjustifiable financial hardships for small farmers and run them out of business.

"That is often the purpose of rules and regulations: to get rid of your competition," he said. "Only people who are very, very large can afford to comply. They can hire one person to do paperwork. There's a specialization of labor there, and when you are very small, you can't afford to do all of these things."

Olson said despite good intentions behind the legislation, this act could devastate small U.S. farms.

"Every time we pass a rule or a law or a regulation to make the world a better place, it seems like what we do is subsidize production offshore," he said. "We tell farmers they can no longer drive diesel tractors because they make bad smoke. Well, essentially what we're doing is giving China a subsidy to grow our crops for us, or Mexico or anyone else."

Section 304 of the Food Safety Modernization Act establishes a group of "experts and stakeholders from Federal, State, and local food safety and health agencies, the food industry, consumer organizations, and academia" to make recommendations for improving food-borne illness surveillance.

According to the act, "Any person that commits an act that violates the food safety law … may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $1,000,000 for each such act."

Each violation and each separate day the producer is in defiance of the law would be considered a separate offense and an additional penalty. The act suggests federal administrators consider the gravity of the violation, the degree of responsibility and the size and type of business when determining penalties.

Criminal sanctions may be imposed if contaminated food causes serious illness or death, and offenders may face fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

"It's just frightening what can happen with good intentions," Olson said. "It's probably the most radical notions on the face of this Earth, but local agriculture doesn't need government because it takes care of itself."

Food Safety and Tracking Improvement Act

Another "food safety" bill that has organic and small farmers worried is Senate Bill 425, or the Food Safety and Tracking Improvement Act, sponsored by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Brown's bill is backed by lobbyists for Monsanto, Archer Daniels Midland and Tyson. It was introduced in September and has been referred to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Some say the legislation could also put small farmers out of business.

Like HR 875, the measure establishes a nationwide "traceability system" monitored by the Food and Drug Administration for all stages of manufacturing, processing, packaging and distribution of food. It would cost $40 million over three years.

"We must ensure that the federal government has the ability and authority to protect the public, given the global nature of the food supply," Brown said when he introduced the bill. He suggested the FDA and USDA have power to declare mandatory recalls.

The government would track food shipped in interstate commerce through a recordkeeping and audit system, a secure, online database or registered identification. Each farmer or producer would be required to maintain records regarding the purchase, sale and identification of their products.

A 13-member advisory committee of food safety and tracking technology experts, representatives of the food industry, consumer advocates and government officials would assist in implementing the traceability system.

The bill calls for the committee to establish a national database or registry operated by the Food and Drug Administration. It also proposes an electronic records database to identify sales of food and its ingredients "establishing that the food and its ingredients were grown, prepared, handled, manufactured, processed, distributed, shipped, warehoused, imported, and conveyed under conditions that ensure the safety of the food."

It states, "The records should include an electronic statement with the date of, and the names and addresses of all parties to, each prior sale, purchase, or trade, and any other information as appropriate."

If government inspectors find that a food item is not in compliance, they may force producers to cease distribution, recall the item or confiscate it.

"If the postal service can track a package from my office in Washington to my office in Cincinnati, we should be able to do the same for food products," Sen. Brown said in a Sept. 4, 2008, statement. "Families that are struggling with the high cost of groceries should not also have to worry about the safety of their food. This legislation gives the government the resources it needs to protect the public."

Recalls of contaminated food are usually voluntary; however, in his weekly radio address on March 15, President Obama announced he's forming a Food Safety Working Group to propose new laws and stop corruption of the nation's food.

The group will review, update and enforce food safety laws, which Obama said "have not been updated since they were written in the time of Teddy Roosevelt."

The president said outbreaks from contaminated foods, such as a recent salmonella outbreak among consumers of peanut products, have occurred more frequently in recent years due to outdated regulations, fewer inspectors, scaled back inspections and a lack of information sharing between government agencies.

"In the end, food safety is something I take seriously, not just as your president but as a parent," Obama said. "No parent should have to worry that their child is going to get sick from their lunch just as no family should have to worry that the medicines they buy will cause them harm."

The blogosphere is buzzing with comments on the legislation, including the following:

Obama and his cronies or his puppetmasters are trying to take total control – nationalize everything, disarm the populace, control food, etc. We are seeing the formation of a total police state.

Well ... that's not very " green " of Obama. What's his real agenda?

This is getting way out of hand! Isn't it enough the FDA already allows poisons in our foods?

If you're starving, no number of guns will enable you to stay free. That's the whole idea behind this legislation. He who controls the food really makes the rules.

The government is terrified of the tax loss. Imagine all the tax dollars lost if people actually grew their own vegetables! Imagine if people actually coordinated their efforts with family, friends and neighbors. People could be in no time eating for the price of their own effort. ... Oh the horror of it all! The last thing the government wants is for us to be self-sufficient.

They want to make you dependent upon government. I say no way! already the government is giving away taxes from my great great grandchildren and now they want to take away my food, my semi-auto rifles, my right to alternative holistic medicine? We need a revolution, sheeple! Wake up! They want fascism ... can you not see that?

The screening processes will make it very expensive for smaller farmers, where bigger agriculture corporations can foot the bill.

If anything it just increases accountability, which is arguably a good thing. It pretty much says they'll only confiscate your property if there are questions of contamination and you don't comply with their inspections. I think the severity of this has been blown out of proportion by a lot of conjecture.

Don't waste your time calling the criminals in D.C. and begging them to act like humans. This will end with a bloody revolt.

The more I examine this (on the surface) seemingly innocuous bill the more I hate it. It is a coward's ploy to push out of business small farms and farmers markets without actually making them illegal because many will choose not to operate due to the compliance issue.

If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll.

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HR875 and S425: Bills claiming to be about "food safety" written by multinational corporations to control whether we can garden

2009-03-18T08:42:00.002-05:00

Lydia Scott

Campaign For Liberty
March 10, 2009

HR 875 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:1:./temp/~c1112RD9bb:e11439:

This bill is sitting in committee and I am not sure when it is going to hit the floor. One thing I do know is that very few of the Representatives have read it. As usual they will vote on this based on what someone else is saying. Urge your members to read the legislation and ask for opposition to this devastating legislation. Devastating for everyday folks but great for factory farming ops like Monsanto, ADM, Sodexo and Tyson to name a few.

I have no doubt that this legislation was heavily influenced by lobbyists from huge food producers. This legislation is so broad based that technically someone with a little backyard garden could get fined and have their property siezed. It will effect anyone who produces food even if they do not sell but only consume it. It will literally put all independent farmers and food producers out of business due to the huge amounts of money it will take to conform to factory farming methods. If people choose to farm without industry standards such as chemical pesticides and fertilizers they will be subject to a vareity of harassment from this completely new agency that has never before existed. That’s right, a whole new government agency is being created just to police food, for our own protection of course.

DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, READ THIS LEGISLATION FOR YOURSELF. The more people who read this legislation the more insight we are going to get and be able to share. Post your observations and insights below. Urge your members to read this legislation and to oppose the passage of this legislation.

Read entire article

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HR875 and S425: Bills claiming to be about "food safety" written by multinational corporations to control whether we can garden

at 3/18/2009 07:48:00 AM

March 14, 2009

A solemn walk through HR 875

By Linn Cohen-Cole

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) sent out information about HR 875, which lists 'facts' to counter 'myths' and 'rumors' on the internet. It gives no specifics to back up its 'facts,' so the following close up view of the bill and accompanying commentary offers readers a chance to decide for themselves what is myth and what is fact.

Sue Diederich heads the Illinois Independent Consumers and Farmers Association, an organization formed to protect the rights of farmers and consumers to deal directly with each other without government interference. Neither of us are lawyers, but we both can read. We invite progressive headliners to read the bills themselves and provide their own analysis. The Left needs to understand what their conservative brothers and sisters in farming view as an alarming attempt to seize absolute control of all attempts at private (non-corporate), healthy, organic food growing and sharing. ~LCC

Click to watch YouTube video "Criminalize Organic Farming? Excuse Me! Bills HR875 and S 425

People seem to expect HR 875 to be titled "The Criminalization of Organic Farming and the Take over of the US Food Supply." When they don't see any words to that effect anywhere in the bill, they declare "this bill is fine" and those seeing dangers are "alarmists." Do they think the industrial side is composed of fools? These are the same people who make cheery cereals with cartoon characters on the box when, inside, high fructose corn syrup is all over the cereal which comes from Bt-corn associated with diabetes. HFCS is, too, and there is an epidemic of diabetes here even among children. They know how to package. Why do people understand that industrial food inside a box can be a problem and yet are so innocent about looking at the bills, not realizing there is packaging there, too, or how much is at stake that the public and even legislators not see since this is about taking control. The industrial side isn't stupid.

Understanding parts of the bill at times depends on smelling smoke as you read it. Here in the US, we still have only smoke ... an Ohio state ag department SWAT team raid on an organic coop, Pennsylvania ag department raids on horse and buggy Mennonites, California setting coliform levels so low fresh milk dairy farmers would need cows that produced pasteurized milk right out the udder, arrest and handcuffing of a single mother in front of her children for selling goat milk, the USDA paying its agents bonuses for foreclosing on farms, ... But in the EU where 60% of the Polish farmers are now gone because of identical bills enacted into law there, and 60 UK farmers have committed suicide, there is fire. And in Iraq, where they have been rendered helpless serfs by the theft of their country's seeds and criminalization of farmers' collection of their own seed, it is roaring. And in India where 182,000 farmers have committed suicide since the WTO and IMF got hold of agriculture and our Big Ag firms went in there, and 8 million farmers have left the land, it is out of control.

The World Trade Organization (WTO), run by the multinational meat packers and genetic engineering corporations, want HR 875, here. The bills are "harmonized" rules for globalization of food and lower food safety standards to allow for it. Those corporations are members of NIAA, a corporate consortium that brought NAIS, created by Anne Veneman, to the USDA to be made into law.

We begin with PASA offering Food & Water Watch's take on the bills to its members. PASA's assertions are in Times New Roman.

Myths and Facts H.R. 875 –The Food Safety Modernization Act

PASA members: The following information about a bill now before Congress, HR 875, was developed by our friends at Food and Water Watch, and forwarded to us by the National Sustainable Ag Coalition (NSAC), of which PASA is a member.

This Myth/Fact sheet was developed to help answer some of the rumors that are fairly rampant on the Internet right now. We will keep a close eye on the situation, and share further updates from NSAC as they become available.

MYTH: H.R. 875 "makes it illegal to grow your own garden" and would result in the "criminalization of the backyard gardener."

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would regulate, penalize, or shut down backyard gardens. This bill is focused on ensuring the safety of foods sold in supermarkets.

Though private residences are not specifically included, nor are they specifically excluded. While this does not immediately affect homeowners growing tomatoes in the backyard, entered testimony leaves the door open for just that in the future. Referring back to the Bio-Terrorism Act, in a discussion on this very topic and entered in the official record of debate on the interim rule, the same argument exists here and no new definitions or exclusions have been provided in HR 875 - and "reasonable" is a subjective term in theory as well as practice...

(13) FOOD ESTABLISHMENT-

(A) IN GENERAL- The term 'food establishment' means a slaughterhouse (except those regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act), factory, warehouse, or facility owned or operated by a person located in any State that processes food or a facility that holds, stores, or transports food or food ingredients.

Now, every home in the country holds food after buying it from the grocery store. Will they be included too? Heck, no. They're going to be magnanimous and say that, while they could, they won't right now.

Response excerpted from the same Interim Rule:

"FDA has concluded that private individual residences are not ''facilities'' for purposes of the registration provision of the Bioterrorism Act. Under the Bioterrorism Act, the term ''facility'' includes ''any factory, warehouse, or establishment.''

Congress did not specify any definition for these terms. Under their common meanings, the terms can include private residences. For example, according to Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary (1994), the most relevant definition of ''establishment'' is ''a business firm, club, institution, or residence, including its possessions and employees.''

However, ''[I]n determining whether Congress has specifically addressed the question at issue, the court should not confine itself to examining a particular statutory provision in isolation.... It is a fundamental canon of statutory construction that the words of a statute must be read in their context and with a view to their place in the overall statutory scheme." FDA v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 529 U.S. 120, 121 (2000).

Other parts of the registration provisions in Section 415 of the FD&C Act indicate that Congress only intended businesses to register. This raises a question as to whether Congress intended that private individual residences be considered facilities, even though food is manufactured/processed, packed, or held at such residences.

For instance, a registrant is required to submit ''the name and address of each facility at which, and all trade names under which, the registrant conducts business...'' (21 U.S.C. 350d(a)(2)).

Thus it is unclear whether Congress intended all individual private residences at which food is manufactured/processed, packed, or held to be included in the term ''facility.'' Furthermore, the requirement that a facility submit its ''name'' as well as its ''trade names'' raises a question as to whether Congress intended ''facility'' to include private individual residences since it is unlikely that a home would have a name or a trade name.

Where the words of the statute are ambiguous, an agency may make a reasonable Interpretation of the statute. Chevron, USA, Inc. v. NRDC, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-843 (1984); Brown & Williamson, supra, at 132.

Consistent with the language of section 415(a)(2), the agency concludes that interpreting the term ''facility'' to exclude private individual residences is a reasonable construction for purposes of registration. This interpretation, however, does not necessarily preclude a reasonable construction of other provisions of the FD&C Act to include such residences. Judicial interpretation can change, and easily include residences.

MYTH: H.R. 875 would mean a "goodbye to farmers markets" because the bill would "require such a burdensome complexity of rules, inspections, licensing, fees, and penalties for each farmer who wishes to sell locally - a fruit stand, at a farmers market."

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would result in farmers markets being regulated, penalized any fines, or shut down. Farmers markets would be able to continue to flourish under the bill. In fact, the bill would insist that imported foods meet strict safety standards to ensure that unsafe imported foods are not competing with locally grown foods.

Section 406 clearly states all food offered for sale will be viewed as being in interstate commerce and subject to the provisions of this bill.

C. 406. PRESUMPTION.

In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist

(8) CATEGORY 4 FOOD ESTABLISHMENT- The term 'category 4 food establishment' means a food establishment that processes all other categories of food products not described in paragraphs (5) through (7).

(9) CATEGORY 5 FOOD ESTABLISHMENT- The term 'category 5 food establishment' means a food establishment that stores, holds, or transports food products prior to delivery for retail sale.

(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term 'food production facility' means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.

Say it again and again, "this applies to farms and can apply to homes." It certainly looks to me that families baking cookies for bake sales could easily be included.

SEC. 206. FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES.

(a) Authorities- In carrying out the duties of the Administrator and the purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall have the authority, with respect to food production facilities, to--

(1) visit and inspect food production facilities in the United States and in foreign countries to determine if they are operating in compliance with the requirements of the food safety law;

(2) review food safety records as required to be kept by the Administrator under section 210 and for other food safety purposes;

(3) set good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety;

(4) conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate; and

(5) collect and maintain information relevant to public health and farm practices.

(b) Inspection of Records- A food production facility shall permit the Administrator upon presentation of appropriate credentials and at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and ability to copy all records maintained by or on behalf of such food production establishment in any format (including paper or electronic) and at any location, that are necessary to assist the Administrator--

(1) to determine whether the food is contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise not in compliance with the food safety law; or

(2) to track the food in commerce.

(c) Regulations- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production of food by food production facilities. Such regulations shall--

(1) consider all relevant hazards, including those occurring naturally, and those that may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced;

(2) require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards;

(3) include, with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water;

Notice they mention harvesting, sorting and storage operations; then watch below.

To follow how this will be done, you must understand that:

1. there is a small list inside the FDA called "sources of seed contamination"
2. in which they have now defined "seed" as food,
3. so seeds can be controlled under "food safety."

Those seeds (so far) include:

seeds eaten raw such as flax, poppy sesame, etc.;
sprouting seeds such as wheat, beans, alfalfa, most greens, etc.;
seeds pressed into oils such as corn, sunflower, canola, etc.;
seeds used as animal feed such as soy ....

That is most seeds. Seeds are essential to life and thus to freedom.

The "sources of seed contamination" include five little items:

agricultural water
manure (but NOT chemical pesticides or fertilizers)
harvesting, transporting and seed cleaning equipment
seed storage facilities

What you must realize is that seed cleaning equipment is THE single most critical piece of equipment for sustainable agriculture. It is how we save organic seed. It is the machinery used after plants "go to seed" to separate out (sort) the seeds from the plant material so the farmer can collect (harvest) and then save (put in storage) seed for the next year at little cost. With his own seed, the farmer stays free of patented, genetically engineered, corporately privatized seeds.

They never mention seeds but this is precisely how they will criminalize seed banking and all holding of seeds.

You must also understand that Monsanto is getting rid of the people who do the seed cleaning and many other means of our having access to seed. This year, 2009, seed cleaning equipment is now illegal in some parts of the country which tips us off to both the intent to control seeds in this way and to how they could do things under this bill.

How can they make such vital equipment illegal? Quietly, and by saying it contaminates food. "Contaminate" is their favorite word since the public fears the deadly contamination that industry itself - not farmers - has caused. Scare the public and thus push for "food safety standards" to be set.

And to eliminate seed cleaning equipment, they have now set the standards so seed cleaning (the simple separation of seed from plant) will now require a million to a million and a half dollar building and/or equipment ... per line of seed.

So, a farmer who has been seed cleaning flax for 40 years with a hand made seed cleaner can't sell flax on the market anymore, though there are NO instances of anyone ever having gotten sick from seed cleaning equipment. A farmer who has been cleaning wheat, corn and soy each year with the same perfectly fine equipment would now need three to four and half million dollars for three pieces of equipment to continue.

(The FDA isn't so bar-setting when it comes to other things like melamine in baby formula, though it is proven to sicken and kill infants, initially denying the melamine was in our baby formula and then quickly inventing a "foods safety" standard to okay it.)

Organic farmers are not aware of this happening, perhaps because the left is being treated with kid gloves until HR 875 and related bills are/were passed. Meanwhile, the FDA and USDA have been tromping on traditional (many of them farming organically, by the way) farmers for years. The organic community is disconnected from them so hasn't been aware of what is happening to them. Indie farmers have a history of no one listening to them, which is too bad because it is they who are the ones bringing the warning that these bills are deadly. The organic community, measuring against its own seeming safety, hasn't heard or understood.

Notice, though, that because a single "foods safety" bar has been raised, in time no one will be able to get organic seeds in any number because it will be illegal for all farmers to sell them to anyone.

Now, look at the last item on the list: seed storage facilities.

They would be careful not to ban them all outright given the extreme reaction they would get. But now the method is more clear. "Food safety" is the weapon and public fear is the driver and they only need to set the bar at the level that is impossible to meet.

Farmers, gardeners, seed saving exchanges, seed companies, scientific seed projects, and seed banks, all require "seed storage facilities." All are working overtime to protect biodiversity that is rapidly disappearing because of ... genetic engineering.

Set the standard for "food safety" and certification high enough that no one can afford it and punish anyone who tries to save seed in a multitude of ways that have worked fine for thousands of years, and presto, you have just criminalized seed banking.

The penalties, I will assume, will be tremendous, the better to protect us from nothing dangerous whatever, but to make monopoly over seed more absolute. One is left with control over farmers, and end to seed exchanges, to organic seed companies, to university programs developing nice normal hybrids.

When you know that Monsanto with the help of the US government plundered ancient and rare seed banks in Iraq that held seeds with a genetic heritage (a biohistory belonging to all of us) going back 1000s of years and then made it a crime for farmers there to collect or use their own normal and non-patented seeds off their own land, you see how extreme the intent to control is.

Now, perhaps it is possible to see how the identical thing is being done here, only it comes in a heavily, heavily disguised way - through "food safety" that isn't at all - and in only one tiny little paragraph within a very large bill.

The Iraqis are now abjectly dependent on Monsanto and the US for survival itself and will have to pay whatever prices are set for food. They cannot just grow their own and be free. So, no matter what form of government they may have, they are now slaves because the control over them is that extreme. Kissinger was right - control food and you control people.

We are inches from this ourselves. The left needs to wake up.

This trick of setting bars above any ability to be in the game, is similar to how blacks had been treated. Click here. This trick of setting bars above any ability to be in the game while imposing fines that destroy people who fail to meet that standard, is sadistic. Then, taking the land as confiscatory payment, is theft by government become totalitarian and colonizing its own people.

There are other items of the list which surely will be controlled as well. In toto, that little list is the deconstruction of farming itself and given the inclusion of manure, especially of organic farming.

(4) include, with respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animal's health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption;

(5) provide a reasonable period of time for compliance, taking into account the needs of small businesses for additional time to comply;

(6) provide for coordination of education and enforcement activities by State and local officials, as designated by the Governors of the respective States; and

(7) include a description of the variance process under subsection (d) and the types of permissible variances which the Administrator may grant under such process.

(d) Variances- States and foreign countries that export produce intended for consumption in the United States may request from the Administrator variances from the requirements of the regulations under subsection (c). A request shall--

(1) be in writing;

(2) describe the reasons the variance is necessary;

(3) describe the procedures, processes, and practices that will be followed under the variance to ensure produce is not adulterated; and

(4) contain any other information required by the Administrator.

(e) Approval or Disapproval of Variances- If the Administrator determines after review of a request under subsection (d) that the requested variance provides equivalent protections to those promulgated under subsection (c), the Administrator may approve the request. The Administrator shall deny a request if it is--

(1) not sufficiently detailed to permit a determination;

(2) fails to cite sufficient grounds for allowing a variance; or

(3) does not provide reasonable assurances that the produce will not be adulterated.

(f) Enforcement- The Administrator may coordinate with the agency or department designated by the Governor of each State to perform activities to ensure compliance with this section.

(g) Imported Produce- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to ensure that raw agricultural commodities and minimally processed produce imported into the United States can meet standards for food safety, inspection, labeling, and consumer protection that are at least equal to standards applicable to such commodities and produce produced in the United States.

Administrator shall have authority to grant exclusions to foreign producers.

While it may be obvious to us that this is onerous beyond any capability of coping with it, it needs to be said and described in some detail what it would actually mean for farmers or for us. Here in story form is a taste of it, so anyone could feel the insanity of it.

SEC. 201. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAM.

(a) In General- The Administrator shall--

(1) develop, administer, and annually update a national food safety program (referred to in this section as the 'program') to protect public health; and

(2) ensure that persons who produce, process, or distribute food meet their responsibility to prevent or minimize food safety hazards related to their products.

This is where it would be very helpful to realize how astoundingly onerous that long list is and what its impact would be on any farmer who previously only needed to load up his goods and bringing them to a farmers market - though that in itself is a time consuming, physically effortful job that often begins pre-dawn on those mornings and ends late in the day, all of it separate from growing the food and boxing it up to bring.

A small farm is not an industry with staff to fill out paperwork, handle licensing, manage all the industrial bureaucracy that is being loaded on here, but is most often a couple who is also taking care of a family in addition to growing crops and raising animals. These are precisely the people whom we need most as part of our food system and who will clearly be crushed by the grossly inappropriate application of such rules to small farms.

PASA writes:

MYTH: H.R. 875 would result in the "death of organic farming."

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would stop organic farming. The National Organic Program (NOP) is under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Food Safety Modernization Act only addresses food safety issues under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Of course, they are not going to come straight out and say it. But breaking this down to what is actually involved, you find that:

The administrator is charged with developing minimum standards, not maximum limits on feed, fertilizers, nutrients etc- right here goes organics.

Second, this act creates a new agency, and the FDA becomes the Federal Drug and Device Agency. It combines offices currently under FDA and Commerce Department (National Marine Fisheries).

Third, FSA is to cooperate with the USDA in "promulgating rules and orders" which will have the bearing and impact of law.

To refer back to the previous "Myth" - the one about foreign food having to meet our standard - Alaska, Hawaii, US territories and foreign countries may apply for variances, so... NO... imported foods do NOT necessarily have to meet the same standards. In fact, many countries have had to lower their standards due to WTO rules and trade agreements, and Australia had to further lower their regulatory standards when they instituted the NLIS program (their version of NAIS). There is no reason to think we would not have to do the same.

Now, comes the response to whether the bills will mean the end of organic farming. This section should be a major education for people in how things have been working. This is in response to the myth that the bills will not affect organic farming.

Animal health has traditionally meant medication and hormones, petroleum-based fly sprays and all sorts of other goodies.

Feed can be anything (GMO soy or corn anyone?).

Environment can mean pesticides, herbicides used on pastures (IF pasturing is deemed "healthy." Internationally, this is NOT so for poultry. In fact, in many countries there is NO outdoor poultry anymore - by law).

Nutrients are not necessarily whole food based, many are produced synthetically, and again, petroleum based.

Animal encroachment prevention can be anything from a scarecrow or plastic owl to poison bait and bullets. Not one of these things is specified, yet there is no place for real public opinion in the decision making process provided. I will grant that there is usually a public comment period for federal register entries, for whatever that has been worth in the past.

Meaning, it has been worth little to nothing. And obviously, the public is left having to respond ad infinitum to one issue after another. Someone compared the number of rules and regulations being thrown at us to carpet bombing, so you can't comment on everything, even if it helped which is clearly often doesn't.

SEC. 206. FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES.

(a) AUTHORITIES.-In carrying out the duties of the Administrator and the purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall have the authority, with respect to food production facilities, to

(1) visit and inspect food production facilities in the United States and in foreign countries to determine if they are operating in compliance with the requirements of the food safety law;

(2) review food safety records as required to be kept by the Administrator under section 210 and for other food safety purposes;

(3) set good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety;

This is where words that sound so friendly and innocuous and even good are code words for international rules set by the WTO. These rules define industrial requirements, which do not fit real farming in the least, much less organic farming.

This is where insane, anti-nature, anti-farming rules like "animals and crops can't exist on the same farm" come into play. Where wild animals aren't ever supposed to be near crops so the government has been poisoning deer and frogs. The list of such manufacturing rules for farming is long, and each very much "efficiency manager comes and wrecks the farm."

(4) conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate; and

Please, those of you who find the idea of NSA-spying intolerable, look carefully at those words. Now, imagine it were your farm, your home on that farm, and realize that the USDA and FDA have been run by and the new agency will be run by Monsanto, Cargill, Tysons, and ADM. Their interest in helping consumers have safer food is nil. The bills are meant to eliminate farmers as is now rapidly occurring in the EU with identical ("harmonized") bills, now law there.

(5) collect and maintain information relevant to public health and farm practices.

Pause here to consider the implications of each of those on someone's home - their family's farm. This is quite different from applying them to industrial sites where no one lives. Beyond that, these powers are so broad and vague, they are dangerous if only in that.

Those things listed open the door to total control, warrantless entry and perpetual surveillance. Notice how innocuous they have made it appear, even beneficial - always about public health. Yet, the insincerity of this is boggling - the USDA and Big Ag have worked to prevent inspections to the point where farmers have had to actually sue to get them done, even after offering to pay for them.

(b) INSPECTION OF RECORDS.-A food production facility shall permit the Administrator upon presentation of appropriate credentials and at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner...

Who defines "reasonable"? Does a farmer have to go to court each time there is an "unreasonable" manner and time? How wide open do we push the door to Big Ag-corrupted government control over farmers - the people creating the only safe food?

Look carefully and realize the USDA right now is countenancing state ag departments conducting terrorizing raids on non-corporate farms across the country. Imagine it were your home and USDA agents banging on your door to demand paper work and if you don't have it, facing fines that would bankrupt you in a moment and lose you your land and home.

... to have access to and ability to copy all records maintained by or on behalf of such food production establishment in any format (including paper or electronic) and at any location, that are necessary to assist the Administrator-

Imagine again.

(1) to determine whether the food is contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise not in compliance with the food safety law; or

Be aware that in Pennsylvania where there has been an aggressive effort to destroy fresh milk dairy farmers, the tests by the states repeatedly do not match those of independent testers but the harm to farmers from such false tests and reporting of them is done and can't be undone. Be aware that the USDA has a record of creating test results damaging to small farmers while it refuses to inspect even when farmers ask to pay.

(2) to track the food in commerce

This could mean farmers bringing food to markets with USDA agents surveilling.

(c) REGULATIONS.-Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production of food by food production facilities. Such regulations shall-

Everything vague in this bill is being left to be filled in later, and by whom? The Food Safety Tsar? The Administrator? Right now, to give people pause and to wake them up a bit to how this is not a wise idea but in fact absurd, it appears that person could be Michael Taylor. He is a Monsanto lawyer infamous for approving rBGH - the first genetically engineered product ever approved - over the objections of doctors, scientists who said the numbers were being rigged, and the public.

How can anyone leave a bill so utterly vague in the hands of anyone to decide later what it all means? Do we not make laws here with specific meaning anymore? Or do we simply let totalitarian rules be applied by industry against non-industrial entities like farms and homes in any way they wish and with immense police power behind what they, for their own interests, decide?

(1) consider all relevant hazards, including those occurring naturally, and those that may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced;

Goodbye raw milk.

(2) require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards;

(3) include, with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water;

Goodbye organic farming.

(4) include, with respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animal's health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption;

Goodbye organic farming and grass-fed animals.

(5) provide a reasonable period of time for compliance, taking into account the needs of small businesses for additional time to comply;

Oh, heavens, this looks like padding to throw in the word "reasonable" again but it has no explicit meaning whatever and so no safety for a soul.

(6) provide for coordination of education and enforcement activities by State and local officials, as designated by the Governors of the respective States; and

This appears to be where Homeland Security works with the USDA for such things as "depopulation of animals" - for which six meetings are already scheduled in June and into which livestock owners are not allowed though foreigners are.

These "depopulation" plans look like what is happening in Asia where animal disease caused by industry (and worth a fortune to the pharmaceutical industry) are then used by industry to wipe out its competition in heritage breeds of animals on small farms and to substitute genetically engineered animals that are patented by industry and thus owned by industry.

(7) include a description of the variance process under subsection (d) and the types of permissible variances which the Administrator may grant under such process.

(d) VARIANCES.-States and foreign countries that export produce intended for consumption in the United States may request from the Administrator variances from the requirements of the regulations under subsection (c).

This is where the "fact" that foreign countries must meet our food safety requirements collapses by simply reading the bill, as reproduced above.

PASA's "facts" are misleading:

MYTH: The bill would implement a national animal ID system.

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would implement a national animal ID system. Animal identification issues are under the jurisdiction of the USDA. The Food Safety Modernization Act addresses issues under the jurisdiction of the FDA.

This bill mandates NAIS by claiming that it is already law, then contradicts itself by citing COOL (country of origin labeling), which specifically prohibits mandatory tracking. It justifies NAIS by claiming that the American Herbal Products Assn. (AHPA) gives authority - but this is a bill (and supposedly a program) concerning interstate commerce (though any item of food for sale is "presumed" to be in interstate commerce) and AHPA does not regulate interstate commerce.

How many contradictions in a single section do we need before red flags go up? Yes, and put up red flags for whole bills if this central part is so corruptly being pushed.

It is absurd to claim that NAIS is not mandatory. Food and Water Watch has gotten this and many other items wrong. That would be fine if the whole organic movement and all our farms and freedom were not riding on our seeing these very real threats and stopping those bills completely - not compromising on them, but demanding their complete withdrawal.

(a) In General- The Administrator, in order to protect the public health, shall establish a national traceability system that enables the Administrator to retrieve the history, use, and location of an article of food through all stages of its production, processing, and distribution.

(b) Applicability- Traceability requirements under this section shall apply to food from food production facilities, food establishments, and foreign food establishments.

(1) STANDARDS- The Administrator shall establish standards for the type of information, format, and timeframe for food production facilities and food establishments to submit records to aid the Administrator in effectively retrieving the history, use, and location of an item of food.

(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the Administrator to prescribe a specific technology for the maintenance of records or labeling of food to carry out the requirements of this section.

(3) AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS FOR INSPECTION- Any records that are required by the Administrator under this section shall be available for inspection by the Administrator upon oral or written request.

(4) DEMONSTRATION OF ABILITY- The Administrator, during any inspection, may require a food establishment to demonstrate its ability to trace an item of food and submit the information in the format and time frame required under paragraph (1).

(d) Relationship to Other Requirements-

(1) CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING STATUTES AND REGULATIONS- To the extent possible, the Administrator should establish the national traceability system under this section to be consistent with existing statutes and regulations that require recordkeeping or labeling for identifying the origin or history of food or food animals.

Does this mean consistent with international laws under the WTO? Is this a means of locking everything together into Smart Grid or NAFTA or CAFTA or GATT and even, the worst of all, CODEX?

(2) EXISTING LAWS- For purposes of this subsection, the Administrator should review the following:

(A) Country of origin labeling requirements of subtitle D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638 et seq.).

(B) The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a-t).

(D) The National Animal Identification System as authorized by the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.).

Another 'myth' vs. 'fact' according to PASA:

MYTH: The bill is supported by the large agribusiness industry.

FACT: No large agribusiness companies have expressed support for this bill. This bill is being supported by several Members of Congress who have strong progressive records on issues involving farmers markets, organic farming, and locally-grown foods.

Who almost certainly have not read the bills or can't interpret how it will work to destroy farmers, organic food, seed banking, and all of us.

Perhaps others know details on the organizations listed below, and why they might be supporting a bill that is so threatening to real food safety and to the survival of our farms and organic farming. PASA reports:

Also, H.R. 875 is the only food safety legislation that has been supported by all the major consumer and food safety groups, including:

Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention

Center for Science in the Public Interest America

The Consumer Federation of America is a long-standing consumer organization based in Washington, DC. However, it has accepted funding from the Rockefeller Foundation to "develop an optimum regulatory regime" for genetically engineered food.

Consumers Union -- Food & Water Watch

FWW just put out a description of the bill in which it is apparent they do not understand what is in it and what it will do. With that as their starting point, they support it.

The Pew Charitable Trusts

They are also connected to the Rockefeller Foundation, and involved with them in mandatory vaccinations programs around the world and issues of reducing population.

Safe Tables Our Priority

There is no list here of groups opposing this bill, which include the people whose lives are most at risk from it and who know its dangers the best and who should have been the first people consulted. Instead, they have been shut out and when they have tried to report extreme dangers, they are ignored, dismissed, and marginalized. Perhaps the other organizations listed here are as unfamiliar with the bill's contents and ramifications as FWW.

If you consider that not only is Rosa DeLauro married to Stanley Greenberg, who boasts Monsanto as one of his clients, but also that she receives the largest donations from agribusiness PAC's of just about anyone in Congress, does industry NEED to come out and say they support this particular bill? If cash to the sponsor doesn't count, and if formal positions supporting various specific aspects of the bill do not count, then what does? Would there not be massive public backlash against it if industry DID take a formal stand on every bill they want to see passed?

By the same token, I've not seen a single industrial ag company come out and oppose this bill, either. They have all been conspicuously silent. I seem to remember that they threw up quite a fuss over COOL, and caused enforcement to fall behind by more than 7 years... Not to mention the garbage with loopholes we've had to deal with since enforcement began. (What good does a "Canada, US, Mexico" label do for anybody? Especially with BSE (mad cow disease) in Canada and TB coming in daily from Mexico?) Where's the hoot and holler over this?

PASA also writes:

MYTH: The bill will pass the Congress next week without amendments or debate.

FACT: Food safety legislation has yet to be considered by any Congressional committee.

Alerts came from those who first discovered the bills were there, inserted only one week after Vilsack had said the USDA wasn't even considering centralizing the FDA and USDA at this time, so people saw how similar the bills were, knew how fast other things were being shoved through Congress without even reading those bills, and estimated how fast this could happen. Perhaps with people alerted now, these bogus "food safety" bills can be stopped by the organic community once it realizes they will destroy utterly it.

However, since one of us did have the luxury of listening to the farce taking place on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 11 concerning HR1105 (which funds NAIS among its hundreds of other projects) while awaiting the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry subcommittee hearing on NAIS - we have no doubt that this bill will move quickly now that 1105 has passed and since it has so many co-sponsors.

The Representatives were honest enough to admit that though the Senators claimed every bill in the Omnibus Act had been heard and passed in the previous session, when in actuality, some 100 of the 170 bills in the package had NOT. The "ominous Omnibus Act" as several Representatives called it, went from introduction to the President in less than 13 working days. I really have to question just whose side those groups are really on that would support this bill.

Our food safety system was trashed in 1995 by Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman (Board member of Monsanto). She appointed Dan Amstutz (VP of Cargill) who wrote the World Trade Organization Agreement on Agriculture. Unlike GATT, WTO has major clout from trade sanctions and control of 90% of the international trade. (See The WTO and the Politics of GMO.) The World Trade Organization:

"Aims to ensure that governments do not use quarantine and food safety requirements as unjustified trade barriers... It provides Member countries with a right to implement traceability {NAIS} as an SPS measure."

The WTO did away with "quarantine and food safety requirements" that gave us "the safest food in the world" and is graciously going to allow Farmers to track AND COUNT the world's livestock for them instead. Now HR 875 and an FDA release indicate all food will be tracked and all food producers will have food inspections. With the threat of fines up to a million dollars a day, this will eliminate all the independent farms that have acted as a check on Corporate AG.

The FDA wants to implement a more effective trace-back process, using technologies to rapidly and precisely track the origin and destination of contaminated foods, feed and ingredients.

Nanotech in food can make it happen. "California's Oxonica makes Nanobarcodes from nano-particles that contain silver and gold stripes varying in width, length and amount, such that billions of combinations can be created to tag individual products. The barcodes have been primarily used to assure brand and authenticity in pharmaceuticals, but applications could be forthcoming in tracing food batches."

In regard to pets:

HR 875 uses "animals" and then "animals raised for food" and there are no exclusions. The Animal Welfare Act had exclusions for livestock, pets and people raising three or less litters of puppies a year. Therefore, pets are not excluded.

"[S]et good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety;

"[C]onduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate;

"[W]ith respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animal's health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption...."

In regard to gardens:

The Feds already have plans for controlling food "FROM FARM TO FORK" including home preparation since September of 1995 (WTO ratified in 1995).

HR 875 will:

"require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards;"

"include, with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water"

"include, with respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animal's health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption;"

"set good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety"

"...facility owned or operated by a person located in any State that processes food or a facility that holds, stores, or transports food or food ingredients."

Notice it does not say a person SELLING food. It says a person holds, stores, or transports food or food ingredients. The bill specifically states it covers commerce within states, but again there is no exclusion for food raised for home use. The fact you are growing veggies for your and friends and not selling them does not exclude you.

"in any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction SHALL BE PRESUMED TO EXIST."

Under Ag Sec. Veneman, in September, 1995, the USDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service presented a 600-page document, Farm-To-Table, intended to control every step in the food chain from production to home preparation.

This is a real life example of what has already occurred and what may be in store:

Today a state Ag inspector and two county officials show up and scare the bee-jesus out of me. First they accuse me of selling products and milk, then explain that even "giving milk products away" is illegal in California. Now everything is pasteurized, but it is illegal to share milk products in any form! They explained it was even ILLEGAL to give it to my own children if they did not live under my roof! I can't even take a lasagna dish to my grown sons home without risk of being fined, arrested and or jailed! This is OUTRAGEOUS!!!!" Donna, Aug 12, 2008. (See more stories on Feds raiding farms and co-ops.)

Conclusion

The related package of "food safety" bills is totalitarian. There are no two ways about it.

They allow government warrantless intrusion into and extreme, detailed, surveilled control over every aspect of farmers' land and home, straight-jacketing them into a bureaucratic nightmare which precludes their even functioning as farmers. And yet for real food safety and for food security, it is exactly farmers we need.

We need the real food they produce and the farmland they spare and protect from industrialization and the heritage animals and seeds they raise and their knowledge about nature and animals, and we need the way of life they represent. Free. How interesting that to have real and clean and wholesome food, it requires that farmers have freedom.

These bills which claim to be about "food safety" but are proven in the EU already to be about the destruction of farmers, are so frighteningly broad, they allow the government to take over our lives, too. They allow the government to use rules written by multinational corporations within the WTO, to control whether we can garden or how, whether we chip our pets, even what happens inside our homes in our kitchens.

These controls are all for mandating things that make money for corporations just as we are all trying to get off the corporate grid of power, fuel, food, ... Now it is easy to appreciate people' resistance to mandated vaccines (and they keep adding more kinds).

There is point at which we must say stop. Our lives are our own, our property is our own, our decisions on what to eat and how to heal ourselves are our own. We must protect our own freedom and now it is apparent how intimately tied it is those who have been providing for us forever - our farmers.

HR 875, SR 425, HR 814, HR 759 and all related bills must be withdrawn immediately and then trashed.

Author's Bio: Got lucky in meeting libertarian and conservative farmers and becoming friends, learning an incredible amount about farming and nature and science, as well as about government violations against them and against us all. They are nothing like what we've been taught to assume about the other side of the fence, but great people with immense decency.

Bluebirds Depend on Humans to Provide Habitat and Nesting Sites

2009-01-15T07:29:00.001-06:00

Bluebirds Depend on Humans to Provide Habitat and Nesting Sites
By Seve Lekwa, Story County, Iowa, Conservation Director

Pasture land with scattered trees or a large, open yard at least an acre in size with a water source nearby . . . if this describes your property, it’s likely you can attract bluebirds. Bluebirds were common when much of rural Iowa had pastures, but changes in livestock agriculture have reduced drastically the habitat available for this popular songbird.

Modern acreages are again providing the open, short grass habitats preferred by bluebirds. Natural cavities for nesting often are scarce, but landowners can easily build houses that provide suitable space and help protect bluebirds from predators such as cats, raccoons and snakes.

Simple Bluebird House Plan
Houses range from simple to complex, and plans often are available from your local Extension office. You can make a simple box from a 1"x 6" x 6' board. Rough cut western cedar is very durable, but clear pine will do. Avoid plywood if squirrels or deer mice are common because they will gnaw on it.

Cut the board in the following dimensions: the back, 13.5 inches; the roof, 7.5 inches; the front, 9 inches; two sides, 9 inches; and the floor, 4 inches. Assemble the box with galvanized nails or screws. The floor should be recessed slightly into the bottom. The roof should be flush at the back and extend over the front. One side will serve as the cleanout door, hinged at the bottom to open from the top out. A simple hinge consists of nails driven opposite each other through the front and back at the bottom edge. A single nail inserted in a downward slanting hole through the front of the box will lock the side cleanout door in place.

Drill several quarter-inch drain holes through the bottom. Drill similar-sized vent holes in the sides just below the roof line. The entry hole should be 1.5 inches in diameter and centered at least 5 inches above the floor.

Assemble the box with the rough side in if using cedar, or make shallow saw cuts on the inside of the front (below the hole) if using smooth lumber. The roughness helps young birds or weak adults get out. Do not add a perch peg. Bluebirds don’t need it, and house sparrows and wrens will use it to harass your preferred tenants. Mount the box 5 feet above ground, away from brushy areas and ideally facing a nearby tree. Boxes mounted on fences (regular steel posts) are too easy for predators to reach. PVC plastic pipe slipped over a steel fence post and positioned away from the fence makes it difficult for climbing predators to reach.

Have your box in place by early March, when male bluebirds look for nesting territories. Bluebirds usually nest twice per season, so additional boxes mounted a few hundred feet apart often will be used. Monitor your box at least weekly through mid-summer to remove unwanted house sparrow and wren nest material. Without your help, these two species will drive bluebirds away.

Scientist says he has found oldest spider web

2008-12-15T15:11:00.001-06:00

By RAPHAEL G. SATTER, Associated Press Writer Raphael G. Satter, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago

LONDON – The tiny tangled threads of the world's oldest spider web have been found encased in a prehistoric piece of amber, a British scientist said Monday. Oxford University paleobiologist Martin Brasier said the 140-million-year-old webbing provides evidence that arachnids had been ensnaring their prey in silky nets since the dinosaur age. He also said the strands were linked to each other in the roughly circular pattern familiar to gardeners the world over.

"You can match the details of the spider's web with the spider's web in my garden," Brasier said.

The web was found in a small piece of amber picked up by an amateur fossil-hunter scouring the beaches on England's south coast about two years ago, Brasier said. A microscope revealed the existence of tiny threads about 1 millimeter (1/20th of an inch) long amid bits of burnt sap and fossilized vegetable matter.

While not as dramatic as a fully preserved net of spider silk, the minuscule strands show that spiders had been spinning circle-shaped webs well into prehistory, according to Simon Braddy, a University of Bristol paleobiologist uninvolved with the find.

"It's not a striking, perfect web," Braddy said. "(But) this seems to confirm that spiders were building orb webs back in the early Cretaceous" — the geological term for the period of time between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago when dinosaurs and small mammals shared the earth.

Spider experts believe that webs were developed even earlier, but the delicate gossamer threads rarely leave any trace. Amber, or fossilized tree resin, can occasionally conserve bits of web — an earlier find in Lebanon was dated to 130 million years ago, according to Brasier.

Our country needs you to count worms: Volunteers wanted to carry out first earthworm 'census'

2008-11-26T06:39:00.000-06:00

By David Derbyshire

Last updated at 8:08 AM on 26th November 2008

They might be slimy, slithery and wriggly - but according to Darwin, worms are one of the most important creatures on earth.

And with their habitats increasingly under threat, volunteers are being asked to help with an earthworm 'census'.

The £500,000 project will see amateur scientists pouring mustard - a mild irritant to worms - on their flowerbeds. They can then identify any disgruntled (but otherwise unharmed) specimens which surface.

Census: Volunteers are being asked to chart the earthworms in their gardens as part of a £500,000 research project

The collated results will be used to shed light on one of Britain's most common, but also most poorly understood, creatures.

Organisers also hope to identify rare species which could be on the brink of extinction.

David Jones, of the Natural History Museum, said that surprisingly little research has been done on earthworms since Darwin wrote in the 19th century: 'Worms have played a more important part in the history of the world than most persons would at first suppose.'

Mr Jones added: 'Darwin did a lot of work on earthworms at his home in Kent, but since then the research has been sporadic.

Slimy and slithery: Darwin said worms are one of the most important creatures on earth 'We don't fully understand which earthworms live where - and which particular species like which types of soil.'

Although there are dozens of ways to encourage worms to the surface, including imitating rainfall or rubbing a metal pole in the ground to simulate the burrowing of a mole, rigorous research has shown that dousing soil in mustard is the most effective technique.

As long as the condiment is diluted enough, it irritates the worms without causing them long-term damage.

The worm count is part of a five-year community science project called Open Air Laboratories, or Opal.

It is being led by the Natural History Museum and funded by £11.7million of lottery money.

During the census, due to take place in the spring, volunteers will be sent free worm-watching packs.

These will contain a chart allowing them to identify 13 of the most common worms by colour, size, shape and pattern of rings. More sophisticated identification software will be available on the project's website.

The packs will also include a strip of litmus paper to help identify whether soil is acid or alkaline, and a questionnaire about its quality.

A future Opal project will ask volunteers to look out for tar spot fungus on tree leaves and lichen to help monitor air pollution. Other mass surveys will look at the wildlife in ponds, streams and rivers.

For an earthworm census pack, email opalsoil@imperial.ac.uk

Why those 'ladybugs' are everywhere

2008-11-05T04:05:00.002-06:00

By KATHRYN CATES MOORE / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008 - 11:59:33 pm CSTMulticolored Asian Beetles.
(photo courtesy Jim Kalisch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, department of entomology)

Flying orange polka-dotted invaders are sneaking into Lincoln houses through crevices and openings around windows.

These ladybugs are technically multicolored Asian ladybird beetles, and this time of year they’re searching for a place to hibernate for the winter, said Barb Ogg, entomologist and Lancaster County Extension educator.

Last week, her office was flooded with calls about the insects, she said. That’s because they have a habit of laying low until there’s a sharp drop in temperature — like last Monday. Then when the air warms up again, like it did last Wednesday, they come out in large groups searching for winter cover.

“One caller said she couldn’t go outside without the bugs landing on her,” Ogg said.

Traditionally, ladybug species like to overwinter in masses. The native species usually does that under leaf litter, but the Asian beetles have different needs, she said.

In Asia, the bugs would hibernate in cliff face crevices. Here, they go for tall buildings or houses, Ogg said, and the south and west sides of the house are particularly attractive. If they’re near a grove of trees, all the better.

Their favorite food is the soybean aphid, so rural two-story homes are often viewed by the bugs as a winter haven, she said.

Unlike our native ladybugs, these Asian cousins bite. And like all ladybugs, they emit an odor. If you squish them, they can stain walls or draperies.

So what can you do about all these beetles?

Ogg suggests finding entry points around your house and sealing cracks and crevices with caulk before the bugs get inside. Check screens and doors to make sure they are tight-fitting. Insecticides aren’t really effective on these beetles, Ogg said.

And once they settle inside the walls, there’s no easy way to remove them, she said.

Sometimes when the winter weather warms up, the beetles will come out, tricked into thinking spring has sprung.

In that case, Ogg suggests using a vacuum to get rid of them. If there are lots of them, insert a knee-high stocking in the vacuum wand to catch the beetles. Then they won’t get inside your vacuum and leave behind their scent.

Reach Kathryn Cates Moore at 473-7214 or kmoore@journalstar.com.

Pond fish will be moving to basement!

2008-10-30T19:48:00.003-05:00

I COULD NOT HANDLE WATCHING MY FISH GO THROUGH THE WINTER UNDER ICE!!

After months of contemplation - the decision has been made. As my brother Bruce once told me now almost 3 decades ago "Make a decision Linda, no matter what choice you make - each choice has their own shades of gray - but at least get off the fence and decide". I went to the local "farm store" and purchased a 140 gallon tank - labeled so that it could also be used for "ponds". I loaded it in the back end of my old Jeep Cherokee and by myself pulled it to my backyard - down my basement steps and it is now full of water (with the chemicals added to rid it of chlorine, etc.).

Will be setting up the filter pump tomorrow and figuring out how to screen the top to prevent my little guys from jumping out onto the floor! Now my next task will be getting them out of my 3000 gallon pond! Planning on pumping alot of the water out of the pond to narrow down where they can swim to and hide. As of tonight - do believe that I will after catching the guys refill my pond back up to see how it winters.

Rare, open-pollinated & heirloom garden seeds

2008-10-20T12:17:00.006-05:00

Just purchased myself from Sunflower Seeds for the next growing season. I carry enough big bags of sunflower seeds for my bird feeder - decided to grow some and let those little guys do the work and save me some! I don't get a penny for advertising this seed website - but am a firm believer in seeds that haven't been played around with! Will harvest some of the seeds next year and will have my own stock of "free" seeds. Is there anything people won't do to get a monopoly on something or own something out of greed?

Sunflower – 'Giant Greystripe'

Days to germination – 10 to 14
Days to harvest – 80 - 100 days
Plant Height – 6 to 8 feet
Plant Spacing – 18 to 24 in.
Planting depth – 1 inch
Flower heads – 10 to 12 inches diameter
Seeds per Head – A Lot!!!

Planting Instructions:

These sunflowers are generally easy to grow and tolerant of most garden soils. Well-drained soil is preferred. They make a good windbreak but should be planted so that they don't shade your garden.

Sow directly in the garden after all danger of frost is past. Thin seedlings to 8 inches and then to 2 feet to avoid overcrowding. I have had pretty good success with transplanting as long as you do not disturb the roots of the other plants.

For maximum size, feed the plants weekly. These are both heat and drought tolerant after they are established.

Harvesting and Use:

Harvest the seeds when the seeds look mature, the petals are all dried and the back of the flower heads have turned yellow. Cut from the stalks and hang upside down in a warm dry place. Rub the seeds out of the head when they come out with little coaxing. Allow the seeds to continue to cure until the shells are brittle and crack easily between your teeth.

The seeds are tasty raw or roasted and lightly salted. They can be used as a snack, or the meats make a nice addition to bread, rolls, or as a topping to a green salad.

Can also be used as a high protein bird or chicken feed.

2008-10-07T16:14:00.003-05:00

A young European tree frog sits on the finger of a keeper at a zoo in Germany. The zoo is breeding the species and plans to reintroduce them to the wild in Nuremberg and the city's surroundings.

The punk rock turtle with a bright green mohawk

2008-09-28T21:01:00.003-05:00

By Wil Longbottom and Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 12:29 AM on 27th September 2008

It looks like an aquatic version of Johnny Rotten in his punk heyday after a heavy night on the tiles.

But that spiky green quiff isn't gelled hair - it's growing algae.

And the creature sporting the spectacular coiffure is the Mary River Turtle, one of the most unusual reptiles of its type on the planet.

Shell shocked: The Mary River Turtle is having a Green Day,

but his hairdo is just algae growing on his head

The Mary River Turtle has become a popular figure with Australian environmentalists who say the endangered creature is being further threatened by Queensland State Government's plans to build a dam on the river.

It is one of the more unusual species of turtles as it breathes through lung-like structures in its tail and needs shallow water to survive.

It was described formally by scientists only in 1994 and little is known about it. The hairsute creature was captured by amateur photographer Chris Van Wyk as it quietly waded in the shallows.

King of the river: The turtle wades through the water looking for his next meal

UNL Extension Horticulture

2008-09-25T17:50:00.000-05:00

Hort Update for the week of 9/15/08

Current Problems:	Major Symptom:
Lawns
1. Kentucky Bluegrass stem rust	Orange-yellow powder on grass blades, mowers, and shoes.
2. Winter annual weed control	Apply preemergence herbicides in early to mid September.
3. Broadleaf perennial weed control	Apply postemergence herbicides from mid Sept. to mid Oct.
4. Overseeding tips	Prepare site well. Select certified, blue-tag seed.
5. Skunk damage to lawns	Patches of upturned earth or small, cone-shaped holes.

Trees & Shrubs
6. Premature leaf drop	Fungal leaf diseases or environmental stress.
7. Mycosphaerella leaf spot on ash	Browning of leaflets. Scorched appearance to tree.
8. Aphids	Sticky substance on leaves/items beneath trees. Leaf curling.
9. Cottonwood canker	Branch dieback. Sunken, discolored areas on branches.
10. Sphaeropsis tip blight of pine	Brown or stunted shoot tips. Branch dieback.
11. Dothistroma needle blight	Reddish bands and browning on needles in lower half of tree.
12. Natural needle drop	Interior needles suddenly yellow and are easily knocked off.
13. Bagworm	Larvae have pupated. Insecticides will no longer work. Hand-pick.

Vegetables/ Fruits
14. Tomato fruit cracking	Fruit cracks near stem.

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1. Kentucky Bluegrass Stem Rust symptoms are an orange-yellow powder (fungal spores) on grass blades in late summer. The turfgrass may develop a yellow or brown appearance. Rust typically occurs on lawns with slow growth. Sound fall care practices, including proper fertilization and correct irrigation, along with cooler fall weather promotes turfgrass growth and rust usually disappears. Control with fungicides is rarely suggested for home lawns.

Kentucky Bluegrass Stem Rust, http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/turf/rustlawn.html

Note for Sports Turf: If stem rust occurs on sports fields, the fungal spores can present problems for allergy/asthma sufferers. Control of stem rust is recommended on sports turfs using a combination of sound turf management and correctly timed fungicide applications, usually in July and August.

Sports Turf Internet Rust Resource, http://hcs.osu.edu/sportsturf/notes/detail.lasso?id=1094

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2. Winter Annual Weeds such as henbit, speedwell, and shepardspurse germinate during fall. The plants complete growth, blooming, and seed production the following spring and summer. In areas with a history of winter annual infestation, preemergence herbicides (Dimension, Barricade or pendimethalin based products for lawns and Preen for ornamental beds) can be applied in early September; or postemergence herbicides such as 2,4-D applied in late October.

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3. Perennial Weed Control- Mid September to early October is the best time to control perennial, broadleaf weeds (dandelions, bindweed, white clover, ground ivy) with herbicides. Plants are moving photosynthetic products into the roots for winter storage and more herbicide is translocated into roots, increasing root kill. Herbicides labeled for lawns and broadleaf weed control such as 2,4-D and combination herbicides such as Trimec are recommended for homeowner use.

Landscape Weed Management, http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec1256.pdf

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4. Overseeding Tips- Overseed Kentucky bluegrass by September 30 and tall fescue by September 20. Mow the turf as short as possible. Check the true thatch layer; if it exceeds one-half inch, power rake and remove debris. Core aerate prior to overseeding in 2-3 directions to achieve good seed to soil contact. Select disease resistant cultivars and buy certified, blue tag seed from reputable retailers. Check cultivars on the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) website for disease resistance and other desired characteristics. Irrigate if needed to promote germination and establishment. Fertilize with a starter fertilizer. Tall fescue should be evident in the coring holes 7-10 days after seeding and bluegrass 14-21 days after seeding.

NTEP website, http://www.ntep.org/contents2.shtml

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5. Skunk Damage to Lawns- Skunks may damage turfgrass by digging in lawns and golf courses while looking for white grubs. This damage appears as patches of upturned earth or small 3- to 4-inch cone-shaped holes. Repair the damage and overseed if needed. If 8 white grubs can be found per square foot, an application of the insecticide Dylox may be justified at this time of year.

Dealing With Skunks, http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g1769.pdf

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6. Premature Leaf Drop in trees can be due to a fungal leaf spot or leaf blight. If there are no leaf spots or blighted areas on leaves, it is usually related to environmental stress. Leaf drop this past month was most likely due to the hot, dry conditions of August.

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7. Mycosphaerella Leaf Spot of Ash, previously called "Phyllostica leaf spot," can occur in large ash trees. Initial leaf spots caused by M. fraxinicola are small, pale-green, irregular blotches. Spots sometimes coalesce and entire leaflets may die. Trees may appear scorched due to necrotic blotches on foliage. Severe infections can result in premature defoliation. There is no practical control for these leaf diseases.

Mycosphaerella Leaf Spots, http://www.forestpests.org/ash/mycosphaerella.html

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8. Aphids- When items beneath a shade tree become sticky, aphids are the likely cause. Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed in dense groups on leaf undersides. Aphids feed on plant fluids and exude a honeydew; hence the sticky residue. Able to give birth to live young without mating, and to mature in as little as seven days, aphid populations can build up rapidly. Large populations may cause curling, yellowing, and distorted leaves; along with the sticky honeydew, which often turns black from a harmless sooty mold. Aphid feeding can continue until frost.

For the most part, sap feeding by aphids is harmless to otherwise healthy, well established trees at this time of year and control with insecticides is not recommended, however, applying insecticides or insecticidal soaps to small, recently planted trees to reduce aphids may be beneficial. Trees with a history of chronic aphid infestation, excluding fruit or nut trees, may be treated using a soil drench application with the systemic insecticide imidacloprid commonly sold as Merit or Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrubs Insect Control.

To deal with the honeydew, park cars elsewhere and wash or hose items until aphids stop feeding.

Aphids on Shade Trees and Ornamentals, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05511.html

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9. Cytospora Canker of Cottonwood- The fungus attacks trees or parts of trees that are injured or in a weak or stressed condition. The infected are is called the canker. It girdles the area infected and can cause dieback of branches or central leaders. Trees affected by drought, insects, diseases, sunscald, herbicides, or mechanical injury, especially root damage, are susceptible to cytospora infection. Cankers, sunken dead areas of bark with black pinhead-sized speckling or pimples, may be evident. There are no fungicide controls for canker diseases. Prune branches with cankers. Disinfect all pruning tools such as knives and saws by wiping them with rubbing alcohol. Avoid stress by spacing trees correctly, then mulching and watering correctly. Avoid wounds.

Cytospora Canker, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/Garden/02937.html

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10. Sphareopsis Tip Blight of pine can cause entire branches, usually near the tops of trees, to die after a few years of infection by the disease. Most common symptoms are browning and stunting of shoot tips and fungal spores (black specks) on the bottoms of second year cones. Sphareopsis tip blight can be controlled with fungicides applied during the third week of April and repeated in 10 - 14 days.

Sphareopsis Tip Blight of Pines, http://www.ianr.unl.edu/PUBS/plantdisease/g646.htm

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11. Dothistroma Needle Blight- Browning of needles on the lower half of Austrian, ponderosa and Scotch pine trees. On close inspection, needles will have turned brown from the tip down to a reddish-purple lesion or band on the needle. Lesions or bands may be found on other green needles as well.

NOTE: Fungal diseases like Sphareopsis and Dothistroma are wet weather diseases. They can be common problems in eastern Nebraska; however, they are not commonly seen in western Nebraska during most years.

Dothistroma Needle Blight, http://extensionhorticulture.unl.edu/Current/Dothistroma.shtml

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12. Natural needle drop may be causing the interior needles of spruce and pine trees to turn yellow then brown and drop readily from branches. Pine trees can hold their needles for 2-5 or more years, depending on the species. Spruce trees generally hold onto their needles longer than pine trees do, approximately 5-7 years. It is most noticeable in pines.

One evergreen tree that is very noticeable as it loses its leaves in fall is Eastern White Pine. This tree only holds its needles for two years which leaves less growth at the tip of branches to hide the needles as they are shed. Combined with the soft texture and open structure of the Eastern White Pine this makes fall needle shed easily seen.

Fall needle drop is a natural condition and is not a sign of disease or insect infestation, however, any factor that increases stress on evergreen trees will intensify the autumn needle drop. Stress factors include drought, herbicide injury, root damage and insect or disease damage.

Natural needle drop occurs only on the inner needles; if entire branches or needles at the tips of branches are dying, then something else is happening. A sample of the affected branches should be submitted to your local UNL Extension office for diagnosis. A close inspection of any brown foliage should also be done to eliminate the presence of fungal leaf spots, spider mites, aphids or other potential pest problems.

Natural Needle Drop, http://extensionhorticulture.unl.edu/Current/EverNeedleDrop.shtml

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13. Bagworms did cause severe damage to some conifer trees. At this time of year, bagworms are up to 2 inches long and there is only one larva per “brown bag”. Larvae have pupated and insecticide applications at this time will not be effective. Remove and destroy bags to reduce the number of overwintering eggs. Insecticides, such as Bifenthrin or Bacilllus thuringiensis should be applied after eggs hatch in early to mid June next year.

Bagworms, http://extensionhorticulture.unl.edu/Current/Bagworm.shtml

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14. Tomato Fruit Cracking- Growth cracks affect the stem end of tomatoes and typically appear as the fruit matures. Concentric cracking produces circular cracks around the stem end of the fruit. Radial cracks spread outward from the stem scar. Growth cracks often appear when conditions drastically change the rate of growth, such as wide fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Cultivars vary in their ability to withstand cracking. High nitrogen and low potassium may lead to fruit cracking. Proper fertilization and consistent irrigation will reduce the likelihood of growth cracks.

Common Tomato Fruit Disorders, http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/Tom_ComDis.htm

Kermit my pond frog and his friend this morning

2008-09-25T10:08:00.002-05:00

White little wild asters mixed in with my White Clover

2008-09-19T19:12:00.004-05:00

My backyard is essentially clover (versus turf grass) and it always makes me smile because clover seems so "happy" - and with the tiny little wild white asters that arrived from the "horse farm top soil" I put in this spring ... seems even happier!

Kermit my pond frog wouldn't win a Photo Contest in this picture!

2008-09-18T19:14:00.004-05:00

Kermit, my pond frog was finally close enough to get a close photograph of him however the whole background is typical of my life at times ... totally beyond my control. There is a feather floating right next to Kermit's head, the birds love the big rock he is sitting under and it's obvious I need to trim up the dying leaves on that water lily! At least my water quality is good and essentially clear.

Who Owns the Chicken?

2008-09-14T22:03:00.006-05:00

My female Rat Terrier Yoshi (black and white spotted) is definitely the dominate of my three dogs. Barney (rough coated Jack Russell terrier) and Oliver (Chihuahua) aka "my boys" seem like they are "soul mates" and rarely if ever do I ever observe them attempting to be the dominate one over the other. Yoshi claims EVERY new toy that enters the house and only lets the boys play with it after she tires of it. The boys have to watch her and if there are three toys she will claim them ALL. Sharing is NOT in her being.

Yoshi and Barney are tugging on the rubber chicken and Oliver is watching

The rubber chicken is now a head and body and is Yoshi's favorite toy(s). It is rare to see Barney attempt to take it from her as in the picture above ... and when this happens it is also obvious that Yoshi is "letting him" play tug of war with her ... a game she only also rarely wants to play with Barney. Never have I seen my Chihuahua Oliver play tug with Yoshi (she does this growling thing and really sounds tough) .. and she is one tough cookie. After Yoshi got tired of their game, you can see in the picture below Oliver quickly dove in and grabbed the chicken. Barney and Oliver continued the tug of war game with Yoshi watching and in her silence "giving them permission" to play with her favorite toy. Yoshi was in a good mood this morning!

Oliver quickly retrieved the rubber chicken!

CAUSE OF TURTLE LANDING SINKING UNDER WATER LIKE ATLANTIS IS SOLVED!!

2008-09-10T10:35:00.009-05:00

DOGGY DRINKING FOUNTAIN DISASTER

DESIGN ENGINEER FIRED THIS MORNING

Doggie Drinking Fountain

This doggie drinking fountain looks like a handy-dandy addition to any backyard with thirsty dogs that go down to the pond to get a drink of water . This drinking fountain prevents the dogs disturbing fish, frogs, turtles, etc. Newly sowed clover is beginning to poke their tiny heads toward the sky ... looks so idealistic ... WRONG.

NOTICE: In the above picture of the Doggie Drinking Fountain the very WET ground the clover is thriving in! This mud is NOT because of any recent rain but rather spray from the fountain hose!!

MYSTERIOUS WATER LEVEL DROPPING IN POND NOT DUE TO HOLE IN POND LINER!

WATER LEVEL DROPPING DUE TO DOGGIE DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND LOWER POND LEVEL CAUSED TURTLE LANDING TO SINK

UV Filter Hose NOW returns water DIRECTLY back into Pond

It didn't take a rocket scientist this morning to solve the over-spraying doggie drinking fountain. The return hose from the UV Filter was simply picked up and taken out of the drinking fountain and put down into the pond. In the above picture the water flowing over the mini-waterfalls is from the French Drain outlet where I had inserted the hose to add water to my pond this morning:

Hose in French Drain/Gutter Connection by patio

It is less traumatic for the pond residents to have the hose water enter their pond environment via the mini-waterfalls versus dropping a hose in their pond - a hose resembling a snake in the eyes of those little guys so often a prey. This is also the reason none of my birds I've had like the vacumn sweeper hose ... the "snake shape" is one of those threatening shapes most likely a part of prey creature's DNA.

Pond Residents annoyed with floating debris

Pond Residents (White Nose and One Spot) Feeding this Morning

Feeding continued as usual while Turtle Landing disappearance
was being investigated

Cold-Blooded Yoshi and Oliver checked out what I was up to -
then went inside where it was warmer!

Faithful Barney - just chewed on his chewer -
and knows his owner is a little wacko

My Bog and Bog Bridge

2008-09-09T05:55:00.011-05:00

Ancient bog pathway

Bogs were considered strange and supernatural places by the early Europeans. They might talk to their gods and goddesses there...or even their dead relatives. They also knew bogs could be deadly and unforgiving. One misstep could cause a person to drown. For this reason, the early peoples of Europe built trackways through bogs so that they could travel safely. Many examples of trackways have survived.

My Self-Made Bog Bridge

My bog was dug as an addition to my pond, specifically to be "My Bog" and was a real pain to dig out. It is lined with a pond liner separate from my pond and was up and running as my official bog about a year before I even lined my pond back in August of 2007. It is about 2 feet deep and I filled it up with peat moss taking about a week before the peat moss was totally absorbed with water. I am aware of the lack of nutrient value in the bags of peat moss I dumped into the lined hole in the ground that was dug in my backyard. I did throw in a bag of manure "for good measure" - mainly because I had a bag of manure laying around when I was filling up my bog with peat moss. My whole bog project could be defined as the result of some unexplained subconscious need I held for a bog in my backyard with cattails growing from it. Perhaps some strange past life experience at play in the depths of my mind??

And a bog of course needed a "Bog Bridge". Last summer (2007) I drove to Menard's and loaded up some 2/4's of cheap treated lumber in my old Jeep Cherokee and personally made the bridge with my two hands and you can tell by the uneven cuts on my lumber - it was made prior to the purchase of any of my power tools! Last year I asked one of the guys I had hired to work on remodeling my house if he would use his power saw and even out the edges on my bog bridge. He refused saying that it looked "quaint" and he wouldn't want to change it.

My Bog Bridge is a high traffic area for non-humans. My dogs love to use it and so do squirrels and an assort of birds go hopping over it also. They all seem to have as much fun with it as I do.

I designed my pond to overflow into my bog with heavy rains and subsequently after the peat moss in my bog can hold no more water, the excess water than drains further into one of my flower beds - and with REALLY heavy rains it will drain out of that flower bed down the back of my lot into the alley. That flower bed after a year has yet to show any evidence of flooding from bog and pond overflow and we have experienced some very heavy rains since I finished the pond. That bog is one huge sponge that holds water!! My peat bog does fascinate me.

I left the dead leaves that accumulated on the bog from last fall to just stay there and the cattails I had planted in 2007 came alive this spring. Only after heavy rains will there be water on the surface and then you will see many many birds using the bog to take their baths. Just recently I have been seeing alot of robins hop down and walk around between the cattails. Is it a mosquito magnet? I have watched my bog this summer and only infrequently is there any "standing water" in the bog - only after heavy rains and this standing water disappears very rapidly - the bog is like one hungry sponge.

Two " not level" bricks - place of separation between pond and bog

I used cinder blocks to separate my pond and bog. When the pond begins to top off due to heavy rainfall (or when I top off my pond due to water loss by evaporation) you can watch the water from the pond drain then down into the bog. Once the bog is totally saturated with water you can then watch the bog then drain down into the flower bed. There is no way that one of my fish can be washed into the bog when my pond is overflowing into the bog because that spillway is essentially really small.

I've been really pleased with this pond overflow devise of the bog. I can manipulate the pond liner at this separation point to essentially determine the water level I want in my pond. Given all the water off my house with its rubber roof goes through the french drain into my pond - there can be alot of water flowing into my pond during a heavy rain - yet, this bog system handles this excess water very tidily and very low-tech!

My bog also comes in handy when I've had iris arrive via the mail and I don't have time to get them into the ground. I just poke them into the bog next to the cattails and they seem almost too happy there - to be then transplated into my yard. In fact at this time I have some tall iris growing in the bog to see if they will bloom next spring in the bog - it would be a pretty "bog feature" in the spring since iris leaves are similar in shape to cattail - they look like a happy family together.

Open to the Sky

BUSH CUCUMBER - vs VINE ... Am going to try these in my garden in 2012!

My fish - Summer 2011

A butterfly visitor

Bees on the Sedum Blossoms

Mr. Frog Guy

Labor Day 2011 butterfly on my white butterfly bush

THIS YEAR'S BABY SQUIRREL THINKS HE'S HIDING FROM ME BY THE FEEDER .. TOO CUTE.

Poke Berries beginning to ripen for the birds

PHOTOGRAPH OF BUTTERFLY TAKEN THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON

GROWING CLIMBING ROSES

I am anxiously waiting for some of my cumcumbers this year!

Five pints of tomatoes from this mornings picking ...

Am very pleased - so far - with my heirloom BUSH acorn squash plants

Newest backyard visitor

My Black Lace Elderberry bush over pond

TOMATO GARDEN - JUNE 6, 2011

My backyard sunflower seed eating raccoon visitor

Little Inspectors look over rows for tomatoes

Squirrel tears down my Jute Sting Pea Trellis ... what a way to start spring?

My sand pathway is appreciated by Blue Jays needing grit!!

Grit

Paul Parent Garden Club : Grow your own pineapple plant

PaulParentClub.com | Mistletoe - Nowadays it is mostly used as an excuse to still a kiss

University of Nebraska at Lincoln University Extension Horticulture Update

Picture: My Guard Squirrrel chasing a Baby Bunny

A few BEFORE-NOW pictures - to remind myself why I am tired!

MY YARD PICTURE OF THE DAY - Blue Dragonfly

My yard picture of the day

Neatest plans for a small cattle panel greenhouse I have ever seen!

Tap water contaminant 'castrates' frogs - European Union has banned Atrazine

Crop Moisture Index

Officials say despite unideal weather conditions, good numbers of sandhill cranes and tourists are migrating to Central Nebraska.

Soil Temperatures - Wednesday March 10, 2010

Nebraska's Rowe Sanctuary - Sandhill Cranes Viewing 2010 - Crane Cam

Rowe Sanctuary Crane Cam 2010March 6 - April 10

Duckweed - the fishes water plant - full of nutrients

University of Nebraska | Hort Update for the Week of 8/31/09 - Current Problems in the Lawn & Garden

Time to focus on surviving the upcoming EPIC times

HR875: Lose your property for growing food? Big Brother legislation could mean prosecution, fines up to $1 million

HR875 and S425: Bills claiming to be about "food safety" written by multinational corporations to control whether we can garden

Bluebirds Depend on Humans to Provide Habitat and Nesting Sites

Scientist says he has found oldest spider web

Our country needs you to count worms: Volunteers wanted to carry out first earthworm 'census'

Why those 'ladybugs' are everywhere

Pond fish will be moving to basement!

Rare, open-pollinated & heirloom garden seeds

The punk rock turtle with a bright green mohawk

UNL Extension Horticulture

Kermit my pond frog and his friend this morning

White little wild asters mixed in with my White Clover

Kermit my pond frog wouldn't win a Photo Contest in this picture!

Who Owns the Chicken?

CAUSE OF TURTLE LANDING SINKING UNDER WATER LIKE ATLANTIS IS SOLVED!!

DESIGN ENGINEER FIRED THIS MORNING

MYSTERIOUS WATER LEVEL DROPPING IN POND NOT DUE TO HOLE IN POND LINER!

WATER LEVEL DROPPING DUE TO DOGGIE DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND LOWER POND LEVEL CAUSED TURTLE LANDING TO SINK

My Bog and Bog Bridge

Rowe Sanctuary Crane Cam 2010
March 6 - April 10