All the Dirt on Gardening

barbed wire fences on the Slovenian-Croatian border Yale 360 reported this week that the fences and walls that are being constructed to prevent the movement of migrants, are also preventing the healthy and necessary movement of wildlife. Excerpts follow -  " A flood of migrants from the Middle East and Africa has prompted governments in the Balkans to erect hundreds of miles of border fences. Scientists say the expanding network of barriers poses a serious threat to wildlife, especially wide-ranging animals such as bears and wolves." The author of the article,  Jim O’Donnell,  is a freelance environmental journalist and conservation photographer.  In addition to bears and wolves, lynx roam Europe as part of their migratory behavior.  " On his most recent trip into the mountains along the Slovenian-Croatian border, biologist Djuro Huber counted 11 dead roe deer, all caught up in the fencing. The deer stumble into the barriers while foraging. In a despera

Since gardeners come in all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities, shopping for the ones on your list might take a little thinking. These suggestions should help take some of the confusion out of holiday shopping this year. There are traditional gardeners who love reliable bulbs and perennial flowering shrubs and there are modern gardeners who want this year’s brightest colors and newest hybrids. Eco-friendly gardeners prefer natural colors, wildlife-friendly and native plantings. A gift list for them could include a birdbath with a heater to keep the water from freezing this winter, bird feeders, solar lights to illuminate the outdoors in every season, or a motion-activated wildlife camera ( www.wingscapes.com ). For traditional gardeners on your list who are killing time until spring arrives, a potted Amaryllis bulb (www.gardeners.com) that they can watch grow until it blooms in the spring can be just right. Poinsettias and other indoor plants add cheer to the indoors, too.

The will to start life anew can begin anywhere, anytime. Pam Warhurst's Ted Talk is only 13 minutes long, during which she encourages a revolution in how we interact, use resources and take community, learning and business action. Yes we can is her enthusiastic motto. Watch How We Can Eat Our Landscapes here. Three and one half years ago she and her friends invented the idea around her kitchen table:  Pam Warhurst co-founded Incredible Edible.   Follow them on Facebook here . Invest in more kindness toward each other and the environment. They started with a seed plot, grew that into an herb garden. From there a vegetable garden, fruit trees, gardens at police stations and senior homes. Then, an aquaponics facility at a school where students grow fish that became a market growing center. Yes, it is replicable! The Ten Steps Toward an Incredible Edible Town are at this link . 1. Start with what you have, not what you haven’t. 2. Don’t write a strategy document. 3.

The new book, "The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles: learn how to forage, prepare & eat 40 wild foods" by Mike Krebill is being released this month by St. Lynn's Pres s. The handy paperback format will make it easy to tuck into a coat pocket or backpack and it's 190 pages loaded with information and recipes. The author, Mike Krebill was an award winning middle school science teacher for 35 years so, while the book has plenty of detail, it is completely readable. For each of the 40 plants covered the common and Latin name is provided along with photos of the entire plant and details for identification. Additional information includes: range, habitat, positive identification tips, edible parts and preparation, when to harvest, sustainable harvesting and preserving the harvest. Krebill says that he wrote about the 33 plants and 7 mushrooms that are his favorites and are widely found across the US. He included 10 activities that can be used with individuals