All the Dirt on Gardening

Gypsum outcroppings Northwestern Oklahoma and West Texas soil, like New Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert, was formed 220 to 270 million years ago when the area was under water. These locations have islands of Gypsum, Dolomite and Shale deposits from when they were ocean floor. Gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate), is the primary ingredient in plaster of Paris and wallboard – a difficult, low-nutrient, environment for plant life. The seeds of most weeds and non-native plants cannot grow in it. Among the native plants, there are a few called True Gypsophiles that grow only on gypsum outcrops and gypsum-rich soil. ( For more scientific information about Gypsophiles, see http://tiny.cc/r4cmnw at Oberlin College.)  Gypsum-loving plants include: Bougainvillea, Angel Trumpet, Bicolor Mustard, Fiddleleaf, Sandwort, Prickly Poppy, Blanket Flowers, Prairie Dropseed, and several native Daisies, Sunflowers and Asters. In September, the Oklahoma Native Plant Society held its annual me...

From: U.S. EPA University of Central Oklahoma takes top green power honors School is among 18 nationwide to be recognized by EPA for buying renewable energy For the second year in a row, the University of Central Oklahoma has purchased more green energy than any other school in the Lone Star Conference. The school bought 26 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable power and earned top honors in the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007-2008 College & University Green Power Challenge. The University of Central Oklahoma purchases 100 percent of its power from wind sources. It also has onsite biodiesel production, works with a performance contractor to increase its energy performance, and uses Energy Star-labeled products. The university’s green power buy is one of the largest by a college or university in the nation and has the equivalent environmental impact of avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 3,700 vehicles. Green power is produced from eligible resources suc...