.
The all important
honey flow from the goldenrods and asters is winding down. These native wild flowers provide the honeybees and other native bees with their last nutrients before winter set it's icy grip.
The
sunchokes are blooming. At times called Jerusalem artichokes, are members of the sun flower family and the edible tubers are healthy and nutritious, although, they are difficult to work with. Unlike a smooth potato, the sun choke tubers are bumpy and irregular and not the easy to peel. But they are tasty. The bees are attracted to the small yellow flowers and the finches in particular enjoy the seeds after the flowers dies back.
The bees have been in trouble for years now and declining populations of pollinators pose a threat to the human food supply as well as to native wildlife. Bees are necessary for the pollination of many wild food crops such as berries, nuts and wild apples.
Varroa mites and Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, have decimated many beehives, both domesticated and feral. Ongoing research by universities and state agencies continue to investigate the best methods to manage these pests.
There are
immediate actions which home and property owners can do to help the bees. One of the first steps is to discontinue herbicide and pesticide use and find alternative solutions; plant native and heirloom flowers which provide the bees with the
best nutrients and increase habitat areas. Ultimately, vegetable gardens will do better; the more bees around, the better the pollination, the more vegetables.
For the most part vegetables gardens are over unless a fall garden was planted; lettuce does particularly well in September/October as do red beets, peas and other edible greens.
In the woodlands, the stumpy mushrooms are ready and easy picking this month. October is also a great month to get garlic in the ground.
With gardens winding down, the Marcellus Gas debate is heating. Many farms and organic growers,
hunters and anglers , are becoming increasingly concerned about drilling operations and the impact on the environment.
Marcellus Gas
Many citizens continue to express concerns over the largely unregulated, and untaxed, gas drilling companies. Pennsylvania, as well as New York and West Virginia are hot beds of activities as more deposits of underground gas are discovered. There is enormous amounts of money involved and many problems connected with
Marcellus Shale Gas drilling.
In Pennsylvania, there has been something of a free-for-all for the companies – the state is the only state not too tax the huge profits. However, that is beginning to change as communities need to address some of the problems created by the industry such as crumbling bridges and roads from the traffic from heavy trucks, water issues from sloppy workmanship and accidental events, and the impact of workers and their families from other states, particularly school districts.
Many of Pennsylvania farms and organic growers are becoming increasingly concerned for their operations.
Clean water is a big issue.
Dimock, Pennsylvania is a tragic example. Cabot Oil and Gas of Houston, Texas has been drilling wells in that area. Unfortunately, many private water wells have been polluted and have become unusable because of leaking methane gas among other problems.
The situation has become so tense in that region that
armed guards now accompany drilling crews to work sites in that region. Last week, the Pennsylvania DEP ordered the Houston, Texas based company to install a water line to provide clean drinking water to the families. Cabot, however, is outraged and is taking the DEP to court. Similar situations are happening in Bradford, Pennsylvania as well.
The state is taking action on regulations and on taxes. The
PA House of Representatives recently adopted a tax structure, which the gas companies simply don't like. The bill now goes to the PA Senate where there will likely be a fierce debate.
The gas deposits are a natural resource which belong to all citizens of Pennsylvania and should be shared by all not just the drilling companies. The drilling companies are
not fond of the proposed tax.
The Marcellus Spy Thriller
Recently, it was revealed that the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security under Secretary James Powers hired a small company to
spy on Pennsylvania citizens who express concerns about the Marcellus drilling. The spying revelations have created an furor among many environmentalists, Civil Rights Groups and churches. Political dissents is a constitutional right in both Pennsylvania and the USA. This isn't Iran.
The small company had a $130,000 contract to spy on citizens and the information was forwarded to the Homeland Security office which then issued “
bulletins ” to various agencies and to at least some of the drillers. Gov. Rendell, when the spying scandal broke, ended the contract.
Groups of citizens in Pennsylvania now want to know exactly who was informed by the bulletins but so far the state has refused to release a complete list. The issue is going to court.
Marcellus Cash Register
Marcellus Money, a Web site, has posted a listing of all the politicians, and many candidates for public office, who have received money from the gas drillers. It is an eye opening list. Check it out,
MarcellusMoney.Org.
Frontier Preacher
A new book by former Canadohta Lake novelist Sam Hossler is a fictional account of the life historical Pennsylvania citizen John Corbly 1733-1803. It is great reading, great writing, and highly informative. Sam brings history alive with this his, third novel. The time frame is the Whiskey Rebellion. The book can be obtained at Sally's on the Lake in Canadohta, Morrison's Sports Store in Titusville and the Erie Book Store as well as online at SamHossler.com. For more information on Sam, his books and how to obtained his latest novel go to
Sam Hossler .
Good Blogs
Special Note Blogs : Here are some links to other blogs which I have read about Marcellus Gas. I will include one from each side of the debate. Get informed, know the issues, it could very easily be coming to you neighborhood.
Bobs Blog – this is really good first hand citizen journalism with great photos.
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