Spring Rituals Despite Weird Politics

 Woodland wildflowers are coming into bloom, one of the best free flower shows around. During the last week or so the wild leeks turned many areas a lush green, the trout lilies in many areas opened, Jack-in-the Pulpits, and  Trilliums sprang to life as did the Mayapples.

Leeks are tasty good food and grow in shaded moist areas. They have an onion-garlic taste and both the leaves and the underground bulb can be eaten. Soon hundreds of the trout lilies will bloom the shaded woodland areas in hues of gold and yellow. Mayapples and the Jack-in-the Pulpits create sort of per-historic atmosphere.

The Marsh Marigolds, pictured, are also blooming in the marshes, swamps and creek banks. These are amazing plants which are very high in nectar and are a valuable source of food for the emerging bees.

All told, it's good time to get into the woods and enjoy the show on a warm spring afternoon. One can almost tell the calender month by watching what is going on despite the wicked weather. Luckily, we have been fortunate in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Some Questions and More Facts....

This is rather amazing. The April 19^th 11:45 pm gas well blow out in Bradford County spewed dangerous fracking waste water across fields and eventually flowed into a creek, which is a tributary to Towanda Creek.

The small, un-named tributary was a mere 500 feet from the out of control well. Towanda Creek is a well known and popular trout stream which meets the Susquehanna River 16 miles downstream. Just above the spill the creek is classified as a wild trout stream by the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

It took just over 13 hours for an emergency response crew, called Boots and Coots, to arrive from Texas before the out of control well was brought under control.

While there were no reports of injuries seven families were evacuated. The well called the Atgas 2H well is located in LeRoy Township. The well was being fractured at the time of the blow out.

In an ironic twist, Chesapeake gave the nearby town Galeton's Water Authority a check for $150,000 just hours before the well incident. The money was given to the water authority for repair work since it's intake system were clogged with sediment from Chesapeake's well development activities.

Since 2008, Chesapeake has been cited for 281 violations; thirty of those violations have happened this year alone. Fracking begins after a well has been drilled. It uses millions of gallons of water and unknown chemicals under pressure to fracture the underground shale to get the gas to the surface. Even in Texas, some are calling for changes.

The water, which flows out the well during the process, is called the flowback and is is laced with salts, mineral and radioactivity, along with the unknown chemicals. The waste water is considered highly toxic.

Currently, no environmental damage to the creeks or private water wells has been discovered, although that could change with time. But the incident raises several questions. Why was the well allowed so close to a pristine watershed area? Why were PA Emergency crews not sent immediately to the blow-out?

More Off the Wall Politics

PA Gov. Corbett encouraged state universities to drill for Marcellus Gas on their campuses to help solve financial problems caused by his slashing about half of their funding. Perhaps, the good gov. should drill under his personal residence instead of putting thousands of our best students at risk. Weird Politics.  Now, want to check out what pols are getting big bucks from the drillers? MarcellusMoney.Org

Civil War -

The Grand Army of the Republic, more commonly called the GAR, was a Civil War veterans organization which was organized shortly after the war.. Nearly every small town or village had a “Post”. One Post 240 was located in the small village of Wellsboro in Western Pennsylvania. From the handwritten minute book, recorded on Dec. 21, 1882:

“On motion the Post have an oyster supper on Jan. 4 on night of installation. Each commrade to pay for his own supper and ex soldiers and their families to be invited with the understanding they pay for their own supper. The following commrades appointed to make arrangements George C Mills, Sam J. Cole, JSSalsbury, Harrison Roy and Geo W. Baird

The committee procured the following terms

75 cents per couple. No charge for Barn room but charge for grain if fed. The Post will furnish one man to care for horses.”

I have often wondered about “oysters” and where in the dead of winter in northwestern Pennsylvania they would have been obtained. My thinking is that it was an oyster soup made from the Salsify plant, an uncommon vegetable today. It is often, however, called the oyster plant because it does have a taste similar to oysters. It has the best flavor after id goes through several hard freezes and can still be found for sale on some farms in some of the smaller hamlets.

While searching Civil War- Salsify, I also came across fried Jerusalem artichokes but that will have to wait. Besides, I am wondering who took care of the horses in the “barn room” and missed the “oysters”!

Salsify, a root crop, is a good tasting and healthy vegetable when picked after a long winter. It has a long growing season but it can be planted as soon as the weather breaks. We had a neighbor who use to plant it and give us some every year.

Spring Planting

Still waiting for the weather to clear. There has been plenty of rain and the ground is too saturated to work. This is an important year to get a vegetable garden planted since food prices along with gas prices are rising. Besides homegrown food is certainly tastier and healthier besides being a lot less expensive. Once the weather clears there are many crops which can be planted such as onions, potatoes, red beets, turnips, salsify (if you want a Civil War dish), lettuce and peas.

Check this out:

This is a good energy saving idea. Go Green with a gas powered bike. Simple to install from Rain Cross Motorbikes. Michael is a good Facebook friend and a musician and a third year student in college having a great time studying economics. If you get in touch, let him know I say “Hey”. Thanks. Pictured above are  Michael Perez and a business partner who founded the new company.

Good Blogs to Read

Corning New York Step by Step

Urban Veggie Garden

ProPublica

Penn Future

Thunder and Lightning April

          

It has been a wet and cold spring in northwestern Pennsylvania and the week after Easter will continue to be rainy, although the temps will be warmer. But I guess we can't complain considering some of the violent storms in other regions, floods in others, and major fires. Although, there have been some fairly strong thunder and lightning storms and days with sudden snows.

But it is frustrating trying to get anything done outside and backyard gardens will be important this year as food prices and gas prices continue to rise. Early crops can be peas, lettuce, potatoes, onions and kale. All healthy foods which can be grown easily out the backdoor.

Try to avoid using pesticides this year; they are deadly to many good, pollinating insects, particularly the honeybees and native bees. Besides, like everything else, the prices for these deadly chemicals are much more than last year. There are safer and just as effective organic solutions.

In the woods, the leeks are growing and in some areas are large enough and can be harvested. I'm thinking potato leek soup sometime this week.

The trout lilies are also growing; snow just doesn't seem to bother them. I've yet to see any Mayapples, Trilliums or Jack-in-the-Pulpits. Nor have the dandelions or bees made an appearance. Although the spring peepers did wake up around April 7th. Needless to say, they haven't been singing much.

Civil War Commemorations Begin

In Pennsylvania the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War began on April 12^th. That date is the 150^th anniversary of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. The commemorations will continue for the next four years and there are many different events scheduled throughout the region.

While no battles were fought in this region, there were certainly many who joined in the Union effort. A ride just about anywhere reveals monuments and cemeteries marked with GAR markers on hundreds in graves.

Throughout the region the Underground Railroad was very active. There is scant documentation because participation was an act of Civil Disobedience and illegal. Many Churches were involved in the effort to help slaves escape to freedom usually in Canada.

John Brown was an active participant in Crawford County where he operated a tannery and a farm for just about a decade. There is a museum at the site today. The graves of his first wife and several children also remain on the property today which annually hosts the John Brown Freedom Days celebration.

Marcellus Gas

There was a significant blow out at a well in Bradford. The well was being drilled by Chesapeake Drilling. Fracking waste water has entered a creek and has likely contaminated some of the soil.

Fracking has been a source of several water quality problems in Pennsylvania. An investigation is being conducted.
This is a big problem and needs attention right now.

After the problems happened a Bradford County Commissioner wrote a letter to Gov. Corbett about the situation. It is an informative read.

Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York, where Marcellus Gas drilling is not allowed, sit on vast quantities of the gas estimated to be in the billions of dollars. The gas could support the energy needs of much of the east coast for a generation or longer.

In many small rural communities the gas has brought much needed jobs and additional income to many. But until some technological advances and better safety practices are in place, getting the gas out of the ground remains a very iffy practices.

Check this out - A Smart Idea, Go Green and Support Local Energy

This product is a real money saver and is environmentally better than using gasoline. One of the founders of this company, Rain Cross Motor Bikes, is a good Facebook friend of mine and a talented musician. He is also a third year college student taking up economics. Check out both sites listed below and if you do get in touch with Michael, let him know you saw it here. Thanks. Pictured is Michael (purple shirt) and his business partner.

http://www.raincrossmotorbikes.com/Raincross_Motor_Bikes/Product_Info.html - click and GO Green

http://listn.to/thatartthou Band - good listening but you might have to be a member of Facebook

Dirt is Dirt - Sometimes

Soil testing is a good idea and can be done at any time of the year. The soil can be tested at any Cooperative Extension Office for a small fee. Or a soil testing kit can be purchased at garden supply stores. The test will determine the soil's Ph and other necessary minerals. It is an option to grow better and more nourishing and abundant food crops and flowers. Even if compost is used, there are many weather related elements which can diminish the soils fertility.

Porcupines

Pennsylvania recently approve an official hunting season for porcupines which lasts from September 1 through March 31. Property owners, however, could always legally shot the animals if they were causing damage, which they do at times. Dogs are often the victims of the quills and generally need to be taken to the vet to get them out.

Not so sure I have ever heard of anyone eating a porcupine not have I ever seen one mounted on someone's living room wall. The Game Commission has no idea on the exact number of porcupines so it seems rather odd a season would be created. 

Good Blogs to Read

Corning NY Step by Step 

Urban Veggie Garden

Pro Publica

Penn Future