Celebrate Earth Day

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Earth Day is this upcoming Saturday, April 22. There are many different ways to get involved, even in the backyard. It’s a good time to plant some native plants to help the pollinators, erect some bird houses or feeders. For more information, ideas and events, Earth Day

The Secret Forest

A little known woodlands. somewhat of a Secret Forest, located near Titusville, PA received some much needed attention in late March. Titusville is a historic small Pennsylvania town where oil was first pumped out of the ground back in 1859. For more information on the successful oil wells, Drake and/or also Drake Museum and Park.

Also nearby is the famous Ghost Town, Pithole

The following is the clean up story of the little known patch of woods..

The Crawford County Forest was the focus of a day long, much needed clean up on Thursday, March 30. Participating in the effort were: ten students of Titusville High School under the direction of Biology teacher Patricia McKellop, all three County Commissioners, members of the Crawford Planning Commission, the Crawford County Maintenance Department. members of the Crawford Conservation District and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

“I never seen so much trash, it was unbelievable,” Brian Pilarcik of the Conservation District said. “The Crawford Maintenance dump trucks were filled several times and hauled the trash away. It was apparent that the dumping in that area had been going on for many years.”

The Forest has been Crawford County property for many years, according to Bob Hopkins of the Crawford County Planning Department. The isolated 455 acre woodland  is located  near the intersection of  of Greytown and Kinsack roads in Oil Creek, Steuben, and Troy Townships.

“The county took possession of the Forest because of back taxes sometime in the 1930’s,” he said. “Years later, sometime during the 1950’s, a Boy Scout troop planted a lot of evergreen trees on the property which today are all very nice mature trees. Over the years. There has been an occasional timber sale on the property with the proceeds going to the county.”

According to Pilarcik, tires, old televisions sets and a wide range of other household debris were removed from the public property.

“It was just amazing,” Pilarcik said.”A lot of the trash was dumped in a small creek, a tributary to Oil Creek. It was difficult to get because of the terrain and the weather conditions that day.It rained and snowed off and on throughout the entire process. But no one complained, and the students worked very hard throughout the day. I think  all 20 volunteers involved all felt a deep sense of accomplishment when we quit at the end of the day.”

According to Pilarcik, everyone who participated agreed the clean up event should become an annual event.

“We made a big improvement  but there are still some problem areas,” he said. “The Game Commission has already started posting no littering signs in the area  and state officials will begin monitoring the area more closely.”

The clean up and more surveillance efforts are just the beginning of a new outlook for the Crawford Forest.

According to Hopkins of the Planning Department, the only structure on the property is the headquarters for the Titusville Sportsman’s Club under a lease signed many years ago with the county.

“The only other improvement is the recreational trail which follows the old Old Creek Railroad line,” Hopkins said. “Recently, State Forester Mark Lewis completed a Forestry Management study on the forest which outlines additional improvements which can be made to the Forest so that more people can enjoy it.”

According to Lewis, the Forest is an impressive woods with many possibilities for future development for wildlife habitat, timber harvesting and recreational opportunities.

“We’ve completed the forestry management plan and have been in discussions with the County Commissioners,” Lewis said. “It is a beautiful place and there are plenty of young hardwood trees growing.”

Leeks and Dandelions

It's been a rainy and wet spring but the leeks are up and growing and the important dandelions are beginning to bloom. Leeks, also called ramps, are good food;for some more information, Wild Leeks.

Upcoming, more on the important dandelions.

And Just for the Heck of It

?When: Always the last Friday in April.

National Arbor Day is the Tree Planter's holiday, and has been celebrated since 1872. It began in Nebraska, a largely treeless plain back in the 1800's. It is a day to plant and dedicate a tree to help nature and the environment. Millions of trees are planted on this day.

The National Arbor Day Foundation provides millions of trees for planting. It is estimated that 18 million tress are planted each year on Arbor Day.

Learn how to plant a tree

Did you know? The Latin word for "Tree" is "Arbor"...sure you did!!!

Bird Day, held on May 4th, is often celebrated in conjunction with Arbor Day."

from:http://holidayinsights.com/other/arbor.htm