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

Signs of an Early Spring as Prices Rise; Take Action Now

                                                                                                    

Signs of an Early Spring, Prices Rise; Take Action Now

There are many signs an early spring may actually happened this year. First, the groundhogs predicted an early arrival on Feb. 2^nd. Now, within the last two weeks, robins and other spring birds have been seen; the geese have returned, honking and flying and throughout the northwestern Pennsylvania region, maple trees have been tapped.

Maple syrup making is an old tradition. Native American taught the first settlers how to use the sap which has many uses. Jack Wax, or a primitive maple candy, is always popular at events like the March 19 and 20^th Taste and Tour Open House at many local sugar shacks. Other candies are also made, along with mustard, peanut butter, maple teas and other products.

It won't be long before the trilliums, mayapples and leeks make an appearance. Mayapples and trilliums both offer some possibilities for home landscaping in some of those tougher spots.

It has been a long winter with no real let up since Thanksgiving. So it's sort of nice to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Food Prices on the Rise; Plant a Vegetable Garden this Year. Save money.

Even before the turmoil began to shake the Middle East, gasoline prices were slowly on the rise. With the turmoil, they are seemingly rising even faster. It is all the more reason to plan a bigger and better backyard garden this growing season. Food prices are bound to rise because of the higher cost of transporting food produce.

At home, using organic, chemical-free garden practices, the food will be healthier to eat and have more flavor. Homegrown also means less gasoline money spent on trips to the supermarket. If land is hard to come by for a vegetable garden, many crops can be grown successfully in containers.

There are many options for an over-abundance of home produce. Certainly, it can be canned or frozen; donated to food banks or shelters, or in some instances, it can be sold at a roadside stand to earn a little extra cash.

Trees

Every spring, is yard clean-up time for many property owners. Instead of paying to have the broken branches and other debris hauled to a landfill, consider making a brush pile. A brush pile provides shelter for many small animals and insects and can be made more attractive than just a pile of dead stuff.

In many regions, conservation groups have seedling tree sales. The proceeds generally are used for other environmental projects throughout the year. Crawford County has one sponsored by the Crawford County Conservation District. It features native trees, bushes and shrubs at a reasonable price.

Two varieties which caught my eye, were the white flowering dogwood and the spicebush. Technically known as Lindera benzoin, it is a host plant for the larvae of the black swallowtail butterfly. The only other host plant is the sassafras bush/tree.

It is a thick shrub, can take partial sun to full sun and is a thick shrub which grows between six and 12 feet tall. It has yellow flowers in the early spring, followed by brilliant red berries in the fall. The berries are an excellent food sources for many small animals and birds. It is hardy through Zone 4.

It is on my A list, along with the dogwood, for planting this spring.

There are many reasons to plant trees. Trees are a renewable resource which enhance our environment, are beneficial for wildlife, and make the landscape more attractive. Trees can also help save money since they provide cooling shade, like the oaks,  and help to reduce heating costs. Trees also improve water and air quality and the leaves provide plenty of free compost material.

Marcellus

Increasingly, there has been more focus on the Marcellus “fracking” process. Recently, there has been serious concern about radioactivity in the waste water from the fracking process. Serious concerns have also been raised about polluted creeks and streams, even in some native trout streams.

Fracking uses a whole series of chemicals which remain secret to help break the underground rocks to release the gas. There is a lot of concern over the dangers of the waster water from the process. Blow-outs and explosions are also a growing concern as more wells are drilled.

While the Marcellus boom is somewhat new to Pennsylvania, which has plenty of Marcellus Gas deep underground, Wyoming is a state with more experience, some of it not very good.

Read about Louis Meeks; it is a little lengthy but well worth the time. The story, be warned, is sort of sad and depressing.

For more information about Marcellus Gas in Pennsylvania, click MarcellusGas.org and MarcellusMoney.org. There is some eye opening information which can be found at both Web sites. Both are excellent.

Suggested Good Blogs

Corning New York One Step at a Time

Urban Veggie Garden

Pro Publica

New York's Southern Tier

Food Prices Rising, Act Now

                                                                                                

It was a spectacular sunset last night. “Red in the morning, sailor's warning, red at night, sailor's delight.” However, today, Valentine's Day turned ugly, with high winds, rain and snow ...no delight. Usually, the weather signs are more accurate than million dollar radars but not this time. Course the million dollar radars and forecasts were way off base the other day. A half an inch of snow was predicted in the overnight hours, in the morning at daybreak there was better than six inches on the ground and a blizzard was raging....

Where's that groundhog?

Another Good Reason

Food prices are on the rise, according to many predictions, for example this article and this article. It's just another good reason to re-work, re-think or even plan a home vegetable garden this spring. A vegetable garden is going to save a lot of money, plus provide health benefits and good meals.

A good consideration is to also consider planting perennial crops which will continue to produce for years. Examples, asparagus, blueberries and rhubarb.

Considering the rising gasoline prices, the savings could be even more than expected. Yesterday, here in northwestern Pennsylvania, the price per gallon at every gas station was posted as $3.25 per gallon. I'd put money that the price will be even higher at week's end.

Many healthy foods can be planted early in the spring, such as lettuce and peas and some Cole crops like cabbage and broccoli. Seeds for peppers and tomatoes can be easily started indoors at home; there's no big mystery.

Many vegetables and herbs can also be successfully grown in containers. If a vegetable plot or container gardens are possible, consider buying from your local growers. It keeps the money in the local community. Just be sure to check, they are organic and don't use the harmful agrochemicals.

The recession is still here and prices are now rising, it's time to save some household money. For example, the price of a salad mix is between $2.00 and $2.50 (and will likely go higher).

An example: For $2.00, lettuce seeds can be purchased and with little effort a small patch of ground, or a container, can be prepared and within weeks, lettuce can be harvested, for much of the year.

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Speaking of AgroChemicals

Many beekeeping organizations are asking the EPA to ban the use of a pesticide called “clothindian” which also goes by the name of “Poncho”. This chemical is used to treat corn seed before it is planted to thwart the harmful root worm which will kill the corn.

This chemical is manufactured by Bayer, a German company (of aspirin fame). Once it was used in Germany, beekeepers noticed a dramatic decline in bee populations. It was promptly banned. France, Italy and Slovenia quickly followed suit and banned “Poncho”.

Honeybees, as well as native bumblebees and other pollinators, pollinate many of our crops and are responsible for about a third of the food we eat. Equally important, these insects pollinate a number of wild food crops which are a food source for our native wildlife, birds, deer, squirrels, to name just a few.

There are simple actions we can all do to help which are more helpful than contacting legislators.

Avoid all chemical pesticides.

Plant native flowers and herbs.

If possible, create natural, backyard habitats.

The Northern Alligator aka the Wolf Fish

Learn more about this fish, great fishing, good eating.

Snapping turtles, we all have a story about an encounter, see Myrtle, the snapping turtle.

Anc

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ient Yarrow is a good herb to consider this spring.

Good Blogs to Consider:

Corning New York, Step by Step

Urban Veggie Garden

The Real Meaning of Groundhog Day: What You Should Know

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 Seems like this winter will never end. But as all know by now, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow meaning an early spring, so maybe the end of the road is in sight. He'd better be right.

But there is a whole line of thought, called phenology, which records and studies, cyclic annual events, in the plant and animal kingdoms. It is sort of a natural calender; it can foretell such things as when to plant certain plants, when allergies will become a problem and recreational opportunities.

For example, the singing of the spring peepers usually happens in these parts sometime during the last week in March. I usually mark the date down. According to phenological wisdom, there will be three more snowfalls following the singing. And most of the time, it happens. There will be three times the snow will, well, at least flurry.

Other common signs for home gardeners:

• plant peas when the forsythia and daffodils bloom
• plant potatoes when the first of the dandelions bloom
• plant tomatoes when the lily-of-the-valley blooms – spring frosts are over

Phenology also can predict the emergence of some pesky insects. For example

• Japanese Beetles make their first appearance when the foxflowers bloom
• Eastern tent caterpillars arrive when the crab apples bloom

It pays to be observant to what is happening in the local neighborhood and to make a recording, even in a garden journal.

Groundhog Fact – a good archaeologists

Groundhogs are good diggers. In fact their tunnels can be four feet deep and run for fifty feet. The dirt is pile sometimes three or four feet into a mound at the main entrance. The groundhog uses this mound to watch for danger. At the other end of the tunnel, is the little noticed escape route. It is hard to find. But always look carefully at the entrance mound of dirt for old artifacts like arrowheads, pieces of flint and maybe even old bottles.

And yes, groundhogs can whistle. They whistle when alarmed and during courtship. A fox, coyote or even a dog are natural predators of the groundhog. A fox, however, will be more likely take over the groundhogs tunnel and make a new den; rabbits, skunks and raccoons will do something similar, though they don't prey on groundhogs.
Click Phil, for more information on Punxsutawney Phil and the former Groundhog Brand of Meats.

Gardens are in the Near Future, according to the Groundhog (despite the politics of the day)

Okay, I agree with the recently passed Affordable Health Care Act, though I am not fond of the bitter debates.
First things first. Health care starts at home and a good action to take is to plant a home vegetable garden free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. The evidence is lined up that homegrown veggies are healthier and better tasting.

Besides, a homeowner can save a bundle of money with a home garden. The $50 worth of seeds will produce over $1,250 worth of produce, according to some estimates. This year probably even more so with the high prices being charged for gasoline.

Lettuce is one early spring crop which can be planted throughout the growing season. Homegrown lettuce can save a lot of money when compared to the prices in most grocery stores. Besides, the homegrown quality is much, much better.

A potato box can produce a lot of fresh homegrown potatoes. Thanks to Kathleen Richardson for sending the link. I've done this for a long time now; the box doesn't take up a lot garden space and weeding is kept to a minimum. There's nothing better than mash potatoes made from fresh potatoes (or baked for that matter).

An asparagus patch, and a couple blueberry bushes at the edges of the garden, will produce for years and years, save more and more money while providing for healthy meals.

Naturally, it helps to plan, go organic and take care of the patch during the season. Don't forget to plant some extra plants which are high in nectar for the bees. Bees are important to any vegetable garden.

Good Blogs to Read

Corning New York Step by Step

Urban Veggie Garden

Things to know during Veguary: New Laws, Coyotes and Marcellus

                                                                                        

 I'm ready for spring weather and to heck with what that Groundhog has to say. Here's a short article on winter in rural northwestern Pennsylvania. Course, we aren't alone, the entire east coast has had a tough time the last several weeks. If you like the outdoors in the winter, click here, for some winter events in the northwest region.

The coyote pictured above was taken in late November during rifle deer season. It weighed 45 pounds and was a female.

Coyotes have intrigued North American peoples for a long time. For the first peoples, the Coyote was an important and integral part of stories, legends and myths. They were used in many creation myths, similar to this one about how the stars came to be; the Coyote was also the trickster, good and bad.

But are the ancient coyotes the same animals we live with today? The answer is an elusive, yes and no. Most research indicates, the Eastern Coyote is a cross between western coyotes and wolves, although there are some which have canine DNA present and are seen as a separate branch.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), the first documented coyotes in Pennsylvania began in the 1930's and 1940's. The animals then spread rapidly throughout the state and are now found in all 67 counties. Some historians and biologists lean towards a more earlier presence; they believe the animals the early colonists saw when they arrived and called wolves, were actually Eastern Coyotes.

While it is difficult or next to impossible to estimate the number of coyotes in the sate, it is widely accepted the population in Pennsylvania is about 55,000 and similar figures are quoted for nearby New York State.

Here is the link to the PGC and their take on coyotes today.

Coyotes are generally nocturnal and secretive; they tend in general to avoid human contact. They are scavengers and opportunists. They will eat berries and nuts and small animals such as groundhogs, mice and rabbits. Yes, they will even eat road kill deer, and even take down unhealthy deer. They will, given the opportunity eat a fawn. However, most wildlife biologists do not believe the coyote population poses a threat to the deer herds of Pennsylvania.

Could the coyotes become more aggressive towards humans in the future? The answer is elusive and unknown. According to the PGC, attacks against humans in the state are uncommon, however, there have been an increase in western coyote attacks in California. Coyotes will attack small household pets, dogs and cats. Precautions should be taken if coyotes are present in your area. Click, here. It would be expected, as more people settle in rural locations, there will be an increase in the number of encounters.

Coyotes are adaptable free roaming and can travel hundreds of miles. In one case, a Pennsylvania trapper discovered a coyote tagged as part of a research study conducted in upstate New York. A collar on a coyote does not mean someone stock the animal; more likely it is a research animal and the proper wildlife officials should be notified. Coyotes are now seen in urban and suburban areas where they have learned to adapt.

The winter months, particularly January and February are popular times for hunters to take coyotes and there are and have been several local hunts. Many hunters use trained dogs.

Dogs, donkeys and even llamas are used in some western states to protect livestock herds, such as goats and sheep, from coyote attacks.

There are many coyote unknows and the future is not quite clear. More wildlife research needs to be concluded, facutal research will provide the clues and answers, not rumors.

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Veguary

This is sort of interesting and a good idea. Veguary means during the second month of the year, after the holidays, to focus on eating healthier and eating less red meats. Veguary should and could also be a mid-winter reminder about a home vegetable garden which can provide pesticide free, nutritious and flavor veggies. Properly planned, a home vegetable garden can also be a big money saver. Gasoline prices have soared and trips to the grocery store are more expensive than ever.

Poaching

A new poaching law went into effect in Pennsylvania in September. It is a more strict law than the previous one on the books. Poachers, actually greed hunters, can now spend time in jail or under house arrest and face significant fines, plus the loss of hunting privileges. The fines and jail time vary with the offense, to learn more, here.

This year, Pennsylvania is expected to approve the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact. Under this legislation, if convicted of wildlife crimes, a PA resident will not be able to drive to the next border state and enjoy hunting.

Mistakes happen to legal hunters all the time; the new law is designed to convict and prosecute serial poachers; those folks who take large number of deer, turkey, elk and beer, sometimes at night with spotlights. It is not fair to legal, ethical hunters.

Marcellus

There can be no doubt that the Marcellus Gas deposit in Pennsylvania are an economic boom for many rural communities. However, there have been problems with water pollution, both in public waterways and private wells. Roads and public forests have been damaged.

Pennsylvania does not get any tax from the well drillers, although the politicians get plenty of money from the industry. Pennsylvania is the only state which does not impose some form of a tax structure; thanks in large part to feuding between Republicans and Democrats and lobbyists for the industry.

The gas deposits are estimated in the billions of dollars.

Now the industry is on the attack against an Oscar nominee, Josh Fox, who produced a documentary on the fracking process and environmental problems caused by the industry. Here is the link for additional information.

Whose land is this? And doesn't the Pennsylvania Constitution claim the citizens have a right to clean and healthy environment?

Something is way wrong here.

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Good Blogs to Read

Corning New York One Step at a Time

Marcellus Gas

Urban Veggie Garden

Discover the Winter Fun

                                                                                                    

It's been a heck of a winter. Between storms, several household problems and a computer failure, Koyote Hill has been a a tad late in getting published for the last month or so. But things are on the mend.

There's plenty of snow and ice for all winter sports and the ice fishing is said to be good on all the inland lakes. In some cases, the snow has been too deep to enjoy the snowshoes. Those who plow snow are generally pretty happy with the weather.

This weekend, and until mid week, we will have to deal with some of the coldest temps of the season.

There's not much garden news with three feet of snow on the ground and drifts of six feet. However, it is a good time of the year to think and plan about native landscaping and vegetable gardens. Native plants help out the local bee populations which are needed for food production.

Microwave Warning - Consumer Alert

I came across this article on exploding cups of water heated heated in the microwave and it's worth passing it along. While I have one, it is used infrequently during the winter months. Many foods can be warmed on the old reliable standby, the wood stove.

According to the article, a cup of water heated in the microwave can easily explode causing serious burns. The article recommends placing something like a tea bag or a Popsicle stick in the water; or leave the cup of water in the “nuker” for a minute or more before removing.

Here's the major quote from a major appliance manufacturer.

“Thanks for contacting us. The information you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach their boiling point. They can actually become superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is removed or when something like a spoon or tea bag is placed therein.”

Be careful.

Majestic Eagles - A New Sunrise

For the past several years in northwestern Pennsylvania, eagles have become familiar sights. It is good to see these majestic birds on the comeback. Many others have reported seeing the eagles in New York Stat,e as well as, other nearby states.

Not far from my home, at the Union City Dam, there has been a nesting pair for over a decade now. They attract large numbers of people and the nest is impressive. Pymatuning State Park also has a growing population of the eagles.

In general, the population growth is attributed to cleaner water, meaning more fish for the birds, the ban on DDT, and less general overall use of other harmful pesticides, as well as better protection efforts from wildlife officials.

There are two local eagle watches in northwestern Pennsylvania; Eagle Watch Day at Kinzua on Feb.5 and Pymatuning Eagle Weekend set for March 25th-27^th. Nothing is posted online at the moment but for further information on the Kinzua Watch, call 814-723-2568; for Pymatuning – 814-932-3141.

The PA Game Commission has a new management program and is seeking public input and comments. The deadline for commenting is March 3^rd. The program and comments can accessed at www.pgc.state.us

Here are some fascinating facts about Bald Eagles taken from an article in Penn Live

About Bald Eagles
- There are about 155 pairs of bald eagles in Pennsylvania; the population is tracked by nesting pairs. In 1983, only three pairs existed in the wild.
- Bald eagles nest in every state but Hawaii, which they never inhabited. The lower 48 states have have a nesting population of about 10,000 pais. In 1963, there were about 400 pairs.
- An adult bald eagle is 29 inches to 42 inches long, weighs eight to 15 pounds and has a wingspan of seven feet.
-A bald eagles nest can weigh a ton. It can reach "the size of a Volkswagen bus upside down in the tree" said Douglas Gross, wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
-They don't get their namesake white head, and tail, feathers until the age of 5. In their fourth year, bald eagles look a lot like adults, but they have a narrow black line behind the eye and often have a dark band on the tip of their tail. Before that, they are dark brown with varying amounts of white mottling.

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Maple Syrup and Jack Wax

The Northwestern Maple Syrup Association will have it's annual Taste and Tour weekend March 19 – 20. During the weekend , visitors are welcomed at many local sugar shacks for demonstrations on how to make maple syrup and are treated to free maple sugar products. There is no cost involved unless you want to purchase products to take home. For more information, www.pamaple.org

It's a great time and you might even get a chance to eat some “Jack Wax”.

During the weekend, the second annual Maple Festival will be held at the Edinboro Fire Hall. The proceeds help fund the volunteer fire department and the Edinboro Historical Society. There will be music, plenty to eat and dozens of crafters and other entertainment. Tickets are $7 per person and will worth the investment.

Good Blogs to Follow

Corning, NY Step by Step - a blog by Kathleen Richardson

Urban Veggie Garden - a blog by Dan