Gasps of a Dying Culture as Storm Clouds Gather.

No more snow? You gotta be kidding! Well, that is one of the conclusion of a July 15th report completed by Penn State. The study was mandated by the PA Climate Change Act 70 of 2008.

Basically, no matter what we do today is not going to matter for the next half century. What's done is done. It is going to take the next fifty years or so of environmentally good practices and efforts against global warming, to undo the damage.

The study predicts shortened, rainy winters with little or no snowfall. (did I hear clapping and screaming?) A longer and hotter growing season (temperatures will rise 3 to 7 degrees F) with more extreme weather conditions. Did I hear culture shock?

The report is not very good news for northwestern Pennsylvania and the small towns. It's not a very good report for nearby states as well since global warming doesn't give a hoot about artificial political boundaries.

Many rural economies depend on winter recreation: ice fishing, snowmobiles, skiing, hunting and trapping. The forest is important and many species will not tolerate the upcoming changes. The report could signal some major lumbering changes in the next two or three decades. Trout fishing depends on cold waters and the closest anyone will come to one will be mounted on a wall. And I have to wonder about the impact on the whitetail deer and other species. What are your thoughts?

Sure a longer growing season sounds fine. But the reverse is a problem. Warmer weather and more moist conditions will lead to new and more aggressive pests and other diseases in the woodlands and on the farm. What about maple syrup production?

Yup, agreed, it is hard to peer into next week, let alone, the next century. But there are some disturbing indicators. So I figured this post will be accompanied by two winter scenes for posterity, friend Mike checking out a buck rub and the snow covered trail. The sooner we start changing some things, the better. But it is going to take a long time. As it stands now, global warming will wipe out a culture for the next generation or so. What we know and do today is changing, the culture of today will no longer exist.

Update: On the subject of diseases and pests, Late Tomato Blight continues to spread and has been discovered in at least 17 Pennsylvania counties, along the east coast as far north as Montreal and as far west as Ohio. For more information click here and here. Take action now to help manage and control it's spread.

Blueberries are in season and there are many places to pick your own or locally produced berries can be found at a number of locations and farm markets. Blueberry are excellent for health.

Blogs which I am following, are good reading and informative are:

On Your Way to the Top

New York's Southern Tier

Urban Veggie Garden

Solokoyote is my pen name at another writing site,Hubpages. Check out some of the articles I have done there if you want. Thanks.

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Enjoy a good lunch, learn and get involved

The Crawford County Conservation District has a featured speaker listed for their annual Awards Banquet who has a pretty important message for all sportsmen, hunters,anglers and trappers. The featured speaker for the February 19th events is
Ed Perry , the outreach coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation in Pennsylvania.
His presentation is entitled, “The Effects of Climate Change and Global Warming on Hunting and Fishing in Pennsylvania”. Nearly everyone is familiar with the changing weather patterns, but this promises to be something of a wake-up call for anyone who gets outside to hunt or fish
While there's been some grumbling about different hunting and fishing regulations over the years, the climate changes we are facing could really alter hunting and fishing and make the regulations look like minutae.
There is a lot individuals and organizations can do. Check out some of the linksin this post. Get informed. Unchecked, the situation could lead to some pretty dramatic outdoor changes.
The Awards Dinner, which will be held at the Meadville Day's Inn at noon, costs $13. The Conservation District will also honor and present awards to other organizations and individuals who have partnered to enhance and improve our local environment.

For more information or to place a reservation, call Brian Pilarcik at the Conservation District at 814-763-5269.
For more information on the Conservation District, click the title.
For more information in how to get involved in helping solve the looming crisis go to targetglobalewarming

Canadohta Lake Ice Fishing Tournament

VanTassel's Timberland Bait Shop will have their second annual Canadohta Lake Ice Fishing tournament February 14th and 15th this year. I spoke with Gerry, the owner, this morning and there's plenty of ice.
The tournament opens at eight in the morning on Valentine's Day and closes on the 15th at 5p.m.
The cost is only $10 and for people under the age of 12, $5. Entry forms can be obtained at any business at the lake and the tickets are good for the entire two day event, headquartered at the public boat launch.
That is where Gerry will be for most of the tournament serving up free hot dogs and sloppy Joe's Last year, there were about 160 anglers, who came from throughout the tri-state region; it was a great time with an almost festival-like atmosphere. It was cold but sunny last year. I'm not a 100 percent certain who provided the smoked whitefish but it was some of the best.
There will be 50-50 tickets, special awards and prizes, and monetary awards for the biggest and heaviest fish caught (same as last year), northern pike, muskie, walleye and bass.
Gerry can be reached at the bait shop at 814-694-3474 or on his cell at 814-887-8369.
Scenic Canadohta Lake is a great fishing place; a good get away place.. There are cottages to rent and plenty of places to eat.
Photo:Angelers decorate a sled used to haul equipment on the frozen lake.
Photo: Gerry VanTassel (left) stands with Centerville, Pa resident, Terry Miller, who caught a prize winning 20/3/4 inch walleye during last year's ice fishing tournament.