Apply Now for USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Farmers and foresters who want to participate in USDA's new Conservation Stewardship Program, or CSP, should apply by September 30th to be considered in the first contract approval cycle.

CSP provides an annual payment to landowners who maintain a high level of conservation and agree to implement at least one new conservation activity on cropland, pasture, or forestland. CSP offers many different conservation activities from which to pick, covering a range of resource enhancing activities that help farmers improve their operations while protecting natural resources. A few examples are manure injection, filter strips, solar powered fence systems, and on-farm research and demonstrations.

Private forestland enhancements include forest stand improvement, establishment of pollinator habitat, and many more. Also, organic and specialty crop farms could transition to an organic cropping system, apply Integrated Pest Management, and more.

CSP can provide a supplemental payment for farmers who implement or upgrade a Resource Conserving Crop Rotation, such as cover crops, legumes in hay rotation, high residue producing crops, etc.

Estimated average payment ranges are $10-$22/acre for cropland, $7-$14/acre for pasture, and $6-$12/acre for forestland. Individual contracts may be more or less than these amounts. Contracts are for five years. The supplemental Resource Conserving Crop Rotation payment may range from $12 to $16/acre.

The CSP program relies heavily on the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Farm Record System, and applicants must be listed as the operator of record in this system. When applying for this program, producers must bring their maps showing fields, crop rotations, and acreages of their farm or forestland operation. Applications should be submitted to their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office. For more information, visit the NRCS web site at www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov and follow the link for CSP signup information, or call NRCS at (717)237-2100.

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Nature, Undisturbed 2010 - Call for Entries

The 2nd annual juried nature photography exhibition, benefiting Southern Conservation Trust, is now soliciting entries for the 2010 competition.

~The call for entries deadline is January 30, 2010~

Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to submit one or more nature photos in either one or both categories:

* Nature, Undisturbed: photographs featuring nature in any location.

* Trust Preserves: images taken at one of the Trust’s three public preserves in Fayette County: Sams Lake Sanctuary south of Fayetteville, Line Creek Nature Area on Hwy 54 in Peachtree City, and Flat Creek Nature Area next to the Peachtree City Amphitheater.

Like the 2009 show, Nature, Undisturbed 2010 is expected to creatively showcase the simple, yet majestic, beauty of nature, wildlife, and our lovely local landscapes. The exhibition and events will take place April 16-April 24 at Dogwood Gallery and Framer in Tyrone. Cash Prizes will be awarded for each category, and to the Sponsor's Choice and the People's Choice selections.

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Temporary Forestry Work Coming Through A.R.R.A. Grants

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) will assist in the creation of more than 300 temporary jobs statewide as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The federal program will subsidize five grants totaling $9.7 million in forestry-related work to help stimulate the economy and benefit Georgia’s environment. The funds will not replace or supplant state mandated GFC budget reductions, but can only be used for the creation of new, temporary positions in the forestry industry.

“These proposals will enhance GFC initiatives beyond what was possible under current austere budget conditions,” said Robert Farris, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. “The work will have multiple benefits, including reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, restoring longleaf pine ecosystems, fighting invasive weed species and reaching out to thousands of landowners who need updated forest management plans.”

Farris said forestry professionals who are interested in the work these grants have created should go to the GFC website for information and application materials. The GFC website can be found at GaTrees.org. A link to ARRA grant opportunities is located on the Homepage.

The five grants received have different purposes and are operated by different business units of the GFC. Each grant has specific qualification guidelines, application windows, and managers. The grants include:

· Enhanced Fuels Management and Community Wildfire Protection Plans- This $3.59 million grant will help create a wildfire-resistant forest buffer surrounding the fire prone Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge. It will also help with wildfire mitigation planning for several communities that were affected by the catastrophic wildfires of 2007. More than 60% of this grant will be used to reimburse landowners who complete forest management options, outlined in the grant, for reducing wildfire fuels and creating defendable space around the Okefenokee. Forestry technicians will be hired to supervise the procedures and a community fire mitigation specialist will be hired to promote Firewise practices and Community Wildfire Protection Planning.

· Stewardship Revisit for Prescribed Fire - Some 6,400 Georgia landowners have received Forest Stewardship Plans via a program that began in 1991. As part of a $2.24 million prescribed burning initiative, these forests will be revisited to measure progress on recommended forest management practices and to evaluate the use of prescribed fire. Twenty foresters/forestry technicians will be hired to make site evaluations. Prescribed burning of 50,000 acres will follow, based on evaluations.

· Dixon State Forest Wildfire Recovery & Habitat Restoration - $377,000 will be administered for the rehabilitation of 19,000 acres in Dixon Memorial Forest, which were burned in the 2007 wildfires. Bids will be accepted for site preparation, tree planting, and the purchase of longleaf pine seedlings.

· Congongrass and Invasive Plant Eradication - Cogongrass is considered the seventh worst weed in the world and has taken over vast ecosystems in some southern states. Cogongrass greatly increases the risk of damaging wildfire in the forest. GFC professionals have identified other invasive plant species as threats to forested ecosystems within Georgia, as well. To expand detection, eradication and education efforts toward these invasive plants, $1.8 million will be administered. Incentive payments will be available to landowners who perform treatments within forested areas. To perform these tasks, GFC will hire six temporary personnel and an estimated 20 or more contractors; multiple crews will be hired by landowners. Jobs will be created throughout the state as these invasive plant surveys and treatments take place.

· Regional Longleaf Pine Restoration Initiative and Fuel Reduction - Longleaf pine forests once covered a vast range from Texas to Virginia, but have been reduced to three percent of historical acreage due to conversion of land to other uses and forest types. Longleaf pine forests are highly valued for their resistance to damage by insects, diseases, wildfire, and storms, and for their yield of high quality wood products, biological diversity, and scenic beauty. As part of a regional project involving Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina to reestablish this native, highly valued longleaf pine species, $1.7 million will be administered. This work helps restore a great American ecosystem while creating jobs for contractors and laborers involved in tree planting and forest improvement work, including nursery workers, conservation planners and coordinators, media specialists, and educators.

Funding for these five projects was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to implement provisions of the Recovery Act to put Americans back to work and rejuvenate the nation’s economy. The Recovery Act provided USDA with nearly $28 billion in funding; of that, $1.15 billion has been allocated to the Forest Service for project work in forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, construction and maintenance of facilities, trails and roads, green energy projects, and grants to states, tribes, and private landowners.

For more information about GFC-administered A.R.R.A. grants, visit GaTrees.org or call 1-800-GA-TREES.
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You Did What to My Tomatoes?

In what might be the ultimate pursuit of the perfect vegetable, researchers at Finland's University of Kuopio have discovered that a mixture of human urine and wood ash has the same benefit for tomato plants as traditional fertilizers, producing 4.2 times more fruit than non-fertilized plants.

While the wood ash helps reduce the acidity of soils, tomatoes grown just using urine as the fertilizer did just as well as synthetic fertilizers.

"The results suggest that urine with [or] without wood ash can be used as a substitute for mineral fertilizer to increase the yields of tomato without posing any microbial or chemical risks," said the study, which appears in the current issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The findings from the study have "important implications," the scientists said, because "they may contribute to the development of positive attitudes about the use of urine and ash as fertilizer as a way to both increase crop yield and reduce water pollution."

By Jim Dawson
Inside Science News Service

(NFNG Note: OK, this one may work, but I'll have my tomatoes urine free thank you very much!)

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Some like it cold: It’s not too late to get your fall veggie garden growing

(ARA) - If you haven't yet joined the “grow your own vegetables" craze, it’s not too late to join in. You can produce a bounty of vitamin-rich veggies from plot (or pot) to plate this fall, plus you’ll save a bundle by growing them yourself.

You may be surprised to find that with just a little attention and effort, growing fall vegetables in the backyard garden and in planters is even more enjoyable than planting a vegetable garden during the spring and summer seasons. Why? Cooler autumn temperatures make it a delight to spend time outside in the garden and also provide an advantage when it's time to harvest your crops.

You'll spend less time caring for your fall crops because of the favorable cool weather growing conditions. Plants will grow rapidly at first and gradually slow as the days become shorter and colder. Destructive insects won't be as numerous in autumn as they are in summer months. Weeds germinate less frequently and grow slower than they do during the warmer seasons. Compared to hot and dry summers, fall usually brings an increase in the amount of precipitation, eliminating another time-consuming chore – watering.

What you need to know:

1. Let the sunshine in. Most vegetables need full sun – at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. They also require a steady supply of moisture and nutrients from the soil. You can help ensure your plants get both by mixing a 2-inch layer of compost into the soil (bagged compost is available at garden centers). Or spread a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, according to labeled instructions. Plants will need an inch of moisture per week, either through rain or supplemental watering.

2. Start with transplants. Transplants buy you lots of time. Plants are six weeks or older when you put them into the ground, so you will begin harvesting much sooner than if you start from seed. Bonnie Plants transplants in biodegradable, environmentally friendly pots make planting easy and spare the use of much plastic. Just cut off the bottom of the pot, water and plant ... pot and all. Garden centers typically supply optimum fall varieties for your geographic region.

3. Don’t fear frost. When frost threatens, cover plants with a floating row cover, cold frame or a cloche. Or, you can grow fall veggies in a container and move the pot to a protected location on frosty nights.

Essential, preliminary planning tips for fall vegetable gardens include:

* Before planting any new plant make sure that you clear the area of summer and spring crops planted previously, as they may decay and encourage bacterial infection.

* Spread a few inches of mulch or compost over the area. Make sure that you turn up the soil’s top layer and water well. Allow the soil to rest for a day before planting new fall plants.

* During the fall season most areas experience rain and even frost, so make sure that your soil is well drained and doesn’t get soggy.

Vegetables best suited for fall gardens:

After following the essential preliminary steps for fall vegetable gardening, it’s time to select vegetables for planting. Here’s a list of fast-growing, cold-hardy crops that are ideal for fall vegetable gardening:

Winterbor Kale – This nutritious leafy green is a vigorous producer that endures winter easily, even in very cold climates. Cut the outer leaves so that the center can continue growing. Space transplants about 12 inches apart

Georgia Collards - Another leafy green similar to kale, collards offer a larger, stronger, sweet cabbage-like flavor. Leaves taste best when young. Space transplants 36 inches apart.

Romaine Lettuce - Romaine packs more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients than other popular types of lettuce. Rich in fiber, vitamin C, and beta-carotene, romaine is an especially good vegetable for heart health. Space transplants 18 inches apart.

Early Dividend Broccoli - Popular, productive and easy to grow, this broccoli is high in fiber and calcium. Set transplants 18 inches apart

Mustard Greens – Offering spicy hot leaves, this is a very fast-growing, nutritious vegetable. Mustard greens always taste sweeter when nipped by frost. Space plants 12 inches apart

Bonnie Hybrid Cabbage – Bonnie's best cabbage. Grows large, round, blue-green heads. Cabbage is especially high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, K and fiber.

Arugula – These fast-growing leafy greens are great for salads or gourmet recipes. This peppery-tasting green is a super food for your bones. The leaves are “nutrient dense” and low in calories. They are especially high in vitamins A, C, and K.

If you put these practices into place this fall, you'll get your garden off to the right start and set it up for a fruitful season. Preparation is key, but the reward is a healthier, more productive garden – and fresh food that tastes better than anything you can buy at the store.

To learn more about vegetable and herb varieties as well as gardening tips, visit www.bonnieplants.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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The Turfgrass Group Licenses First TifGrand™ Growers

The Turfgrass Group, Inc. (www.theturfgrassgroup.com), of Fort Valley, Georgia, has licensed the first growers for TifGrand™, the world’s first sterile triploid hybrid Bermudagrass with significant shade tolerance.

Coosa Valley Turf of Centre, AL; Holland Gardens of Lubbock, TX; NG Turf, of Whitesburg, GA; Pike Creek Turf of Adel, GA; Patten Seed Company/Super Sod of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina; and Sod Atlanta of Cartersville, GA are the first licensees to grow TifGrand™.

TifGrand™ is a dense, semi-dwarf Bermudagrass with thin, dark green blades. Developed by Drs. Wayne Hanna and Kris Braman of The University of Georgia’s internationally renowned turfgrass program, testing and evaluation over a decade has proven its outstanding tolerance of 60% to 70% shade and its excellent tawny mole cricket non-preference. It spreads by both stolons and rhizomes and requires lower fertilizer (nitrogen) and water inputs than previously released Bermudagrasses.

Tom Wolfe of Coosa Valley Turf, believes “homeowners will love being able to have the same Bermudagrass in their shady backyards as is in the sunny fronts. The appearance is better and the maintenance is easier.”

Pike Creek Turf’s Jimmy Allen is excited about the ability to mow TifGrand™ to 0.5” for golf fairways in sun and in shade. He says ”it stays very dense and gives the golf ball a good, clean lie that the players will really like.” Allen is trialing TifGrand™ at 5/32” for course tee areas and thinks it will do very well.

Aaron McWhorter, owner of NG Turf, noted that “TifGrand™ is a nice, dark green, fine-bladed turfgrass – very attractive,” and says it should appeal to a wide variety of users.

Hampton Gardens will be growing TifGrand™ in plug trays for direct retail sale to those homeowners whose landscaping has matured, grown larger and created canopied shade. Wayne Hampton is pleased that “where their Bermuda formerly thrived is now too shady...TifGrand™ gives them the opportunity to keep both their Bermudagrass and their beloved larger trees.”

TifGrand™ will be grown exclusively as a certified turfgrass and all licensed growers will be required to meet stringent crop certifying agency requirements and undergo careful, continuous monitoring to insure the ongoing purity and uniformity of this outstanding new hybrid for both producers and users.

For more information on TifGrand™ and licensing opportunities, please contact Bill Carraway, Vice President of Marketing, The Turfgrass Group, Inc. at (770) 207-1500.
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How a Bad Plant Stays Bad

The Venus flytrap, with its spike-like teeth and snapping jaws, is a carnivorous wonder of nature that appeals to the dark side of our imaginations.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, curious about how and why the "snap trap" flytrap evolved, have delved into the ecological background of the plant and combined the data with new computer modeling.

The Venus flytrap can trace its roots back 65 million years, when the snap trap carnivorous plants diverged from the sundew plant, which catches bugs by trapping them in a sticky goo.

Today there are only two living "snap trap" species – the Venus flytrap and an aquatic plant called a waterwheel that eats tiny invertebrates. The flytrap is an advance over its sticky trap cousins because the snapping jaws can catch larger, and therefore more nutritious, insects, the researchers said.

"As the insects get larger, you have to change your tactics," said botanist Don Waller. "The snap trap is one way to do that."

In addition to being unique, the Venus flytrap is also a very efficient killer, the researchers noted. It has hinged, jaw-like leaves, teeth, and digestive glands that are recessed for protection against a struggling fly. It also has sensitive trigger hairs on the inside surface of each leaf, and the leaves can snap shut in a fraction of a second. And outside of horror movies, the Venus flytrap cannot grow large enough to threaten much more than flies.

"The physiological demands of capturing and digesting larger and larger prey limits how big the plants can get – even the largest leaves on an average Venus flytrap are … an inch or less across," the researchers said.

The paper on the flytrap appears in the August issue of the journal New Phytologist.

By Jim Dawson
Inside Science News Service
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When a Bad Plant Goes Good

Kudzu, the invasive southeastern plant that is the object of intense research on how best to kill it, may actually contain a substance that could help some 50 million people in the United States suffering from metabolic syndrome.

The roots of the plant, which has overgrown almost 10 million acres in the Southeast U.S. and is known as"the vine that ate the South," contain isoflavones, which are widely used as a health supplement in China and Japan.

In a study done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, kudzu root extract was fed to lab rats that are used to model metabolic syndrome in humans. Metabolic syndrome is a widespread condition that leads to obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and problems regulating insulin.

After feeding the kudzu extract to the rats for two months, the researchers noted that the rats had lower cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and better insulin levels than a control group not given the extract.

The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, concluded that long-term, regular use of the kudzu extract could have the same beneficial effects in people, decreasing the "risk and severity of stroke and cardiovascular disease."

By Jim Dawson
Inside Science News Service
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In the Green Room: Ryan Klesko hits a home run for clean air

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Flowering bulb favorites

Paul Thomas loves bulbs that produce fragrant flowers.

“I absolutely adore hyacinths,” said the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension horticulturist. “I’ve found that a good grouping of hyacinths puts a fragrance all over the garden. I love paperwhites for the same reason. I like to have my nose in the garden.”

Hyacinths come in various colors and have a large, cylinder-shaped mass of flowers at the tops of their stems. Paperwhites have smaller, white flowers.

He also adds old timey jonquils to the fragrant list. These jonquils look like smaller versions of daffodils. Unlike their larger cousins, the plants have very thin leaves, and their flowers have a longer trumpet shape.

At an old home site in Georgia, Thomas found jonquils from cultivars that are almost 200 years old. He now has some of them in his garden.

Spanish eyes “put up an awful lot of foliage first. It comes up as this big green pincushion of fairly large leaves and then it puts up a stunning bunch of sky blue flowers,” he said. “You can’t kill them, and they’re just marvelous.”

For a flower that is “tough as nails,” Thomas likes Star of Bethlehem. These bulbs have very grass-like, variegated leaves and hundreds of star-like flowers. “If you have an area in full sun that has poor soil where other things die, put this plant there, and at least once a year, you’ll have a solid green and white carpet that explodes into millions of white flowers.”

Most bulbs do best in full sunlight, but rain lilies will grow in the shade. Their white flowers will only appear after prolonged wet periods, “when we get a rare frog-strangler” of two to three inches of rain, Thomas said.

For early color, gardeners should plant crocus and paperwhites.

“There’s a bit of misinformation that you can just take crocus bulbs and throw them on the lawn,” he said. “That may work up north but not in Georgia.” Instead, open the ground under turfgrass at a 45-degree angle with a trowel. Plant the crocus, and then push the sod back. It won’t hurt the grass, and the crocus will be dormant in time for spring green-up.

“I can plant about 100 crocus bulbs in 7 to 10 minutes using this method,” Thomas said. “Always pick a day when the sod is wet so the work will go quickly.”

Other plants he considers worthwhile are hyacinthus orientalis, which have fragrant purple flowers, and star lilies, which are related to the onion but are not edible.

By Stephanie Schupska
University of Georgia

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Back by (Un)Popular Demand: Wasps Thrive in Late Summer and Autumn

BUSINESS WIRE--The end of summer may mean the end of flip flops and lazy days by the pool, but it certainly does not signal the end of wasp season. In fact, at this point in the season, wasp populations are reaching their largest numbers, having had the entire summer to reproduce. With more than half a million people being sent to the emergency room every year due to wasp and other insect stings, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reminds people to take extra care, especially now, to avoid wasp stings and infestations.

“Wasps are known for their unprovoked aggression,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “In the late summer months, these pests are busy scavenging for food to prepare for the colder months ahead, and are often attracted to backyard barbeques and picnics, which increases your chances of being stung. Proper pest control is crucial to protect against their painful stings.”

NPMA recommends that homeowners inspect their properties frequently for signs of a wasp infestation. Common nesting sites include under eaves, on ceiling beams in attics, garages and sheds, and under porches. If homeowners find a nest or suspect an infestation, it is critical that they hire a pest professional. Attempting to remove a nest can be extremely dangerous, as wasp colonies can have upwards of 15,000 members.

The NPMA offers the following tips to help protect homeowners from wasp encounters:

* When outdoors, wear shoes, especially in grassy areas.
* Do not leave drinks or food in accessible areas.
* Keep windows and doors properly screened.
* Keep garbage in sealed receptacles.
* Do not swat at wasps as it increases the likelihood of an aggressive reaction.
* If stung, seek immediate medical attention as reactions can be severe.
* Call a pest professional if you find a wasp nest on your property or suspect an infestation.

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Let wildlife call your landscape home

It seems a little strange writing a landscaping article about attracting wildlife. I’ve spent much of my career telling folks how to keep critters out of their landscape.

As a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension horticulturist, I get lots of questions about how to stop deer from eating flowers and how to deter squirrels from digging up bulbs.

Lately, however, I’ve seen a noticeable shift in landscape- and wildlife-related calls. People actually want to encourage wildlife into their landscape and enjoy bragging to neighbors and family about furry creatures visiting their landscape and feeders. As a wildlife enthusiast, I think this is a great trend.

You can have an attractive landscape and still make it eco-friendly for wildlife. You just have to realize that some plants are like salad bars to deer.

All animals look for three critical elements: food, water and shelter. Many landscape plants add beauty to your landscape while providing one or more of the basic elements.

Water is critical. Incorporate a water element by adding a small pond and a few bird baths. Deer, raccoons, birds and opossums are just a few of the critters that may visit your landscape watering hole.

Ponds don’t have to be large or fancy. Water tubs from farm supply stores or even metal wash tubs placed into holes dug in the ground make a miniature oasis for many animals.

To help fight evaporation and keep the water cool, put bird baths in the shade.

Food is the next major element to attract wildlife. Depending on what wildlife you like and what lives nearby, many different plants can draw them into your landscape.

Birds love to feast on berry-producing plants. Consider shrubs that fruit, such as Japanese hollies, inkberry, phyracantha and wax myrtle. There are many others to choose from.

Squirrels and deer appreciate nut-bearing trees such as oak, hickory and Chinese chestnut. It’s also good to include some fruit producers like crabapple, plum and persimmon trees or muscadine vines.

If you have room, plant a small food plot of wheat, clover, rye or oats to attract deer or turkey. Planting these near escape cover encourages daylight feeding. A one-eighth to one-fourth acre food plot provides a good food source year ‘round.

I set a digital trail camera close to my food plots to capture images of what visits when I’m not around. These cameras, available at sporting goods stores, are fun and easy to use.

Humming birds are also fun to watch and are easy to attract. Humming birds love plants that flower for a long time. They prefer trumpet-shaped blooms. Vines such as trumpet creeper, honeysuckle, crepe myrtle, or Carolina jasmine bring them in. You can add hummingbird feeders visible from your window.

Set up feeders for birds, squirrels and whatever else shows up. There are many great feeder designs out there to compliment any landscape design. I like natural looking wooden feeders.

Cover or shelter is the final element that wildlife needs. They need a place to escape from enemies, find refuge from weather and feel secure while they rest.

Different animals need different types of cover. Woodpeckers and flying squirrels like dead trees. Rabbits make nests in tall grass and weedy areas. Deer like to spend their afternoons in a secure shrubby area.

Include trees, bushes, brush piles and rock piles to attract more wildlife. Place different sizes of bird houses around the landscape, too, to bring in feathered friends.

Provide water, food and shelter, and your landscape can quickly become a wildlife sanctuary.

By Bob Westerfield
University of Georgia

Bob Westerfield is a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension consumer horticulturist.

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The proper care and feeding of your fall lawn

(ARA) – Most people view spring and summer as the peak time for lawn care, but it’s fall that actually marks the beginning of your lawn’s growing season. There are simple but crucial steps to take now to promote a strong, beautiful lawn through next season and beyond.

Whether you have the best yard in the neighborhood or you haven’t had much success with your turf, you can improve and maintain the condition of your lawn if you take these three steps:

Build a foundation
The ideal conditions that come with fall -- cool nights and warm soil -- make it the best time to feed your lawn. The autumn window of opportunity to repair summer damage and achieve long-term lawn success is small, but it’s also a critical time to build and strengthen the root system. A product like Scotts Turf Builder Winterguard helps build strong, deep roots for a better foundation in your existing lawn. The better the root system, the more robust your lawn will be next year. A good fall feeding will keep your turf strong and green throughout the fall, winter and into spring.

Encourage new growth
Fall is also the best time to seed your lawn. The soil is still warm, but the air is cooler, meaning weeds have less opportunity to compete. Trees are shedding their leaves so grass receives more sun, and diseases that attack grass seedlings are less active in the fall. Overseeding with Scotts Turf Builder grass seed promotes (or helps create) a thick, lush lawn at the start of spring, making it difficult for airborne weed seeds to root in the soil. Seeding autumn bare spots will thicken the lawn and make it more resistant to future bare spots.

To reseed your bare spots, dig up bare areas, mix in compost, sow your seeds and cover with more compost. If the weather is dry, keep the seeded soil moist until new grass begins to grow.

Leave the rake behind
Don’t spend time raking and bagging leaves this season. Mulching leaves into dime-sized pieces by mowing over them and leaving them on the lawn provides valuable nutrients needed to produce thick, green turf in the spring. Mulching helps build a better foundation and returns much-needed organic matter back into the soil.

For more information on fall lawn care, visit Scotts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Guarding Against Sinister Stingers

(NAPSI)-It's that time of year again, when unwelcome pests put a stinger in everyone's fun. Stinging insects such as yellow jackets, hornets and wasps are most active in late summer and well into fall. More than just a seasonal nuisance, these pests can pose a significant threat to your health as well. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), stinging insects send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room every year.

Yellow jackets, which have a yellow and black face/head and patterned abdomen, are considered one of the more dangerous stinging insects due to their unpredictable and aggressive nature. They build their nests in the ground or cavernous areas but frequently invade human space in search of sugary and protein-rich foods. They sting repeatedly when their nest is disturbed and reactions can be severe.

Carpenter bees resemble bumblebees and create nests by drilling tunnels into soft wood. Over time, these tunnels can severely compromise the structural stability of a home. Males are in charge of guarding the habitat, but only their female counterparts have stingers. Females will only sting if threatened, but reactions to these stings can range from mild irritation to life-threatening respiratory disease.

A lesser-known stinging insect is the velvet ant. Despite its name, it is actually a wasp. With short, brightly colored hairs (generally red and black), they can be seen running in open areas. Females lay eggs directly in the habitat of ground-nesting bees and wasps. Only the males have wings, but what the females lack in wings, they make up for in stings. Females use a needlelike stinger to inflict a painful poke that can cause allergic reactions.

The NPMA offers these tips for avoiding stinging insects:

• Wear shoes, especially in grassy areas.

• Overseed grassy areas to get better coverage, as this will deter ground-nesting insects.

• Paint/stain untreated wood.

• Remove garbage frequently and keep trash cans lined and covered.

• Don't swing or swat at stinging insects.

• Avoid wearing sweet-smelling perfumes.

• Seek immediate medical attention if stung, as reactions can be severe.

• Do not attempt to remove a nest on your own. If you have an infestation, contact your local pest professional.

For more information, visit www.pestworld.org.

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Coweta-Fayette Rotary and Operation Boot Camp Team Up for Line Creek Nature Area

The Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club and Operation Boot Camp, and their families, joined together August 8th to help spread mulch at the Line Creek Nature Area in Peachtree City across from McDuff Parkway.

The Line Creek Nature Area is managed by the Southern Conservation Trust and is open from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week.

The Coweta-Fayette Rotary meets every Monday night for dinner and a program at 6:30 in The Avenue on the second floor. Visit www.coweta-fayetterotaryclub.org for more information about our club.

Operation Boot Camp is an out door 30-day fitness training and nutrition coaching program working out at Drake Field. Visit www.operationbootcamp.com to get more information.

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For gorgeous grass next season, start with soil, end with seed

(ARA) - Summer is winding down and soon it will be time to drain the gas from the lawn mower and safely store the string trimmer. You may feel like summer yard work is done for another year. But don’t turn your back on your lawn just yet.

Take care of some essential lawn chores this fall and you’ll reap the rewards next spring – in the form of a lush, healthy, beautiful lawn. In fall, lawn grasses need to become especially strong as the weather cools. Give them some TLC now, and your lawn will reap the benefits over the winter and into next spring. During the fall, your lawn is getting ready to go dormant for the winter. Your grass will rely on its roots throughout the winter season to obtain nutrients until spring.

Following these five (surprisingly fast) simple steps will ensure a sensational start to lush lawns next spring.

1. Start with the soil and aerate

The healthier your soil is the healthier your grass will be. Good, aerated soil will make room for water, nutrients, air and roots to move with ease. Aerated, healthy soil will hold water like a sponge, but at the same time promote drainage. Aerating also creates a good environment for the micro-organisms, worms and other life forms necessary for healthy turf. Without good soil you will find yourself doing lots of weed control and over-fertilizing.

2. Don’t delay dethatching

Thatch is the layer of dead grass that settles in between the soil surface and the green foliage of the grass. Too much thatch interferes with nutrient and water absorption. To gauge thatch’s thickness, take a 6-inch-deep plug of sod and soil from the lawn and measure the thickness of the packed thatch. If your thatch layer is more than 1/2 inch thick, your grass will struggle to grow.

3. Supply soil conditioners

Also called soil amendments, soil conditioners added to soil improve plant growth and overall health. Soil conditioners are not fertilizers, but they do improve soil’s drainage and some will also increase the water holding capacity of your soil.

4. Sow your seeds

Sowing grass seed will increase turf density and improve the overall health and appearance of your lawn. Seeding in the fall helps the lawn recover from heavy summer traffic and it influences the lawn's look for the following spring. A dense lawn is also the best natural defense against weed and insect damage. For a wide variety of grass seed choices specifically formulated for your geographic region visit www.outsidepride.com.

An increasingly popular addition to backyard beauty is planting wildflowers instead of grass in hard to maintain, problem spots, like slopes and banks. Outsidepride.com offers a wide variety of blends for nine areas of the country, from the rainy Northeast to the dry Southwest. Adding wildflower seed this fall to your backyard will add beauty and diversity to your landscape next spring.

5. The easy way is the better way

When it comes to labor intensive fall lawn chores like aerating, dethatching, and soil conditioning, brute force isn’t necessarily the best, most efficient way to get the job done. You could rent a core aerator to pull up finger-sized cores of soil, but it takes a strong back and plenty of time to manage the heavy equipment. If your lawn is small enough, you can do the dethatching job using a thick-bladed thatching rake. But bigger lawns call for a power thatching mower. Soil conditioning is easier, yet still time-consuming.

Try a labor-free, easy, all-natural option that’s a liquid product, like LazyMan Liquid Gold. You can tackle the tasks of aerating, dethatching and soil conditioning with a hose-end sprayer in a matter of minutes.

Non-toxic and all natural, LazyMan Liquid Gold’s polymers penetrate hard soil and alternately attract or repel water molecules, opening pathways to allow free passage of moisture and nutrients. A brew of microbes feeds on dead plant tissue in the thatch layer, reducing thatch by half with just three applications at four-week intervals. Finally, humic acids and soil fungi promote soil fertility and plant growth.

After one-step spraying of LazyMan Liquid Gold, you’ve already accomplished three essential fall lawn care tasks. Now, all that’s left to do is seed and feed.

By following these simple lawn care practices in the fall, you can put your lawn to bed and sleep easily knowing that when your lawn awakens from winter it will be healthy and super-charged for spring. To learn more about lawn care, visit www.outsidepride.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Garden of Novelist Ferrol Sams and Sams Lake Featured in September Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour

Six Distinctive Gardens on Display Southeast of Metro Atlanta

Six gardens in Fayetteville and Peachtree City will demonstrate how people can preserve the region’s wildlife and, more broadly, its biodiversity by cultivating native plants and other essentials for wildlife survival at this year’s Atlanta Audubon Society Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour.

The tour will take place Saturday, September 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Advance tickets are now on sale for $12 by calling Atlanta Audubon Society at 678/973-2437. Tickets are also available on the day of the tour for $15 at the first and last sites. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

This year’s tour includes six exciting properties:

#1 214 Smokerise Trace, Peachtree City, GA 30269
This three-acre property is owned by a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional and Georgia Master Gardener. The site includes a one-acre hardwood forest, and a 10-acre adjacent forest harbors many species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Over 125 bird species have been seen on this property.

#2 233 Smokerise Trace, Peachtree City, GA 30269
This acre and a half of professionally maintained gardens has beautifully constructed waterfalls, ponds and meandering creeks.

#3 Two Doves Farm, 380 Ebenezer Church Road, Fayetteville, GA 30215
A certified organic farm of 15 acres. Organic plants, vegetables and botanicals produced at the farm are on sale. Go to www.twodovesfarm.com for more information.

#4 Sams Lake Bird Sanctuary, Old Senoia Road, Fayetteville, GA 30215
A 56-acre nature preserve donated by the Sams family to replace lost wetlands when the fifth runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was built. The site is now owned and managed by Southern Conservation Trust. The lake area hosts beaver, wild turkeys, egrets, heron, hawks, deer and muskrat and many species of birds. A half-acre mulched trail and three observation decks provide great wildlife viewing. Go to www.sctlandtrust.org/community-preserves/sams-lake-nature-area for more information.

#5 685 Glynn Street South (GA Hwy 85) Fayetteville, GA 30214
Part of Turnipseed Nursery and Gardens, this garden has been featured on HGTV's “A Gardener's Diary.”

#6 Garden of Drs. Ferrol and Helen Sams, 355 Beauregard Blvd., Fayetteville, GA 30214
A mature natural woodland garden of more than 30 acres with many native azaleas and wildflowers such as trilliums. The garden has been featured on HGTV’s “A Gardener’s Diary.”

These sites have all been certified by Atlanta Audubon Society as wildlife sanctuaries. They show how homeowners and gardeners can cultivate their own yards to preserve native plants and habitat for wildlife. The four essential components of a wildlife sanctuary are:

Shelter: Active nesting areas or shelters that attract and protect birds and other wildlife.
Food: Feeders and plantings that offer seeds, flowers, and berries to wildlife.
Water: Birdbaths, water gardens, or natural features with flowing water.
Nesting Sites: Bird boxes, natural cavities, or wood piles and vine tangles.

For more information on the Wildlife Sanctuary Program, go to
http://atlantaaudubon.org/aaswww/conservation/sanctuary.htm.

For a map of the tour and directions to the sites, go to www.atlantaaudubon.org.

The Sanctuary Tour and Program are designed to encourage residential homeowners and homeowners' associations, business park owners/managers, and golf course owners/managers to become involved in the preservation of native plants and habitat for wildlife.
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Soldier Launches Recycling Effort in Iraq

The Army teaches soldiers to leave a place better than they found it. One soldier has applied this adage to the Multinational Division Baghdad area of operations by thinking "green."

Army Sgt. Tanisha Manning, with 1st Cavalry Division's Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, has started a recycling initiative at Camp Liberty, Iraq.

"It's about saving money [and] helping the environment, and it's part of a responsible drawdown, because we want to leave this place better than we found it," the New York native said. "I started this about two months ago, and it's just now getting off the ground and totally on the move."

A recycling program was in place on Camp Liberty before, Manning said, but it wasn't getting much attention.

"I thought to myself, 'We drink so much water, we use so much water, and we throw away so many plastic bottles; what are we doing?'" she said.

Manning decided to take action. She formulated a plan, made contacts, and helped to publish an order on the subject.

"When I found Sergeant Manning in [division supply], she inspired me to do something about the recycling situation here on [Camp] Liberty," said Army Maj. Mindy Kimball, with 1st Cavalry Division's Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion.. "The bottom line is that the landfill on [the complex] is near capacity and can't possibly last through 2011 with the current rate of solid waste disposal."

With the assistance of a contracting organization in Iraq and Kuwait, Manning's plan came to fruition. A partnership enabled the company to come onto the complex and take materials away for recycling.

Now, blue recycling bins are in place throughout the complex and the Multinational Division Baghdad area.

"It's important that we use these recycling bins -- it's too easy," Manning said. "Everybody on [the complex], at least, has a point of contact for recycling."

Manning explained that the bins are vital to the recycling program.

"When I went out to the recycling facility, they were picking through the garbage, looking for recyclables," she said. "So it's important for us to separate the recyclables out beforehand to make it easier on them."

Kimball noted recycling is every soldier's responsibility. "The Army's policy is very clear -- it doesn't say 'try' or 'should' [recycle], it says 'will,'" she said. "But unless every soldier and leader enforces it, then nothing will get done, and nobody can enforce policies they don't know about."

Thanks in part to Manning's efforts, soldiers now can recycle plastic bottles, aluminum cans, printer cartridges and cardboard easily.

(By Army Sgt. Joshua Risner, Special to American Forces Press Service. Army Sgt. Joshua Risner serves in the Multinational Baghdad public affairs office.)
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A Perennial Daylily Wins A Dream Designation

(NAPSI)-Daylilies are a perennial treasured by America's gardeners. These sunny flowers supply bright drifts of color throughout the warmer months, and every year brings beautiful new varieties.

One of the newest additions to the growing family of winning All-American Daylilies is the Dream Souffle, which placed first in the Exhibition category.

It is the 17th winner and the first double-bloom daylily to win this award. Lilies don't win the award just for being pretty. They also have to demonstrate superior performance in dozens of criteria across at least five USDA hardiness zones.

Winning for both looks and hardiness, Dream Souffle features fluffy, double-petaled blooms that are a pastel rosy-pink blended with cream and flushed with yellow in the center.

The lily blooms in mid-season at 24 to 30 inches in height, above 16 to 20 inches of arching green deciduous foliage. It then repeat blooms, giving a total bloom period that ranges from 30 to 80 days. Unlike some doubles, this flower has consistent, fluffy double blooms that can create an eye-catching focal point in any garden setting. Stunning eye appeal is combined in this variety with hardy growth habit and good rust resistance.

The lilies were tested by the All-American Daylily Selection Council (AADSC), an organization that performs rigorous evaluations of daylily cultivars, taking into account over 50 criteria, including rust resistance.

The designation can help today's gardeners select the right lily from more than 40,000 different registered cultivars.

So far, nearly 6,000 hemerocallis (daylilies) available in commerce have been tested using methods that involve careful scientific methodology.Ê

Thanks to such rigorous evaluations, gardeners can purchase All-Americans with confidence, knowing that these low-maintenance, high-impact, sun-loving beauties will thrive in backyard beds, front-walk borders or sundeck containers.

Past winners include:

• Black-Eyed Stella, best known for its performance as a nearly continuous bloomer.

• Lullaby Baby and Starstruck, honored for exquisite beauty and balance in the Exhibition category.

• Bitsy, which features a petite personality with a very powerful performance.

• Leebea Orange Crush, a rare daylily that exhibited such balanced performance it won in both the Landscape and Exhibition categories.

• Frankly Scarlet, a vibrant red that not only sustains but builds color intensity in the heat.

• Buttered Popcorn, a large buttery-gold bloom on sturdy 28- to 33-inch scapes. The golden beauty boasts nearly continuous blooming from mid-season into fall and up until frost.

• Persian Market, a large, showy salmon-pink with a rose halo on blooms 6 to 7 inches across. It produces loads of buds and has an exceptionally long bloom season in several zones.

• Lavender Vista, which pairs profuse lavender blooms with lush evergreen foliage.

• Summer Valentines, with striking pink blooms, a magenta eye and picotee edges.

For more information, visit www.allamericandaylilies.com.

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Knowledge Cure to Snake Fear

The grace and beauty of a snake’s slither is often overshadowed by the paralyzing anxiety it can cause. But knowledge is a cure for that fear, says a University of Georgia expert.

“Snakes are like any other wildlife. We should enjoy them. Look at it, learn about it and let it go on its way,” said Wade Hutcheson, the UGA Cooperative Extension coordinator in Spalding County. “Take a few moments to talk about snakes with children so they are aware they are in their environment. And so they can know to go the other way.”

Snakes typically steer clear of humans. However, if your house is surrounded by woods or has streams or swamps nearby, you may see an occasional snake.

Poisonous or not

While any snake can bite, only six of the state’s nearly 50 snake species are venomous. Georgia is home to three kinds of rattlesnakes -- the Eastern diamondback, timber and pigmy -- along with cottonmouths, copperheads and coral snakes.

“Without getting real close, there is not a fool-proof method to determine if a snake is poisonous,” he said. “Knowing their markings and proper identification is the only sure way.”

Get a good guidebook with descriptions and photos to learn which snakes to avoid. The UGA Extension guidebook Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina costs $5 and is available through UGA Extension county offices.

For information on how to identify snakes and color photos, see the UGA Savannah River Ecology Lab's Herpetology Web site at www.uga.edu/srelherp/.

Remove the welcome mat

Snakes need food, water and shelter to live. Removing these necessities from your landscape will keep them out of your yard and house.

“The best thing a homeowner can do to reduce the chances of seeing a snake is to clean up and clean out,” Hutcheson said. “Reduce clutter that will attract the rodents and insects snakes eat or items that could be hiding and resting places.”

Clean up brush, rock and trash piles, mow tall grass and weeds and remove things snakes hide under.

Clean up clutter in yards, open garages, on porches and in open storage buildings. Remove shrubs right next to the house foundation and other things close to the ground, especially around buildings. Keep things such as firewood and lumber stacked 12 inches above ground or off the floor and away from walls.

Snakes like damp, cool and dark spots. Look for these areas and change them if possible.

Don’t let pet or bird food sit out. This attracts rodents, which in turn attract snakes. Clean food storage areas regularly and keep pet food and trash sealed.

“Keeping the area clean will reduce the reasons why the snake wants to be there,” Hutcheson said. “If he can’t find what he needs, he will move out.”

Unwanted house guest

To prevent snakes from entering your home, seal holes around and under the house.

If one does find its way into your house, use a damp burlap bag to remove it, he said.

“The damp burlap will attract the snake, and there is a good chance he will crawl under it,” Hutcheson said. “Then, you can pick it up (with a shovel) and take it outside.”

Hardware stores sell glue-board traps. Once the snake is trapped on the board, take it far from the home and pour vegetable oil on the snake and trap. The oil will cut the glue and allow the snake to escape.

Several companies remove wildlife from homes for a fee and take measures to prevent them from returning.

Remember, most snakes in Georgia are nonpoisonous. If you are bitten and not sure if the snake is poisonous or nonpoisonous, go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

By April Sorrow
University of Georgia

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Forest Info Available to Georgians from Georgia Forestry Commission

The latest comprehensive report detailing Georgia’s forest resource is now available in a convenient booklet and online at GaTrees.org. The information is a compilation and summary of the condition of forests in the state, collected from samples gathered between 1998 and 2004 from around Georgia.

“Forest Inventory Analysis plots are randomly located points across the state that are visited and remeasured every five years by Georgia Forestry Commission Foresters,” (GFC) said David Dickinson, Forest Inventory Analysis (FI) Coordinator for GFC. “Landowners can find important information about the state of our forests in the new booklet, ‘Georgia Forests 2004.’”

According to Dickinson, data on many forest variables are collected at FIA plots, including forest type, forest age, individual tree species, diameters, heights and other detailing wood quality. The latest data shows Georgia’s timberland acreage is remaining stable, with slight gains of the acreage recorded in 1997. Timberland acreage gains in the south and central parts of the state more than offset losses in the north central region, which includes the Atlanta Metro Area. Tree volume has increased for both softwood and hardwood, and average annual tree growth has exceeded annual removals. Average annual acreage of tree planting has continued to decline.

“Georgia’s Forests, 2004” can be obtained in hard copy by visiting your local Georgia Forestry Commission District Office, or by clicking on the link at GaTrees.org under the “Forest Management/Forest Inventory” tab.
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Georgia Aquaculture Farmers May Apply for Disaster Relief Funds to Recoup ‘08 Feed Cost

Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin alerts Georgia aquaculture farmers that they may be eligible to receive disaster relief funds to partially off-set escalating feed costs associated with the 2008 calendar year.

The state has received $205,200 in assistance funds to help aquafarmers. The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Commodity Credit Corporation.

“This is a small grant but we are happy to receive it,” says Irvin. “Anytime we are able to help Georgia farmers we are going to do it. This money is good news that will help to off-set the higher-than-expected feed costs associated with doing business in 2008.”

Aquaculture, the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms, such as fish and shrimp, is a growing industry in Georgia with nearly 300 small, family-owned fish farms. Trout, carp and catfish are the most popular species of fish grown in the state.

To be eligible to submit an application for feed cost reimbursement, aquaculture farmers must have: raised an aquaculture species in a
controlled environment that is still in operation today; experienced a financial risk; not have an adjusted income in excess of $2.5 million and had feed cost that was at least 25 percent of the producer’s total input cost.

The application, which can be found on-line at www.agr.georgia.gov, is due Friday, August 14, 2009. Hour-long telephone conference calls -- to answer specific questions of aquaculture farmers -- are scheduled for July 31 and August 7. Details relating to the conference calls and the program can be found at www.agr.georgia.gov.

For additional information contact Ms. Moreblessing Dzivakwe, Georgia Department of Agriculture 2008 Aquaculture Grant Program at (404) 463-8875 or e-mail her at mdzivak@agr.state.ga.us
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Cooper Hawk in Fayette County?

As I walked by the back door a few minutes ago I caught something out of the corner of my eye on the back porch that just didn't look right. I peeked through the blinds and saw what I first thought was an animal of some sort, like a gopher, except I knew we didn't have gophers around here and they really didn't look like that .

I went to the door and pulled back the curtain, only to realize it was a hawk perched on the porch.

Wow.

I ran to the car, got my camera bag, went through all you go through getting one turned on and ready to go thinking the entire time that the hawk would be gone by the time I got back.

Not so.

I carefully pulled the curtain back and tried to get a shot. Realized I was getting part of the curtain, so zipped around to the other curtain-less door on the other side of the porch. Surely I'd scare it away, but had to try!

Nope, it stayed for the shots. My hummingbird feeder was in the way though so headed back to the other side. Obviously the hummingbirds knew they weren't big enough to temp the hawk... or they simply didn't notice him sitting there.

More photos on the other side, still through the glass door.

Finally, not because it reacted to me at all, the hawk moved up to the roof for a better view.

As I type I noticed a winged shadow go by the windows... maybe it found something to eat!

I made a quick slide show which I'll be adding to the Fayette Front Page later. I'll pop back over here and add a link just in case you want to see more shots.

I looked the hawk up in my bird book, couldn't decide if it was a Cooper Hawk or not. That's the closest I found, but the one in my book shows a darker breast and more red than "my" hawk had. Any ideas? Any bird folks out there who'll know right off the bat?

Terrance B. Gratton Receives the 2009 Walter F. Snyder Award

Award Recognizes Outstanding Achievement in Advancing Environmental Health

NSF International and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) announced recently that Terrance B. Gratton, Dr.P.H., D.A.A.S., R.S. was the recipient of the 2009 Walter F. Snyder Award. Dr. Gratton was presented with the award at NEHA’s 73rd Annual Educational Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, June 21, 2009.

This prestigious award, given in honor of NSF's co-founder and first Executive Director, is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of environment health. Dr. Gratton was recognized for his 40-year career within the San Antonio, Texas, Metropolitan Health Department, the U.S. Public Health Service and the University of North Texas School of Public Health.

“Dr. Gratton’s contributions to the environmental health profession have left a lasting positive impact in areas such as education, training and sanitation,” said Kevan P. Lawlor, NSF President and CEO. “It is his outstanding leadership and dedication to environmental health that resonate with the principles of Walter F. Snyder, and what make him an ideal recipient of the 2009 Walter F. Snyder Award.”

Early in his career, Dr. Gratton was employed as a sanitarian with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department (SAMHD), where he worked to improve and implement food establishment inspections in the lower income areas of the city. He was then promoted to the engineering section of SAMHD, where his primary responsibility was the inspection of daycare facilities, institutions and nursing homes. He later became the chief trainer of new sanitarians, where he taught food codes and San Antonio Metropolitan Health ordinances, improving the overall education and quality of sanitarians’ work with environmental health issues.

He joined the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service in 1977. During his career with the U.S. Public Health Service, Dr. Gratton spent 18 years with the Indian Health Service in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arizona, and five years with the Bureau of Prisons in Fort Worth, Texas. Throughout his tenure with the Indian Health Service, Dr. Gratton’s leadership and determination led him to organize and implement several environmental improvement projects, which provided quality of life improvements to tribes in his jurisdiction.

“Dr. Gratton has long been involved in environmental health activities at the local, state, and national levels and always with great devotion to the people whose lives were being affected by poor environmental quality,” said Nelson Fabian, NEHA Executive Director. “His dedication to IHS over the last 18 years improved the lives of thousands of families living on the reservations. It is because of contributions like this and his outstanding leadership that Dr. Gratton is receiving the 2009 Walter F. Snyder Award.”

Many of Dr. Gratton’s contributions to environmental health have been demonstrated through his dedication to education and research. After retiring from the U.S. Public Health Service in 2000, Dr. Gratton turned his attention to educating the next generation of public health service leaders. As a full-time faculty member at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of North Texas Health and Science Center School of Public Health, Dr. Gratton teaches the environmental health core courses for the Master of Public Health program and the environmental determinants core courses for the Ph.D. program.

“Terry is a strong leader, a talented educator and a role model for young sanitarians in Texas and across the U.S. Terry is generous with praise and never lacking for words of support,” said Steve Claybrook R.E.H.S., R.S., Past President of Texas Environmental Health Association.

Dr. Gratton serves on several institutional and academic committees, including Chair of the Health Science Center Safety Committee. He is a founding member of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society and has received the Public Health Student Association Award for outstanding contributions for service and events. He has also received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the University of North Texas School of Public Health.
For more information about the Walter F. Snyder Award and previous winners, visit NSF's Web site.

About NEHA: The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is a national professional society that represents the profession and practice of environmental health (www.neha.org).

About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
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Workshops Offered for Arthritic Gardeners

Gardeners who suffer from arthritis can learn to plant and tend vegetables and weed flowerbeds with less pain at a new workshop offered by the University of Georgia’s AgrAbility program and the Arthritis Foundation.

The workshop, “Gardening and Farming with Arthritis,” will be offered in Athens Aug. 5, Gainesville Aug. 12, Tifton Nov. 5 and Macon Dec. 9.

Participants will learn how to manage arthritis pain through planting modifications, tool adaptations and other strategies. A tai chi class will follow each workshop. The tai chi portion will focus on slow, meditative, physical exercise designed for relaxation, balance and health.
Georgia’s AgrAbility program promotes independence for those disabled in the agricultural community. Presented by UGA Cooperative Extension, it is part of a national program administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To register, visit www.farmagain.com/register, or call 706-542-0304 (toll free at 877-524-6264). The cost is $15. The workshops will be offered two times a day, at 9 a.m. (9:30 a.m. in Athens) and again at 2 p.m. Space is limited to 25 people per class.
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Georgia Conservancy, DNR Announce Species of the Week in Photo Contest

Georgia Residents Encouraged to Submit Photos of the Greenfly Orchid

WHAT: The Georgia Conservancy and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources announce the Greenfly orchid as the species of the week as part of a new statewide photo contest to encourage citizens to learn more about high-priority species and habitats listed in the State Wildlife Action Plan. The plan, commonly called SWAP, is a comprehensive strategy that guides DNR efforts to conserve biological diversity.

SPECIES OF THE WEEK: The Greenfly orchid, or Epidendrum conopseum, is the only orchid found on trees in Georgia. A small perennial herb that grows on trees or rocks from May through the end of July, its leafy stems attach to the orchid's substrate by a mass of roots. Marked by glossy evergreen leaves, the orchid can be found on shaded limbs of southern magnolia and live oaks, as well as other hardwoods in swamps and on bluffs. It is frequently hidden among the fronds of resurrection fern. The fruiting period runs from September to January, when its small, drooping capsules harden and then burst open, dispersing thousands of tiny seeds.

STATUS: The Greenfly orchid is state-listed as unusual in Georgia, where it has been recorded in 20 counties in the state's southeastern Coastal Plain. It is not federally listed, but is considered a high-priority species in Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan. Timber harvest is the major threat to this species, which grows only in intact old-growth oak forests. The species' frost-tolerant characteristic also make it a target in the wild of irresponsible collectors.

HABITAT: This species lives in maritime evergreen oak forests and in Georgia's outer Coastal Plain. It is found across the Southeast's Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana; Eastern Mexico has a separate population.

SWAP PHOTO CONTEST: The Great Georgia Photo SWAP contest, a new project sponsored by the Georgia Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), highlights nearly 30 high-priority species in all eco-regions of the state as listed in Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP).

Unaltered and original photos submitted by citizens to swap@gaconservancy.org will be posted on the Georgia Conservancy's Web site, and participants will be awarded prizes each month as well as a digital camera grand prize for the person who submits the most photos over the course of the one-year project. The Species of the Week schedule includes animals such as the painted bunting, gopher tortoise and bottle-nosed dolphin.

Online:
** State Wildlife Action Plan: www.georgiawildlife.com/statewildlifeactionplan_conservation.aspx
** Georgia Conservancy: www.georgiaconservancy.org
** Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division: www.georgiawildlife.com
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Conservation Landscaping Comes Home

/PRNewswire/ -- As homeowners seek more sustainable, energy-efficient homes, developers are recognizing the role that effective landscape architecture combined with shade can play.

In recent years, the demand for "green" has focused primarily on the residential structure. Now, builders and developers are turning their attention to the landscape surrounding each dwelling, to help create greater energy efficiency inside homes.

Shade trees, hedges and vines

Landscaping professionals have long promoted the benefits of trees, hedges, and vines to provide cooling summer shade. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, trees placed strategically around buildings can save up to 56% on annual air-conditioning costs; trees also reduce storm-water runoff, and remove carbon dioxide and other harmful air pollutants. (For more, visit Trees Pay Us Back.)

Pragmatically, not every dwelling can be surrounded on all sides by shading greenery. And in new developments, it can take up to 15 years before the benefits of newly planted trees and shrubs are fully realized.

Awnings and canopies

Where location, climate or existing hardscape prevent the planting of trees, shrubs and vines, or around newer buildings with less mature plants, fabric awnings and canopies are an energy-saving addition to sustainable landscape design.

When added above windows and doors, awnings can significantly reduce home cooling energy use. "Energy efficiency is really the number one concern with green or sustainable buildings, and awnings can directly affect energy use by simply blocking the sun," according to John Carmody, Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University of Minnesota. "Heat gain through the windows is one of the main reasons why buildings need air conditioners. . . We found that awnings make quite a difference in the cooling energy equation. In some climates you can save 20 to 25 percent of your cooling energy just by using awnings."

Awnings and canopies add style, functionality and sustainability to hardscapes, and are more economical to build and maintain than comparable masonry and wood structures. From a conservation landscaping perspective, awnings placed on or near a home can significantly reduce energy consumption for cooling.

To promote the benefits of adding fabric structures to landscape designs, the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA) launched www.DesignWithAwnings.com. The site provides landscape architects and designers with ideas and information about incorporating awnings and canopies into their designs.

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Food preservation doesn’t save money for everyone

There are many reasons for preserving food at home. Some have to do with satisfaction, creativity or family tradition. Another may be economical. The practice may save money for some, but doesn’t for everyone.

If you are going to try and save money by freezing or canning produce at home, find low-cost sources for the raw food. To determine if you can save money this way, compare the cost of similar foods purchased at the grocery store.

Food and equipment costs

Food costs -- whether home grown or purchased -- can be a variable expense, depending on your situation. The cost of additional ingredients can also vary widely. You may just need sugar or fruit juice for packing fruits in containers, or your recipe may include herbs, spices, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic or other ingredients.

The cost of equipment, such as a freezer or canner, can be significant if you are just starting out. Supplies such as packaging, funnels, jars and lids factor into the equation, too, as well as the energy of running stoves and freezers.

If you assign a monetary value for your time, the expense of producing preserved items at home can suddenly become significant.

Canning

The two most common forms of food preservation are canning and freezing. Many foods can also be dehydrated for longer-term storage.

Canning can be less expensive than freezing, but more time and energy are spent to prepare and process the foods. There are risks associated with canning foods. Specific preserving methods must be used to keep the food safe when stored at room temperatures. Food can spoil and make you sick if canning directions are not followed exactly.

One cost to consider when canning is jars, which cost $8 to $14 a dozen. Jars can be used for many years if handled carefully. If taken care of properly, ring bands should last for years also. The flat lids, however, need to be purchased every year.

Freezing

Freezing is a faster way to prepare food for long-term storage than canning or drying. Frozen produce, if carefully preserved, tastes fresher than food preserved using other methods.

It costs between 38 cents and 50 cents a year to maintain a freezer for one pound of food. In general, chest freezers are less expensive to run, but upright freezers can be more convenient. Better insulated freezers can cost more, but cost less to operate.

A well-managed freezer can save time, energy and gas from fewer trips to the store. To get the most out of your freezer, freeze only foods that the family likes to eat, and in amounts that can be served at one time.

When freezing foods, be sure to use proper packaging to protect flavor, color, moisture content and nutritional value from the dry conditions of the freezer.

Freezer containers should be moisture-vapor resistant, durable, leak proof, flexible, crack resistant and easy to seal and mark. Rigid plastic containers can be used for liquids. Freezer bags and wraps are more suitable for dry-pack products that contain little or no liquid.

Vacuum packaging is a great choice for maintaining food quality and is fairly easy to do. Just be sure to read the instructions on how to package wet and dry foods. Vacuum packaging removes the air that can lead to drying, oxidation and off-flavors, even at freezer temperatures.

Vacuum packaging does add additional expenses to home food preservation. The packaging is more expensive than other flexible bags and wraps, and of course, there is the initial cost for the appliance.

There are different preservation methods for many foods. Choose one that works for your family and produces the form of food you like.

Saving money may not be the major goal in preserving food at home. You might find the effort and expense worth the value of creating your own food supply, supporting local farmers in your community or passing along family traditions.

By Elizabeth Andress
University of Georgia

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Choosing The Right Mulch

(NAPSI)-If you're looking for a simple way to add new life to a garden, boost curb appeal or spruce up your landscaping, it could be time to start mulching.

Mulch can improve the health of soil and plants by minimizing weed growth and retaining water and nutrients. Plus, a thick layer of mulch helps protect roots from cold weather and extreme heat-all while helping to define flower beds and "edge out" bushes and trees.

All mulch, however, is not created equal. Yard experts say using the right type can save you work and money in the long run.

For instance, mulch made from wood, gravel or straw often needs to be replaced a few times throughout the year. But mulch made from recycled rubber requires little to no maintenance and lasts years without fading, decomposing, compacting or losing its original beauty. International Mulch Company even manufactures recycled rubber mulches that look just like their natural counterparts. In addition to being used in gardens and beds, the mulches can be spread under playground equipment to keep children safe.

An added bonus: The mulch keeps tires out of landfills. In fact, by the end of the year, the company will have recycled more than 200 million pounds of rubber into a full suite of landscaping and playground products-from mulch to mats, and timbers to tree rings. Try these additional mulching tips:

Pre-Mulching

Thoroughly rake and weed the area you plan to mulch before adding any ground cover. You might also consider using landscape paper to prevent the growth of unwanted grass or plants in a mulched garden.

How Much Mulch?

About 2.5 cubic yards of wood mulch will provide 4-inch deep coverage to 200 square feet of garden. But with rubber mulch you only need 11/2 inches as it doesn't compact. You can find a number of mulch coverage charts and calculators online to help you get a more precise understanding of your needs.

Spreading Mulch

Generally, you'll only need a rake and shovel to spread mulch. Start with a pile in the middle of the area to be mulched and spread the ground cover toward the garden's edges. After the mulch has been spread, fill in bare or thin spots by hand and water thoroughly.

For more information, visit www.internationalmulch.com or call (866) 936-8524.

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Lengthen the life of your cut flowers

(ARA) - In the mood to bring the bounty of the outdoors inside? The amazing colors, fragrances and textures of your flower garden can easily be brought indoors, arranged and appreciated throughout the summer and fall months.

Here are a few simple steps from FTD.com you can use to ensure that your flowers last longer:

* Pick flowers in early morning or in the evening, when stems are fully hydrated and not stressed from midday heat.

* Take a tall bucket with lukewarm water with you and immerse the stems as you gather.

* Cut the stems on an angle with a sharp, clean knife or pruners, to allow greater uptake of water through the stem.

* Once all the flowers are gathered, re-cut the stems underwater and strip away any foliage that will fall below the waterline once stems are placed in a vase.

* Arrange the flowers in a clean vase filled with room-temperature water and floral food.

* Place arrangements out of direct sunlight and away from any drafty areas.

Here are some other tips from FTD.com that will make creating a bouquet from your flower garden an easy and rewarding task:

* Use a mixture of focal flowers like lilies, roses and peonies; filler flowers like gypsophila, lady's mantle and Queen Anne's Lace and line flowers like liatrus, larkspur and delphinium. Using these three types of flowers will make your arrangement a dynamic piece of art you will be proud to display.

* A beautiful trend in flower arrangements is to include ornamental grasses, such as wheat, zebra grasses and millet grasses to add texture and interest to your garden and bouquets.

* Some of the foliage that you are stripping from the stems of your flowers may be used as an ornamental green in your bouquet, adding another level of texture into your arrangement.

* Choose interesting containers and vases with a touch of color and texture to bring out the beauty of your arrangement.

* Be aware that certain flowers will not re-bloom for up to two years after being cut. This is mostly true for bulb plants, such as daffodils and tulips.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Thwart thistle take-over on “Gardening in Georgia”

Thistle flowers are beautiful. But the damage the invasive plant can do in a pasture or landscape is not. Find out how to thwart its takeover on “Gardening in Georgia with Walter Reeves” July 11 and 15.

"Gardening in Georgia” airs on Georgia Public Broadcasting stations across the state each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., and repeats Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Many architects say to plant vines to hide mistakes. Show host Walter Reeves doesn’t agree, nor does his guest Hank Bruno. The pair will showcase several favorite vines that decorate a large building and talk about how vines can enhance the beauty of a building.

It’s heartbreaking to harvest the first few squash and then have the vine collapse, it seems, overnight. The squash vine borer is hurting plants throughout Georgia right now. Watch to find out how to stop it.

Beautiful but deadly might describe a pitcher plant bog. Jenny Cruse-Sanders takes Reeves to a bog and opens up a pitcher plant to see what it had for breakfast.

“Gardening in Georgia” is produced by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and is supported by a gift from McCorkle Nurseries.

Learn more about the show and download useful publications at the Web site www.gardeningingeorgia.com.

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Tips to prevent fire ants

(ARA) - Fire ants are very serious and territorial insects. They are not only a nuisance to your property; they can harm you, your children and your pets. Being able to identify fire ants, where they live, treatments for prevention, working with your neighbors for season-long control, and what to do if you are stung are all very important elements to educate yourself and family on in order to be fire ant-free.

Identifying fire ants and their mounds
Fire ants are small insects. They range in size from 1/16 to 1/5 of an inch long and are dark red and brown. A fire ant mound can be identified by its dome-shaped, soil-based structure that forms the upper most part of a fire ant colony. Their mounds can reach up to 12 inches or more in diameter and height and are usually found where water is nearby and the soil is damp.

Fire ants are hard workers and compile loose soil and other contents in the surrounding area to build their mounds. Mounds are typically visible in yards as soil granules form a "mound" shape, but are small and often hidden in grasses, weeds, under rocks and other landscaping. Mounds can pop up almost anywhere, but common places to watch for them include: Lawns and ornamental planting areas, patios, sidewalks, curbs, flower beds, compost piles, under trees and around electrical equipment. Be sure to keep an eye for fire ant mounds when you are enjoying parks, on golf courses, sports fields and any other places you, your kids or pets may walk through or play in.

Two-Step Method
There are two common approaches for effectively controlling fire ants -- broadcast treatments and mound treatments. For large yards and early season prevention, use a broadcast treatment, such as Over 'n Out Fire Ant Killer or AMDRO FireStrike to treat the entire yard. For smaller areas when visible mounds are present, use a mound treatment such as AMDRO Fire Ant Bait directly around individual mounds.

For the most comprehensive control, especially in the case of severe infestation, experts recommend a Two-Step Method using both broadcast and mound treatment. First use a broadcast spreader to treat your entire lawn. Then, treat particularly stubborn mounds you see with AMDRO Fire Ant Bait to eliminate fire ant activity in as little as one week.

It is an ant's nature to pick up food and bring it into the colony to feed to the queen and other ants. Ants believe that bait and AMDRO Fire Ant Bait are food. You feed the worker ants and they in turn, feed the queens. As the bait works, it destroys the colony.

Quite the opposite, but with the same results, fire ants unknowingly pick up Over 'n Out Fire Ant Killer on their bodies, carry it back to the mound, and distribute it to other colony members including the queen. Fire ants ingest it or absorb it through the cuticle, killing them and destroying the colony.

By using both a mound treatment and a broadcast treatment together, you achieve season-long control.

Neighborhood programs
The best way for homeowners to prevent fire ant infestations is to coordinate treatment with neighbors. A coordinated effort among neighbors maximizes the treated area, making it harder for fire ants to find a place to re-colonize. A neighborhood Two-Step Method is the most effective way to control and prevent fire ants for season-long control.

Studies show that areas with diligent neighborhood fire ant control programs, where multiple homeowners treat their lawns at the same time with the same fire ant control product, can reduce the number of active mounds by as much as 96 percent.

Treating fire ant stings
Fire ants bite and then inflict painful stings, which cause small blisters or pustules on the skin, typically up to 24 to 48 hours later. If you, your child, or your pet is stung by fire ants, it is important to follow first aid guidelines and to seek medical attention immediately if there is any suspicion of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions include severe swelling, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, headaches and sweating.

If blisters occur, make sure they are clean and avoid any action that might further irritate the area, such as scratching or rubbing. Rinse the sting area with cold water and gentle soap to avoid infection and elevate the affected area of the body. You can use a cool compress or ice to reduce swelling and alleviate pain and itching.

Summer is the season to enjoy the outdoors. Now is the time to educate yourself and family on fire ants. Being able to identify fire ants and their mounds, proper treatments and handling stings are all extremely important to avoid fire ant infestation. Take time to educate yourself and family and enjoy a fire ant-free season.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Miracle gardening products most likely aren’t

From diet pills to wrinkle cream, if a product sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. Cable television and the Internet are filled with advertisements for wonder products. With gardening being a favorite outdoor activity, many of these so-called miracle products are designed with gardeners in mind.

One example is foolproof pesticides that are supposed to eradicate everything from Japanese beetles to millipedes. And herbicides that will supposedly last for months and eradicate almost any weed.

I recently heard a radio advertisement for a product that claims to kill Japanese beetles 'year-round. Being a Master Gardener, trained by the University of Georgia, I didn’t believe this claim for a minute. Unfortunately, the average homeowner or novice gardener may.

To avoid being burned by the latest revolutionary product, gardeners should read product labels thoroughly.

And it doesn’t hurt to know a little chemistry. Become familiar with potential active ingredients such as glyphosate, bifenthrin, triclopyr, cyfluthrin, imidacloprid, trifluralin and spinosad.

When using a new gardening product, ask yourself a few questions: Are there any potential hazards? Will the product harm pets, wildlife or bees? Can it be safely applied in or near vegetable gardens or near a water source?

Before you purchase a product based on a flashy TV advertisement, do some personal homework. One good resource is the Web site www.GeorgiaTurf.com. Here consumers can find unbiased research-based recommendations.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Web site at www.epa.gov/agriculture/pesticide.html lists the different types of pesticides and their requirements.

For in-depth information on managing pests, see the UGA Pest Management Handbook online at www.ent.uga.edu/pmh/ or contact your local UGA Cooperative Extension Office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Know the facts before getting drawn in by advertising claims that are likely too good to be true.

By Charlie Christian
Georgia Master Gardener

Charlie Christian is a Morgan County Master Gardener and an avid gardener.
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