LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID)

The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) has written an article about how we can as homeowners and gardeners, do our "bit" for helping to protect watersheds. It's an interesting, if huge, article to read.
I will try to address this again over the next week or so with some practical ideas. I know that as gardeners, we really do feel a large pull in the direction of helping to preserve our natural resources. This is definitely a way to go. So, as I've said before, "Stay tuned!"

Here's just the very beginning of the article to whet your appetite for more. The entire article can be found on the link "an article" found (above) in the first sentence. I've included the definition of the word "watershed" (above) as well for those who are not entirely sure of what that word means.

"Low Impact Development (LID) has emerged as a highly effective and attractive approach to controlling stormwater pollution and protecting developing watersheds and already urbanized communities throughout the country..."
"....One of the primary goals of LID design is to reduce runoff volume by infiltrating rainfall water to groundwater, evaporating rain water back to the atmosphere after a storm, and finding beneficial uses for water rather than exporting it as a waste product down storm sewers. The result is a landscape functionally equivalent to predevelopment hydrologic conditions, which means less surface runoff and less pollution damage to lakes, streams, and coastal waters..."

APPLES

I think I missed all the apples somewhere!
Yesterday I went to our local orchard. The sales room was closed and there were NO bags of apples there. No cider either!
The orchardist was in the back moving stuff around, and since we're friends, I just went back and asked about apples. All that were left were Mac's. Hmmm... Macintosh apples are not my favorite. My favorites are Macoun apples. But I got a bag of Mac's, asked about the missing cider, and got a gallon of that from the back as well.
I went home feeling like I had missed a whole season here. Usually we get a few bags of Macouns before the season is done. This year we'd been out of town for awhile and then pretty busy, hence the lack of Apple Season! I hope you didn't have a similar experience.
Fortunately the orchard will be open the weekend before Thanksgiving so I can stock up on cider and some more Mac's for the grandchildren.

PLANT A TREE!

Here's something to think about. It is perhaps a bit late in the season to be planting trees, but think about this project for the spring. It's something we, as gardeners, can do throughout our communities and gardens. PLANT A TREE, AND HELP SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!
Here's part of an article I read yesterday, and it speaks volumes to all of us!


KENYAN STARTS TREE-PLANTING CAMPAIGN

By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer Wed Nov 8, 9:12 AM ET

NAIROBI, Kenya - A Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner called on people around the world to plant 1 billion trees in the next year, saying Wednesday the effort is a way ordinary citizens can fight global warming.

Wangari Maathai, who in 2004 became the first black African woman to win a Nobel in any category, urged participants to ensure the trees thrive long after they are planted.

"It's one thing to plant a tree, it's another to make it survive," said Maathai, who founded Kenya's Green Party in 1987 and focused on planting trees to address the wood fuel crisis here.

Maathai said the campaign is meant to inspire ordinary citizens to help the environment.

"This something that anybody can do," Maathai said Wednesday at the U.N. conference on climate change, which has drawn delegates from more than 100 countries to Kenya..."

CHORES FOR NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

Now's the time to plant paperweight narcissus, hyacinths and amaryllis (indoors) for beautiful color and aroma on New Year's Day!

If you've had enough freezing days to render the ground hard,
begin to mulch roses and other shrubs, etc.

Putting wire guards on the bases of tree trunks will prevent mouse
damage.

Wrap plants in burlap for winter protection. Do NOT use plastic!
They can't breathe any better inside plastic than you can.

If you haven't fertilized your lawn or garden yet, now's the time!

Use anti-desiccant to prevent loss of water during the long winter if you haven't already.

It's a good idea to be sure your power equipment works properly. Now is the best time to take them to the shop for repairs and upkeep.

Wrap the trunks of smaller trees with plastic wrap, or wire mesh to protect them from rodents.

Add leaves and the last bits of cut grass to the compost.

Cover your compost heap or bin with plastic to keep the nutrients from being leached out from winter rain and snow.

Water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.

As you do that, check them for diseased foliage and remove it. Remember anything diseased should go into the garbage, NOT the compost.

If you have any left over bulbs, for goodness sake PLANT THEM NOW!!!

Are you going to have a live Christmas Tree? Dig the hole now, then cover the hole and the dirt you removed, so you can easily plant it when the time comes.

Any questions about November?

TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON THE BIRDS!

Now that the gardening year (outside) is over, it's time to think about the birds. You'll notice I have added Duncraft to my list of advertisers. I hope if you're needing supplies for feeding your feathered friends, you might consider going to that website and getting yourself some quality stuff. I've used Duncraft for years and really like it. If you don't feel like searching in my side bar, here's a link to Duncraft you can use. Their items also make wonderful Christmas Gifts!
The other thing I have been doing for almost 20 years, is participating in the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology Feeder Watch. It's a great way to find out what birds, and how many, frequent your feeders all winter.
This year, Cornell is looking for more FeederWatchers. If you think this is something you might like to do, here is their little press release.

"Project FeederWatch needs your help to keep track of the birds at your
feeders this winter. Count birds as often as two days each week from
November 11 to April 6. Your counts will help scientists monitor changes
in feeder bird populations. New participants receive a research kit with
easy to follow instructions, the Feeder Watcher's handbook, a
bird-identification poster, a calendar, and a subscription to the
newsletter of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (U.S.) or Bird Studies
Canada (Canada). For more information or to sign up in the U.S., please
visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/ or call (800) 843-2473; if in
Canada, please visit http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/pfw.html or call
(888) 448-2473. A $15 fee ($35 in Canada) makes the program possible."

I hope you'll consider doing this. I think it's a wonderful way to continue with our great outdoors all through the winter.