Of Slot Boxes and Wooden Eggs – Deterring the House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is perhaps the most adaptable and prolific bird species on the planet. Often called English Sparrow, its scientific name Passer domesticus is Latin for small, active bird belonging to the house. It is native to Europe and has spread to all corners of the world. Its adaptation follows...
Ash Trees—a Celebration and a Lament
Anegada: Beautiful Beaches, Queen Conchs, Iguanas and…Cats
Jeanne and I recently traveled to the most remote island of the British Virgin Islands—Anegada. Most mornings, we were the only people on the beach at the Anegada Beach Club. The beaches here are the most beautiful we have ever experienced with white sand and crystal clear water loaded with...
Emerald Ash Borers are in Swoope
The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is a destructive, non-native insect that kills all species of ash trees. First discovered in Michigan in 2002 it has spread to thirty-three states and is confirmed in all six of the Chesapeake Bay watershed states. They have arrived in Augusta County, Virginia in full...
Four Compelling Reasons Cats Need to be Indoors
The debate between cat lovers and bird lovers is not a new one and steeped with passion on both sides. The debate usually ends in a stalemate: cats kill birds but it's not the cat's fault - it's their nature. Rarely does the discussion deviate from these two fundamental issues....
Riparian Buffer Management – Control Invasives, Encourage Natives
As summer moves closer to autumn it seems there are more native plants in the various riparian buffers we have around the farm. Butterfly weed, jewelweed, wingstem, purpletop, and many other plants are in bloom now. However; there are many invasive, non-native plants in bloom as well. Invasive Species Control...
Why I Hate Tall Fescue
Note: This article was written for the Bay Journal News Service which was published on May 27, 2014. It was titled, "Please, Step on This Grass". Click here for a pdf copy. I was in the Farm Coop store the other day in line to buy some garden seeds. The...
Native Plants Can Be Invasive
I finally found a plant that will take over tall fescue – wingstem, but I’m not sure I like it. Let me explain. Both plants are invasive, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a non-native invasive plant; wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) is a native plant that is invasive. Invasive Plant Definition What...
Quackgrass: Far Better Than Tall Fescue or Orchardgrass
Several days ago we had "just one more" chore: letting the cows into the hay lot behind Wesley’s house so they could eat the grass down. There is no fence between the hay lot and hay field so we put up some fake electric fence and parked the truck...
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