USDA seizes more than 1,200 illegal giant snails

USDA seizes more than 1,200 illegal giant snails http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=I8ykpyfi (from @AP)

Lawn removal in parched California draws fine

Lawn removal in parched California draws fine http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=dON8FRQt (from @AP)

50,000 bees living in NYC ceiling

Un-bee-lievable: 50,000 bees living in NYC ceiling http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268744/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=pNDwbbxd (from @AP)

New go-to career for New England's young: Farming

New go-to career for New England's young: Farming http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268773/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=4IL6YQl7 (from @AP)

California drought: 17 communities could run out of water within 60 to 120 days, state says

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_25013388/california-drought-17-communities-could-run-out-water

Fall Planting Tips

Summer veggies were just the first round http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268802/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=L65iglCz (from @AP)

California cemeteries work to cope with drought

California cemeteries work to cope with drought http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=8U8CG7ln (from @AP)

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Figs

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Figs - http://huff.to/1Bq6DOW

Lake Mead Water Impacts

A look at Lake Mead's water levels, impact http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268743/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=qVgNvHYN (from @AP)

Wildlife refuges phasing out GMO crops, pesticides

Wildlife refuges phasing out GMO crops, pesticides http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=FLy50TeL (from @AP)

National wildlife refuges around the country are phasing out genetically modified crops and a class of pesticides related to nicotine in programs meant to provide food for wildlife.

Q & A About Lake Erie Toxic Algae

Questions and answers about Lake Erie toxic algae http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=OzEtFk21 (from @AP)

Ohio Water Ban Lifted

Tainted Ohio water coming under increased scrutiny http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=059JWJN9 (from @AP)

"Toledo's mayor lifted the water advisory Monday morning after dozens of tests over the weekend showed an algae-induced toxin contaminating Lake Erie had dropped to safe levels following intensive chemical treatments."

'Gluten-free' labeling standards kick in

'Gluten-free' labeling standards kick in http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=702DB4Nd (from @AP)

Tree of 40 Fruit

The Gift Of Graft: New York Artist's Tree To Grow 40 Kinds Of Fruit http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/03/337164041/the-gift-of-graft-new-york-artists-tree-to-grow-40-kinds-of-fruit?sc=18&f=

Ohio Water Ban Due to Toxins from Algae Blooms

Ohio water ban enters 3rd day http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=b5bC4mee (from @AP)

"Water plant operators along western Lake Erie have long been worried about this very scenario as a growing number of algae blooms have turned the water into a pea soup color in recent summers, leaving behind toxins that can sicken people and kill pets.

In fact, the problems on the shallowest of the five Great Lakes brought on by farm runoff and sludge from sewage treatment plants have been building for more than a decade."

Making Way for Cool Annuals

Summer annuals need to come out of garden to make way for cool season annuals

By Tony Tomeo

Silicon Valley Community Newspapers

Posted:   09/17/2012 07:37:42 PM PDT

Here in the mild climates on the West Coast, the difficulty of getting new cool- season annuals into the garden to bloom through autumn and winter is not selecting, procuring and installing the new annuals; it is the removal of the warm-season annuals while they are still blooming and looking so good. Knowing that planting new annuals sooner than later will get them an earlier start is not always much consolation....

To read the full article, click here.

West Nile Virus: Control Mosquito Population with Rosy Minnows

The first West Vile victim of the year in Contra Costa County was confirmed last week.  Thankfully she is reported only mildly ill, and is expected to make a full recovery.  To read the full article, click here.

Photo: Rosy Minnows

To help combat the spread of this disease, please eliminate potential breeding sites for mosquitos.  Mosquitos only need a few tablespoons of water to complete a life cycle.  For those of you who have ponds, consider purchasing mosquito-eating fish.  

I purchased rosy minnows at our local pet shop for our two small ponds.  They only cost 10 cents each, and I purchased $2 worth of fish for our two ponds!  I have had them for about a year, and I have not seen any mosquito larvae since introducing them to the ponds.  I do not have to feed them because they get plenty of food from the pond, and I also do not have to do anything extra to treat the water.  I definitely prefer keeping these pretty little fish over chemically treating the water for mosquito larvae.    

Free Mosquitofish.  Contra Costa County's Mosquito and Vector Control District is also offering free mosquitofish to its residents.  If you do not live in Contra Costa County, try checking your local Mosquito & Vector Control District or go to your local pet shop and purchase rosy minnows as a substitute.

Report Neglected Pools.  Neglected pools, spas and ornamental ponds are a big problem with the rising foreclosure rates.  Contra Costa Residents can report neglected pools here.  

More Information on West Vile Nirus.  For more information about the West Vile Virus and how to protect yourself, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.

Drought brings back memories of 1988 crop losses

Article Written By Christine Stebbins  | Reuters 

Just one year ago Jeff Scates saw the worst flooding on his southern Illinois farmland since 1937. Today, Scates is watching his corn fields shrivel from the driest season in 24 years.

"We've gone from one extreme to the other, from being flooded on three-quarters of the farm now to a drought," said Scates, 42, who with his family members farms 15,000 acres of corn, soybeans and other crops along the Kentucky-Indiana border where the Ohio and Wabash Rivers meet.

Scates said his corn is still in better shape than many fields of his neighbors, who farm sandier soils that do not retain moisture. Moisture is needed to develop a strong root system to sustain plants in the hottest months of July and August.

He says this growing season is reminiscent of the summer of 1988, when the central Corn Belt had significant crop losses. Field conditions were hot and dry early this spring, similar to what happened 24 years ago when local crops, especially corn, were disseminated by lack of summer rains.

"Clearly it's one of these nasty droughts. If it doesn't surpass 1988, it certainly is going to rival it or be among the so-called great droughts we've had in the past 30 years," said Bob Nielsen, extension agronomist at Purdue University, who recalled his time as a crop advisor in 1988 to Indiana farmers....


For Full Story, click here.

Eta Aquarrids Meteor Shower This Weekend

The Eta Aquarrids meteor shower will appear this weekend.  For more details, click here.

College Football Stadium Converted into an Urban Farm

Photo: Credit

Paul Quinn College turned its football stadium into a 2-acre urban farm so that it can:

1. Help address the lack of affordable, healthy food options available to economically depressed areas in the City of Dallas; 
2. Create a replicable model for achieving sustainable urban re-development built around providing safe food options to economically depressed communities; and 
3. Create a facility that will deliver preventative health care (that focuses on nutrition and exercise) to the underserved community surrounding the College.

For the full story, click here.