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It can be impossible to keep all the dietary buzzwords straightvegan, pescatarian, flexitarian, paleofruitiarian? So where does "plant-based" eating fit in?

First of all, unlike some of these other concepts, plant-based eating is not a diet, and its definitely not a passing fad. Its simply a new label for an eating style that has been around forever, says nutritionist Wendy Bazilian, Dr.P.H., R.D.N. Its a guide, a road map to help you move toward health, while allowing for a lot of flexibility.

Plant-based covers a lot of dietary ground. Bazilian points out that a while a vegan diet is certainly plant-based, so is a lifestyle in which you eat vegetarian most of the time, but indulge in turkey on Thanksgiving, or your mothers pot roast during Sunday dinner. In fact, some of the worlds most popularand healthiestdiets, are plant-based by nature, while still including small amounts of meat. The Mediterranean diet, widely considered to be one of the healthiest eating styles in the world, includes fish, chicken, some low-fat dairy, and the occasional bite of red meat.

Some of the worlds most popularand healthiestdiets, are plant-based by nature.

The American diet has long featured a big hunk of meat in the center of the plate, with a few vegetables scattered on the side as an afterthought. Plant-based simply means switching that equation around. Food grown from the earth, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains, are front and centerbasically, the A-listers of your platewhile food derived from animals, such as beef, poultry, fish, and dairy, play more of a supporting role. Its not all-or-nothing, says Bazilian, who is also an ambassador for California Walnuts. You dont have to go entirely meat-free to be more plant-based. Plant-based also means eating more whole foods, while cutting down on processed foods.

Henrik SorensenGetty Images

As Bazilian points out, not all plant-based diets are equal. You can eat potato chips, white rice, and carrot cake and call it plant-based, but it will not do much for your health or weight. In fact, one large study found that while a plant-based diet focused on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables significantly lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease, a "plant-based" diet that included high-sugar, high-fat, processed foods such as sweets and soda, as well as refined grains and potatoes, had the opposite effect.

But if you stick with the plant-based foods you know are actually healthy, the benefits can include:

A lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes

A lower risk of heart disease

A lower risk of developing cancer

A lower rate of cognitive decline

A potentially higher rate of fertility

Even more important: If you're concerned with the increasingly alarming news about climate change, switching to a plant-based diet can help the planet by reducing global greenhouse emissions, reducing land clearing, and helping preserve the habitats of endangered species.

Because "plant-based diet" is such a broad term, there is no clear answer about this, but everything points to yes for weight loss, says Bazilian. Vegetables are high in nutrients and low in calories, she explains. Plus they have higher satiety, so you dont have those energy highs and lows, and you dont get as many cravings. In one study, overweight and obese subjects who followed a low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet (with no calorie restrictions) for six months lost an average of 26 pounds.

Henrik SorensenGetty Images

Though it takes a little more planning, you can get all the protein you need from plants. In fact, Bazilian points out that several world-class athletes, including the most powerful of them all, Serena Williams, thrive on vegan or plant-based diets. Here are some protein-packed plant-based options:

Tofu, 13 g protein per 3 oz. (try Hodo Moroccan Tofu Cubes)

Walnuts, 4g protein per 1/4 cup. (try this Walnut Balsamic Spinach Salad recipe)

Tempeh, 16g protein per 3 oz (try Lightlife Organic Tempeh)

Edamame, 12 g protein per 2/3 cup (try this Edamame Hummus recipe)

Chickpeas, 7g per 1/2 cup (try Banza Chickpea pastas)

Black beans. 7g protein per 1/2 cup. (try this Santa Fe Corn Salad recipe)

Peanut butter, 7g protein per 2 Tbsp (try Justin's Classic Peanut Butter)

Steel Cut Oats, 4g protein per 1/2 cup (try Bob's Red Mill Organic Steel Cut Oats)

Quinoa, 8g protein per 1/4 cup (try Lundberg Organic Tri-Color Quinoa)

Start by adding more plants to meals you already love, Bazilian suggests. "There are 21 meals in a week, so start by adding add fruits or vegetables to one a day. For example, if you eat eggs and toast for breakfast, add salsa, spinach, or avocado. If you add a soup or salad to your lunch or dinner every day, you'll be getting nutrient-dense vegetables."

As for your main dishes, Bazilian points out that while the popular new meatless meats, such as the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat, are plant-based, they are also highly processed. You can get that meaty satisfaction from foods that are inherently healthy and not processed, like burgers made from mushrooms, or chorizo made from walnuts and black beans, she says.

"Transition to a plant-based diet step-by-step, and its easy," says Bazilian. "Its a no-risk proposition."

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Read more here:
Here's Exactly What You Can and Can't Eat on a Plant-Based Diet - Prevention.com

THE celebrated Australian inventors behind the Flow Hive have launched an online education platform to save beekeepers endless hours of trawling through forums and videos.

Flow Hive has invested nearly $500,000 and two years creating the online portal to help educate novice backyard beekeepers and encourage conservation.

The portal features contributions from leading academics, researchers, educators, scientists, and authors.

Some of the experts who have contributed to TheBeekeeper.org website are: Professor Dave Goulson, a Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, who specialises in bumblebee ecology and conservation; Doug Purdie, co-founder of The Urban Beehive, an initiative that maintains more than 80 beehives on city rooftops, balconies, backyards and in community gardens around Sydney; and James Dorey, a photographer who is currently completing his PhD at Flinders University in Adelaide, looking at the evolution, taxonomy and ecology of Australian and Fijian native bees.

Flow Hive's co-inventor, Cedar Anderson, said while his journey started as an apiarist and quickly turned to the problem-solving task of creating the Flow Hive, bee knowledge had increasingly become a bigger a part of his life.

"The bee knowledge started from keeping hives as kid, but I learnt more as I started a commercial apiary," he said.

Flow Hive continues to take the world by storm.

"I've learnt so much from so many beekeepers from around the world, and talked to so many beekeepers, and to new beekeepers, researching things to answer their questions.

"We have this new product TheBeekeeper.org and we are learning very in-depth information that is fascinating.

"It (beekeeing) is a never-ending learning journey and that's the wonderful thing because it never gets boring."

There isn't a lot of information out there for beginners wanting to access accurate and high quality information when starting out, Mr Anderson said.

"But any beekeeper, regardless of experience, has a responsibility to be acutely aware of the myriad of pests and diseases that the commercial industry is working to protect the industry from," he said.

"It's often said that if you ask two beekeepers one question, you'll get three different answers.

"Beekeeping practices vary greatly in every region, which is why it's so important that beginners have access to expert beekeeping support so they can maintain healthy bees and develop into knowledgeable beekeepers."

Half of the profits made via the online education platform will support habitat regeneration and advocacy for the protection of pollinators.

Flow Hive continues to take the world by storm.

One of the first projects to be funded will see the natural habitats of the green carpenter bee replaced.

These creatures were once prolific from northern NSW down to Kangaroo Island.

Now, the bees are only found in scattered areas after years of land clearing and bushfires destroyed many bee nests.

Flow Hive has also released another new product which is the Flow Hive 2, with seven frames in a western cedar wood.

"It's very popular in North America and Australia," he said.

"That's their favourite wood type for beehives over there and it has been a popular request for some time."

See original here:
This website has the latest buzz from beekeeping experts - Northern Star

IJM Corp Bhd(March 9, RM1.84)Upgrade to hold with a lower target price of RM1.93: IJM Corp Bhds current construction order book is at RM4.5 billion 32% of which constitutes buildings, infrastructure (11%) and roads (56%) declining from RM5.1 billion in the second quarter ended Sept 30, 2019 (2QFY20). Its outstanding tender book is about RM4 billion consisting of domestic projects equally split between infrastructure and building jobs, excluding The Light City project in Penang and the East Coast Rail Link.

For the Light City, terms are being finalised with joint-venture partner Perennial Real Estate Holdings Ltd and an award worth about RM650 million to RM700 million of external construction works could materialise in 1QFY21. The management is confident in maintaining construction profit before tax (PBT) margins at between 6% and 9%, with material prices remaining conducive at the current levels. The construction PBT margin dipping to 5.9% in 3QFY20 was mainly due to higher finance costs concerning a highway project and is not expected to recur.

IJM Corp remains on track to achieve its sales target of RM1.6 billion for the financial year ending March 31, 2020 (FY20) after hitting sales of RM1.2 billion for the cumulative nine months of financial year 2020 (9MFY20). Sales have been mainly driven by projects such as Shah Alam 2, Seremban 2 and Rimbayu. For the first half of 2020 (1H20), IJM Corp is planning to launch projects with a cumulative value of about RM1.4 billion anchored by Rimbayu and Riana Dutamas.

Separately, the management revealed the Royal Mint project in London with a gross development value of 200 million was handed over to buyers in 4Q19 with a take-up of 90%. For the companys property segment, a comfortable PBT margins of above 10% are anticipated.

Its throughput at Kuantan Port remains healthy amid the Covid-19 outbreak. We understand from the management that Alliance Steel (M) Sdn Bhd with an estimated throughput of seven to 10 metre freight weight tonnes per annum is unaffected so far.

Prospects for a sustained throughput growth are intact with new Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park investors such as Maxtrek Tyres for the land clearing phase and NewOcean Energy pending an environmental assessment. Recent investors such as ICP and Camel Power (M) Sdn Bhd started operations on Aug 19 and Oct 19 respectively.

The highway remains a drag on IJM Corps bottom line as at 3QFY20, with share of associate losses of RM27.3 million, bringing the 9MFY20 sum to -RM73.8 million against 9MFY19s RM30.8 million. The quarter saw sections 5, 9 and 10 of the highway opened in September and on Dec 19 respectively, in addition to section 8 opened on May 19, resulting in interest being expensed off (it was previously capitalised).

We gathered all the opened sections began collecting toll fees in January and on March 20 upon which an amortisation recognition starts.

Based on our understanding, sections 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the Selangor stretch are slated to open in 2021 and where we expect a pickup in the overall traffic volume. For the near term, we anticipate a widening loss contribution as a significant volume pickup is unlikely until the Selangor stretch opens.

Our FY20, FY21 and FY22 earnings forecasts are cut by 6.6%, 18.1% and 17.2% after factoring in widening losses from the share of associates offset by increasing our replenishment assumptions for FY21 from RM1 billion to RM1.7 billion after accounting potential wins from the ECRL and The Light City. Hong Leong Investment Bank Research, March 9

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IJM Corp expected to remain on track to meet FY20 sales target - The Edge Markets MY

(CNS): Despite continued calls from the Department of Environment to stop the clearance of mangroves on sites without planning permission, developers are still ripping up these critical species. The Central Planning Authority considered an application for after-the-fact land clearance in Prospect on Wednesday, after a developer removed several acres of mangroves, which were part of an important drainage system, in order to dump soil and store materials to support a nearby condominium development.

Developers behind the Grand Palmyra, a luxury condo development project in the Grand Harbour area, simply removed the partially seasonally flooded mangroves on Block 23C Parcel 233, land which has no planning application history or permissions for development of any kind.

The DoE discovered the latest assault on these critical species during a site visit to the area in late January. Researchers found that the mangroves had been cleared from the interior of the site, using access off the former Prospect Point Road and out of view from the more public Hurley Merren Boulevard.

Not all of the mangroves have been removed and the DoE has insisted that those that remain must be retained. But the clearance was done in such a way that it appears the developer was hoping it would not be seen. Whether that is so the materials expected to be stored there as well as piles of soil would not cause complaints or because the developer was hoping no one would notice is an unanswered question.

However, regardless of the motivations of the developer, the DoE made it clear that this practice has to stop.

This continues the extremely worrying trend of illegally clearing mangroves which the Department of Environment has raised to the Department of Planning on a number of occasions, the department stated in its submissions to the Central Planning Authority, highlighting another seven recent cases of mangrove clearance without any planning permission.

The DoE explained that the missing mangroves at this site had provided critical drainage for the surrounding area and an extremely important buffer for Hurley Merren Boulevard from the sea. They said there was a lot more vacant land in the area that could have been used for storage, as they noted the lack of any consideration for stormwater management on the site, which has now been cleared and filled.

Illegal clearing removes the opportunity for reviewing agencies to provide constructive comments and feedback on best management practices and recommendations for retention of ecologically valuable flora to be retained, which may prove beneficial to the landowners and wider area. In this case, the mangroves provide important drainage for the area. Illegal clearing undermines the consultation process and the planning process, the DoE said.

Once again, the DoE experts urged the planning department to take appropriate measures to avoid illegal clearing, adding that its environment conservation officers cannot intervene in these cases until the Species Conservation Plan for Mangroves has been approved by Cabinet, which has still not been done, leaving this important plant increasingly vulnerable.

We recommend refusal of this application, the DoE told planning. Clearing and filling important drainage areas prior to any imminent development is not a practical approach to stormwater management.

The developers request to planning for after-the-fact permission was brief, giving no indication that the developers had grasped the negative significance of removing the mangroves.

The application for the land clearing on the parcel was intended for the material storage and dump area of the dug-out soil from the construction of Grand Palmyra Development located on Block 22E Parcel 382 which was owned by the same developer, K&B Ltd stated in the application. The land clearing will also be done in purpose for the preparation of the future mixed use development to be built on the lot. We hope that the CPA board would find this application to be acceptable.

The limited justification given to the CPA may be because no sanctions have been given to other developers who unlawfully remove mangroves and undermine the Cayman Islands already limited coastal defences.

See this and all of the other planning applications considered by the CPA on Wednesday in the CNS Library (scroll down to Grand Palmyra development)

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More mangroves illegally cleared - Cayman Islands Headline News - Cayman News Service

RAMBLERS in Wiltshire are worried that too many footpaths are becoming impassable as land owners fail to keep hedges under control.

They are also concerned that Government bodies in charge of rights of way do not have enough funding to help keep them clear.

A West Wilts Ramblers work party led by Paul Millard, the countryside access officer for central Wiltshire, saw the problems for themselves in a village near Devizes.

They have been hard at work in Easterton clearing a path and putting up a bridle gate.

Members found the going tough as the footpath was overgrown and a hedge and brambles had been allowed to get out of control.

Footpath secretary Brian Micklam said: The width was reduced by a fallen fence, including barbed wire, that had collapsed onto the path and was buried under the weight of brambles and tree branches.

I was concerned that the landowner did not realise that encroaching hedges and overhanging vegetation were overgrowing a collapsing fence or that the landowners realised it was their responsibility to keep the path clear.

Now the problem has been discovered it will be the responsibility of Easterton Parish and Wiltshire Rights of Way and Countryside Department to inform the landowner.

Judy Hible the acting chairman of Wiltshire and Swindon Ramblers said that too many paths are becoming unusable.

She said: They are too narrow to be mechanically cleared.

She and Mr Micklam are also worried that the Rights of Way and Countryside Department do not have resources to maintain the footpath network.

Mr Micklam, who last year was presented with a Rambler Association volunteer award, has taken up their fears about the lost paths with Wiltshire Council and his local MP Michelle Donelan.

Originally posted here:
Fears that village footpaths will be lost to walkers - Wiltshire Times

It seems a no-brainer in the desert that harvesting rainwater would be a common practice.

It hasnt been lately, but as the Southwests dwindling water supplies pose growing concerns, the concept of natural irrigation is blossoming, and in the Green Valley area, thats thanks largely to Charlene Westgate.

A landscape designer for 20-plus years and avid desert gardener for 30, the Oklahoma native has soaked up lots about sustainable landscaping in a climate where temperatures swing from triple digits to below freezing, and when it rains, it pours.

Quite shocked to find Arizona so different from the rich soil and plentiful rain in her home state, she applied her landscape background and 12 years in construction design, then set to learning about Southwest horticulture the hard way, she said.

It seems shes found the formula, if attendance at her free educational talks and mushrooming business clientele are indications.

Her company, Westgate Garden Design, launched in 2016, turned a profit within a year, doubled in 2018 and again in 2019, with no signs of withering. She recently hired a draftsperson, a retiree with architectural experience she met at the local Business Expo.

Westgate just began a spring schedule for her free garden talks at Desert Bloom.

Shes awed by her success. Its exceeded my wildest expectations, primarily by word of mouth, she said. A lot of people are caring about (working with nature).

At age 65, she could be retired. Instead, Westgate dove into and still is discovering new information, connections, resources, business contacts, subcontractors and ways to promote water conservation, whether it leads to a paid gig or just making another conservation convert. She loves sharing, as her ongoing community involvement attests, is making lots of friends and reaping valuable feedback.

Her focus: helping garden enthusiasts create and maintain beautiful yards compatible with nature as well as their interests. Her things native plants, which, to anyone from lusher climates, might sound limiting. Not so, with 2,500-plus native species here in one of the worlds most biodiverse collections.

They can be as colorful, shade-producing and rewarding to grow as anything, and less costly and time-consuming to maintain, Westgate said.

And the process is pretty simple, entailing use of strategically placed passive water-collecting basins and swales (shallow depressions resembling small puddles or ditches), which reduce or even eliminate the need to irrigate.

Landscape designer Charlene Westgate is pictured in the rain garden she designed at Desert Meadows Park in Green Valley. To the right is a good example of a swale, or ditch, which collects rainwater to prevent a portion of the nearby Anza Trail from flooding. It also provides water for native plantings along the way, and habitat for birds and butterflies.

Method in motion

Aliceann and Doug Christy were among Westgates first clients after they retired in Sahuarita following years of relocating around the United States for Dougs job in the railroad business.

The water-saving aspect of Charlenes work, which Aliceann learned of at one of the free presentations Charlene does to acquaint the public with desert gardening, Aliceann said.

The Christy yard was already landscaped when the couple bought their house, but as a Master Gardener studying desert gardening, Aliceann foresaw changes. The existing backyard was equally divided between planting area, hardscape (manmade surfaces), statuary and patio accoutrements.

To me, it was stark, not alive, Aliceann said.

Westgate helped the couple with a plan involving removal of 16 existing plants, transplanting others, and adding a couple dozen new low-water lovers that attract birds and butterflies. Goals were set based on an extensive questionnaire of wants.

Depending on those, Westgate consults her Roladex of referrals for applicable contractors, suppliers and artists for the project and to maintain it. Theres no vested interest in what all will be involved; installations done by someone else, Westgate said. She serves as client advocate through project completion.

Except for some hand-watering to establish a young lemon tree, weve used no irrigation since October, Aliceann said.

Their backyard now boasts several small planting basins lined with wood chips, which keep the soil cooler, feed plantings, attract worms and, of course, retain water.

Aliceann Christy and pooch Sophie with their new backyard, designed by Charlene Westgate with input from Aliceann and husband Doug. They wanted a garden full of life to replace the starker one that came with their Sahuarita home, which was nearly void of birds and butterflies. Out came several non-native plants; others were transplanted and new ones added, along with a mountain stream-like water feature. Already, plants are starting to thrive with water-collecting basins such as the one at lower left.

A new pump-driven water feature trickles gently down the backyards slope, adding to the tranquil setting perfect for outdoor get-togethers, potting plants, reading, and enjoying the wildlife.

A former hospital nurse, Aliceann immersed herself in gardening, crediting her early appreciation to her mother and grandmother.

Theres just something about nurturing something and seeing it respond, she said. Its relaxing. It centers me, grounds me. The yard now reflects rusticity, a little wild, but thats what provides coverage for wildlife.

Aliceann has taken other garden-related classes, including one on creating yard art. In the 10 different states the Christys have called home, theyve sought help from many design professionals and truly value their input, she said.

Lessons applied

Aliceann Christy applied skills learned from Charlene Westgate's shared garden tips to revamp her front yard, removing an olive tree then adding three cactus and various sizes of rock for a distinctly more Southwestern feel.

The front yard is Aliceanns baby. With skills learned from Westgate, shes had a thirsty olive tree replaced with three tall saguaros, large landscape rock and stream-style beds where rain can collect. Westgate said shes enjoyed seeing her spread her wings.

The lifestyle sure beats white-knuckling it on the way to work driving icy roads where she used to live, Aliceann said. Westgate chuckles knowingly.

Excerpt from:
NATURE CAN THRIVE IN YOUR YARD! Sustainable landscaping in Sonoran Desert - Green Valley News

For additional information and to register, visit: https://masshort.org/upcoming-classes

Fruit trees pruning and care

When is the best time to prune apple trees? What can I apply to prevent peach leaf curl? Come ask these questions and learn so much more from Stockbridge School of Agriculture Director and Professor of Pomology Wes Autio. He will present a talk on pruning fruit trees in the home landscape and will discuss the physiology of fruiting trees, methods for dwarf-tree pruning, ways to enhance fruit production, and other interesting facts for creating and maintaining a home orchard.

The class will be held at Mass Horts Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington St., Wellesley, on Thursday, March 19, from 7-8:30 p.m. Fee for member is $15, for nonmembers $20.

Fundamentals of landscape design

Have you ever looked at your yard, no matter how big or small, and wanted to create a self-made oasis, but you didnt know where to start? Heres your chance to learn how to create a space that is completely your own from beginning to end.

This six session course, led by Mark Ahronian of Ahronian Landscaping and Design, focuses on landscape design for the do-it-yourself home gardener. He will lead you through all the steps of designing your chosen space and class will include two Saturday morning field trips. One is a visit to Weston Nurseries, where youll learn how to make plant selections. The other visit will be to a home, where we will discuss and visualize design elements. Each participant will leave the class with a complete design of their own making.

Clasess will be held at Mass Horts Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington St., Wellesley, on Tuesdays from March 24-April 14, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and two Saturdays, April 4 and 11, 10 a.m.-noon. Fee for member is $340, for nonmembers $390.

For additional information and to register, visit https://masshort.org/upcoming-classes/

Continued here:
Mass. Hort in Wellesley offers programs - Fall River Herald News

Auburn Universitys campus is foremost a place of learning, but it is also a thriving community of 1,785 acres an area that takes a number of hands and offices to make the Loveliest Village on the Plains live up to its nickname.

Justin Sutton, director of landscape services, said there are about 50 landscapers at Auburn. For daily maintenance, they have six zones, each with a supervisor and five to six employees.

Those are mostly the people you see out and about every day, Sutton said. They maintain their area of responsibility, and that goes everything from mowing grass to trimming shrubs to applying fertilizers.

Sutton said along with maintenance, landscaping has projects they plan and execute. They also assist with capital projects that are installed by a contractor and once the projects are complete, they keep up the maintenance.

He said the cost of maintenance and materials average around $340,000 a year for landscape services. About half of that cost is for the materials used for projects.

Within that number, pine straw and mulch average about $78,000, fertilizer and pesticides $53,000 and soil $3,600 respectively.

This [soil] number is low due to a lot of our soil and amendment coming from our compost yard, and the soil that is milled off of Jordan-Hare Stadium, he said.

Sutton said most of the plants on campus are drought-tolerant. However, their annual colors, like the flowers, rotate frequently, he said.

We grow most of what we put on campus here at our facilities site and our greenhouse, he said.

Sutton said he gives credit to the staff who earn each landscaping award the University receives.

We got a lot of guys who are just dedicated to their job and are proud of what they do, Sutton said. They just keep campus going great no matter what time of year it is.

Morgan Beadles, the director of the Donald E. Davis Arboretum, said the arboretum helps with conservation.

Beadles said the upkeep takes a lot of specialized maintenance and hands-on work with pruning shrubs and fertilizing.

We have a collection to protect, so we cant have big machinery out here, she said. We cant have big, heavy equipment moving around because you have to protect the roots in the collection.

Beadles said the workload is always heavy, but the type of work changes with the seasons.

Theres a balance between it feeling natural and manicured and not overly manicured, but still safe, Beadles said.

Between student employees, repairs and materials, Beadles said they spend about $40,000 a year on maintenance.

She said they get a semi-truck load of pine straw, and this year, they got about 1,568 bales of pine straw.

Through this effort, Beadles said they have won the AU Spirit of Sustainability Award, the Eagle Award from the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and have been the American Public Garden Associations featured garden of the week twice.

Maintaining scenery isnt only about keeping campus visually appealing, but also about providing a learning space for certain majors to gain practical experience.

Some schools make use of Parkerson Mill Creek as a teaching tool for students, but because it runs through campus, it also requires annual cleanup.

All the trash thats on the streets that goes into the gutters ultimately ends up into the creek, and so we try to promote initiatives that keep the campus clean, said Tom McCauley, environmental program manager of Risk Management Services. We try to bring awareness to the fact that the creek is a resource. Its an attribute to campus, and we should try to preserve that as best we can.

Unlike other environmental affairs, the yearly creek cleanup is entirely a student and faculty effort. McCauley said its not financial funding but an investment of time and energy from the Auburn Family that allows the program to exist.

All of our efforts are volunteer efforts, McCauley said. We try to involve faculty and students as best as we can, [and] we try to partner with the City because we have a mutual interest.

Not only has the cleanup benefited major programs like hydrology, aquatic behaviors and ecosystems and engineering, it has additionally helped the University receive a designation for its sustainable water system.

The University was designated as a watershed of excellence, which means weve got the means to promote watershed conservation, McCauley said. Theres no better way to show it by example than creating a watershed here on campus thats a preserved specimen.

McCauley said cleanups usually occur in cooler months during late winter and early spring when volunteers might be more amenable to collect trash.

Several times a year well try to gather some momentum, get some involvement through some campus organizations, McCauley said.

Its latest events were on Feb. 23, in a partnership with Omega Phi Alpha, and on March 1, in association with Alternative Student Breaks. It has one other cleanup planned for the semester on April 4, with the Office of Sustainability in advance of Earth Week.

Waste Reduction and Recycling is the department that sees the rest of campus land and litter maintained each year. This is a significant responsibility for an institution of 30,000 students, and the office receives strong financial backing by the University to uphold its mission: to strive to make recycling accessible and convenient, said Joan Hicken, WRRs manager.

[Our] yearly budget is about $500,000, and the solid waste and recycling collection contract is about $600,000 annually, Hicken said. We want to encourage students, staff, faculty and visitors to incorporate recycling into their daily routine on campus.

A sizable portion of this funding goes into upkeep for WRRs containers and machinery. These include over 400 hand-pick trash bins, 130 front-end loaders for solid waste and 200 95-gallon recycling bins, among other utilities.

Altogether in 2019, the University recycled 371 tons of cardboard, 219 tons of paper, 50 tons of scrap metal, 41 tons of plastic, aluminum and steel and 3.5 tons of printer ink cartridges and toner.

Most notably, WRR collected 2,041 tons of construction and demolition debris from on-campus projects in the past year that included sidewalks and sheds that were destroyed. The removal of Allison Laboratory, while not factored into this count, also brought the department a lot of recycled and reclaimed material.

3,161 tons of concrete, 196 tons of asphalt, 129 tons of metal and 85 tons of wood were removed and recycled, Hicken said. In addition, 45,265 linear feet of lumber was reclaimed for future design use by the University.

All concrete, metal and wood that made up Allison Laboratory was fully recycled by the department, she said.

Football season is perhaps WRRs most important time of year; a plethora of people visiting campus for games means a wave of waste follows and is a high cost for the department.

They started the Gameday Recycling program to bring hundreds of recycling bins in and around Jordan-Hare Stadium to ensure fans put their trash in the proper receptacles.

Gameday Recycling is an opportunity for the University to demonstrate to the campus community that recycling and waste reduction activities are not limited to the home, Hicken said. To provide waste and recycling services for each home football game is on average $15,000 per game. Each home football game generates, on average, 52 tons of waste and recycling.

Hicken said WRR performs its functions in tandem with other offices such as Housing and Residence Life, Tiger Dining, Risk Management Services and Auburn Athletics to achieve the Universitys land-grant mission of improving the lives of Alabamians and people beyond.

The entire campus community plays a role in our progress to becoming a more sustainable campus, Hicken said. There is not an aspect of campus life that is not touched by waste and recycling.

Keeping campus beautiful isnt just a job for a single group. At Auburn, it takes a team of departments and organizations to maintain the campus landscape and promote a loveliness the University seeks to preserve.

Read the original here:
What it takes to maintain the Loveliest Village on the Plains - The Auburn Plainsman

My Brevard Yard(Photo: Submitted photo)

The end of winter is near, and the plants are still not actively growing. Therefore, this is a great time to learn how to care for your lawn, landscape or edible plants without harming the environment.

The health of the Indian River Lagoon is in bad shape, and improper fertilization and cultural practices can lead to nutrients leaching or being carried to the lagoon or the St. Johns Riverin stormwater runoff.

If you are new to Florida, having problems in your yard, or you would like to learn how to maintain your yard properly, a My Brevard Yard site visit could be just what you are looking for.

A trained UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County Master Gardener (or two) will come to your yard and help you with your lawn, ornamentalsand/or edibles, all for just $50.Prior to the site visit, a survey will need to be filled out to give us an idea of past fertilization and irrigation practices.

In addition to help with fertilization and irrigation, many homeowners are interested in receiving information on how to grow edible plants, set their irrigation timer, plant identification andsuggestions for problem areas.MBY site visit recipients can also choose which printed UF/IFAS material on the topics of:Helpful, Harmful, Harmless (insect bug guide); Disorders and Diseases of Palms; Landscaping for Floridas Wildlife or Propagating Fruit Plants in Florida.

All site visits include a soil test, which we collect and mail to the IFAS Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville.

For homeowners who have a lawn care company fertilizing their lawn, the soil test results will help the company apply the correct nutrients and avoidany that are already at a high level.

For homeowners who fertilizer their own lawns, we can teach you how to add the biology (in the form of the soil food web) back to the soil so it can supply your lawn, landscape and edible plants with the nutrients they require.If nutrients are needed at the beginning, until the soil food web is established, an organic fertilizer choice is provided.

Testing the soil is extremely important before fertilizing, for many reasons.Applying phosphorus to a soil that already has enough phosphorus can lead to the excess phosphorus leaching through the soilinto our groundwater.When phosphorus (and nitrogen) reach the groundwater, they become pollutants.

Soil tests that come back showing a low phosphorus level are perfect for inoculating the lawn with beneficial mycorrhizae.Mycorrhizae establish a symbiotic relationship with many plants, including grasses, and high levels of phosphorus inhibit this relationship from forming.

Research at the University of Florida has found that the mycorrhizae Glomus intraradices forms a symbiotic relationship with St. Augustinegrass.After the soil test results are received, a fertilizer recommendation is created for the resident.

In addition to soil testing, we also test irrigation water that comes from a well, pondor surface water.We test for conductivity to determine the salt content.The results of the water test are emailed as quickly as possible, as the test is done here in our office.

An irrigation zone is also calibrated to see if enough water is being applied. The catch-can method is used to check the irrigation output to see if the run time needs to be adjusted.

After the soil and water are collected for testing and an irrigation zone is calibrated, it is the homeowners turn to get answers to all their questions. The questions can range from plant identification, solutions for problem areas, what is wrong with this plant, etc.

Questions about trees and palms are also common during a site visit.

Now is a great time for a site visit, because there is plenty of time to get the soil test results back and provide a fertilizer recommendation in time for fertilizing in April or May, before the fertilizer ban goes into effect.

When the correct fertilizer is appliedat the right time, in the proper amountand watered in correctly, the soil and plants benefit, without harming the environment.If a plant is receiving the correct light conditions and water supply, and it is suffering from insects or disease, then nutritional deficiencies will be the most likely root cause of the pest problem. This is true for non-native and native plants.

There are two important components of a healthy soil that are lacking in most landscapes: organic matter and the presence of beneficial soil microbes that make up the soil food web.

If all the soils within the watershed of the IRL contained at least 5 percent organic matter and were supporting a thriving soil food web, the IRL would be much better off.

Organic matter increases both the nutrient and water-holding capacity of the soil.This would result in the nitrogen and phosphorus staying in the soil and not leaching into the groundwater.

Plus, with increased nutrient-holding capacity, less fertilizer is needed.

One of the many benefits of a healthy soil food web isnutrient cycling. This is how forests and natural areas grow without any help from humans. Organic matter also absorbs rainfall like a sponge, keeping it out of the groundwater and available for the plants to use later.

As it is now, the IRL must contend with both stormwater runoff from all the impervious surfaces throughout the county and the large amounts of rainfall that flows straight through our sandy soils.

If you are interested in a My Brevard Yard site visit, email me at sasc@ufl.edu.

Gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby, especially when the plants are growing well. Let us help you learn the gardening practices that can achieve the results you want.It is possible to grow healthy plants without harming the environment.

Sally Scalera is an urban horticulture agent and master gardener coordinator for the University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences. Email sasc@ufl.edu.

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Having problems with you lawn and garden? My Brevard Yard can help - Florida Today

Carol Cloud Bailey, Special to TCPalm Published 10:03 a.m. ET March 3, 2020 | Updated 1:57 p.m. ET March 9, 2020

Q: How can I get rid of the pink clover growing in my yard? The flowers are pretty enough when they are open, but they close in the afternoon and evening. The patch of clover seems to be getting bigger every year and taking over my lawn.

George

A:When the pink clover shows up in the lawn and landscape, the end of winter is here and spring not far behind. The plant most often seen growing in the lawn with three-part leaves and pink/purple flowers isnt a true clover but an Oxalis.

Pink wood sorrel is often found growing and blooming in Treasure Coast landscapes and lawns in the late winter and early spring. Is it a weed or a desirable flower? That determination is best made by the gardener.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED BY CAROL CLOUD BAILEY)

Oxalis plants are popular as novelties, they are often sold as shamrocks this time of year, and bedding plants for the landscape. There are approximately 30 of the 600 species of Oxalis used as ornamental plants in containers, gardens and landscapes. The leaf color varies from green to blue to silver or burgundy-purple and gold. The leaves and flowers of Oxalis fold up at night and reopen in the daylight. Flowers are small and may be white, pink, red, rose, purple, orange or yellow.

Oxalis debilis also known as pink wood sorrel is the most common plant which grows as a weedy cloverin lawns. It is not native to the U.S., but is indigenous to tropical America. It is well established here in Florida and the rest of the southeastern U.S. but is not considered an invasive plant by most authorities.

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In addition to being pretty, Oxalis can be a weed in turf grass and landscape beds. The plants spread by underground stems known as rhizomes and the seeds are often produced in large quantities. The seed pods help spread the plant around by splitting explosively and shooting the seeds all over the surrounding area.

Oxalis are more abundant in lawns during the cooler weather. It also tends to invade where there is space to grow such as in thinning turf.So, the best control in lawns is prevention by eliminating or reducing thinning turf.

Best lawn management practices for a thicker lawn include growing turf only in sunny areas, a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun, mow high, usually at 3.5 to 4 inches tall, use sharp mower blades, irrigate deeply and less often only when the turf needs it, keep up with fertility and use high quality fertilizer in combination with a soil test.

When turf begins rapidly growing with the return of warmer weather, it will sometimes crowd out Oxalis weeds, so control may not be necessary.However, it may be necessary to try other methods including hand-pulling or the spot application of herbicides to reduce the populations.

Once the weed numbers are reduced and maintenance practices corrected, if the turf is still thin and weeds tend to grow in that area, it is a good idea to plant something other than lawn grass. Granny Cloud was fond of planting only plants which thrive in a specific location, that way you dont have to work so hard, she said.

Carol Cloud Bailey is a landscape counselor and horticulturist. Send questions to carol@yard-doc.com or visit http://www.yard-doc.com for more information.

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Gardening in Florida: How can I get rid of the pink clover growing in my yard? - TCPalm