When Lehigh University came into a windfall of land donated to the school in 2012 by the Donald B. and Dorothy Stabler Foundation, it came with one piece of baggage.

A chunk of the 755 acres of donated property included contaminated limestone tailings a form of zinc mining waste that the state insisted had to be cleaned up before that portion could be developed.

Nearly two years later, Eastern Industries, the local company that holds the mining permit for the land and is responsible for its remediation, is close to finishing the job, state regulators say. It has stabilized the property, layered clean soil and rock over the zinc piles and seeded the newly-graded property to stabilize it.

Now the company just needs to grow some grass.

"This was an agreed-upon remedy, provided the vegetation takes," said Colleen Connolly, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. "DEP will inspect to see if the planting and seeding is satisfactory at the site. Eastern Industries just has to make sure the vegetation progresses."

DEP and Lehigh County Conservation District inspectors visited the site in June to inspect the work, she said.

"It is a process DEP required, and we have been following their protocol," said Rusty Taft, Eastern's land permit and environmental manager.

The cleanup was designed to prevent dust emanating from the mining waste, which includes zinc and arsenic, from being caught up and dispersed in the wind.

State officials had initially given the company until the end of August 2013 to complete the regrading, and the end of September 2013 to grow the grass.

Last year, Connolly said, dust from the piles was not blowing off the 139-acre former mine site, and it was not a public health threat.

Originally posted here:
Zinc mining waste cleanup in Upper Saucon nearly complete

Conservation efforts in a new USDA program has drawn the interest of more than 5,000 groups through some 600 proposals in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, ahead of a July deadline to qualify for federal funding, according to a news release from USDA Monday.

Back in May USDA announced the availability of some $400 million in grants with a ceiling of $20 million per project, aimed at creating conservation partnerships between private companies, tribes, local communities and non-government partners. USDA announced the program as part of an effort to improve water quality and critical wildlife habitats with third parties or work directly with producers in watersheds and other conservation areas.

The RCPP is expected to competitively award funds to conservation projects designed by local partners specifically for their region. Eligible partners include private companies, universities, non-profit organizations, local and tribal governments and others joining with agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives.

With participating partners investing USDA's $1.2 billion funding in the next five years can leverage an additional $1.2 billion from partners for a total of $2.4 billion for conservation.

The RCPP has three funding pools that includes 35% of total program funding directed to critical conservation areas; 40% directed to regional or multi-state projects through a national competitive process; 25% directed to state-level projects through a competitive process established by NRCS state leaders.

In May USDA announced the designation of several critical conservation areas that include the Great Lakes Region, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Mississippi River Basin, Longleaf Pine Range, Columbia River Basin, California Bay Delta, Prairie Grasslands and the Colorado River Basin.

"This program is an entirely new approach to conservation," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "By establishing new public-private partnerships, we can have an impact that's well beyond what the federal government could accomplish on its own. And we put our partners in the driver's seat, allowing them to find creative solutions to the conservation issues in their local areas. The overwhelming response to this new effort illustrates an eagerness across country to partner and invest in innovative conservation projects."

Also on the conservation front, agriculture specialists with University of Missouri Extension announced they are researching the viability of inter-seeding cover crops into corn and soybean fields. When it comes to planting cover crops producers typically have to wait until after fall harvest to lay seed, and experts say that often is not the optimum seeding window for cover crops.

Researchers are looking at a number of different delivery methods as well, including via airplane or high-clearance seeders to drop cover crop seeds, such as cereal rye grass or crimson clover, into the existing crop canopy at the optimum time.

Charlie Ellis, MU extension natural resources engineer, said in a news release that inter-seeding shouldn't cause a yield loss since existing crops are mature. He said some soybeans planted in 15-inch rows, however, may be knocked down, while 30-inch beans can be inter-seeded with little crop damage.

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Conservation Program, Cover-Crop Research Advance

By BRUCE A. SCRUTON

bscruton@njherald.com

STILLWATER It is an irony that has Stillwater farmer Lia Chammings laughing as she complains.

While she is still arguing with Public Service Electric & Gas to properly restore her hayfield off Mount Holly Road, a bale of hay from another part of that same field won first place at the New Jersey State Fair.

Last year nearly four acres of that hayfield were peeled back and thick black plastic tarps were laid down, along with drainage pipes and a layer of quarry processed stone, to create a road and construction areas, as work began to dismantle 85-year-old transmission towers and build new, 185-foot-tall towers.

Chammings, a Township Committee member, is a hay, grain and forage farmer who grows crops on several properties in town for several owners.

Along Mount Holly Road, however, are the fields of Partridge Ridge Farm, owned by her family and producing some of the best hay in the area, good enough to be sought after by horse owners whose animals require a better mix and quality of grasses.

It was the thought of construction in those fields that caused Chamming to become public with her concerns.

As the work progressed, there were issues with protecting migrating amphibians in the spring seeking out the wetlands that cross the hilly property.

There were also issues with access gates being left open or unlocked, allowing trespassers into the back areas that previously were inaccessible to their off-road vehicles.

See original here:
Farmer faults powerline work cleanup

Why do the plants we don't want appear to grow better than the plants we do want? Is it just nature's way of rebelling against our desire for orderliness? Are our gardens being overtaken by anarchists?

Realize we are outnumbered. Just one lambsquarter plant can produce 72,450 seeds in one growing season. If we all devoured lambsquarter or were awestruck at its beauty, this information would be good news. Perhaps we should be shifting our culinary cravings and aesthetic preferences.

But for most of us, weeds compete with our garden plants for light, nutrients and water.

Familiar weeds possess a few common attributes. They go through their life cycle rapidly, flower quickly, produce vast quantities of seeds and have some seed adaptation for travel by wind, water or animals. By midsummer, weeds can produce a waist-high fortress and you're ready to surrender.

As garden author Roger Swain says, "there are no pacifist gardeners." Once you decide to grow anything, whether it's for food or beauty, you will at one time or another find yourself in literal hand-to-hand combat with weeds.

The battleground is bare soil. Bare spots in the lawn next to the driveway. A new tilled garden bed is prime area for weeds to grow. Weed seeds that were dormant for years now have open territory to conquer.

Once you have decided a plant is a weed, your first task is to identify the plant. Knowledge of a plant's life cycle is the key to control. Annuals such as crabgrass, foxtail, lambsquarter and buttonweed live one growing season and must come back each year from seed. Biennials such as burdock and poison hemlock live two years producing the seed in the second year.

With perennials such as dandelions, creeping Charlie and quackgrass, the same plant comes back each year and they also produce seed. Weed identification websites include turf.uiuc.edu/weed_web/index.htm and weeds.cropsci.illinois.edu/weedid.htm Or bring plant samples to our office and we can help you.

"Identifying Weeds in Midwestern Turf and Landscapes" is a great booklet for $8.50 available through University of Illinois Publications. Go to pubsplus.illinois.edu/ or call 800-345-6087.

Got weeds? Here are some weed-management options.

Visit link:
Sandra Mason: Are the weeds winning in your garden?

Traditional Grass Seeding
A quick few clips of my Father educating my nephew (and myself!) in the art of grass seeding using a traditional grass sowing machine referred too as a "fidd...

By: daveondigital

Read the original:
Traditional Grass Seeding - Video

With California in the midst of a drought, some people are wondering how much conservation is too much.

Watch report:Stockton resident fined for letting grass turn brown

A Stockton man said Thursday he was trying to conserve water, but it's costing him -- big time.

"I got a warning that says to provide adequate maintenance to (my) lawn or garden by watering, mowing or re-seeding," Martin Padilla said.

Padilla owns a property on Hemet Avenue in Stockton. He was warned about overgrowth of the shrubs and lawn, and said he came in and fixed the problem.

He shared photos to prove it.

"I got everything done -- nothing else to complain about except for watering the grass because the grass is not completely green," Padilla said.

But Padilla was still fined, and learned he owes more than $420.

The city of Stockton has water guidelines in place, which are the same issued every year.

Residents can only water their lawns between 6 p.m. and 11 a.m., and the city does not have water police patrolling.

See more here:
Stockton man fined for brown grass

Fred Lucas each year hopes for a relatively dry spring.

Rainy weather takes its toll on three of the upper soccer fields at Larry Mills Park.

Lucas, Plum Soccer Association president, said the rain water on the fields has no place to drain.

It's always a problem, he said.

Lucas is pleased that Plum Borough is proceeding with plans to fix the problem.

The borough is accepting bids for the work that is to include installation of a drainage system, re-grading the fields, spreading topsoil and seeding so the grass grows back.

Councilman Michael Dell said the money for the project is included in the 2014 borough budget.

Money was allocated for the soccer fields, Dell said.

The bids are scheduled to be opened on Aug. 4 and could be considered by council during the Aug. 11 voting meeting.

Plum's $11 million budget for 2014 includes about $180,000 for the total reconstruction of the upper soccer fields at the park, said borough public works building and grounds Supervisor Joe Fischetti.

See more here:
Reconstruction of Plums Larry Mills Park soccer fields to begin in September

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 07/30/2014 1:00 AM | Comments: | Last Modified: 7:05 AM | Updates

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Landscape expert Bob Somers crouches in tall grass around the human rights museum. The intent is to get 'as close to a tall grass prairie here as one can,' he says. s Photo Store

Inside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights there are still construction workers working away while outside it looks like weeds are taking over.

But spokespeople for the CMHR say they're not worried because everything is on schedule for the inside and what's outside is supposed to look that way -- for now.

With just under two months left until opening day on Sept. 20, Corey Timpson, the museum's director of exhibits and new media, said workers are no longer constructing the building, but are busy installing the wiring and other infrastructure to be able to run video machines and screens that will enhance the experience of visitors.

Timpson said most of the exhibits have already been constructed elsewhere and just have to be set up inside the museum.

"There's a 60,000-square-foot facility in Toronto and until three months ago it was still full of our stuff and we have 47,000 square feet of exhibit space," he said.

Read the rest here:
Museum moving right(s) along

Its the middle of July. The heat index is over 100 degrees. I have cracks in my yard. My grass is dormant. My water bill is growing faster than my flowers. My air conditioned living room is looking pretty good. Stick a fork in me, Im done! Is anyone else feeling this way?

July is a tough time even for the most diligent gardener. If you werent an early riser before you may be now just to beat the heat. Then, I come along and encourage you to plant a new garden for fall. Yes, digging, planting, watering. Ugh! Has she lost her mind? No, and I have not had a heat stroke.

The end of July and the first part of August are great times to get a new crop started that will be harvested at, before, or just after frost. Some crops may even carry into winter up until Christmas. Believe it or not, a little frost can greatly enhance the flavor of many of your favorite vegetables. Vegetable quality for preserving can be better also.

Summer Crops Continue

With care, many of your current crops, like tomatoes, okra, peppers, New Zealand spinach, eggplant, and sweet potato will continue to produce into fall. Cucumbers, summer squash, and beans can be grown as fall crops. Peas dont adapt well to the cooler weather.

Fall Crops

Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are listed as fall crops. Broccoli and cauliflower may take a little more effort to nurture in the heat. Potato seed pieces from fresh potatoes will rot easily in warm soils. Use the older potatoes in your pantry that are beginning to sprout. Cut pieces 3-4 days before planting and allow them to heal over at room temperature. This will help prevent decay.

Adequate moisture is necessary for beets and carrots to develop properly. Cover them with light compost to help retain moisture and prevent crusty soil.

Various types of lettuce can handle a light frost. The outer leaves may burn slightly, but the center leaves may survive quite nicely. Bibb or head lettuce are two that seem to withstand that first light frost.

Spinach and kale have been reported to overwinter with a light mulch. This gives them a head start in your garden in spring!

More here:
At Home Living: Jamie Hancock oultines steps to plant a fall garden

The nearly completed field behind Snyder-Girotti Elementary School will undergo two separate plant-and-mulch projects, one now and the other in September.

The Bristol school board voted during a special meeting Tuesday night to approve a $29,000 change order that will enable the projects to go forward.

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Bristol school board approves change orders