DANVILLE The Solid Waste Division of the Danville Public Works Department announces that the beginning of the spring cleanup collection period will be delayed by one week due to the weather and related conditions.

Recent weather has not been good for lawn cleanup or landscape work performed by residents. In addition, severe winter weather created construction delays in the completion of the citys new Yard Waste Facility.

Weekly collection will now begin on Monday, April 7.

This spring cleanup period, which includes both yard waste bags and Toters, will be extended until Friday, May 2, before the Toter-Only Collection period begins on Monday, May 5, beginning with Zone B.

The Yard Waste Collection Program has three specific time periods: Spring Cleanup (weekly pickup, Toters and yard waste bags) that begins April 7 and lasts until May 2; Toter Collection (bi-weekly pickup Toters only) from May 5 to Sept. 27 (beginning with Zone B); and Fall Cleanup (weekly pickup Toters and yard waste bags) from Sept. 30 to Dec. 13.

During this spring cleanup period, yard waste will be collected weekly and on the same day as regular household waste service.

It should be placed at the curb or street edge no later than 6 a.m. on your collection day and no earlier than 4 p.m. the night prior to collection. Yard waste should not be placed along or in any alley.

From April 7 to May 2, all yard waste collected within the city must be placed in either a Toter with a 2014 yard waste sticker attached or an approved two-ply paper yard waste bag. Two-ply paper yard waste bags are available at various retail stores, pricing set by stores. No tape or adhesive is permitted on yard waste bags and yard waste contained in plastic bags or cardboard boxes will not be collected.

Brush should be placed no closer than 2 feet from the Toter, bundled, tied with cotton twine or string, and no larger than 3 inches in diameter or more than 4 feet long.

Yard waste stickers are $35, Toters are $65 and both are sold at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St., and at Danville Public Works, 1155 E. Voorhees St.

Read more here:
City delays yard waste collection program

The new Airbus Defence and Space 'Mars Yard' has been unveiled at the company's complex in Hertfordshire and features 300tonnes of sand The yard will be used to test the autonomous navigation system of Europe's next generation ExoMars rover Manufacture of the rover will begin early in 2015 and mission launch is planned for 2018

By Rachel Reilly

PUBLISHED: 12:35 EST, 27 March 2014 | UPDATED: 13:26 EST, 27 March 2014

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At first glance you might think Vince Cable has adjusted pretty well to Mars' hostile environment.

Despite the chilly 63 C temperatures and lack of oxygen, the MP appears relaxed, wearing just a suit and tie.

But the Secretary of State for Business is in fact visiting a test yard in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, designed to replicate Mars.

The new Airbus Defence Space Mars Yard measures 98ft (30 metres) by 43ft (13 metres) and contains more than 300 tonnes of sand meaning engineers can test the next generation of vehicles destined to explore the red planet.

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Vince Cable, the first man on MARS? No, he's just unveiling a red planet simulator in Stevenage that will teach future ...

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5250 East 128th Way Thornton CO 80241 - Video

By Brandon Hopper

hopperb@canoncitydailyrecord.com

Senior Mini College instructor Gordon Bell talks to students about red cypress moss during the 'Loving Your Landscape' class Tuesday at Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus. (Brandon Hopper / Daily Record)

Gordon Bell is in charge of the landscaping at Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus. On Tuesday, he taught a class called 'Loving Your Landscape' at the Senior Mini College. (Brandon Hopper / Daily Record)

Gordon Bell's landscape is his sanctuary. With a little bit of know-how and some hard work, he thinks that's the way it should be for everyone.

Bell is in charge of the grounds and maintenance at Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus. On Tuesday, he taught a 'Love Your Landscape' class at the 29th annual Senior Mini College.

"Not all of us have artsy skills where we can paint, or sculpt, but you can create something in your own back yard, where you can represent your personality, your likes, your dislikes, even your colors," Bell said before the 75-minute class, "and (you can) make a refuge to where when you get home, you can go out (in your yard) and exhale. You get the pleasure of saying I did this, this is mine."

About 20 students made the audience and asked questions that ranged from how to start from scratch to how to deal with old, pesky Aspen trees.

It was the first time attending this kind of class for Laura Longo, of Texas Creek. She said she enjoyed it very much, and it really inspired to improve her landscape.

Bell said the climate in Caon City likens itself to grow almost any kinds of plants. He moved to Caon City from Salida, and he said the growing season here is six to eight weeks longer.

Read the original post:
Make Your Yard: Gordon Bell teaches Senior Mini College course 'Loving Your Landscape'

Waste Management will resume seasonal collection of landscape waste on regularly scheduled pickup days beginning April 1.

Residents are reminded of general guidelines:

Landscape waste must be placed in approved biodegradable landscape waste bags or open garbage cans not larger than 32-gallon capacity. No plastic bags or boxes.

Brush must be cut to 4-foot lengths and bundled with string or balers twine not wire or plastic rope and bundles are not to exceed 50 pounds.

Landscape waste must be placed in approved biodegradable landscape waste bags or open garbage cans not larger than 32-gallon capacity. No plastic bags or boxes.

Brush must be cut to 4-foot lengths and bundled with string or balers twine not wire or plastic rope and bundles are not to exceed 50 pounds.

Landscape drop-off containers will be in place April 1 at the following locations:

Fire Station 2, 1154 S. Seventh St.

City Garden Plots, west of Fire Station 3, 950 W. Dresser Road

The southeast corner of North Seventh and Oak streets

Read this article:
Landscape waste pickup resumes in April

The rover will have the capability to autonomously navigate up to 70 metres a day with no outside guidance from ground control, and Mars Yard will allow the ExoMars projects guidance, navigation and control team to finalise the sophisticated navigation system.

Alvaro Gimnez, the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency, said: A facility like this enables us to develop sophisticated navigation systems to teach Mars rovers how to drive autonomously across the Red Planet.

This will be a fantastic resource for the ExoMars rover team and for future missions to come.

Opening the facility, Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said: The ExoMars rover represents the best of British high-value manufacturing.

The technologies developed as part of the programme, such as autonomous navigation systems, new welding materials and techniques, will also have real impacts on other sectors, helping them stay on the cutting edge.

Not only is it hugely exciting that Europes next mission to Mars will be British built, but it is incredibly rewarding to see the benefits of our investment in the European Space Agency creating jobs here in the UK."

Manufacture of the flight rover will begin early in 2015 after construction of an advanced clean room for interplanetary missions at the Airbus Defence and Space site.

Originally posted here:
Mars surface recreated for rover mission

By Brandon Hopper

hopperb@canoncitydailyrecord.com

Senior Mini College instructor Gordon Bell talks to students about red cypress moss during the 'Loving Your Landscape' class Tuesday at Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus. (Brandon Hopper / Daily Record)

Gordon Bell is in charge of the landscaping at Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus. On Tuesday, he taught a class called 'Loving Your Landscape' at the Senior Mini College. (Brandon Hopper / Daily Record)

Gordon Bell's landscape is his sanctuary. With a little bit of know-how and some hard work, he thinks that's the way it should be for everyone.

Bell is in charge of the grounds and maintenance at Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus. On Tuesday, he taught a 'Love Your Landscape' class at the 29th annual Senior Mini College.

"Not all of us have artsy skills where we can paint, or sculpt, but you can create something in your own back yard, where you can represent your personality, your likes, your dislikes, even your colors," Bell said before the 75-minute class, "and (you can) make a refuge to where when you get home, you can go out (in your yard) and exhale. You get the pleasure of saying I did this, this is mine."

About 20 students made the audience and asked questions that ranged from how to start from scratch to how to deal with old, pesky Aspen trees.

It was the first time attending this kind of class for Laura Longo, of Texas Creek. She said she enjoyed it very much, and it really inspired to improve her landscape.

Bell said the climate in Caon City likens itself to grow almost any kinds of plants. He moved to Caon City from Salida, and he said the growing season here is six to eight weeks longer.

Read the original:
Gordon Bell teaches Senior Mini College course 'Loving Your Landscape'

A state-of-the-art Mars yard is now ready to put the ExoMars rover through its paces before the vehicle is launched to the Red Planet in 2018.

ESA, the UK Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space opened the renovated test area in Stevenage, UK, earlier this week.

ExoMars is a joint endeavour between ESA and Russias Roscosmos space agency. Comprising two missions for launch to Mars in 2016 and 2018, ExoMars will address the outstanding scientific question of whether life has ever existed on the planet, by investigating the atmosphere and drilling into the surface to collect and analyse samples.

The programme will also demonstrate key technologies for entry, descent, landing, drilling and roving.

ESAs rover is part of the 2018 mission and will be able to navigate and drive autonomously at least 70 m a day across the surface.

A Mars yard simulating the martian surface, complete with rocky obstacles, provides a realistic training ground for developing such a sophisticated navigation system.

Filled with 300 tonnes of sand, the 30 x 13 m Mars yard at the Stevenage site of Airbus Defence and Space mimics the appearance of the martian landscape. Its walls, doors and all interior surfaces are painted a reddish-brown colour to ensure the rovers navigation cameras are confronted by as realistic a scenario as possible.

To mark the completion of the renovations, members of the press and public were invited to witness the inauguration by Vince Cable, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Alvaro Gimnez, ESAs Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, Colin Paynter, Head of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, and David Parker, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.

The ExoMars rover represents the best of British high-value manufacturing, noted Vince Cable. The technologies developed as part of the programme, such as autonomous navigation systems, new welding materials and techniques, will also have real impacts on other sectors, helping them stay on the cutting edge.

More:
Mars yard ready for Red Planet rover

Community_Supported_Agriculture_in_Washington_County_2014.jpg

Vicki and Chris Hertel are part owners of Sun Gold Farm near Forest Grove. The fifth-generation family farm has recently switched from dairy to vegetables and share the wealth with others through Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions. (Dean Baker/Hillsboro Argus)

There has been quite a bit of attention given to edible landscaping in the past decade. The term generally refers to homeowners (and sometimes municipalities) choosing to plant shrubs, annuals and perennials based on the plant providing some type of caloric benefit.

Walking through the neighborhoods of western Washington County, signs of edible landscaping are visible nearly everywhere, and often the edible components clearly pre-date the trend. Fruit trees, blueberries and other cane berries, and well-tended garden plots are abundant.

Still, many homeowners dont have the space, time or desire to turn under the flowers for the kale and carrots. There are, however, an abundance of small farmers in the area able and willing to share the abundance of their labors with the neighbors. A relatively small fee, usually paid at the beginning of the season to the farmer, will provide a family with fresh, seasonal produce throughout the summer and into the fall.

Its called Community Supported Agriculture. And here are a few farms practicing it in this region:

Banks/Buxton

Dairy Creek Farm & Produce

23295 NW Highway 47

Buxton

See the article here:
Not ready to plow under the yard for an edible landscape? Try a CSA

JAFFREY -- From the balconies of city apartment buildings to the rolling fields of family farms, residents throughout New Hampshire have created wildlife habitats, and for their efforts they have been given a nod by the National Wildlife Federation.

Since 1973, the National Wildlife Federation has been offering a program to officially certify properties as wildlife habitats as a motivation for property owners to provide the things creatures large and small need to thrive and to raise their young, said David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the federation.

"We can restore elements of habitats in cities and towns by what we plant in our gardens," said Mizejewski, who is regularly featured on talk shows and morning news programs. "You don't need a ton of land and it doesn't matter where you live or how much money you have. You can be doing good things."

Creating a habitat is about more than simply putting out bird feeders. The goal is to establish natural environments that animals, birds, insects and amphibians need in order to thrive. Planting fruit-bearing trees can feed birds throughout the winter. Creating or protecting a vernal pool that fills in the spring and dries in the summer heat gives salamanders a place to breed. Small trees, nesting boxes, and container-planted butterfly bushes can create a home for birds and butterflies.

To become a Certified Wildlife Habitat, home owners must provide four core things: food, water, shelter, and a place for raising their offspring.

"There is an infinite number of ways you can provide those core things," said Mizejewski.

Leaving trees that have fallen can give woodpeckers a place to hang out, while thick stands of hemlock can provide deer with cover from the snow. One of the habitats that are hard to come by in New Hampshire these days is meadowland, said Mizejewski. Between the decrease in the use of land for farming, the increase in housing developments and the rapid expansion of forests in the state, meadows and pastureland are beginning to disappear, which makes things hard for creatures like deer, who feed on new growth, along with humming birds and eastern meadowlarks, he said.

In Jaffrey, Nancy Caswell blends the natural habitats available on her property with some human touches to make life a bit easier for animals and birds. A small stream and four heated bird baths provide water. Bird and bat houses, along with areas of dense wild shrubs, are home to bluebirds, chickadees, and even Baltimore orioles. Turkeys, deer, and birds of many colors visit the Caswell's home all year long, but her favorite guests are the chimney swifts who flock to her home each May.

"We get hundreds of them every year," said Caswell, who owns a brick home with four chimneys that give the returning birds a place to nest.

Chimney swifts build hanging nests in the mortar between the bricks in the chimneys and lay their diminutive eggs. The birds have spikes on their tails that allow them to hang on the bricks and roost when they're not out buzzing around eating insects.

Continued here:
Your yard could be a certified wildlife habitat