Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The Cape Cod house at 186 Long Hill Road in Middletown is modest in size and price, but big on modern amenities.

The seven-room, three-bedroom, two full-bath house was built in 1926 and has 3,666 square feet of living space. It features a long list of attractive amenities, including a Buderus boiler with five heating zones, Harvey triple pane windows, a water softener with a PH neutralizer, 200 amp electrical service and central air conditioning. All of that, is topped off by a GAF lifetime architectural shingle roof, according to Jeff Petersen, the listing agent.

Updated kitchen with farm sink at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

The level property of almost two acres also contains a detached two-car garage with a separate in-law/au pair suite or legal rental space above it.

The 798-square-foot unit above garage was recently renovated and features a large kitchen with a cathedral ceiling, one bedroom and one full bath. The property also comes with a 12x36-foot red barn with a cupola and loft for additional storage. Also outside, there are heated gutters with a Hott Topper to melt ice and snow and an electric dog fence installed around the perimeter.

Family room at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

The grounds are amazing as one of the owners owns a landscaping business, and you can see the pride of ownership, Petersen said. That pride of ownership will be evident as soon as Mother Nature stops dumping feet of snow on the state. The 1.76 acres consists of perennial gardens, fruit trees, and space for a vegetable garden, he said. The yard also features a 20x40 foot in-ground pool and the pool house for storage.

Back inside the main house, The family room is the main attraction, Petersen said. It features a cathedral ceiling, exposed beams and a wall of red brick housing a wood-burning fireplace with a rounded firebox. There is also an updated kitchen and a first-floor master bedroom.

Seven-room Cape Cod house at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

This house is less than 10 minutes from downtown Middletown, which has an abundant amount of shops and restaurants, Petersen said.

There are walking trails across the street from the house and hiking trails at Wadsworth Falls State Park which is only five minutes away, as is Wesleyan University and major highways.

This house is on the market for $469,900.

Kitchen in in-law or legal rental apartment at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

Kitchen and breakfast room at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

Kloter Farms barn with horse weathervane at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

Living room with pellet stove at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

Family room with red brick wood-burning fireplace at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

Main house, garage/apartment/pool and barn at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

Main house and detached garage/ apartment at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

In-ground swimming pool and pool house at 186 Long Hill Road, Middletown.

For more information contact Jeff Petersen and Patricia Raffile of Century 21 AllPoints Realty; Petersen at 860-670-0548 or jeffpetersen.century21@gmail.com, and Raffile at 203-213-5200.

Read more from the original source:
On the market: Middletown house with barn and in-law suite - Middletown Press

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company and leading provider of hotel management services with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents, has opened its first hotel in Cambodia, the Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Blue Bay Sihanoukville, a brand new landmark on the country's tropical coast.

Howard Johnson by Wyndham continues its expansion in Southeast Asia with the opening of Blue Bay Sihanoukville following successful openings for the brand in China and South Korea. Howard Johnson by Wyndham is a globally recognised brand with hotels in more than 320 locations across three continents: North America, South America and Asia. The 522-key upscale hotel is the latest addition to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' portfolio of over 1,500 hotels across the Asia Pacific region.

Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Blue Bay Sihanoukville is a stunning 36-storey upscale hotel comprising 322 contemporary rooms and suites with city and sea views, perfectly positioned at Independence Beach, close to the centre of Sihanoukville and overlooking the sparkling sea.

Guests can unwind in style in the hotel's guestrooms, which feature plush bedding, marble bathrooms with rain showers and, in some rooms, sea-facing balconies with spa tubs. For the ultimate indulgence, the hotel's Presidential Suite offers an extensive 200 sqm of space with loft-like interiors and flexible open space, suitable for families or romantic getaways. Boasting an air of tranquillity, guests can savour glittering views of the Gulf of Thailand from the private bathtub or entertain friends and family in its spacious living and dining area.

Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Blue Bay Sihanoukville also offers plenty of opportunities for guests to relax and unwind at the hotel with leisure and wellness facilities including an outdoor swimming pool with panoramic sea views, a well-equipped fitness centre, a spa, and a duty-free retail outlet. The hotel is also home to three dining outlets, including: Andaman Sea, the all-day dining restaurant serving international favourites alongside Sichuan, Cantonese and Hunan cuisine; the Private Dining Room, serving local, Chinese and Western specialties; and the Infinity Lounge, which serves a refreshing array of beverages and cocktails.

Visitors who want to explore the local area can take advantage of an onsite tour desk or request for professional services at the business centre. Guests staying on club floors can also enjoy bespoke amenities at the dedicated club lounge offering daily breakfast as well as cocktails and canaps every evening. The hotel is also directly connected to the region's largest shopping mall and a major gaming centre, while the soft sands of Independence Beach are just moments away.

Sihanoukville is a serene seaside town and fishing port on the Cambodian coast and the capital of Sihanoukville Province. The coastal city is home to a string of sandy beaches, including Independence Beach, Victory Beach, Ochheuteal Beach, Otres Beach and Serendipity Beach, which offer an exotic blend of warm, clear seas, palm-fringed sand, and exhilarating water sports. The city is also the gateway to Cambodia's idyllic offshore islands, such as Koh Rong, which offer pristine landscapes and spectacular snorkelling activities. The new hotel is located just 26km away from Sihanouk International Airport, while the Cambodian capital city, Phnom Penh, is 225km away.

All of Wyndham's hotels in Southeast Asia participate in Wyndham Rewards, the world's most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide.

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Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Arrives in Cambodia with the Opening of Sihanoukville's First International Five-Star Hotel - Hospitality Net

SportsPulse: NFL reporter Jori Epstein connected with Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on USA TODAY's virtual radio row. USA TODAY

Football, Chase Winovich says, is the fuel source itself.

The Patriots defensive end takes seriously the time and commitment his NFL career requires. But if football fuels opportunities on and off the field, consider Winovich a proponent of a balanced diet.

I honestly think its healthier, he told USA TODAY Sports by phone of his decision to launch a production company during his playing career. My youth, energy and passion (can) funnel toward something thats kind of flexing a different part of my brain that I believe football doesnt capture.

Im more motivated to play football, more inspired from a general life sense.

The NFL Players Associationdelivered a concurrent message Tuesday in the organization'sthird annual #AthleteAnd workshop. Ninety-eight professional athletes representing leagues including the NFL, WNBA, MLS and NWSL gathered virtually for professional development, networking and perspective on how to chase their passions beyond sports even before the end of their athletic careers are in sight.

Institutional support of off-field development isnt always a given, nine-year NFL safety Michael Thomas said.

I remember very early on, a GM definitely had a conversation like, As soon as you start thinking about anything out of football, youre already out of the game, Thomas told USA TODAY Sports by phone. Im like, Bro, Ive got all type of other passions I want to do.

Chase Winovich has played two seasons for the Patriots after being a third-round draft choice in 2019 out of Michigan.(Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)

The #AthleteAnd workshop aimed to encourage diverse exploration. Athletes heard from Saints linebacker Demario Davis; WNBPApresident and WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike; and TV producer and former NFL linebacker Spencer Paysinger on how best to balance their professions and passions.

NFL brothers Sam and Emmanuel Acho, each a published authorandphilanthropist, discussed how players could use their platforms for good. Speed dating-like workshops featured tips on building a LinkedIn presence, maximizing public speaking opportunitiesand strategizing brand growth.

How best to ensure social media accounts are active and fun to follow? How best to attract endorsement deals that meshwith athletes interests and hobbies? Winovich listened closely as he considered how to incorporate the advicetoward House 17, the production company he co-founded.

He now dabbles in creative oversight and business development, both starring in and creating content. A catchy reminder from Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence resonated: If you chase engagement, you gain followers. But if you chase followers, you lose engagement.

Maybe its because it has the name chase, he joked. But I thought that was pretty profound and relatively simplistic. For whatever reason, that stuck with what I currently have going on.

Athletes exchanged contact information and connected on LinkedIn to compare interests and pool networks. Thomas thought abouthis Capitol Hill externships with Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, his youth football camp that has expanded to included SAT prep and financial literacy courses. Addsocial justice and entrepreneurial endeavors, and he believes his off-field vision is really all starting to come together. How did other athletes find that clarity, he wondered?

Other athletes who see beyond the sport they play what are they up to? Thomas said. Let me see the interest they have because I might have an interest they have or passions we can align and connect.

Really just to connect with a bunch of other athletes. I love the fact that WNBA was included as well.

Each player in the virtual #AthleteAnd room had anon-field or on-court resume. Thomas has played in 97 NFL games, amassing 313 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. Winovich is coming off his second season in New England, a campaign that featured 5.5 sacks and 48 tackles. But thats the athlete in them, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith reiterated. How about the And?

When we look at our opportunity now to be authentic, I think we now know we should never have a job where we listen to someone say, Just shut up and dribble, Smith said. Or listen to someone who says we should just be confined to a world where we are just someone whos engaged in sports.

Thats not who we are thats what we do.

Winovich said he hears from people who think his pursuits cant coexist, but he disagrees. He sees skeptics as part of an often-toxic social media landscape that he wants to change. His goal for his production company: Reimagine content soit stems from a place of love and respect rather than fear.

These are the things Ive thought about that help me cope with thinking differently and thinking outside the box, Winovich said. Ive always felt like my whole life Ive been shoved and poked and prodded into that box, whereas our gifts are different. What we can contribute to humanity makes us special.

Follow USA TODAY Sports Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein.

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Some NFL players are learning to chase their interests beyond football - USA TODAY

First, well talk about growing your own plants for the garden and how simple it can be from seeding to transplanting all by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac.

Then, well review a few topics weve been visiting for the last several weeks, all but one of them likely for the last time this year.

Springs barely a month away and we want to be ready! But before we get too excited, lets remember its still winter, and we need to be patient.

Starting your transplants

Every year long about this time I receive lots of questions about seeding to grow your own transplants and should one follow the phases and the signs for this process since, technically, its not planting as in the garden.

The answer is absolutely yes!

There are three aspects of the raise your own plants process:

First is sowing seeds in flats, peat pots or the myriad other latest and greatest methods available.

The second is transplanting the little seedlings to peat pots, yogurt cups, cottage cheese containers whatever is available if you didnt start them in one of those containers in the first place to nurture until the next step.

The third is putting the little plant in the ground where it will hopefully grow, thrive and produce whether that ground is a traditional garden, a raised bed, or a barrel on the back deck. (Thats garden size and well review that in a later column).

The more of these steps you can accomplish in the right moon phase and zodiac sign the better.

For example, the ever-popular tomato. You can be reasonably assured nurseries and plant suppliers dont have the time or luxury even if they might have the inclination to seed hundreds or thousands of tomato plants in the right moon phase which is light, and sign which is one of the four fertile signs or the so-so signs since its a small window and they are planting just to re-sell. Thus, they might hit the right phase and sign and then they might not.

Where they cant, you can because weather and labor are not factors since the plants are started indoors long before they can be planted outdoors. And, at most you may be seeding a few dozen plants more than likely even fewer so time (as in labor) isnt a factor as it is for the mass producers.

As an aside, one of my dreams is to have my own greenhouse and start all plants in the right phases and signs.

Next is transplanting them to peat pots if they didnt start there. All the same information you just read about seeding applies here: right moon phase for above or below-ground producers in one of the most fertile signs.

Finally, what happens when the little plant goes to its forever summer home as in planting in the garden.

If you buy your plants at a nursery or big box store garden center and take them home, this is the only step you can control one of three. But on the other hand, if you do a little research online or elsewhere, assemble the right supplies, and check the phases and signs then you can control all three steps from seeding to planting.

Ready to do it this year? What do you have to lose?

Whats left of today and Saturday would be perfect days for planting snow peas with the sign in Gemini (the arms) and the moon in the light phase. I say would be perfect days except, short of a dramatic warm-up and thawing, your garden probably still has a layer of snow on it and likely as not is frozen given the bitter cold days weve had.

I hate for anyone trying to get peas planted before Washingtons Birthday to miss these days since they dont come around often, but likely as not thats going to be the case this time.

As Ive been writing for some time now, spreading grass seed during the dark moon in February yields good results at least it has for me. The moon, as weve established, is in the light phase now but it moves back to the dark on 27th, which unfortunately is an Ember Day when you dont want to be planting.

If you havent completed your seeding and Im sure many havent I would not hesitate to roll the program over into March, at least during the time the dark moon is in force, which will be through March 12.

According to the phases, there are no bad days during that stretch with the absolute best ones being March 2-3 and 11. The remainder except for Feb. 28 and March 1 (flowering signs) are ruled by the so-so signs that are the second best for planting, in my opinion.

Its ideal if you can sow on top of this snow because as it melts the little seeds are taken into the ground naturally. That, in fact, is the whole premise and hope for sowing in the dark moon of February: snow melt and the gravitational pull of the dark moon puts the seed right where it needs to be.

As my friend Dennis Martin pointed out earlier in the week, this works great if your dogs have done a number on your backyard or their pen. Just pitch out some seed on the area, he said, and the dogs can pound it in the ground.

Sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Dennis.

If you have gravel to pour on a drive or road on your farm, the perfect stretch continues through Feb. 26 with the moon in the light phase. The same applies for stones on a garden path. The sign doesnt matter here since were not trying to grow anything.

Read more here:
Plantin' by the Signs and other things: Growing your own transplants by the phases and signs - State-Journal.com

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services

Many livestock farmers who are being compensated by the H2O Ohio program may be looking for guidance on planting cover crops. NRCS Appendix A (Cover Crops) is your best guide for cover crop seeding methods, planting dates, and planting rates. Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation office or local NRCS representative for additional questions.

What should your cover crop accomplish if you are applying fall manure? First, a live plant that survives the winter and absorbs nitrogen, phosphorus, and reduces soil erosion. Fibrous fine roots systems are better than tap roots which may allow manure nutrients to leach into tile or surface water. The cover crop should be easy to kill, and its a bonus if it can be used for forage (but not allowed under the H2O Ohio program rules).

Generally, grass cover crops with fibrous fine roots absorb manure nutrients the best. Legumes and clovers make their own nitrogen and readily absorb free nutrients but are generally a little less efficient at absorbing soil manure nutrients. Brassicas like radish, have deep roots and are efficient at absorbing manure nutrients, but winter kill and release nutrients quickly and may cause water quality problems. Kale and rape seed (brassicas) have deep roots, survive the winter.Brassicas should be used at low seeding rates and always in a mixture with winter grass cover crops.

Summer annuals include oats, radish, and Sorghum Sudan varieties; which effectively absorb manure nutrients. However, these cover crops die with a frost, so they should be minimized in a fall planted cover crop mixture. Winter grass cover crops are cereal rye, annual ryegrass, barley, triticale, and wheat; which can be planted alone or in mixtures. Winter legumes include vetches (hairy, common), clovers (red, sweet, crimson, Balansa), and peas (true winter peas or Canadian pea) which need to be inoculated. Follow H2O Ohio program cover crop mixtures guidelines to qualify for payment.

Seed quality can be harmed by weed seed (purity) and low germination. NRCS requires adjustment factors (need more seed) if seed purity (too many weeds seeds) or seed germination is less than 86%. See NRCS Appendix A for adjustments. Farmers can use bin run seed or their own seed, but seed testing or seed tags are required for purity and germination to get payment.

There are several seeding methods to plant cover crops at the proper seeding depth and rate to get fast germination. Drilling cover crops and getting good seed to soil contact is usually the best method, but because the farmer needs to harvest the main crop first, this can be difficult. Broadcast seeding with airplanes, helicopters, high boy applicators, or with a broadcast seeder can be successful if done early with adequate moisture to get fast seed germination. Some farmers incorporate seed with tillage equipment, but depth control may be variable. Broadcast seeding can be done quickly and on large acres, but the seeding rate should be at least 20% higher to account for lower germination rates (H2O Ohio program rules).

Most fall planted winter cover crops can be planted from August 1st until around mid-September in Ohio with good results. Farmers located close to Lake Erie have a shorter planting window than those located closer to the Ohio River. NRCS allows farmers to compensate for up to two weeks of planting after the ideal planting window by increasing the seeding rate 20% to compensate for reduced germination and to increase plant biomass.

If you plant more than 2 weeks later than recommended, NRCS does not pay. The longest planting window for grasses is cereal rye (November 1st) followed by wheat, triticale, and spelt (October 22), and barley (October 10).

Since each cover crop seed has a different size and density, seeding rates are based proportionally on the recommended seeding rate for each specie. For example, if equal parts winter rye, winter triticale and hairy vetch mixture was selected use the 1/3 proportional rate of the full seeding rate for each (17, 19, and 5 lb/ac respectively). Insure the sum of the proportions equal at least 1 (1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 = 1). If addressing water quality (nutrients in surface and ground water) as part of a conservation plan, at least half of the proportional seeding rate must be non-winter killed cover crop species. Keeping our water clean and safe to drink is an important goal of cover crops, soil health, and the H2O Ohio program.

See the article here:
Manure and cover crops Ohio Ag Net - Ohio's Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net

Adopting the ecologically sensitive, low-cost conservation management pasture-cropping practice could help landowners regain the health and resiliency of soils sustaining degradation over the years.

Pasture cropping, a relatively new and innovative land management system, integrates direct seeding of cool-season annual crops into dormant perennial warm-season grasses. It was pioneered by Colin Seis, an Australian farmer.

Now the potential for implementation of the practice in the Southern Great Plains is being investigated by a Texas A&M AgriLife-led team of researchers through theU.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, NIFA, grant-funded project Enhancing Soil Ecosystem Health and Resilience Through Pasture Cropping.

The team consists of Srinivasulu Ale, Ph.D., project lead and Texas A&M University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering geospatial hydrologist; Richard Teague, Ph.D., Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management range ecologist; and Paul DeLaune, Ph.D., Department of Soil and Crop Sciences environmental soil scientist, all College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Texas A&M AgriLife Research faculty at Vernon.

They are joined by Tim Steffens, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service range specialist at West Texas A&M University at Canyon, and Tong Wang, Ph.D., advanced production specialist at South Dakota State University. The team is also consulting with Seis as they build and conduct their research.

Ale said while some ranchers have already adopted the practice on smaller scales, many are looking for guidance information on the best crops, the best time to plant and terminate/harvest them, and how benefits vary between wet, normal and dry years.

We expect to be able to answer these questions at the end of our four-year project based on all the data we collect and modeling we conduct, he said.

Continuous and heavy grazing pressure since the introduction of conventional livestock grazing has resulted in degraded grassland soils, largely due to a combination of a lack of species diversity and diminished soil inputs of organic material from plant roots, Steffens said.

The pasture-cropping practice has helped rebuild soil organic matter and improve soil structure, infiltration and water holding capacity in Australia, he said.

The hypothesis is that adding growing roots, root exudates and mycorrhizal fungi in the colder parts of the year provides an additional amount of organic material when the warm-season grasses are not growing, but when decomposition is still occurring, Steffens said. This boost of organic material and the enhanced microbial activity it triggers are what drives better ecological function of the soil.

The project aims to evaluate these soil health benefits through a combination of field experiments, unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV-based measurements, environmental modeling and economic analyses.

Through these measurements and simulations, the team will assess the ranch- and watershed-scale improvements in ecosystem services from pasture cropping and analyze the economics compared to conventional practices under different weather and market conditions.

Soil degradation can result in elevated soil erosion, soil organic carbon loss, nutrient imbalance, soil sealing, acidication, salinization, contamination, waterlogging, compaction and loss of soil biodiversity.

DeLaune said introducing growing plants during the winter months will not only increase microbial activity, but also provide increased soil cover and protection, supplemental forage for grazing and subsequent cycling of soil nutrients.

Our goal is to evaluate the overall effect of pasture cropping on soil health and function, he said. In our cropping systems, we have observed trends in improved microbial activity with an extended period of living roots over the year. Additionally, we have observed improved physical properties that increase water infiltration, reduce runoff and improve water quality.

The pasture-cropping field experiments will be conducted at the West Texas A&M Universitys Nance Ranch near Canyon and at the Dixon Water Foundations Pittman Ranch near Muenster. Modeling efforts will focus on the headwaters of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River watershed in the Texas Panhandle, which includes the Nance Ranch; and the Clear Creek watershed in North Central Texas, which contains the Pittman Ranch.

The pasture will be grazed short one to two days prior to planting, and then very similar to no-till wheat, the seeds will be drilled directly into the grassland during the fall. The winter wheat will be an added source of green winter grazing that can decrease the cost of supplementary feeding in winter. And, in wetter years, it also might be possible to harvest a grain crop.

However, in most years, prior to the warm-season grasses starting to green in the spring, the wheat will be grazed off so the grass growth is not hampered.

Teague said the process will be conducted on one-quarter or less of the pasture each year, and that pasture will not be grazed again until the other summer pastures have all been appropriately grazed in rotation to allow maximum recovery.

This practice requires excellent adaptive multi-paddock grazing of the native grassland to build soil health/carbon as the base, he said. Doing the pasture cropping more often than every four years would likely negate this or even lower soil carbon in time. Conducting the practice every year would degrade the solid base of the healthy summer growing permanent pasture soil health, even in wetter parts of the world.

Ale said while Steffens, Teague and DeLaune will conduct the field experiments and data collection, he will be evaluating ecosystem models with their data so he can then run long-term simulations.

With modeling, he said he can determine what happens if the practice is carried out for 10 or 20 years, build in projected future weather changes, and assess the potential of pasture cropping in mitigating the negative effects of climate variability and change on soil ecosystem services.

They will be doing these experiments on a ranch scale, but I can model it on a watershed basis measure the holistic benefits if all ranchers in a watershed do it, Ale said.

After conducting the experiments over four years and analyzing the data to compare the various soil health indicators, Wang will provide an economic analysis of all the practices and improvements.

Steffens said once the project is complete, they plan to incorporate their findings into the various in-depth grazing and ranch management schools he conducts.

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Pasture-cropping could improve degraded Texas soils| AgriLife Today - AgriLife Today

At 1700 m altitude, on a jagged limestone ridge often used for training by alpinists, a group of young researchers are clinging to tufts of grass and sharp rock as they scramble straight down the steep mountainside of Mount Orjen, which straddles the border of Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. What brings them here, with no ropes, one misplaced step away from tumbling to peril? In a word: plants. In practical terms, theyre undertaking a transect, recording population, habitat and threat data, and collecting vital seeds. But the underlying reason theyre here: pure passion and enthusiasm for conservation.

Such is the new wave of plant conservationists in the Mediterranean, and particularly in the Balkans. Stereotypically, the study of plants has been seen as a niche domain of aging, bearded botanists with a focus on scientic research and natural history. Whilst such a botanist could well be found on a steep mountainside, theres a fresh generation of plant experts that use research as one tool of conservation. Driven by local NGOs like EnvPro and E-grupa on Mount Orjen, they will do what it takes to see threatened endemic plants protected.

With many straight out of University, its not easy to begin a career in conservation. But BirdLife (through its role as Regional Implementation Team for the Mediterranean hotspot of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)*) has been able to provide small grants to local NGOs, which can allow them to employ and train such eager, talented people. In total, 14 small grants (and one large grant) have supported 15 civil society organisations in four Balkan countries since October 2018.

Not only is plant conservation new-school, its important. Plants underpin the food chain, endemic plants support endemic insects, and the Mediterranean region biodiversity hotspot is ranked third-richest in the world in terms of its plant diversity. Some remote areas of Balkans are not properly surveyed and Mount Orjen is the only place where some endemic plant species are still found, such as the beautiful Orjen Iris Iris orjenii which hangs on in just a few sites, nestled within patches of long grass.

It was here that EnvPro and E-grupa revealed additional sites of the iris and conrmed its presence on the Bosnian side. The data gathered also allowed them to assess the species on the IUCN Red List as Endangered, as well as an endemic short-toothed sage Salvia brachyodon as Critically Endangered, and capture important habitat data for other endemics such as Edraianthus serpyllifolius.

Every seed counts

Perhaps taking inspiration from the way the roots of the endemic Bosnian munika pine trees grasp bare rock, newly-employed Marija Popovic holds on tight as she peers over an edge looking for any signs of seeding plants. EnvPro are collecting seeds from all target species for a seed bank kept at the University of Primorska, but its especially vital for the iris because the team are working with the Natural History Museum in Rijeka to grow seedlings (ex-situ conservation) which will be planted back in the wild.

Collaboration is a major theme in this movement, which aims to build a network of plant conservationists in the region, leading to better conservation management overall. Throughout the project, EnvPro (from Montenegro) have been helping build the skills and expertise of the Bosnian-based E-grupa, skills that have already led to a major success: plant data submitted helped form the basis of the case for a new protected area on the Bosnian side of Mount Orjen (declared in September 2020), which will help secure a safe future for the plants surveyed there. The Montenegrin side is already officially protected, but the EnvPro project is also aiming to improve the management of Orjen Nature Park for plants. Theyve also worked with the local mountaineering club to redirect a portion of a hiking trail that was heading through a patch of irises.

Balloons to protect bells from fire

This kind of work is also featured in another plant project in Montenegro, where the Loven Bell Edraianthus wettsteinii subsp. lovcenicus, a small perennial plant with tufts of grassy leaves and ne, blue, bell-shaped owers, has its entire range restricted to an area smaller than a football eld. Here, on Mount Loven, just outside the border of Loven National Park, young plant conservationists arent just becoming effective experts, theyre also bringing new and creative ideas.

Living Green, a local NGO, has found an innovative way to protect the plant from the threat of res: water balloons. Theyve installed biodegradable water bags to ensure the plants get an instantaneous dousing, and water canisters coupled with workshops with the local re brigade, park rangers and local landowners allow for a quick reaction to re in this dry area, eight kilometres from any other water source. There have been no res since, and Living Green continue to work on the other aspects of their project: raising awareness of the importance of the plant and work with the National Park to see its range increase.

Albania's red iris threatened by mining

Elsewhere, in Albania, a stunning re-red-and-yellow native tulip species Tulipa albanica is restricted to an extremely small range in a landscape rife with mining activity. The Institute for Environmental Policy (IEP) have been working to discover all of the remaining plants yes, all of them (the population is so small its possible to count them all) with the aim of protecting its habitat, whilst nurturing a new generation of skilled and professional botanists to work on the protection of other endemic plants in the future. Despite the species only being discovered in the last decade, the tulip is now the official emblem of the local town of Kuks testament to IEPs outreach work, and in April 2020 the Municipal Council approved the formal protection of the Albanian Tulip at the local level. Meanwhile the energetic team have been digging their spades into scientifically selected soil to create four new terraces a few kilometres away from the original locality and planted tulip bulbs giving great hope for the future of one of the regions rarest plants.

From Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia [see below], the new generation of plant conservationists are now equipped with expertise in data collection, fruitful collaborations across borders and with institutions, and great awareness-raising skills. And above all, a passion and love for plants. With all that supporting them on a remote mountainside, who needs ropes?

Innovations across the border

The rst ever seed bank of wild ora in North Macedonia was collected by MASA, with 90% from rare and endemic species; whilst ILIRIA (from Albania) used a drone to record focal species growing on steep cliffs. These two grantees are working in the National Parks of Galicica and Prespa in a collaborative project.

Large grants for rare plants

MES (BirdLife in North Macedonia) are assessing threatened plants in the Jablanica and Dojran Lake areas and setting up a monitoring system. Theyre also supporting protected area managers and local organisations, and work with biology students on chestnut distribution (including using a drone).

Ex-situ ponds

Macedonian Biological Society is also assessing endemic plants with restricted habitats from Galichica including collecting seeds, which theyve planted in newly updated facilities in the Botanical Gardens of Skopje (including a lake for a rare water lily). Meanwhile, theyre training local students and young experts and raising awareness in the local community.

CEPF is more than just a funding provider

A dedicated Regional Implementation Team (RIT) (expert officers on the ground) guide funding to the most important areas and to even the smallest of organisations; building civil society capacities, improving conservation outcomes, strengthening networks and sharing best practices.In the Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot, the RIT is entrusted to BirdLife International and its Partners: LPO (BirdLife France), DOPPS (BirdLife Slovenia) and BPSSS (BirdLife Serbia).

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The new wave of plant conservationists in the Balkans - BirdLife International

The 2020-2021 winter grazing season was finished up here at River Oak on Friday, Jan. 22. That concluded 66 days of grazing our stockpiled fescue and red clover. We were running 104 head of yearling heifers and a pair of lead cows. Overall the program went very smooth with no heavy snow and moderate temperatures for easy water supplies. That winter graze yielded 76 animal units per acre, an impressive amount considering the dry fall we experienced. We did observe the heifers showing some reluctance to consume the very driest fescue leaves, a scenario we usually dont experience.

I am happy with the condition of all the paddocks we grazed, even though there were a few days that resulted in a little pugging from either light rain or melting snow. The condition of our new south 20 paddocks remains undetermined since we were attempting to graze the heavy red clover stand to allow the grass seedlings a head start next spring. We hope that was not overdone. We plan to frost seed fescue and no clover there this month.

Speaking of which, it is frost seeding time. However, I dont think we will be out there with the ATV seeder just yet. We are looking at 10 days of very cold temperatures and as of yet an undetermined amount of snow. I really dont like to place frost seeding in very much snow, since runoff and or pooling can cause losses. A little snow is welcome to help application accuracy. We have several different recipes for different paddocks to try and improve each according to their needs. Most will still receive the common 3 to 4 pounds of red clover per acre.

For those of you who have been traditional and continuous graziers and are thinking about making the change to rotational grazing, you might want to check out the online zoom series entitled Regenerative Grazing Fundamentals that was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Feb. 11 and continues Feb. 18 and 25. You would need to register at: https://thelandconnection.org/event/grazing-series.

Dont be scared off by the term regenerative grazing. Those of us who have been at it for a while, that is, Adaptive Management Intensive Rotational Grazing, didnt coin that term. That new term is what happens when too many soil scientists and desk jockeys get interested in the practices. Also, it sure is a lot harder to say regenerative than rotational.

Jane and I felt good to receive our first COVID vaccine at the local Hy-Vee store on Jan. 27. That was a whole week ahead of when the local bureaucracy, the health department, finally announced a method to schedule free market at work. Stay safe and sane and take in a virtual grazing event.

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From the Barns: From the ground up AgriNews - Agri News

SPRING opened her locked wardrobe this month with the arrival of La Feile Brid.

Many seem to think that March 1is the official start of spring but Im sticking with the long-established Irish feast day.

A cocks foot, the measure of daylight gained each passing day (since the winter solstice), is not a generous measure, but by now it has added a glorious thirty-five minutes of illumination to our days.

In as many days again, it will have grown to an hour and a half, sometimes more, during bright sunlit days.

For the past eleven months we have not alone been confined indoors by Covid-19 restrictions, but by darkness, and extremely variable weather conditions.

In fact, since autumn we have been challenged by storms, wind, rain, and of late, periods of frost, snow, and biting cold.

But lucky those who have a garden to tend, for there they found refuge in venturing out occasionally to admire at close quarters the brave blooms that shine in winter.

The sun has slowly and imperceptibly risen that little bit earlier each morning, warming the frozen soil and all it contains.

Soon, the hedgerows will stir into new fresh greenery and life will return beneath their sheltering stony skirts.

There is something new to applaud these opening days, not least the many varieties of crocus.

Coinciding with the snowdrops, crocustommasinianusis showing colour but few realise that it is prolific at self-seeding.

A modest batch can turn into an impressive multiple in a very few years.

Mature gardens where it had perhaps been planted in minuscule numbers in the past, can seem filled now with the narrow, mauve flowers which fling back their segments at every burst of spring sunshine.

The most eager of its clan, they really can grow 'like weeds' - but never become a nuisance.

What you do not see are the seeds which lie hidden at the base of each tube.

These are generally thought to be distributed by ants.

However, the real joy of February and later are the camellias, arch deceivers no less, for they look almost too exotic to succeed outdoors as easily as they do.

Unfortunately, a snowflake, a blade of grass, a blackthorn shoot has more perfume.

No spring garden is complete without at least one early variety and the best (and earliest) include those sold under the species name Sasanqua.

Look for stockists on computers or laptops for they are rare enough on garden outlet sales tables.

This charming variety has graced our garden here for decades and it takes top position for reliability and performance year on year (an illustration of Yuletide has appeared on this page recently).

It blooms in the weeksleading to Christmaswith a willingness that staggers and continues to the end of February and later.

Be assured also that they take kindly to pot culture.

Buy a decent sized, terracotta, or glazed pot for one of these, and fill it with a mixture of lime-free soil from the garden, to which has been added a generous dressing of leaf-mould, commercial potting compost, or pine-needles.

Plant into this mixture as big a camellia as you can afford, bearing in mind that the older you are, the more you need to invest in something that will not take a decade and more to reach a commanding size.

Debbie is a later variety for late March/April, a reliable, free-flowering, vigorous variety which I also rate highly, but if red is not in keeping with your gardens colour scheme, opt for Jury's Yellow (very unusual) White Nun or Lavinia Maggi. I have only one word for all OF these: superb.

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Welcoming the true arrival of spring in the garden - Irish Post

Uber Like Handyman App

Its 2021 that everyone is moving virtual so that the service provided is also moving online. The technology improved a lot to make it the people easier to avail the services needed.

The need for handyman services improved a lot and many of them were searching for a service that to be done quickly.

Here At Trioangle Technologies, we created a handyman app for business people by providing all the services. Theuber like handyman business can be started within a couple of days.

Different handyman services applications are there to start a business.

Handyman App For Electricians

Electricians app is required for the users because the traditional method was very difficult to have Electricians immediately for the service. The business idea solution is a handyman app for electricians that the user can book the electricians quickly.

A businessman can start an Electricians app by providing an experienced electrician for the users to solve the problem faced.

Workflow

Uber For Electricians App comes with easy signup. The profile information can be updated.

The listing of electricians problems will be listed and the user can select the service. The electricians provider can assign the work after the user requested the service.

The live tracking will be shown to the user and service provider to locate the service place properly and can track the service providers location.

Handyman App For Doctor Consultation

The lockdown fuels the idea of developing an app for Doctor Consultation. Earlier the doctor consultation applications are there but most of them visit the doctor in person to discuss health issues.

During the lockdown, many of them faced health issues. The direct visit to the hospitals is impossible during the lockdown.

Uber For Doctor Consultation paves the way to guide their patients thoroughly mobile at anywhere anytime. The doctors will work for the patients immediately for emergency cases.

So it is a need for the users to have a doctor consultation app. Business-minded people can start an Uber for Doctors application and provide the users with benefits.

The new way to improve the health care system.

Handyman App For Laundries

Laundry is important for many working, college, and old people because they arent able to wash their clothes on time. Many laundry providers are there but one of the main disadvantages is the time they deliver and the quality of washing the clothes.

On-demand app for laundries solves the solution and provides the users to get the clothes on time with quality of the wash. The user can select the particular laundry provider in the handyman app with the ratings and reviews of the users provided.

Handyman App For House Cleaners

House cleaning is more important in the upcoming years because this lockdown COVID-19 makes us improve our cleanliness. Homeowners are prepared to clean and understand the value of sanitizing the homes.

The homeowners will be in different places and arent able to do the services. This paves the way for the handyman app for house cleaning.

The professional house cleaning workers provide the service for the users. The users can get the service immediately or can schedule the cleaning service.

Businessmen can start a house cleaning app by providing the services to the users. The safety regulations should be properly followed offering services to the users.

These are the various services that can be included in theOn-demand handyman app business model. Many businesses like this can be included to start a business with the Trioangles best handyman services script.

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Rise Of On-Demand Handyman Business Model And Its Impact - WhaTech Technology and Markets News