August, 2012 Newsletter

...for discerning weeders August, 2012

ADVENTURES IN CANNING

Inside this issue: Tantalizing Trivia 2 Foxes, Coyotes

3

and Wolves...Oh My! Cool as a......

4

Weed of the

5

Month Fungus Among

5

Us Book Review

6

Walk on the Wild 6 Side 150 Years

6

Conservation

7

Corner Puzzle

7

Last Word

8

DON’T FORGET! You have to log your hours onto the VMS system!

I'm not a complete canning novice, having spent many summers when I was younger working with my mother to can all sorts of produce from our huge gardens in Missouri. Then two years ago some blueberry plants I had growing in containers on the patio suddenly came into major production and I had pounds and pounds of blueberries on my hands. I decided to try my hand at making jam with them. That went very well, so I started buying quantities of strawberries from Akers of Strawberries in Baker and canning several batches of strawberry jam. I gave many jars of jam to friends and thus my current reign as the Jam Queen began.

This year in addition to my standard strawberry, blueberry, apricot and peach jams, I've been dabbling in 'designer jams'. With help from the nice produce section at Publix, such delights as mango-raspberry, cherry-amaretto, and mint jelly (I do grow the mint) are emanating from my kitchen this summer. You might be able to tell that I purchased a book of canning recipes this year...(the “Ball Book of Home Canning and Preserving,” to be exact).

But, true confessions time. Let me back up a minute and admit that for the first two years of jam-making, I did not own a water-bath canner and I...made jam without processing it. There, I said it. I was very tidy about it and used proper canning jars and lids that were scrupulously clean and, to the best of my knowledge, no one ever died from eating my jam. But then last August as a newly-minted Master Gardener I attended the Short Course North over in Milton. Among the many wonderful presentations was one by Dorothy Lee, a Family and Consumer Sciences extension agent. She gave us the news that UF and the USDA now officially recommend processing for any canned foods, including previously-exempt jams made from acidic fruit. Well, that was a game-changer. It simply wouldn't do to see the headlines: 'Master Gardener who knew better accused of negligent homicide' or 'Death By Jam- but Master Gardener proclaims her innocence'. So, over the winter I researched canners and finally decided on one made by the Victorio compa1

By Karen Harper

ny, which I have been very happy with. I don't yet can any foods that are non-acidic but if I ever branch into that area, I'll have to invest in a pressure canner in order to do that properly.

So now I call myself a legitimate canner of stuff and killer of no one (thus far).

Aside from being the Jam Queen, this year I've dabbled in canning tomatoes and a picklemaking project. For me, the jury is still out as to whether certain tomato products are worth the effort especially if one has to buy the tomatoes.

I refer to tomato paste, ketchup and other condiments that require huge poundage of tomatoes in exchange for a relatively miserly number of resulting jars. I decided to try making tomato paste on a rainy Saturday. The recipe called for 50 Roma tomatoes (yes, 50!) My two little plants had produced about a third that many so it was off to the farmers' market to buy the rest (at $1.00 a pound). Five hours later after boiling tomatoes all day (and heating up my kitchen) and then using a sieve to remove skins and seeds, I was left with FOUR eight ounce jars of tomato paste, which then had to be processed for 45 minutes and further heated up my kitchen until 10 PM. I'm thinking: not worth the effort when you can buy a can of tomato paste for .32. I am all for selfsufficiency but one does have to use a little common sense about it. Canned halved or crushed tomatoes is another story. The yield is much better for the effort and expense put into it and canning the occasional quart or two of tomatoes seems like a good way to use up the tomatoes that are piling up in my kitchen. I also made some salsa and while the yield is decent for the effort, what I failed to notice was that the recipe seemed to call for 5 cups of everything (5 cups chopped onions, 5 cups chopped peppers...). So I did all that chopping by hand and I still have a blister on my chopping hand. Was it worth it for 6 pints of salsa?

Well, maybe.

Continued on next page

ADVENTURES

continued

It's pretty tasty stuff and I was able to find a use for at least a few of those Thai hot peppers that are running rampant in my garden. But the moral of this story is read the recipe first and use your food processor!

Pickle-making was my next challenge. I really wanted to can sweet baby gherkins as that is something we use here frequently. However, after visiting two farmers' markets and picking the brains of those who sell cucumbers, I learned that nobody harvests the cucumbers when they're still in that tiny (1” - 2”) stage that is needed to make sweet gherkins. It makes sense since growers are selling their cukes by the pound and it stands to reason they don't want to harvest them until they have some heft to them. The best you can do is cucumbers that are about 4” to 6” in length, which would make great dill pickles but not gherkins. So I opted instead to make sweet pickle relish this year and I'll be sure to raise my own cucumbers next year so I can pick them when they're in the baby gherkin stage.

If you want to try your hand at canning, here are some of the resources I've discovered. Canners are available in many sizes. I went with a great big one and I'm glad I did. It can easily handle the processing of several jars at once. If you buy a canning pot and the jar rack separately, be sure the jar rack will fit the canner! That sounds like a rather 'duh' statement but I very nearly bought a cheapo canning pot and a separate cheapo but adequately-sized jar rack. I was patting myself on the back for saving a lot of money when I thought to measure the rack and, sure enough, it wouldn't have fit into the pot. A smaller rack holding fewer jars would be required. Canning is stressful (and heatproducing) enough without having to be in the kitchen processing multiple batches of jars. Get 'er done! is my motto so I went with this large set-up: http://tinyurl.com/843ynpu . I don't use it for steam-bath processing. That sounds a little too risky to me (and Dorothy Lee confirmed that it IS risky in her talk last August).

Canning jars are available locally at Ace Hardware, Publix, and the commissary. Best prices are at the commissary but once they're gone, they're gone. They don't restock them as it's a seasonal item. Lowe's has had canning jars in the past but I haven't seen them there yet this year. I asked about their availability today (June 24th) and was told they'd have them in a few weeks.

I commented that the canning season in Florida starts in about April and that maybe Lowe's should make some adjustments in their stocking procedures. I was then told semi-jokingly (I think)

that “when they're canning in Nebraska, we'll get canning jars here.” So, don't count on Lowe's for your canning jars until July (maybe). I'm sure there are other retailers that sell canning jars as well. Tractor Supply seems likely but I haven't checked there. WalMart also seems likely but I haven't checked there either. Ed. Note: There are ‘cheaper’ jar available at Wal-Mart but these are made in China and seem prone to having nicks and cracks. Definitely invest in a jar lifter, a magnetic wand to retrieve lids from hot water and a funnel. I have all those purpose-made tools now and the old saying about using the right tool for the right job is certainly applicable here! They make the job infinitely easier.

My own goal is to raise more of my own produce and preserve it. That truly is the definition of 'gardening for independence.' However there are other ways to obtain produce. Lucky you if you have a neighbor who over-produces tomatoes and other bounty every year and shares it with you! If you have to buy produce, there are a few farmers markets that raise their own produce and at least you can incorporate some 'buy local' into your shopping habits. On-line information is a bit sketchy. There are at least two farmer’s markets in Crestview. I'm not familiar with it but I'm sure the north county folks are: http:tinyurl.com/7r8tvj5. The Okaloosa County Fairgrounds sponsors a market three days a week from April to September. That's where I've bought a lot of my produce for canning this year http://tinyurl.com/7ry34kw. Akers of Strawberries in Baker is a fun place and has become a rite of spring for me: http://tinyurl.com/7zba538. If you are a Facebooker, Akers has a page and they post daily updates on the strawberry harvest as well as other produce they sell during the season: http:// tinyurl.com/75pd9q9. City Produce on Beal Parkway has a big selection of produce and canned items. We were there last weekend, checking out what they have. It's not clear to me if they ship the produce in or if any of it is locally grown. One thing I do know is they have canning jars but they aren't for sale. I was examining some boxes of jars I found on a shelf and was informed that those are for their use only. :) Their website is: http:// www.cityproducefwb.com/ Meanwhile, I'm still cranking out jam by the ton. I'm good at jam. Jam is two hours from start to finish, even taking into account the processing time, and the results are predictably good.

I'm pretty happy to be the Jam Queen. I'm thinking I don't need to be the Tomato Paste Queen.

TANTALIZING TRIVIA!

Courtesy of Ed Smith

While you are cooped up during these hot summer days, check out a few interesting web articles! Thanks to Ed, I had a great time and learned a few new tidbits. Whether or not it will improve my Trivia Pursuit score or not remains to be seen.

First off, we all know what moths are, but did you know that the adult Luna moth doesn’t even have a mouth? Did you know that male moths can smell female moths from miles away? Check out these fun facts and many more at http:// www.ouramazingplanet.com/3250-moth-week-facts.html While we’re on the subject of insects, anyone dealt with yellow jackets lately? Find out more about these members of the paper wasp family http://tinyurl.com/cjtz9km.

A unique study (actually the first of its kind) concerning leaf size and climate may be found at http://tinyurl.com/cheu64u.

Finally, the word NUTATION. No, that isn’t a typo. Nutation—the circular swaying motion of the tip of a growing shoot. There!

Use that one in a sentence!

Do you have any interesting trivia items? Send them in!

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FOXES, COYOTES AND WOLVES...OH MY!

By Linda Meyers

It's the “dog days” of summer and here are some interesting wildlife facts about the dog “Canidae” family Gray Fox - Common in Florida, found statewide except for the Keys. Preferred habitat is dense cover in thickets, forests or swamps. It is the only fox that regularly climbs trees to evade predators and to hunt its own prey, giving it the nickname "tree fox." The upper side of its body is a salt-and-pepper gray; The sides of its neck, back, legs, underside of tail and base of its ears are a bright reddish-orange. The gray fox's bushy tail measures 11 to 16 in. It stands 15 in. at the shoulder, has a body length of 21 to 30 in. and weighs 7 to 13 lb. This solitary animal is most active after sundown, returning to its den during the day. These sites are located in hollow logs, ground burrows, beneath boulders, and even under buildings in some secluded areas. Its diet consists of small mammals including squirrels, insects, fruits, acorns, birds, and eggs. They are excellent mousers. While it rarely invades poultry yards, it has been known to prey on small farm animals and birds. Most female gray foxes mate in their first year. Breeding season ranges from late January to March. Gestation takes 50 to 55 days, after which females produce 3 to 7 dark-brown, blind pups. The male stays with his mate and helps care for the young. The pups are weaned at about 6 weeks. Gradually the pups learn to fend for themselves, first leaving the den area to hunt with their parents when they are about 3 months old. (EDIS WEC-31 Gray Fox, Lauren J. Cryer and Frank J. Mazzotti) Red Fox - Red foxes avoid the more heavily wooded areas occupied by gray foxes, preferring the edges of forests, meadows, agricultural fields and open pastures. They are also found statewide except for the Keys. They are excellent mousers and catch rodents with a characteristic floating ʻmouse leap.ʼ Red foxes have a complicated history in the United States. They were introduced from Europe in the 1700ʼs but the species was also probably native to North America but limited to northern regions. Hunters introduced red foxes to Florida, but the species may have also arrived in the state by a natural range expansion from the north. It is sandy red with a white underside. The end of the long (11-16") tail is black with a white tip. Its cheeks and throat are white and its legs 3

and feet are black.

Its muzzle and ears are pointed. It is 33-43" long.

Red foxes and gray foxes are similar in size. It is primarily nocturnal. Its den is usually 20-40 ft. long and has more than one entrance. Its diet consists mainly of rabbits, rats, mice, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fruit. Red foxes are monogamous, apparently for life.

They breed in late winter or early spring, producing a litter of 1-10 pups about 53 days later. At about 6 months of age, the pups move off on their own. (Wild Florida Ecotravel Guide and NSiS/Florida Wildlife) Coyote - The coyote is similar in appearance to a medium size shepherd.

They weigh 20-30 pounds, have pointed ears, narrow muzzle, and bushy tail.

Males tend to be larger than females.

They are usually grayish-brown, but occasionally black, often with a patch of white chest hair. Coyotes exhibit a variety of vocalizations. They can bark like dogs, though the sounds most often heard are shrill yips and howls. The coyote now occurs throughout the eastern United States. Coyotes began expanding their range into the Southeast in the 1960's, reaching northwestern Florida in the 1970's. They are most numerous in northern Florida, but their numbers appear to be increasing state-wide. Coyotes are extremely adaptable; just about any type of forest or farmland is suitable habitat. Coyotes most important foods are rats and mice, rabbits, wild fruits, insects, birds and virtually any type of carrion. Coyotes have one breeding cycle per year.

The male, unlike the domestic dog, has active sperm only in late winter when females are in heat. Coyotes can first breed when they are 10 months old. Following a 63-day gestation period, an average of 6 pups are born. Both parents, and occasionally nonbreeding offspring from previous years, help rear the young. Coyotes den in hollow logs, brush piles and burrows. They will dig their own dens, but more commonly they enlarge burrows made by other animals, such as an armadillo or gopher tortoise. Pups emerge from dens when they are about 3 weeks old. Dens, used only when the pups are small, are abandoned when the young are 8-10 weeks old. Coyotes may re-use dens in subsequent years. Parental care lasts until the pups are about 9 months old. The young usually then disperse to a new area, Continued on next page

FOXES

continued

where they establish their own breeding territories. Coyotes are active day or night, but usually most active at sunset and sunrise. Coyotes are not a threat to human safety and are normally timid towards people. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Red Wolf - The Red Wolf, who once roamed freely in many parts of the Country, had become so decimated by 1967, that adding it to the Endangered Species List, (ESL) was its last and only hope.

The other two Florida Species had been hunted to extinction.

Ranchers and farmers fear of wolves killing their stock, habitat encroachment and just general ignorance were the biggest factors in their road to extinction. A few years later, in 1969, fear-

ing the complete extinction of the species, a small number of them were carefully selected and taken into captivity for protective breeding. By 1980, the Red Wolf was considered extinct in the wild. Today in several Southern states including Florida, the Red Wolf is being protected and carefully watched. They are making a small, but important last stand for their own survival.

Of the nearly 300 still alive, over 200 live in captivity, but the others are in the wild, so there is hope. In Florida, the Endangered Red Wolf has been re-introduced in a small isolated setting on St. Vincent Island off the Panhandle. The Florida Red Wolf stands 14-16 inches high, weighs between 40-80 pounds and is 4.5 to 5.5 feet long. Their diet consists of small mammals like, rabbits, raccoons and rodents. The average life span is between 13-16 years. Red Wolves mate for life, as do most other of the Genus Canis and have very strong family bonds. Unlike the Grey Wolf, there are no reports of a Red Wolf ever attacking a Human. The shy Red Wolf prefers to hunt alone or with his family. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

COOL AS A.......

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror; it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes. The phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles, too!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or a terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used

by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to

Courtesy of John Hipp & Shari Farrell thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe. Its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Rub a cucumber slice along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for a massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers as well as college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath. The phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean. Not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing. Also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

14. Use cucumber peels to deter ants! (thanks Karen Harper!)

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Weed of the Month

by Jenny Gillis

Elegant Dog Fennel Eu- Dog fennel is a good name because the leaves of dog fennel are thin and threadlike; closely resembling the bright green filigree patorium capillifolium Dog Fennel, sometimes known as Summer Cedar, Hogweed, or Elegant Feather, is a short lived perennial broadleaf weed. Growing in sandy dry to moist or wet areas, Eupatorium capillifolium does not fare well in thick, established turf. It grows best in poorly maintained turf and other waste areas: disturbed sites, meadows, pond borders, ditches, along roadsides, overgrazed pastures and in fields.

In the United States, Dog Fennel can be found along the east coast from New Jersey to Florida, and west into Missouri and Texas. It can be identified as a shortlived perennial with a thick woody base. Its multiple stems are erect, vertically growing and multi-branched in the upper flowering portion, while hairy or sometimes smooth below. The stems’ color is more reddish-purple toward the base. This weed is often 4-5 feet tall but can reach 6 ½ feet – or even 9 feet!

-lace foliage of the herb fennel. The name, fennel, is the only similarity because this weed contains alkaloids that can cause liver damage if eaten. Dog fennel grows really tall along roadsides and fields throughout the growing season, and is carefully avoided by all grazing animals – wild and domestic. It’s awful odor also deters rodents and insects. However, some butterflies and moths feed on it. It is also a larval host plant for Black Swallowtail butterfly, the Tiger Moth Estigmene acrea and the Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth Cosmosoma myrodora - adult males extract toxic chemicals from Dog Fennel.

Dog Fennel is actually an elegantly beautiful plant. When seen out of its normal context as a single specimen or as a few scattered here and there. The tall stems, standing still or swaying in the breeze, change color each hour as sunlight streams through the hair-like foliage.

For flower arrangers, stems of the lacey foliage provide a lovely foil for any selection of flowers and grasses, and the resulting arrangements are not available from florists. Gardeners call dog fennel “elegant feather” and use it in borders where it grows quickly and has a very soft feathery texture.

A FUNGUS AMONG US? Recently, I noticed a browning out in a small area of my St. Augustine lawn. It looked like gray leaf spot, but not quite. I sent pictures to Robert, who believes it is Bipolaris fungus, also known as Helminthosporium. He has seen it a lot this year, even on his own Zoysia. He has discussed it with Bryan Unruh and believes it may be 2012's version of brown/large patch, which does not seen to be as prevalent this year as in the past. I bought some fungicide, and will apply soonest. Just Googling it only takes you to gray leaf spot or take-all root rot, so it may be a new critter.

By Bill Buckellew

Maybe we can get him to say a few words about it next meeting.

Ed. Note: http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh048 is a publication I located dealing specifically with Helminthosporium.

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Book Review

by Marg Stewart

Forty-six short chapters written in a conversational style, Compost Happens: Confessions of a Plantaholic, by Shelly Hargis Murphy is a delightful read. A master-gardener and columnist, Mrs. Murphy has a dry wit and you’ll actually laugh out loud at some of her horticultural ‘accidents.’

Each chapter is written as an individual story. Chapter titles range from “God Will Get Even With You” (a lesson in ‘acquiring’ flowers) to “Can This Disease Be Cured?” (nice to know that there are other plantaholics out there).

The best description of this book is directly from the publisher:

sweetheart and they moved so often during the next 25 years with his coaching career she only planted annuals in pots. It wasn’t until they settled in Georgia in 1993, that she could finally put down serious roots. By 2002, when she received certification as a Georgia Master “Something’s always happening in a garden. Sooner or later it all Gardener, she’d made turns to compost, including the gardener. After growing ornaenough mistakes to fill this mentals a dozen years on a rocky hard clay slope, the queen of how-not-to-garden book. gardening gaffes confesses why: ‘I don’t do bugs, the buck stops here, some plants are X-rated and God will get even with you; Give this one a shot. attacks from crape murderers and a fat chance of rain may lead You’ll be glad you did. to horticultural holocaust and a decent burial; attitude is every- This is a great book for thing in a pricey pa$t-time that sure beats a shrink, may be in those hot, humid days the genes and have one asking, Can this disease be cured?’” when you really don’t want to be outside.

Shelly Hargis Murphy grew up in the desert Southwest in a horticultural challenged environment. She married her college

Anyone else out there read a good book lately? Be sure to let us know!

Test your knowledge!

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

1. What was the name of the Act that created the land-grant universities?

2. Who signed this Act? 3. How many land-grant institutions are there?

4. What Act created the Cooperative Extension?

5. What year did the Cooperative

By Linda Meyers August is hot and sticky...but our local critters don’t seem to mind a bit. If you venture out, there are some great things to see!

Birds: The first flocks of blue-winged and green-winged teal arrive to winter on Florida lakes and wet-lands. The yellow warbler migration begins. Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering in Extension begin? communal night roosts before migrating. Purple martins and 6. What are the three other ‘grant’ type programs? tree swallows begin to gather to migrate south for winter.

7. What was the first land-grant institution actually created?

Mammals: Two-year old black bear cubs will wean from their 8. What is the oldest school to hold land-grant status? mothers. Short-tailed shrews will begin a second round of 9. Before there was the Cooperative Extension Service there was breeding for the year. what?

10. What was the first state in the nation to accept the provisions Reptiles/Amphibians: Sea turtles are hatching so watch of the Act that created the land-grant universities? where you walk on the beach! Gopher tortoise and turtle eggs are hatching. Indigo snake and other snake eggs are hatching.

Insects: Great southern white butterflies are migrating through coastal areas.

Sources: www.wec.ufl.edu.extension and snre.ufl.edu/pubse vents/wild.htm

ANSWERS: 1. Morrill Act; 2. Abraham Lincoln; 3. 76; 4. Smith-Lever Act; 5. 1914; 6. Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Sun Grant; 7. Kansas State University; 8. Rutgers University; 9. Agricultural Experiment Stations; 10. Iowa 6

CONSERVATION CORNER

By Lockey Buhrow

“To Bee or not to Bee” or, is Apiculture for you?

The Western Honey Bee - Apis mellifera – meaning “honey bearer” or “honey bringer”: The honey bee has been recorded in history for over 3,000 years. It has been called a “flying Swiss Army knife” because of its’ complex structure. Not a native of North America, the Western Honey Bee was brought to the New World by European settlers during the 1600s, thus the Indian name of “White-mans’ fly”.

Honey produced by the Honey Bee has been a favorite delicacy sought after by man and beast. A single hive can produce 50-100 lbs. of honey a year. The busy bee contributes other consumables as well: beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, propolis (resin collected from trees used to plug cracks) and venom.

According to American Professional Apiculturists, honey bees provide essential pollination services to the US fruit, vegetable and seed growers, adding $8-$14 billion annually to farm income and ensuring continuous production of healthy and affordable food for consumers. Without the honey bee to pollinate,

approximately 1/3rd of our food crop would disappear.

All is not sweet with the Honey Bee. Viral and bacterial diseases have invaded the bee world but the good news is that they are only peculiar to bees and do not affect humans. Parasitic mites and small hive beetles have, in the recent years, been a challenge to the beekeeper.

“Scientists can now train honey bees to detect unique chemicals with 95% accuracy. This has opened up the prospect of using bees to detect improvised explosive devices, biological weapons and eventually diseases and cancers in people.”

Beekeeping as a hobby has “blossomed” in the past few years bolstering the diminishing bee population. Local bee clubs, Okaloosa Extension classes and FL Inspectors are of great assistance to a novice. Is Apiculture for you? Get a local beekeeper to be your mentor. I did.

Blackiston, H. (2009). Beekeeping for Dummies Sanford, M., Bonney, R. (2010) Story’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees

Find the words from the list. Words may go up, down, backwards, forwards, or diagonally.

AGRICULTURE

P H I R W G S G N T A F T M H

CANNING CONSUMERS

L A O A E R N O O G R D N A U

COYOTE

H I T R E V I I R S O X A R R

DOCUMENTS

M E G M T S E I N C R F R S R

EXTENSION

R A R H N I C L U N H G G H I

FARMERS FOX

O A R E T U C M H Z A W D M C

HORTICULTURE

F E T K L N E U C T P C N A A

HURRICANE

L X M T E N I N L T I A A L N

LAND GRANT

E W U E T T R N A T A M L L E N R G S F L O W G R U Y S O T

LIGHTNING LINCOLN MARKET

E T C A L L I R R O M R I W R

MARSHMALLOWS

N L O C N I L C O Y O T E S E

MORRILL ACT

O B G C G B E W S S K X Z B E

SMITH LEVER

T M N M N F O B Z M Z M O C S H I C O N S U M E R S G I F Z

TREES WATER WOLF 7

Editor—Marg Stewart Co-Editors—Shari Farrell, Karen Harper, Linda Meyers Weed of the Month—Jenny Gillis This month’s guest columnists Bill Buckellew, Lockey Buhrow, John Hipp, Ed Smith

Have pictures or an idea for an article?

Send it in!

Articles and pictures are always welcome.

Your member site: www.ocmgamembers.org

The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....An equal opportunity institution.

LAST WORD I just couldn’t resist the nod to the zombies.

Seems that lately we’re hearing a whole lot about potential disasters that could wipe out the human race. As for me, I do believe in being prepared (although the zombie apocalypse thing is very low on my list).

That being said, I’ve been on a personal mission to lower my energy bills. Helping the financial preparedness of the household. Yes, I’ve been stalking the house in order to turn off lights (and a few times forgot to check for human inhabitants but that’s another story). We’ve installed a hot water heater timer and lowered the water temperature. The A/C has been raised a degree. Okay, for a Yankee, it’s a sacrifice— trust me on that one. Made sure that all appliances that come in are Energy Star rated.

Just got the last electric bill and have saved a whole whopping $50 this past month. No, I’m not complaining. Although I was hoping for something just a tad bit more dramatic if you know what I mean.

Time for some research and I came across tons of money saving ideas. I have to admit that most of them are just not feasible (running around naked.....I think the neighbors would complain). Some ideas seemed to cost more than they would save or were just so outrageous that I’m sure they are illegal in at least 26 States.

I did find a piece on ‘phantom loads’.

Okay, so as a geeky type person, somewhere in my addled brain I was aware of these energy suckers. For those who may not know, a phantom load is the electricity consumed by an appliance or an electrical device when it is not actively being used or is in the “off” mode. Although these devices (referred to as power vampires) appear to be off, they continue to draw electricity 8

By Marg Stewart from outlets to keep their circuits instantly ready for the next time they are turned on.

TVs, DVD players, modems, battery chargers, in general, any device that has a power adapter and feels warm after it has been on for a while is a power vampire.

You know me, I started wondering about other phantom loads in our lives. Just how many other ‘vampires’ were out there sucking out our valuable time and energy on a daily basis?

The internet, TV, telephone, chores, errands...all these can be really vicious vampires if we aren’t careful. Instead of hitting the sack at a decent hour, we stay up to watch an old movie. How many times do we actually create more work for ourselves by not thinking through our list of chores and/or errands?

We’ve all heard the joke about starting out to write a check, not having checks in the check book, discovering junk mail while heading for the blank checks, seeing something else that needs doing. By the end of the tale, the check hasn’t been written, you’ve misplaced your car keys, you’re totally exhausted and realize that you didn’t accomplish a darned thing all day!

Or out in the garden. We start out with the good intention of getting that one section weeded. Oh, but look, that plant really needs to be cut back. On the way to the tool shed, we see that the garbage men have been by so we head out to get the garbage can. Oh, the mailman was here...let me get the mail inside. By the time you finish, the weeds aren’t pulled, your garbage can is still at the end of the driveway and a myriad of other little things didn’t get done or got done the wrong way.

So be prepared! Take the time to prepare yourself against potential disasters. Especially the disasters that we create for ourselves. Pay attention to the phantom loads and vampires that suck the life out of your day unless you guard against them.

Maybe they were right after all....the zombies are coming and they might just be us if we aren’t careful.

Happy Weeding!