ELEVANDO WISCONSIN
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https://tinyurl.com/elevandowisconsin
Register by September 25, 2023, to reserve your spot!
Tree Canopy Collaborative has New Spongy Moth Resources
The invasive spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) is back in high numbers this year as part of its typical 10-year outbreak cycle. Spongy moth is a pest of many deciduous trees, especially oak, crabapple, hawthorn, birch, willow and linden. The Tree Canopy Collaborative, an initiative of the Dane County Office of Energy and […]
Need your pressure canner tested?
Pressure Canner Testing is available by appointment. Please contact Claire Mance to schedule an appointment at 608-224-3699 or mance.claire@countyofdane.com. Pressure Canner Testing is available by appointment. Our office hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We are closed major holidays. The charge is $3 per gauge. In addition to your gauge, please […]
To Drive or Not to Drive – Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
Sharon Lezberg, Community Development Educator Drive, bike, or bus- decisions, decisions! Like most American adults, I can easily jump in my car to travel from place to place. I may be concerned about the price of gas, or gridlock on the road, but how often do I think about the tailpipe emissions that I’m generating? […]
Lessons from Copenhagen on Being a Bike Friendly City
Sharon Lezberg, Community Development Educator “Don’t step off the curb! Watch out!” my daughter Zoey admonished me, as I negligently stepped off the pedestrian curb onto the bike path during a recent visit to Copenhagen. I quickly jumped back up onto the pedestrian walkway, lest I get run down by a bike commuter. Zoey had […]
Testing Seed Viability
Seed starting time is coming! Do you know if your seeds are viable? Here are some tips to keep in mind. Fresh seed germinates best. Seed packets are labeled with the date they are best used by. Though seeds are usually viable longer than that date, some species lose viability faster, and germination decreases for […]
Outdoor, Active, and Healthy: A Mindset for Cross-Country Skiers During Warmer Winters
Michelle Probst, former Natural Resource Educator Winter can be a tough situation here in Wisconsin, you either love it or hate it. Over the years, I have really come to love winter, and one thing that has helped me appreciate the winter is getting involved in winter activities. There are many organizations here in Dane […]
De-icing Salts Damage Soils, Plants and Water
January 23 begins Salt Awareness week. With the recent snowfall, you may be using de-icing salt products to keep driveways and sidewalks clear. Excess de-icing salts can damage soils, plants and water sources. It just takes one teaspoon of salt in a five-gallon bucket of water before it starts to create problems. It also is […]
Protect trees and shrubs from winter wildlife damage
If your ground has not frozen yet, it is not too late to put protective fencing around trees and shrubs that often experience damage from deer, rabbit, vole, or mouse feeding over winter. Fruit trees, crab apples, burning bush, forsythia, dwarf Korean lilac, shrub hibiscus, low-growing junipers, and arborvitaes are among the plants that are […]
The Intersections of Youth, Arts, Climate Change, and Public Health
Taylor Seale, MPH, Positive Youth Development Educator Last month, Extension colleagues from the Positive Youth Development Institute and Natural Resources Institute partnered with the Arts + Literature Laboratory to create an educational workshop for teens that centered on climate change and the arts. During the event, teens could connect with local environmental organizations, walk through […]
Tis the Season to Celebrate Soil!
By Michelle Probst, former Natural Resource Educator As we enter the holiday season, there is one holiday that simply cannot be missed—World Soils Day. On Dec. 5th of every year, we set a day to appreciate soil and focus on the importance of healthy soil. As a soil scientist, I jump for joy that everyone […]
Keep Watering in Fall to Protect Evergreens from Winter Burn
‘Winter burn’ refers to a type of damage to evergreen foliage that typically occurs over winter. Common symptoms are browning and dying from the tips of the foliage inward. Several factors cause winter burn on evergreens, including winter ‘thaws’ while the ground is frozen, dry soil in autumn, a long period of very cold temperatures, […]
