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How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck if a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood? by Dawn Lawless Ah, our beloved woodchuck, a/k/a the groundhog. Groundhog seems like a more fitting name for this ravenous mammal. We've all seen them stuffing themselves near brushy areas or woods. They are diurnal for the most part. Their favorite meal includes tender, succulent plants, which is not good news for the friendly farmer. The woodchuck can do considerable damage to crops. Hence we have Bessie. Her main job is to reduce the number of critters eating the vegetables. On a more positive note, groundhogs create burrows that other animals, such as game and furbearers, utilize for refuge or a home. Any woodchucks hibernating this winter on Maysie's Farm will begin to wake up and do what they do best, eat plants. |
Sustainable Agriculture Research Award By Louise Smith
Through our Outreach Programs, Maysie's Farm Conservation Center (MFCC) awarded a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and Certificate of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture Research to Erica Rodriguez at the Delaware Valley Science Fair on April 11th. The Delaware Valley Science Fair is an annual exhibit and competition for students in grades 6-12, from Southeast Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Northern Delaware, who have conducted research in one of fourteen different scientific categories. Sam Cantrell, Executive Director of MFCC, judged the research projects and carefully considered at least a dozen relevant projects, primarily in the botany and environmental sciences categories.
Erica's project, "Comparing the Efficacy of Chemical Versus Organic Fertilizer" found that even a simple organic fertilizer produces healthier plants and less leachate than a chemical fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro. Her display board and the verbal presentation of her work were excellent. In addition to our MFCC award, Erica won Third Place in her category (10th Grade Environmental Sciences), an award from Women in Science and Engineering and a U.S. Army award. Congratulations, Erica!
Sam Cantrell encouraged Erica, who is a student from George Washington High School in Philadelphia, to continue her research and possibly focus on comparing different organic fertilizers: i.e., composts made from different materials and over different timeframes. Encouraging students and applauding them for their interest and research in sustainable agriculture is one of the ways we at Maysie's Farm Conservation Center accomplish our mission of increasing public understanding of the importance of conservation and ecological thinking.
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Wish List
Our Wish List this month focuses on things for the new Children's Garden. Please contact Sam at (610) 458-8129 if you can donate any of these items or services:
As always, we also welcome donations of:
Please contact Sam for more details: (610) 458-8129
I have lived through many Springs.
This poem was written after a Spring evening's walk with Lucky Poe, son of Bessie and Homer, born on September 13, 2000. Lucky Poe remains quite distracted by the Spring. |
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