Garden Guru? …

Posted by Rick - 25/01/06 at 09:01:30 pm

When we moved to the house in Silver Spring, Maryland I was looking forward to taking classes at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College. Specifically I was interested in their Landscape Technology certificate program. However, that plan died when I realized that classes for the program were almost exclusively taught at the Germantown campus, 25 miles away, and not at the campus three blocks away from our home.

I mention this because our recent house-hunting has given me the itch to get out of this flat and back to gardening. I have also been thinking about taking classes again, so I was very pleased when my friend Ann passed on a link to the Vermont Master Gardener program at the University of Vermont extension. The program is a little different than the Landscape Technology certificate, but it is a nice first step for me to get back into being a student. Plus I like that the program is designed to create a network of volunteers to help in their communities.

If I adjust to being a student again, I may look into Vermont Technical College’s Landscape Development and Ornamental Horticulture program. For now I will try my hand learning about turf, weeds, entomology, plant pathology, soils, woody ornamentals, perennials, annuals, applied pest management, invasive plant control, vegetables and landscape design. The last two being of the most interest to me.

I still have to drive 25 miles to get to the classes in Randolph, but 25 miles in Vermont is a pleasure compared to the hell that is DC/Maryland traffic.

Wish me luck.


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Reject the NAIS!

Posted by Sarah - 11/01/06 at 01:01:52 pm

The National Animal Identification System is a new plan being proposed by the USDA. While it purports to “enable 48-hour traceback of the movements of any diseased or exposed animal”, there are many alarming implications of the plan:

  • Farmers will have to have GPS monitoring on their farms and electronic ID of every animal. They will have to pay for all of this chipping and monitoring, driving up their costs and dramatically increasing the cost of food at the market and the grocery store. Small farmers and homesteaders who simply raise their own food will risk heavy non-compliance fines if they do not purchase the expensive equipment or will be driven out of business. Yes, the USDA is offering up to 14.3 million dollars in funding to aid with the first phase of compliance - but that is not nearly enough to cover the costs to register all of the facilities in this country.
  • The NAIS plan also covers animals that are raised for purposes other than food, such as llamas and horses. This is in direct contradiction to the stated goals.

If the government really wants to implement new legislation to protect consumers, they might address: the importation of animals from outside the US and the unhealthy but still legal practices in factory farms such as housing many animals together in small spaces, giving them lots of antibiotics, and feeding animal waste and slaughterhouse byproducts back to animals. It is these practices that will allow for the rapid spread of diseases such as bird flu (and other super-germs) and mad cow disease.

For a more in depth look at the implications of NAIS, please read Walter’s excellent Sugar Mountain Farm blog. Then, and most importantly, please help spread the word about this harmful legislation! Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Write to your local and federal representatives and senators. Like much of the more sinister legislation that is being proposed, the backers of NAIS are trying to get it passed without any media coverage or public comment.

Note that the NAIS is a Federal plan that has not been passed yet. Wisconsin has already passed similar legislation. We must speak up before this becomes a nation-wide law.

Editor’s Note: Walter Jeffries has established a website to keep up with NAIS-related information around the country.


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Here we go again …

Posted by Sarah - 05/01/06 at 08:01:44 pm

It’s official: our Vermont house hunt has begun. We’re starting in an off-season and giving ourselves plenty of time to explore our options so that we can get a good deal on a prime property. Our requirements? At least 5 acres, a newish or newly-renovated house with at least 2 bathrooms, and a decent parcel of flat land for our dogs and huge garden. We’d like to be within 5 miles or so of a small town, but not on a major road (might be ok if we have a long driveway).

So far, we’ve checked out New Haven/Bristol, Randolph, Woodbury, Hardwick, Morrisville, Moretown, and Plainfield. We’re trying to keep our options open, but of course some of these areas are more affordable than others, and each town has varying amenities. Check out some of my Flickr pictures for various shots of towns we’ve visited.


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