District Blogs

There are several ways that farmers can manage risks, whether it be crop insurance, spraying fungicide, or using other forms of pest management. It is difficult to prevent against damage by nature, farmers fight nature day in and day out, year to year. However, there is data that proves cover crops could be a perfectly imperfect solution to mitigate against drought, pests, weeds and disease. Without any real hard data to prove our findings we want to share with you some obs

Amaranthus palmeri, otherwise known as Palmer Amaranth or Palmer Pigweed is a broadleaf weed. It is an annual plant native to the arid southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Once cultivated by Native Americans, it was prized for its ability to produce large amounts of vegetation and vast amounts of seeds. This prolific nature is the reason why today Palmer Amaranth is identified as a noxious weed in Ohio. “Palmer” is an extremely aggressive plant. Growing 2 to 3

Milkweed's not just for Monarchs Do you have hordes of hairy black, orange, and white caterpillars munching on your milkweed? If so, congratulations on meeting the milkweed tussock moth, an Ohio native. The caterpillars go through a number of instars, or growth stages, before reaching their largest larvae stage. The first instar for the larvae are often difficult to detect. They are initially pale yellow and bristly with black heads. These young larvae travel in a little fuzz

If you have a creek on your property, you can expect to see some great wildlife. As you know, water is necessary for life, and your creek may be the only drinking water in the area for many animals. There are a number of simple steps that you can take to make this great resource even more beneficial to wildlife. Identify habitat requirements in short supply Habitat provides sources of food, water, shelter, and space. Just to keep things tricky, not all animals like the same t

Sections: What is a fossil? Why are fossils important? How old are our fossils? How did our fossils form? Why can we find fossils in SW Ohio? Who are the fossils? Help with Rock, Fossil, or Mineral Identification Where can I find fossils? Great fossil resources What is a fossil? Fossils are not a bunch of rocks with animal parts stuck to them. They are also not just a bunch of dinosaur bones. Generally speaking, fossils are evidence of past life. This is the preserved remains

If you look at a creek, it's much more than just a bunch of moving water. There are nooks and crannies under rocks, holes in tree root clumps, and sneaky hiding spots in vegetation. These different areas provide awesome habitat for a wide variety of critters. Don't just look for just fish and frogs, there are many types of other animals like teeny tiny baby dragonflies, crawdads, and much more. If you look in the areas where the water is shallow, but moving fast over the ro

We've had a worm composting bin in our office for more years than I can remember. It is an excellent way to teach children about the life cycles, decomposition, comparing body parts, and to learn about the benefits for plants. Kids learn that by composting they care for their communities and the natural environment. They are relatively simple animals to keep alive, and provide the added benefit of producing compost. We have a youtube video showing some of the ideas below. Tw

What is it? Curly-leaf pondweed is a non native, invasive species. Growing up through the water column, it can grow in depths up to 10...

An invasive species can be any kind of living organism—a plant, insect, fish, fungus or bacteria—that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm. -National Wildlife Federation Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is also known as Poor Man’s Mustard, Hedge Garlic, Garlic Root and Jack-by-the-Hedge. It is called garlic mustard because the leaves have a garlic smell when they are crushed. Why is garlic mustard bad? Classed as a non-native invasive plant, this species is a seri

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is one of the most easily recognizable Spring wildflowers. It is so unique, it is the only species within this genus found naturally outside of Asia. This wildflower has very distinctive foliage. In early to mid-April, when it first emerges from the soil, the unopened, leaves resemble a fat green umbrella ready to open. As it opens, you will be able to tell whether or not it will flower this season. Single-leafed stems will not flower, forked