TLC's Blog

Drought, Flood & Fire: the future is already here

2011-07-28T12:37:00.006-05:00

Two weeks ago, the weather experts were talking about how 2011 could turn out to be the driest July on record for the Chicago area. Well, driving to work today, I heard the news that July 2011 is now officially the wettest on record!

Would Mother Nature please make up her mind?

It's not like these have been "normal" rains either. They have been torrential rains, often accompanied by strong winds, wild lightning storms, fallen trees, electricity outages and flooding. Four or five inches of water falling in an hour. Nine inches in a 24 hour period. And not just one storm like that, but one storm after another, after another.

And, just like the "heat dome" I discussed earlier, this type of weather has been predicted as one of the by-products of global warming: more frequent, extreme weather events. Violent thunderstorms, massive, long-lived tornadoes, more Category 5 hurricanes.

Other predictions are coming to pass too. As reported by the BBC today, a 1,000 square mile area of Alaskan Arctic tundra burned in the summer of 2007. This was as much tundra as had burned cumulatively since 1950. So, for 57 years, an average of 18 acres of tundra burned each year. Then, in one year, 1,000 acres?

Remember, tundra rarely burns, because it is covered with ice and snow much of the year, and then kind of soggy during the very brief growing season. 2007 was a particularly dry year on the Arctic tundra, so, when a lightning strike ignited the fire in July, it was not extinguished until October when heavy snow snuffed it out.

Now, burning Arctic tundra isn't like a grass fire, or even a forest fire. The tundra is a type of habitat characterized by a layer of permafrost that can be as deep as 3 feet. Permafrost is an area of the soil that is always frozen. Only the top-most layer of the ground ever thaws - maybe 4-5 inches at the surface - just enough for small plants to grow in the very brief growing season.

Over millenia, this permafrost layer of perpetually frozen soil has served as a place where atmospheric carbon (CO2) was stored (sequestered). That is no longer the case, however. When permafrost actually dries out due to a combination of longer periods of time without snow cover and drier weather conditions, this previously stored carbon is released into the atmosphere again. Toss a fire on top of that, and the release of carbon is accelerated that much more.

In fact, while the tundra region was once considered a place where there was net storage of carbon each year, today it is a net releaser of carbon each year. Actually, release of carbon & methane, both so-called "greenhouse" gases because of the way they collect in the atmosphere and help to magnify the warming effects of the sun.

If you are like me at all, you are now thinking "Gee, thanks for that depressing bit of information that I can't do anything about!"

But that's when we need to pick ourselves up and change our thinking. We may not be able to directly stop the burning tundra, but each of us can surely start making decisions that will at least contribute in some small way to slowing the global forces that are accelerating around us.

My favorite quote ever is from Gandhi. It hangs on my wall. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Do what you can. Lead by example. Do it now.

Thoughts on heat, humidity, droughts and our future

2011-07-21T13:23:00.007-05:00

I read today that a "heat dome" has settled in over the central US, covering about 1 million square miles. Some sort of upper atmosphere high pressure system that is moving v e r y slowly...

A short video I found on line has a nice graphic showing how the large, powerful heat "dome" deflects all other weather systems that are moving across the country. This is what leaves us with these hot, humid - but without rain - conditions and no relief for days on end.

It sounds like the system will break by Monday, but in the meantime, those with air conditioning are surely running it, and those without are probably spending a lot of time at the public library (or other cool public place).

I was surprised to read that humans actually tolerate heat quite well, provided we are able to sweat and have plenty of fluids. But, another important factor is that the sweat has to be able to evaporate - it is the evaporation that has a cooling effect on our bodies.

Unfortunately, when the heat is accompanied by high humidity, the air has little capacity for additional water, so that sweat doesn't readily evaporate. That means one is left hot and sweaty, but feeling no cooler. ugh.

Humidity comes in several forms from a scientific standpoint, and each one is calculated a bit differently: absolute humidity, relative humidity and specific humidity are all used. You can read the Wikipedia article for a thorough explanation of each. For we lay-people, the one that has the most relevance is relative humidity. RH is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the maximum amount of water vapor that the air could hold without actually starting to rain.

RH is the factor used to calculate the "heat index", or the temperature it feels like to us when the humidity is high. For instance, when the weatherperson says "the temperature will be 93 today, but it will feel like 105," he or she is talking about the heat index that is adjusted for the relative humidity.

While reading about this weather phenomenon, I came across a 2004 article with information from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The scientists had run some models to look at how weather systems are expected to shift as the climate changes due to global warming. Among their findings was that stationary high pressure domes that result in long-lasting heat waves will become more frequent over Europe and North America.

Some places, like Kansas and Nebraska, are predicting serious groundwater shortages this year as farmers are forced to irrigate crops that would otherwise wither and die from the lack of rain. An area can manage a drought year like this once in a while, but not several years in a row. China and Russia have suffered through record droughts in recent years, giving us some idea of what may be in store.

Seems about time we started figuring out a different system that will work with the available resources like water as well as the weather conditions that are coming. Not just in the US, but around the globe.

Too bad humidity doesn't water crops...

Of storms, rain & roads

2011-07-14T11:37:00.005-05:00

Finally, a stretch of lovely, mild weather - well, with the exception of the brutal storm on Monday.

The storm knocked our power out for just an hour, but the Internet was down for two days. And then came Tuesday, and fields of purple coneflowers and monarda suddenly blooming! I guess they needed the rain.

The rainbarrels needed the water too -- ours were nearly empty, but the 3/4 inch storm managed to fill them back up with run-off from the roof!

In case you hadn't noticed, this isn't just summer - it is also road construction season. Construction and reconstruction, and then adding insult to injury, so many traffic lights out, further slowing any movement through Crystal Lake and points East!

Yes, I know, that sounds like a good reason to just stay home!

If you are like me, and drive on Route 14 between Woodstock & Harvard every week, you too have been witness to a perplexing series of road projects:

- first, crews were out replacing many of the centerline reflectors. They would remove one, fill the hole with asphalt, cut a new hole, and install the new reflector about 10 inches from the old one.

- then, they decided to do some pretty extensive patching. This was actually quite a fascinating process to watch -- and while waiting, or moving very slowly past the work crews for several weeks, I had lots of time to watch. First, the pieces of road to be removed were marked with spray paint, then someone came along with a piece of equipment designed to cut the road -- a big circular saw set to cut a line about 2 inches deep. Next, someone came along to blow the dust away from the cuts, presumably so the next workers could see the cuts. Then came a jackhammer machine to break up the road, followed by the big backhoe to dig the broken road out and put it in a dump truck. Finally, the holes were filled with asphalt, and compressed with a steamroller of some sort. They must have done over a hundred of these patches during the month of June.

- So, imagine my surprise when, July 5th, I noticed that ALL of the centerline reflectors (old and new) had been removed. And next thing I knew, they started grinding off the top two inches of the road all the way from Hughes/Hartland Road just west of Woodstock, to Dean Street. Now, in July, I have had the priviledge of watching a giant road-eating machine grind off the very same patches that were installed just a few weeks ago. I'm not kidding.

I have to believe that there was a more cost-effective way to manage this whole thing. Like maybe just do the current work, and skip the first two projects? I'm all for people having jobs, but do they all have to be employed to do (and undo) things on the same stretch of road?

Maybe I should spend some more time at home in the garden instead of out cursing the construction traffic. I certainly have plenty of rain water to use now!

Fleming Road Update

2011-07-07T11:22:00.005-05:00

Members of the Fleming Road Alliance sent a series of updates to the County Board over the last couple of weeks to cover topics ranging from road design standards to Groundwater recharge issues.

Their bottom line is this: Keep Fleming Road in the same footprint.

And they have a list of ideas for why and how that can happen:

1. Maintain 10-foot lanes and 1-2 foot shoulders. Minimize grading. Repair the [road] base where necessary...

2. Leave the alignment (sight distance) and drainage patterns the way nature accommodated them when the road was first a local farm road.

3. Reduce the posted speed limit to the lowest permitted by law.

4. Post the weight limit at 6 tons per axel (as before), to maintain safety and extend the life of the road.

5. Preserve one of the last remnant Oak Hickory Woodlands left in this county.

6. Respect the property rights of owners to the middle of the road.

7. Embrace the Natural Heritage Corridor [the easements that TLC holds with the Village of Bull Valley along the roadway] and take this opportunity to be a leader in Context Sensitive Solutions [a road design framework promoted by the State].

8. Direct MCDOT [McHenry County Department of Transportation] staff to acquire the necessary variances, waivers and exceptions to avoid application of standards that do not fit Fleming Road's unique glacial topography.

9. Maintain control over the construction process. [This issue came up when county staff commented that they don't control what the contractors do when they are actually building the road.]

I'm sorry, but these all seem very reasonable to me. And, I think that much too much is spent on road work anyway, so why spend more than is necessary? It should cost less than $1 million to repair the road base in a few areas and then repave the 2 1/2 mile stretch of Fleming, as compared to $10s of millions to rebuild the road. So what if they have to repave it again in 5 years, that will still cost less than rebuilding the whole thing. Heck, they could repave it every year for 20 years, and it would still cost less than rebuilding it...

So, kudos to you, residents of Fleming Road, for standing up to say "enough is enough." I hope people in the right places are listening.

A Little Oak Poetry

2011-06-30T14:51:00.011-05:00

A friend sent me this poem recently. I keep it on the desk where it is close at hand to lend some solace if I start to feel tense or frustrated. I highly recommend it.

By Mary Oliver

Black Oaks

Okay, not one can write a symphony, or a dictionary,
or even a letter to an old friend, full of remembrance
and comfort.

Not one can manage a single sound, though the blue jays
carp and whistle all day in the branches, without
the push of the wind.

But to tell the truth after a while I'm pale with longing
for their thick bodies ruckled with lichen

and you can't keep me from the woods, from the tonnage
of their shoulders, and their shining green hair.

Today is a day like any other: twenty-four hours, a
little sunshine, a little rain.

Listen, says ambition, nervously shifting her weight from
one boot to another -- why don't you get going?
For there I am in the mossy shadows, under the trees.

And to tell the truth I don't want to let go of the wrists
of idleness, I don't want to sell my life for money,
I don't even want to come in out of the rain.

Wild Parsnip: It can hurt you!

2011-06-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

If you have it, you know it!

If you aren't sure, read carefully, because you want to be very careful around this plant!

Wild parsnip is phototoxic, meaning that the combination of the plant's oil and sunlight will cause severe burns. A friend gave us a picture of a burn he received from sunlit-contact with this nasty invasive. I won't post it here, but trust me, you don't want it!

I was at a conference a couple of years ago, and asked several experienced land managers about parsnip - before giving me their management advice, each one would role up his or her shirt sleeve and point out scars earned during parsnip management work to be sure I knew how dangerous the plant was.

Despite the plant's toxicity, it can be controlled. Use the plant's life-history to your favor. It is a biennial, meaning that during its first year of growth it focuses on putting energy into its root system, and in the second year (or sometimes the third), it sends up a stem and blooms to set seed and create the next generation of plants.

With this in mind, it is NOT effecive to herbicide the plant in year two, because the herbicide is designed to be delivered to the root when the plant feeds the root, and in year two, the plant is focused on producing seed, not feeding the root! That means the herbicide can't do its job. However, in the first year, herbicide works great because the plant is focused on putting food into the root, so if you are able to identify first year plants, spray away (using glyphosate, aka Roundup).

Here is a summary of the best advice I obtained about non-chemical control of the plant:
1. Wear long sleeves, long pants & gloves to be sure the plant does not touch your skin. After you finish any contact with the plant, thoroughly wash your clothes - including the gloves - take a shower just to be sure, and wash any tools that came in contact with the plant so you don't pick up the oil later. Another suggestion is to wear a miner's helmet with a light and cut the parsnip in the dark - the person who suggested this was quite serious!

2. If there are just a few plants, pull them out by the roots before they set seed. Destroy the plants by burning them. DO NOT leave the plants lying where you pull them.

3. If you have an infestation that is too large to hand pull, then try this approach: after the plants flower, but before they set seed, cut the seed heads off and gather the cut tops together to burn them. NOTE: the plants are likely to flower again and will set seed, BUT, the flowers will be smaller, there will be fewer seeds, and many of the seeds are likely to be sterile. In four or five years, this approach should result in a dramatically reduced number of plants. At that point, the remaining ones can be pulled.

4. If you decide to mow the parsnip (because of size or resources), use a pull-behind tractor type mower, not a push mower, and definitely not a rotary cutter or weed whip! Those are much more likely to scatter the oil around where you or someone nearby can be harmed! Mowing should be timed carefully to occur when the plant has finished blooming but has not set seed. Late July is usually a good time for this -- you want to get the plants cut before they turn brown, because once they turn brown, they have set seed. The area mowed should then be checked in a few weeks for resprouts, and if necessary mowed again.

5. One good piece of news is that sites with a well-established prairie planting are not likely to be invaded by parsnip, and, if an area is enhanced by adding native seed, the parsnip is likely to fade on its own over time.

6. Prescribed fire does not really help control the plant, BUT, it will make it easier to identify the first year plants in the spring since they will be some of the earliest plants to come up. I'd like to thank my friend Vern LaGesse from Springfield for talking me through the ins and outs of parsnip management, and for reminding me to check the INPC vegetation management website because they have pulled a lot of good resources together to help individuals with managing weeds on their property.

Some parsnip facts FYI:

Life history: Wild parsnip typically lives for two years. The first year, as a spindly rosette of leaves, it keeps fairly low to the ground while the plant's carrot-like taproot develops. It may live two or more years this way until conditions are right for flowering. The second year, a hollow, grooved flower stalk rises 2-5 feet high, first holding clusters of yellow flowers and later dozens of flat, oval seeds.

Leaves: Pinnately compound, with a main stem and 5 to 15 leaflets.
Flowers: Yellow, in flat-topped umbrella-like clusters at the top of the plant.
Season: Wild parsnip rosettes are among the first plants to become green in spring, and its flowers turn a prominent yellow in midsummer. After flowering and going to seed, plants die and turn brown in fall, but first year rosettes remain green until frost.
Habitat: Roadsides, abandoned fields, unmowed pastures, edges of woods, prairie restorations.

If you want to see it, good places to spot the plant in first and second year growth are along Route 14 between Woodstock and Harvard, and along 176 by Lippold Park in Crystal Lake. It looks a little like yellow Queen Anne's Lace (or a tall, tough Golden Alexander). Look, but don't touch!

What are You waiting for?

2011-06-21T08:58:00.007-05:00

We each need to do something - now.

That was the message from Dr. Kathleen Dean Moore at last night's Moral Ground discussion at MCC. If you would like to leave a world to future generations as rich in possibilities as the world we were born into, then you need to take action.

Identify your passions - the things that bring you joy - and your gifts, and figure out where those intersect with the environment's needs.

For example, Dr. Moore is a philosopher and a writer - those are her gifts and passions. So she decided to write a book, and to use her skills as a philosopher to develop strong arguments that she could use to inspire others to act.

One of those arguments really hit home for me -- if you love the Earth (and all the known and unknown treasures it contains), and you believe that the Earth and those treasures are in trouble, you have an ethical obligation to act. It would be wrong to do nothing.

I do love the Earth and the abundance of life and mystery that it has. I love that there are many things that people will never know -- like what early humans thought when they looked at the night sky, what was the creature like that first breathed air into a lung, or did the first squirrel to find - and eat - an acorn think "Yum" (in whatever way a squirrel might articulate that thought!).

I do believe that the planet - the the way we live today - is going to be a thing of the past, sooner than we want to believe. When we consider that if everyone living in China today were to live in the same way that the average American lives -- two cars per family, television, computer, buying more stuff than they need at stores that don't even pay their workers a living wage, the world would not have the resources to support it!

Think about that. In America, we live in a way that will never be enjoyed by most of the rest of the world. And by continuing to live this way, we are in fact reducing the quality of life for others.We are contributing to the spread of more deadly diseases by insects that thrive in the hot environment that is expanding across much of the planet. We are contributing to rising sea levels and increased violent storms that are forcing people from their homes. We are contributing to a melting polar ice cap that is displacing Inuit peoples from the land (or ice) that has been their home for thousands of years.

As Dr. Moore commented: "If aliens came to our world and started treating it the way we treat it - dumping poisons into our water, ripping mountain tops off for the coal and tossing the rubble into the rivers, putting poisons into the products we give to our children... We would be outraged, and we would fight back at these invaders' treatment of our world." But for some reason, when we are doing it to ourselves, we just take it as the price of doing business, or perhaps it seems too big a problem to tackle, so we go back to the couch and click on the TV.

Well, whether you want your grandkids to inherit a world as full of possiblities as the world you enjoy, or think it's unjust to force other people from their homes because of the way we live, or just because you love the Earth and everything in it, act. Act now. Today.

Start small, start large, but make a change - and another and another. Do what you can, today and every day. If you care about the future, the time to act is now.

Moral Ground, June 20th - 7pm @ MCC

2011-06-17T11:59:00.003-05:00

How do people of Conscience respond to the sometimes overwhelming environmental challenges that the planet faces today? Whether one is a member of a faith community, environmental organization, or someone who cares about the future, you should enjoy the discussion on Monday, June 20th at MCC (7pm).

The program will explore the issues of our ethical responsibility to the planet through the writings found in the book "Moral Ground," which will be available for sale through the MCC bookstore.

Dr. Kathleen Dean Moore, co-editor of the book, will read selections from several of the book's essays and then facilitate discussion about the issues raised.

How people respond to times of profound environmental change will make a difference in the future of our communities. Will individuals take responsibility for "doing what they can" to reduce human impacts on the planet? To minimize our "carbon footprints," and live sustainably as well as ethically?

Can Americans - the biggest consumers on the planet - change our patterns of consumption in ways that will ensure abundance for others on the planet in addition to the abundance our nation has enjoyed? Consider that the US has about 4% of the world's population, yet we consume about 25% of the energy, and generate at least 25% of the waste.

In other words, if everyone on the planet lived like Americans do today, essentially, we would need six planets to support us!

And as we face issues of a warming planet, with waters rising in low-lying, heavily populated areas like Bangladesh, we will face a challenge of relocating people physically and culturally, for in some cases entire homelands will be underwater.

So, what do we do? How do we respond? As people or Conscience - as people who do care - how will we be part of the solutions?

So, come and join the conversation. Monday, June 20th, 7pm, McHenry County College. Hope to see you there.

Intern Season is Upon Us!

2011-06-03T13:46:00.004-05:00

I have to admit that I really enjoy the summer interns that we have at TLC. This is just the second year that we have had multiple interns working for us for the summer - we plan to make it an annual thing!

In 2009, interns Travis (at right), Rob, Clare & Chelsea put in trails at Hennen Conservation Area, cleared invasive brush from around some of the old oaks on the property, organized records and files (since we moved that summer), installed native plantings around some of the Memorial Oaks, and otherwise prepared the site for the public grand opening on August 31st.

Our intern crew for 2011, David, Margaret & Melissa, will be doing a lot of the maintenance that needs to be done to keep the Hennen site attractive for the public, in addition to promoting good conservation practices by using the site to demonstrate things like rain gardens, use of native plants, proper care of oaks, etc. We also hope to give the interns the opportunity to help with mussel surveys in local streams, and to work alongside restoration contractors to "learn the ropes" of serious natural area restoration.

The interns work at least 10 hours a week each, receiving a small stipend to cover their out of pocket costs. Through the work, they gain practical experience that they can take with them to either help with their continued studies, to help get a job in the environmental field, or to get a better idea of what type of work they want to pursue as a career.

From our perspective, in addition to getting some work done that might not otherwise happen, the interns provide a new perspective, fresh ideas, as well as enthusiasm that is very energizing.

So, depending on when you come by Hennen Conservation Area next, you may encounter a flurry of activity - perhaps a group of young people pulling thistle out of the native planting, or clearing brush from around an oak. Be sure to say hello, and thank them for their efforts!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hennen Conservation Area is open 8am-sunset 365 days a year, and is located at 4622 Dean Street, Woodstock.

Color on wing(s)

2011-05-27T15:02:00.005-05:00

A wide variety of brightly colored birds are visiting Hennen Conservation Area these days, and it appears that at least some of them have decided to call the park home for the time being!

On a daily basis at the birdfeeder, we are seeing at least three pairs of goldfinches, an indigo bunting (pictured at left), at least one pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks, a pair of cardinals, many house finches and three varieties of woodpecker: hairy, downy and red-bellied.

And, one cannot walk back by the pond without hearing the Belted Kingfisher that has been resident for about two months now. It's very sharp "squawk" seems to be a warning, but perhaps is just a greeting. As far as we can tell, it is a single bird, not a pair, so he (or she) might be lonely.

The Kingfisher is a large, blue bird with very striking markings (pictured at right), so is hard to mistake for anything else. The fact that he or she is staying by the pond leads me to believe that the pond must have fish in it.

So, if you stop by Hennen, be sure to look & listen for the Kingfisher as you walk by the pond. And keep an eye open for the other colorful birds that call this place home.

Weeds Are Us

2011-05-24T12:43:00.004-05:00

Well, that's what Michael Pollan, author of Botany of Desire, says. He makes a compelling case.

He points out that plants we call weeds are those plants that tend to do well in areas that have been disturbed by humans - farm fields, urban areas, any suburban lawn, for example...

Add to that the fact that people have moved plants around the planet for pretty much as long as humans have been moving themselves, and one can see that weeds and people are inextricably linked.

In some cases, we have even planted the future noxious weeds ourselves. This is the case with both multiflora rose and reed canary grass, which were promoted for planting by the federal government as recently as the 1960s! Today, there is not a natural area manager around who does not curse those plants on a regular basis.

Multiflora rose, with its thorns and long, twining vines, has ripped clothes, snagged skin, and made many walks through the woods unpleasant for decades now. Cutting it and treating the cut stalks with herbicide is about the only way to get rid of it. And that is tedious, unpleasant work!

Reed canary grass (rcg), which was recommended to farmers as a forage plant for low-lying areas, has now moved on to invade nearly any wetland area. Too many wetlands that were dominated by native plants just a decade ago are now dominated by reed canary grass. Rodeo (R) is an herbicide that will kill the grass, but because rcg produces so many seeds, it can take years just to exhaust the seed bank. And, if the area has any water draining into it, there is always the likelihood that seed will flow in from infested areas upstream.

It's daunting, isn't it?

So, what can one person do?

Well, the best thing to do it to plant only native species. Red Buffalo Nursery in Hebron has a nice feature on its website that allows one to get a list of native plants that fit certain criteria (amount of sun, soil conditions, and type of plant -- grass, forb, etc)

The second best thing to do is plant only species that are not invasive. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a nice feature available to help people choose plants that are not invasive - weedy - for most every situation.

Making different choices about what we plant will help stop the increase in invasive plants crowding out our local natural areas.

If you'd like to do more, you can volunteer to help at a restoration work day!

Feeding a hungry planet?

2011-05-13T14:45:00.009-05:00

An article in Grist caught my attention today. It is about a recent NPR Marketplace piece touting the need for getting poor, rural farmers around the world using synthetic fertilizer & other chemicals if we are ever going to produce enough food to feed 9 billion people by 2050.

The problem with the story was that it relied on one man's opinion, and did not include any other perspective. The story did not mention that the chemicals and fertilizers are too expensive for poor, rural farmers in 3rd world countries to buy. Nor did it mention that there are other, low cost ways that rural farmers can boost productivity without becoming dependent upon petroleum-based fertilizers.

Finally, the story failed to mention a groundbreaking study about the future of agriculture that was conducted by the UN, World Bank and others, and completed in 2009. The 400 agriculture experts from around the world who worked on the project for 4 1/2 years, concluded that the planet must move away from chemical & fossil-fuel dependent agriculture if we want to have a sustainable future to feed a growing world population. In fact, the study recommends using an agro-ecological type of farming at a small and mid-size scale "that does not deplete natural capital."

No question that having enough food for everyone as the world population grows is an important issue. And, synthetic fertilizers and large-scale agriculture has worked well for some in the United States to generate amazing crop yields. But one has to ask if our way of doing things is a sustainable system with the cost of fuel rising & a growing interest in local food. Plus, is the US agriculture system even the right model for other parts of the world with vastly different cultures, transportation systems, soils & climates?

Greening Your Eating?

2011-05-05T14:12:00.004-05:00

Did you know that 15-35% of municipal waste is a combination of food and paper that is soiled with food? In California, where landfill space is extremely tight, and towns are required to divert up to 75% of their waste from landfills, they actually provide special bins to residents for kitchen scraps.

The bins are picked up each week and the material taken to commercial compost facilities. The resulting material is spread on farm fields as a valuable soil amendment. Shoot, in some places, the compost is bagged and sold in stores!

We may not have curbside compost service in our area, but that is no reason to toss vegetable scraps in the trash. Rather, more folks could be composting them!

Kitchen compost can be added to the backyard compost pile, where it will decompose along with the grass and leaves from the yard. Avoid placing meats and fats in the compost bin, but all manner of vegetable and fruit material is fair game. Egg shells, corn cobs, pineapple rinds will all break down eventually, but the smaller they are chopped up before going into the pile, the faster the microbes and other decomposers can do their work!

And composting isn't limited to residential folks. Think about restaurants, and the amount of food waste that is generated just during the food preparation process. If the vegetable and fruit waste materials were kept separate, and placed in their own disposal container, they could easily be collected for composting.

One Woodstock restaurant is already doing just that: Expressly Leslie's on the Woodstock Square - a vegetarian restaurant that specializes in Middle Eastern food - separates all their compostable material. A local vermicomposter (person who composts food using worms) picks up the food scraps for his worms. Well, except for the lemon rinds -- his worms don't like lemons. Leslie even switched to compostable materials for serving the food to dramatically reduce the waste the restaurant generates.

So, what's keeping you from composting your kitchen scraps?

Farmers' Markets Coming Soon!

2011-04-29T12:44:00.003-05:00

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I am practically giddy thinking about the opening of Woodstock's Farmers' Market on May 3rd!

It will be open from 8am - 1pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays through October. One of the nice things about this particular market is that it is a producers' market, meaning that only items raised or made by a local farmer can be sold. This helps keep the market from becoming a craft fair, or a venue for out of state producers to sell their goods.

No, this is a place where one knows that the items purchased are locally raised, locally made and the dollars spent are going into the local economy.

And, did you know that the Woodstock Farmers' Market accepts Link Cards? This means that anyone, regardless of his or her economic situation, has the opportunity to purchase fresh, local produce and meat.

For those who have never visited a Farmers' Market, here are a couple of tips for that first trip:

1. Walk through the entire market to see what is available and to compare quality and prices. Over time, most people develop an affinity for specific vendors, but on that first visit it's good to give everything a once-over before making the first purchase.

2. Bring reusable bags. The vendors have bags, but it feels very chic to carry a canvas bag or two through the market, and to pack it full of fresh, local items. Plus, its good for the Planet!

3. If one won't be taking the produce home right away, keep a small cooler in the car to store the day's purchases until they can be refrigerated.

4. Set a budget for each visit. This helps to ensure that one doesn't buy more than can be eaten before the next market trip. Trust me, there is nothing sadder than putting an heirloom tomato into the compost bin!

5. Try something new each time. The world of produce is quite amazing - beets for instance are not just for pickling! I like to wrap mine in foil and bake them until soft, then slip the skins off and use them sliced in salads. (Or I just eat them hot out of the oven -- the small ones are so sweet!)

6. Don't be afraid to ask. The producers - and/or their staff - are there to answer questions. They will help with suggestions on how to prepare items that may be unfamiliar, and will fill one in on the special characteristics of each different heirloom variety -- which tomatoes are better for making sauce or best sliced in a salad.

Woodstock may have the most robust market in the area, but it is by no means the only one! Starting in May 2011, Harvard will have a market on Ayer Street Saturdays from 8am - 1pm. Crystal Lake and Huntley will have markets on Saturdays again this year, but won't be starting until June.

For more information about the variety of local food available in the area, check out www.localharvest.org! Happy eating!

Oaky D'Oak, we're planting Oaks!

2011-04-22T19:07:00.010-05:00

For Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 30), TLC is planting oaks with people throughout McHenry County. These little trees will be Mighty Oaks one day, but it could be 20 years before we're sitting under their shade!

So, what's up with that? What's the point of planting a tree if it is going to take that long to turn into a "real" tree?

Well, for those readers who have been checking out this blog for the last couple of years, you already know the answer, but let's review - for old time's sake!

McHenry County was once 40% covered in oak-hickory woods and savannas. Today, nearly 90% of those woods have been lost. Many were cleared in the earliest days of settlement for farming or building homes, barns & fences, or even to provide fuel to heat homes. In fact, during the first 40 years following settlement, 50% of the oaks were cut down. Over the following 130 years, another 38% were sacrificed - primarily for development.

So, isn't one tree as good as another?

No, Oaks are better. They really are in many ways.

Oaks have acorns. Acorns are a valuable food source for a diversity of wildlife ranging from deer to blue jays. Native people would make biscuits from acorn flour because they were potent sources of energy.

Insects love oaks, and more insects use oaks for at least some part of their lifecycles than any other type of tree. And a diversity of insects translates directly into a diversity of birds! So, even if one doesn't appreciate insects, most folks do like birds.

Oaks are McHenry County's heritage. Not maples, not willows, not cottonwoods. Oaks. Quercus. Macrocarpa (bur), Rubra (red), Bicolor (swamp white), Alba (white). And if we play our cards right -- if we all do what we can to restore, protect and regenerate our local oaks -- oaks will be our future too!

Remember, the Greeks said: A society grows great when old men & women plant [oaks] whose shade they know they shall never sit in. Let's make McHenry County a great society!!

Ponds and Winter

2011-04-14T14:32:00.003-05:00

I had a report the other day of dead bluegills on the shore of the pond at Ryder's Woods in Woodstock. Yuck. I didn't have to clean them up (phew), but I did want understand how it happened. Winterkill seems to be the most likely culprit, although no one is sure why it took the fish so long to make it to the surface.

Here's a bit more detail: According to Randy Schietzelt, Biology Professor at Harper College, ponds need to be at least 9 feet deep in Northern Illinois to prevent winterkill of the fish. But, even if the pond is deep enough, it is still very possible for the fish and other critters to use up all of the oxygen in the pond if the freeze last a long time. As Randy pointed out, this year's freeze lasted well into March.

David Wolf, attorney, and owner of two ponds reports that he has had winterkill in both is ponds, even though one is 14 feet deep at its deepest point. As a result, he has added an aerator to the ponds which keeps the oxygen level up all winter long. David also provided some additional wisdom that he gained from his friends at Keystone Hatcheries, who have helped David out with his ponds: essentially, when a pond is frozen over solid, the water cannot gain any oxygen through a process called diffusion - this is the process whereby water absorbs a certain amount of oxygen from the atmosphere based on air temperature and barometric pressure.

Additionally, the heavy (and long-lasting) snow cover blocks off any sunlight from reaching the pond, and that means that no photosynthesis can take place. When plants photosynthesize to create food, they release oxygen as a byproduct. If they stop photosynthesizing, they also stop producing oxygen.

Finally, Duane Ambroz, former Deparment of Natural Resources employee, and current restoration specialist with Red Buffalo Nursery, explained winterkill this way: "Sounds like a combination of thick ice from the early freeze and lengthy snow cover. That equals lack of oxygen in the water. Large bodies of water, or those with inflow of water, can usually get through the winter without running out of oxygen. Smaller ponds almost always run out of oxygen without an aerator."

So, the dead fish were most likely the result of winterkill where oxygen levels dropped so low that the fish could not breathe. They may have been lodged under something and only rose to the surface when the pond started to mix as it warmed during the few warm days earlier in the week. Either that, or it's the work of the Ryder's Woods ghost...?

P.S. you probably noticed that the picture has nothing to do with the story -- I just like the colors, and thought it was much nicer than a picture of dead fish!

Frogs and fairy shrimp and salamanders, oh my!

2011-03-31T08:50:00.007-05:00

Did you hear the sound of a thumb raking over the teeth of a comb while on a recent hike? That's the Western Chorus Frog. The first frog to emerge when the ground thaws.

They are very loud near some wetlands in our area, particularly in the Alden region where small, fishless ponds (vernal pools) abound this time of the year. A diversity of tiny creatures, such as the fairy shrimp (photo to the right), are found in abundance, providing a valuable food source for the recently emerged amphibians, as well as the hatchling salamanders, frogs, toads and turtles.

In larger ponds - those with fish - these small creatures do not survive, as they become food for the fish. But, in the small temporary pools of spring, the young amphibians are able to mature, feed on mosquito larvae, and breed so there will be future generations!

If you live near one of these spring pools, be on the lookout for spotted salamanders! They have a tendency to end up in window wells - the three on the left were rescued from one during a spring hike to look at vernal pools and the critters found there!

Wild Things! Oh, you make my heart sing!

2011-03-14T17:27:00.008-05:00

Every other year the Wild Things conference is held in Chicago. It's a forum geared primarily towards individuals who are engaged in natural land restoration throughout this part of the Midwest.

The number and diversity of programs is amazing -- ranging from how to make toys with buckthorn wood, to advice on using Social Media (like facebook and blogs) to connect with the community and other volunteers, plus plenty of research updates related to bird diversity, woodland restoration and invasive plant control...

The program was held in early March this year at UIC, and organizers say there were at least 1,400 people in attendance! That's a lot of Wild Things in one place! Generally speaking, the crowds were pretty laid-back. (Except when they realized that the Crunchy Vegetable sandwich was just cream cheese with cucumber slices... things nearly got ugly...)

I think my favorite session was by Joel Brown, a UIC faculty member known for creating "Project Squirrel" to monitor the distribution of grey & fox squirrel species around the US.

Dr. Brown is an evolutionary ecologist. That means he studies how natural selection serves to optimize natural community characteristics like feeding and reproduction. The data gathered through Project Squirrel help to understand the trends and characteristics of the two species. For instance, the study has found that fox squirrels tend to occur more frequently in areas with lots of stray cats than their grey cousins. Over time, the data will serve to track changes in the populations, perhaps yielding insights into the ways that evolution -- natural selection -- gives species the ability to adapt to environmental changes in just a few generations.

But, Dr. Brown didn't talk about Project Squirrel at Wild Things. Instead, he gave the room examples of how much & how fast species will evolve in the face of human disturbance.

Take Yellow Jackets for example. This bane of Labor Day parties in the Chicago region is now resistant to the poison in common pesticides like Black Flag. Dr. Brown suggested taking a can of Black Flag, and spraying a yellow jacket until it is so wet it cannot fly. Then watch the pest. It will spread its wing to dry off, and once dry, it will fly away. Now, spray the pesticide on some ants or a fly -- they will die. But the yellow jacket will not. That's because over many generatons, yellow jackets in the Chicago area have evolved to be resistant to that chemical.

How does this happen? Well, consider that in the early days of the pesticide, there were a few yellow jackets who survived - either they didn't get a strong enough dose, or they already had some natural resistance to the chemical. Those individuals passed their resistance on to the next generation. And so on and so on, until the vast majority of yellow jackets that emerge in the Chicago area have that same resistance. That is "natural selection," and it is happening right in front of us every day.

Plants adapt the same way to herbicides - they become resistant. And then the chemical companies create new poisons that the plants are not yet resistant to. BUT, it's only a matter of time before they develop resistance. It's a viscious circle, isn't it?

The same type of adaptation happens to animals - even to city-dwelling pests like raccoons. As Dr. Brown pointed out, one is not doing the neighborhood raccoon any favors by trapping it and taking it out to live in "nature" at a forest preserve or conservation area. City raccoons are adapted to live in town. Putting one out in nature is essentially signing its death warrant.

Better to learn to live with the raccoons than to relocate them.

Horses and their connection to water quality!

2011-03-10T09:32:00.004-06:00

The Illinois Horse industry is a $1.3 Billion dollar industry, and the highest concentration of horses in Illinois is found in McHenry and Lake Counties.

And every adult horse generates up to 55 pounds of manure every day. When you add in the bedding straw, that amount to 12 TONS of the stuff per horse per year.

When not managed properly, horse manure can increase flies and spread of parasites among horses. It can also impact water quality when not stored correctly. And that can mean excess nutrients, bacteria and parasites in local streams or even in the groundwater.

Now, one might ask "why don't the horse farms just spread it on the fields?" That's a good question! First off, depending on how much land one has, and how many horses, it could be problematic to spread that much manure on the fields. Second, many horses have round worms, and if their feces are spread on a field, the worms (a nasty parasite) can survive up to 10 years - so that's potentiall 10 years of round worm infections for the horses.

However, hot composting of the manure will kill most bacteria and parasites - provided the compost process is of a sufficient duration.

In Lake County, a waste hauler, Prairie Land Recycling & Disposal, collects horse manure from many farms and takes it to a facility called Midwest Organics that composts the material with other compostables. They bag the finished product, and it is actually sold at Whole Foods!

There is another option that has been developed by the University of Illinois Extension service: ManureShare. This is a manure exchange program that links gardeners and landscapers who are searching for good compost material with livestock owners who have excess manure.

Quoting from the website: This benefits water quality by removing excess nutrients from farms and by lowering the amount of commercial fertilizer used by gardenrs and others.

The Hooved Animal Humane Society (HAHS) in Woodstock is working with Extension to run a demonstration of on-site composting of horse manure. It will be interesting to see how the program works!

Fleming Road Update

2011-03-03T20:43:00.005-06:00

With 17 Natural Heritage Corridor Easements under our belt, I guess TLC is serious about helping to preserve the Fleming Road corridor!

After attending the County DOT's fourth Citizen's Advisory Group meeting for Fleming Road on March 3rd. I can summarize the comments from the Village of Bull Valley, Fleming Road Alliance, Environmental Defenders, Boone Creek Watershed Alliance & County Bicycle Advocates in three words:

"You're Not Listening!"

Two alternatives were presented to the group: one that would require the removal of about 120 trees, and another that would result in just 19 trees being taken down. The one that saves more trees would use retaining walls and curbs/gutters in spots to reduce the amount of grading they would do where there are hills adjacent to the road as in the picture.

The members of the CAG have been saying for nearly a year that they would like the County to consider an alternative that keeps the road in the same footprint as it is in today -- 2- 10 1/2 foot lanes and a one foot shoulder (of sorts) on either side of the pavement.

Folks agree that the road needs to be repaired, and that there are a small number of areas where water pools on the road. They just don't understand why $935,000 or so is being spent to study "how" to overhaul the road, when the residents have asked that it be kept much as it is today.

At one point the discussion turned to safety, and the need to make the road more safe. A representative from the County Sheriff's department commented that the incidence of accidents on the road is "amazingly low." One of the CAG members pointed out that a good way to predict the future is to look at the past -- in other words, perhaps Fleming Road has such a low accident rate for the simple reason that it is in the configuration that it is today.

In fact, studies show that wide, flat, straight roads are less safe than roads that are more narrow and have trees and the like nearer to the pavement.

So, if we place safety ahead of speed, then maybe the road agencies could start replicating the design of Fleming Road - windy, hilly, narrow roads with lots of large trees near the pavement?

12-step program for gasoholics?

2011-02-23T19:32:00.007-06:00

Well, I don't suppose anyone is surprised that the media talking heads are predicting that gas prices could hit $4 or $5 a gallon by Memorial Day.

Prices have been rising steadily since the unrest started in Egypt a couple of weeks ago, and now that Libya has come un-hinged, the gas companies are not wasting a minute raising prices for the consumer. Come on, they went up 5-cents in the last 24 hours based on rumors that Ghadafi is going to blow up Libya's oil wells.

Even though Libya produces just 2% of the world's oil!

Now, I don't fault the local station owners - they have such a small margin to work with, and they don't call the shots. No, I believe the blame lies primarily with the corporate honchos who seem to book record profits each year, regardless of what happens -- oil surpluses, oil shortages, giant oil spills covering the Gulf.

But the average person really needs to take some responsiblity for the situation. After all, it is America's gas-guzzling lifestyle that makes us so economically vulnerable to the political drama in just a handful of countries and that makes it so easy for a half-dozen or so corporate CEOs to bring the world economy to its knees.

There is an answer. We need to kick the gas habit.

Time for a 12-step program for gasoholics:

- group your errands so you drive less

- shut the car engine off if you are going to be idling for 20 seconds or more - a car gets zero miles to the gallon when idling

- make sure your tires are properly inflated -- you can improve mileage by 15% that way

- drive smarter: go the speed limit, no jack-rabbit starts, no tail-gating or anything else that causes one to drive in a herky-jerky way (you get the picture)

- if you have to have a car, get one that's more fuel efficient than whatever you are driving now

- walk, carpool, take public transportation, use a bicycle -- anything that means turning over the ignition in one's car less frequently -- a lot less

- buy food that is grown locally - food transportation uses a large amount of gasoline, especially when the average item in the grocery store has travelled 3,000 miles to get to that shelf...

- replace the gas lawn mower with an electric or manual model

- go meatless one day a week, and be sure you buy your meat from a local farmer

- turn the thermostat down in winter and up in summer - at least 2 degrees

- pay the neighborhood kid $20 to shovel your driveway instead of starting the snow-blower (okay, the Feb 2 snow was a bit more than the kid could manage...)

.... that's 11 ideas. What do you suggest for number 12?

A Valentine's Day Fable

2011-02-11T10:30:00.004-06:00

This morning I heard a Cardinal singing as I took seed out for the birds. This brought to mind a story I was once told about the origins of Valentine's Day, and the day's connection with the red bird Cardinalis caradinalis.

But, first, a little history. While Saint Valentine's Day appears to have been recognized by the Catholic church dating back to the early days of Christianity, with no fewer than three Saints named Valentine linked to the date of February 14th. While the greeting card industry has attempted to link at least one of the Saints to something of a tragic-romantic story that would establish him as the source of this day of eternal love, there is no basis in fact for these claims.

Historians tend to connect the celebration to a Roman pagan holiday of fertility that occurred in mid-February. But, it wasn't until 1382 that Geoffrey Chaucer became first person to link the feast of Saint Valentine's Day with romantic love, when he penned these lines (adapted from the old English):

For this was on Saint Valentine's Day

When every bird come there to choose his mate

A few years ago, a local man told me the story that he had always been told of Valentine's Day, and while I cannot find any support for it on the Internet, it does make sense when I put Chaucer together with the Cardinal's song.

The story is that February 14th was the typical day that male cardinals were heard singing to establish their territories and attract a mate for the season. The bright red of the bird and the cardinal's quest for a mate were translated by some romantic soul into the image of a red heart which stays with us to this day.

Each year since I first heard that story, I have noticed a male cardinal's song in mid-February. I wonder if Chaucer was inspired by that same song some 700+ years ago?

Are oaks like people?

2011-02-07T15:25:00.006-06:00

The first TLC easement was accepted in 1991 from Leta & Alice Clark at the corner of Thompson Road & Route 120. The sisters wanted to be sure that their "Wildflower Preserve" was never developed, despite a friend's comment that the corner "would make a perfect spot for a gas station" one day! Actually, legend tells me that the friend's comment is what led the sisters to seek out someone to help them make sure that fate would never befall their lovely corner.

The photo was taken in April 2010 while driving past on Route 120, heading from McHenry to Woodstock. About 10 years ago, IDOT redid the intersection and took some land along Thomspon and 120, which I believe led to the eventual die-off of several oaks that were very near to the roads.

There was an enormous bur oak right at the corner that died in 2009. Some say "fungus" was the cause, but I feel in my heart that the bur oak's fate was sealed as soon as its roots were cut and crushed during the road work a decade ago.

I have started to think of these oak trees as if they were people. It's not that far-fetched, really. Sure, they live 2-3 times longer than most people, but they cannot reproduce until they reach some stage of maturity -- about 20 years old. Each oak is unique, and grows more distinctive as it ages.

As most people age, it isn't usually one thing that kills us, it's some combination of things that add up over the years. Well, why wouldn't it be the same for our oaks?

I would like to think that we can afford these elders a little respect, rather than seeing how much abuse they can take before they succumb?

Memories of snows past...

2011-01-31T13:01:00.005-06:00

My younger brother was born January 23, 1967, just before the BIG snow. I was just 4 at the time, but my memories of the giant mounds of snow - everywhere - are quite vivid.

The photo isn't of our house -- I can't find one of those -- but it is from the '67 snow. You have to look closely, but there is a boy standing on the pile of snow on the right side of the photo. (Doesn't that look like fun!)

Dad built a hill of snow at the side of the garage that made a sledding hill extending from the top of the garage on down. I have seen the pictures of my sister and I standing in our snow suits next to the giant hill, perhaps wondering where mom was, and why we were having to eat so many hard boiled eggs... (dad was not much of a cook)

We would have been too young to understand that mom was stuck at the hospital, having been conscripted to work as a nurse's aid since the hospital was short-staffed due to the storm! There was no way for dad to get to Evanston Hospital to bring her and our baby brother home.

I have a clear memory of the 1979 snow because we didn't have to go to school for at least a couple of days, so a friend and I put our snow pants on and went trudging through the town. We visited other friends, stopping in their homes for hot cocoa and cookies, and trying to talk them into joining us on our trek.

Today, the news reports are that a similar storm ("blizzard") is on its way Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Possibly 18 inches in 24 hours, on top of the 6 inches expected tonight. Sounds like a good reason for a snow day - or two!!

Enjoy!!

Why does it snow?

2011-01-17T19:02:00.005-06:00

Do you ever wonder why it snows?

With the regular snow events that we've had since early December, I find myself thinking about snow - where it comes from and why it falls...

Well, the simple explanation is that we get snow when moisture falls from the clouds and the air is below freezing, so the water falls in a frozen state.

Actually, it is so cold up in the clouds that all rain starts out as snow, but then it thaws on the way down.

According to a short article on The Weather Predictor website, ice crystals form in clouds, and as they stick to each other, eventually they become heavy enough that they fall.

If the air is warm enough on the way down, the ice crystals (aka snow flakes) turn into rain drops. If the air temperature is just above freezing, the snowflakes partly melt and we get sleet. And if the air is below freezing, then we get snow!

Now, snow takes up a lot more space than rain. In fact, on average, a 10" snow fall, if melted, would yield about an inch of water. So, when we get a couple inches of snow, and traffic gets all messed up -- cars in the ditch, skidding on the slick pavement -- that is an amount of water equivalent to less than a quarter inch of rain.

John Fowles' Tree

2011-01-02T18:50:00.005-06:00

In 1979, author John Fowles released his non-fiction book "The Tree." Coming from the author of The French Lieutenant's Woman, this sweet little book must have surprised many.

The writing style is pure Fowles - densely packed with sensuous descriptions of his life in England - but the subject matter is unexpected.

Using his experiences with trees growing up and living in both urban and rural England, he expertly tells a story of the interdependence of humankind, art and nature.

Thirty years ago, he was asking questions that we have yet to answer. How do we heal the disconnect between people and nature? Are doing nature a disservice when we try to explain it using science, rather than appreciating it as we do great art?

Nature is much more than the sum of its parts, just as a Picasso is more than brush strokes on canvas.

What would it say about us if we took all of the works of poetry ever written and gathered them together to destroy them? Fowles felt that this is exactly what we were doing to the natural world. Taking the amazing, complex and original creation that was given to us, and destroying it -- consciously, deliberately, knowingly denying future generations the opportunity to enjoy and experience things that we have had the chance to know.

It's quite barbaric, actually, when one stops to think about it.

He offers no answers, at least nothing explicitly stated. But, as with a Fowles' novel, answers are there on the periphery, at the edge of consciousness. That place that lies between dream and reality, where truth is often found.

For Fowles, the secret to nature lies in the woods. As he explains, woods are quite elusive to the artist, whether she be writer or photographer. The reason is that the complexity of any woodland can never be captured in its entirety - it can only be experienced by the individual.

That seems the crux of the challenge we face in changing the prevailing relationship between humankind and nature: there is not one answer - there are as many answers as there are individuals.

Another Year Comes to a Close

2010-12-27T11:22:00.003-06:00

January is just around the corner now.

A blanket of snow covers the ground, insulating the earth during the cold of winter.

Nuthatches, juncos and chickadees are now regulars at the birdfeeders, keeping up their energy for the cold months ahead.

Resolutions are being made. Year end donations are being given. Holiday decorations are coming down.

It is a time when many of us reflect on the year just past -- and marvel at how much faster this year passed than years prior to this one. "Where did the time go?" "What did I accomplish this year?" are some of the laments heard.

Some reflection is good - lessons learned, friendships renewed, pounds lost. Too much reflecting can become dangerous -- dwelling on worries and regrets, all those "what ifs" and "if onlys" that we carry around with us.

As one thinks back on events passed, remember to keep an eye to the future - to the times ahead. Rather than worrying about the friends you didn't contact this year, resolve to make contact in 2011. Instead of beating oneself up for mistakes made this year, give yourself a break, and resolve to do better next year -- you can't change the past, but you can sure do something about tomorrow!

Wishing you all peace and happiness in the new year!

The Reason for the Season

2010-12-21T10:17:00.006-06:00

Today, December 21, 2010, is the official Winter Solstice - the day when the gradual shortening of days turns into a gradual lengthening of days - until

the Summer Solstice in late June.

The official moment when the switch occurs is about 11:30 pm today - well, 11:30 pm in England, so that would be about 5:30 pm here!

The Solstice has had significance to people dating back to early days, as evidenced by ancient structures such as Stonehenge in England which was built in such a way as to allow precise alignment of the sun on Summer and Winter Solstice days, and other significant astronomical events.

The date of December 25th was designated as the official date of Winter Solstice on the first Julian Calendar produced in 45 BC - the Julian Calendar (named for the Emperor Julius Caesar), was still in wide use across the globe until the 20th Century. (Today, the Gregorian Calendar is used -- the difference, and the reason for the change will have to be the subject of a future post!)

This time of year has been important to many people for a long, long time, and is still important today to peoples in Iran (Persian), Guatemala (Mayan), India (Hindu), Ireland (Celtic), Sweden (Norse). East Asian peoples saw this as a time of growing positive energy as the amount of daylight grew. Ancient Japanese custom taught that the Winter Solstice was the time when the Sun Goddess emerged from a cave to return sunlight to the world.

Even the traditional evergreen trees and boughs can be traced to early pagan practices that saw the evergreens as a symbols of eternal life since they did not die like other plants during the winter.

So, as we decorate our homes with trees and gifts, we continue traditions that have been handed down by many peoples for many, many generations!

Slow Down! Take a Cue from Nature

2010-12-07T12:06:00.003-06:00

As I look around this time of year - leaves off the trees, flowers now brown, insects and other small creatures hidden away - I can't help but think of the wisdom of Nature.

Months ago, ss the amount of daylight was shrinking and temperatures started to decline, plants and animals were heeding these signals and starting to store energy for the coming winter.

Deciduous trees and bushes like oaks and maples literally shut down for the season. Sap no long flows, and without leaves, photosynthesis - that energy producing machine - ceases. Perennial plants like coneflowers and hostas die back to the ground after storing as much energy in their roots as they can. Frogs find a mucky spot where they nestle in for the winter, their vital signs dropping to near zero as they enter a state of suspended animation.

When the snow and ice and freezing temperatures arrive, they are ready. And rather than fight back against the weather with shovels and salt and four-wheel drive, they wait. They wait patiently while the amount of daylight grows longer and the temperatures climb ever so slowly.

The plants and animals are ready for winter. Are you?

The amount of daylight will continue to shrink for another two weeks, only to reverse the pattern December 22nd. So, there is still time to ready oneself for winter. Perhaps take a lesson from Nature, and relax for a time rather than fighting against the inevitable?

Embrace the next snow by choosign to stay home that day rather than cursing the inconvenience of the weather and tackling the roads. Build a snow-person, or take a walk with a camera and see the patterns and shapes that the blanket of snow creates.

Don't fight the first ice storm. Make a cup of hot cocoa and do the crossword puzzle in the paper, or pull out that book that sits on the shelf still unread!

And when the temperature drops, find a loved one to snuggle with, rather than turning up the thermostat. Enjoy those quiet moments that winter brings. Celebrate them!

Nature understands that this is a time to slow down and conserve one's energy - to recharge for the times ahead. Winter is Nature's gift, and for that I am truly grateful.

The restorative force of fire

2010-11-12T13:09:00.007-06:00

It seems counter-intuitive, doesn't it? Using fire as a tool to improve the condition of natural areas.

Yet, through millenia of struggle between plants, animals, and the natural forces of wind, snow and fire, a system developed in this area where the trees that were best able to withstand the effects of fire came to dominate much of the landscape. And along with those trees came the plant, animal, bird & insect species that were most compatible with those trees.

Yes, I'm talking about our oaks.

Like sentinels, the bur oaks stretched their branches out across the prairie, catching the maximum amount of sunlight - growing broader than they were tall.

And the fires made that all possible.

McHenry County sits at the line between two ecoregional zones - the Grand Prairie and the Prairie-Forest Border. To the south, east and west of this area there once stretched a vast grassland where the buffalo roamed and fires once swept for miles and miles before hitting a natural barrier like a river.

To the north and west was once the prairie-forest border region where the prairie gave way to trees, but the trees did not form actual forests. Instead, the trees - often oaks - were widely dispersed, or found in clusters where they were sheltered from the prairie fires that came from the south and west. This is where the oak savannas were created, and where a unique system of insects and plants emerged that is now one of the most endangered natural communities on the plant.

In the absence of fire, today's oaks are crowded out by fast-growing, shade tolerant species like maples, buckthorn and honeysuckle.

So as odd as it seems, we try to burn the woods when conditions permit, as it is the easiest way to keep them in a healthy condition that supports a greater diversity of plant & animal species!

Why we plant oaks

2010-10-28T16:03:00.008-05:00

The facts can seem overwhelming:

- Nearly 90% of the oak woods that were here in 1837 are gone.

- At the rate things are going, the remaining oaks could be dead in 20 years.

- It takes twenty years for an oak tree planted today to produce its first acorns.

- The remaining oaks are not reproducing either due to:
* improper management of the understory (e.g. allowing species like buckthorn to grow un-checked, or keeping a manicured lawn under the trees),

* effects of animals (e.g. deer browsing young trees, field mice eating acorns), or

* the effects of invasive species on the soil chemistry and the unique web of life needed by an oak's root system.

Yep, it is tough being an oak tree in McHenry County today.

And that's why we plant oaks whenever we can. On 10/10/10, that meant planting 100 oaks around McHenry County with the help of nearly 100 local residents. Those 100 trees will not replace the woods that are at risk today, but by working with local residents to plant trees today, we are teaching a next generation to take ownership for the future of these trees.

Since 2007, TLC has worked with nearly 1,000 local residents of all ages to plant over 1,000 oak trees. Those people can visit the trees they planted, and know that they are part of something bigger - something hopeful - something positive for the future.

It is too easy to get lost in the facts, and to feel overwhelmed, wondering "what can I do? It's hopeless! I can't change things!" But the fact is that every one of us has the ability to do something. Even just one thing, and that WILL make a difference.

Plant an oak. Clear some buckthorn from underneath an oak. Gather acorns in the fall and deliver them to TLC. Support organizations like TLC who are working to save the remaining oak woods, and to help ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to experience the magic and wonder of these magnificent trees -- just as we do today!

The fact is that there is time. These trees are still with us today - they have lasted long enough for us to learn what they need, and to take action.

Sharing Seed/Building Community

2010-10-25T19:37:00.004-05:00

It is amazing how the simple act of collecting seed from someone's natural area can create a lasting bond - a bond that transcends friendship and crosses generations.

The seed donor points out the plants ripe for harvest, warning the collector away from the species that aren't native -- or are just too pushy(1) for a new planting.

The donor urges the collector to take more - there is plenty here, don't be timid - and even gathers seed that he places in the visitor's bag at the end of the outing. This act of generosity is moving in an unexpected way. Somehow, they are more than seeds now, for they represent hours of labor and a commitment to managing this natural area with fire and mowing and weed-pulling.

And the act of sharing seed passes not only the plant species from one place to another, but also the lessons of restoration from one person to the next, helping to ensure that the art and science of natural area management will spread throughout McHenry County along with the seeds...

The annual Seed Sharing Day in Alden Township took place on October 16th this year, bringing seed seekers together with seed sharers. As in years past, the 2010 event was a magical time when private landowners opened their properties to friends and strangers (with a stranger being a friend you don't know yet).

The event is a type of swap meet where those who have seed to contribute bring it along, and those who are seeking seed - either to enhance an existing project, or to seed a new area - are able to "shop" the seed table for species that will make their mix "just right".

Everyone brings along something to eat as well, which encourages people to stop long enough to have a bowl of chili or a few homemade cookies before heading home. And as they eat, they talk and share their experiences, lessons learned - good and bad. And the community grows stronger...

(1) Species like Indian grass and Big blue stem tend to top that list, as they grow well and spread quickly, making it difficult to establish other, less assertive, species!

*Thanks to Cheyenne Raduha for the photos.

What is Scenic about Fleming Road?

2010-09-14T15:54:00.009-05:00

If you've driven on Fleming Road, you have probably thought "This is pretty" or words to that effect. But why do people react that way to some drives and not others?

The hills. The trees. The curves in the road. Trees close to the road. Trees overhanging the road way -- a canopy effect. It all contributes to a scenic driving experience.

A "peaceful and comforting ride" is how one friend describes her trip down Fleming. Another told me that when she is all stressed out, as soon as she turns onto Fleming, the stress melts away - it has that effect on her.

But there is a plan afoot to "improve" the road -- to make it safer -- by enlarging the shoulders to at least 4 feet, and by cutting some of the hills down. The work would also include a change in how water runoff is handled.

Currently, runoff goes wherever it can since there are not consistent swales along both sides of the road. That may sound bad, but actually, it seems to work okay. The runoff flows into the existing low spots along the roadsides and slowly infiltrates into the ground, or is absorbed by plant roots. Modern engineering "standards" say that proper road design means that one must build either large swales or curbs and absorption wells to handle the runoff.

And all that engineering comes at a price - it means widening the road way by nearly 30 feet, from the existing 22 feet of pavement, to at least 30 feet of pavement and up to another 28 feet of ditches. I'm sorry, but how is that an improvement? An improvement in what way?

Isn't it possible that the road way is okay the way it is? That it may not be perfect for everyone, but that in the grand scheme of things, it is a pretty darn good road, and any effort to bring it up to current engineering standards will not only reduce its beauty, but maybe even make it a more dangerous route for drivers?

Consider that the character of the roadway causes drivers to slow down - they slow down because the roadway is narrow, there are trees near the road, the curves and hills mean one cannot see much of the road ahead.

And that's okay.

Based on historic accident records, it appears that the current configuration of the road (with vegetation close to the pavement, hills that make it hard to see what's ahead, and lots of curves) is at least part of why accident rates are low.

Between 2005-2009 there were 38 accidents on Fleming Road. 32% (12) were collisions with deer; nearly all (87%+) of the accidents took place at one of the three intersections (Bull Valley Road, Country Club Road or Route 120). Drivers involved in the accidents were most likely to say that they didn't see the stop sign. 79% of the accidents were when the pavement was dry, and over half occurred during the day. There were no fatalities, one serious injury and six minor injuries.

The highway engineers who are studying Fleming Road right now say that there is only one spot along the road where visibility is a problem for people entering the road, and that is at Hidden Lane looking south. The solution, they said, would be to move a utility pole and trim some bushes. What that tells me is that the curves aren't causing a problem from a road design standpoint, neither is the vegetation close to the road.

So, maybe the buckthorn needs to be trimmed back here and there, but that's okay -- for many reasons. Apply a little Garlon 4 to the cut limbs, and help take care of them permanently!

Native Americans and the Land

2010-09-02T14:12:00.008-05:00

Did you know that native people, for perhaps thousands of years before Europeans arrived on this continent, managed the land to make it more conducive to hunting? They lit fires to keep the brush down in the woods, and to keep the landscape around their encampments open for visibility, and safe from wildfires.

This painting by Frederic Remington, noted painter of the American west in the 1800s, shows Native people watching a grass fire that they set. This would be an image that Remington actually witnessed -- he wasn't one for painting from his imagination -- he liked to depict real people and real situations that he witnessed first hand. Kind of like an early newspaper photographer, but with a canvas and paint brushes.

An early settler's journal describes this place we live in today as looking like "apple orchards planted by the hand of God for the pleasure of man." The oak woods that early settlers found were open, easy to walk or ride a horse through. Today, one might say they were "park like."

This open and inviting scene was part natural (through spread of wildfires), but also partly human-made, through the use of controlled fires by Native peoples.

After European settlement of the region, wildfires were eliminated as were human-made fires. This permitted brush and less hardy trees (like maples and ash) to grow unhindered by fire.

The lesson I wanted to pass along is this thing we call "ecological fire" is not exactly new, and the landscape that our forefathers and mothers inherited when they moved to McHenry County was hardly untouched by human hands.

So, once again, the old becomes new, as we relearn the ways that many generations of Native people took for granted. Careful management of the land was good for game, safety and ultimately survival of those peoples.

Relearning these ancient lessons of how to tend the land in ways that promote sustainability for us and for nature can only benefit every member of the community.

Another Reason to Buy Local Food!

2010-08-25T14:08:00.006-05:00

As if we needed another reason to purchase our food from local sources, along comes the Great American Egg Recall of 2010!

Billions of eggs potentially tainted with Salmonella bacteria, and thousands of people sick as a result.

The photos of the factory egg "farms" are too awful for me to include here -- chickens packed in cages, stacked on top of one another in conditions that should be criminal. And why? Because Americans want cheap eggs. Lots of cheap eggs. At the rate of 150 (or more) eggs per person, per year, that adds up to nearly 50 billions eggs a year - and that's just the ones folks buy in cartons -- add in all the eggs that are used as an ingredient in the foods we buy, and we are looking at closer to 75 billion eggs consumed each year in the US!

At a price of about $1.00 per dozen, we are talking about at least $4 billion in egg sales each year.

There is an alternative, you know. Yep, more folks could buy their eggs from local farmers.

My husband and I pay $2.50 a dozen for eggs from a family near Harvard, IL. The eggs are fresh, delicious, and safe. The chickens that lay the eggs seem to live happy lives -- at least they appear content running around in the farmyard when I go there to pick up the eggs. And a bonus is that the yolks are a gorgeous shade of deep yellow, not the insipid pale yellow of factory eggs.

The family raises the chickens to sell them as, well, chickens, later after they are good and fat. But the chickens have this pesky habit of laying eggs until they are sent off to be butchered, so the family also collects and sells the eggs.

Fresh eggs have an advantage that factory eggs lack -- they haven't been washed, so they still have the "bloom" intact on the surface of the egg shell. This "bloom" protects the otherwise porous surface of the egg, preventing bacteria from entering the egg.

As a result, fresh eggs can be stored at room temperature, and in Europe, that is how they are sold and kept.

Factory eggs in the US are washed after being collected to remove any surface dirt and bacteria -- which is actually part of the reason for the Great Egg Recall of 2010 -- even trace amounts of bacteria can entered the washed eggs, and once inside, salmonella does not take much time to multiply into enough bacteria cells to make someone sick.

So, remember that next time you buy eggs at the grocery store. Ask around, I bet you can find a local farm that sells fresh eggs -- and I bet you'll agree that they are worth every penny!

What's a Scenic Road?

2010-08-19T19:44:00.006-05:00

It may be safe to say that "scenic" is in the eye of the beholder. One person's scenic drive may be tedious to another who just wants to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, and is annoyed by the hills, slower speed limits, curves and trees close to the road.

I love driving through the county's gently rolling farm fields, but know people who think this area is too flat and the farm fields are b o r i n g.

Whether one likes scenic vistas of farmfields, or curvy, hilly routes that cross through examples of the county's glacial remants (moraines, kettles, kames and outwash plains), there are many scenic driving experiences to be had in McHenry County.

For example, I think most any road through Bull Valley is scenic, with their windey turns and hills, plus the trees overhanging the road and the farm fields stretching across the rolling hills.

O'Brien Road (that turns into Vander Karr Road as one heads east) is one of my favorites. It crosses through farm fields, past conservation land, and over the Nippersink Creek in the north part of the county between Alden and Richmond.

Thayer Road is another of my faves, going from Alden Road in the west to Greenwood Road in the east, passing farm fields, oak woods, and crossing at least one branch of the Nippersink Creek. I find the vistas across farm fields along Thayer amazing. The view is fairly flat and most trees are in the distance, so they don't block the view. I'd like to explore some of the isolated woodlands out there sometime -- they seem so remote and mysterious!

In the middle part of the county, there is Collins Road running west from Woodstock across the flat, outwash plain that sits between the Woodstock and Marengo moraines. The road starts out straight and level, with beautiful views of an agricultural landscape. As Collins hits the Marengo Ridge glacial moraine, the character of the road is transformed into a hilly, wooded route - the vistas are gone, and trees are the norm.

Then there is Fleming Road, a 2 1/2 mile route that runs from Country Club Road at its south end northwest to Route 120 east of Woodstock. In that short stretch of road, one passes visible examples of the county's "swell and swale" glacial terrain, complete with kettles and hills that were left behind when the Wisconsin glacier retreated 12,000 years ago. Additionally, the road passes through perhaps the largest concentration of remnant oak woods in the county.

Scenic may be in the eyes of the beholder, but I'm sure glad for the scenery around McHenry County that I get to behold!

The Dog Days of Summer!

2010-08-12T09:36:00.004-05:00

I thought a nice winter landscape shot would help me keep my cool while writing about the heat!

I heard someone refer to the "Dog Days" of summer, which got me wondering about where that term came from.

First off, the dog days are generally considered the hottest, most humid days of summer that run sometime between early July and mid-September. But, why are dogs taking the heat for this unpleasant time of year?

After doing some research, it looks like the term originally had nothing to do with the furry, friendly critters known as "man's best friend." Rather, the term arose in reference to the "dog star" in the constellation "Canis Major" (Big Dog).

The Romans called the hottest days of summer dies canicularis, Latin for "dog days." They associated the heat with the "dog star" Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky which happens to be found in the Canis Major (big dog) constellation. They even sacrificed a dog each year at the beginning of the dog days to try and appease Sirius.

The Greeks were in on the dog days too, as were the ancient Egyptians who associated the seasonal flooding of the Nile with the appearance of Sirius in the early morning sky just prior to sunrise.

In modern times, folks have associated the term "dog days" with a sluggish stock market, calling poorly performing stocks "dogs." The terms "dog tired" and "dogging it" may have come from the lethargy that many people feel during the hottest, most humid days of the year, even though the originial "dog days" name had nothing to do with an actual dog!

So, another 90+ day today, and it's expected to be at least that hot on Friday. And temps are staying in the mid-upper 70s at night, which means there is no relief from the heat and humidity.

Things may cool to the upper 80s by Saturday when a storm system will move through the area. Starting Saturday night, the evening temperatures should be in the mid 60s, which should help cool things off.

In the meantime, be sure to leave plenty of water out for the dogs to drink - it'll help them get through the dog days!

Water is Life

2010-08-07T12:41:00.006-05:00

I heard a talk about Water this morning by Reverend Budd Friend-Jones of the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake. He spoke of the spiritual aspects of water - the life force that all religions somehow honor through their creation stories and important rituals.

Our bodies are about 70% water, as is the planet. Where there is no water, there is no life, for all life on our planet evolved in a water world.

Reverend Friend-Jones suggested that when we look into water, we see ourselves - not just our reflections, but our deeper selves as a people. What does our relationship with water say about us? What kind of people would treat the source of all life on the planet as a waste product or a garbage can?

Call me a savage, but I don't think you need modern religion to be moved by that idea!

Consider the Lakota word for water, "mee-nee." The literal translation of "mee-nee" is "my spiritual quality of life." The Lakota regarded water as the life source, and felt they had been entrusted to care for this Sacred Resource by the Creator!

Oil Spill Thoughts

2010-07-30T11:13:00.004-05:00

It’s an old adage: oil & water don’t mix. And there have been a lot of examples in recent months that demonstrate the truth of those words. Off the top of my head, I can think of an oil spill into a creek in Utah, an oil pipeline spewing heavy crude into a bay in China, and, of course, the mega-spill in the Gulf of Mexico (link to a time-lapsed video from NASA).

From a technical standpoint, oil and water don’t mix for the simple reason that both oil and water molecules have a stronger affinity for their own kind than for the other. Also, oil is less dense than water, so it tends to float on the surface of the water. Unless it’s cold and heavy, like some of the oil that spewed into the Gulf of Mexico a mile below the surface. Then, the oil may find itself in a limbo somewhere between the sea surface and the seafloor. It still does not mix with the water, but it doesn’t rise to the surface, so it is hard to find and nearly impossible to clean up.

I’ve been trying to come up with a good local analogy to put the Gulf oil disaster into local terms. The website www.ifitwasmyhome.com shows the extent of the oil superimposed upon any geographic region on the planet. So, for scale, imagine placing Woodstock at the center. The oil slick would extend north to south from Milwaukee to Kankakee and east to west from central Iowa across Lake Michigan to the state of Michigan.

Another way to think about the Gulf spill: What if tar balls (globs of thick oil) started washing up on Main Beach in Crystal Lake? What if one of the Wonder Lake Water ski team members wiped out, and emerged from the water covered in thick oil? Or what if boating on the Chain of Lakes had to be cancelled because the Fire Department was burning the surface to reduce the amount of oil floating there? Local residents would be outraged, that’s what.

Sure, the ocean is very large, and by comparison, the amount of oil released may be small, but any amount is too much when it washes up on a community’s beach, fouls one’s oyster beds, or ruins a family’s livelihood or even someone’s summer vacation.

Fortunately for local residents, the chance of a disaster involving an oil well or pipeline leak is very small. But the risk isn’t zero, as there are oil pipelines that cross McHenry County. The concern in this area could be that an underground pipeline developed a leak and oil seeped into an underground aquifer, rather than oil spewing into a lake or wetland. In this scenario, the leak might go unnoticed for many months or even years until oil turned up in an unsuspecting neighbor’s well water.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not calling for a removal of the pipelines, nor do I think a local disaster of this nature is anything but a theoretical possibility. After all, I drive a car that is fueled by gasoline, which is in turn produced from oil like that which flows through the pipelines that pass through our area.

My point is simply that there are existing threats to our precious groundwater – the lifeblood of our community. The water that all residents need to live comes from the underground reservoirs of sand a gravel that were left by the glaciers over 12,000 years ago! Whether the threat is pollution or overuse, the security of local water supplies should matter to all residents. For what is a house worth if there is no water to flush the toilets, or if the well water is fouled?

The Heat of Summer

2010-07-23T21:27:00.006-05:00

For the month of July, the average high temperature in Chicago is 83.5. So far this year (2010), the average high temp in July is closer to 87. The average last summer was about 80 degrees - one of the coolest July's on record, and certainly part of the reason this month has felt so darn hot!

Last year, I didn't put the air conditioner on once all summer. But last night I slept with the A/C on all night! The combination of heat and humidity was more than I could stand, but 76 degrees sure hit the spot! I think 2005 was the last summer that seemed this hot.

If there is anything to this Global Warming/Climate Change thing (and I believe there is), then these hot summers will become more frequent. That's the point of the two maps at the top of the page - the one on the right shows average temperatures for the eastern US today, and the one on the left shows what they could be in 2050. The take home message is that average temps are predicted to be much higher almost everywhere.

So, our area would be more like southern Missouri? And Northern Wisconsin would be like Central Illinois? And Florida would be mostly under water? Cripes! So in another 40 years, all those Midwestern snowbirds will just stay right here? Sounds like Sun City will need to expand!

Are the bats trying to tell us something?

2010-07-11T18:03:00.009-05:00

I read an article about bats in the most recent University of Vermont alumnae magazine today. It made me want to cry.

Bats are dying due to a little-understood disorder called "White nose syndrome." The disorder causes the bats to wake frequently throughout their winter hibernation, and since they are hungry when they wake, they fly off in search of insects - their primary source of food. The problem is that in the winter, there are no insects, so the bats expend valuable energy in futile searches before returning to their winter slumbers. By the time they wake in the spring, the bats are so emaciated, that they are susceptible to other illnesses that healthy bats can easily fight off. So, the bats die from a variety of things, so it has been hard to pin-point the exact cause of the syndrome.

Researchers at the University of Vermont have been studying the bats in Vermont, trying to determine what is causing this disorder to decimate the bat populations across the country in a very short time period. Consider: the disorder was first identified in eastern New York state in 2006, and since that time has killed millions of bats in the Northeast US, rapidly spreading down the east coast, and towards the Midwest.

There have been articles in the local paper recently about the discovery of rabid bats in McHenry County, warning people to avoid coming into contact with bats in the event the bats are rabid. So, there may be those who think that bats are dangerous to people, so who cares if bats die?

Well, maybe we should care if all the bats die.

As one of the researchers comments in the article: the bats could be the canaries in the coal mine, perhaps giving us a warning about the general degredation of the environment that we all depend upon for life. Consider that frogs and toads are dying off at an alarming rate across the globe due to a fungus. And Colony Collapse Disorder is affecting bee populations across the US. With no known cause, the loss of bee populations has the potential to destroy the country's agriculture system, as bees are the primary pollinators for many crops!

Do we really want to take the chance that these dramatic die-offs of three unrelated groups of organisims are just a weird coincidence? Or are we prepared to heed the warnings and start making changes to clean up and improve the environment that we all depend upon for survival?

After all, the coal miners couldn't see or smell the invisible gas that killed the canary, but they knew enough to heed the warning that the dead bird gave them. Unlike the coal miners, we can't just move out of the mine into the clean air. We are living in the mine. Will we take the steps necessary to clean the air, water and soil around us before it's too late?

Where does the time go?

2010-07-01T14:17:00.003-05:00

It's July 1st. How did half the year get by me already?

When in grade school, summers seemed long & luxurious. Lots of time to do all the things that I wanted, plus extra things that were not on my personal to do list (like paint the laundry room in the basement). I had what seemed an infinite time to read, visit friends, go to camp, ride bikes, climb trees, build forts, etc, etc.

Now everything seems to be a blur. Is it just that time moves more quickly, or do I move more slowly?

There is a theory that each year of one's life passes more quickly than the previous because it represents a smaller percentage of one's total life. [My initial reaction to that was "hunh?"]

The math experts explain it this way: When you are 10 years old, one year of your life is 10% of your lifespan. But, when you are 50 years old, one year is just 2% of your lifespan, so it seems to go by a lot faster. In other words, it's all relative.

Which brings me to Albert Einstein's Big Idea: Time is Relative. He hypothesized that time moved slower or faster depending upon the speed that one thing moves in relation to another. He was able to prove mathematically that as one approaches the speed of light time passes much more slowly than it does for those of us stuck at human speed.

This helps me understand why time moves so slowly for young kids -- they have a lot of energy, and move a lot more quickly than adults! So, seems to me the message is that if we want to slow things down, we need to speed ourselves up!

There are Fungus Among Us!

2010-06-25T21:12:00.009-05:00

This is a blusher mushroom found June 24, 2010 in some woods north of Harvard. I'd never seen one of these in person -- only in photos.

It's a type of Amanita, which are usually poisonous, but this a non-deadly variety! While many mushrooms are quite safe (and good) to eat, there are quite a few that are either deadly poisonous resulting in near instant death, mildly toxic (causing gastric distress), and/or containing slow-acting toxins that may take several days to affect your vital organs and kill you.

So, it's never a good idea to eat a found mushroom unless you are absolutely sure you know what it is. But, just touching a poisonous mushroom won't kill anyone, so collecting them for identification is quite safe.

I was able to identify the blusher by looking at a combination of characteristics: cap color, presence of a "veil," stem size, shape & color, gill color, spore color and the location where the mushroom was found (in this case, on the ground in some oak woods). In this case, white spores and flesh bruising red were two of the keys. Another key was that the blusher is commonly found in oak woods.

If you look closely at the photo with the cut stem pieces turning red, you can see white spore prints on the piece of paper. Spore color is one of the key pieces of information needed to identify a mushroom, so I always try to get a spore print by separating the cap from the stem and placing it on a piece of white paper under a glass overnight. This increases the humidity around the mushroom which helps to release the spores.

Something else I learned about Amanitas today: there is a mold that attacks them and turns them into gnarly, solid things, as seen in the picture to the left. I cut the mushroom thing in half lengthwise, and was surprised to find that the stem and cap flesh seemed to be fused, and while there was a cap-like piece at the top of the mushroom, but there were no gills, and the exterior was covered in a hard crust.

I would never have guessed that there was a mold that attacked fungi! That's one of the things that keeps me interested in identifying mushrooms - there is always a new variety that I have never seen before, either because I'm in a different type of habitat, or its a different time of year.

Killing Gypsy Moths

2010-06-17T10:20:00.010-05:00

Well, it is gypsy moth season! The caterpillars have emerged and are now quite large. Soon they will pupate, and in August emerge as moths.

There are lots of references on the Internet that explain the lifecycle, spread and management of these invaders.

I can sum up the primary management objective in one word: kill.

Kill by squishing them or dropping the caterpillars into a bucket of soap water. Power spray them out of the trees - even the big caterpillars seem pretty fragile. Wrap your trees with fabric (something inexpensive like burlap works just fine).

The fabric works like this: the caterpillars feed at night, and then climb down the tree during the day to get out of the sun - and presumably hide from predators like birds. At night, when they climb back up the tree to feed, some will get caught in the fabric. Others will use the fabric as a resting place where they are hidden from predators. When checking the fabric in the morning, it will be easy to kill the caterpillars.

The next phase when it is going to be relatively easy to kill them is when they turn into moths. And they actually make it easy for us! The female gypsy moths are nearly white, and they don't fly. So, they are easy to spot, and kill. The males are brown and do fly, so are not easy to catch or see, and harder to identify as a gypsy moth versus some other native moth.

The gypsy moths are not native to North America, but they have been in our country since the late 1800s!

I went to college in the early 1980's in Massachusetts, and the gypsy moths had taken over the woods! I recall being in campus in June for orientation, and they were everywhere. In fact, they were so dense that you could hear them eating, and their droppings (called frass) sounded like a light rain! Despite the heavy infestation, the trees have survived. And so they will here, especially with a little help from us!

What is wind?

2010-06-09T14:09:00.007-05:00

It's a windy day today! The leaves in the trees are in constant motion, creating that wonderful rustling sound.

What is wind? We can't see it. It doesn't have a smell of its own or a color or substance. But, man is it powerful when it wants to be!

Technically, wind is caused by differences in air pressure - the greater the difference in pressure from one area to another, the stronger the wind. So, you might have heard the weather reporter talk about a "front" coming through -- that is typically a high or low pressure system, and a front is inevitably accompanied by wind as the pressure changes from low to high or high to low.

I used to joke that wind came to Illinois from Kansas (because the area between here and there is so flat...) That isn't technically accurate, but it is true that weather systems generally move from west to east, so by watching the weather in Kansas we might get a hint at what to expect here in a couple of days.

There is something called the Beaufort Scale that sorts wind into categories based on the speed. For instance, wind that is 1-2 miles per hour is called "light air." One might see smoke move in the direction of the wind, but otherwise there isn't much to make one aware of light air!

A little further up the scale, a "gentle breeze" is defined as 8-12 mph wind, which results in leaves and twigs being in constant motion. I'm guessing that today is probably a "gentle breeze" kind of day, although it might have gusts that would be considered a "strong breeze" (25-31 mph) which is strong enough to move large branches. Certainly we are getting gusts that would be considered a "fresh breeze" of 19-24 mph where small trees sway!

The top of the scale is 75+ mph, or hurricane force winds which cause severe and extensive damage. I suppose around here we might call those "tornado" force winds. Although, a tornado might only fall into the category of a "whole gale" or "strong gale" with winds of 55-63 mph and 47-54 mph respectively. That's still a lot of force for something invisible!

Unctuous Matters

2010-06-03T11:03:00.003-05:00

So, you're asking yourself: "what does the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico have to do with The Land Conservancy?"

Well, nothing -- and everything.

People in McHenry County drive cars which run on gasoline which is collected from places like the Gulf of Mexico, by companies like BP...

People in McHenry County buy things at the store - things that are often shipped hundreds, if not thousands of miles to arrive here. And during the shipping of those items, fuel is used by the trains, ships, trucks, etc that are used for transport. The more miles something is shipped, the more fuel must be used.

So, the oil spill in the Gulf is about us too.

While our wildlife, wetlands, natural lands and waters may not be clogged with oil, that is just the luck of geography keeping us clean. It is a fact that the choices we make every day at the store, in the car, even around the home contribute to this national addiction to oil. Every plastic container, toy or nick-nack is made with oil. And that apple from New Zealand is brought to your table because of the oil used to ship it to McHenry County.

But, what can we do? It is pretty overwhelming, isn't it?

1. Reduce the number of miles you drive. Car pool if you can. Combine errands into fewer trips.
2. Buy & Eat locally grown food. I've read that over 10% of all US oil consumption is tied just to transportation of food. So, the fewer miles food travels to get from the farm to your table, the less fuel consumed. period.
3. Open the windows and turn off the Air Conditioning.
4. Replace the gas-powered mower with an electric (or rotary) mower.
5. If buying a new car, choose one that gets better gas mileage than the old car. If you can, opt for a gas-electric hybrid (or, soon, an all electric model!).
6. Convince a friend to make some changes too.

It may seem overwhelming, but in the long run, we can make a difference through the choices we make about how much energy we use each day. And while that won't clean up the Gulf of Mexico, it sure might help prevent a future disaster.

Turtle Crossing!

2010-05-27T11:32:00.006-05:00

I'm thinking about getting some turtle crossing signs to put up along Dean Street, asking people to slow down and yield to these little fellas!

Last week we saw a painted turtle that had been run over right in the middle of the road. And yesterday, I saw a very large snapping turtle that had just made it (safely) across the road.

There are wetlands in the back of properties on the east side of Dean Street, and in the front of properties on the west side of the road.

Most turtles live in wetlands, but they lay their eggs in nearby upland areas. I suspect the snapper was scouting out a nesting spot where it is high and dry near our office, but actually lives in one of the wetlands across the street.

No one explains to the turtles that they need to stay away from roads because of the cars. I would imagine that for them, the road is just a really smooth and easy strip of land to cross while they are scouting for a good spot to lay their eggs.

The next challenge comes when the baby turtles (about the size of a half-dollar) hatch from the eggs, and then through some homing instinct, head off to find their mothers. These little guys are easy prey for many animals and birds. And if they have to cross a road, they are obviously very vulnerable to being squished -- let's face it, they are really small (so not very visible) and they are really slow (because their legs are so tiny!).

So, I'm thinking some well-placed turtle crossing signs are in order to warn folks to be on the look-out!

Fleming Road situation

2010-05-20T13:29:00.005-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about Fleming Road (runs from Route 120 to Country Club, about 2 miles). If you haven't driven it, it is worth the drive. Truly one of the most scenic roads in the county. Hilly, wooded, gentle curves, the whole bit.

A friend calls it "tummy tickle" road because of the hills - a name that started when his kids were little and they liked the roller-coaster effect of driving along Fleming!

BUT, it is technically a county highway that is considered by them to be the route from Route 120 to Route 14 by way of Country Club Road and Ridgefield Road.

Over the years, some folks have used Fleming as a cut-through for just that purpose - to get from west Crystal Lake to points north like Wonder Lake. And folks who are "cutting through" are often looking to get from point A to point B a bit faster than it would take to go around on the main roads. And that means they want to go as fast as possible.

Well, Fleming just isn't that kind of road!

Fleming is more of a "Sunday Driver" road - you know, the kind where folks drive slowly, looking at the scenery, and enjoying the rural, pastoral landscape along the road.

Well, now the road may be threatened because some feel it needs some "improvements." And those "improvements" are likely to mean the road will be less hilly, wider, and with trees set back farther from the pavement. All of that translates into "less scenic" if you ask me.

Now, here's what I don't understand. Why can't they just replace the pavement and do the work within the existing right of way? Why can't they keep the road largely the same as it is today, and enforce the speed limits, rather than changing the road to make it more of a speedway for those folks who want to shave a few seconds off their trip from Crystal Lake to Wonder Lake?

Why?

Help those Migratory Birds

2010-05-13T10:18:00.003-05:00

That's an Indigo Bunting, one of the showy Spring Migratory Birds that one might see in McHenry County these days. The shock of blue looks out of place in most any location!

Numerous warblers are travelling through the area this time of year, on the way from their winter homes to their summer places up north. I have to confess, that unless a warbler stops at the bird feeder long enough for me to get a good look at all of its markings, I cannot tell them apart (most are just small, yellowish birds to me...) Some of the names I hear others call out include: Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Yellow-throated warbler. [Note: They are not bright yellow like the goldfinch.]

Keeping water and birdseed available at least through May will help the migrants (and will keep the resident birds happy as well!)

Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve Dedication

2010-05-06T13:56:00.004-05:00

Yonder Prairie is Illinois' latest Nature Preserve, and that's a beautiful thing!

Here's a picture of the McHenry County contingent that was in attendance at the 205th meeting of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in Cypress, Illinois on May 4th when the formal dedication was made. Shown are Lisa Haderlein with husband Tom Cubr, Steve & Caron Wenzel, and John Nelson (the one in the tie). Tom, Lisa & Caron are sporting TLC's Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve t-shirts!

John lives in Woodstock and works for the Nature Preserve Commission. He worked with TLC to complete the dedication documents, and gave an excellent presentation to the Commission highlighting the ecological merits of the site. Thanks John.

As we learned at the meeting, there are now 351 Nature Preserves in Illinois (technically, I think Yonder is the 349th). These sites represent some of the most unique and precious pieces of the state's natural history. While many sites are on public land, a growing number of sites are located on private property -- as is the case with Yonder.

The Nature Preserves system was designed to help landowner preserve properties across the state that provide habitat for threatened and endangered species, and also have prime example of natural habitats that were once abundant in the state.

At Yonder Prairie, two features qualified the site for Nature Preserve status: documentation of Blanding's Turtles from the site, and the presence of a Grade B wet prairie.

Note: As of last month, we also confirmed that a Sandhill Crane is nesting at the site! We were able to confirm this when a crane aggressively guarded a portion of the property while we were conducting an ecological burn. Don't worry, we steered clear of the crane! But we did put him on the t-shirt!

Happy Arbor Day!

2010-04-29T20:15:00.003-05:00

Arbor Day is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past while Arbor Day proposes for the future. J. Sterling Morton

Arbor Day was started in Nebraska in 1872, when J. Sterling Morton, president of the State Agriculture Board, was successful in getting the state legislature to declare April 10th Arbor Day, a day where Nebraskans were encouraged to plant trees. It is estimated that one million trees were planted on that first Arbor Day!

Morton became passionate about planting trees after moving to Nebraska in 1854 -- a state that did not have a lot of trees! By 1885, the state made Arbor Day an official holiday to be held on April 22nd, J. Sterling Morton's birthday. Today, all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day, as do many countries around the world.

In Illinois, Arbor Day is held the last Friday in April every year, placing the holiday on April 30th this year. Illinois was the 8th state to make Arbor Day a state holiday in 1949.

The celebration has expanded from the planting of trees to include education about the need to care for trees throughout the year. The holiday has long appealed to educators who recognized the learning opportunity that the occassion provided for students of all ages.

As awareness of the impact of carbon dioxide levels on the global climate grows, the role of tree planting seems to become more vital. Why? Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Trees store carbon in their roots and their wood.

In addition to all the other wonderful things trees do for us - clean the air, increase property values, reduce stormwater runoff, provide natural beauty, give shade on a hot summer day, provide a strong branch for a child's swing, etc, etc - trees are also an important part of sequestering carbon. Sequestering carbon and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change.

So plant a tree already!!

Support TLC in April!

2010-04-26T19:21:00.007-05:00

Just a reminder that there are only a few days left in the month of April, which means just a few more days to support TLC & the environment!

If you haven't ordered your oak yet, you have until Friday! Red, bur & swamp white varieties ranging from two foot ($20) to five foot ($75). And 30% of the sale price supports TLC's 3rd Generation Oak Fund to help ensure that oaks will be an important part of the McHenry County landscape FOREVER!

Summer's coming, and that rainbarrel full of clean, free water will be so good for the garden, but you have to order yours by Friday to get the great price of $65 for a 55-60 gallon rainbarrel! Tumbling composters are also available for just $130.

Pick up for the trees, rainbarrels & composters is May 14-15 at Hennen Conservation Area, 4622 Dean Street, Woodstock.

And, you have until Friday to eat at Duke's Ale House, who will donate 5% to TLC if you bring a coupon with you (or ask your server for one at the Restaurant).

2030 Land Use Plan Vote Tuesday

2010-04-17T10:47:00.007-05:00

Tuesday night at 7pm, the McHenry County Board will meet to vote on the proposed 2030 Land Use Plan that has been 3 years in the making.

In the last few days, several people have asked me my opinion on the plan. Let me sum it up this way:

I think the plan should show all undeveloped and unincorporated areas west of Route 47 as farmland or environmental resources. I have several reasons for favoring this approach:

1. It puts the County clearly in the position of supporting farmland and groundwater protection - resources that will benefit all county residents.

2. It sends a message to municipalities that the County is going to stop approving developments in the unincorporated areas of the County - this type of development is more expensive to all county residents (more expensive for the schools, more expensive for emergency responders, more expensive to maintain the extra roads, etc etc).

3. It puts the County in the best possible position to start working collaboratively with municipalities on Intergovernmental matters such as groundwater protection, fuding for road maintenance, and even future growth boundaries to ensure the land and water resources available are used in a sustainable way that benefits all residents -- today and in the future.

I believe recent news articles support this approach:

Agritourism grows in County (without farmland, we have no agritourism, and it is big business!)

Fire Destroys home in unincorporated area north of Crystal Lake (because the home was in an unincorporated area without fire hydrants, tankers full of water had to be brought in by departments from McHenry and Lake county communities to fight the fire)

Industrial Solvent present in local water supplies (article is archived since it's from December 2009) - notices were sent out to residents in Crystal Lake and Fox River Grove letting them know that levels of Trichloroethylene (TCE) in the local water supplies are at half the legal limit.

Think about it, as currently drafted, the plan purports to encourage future development to occur in or adjacent to existing municipalities -- a style of development known as "compact and contiguous." Yet, the plan shows vast areas of unincorporated land as being developed for commercial, industrial or residential uses in the future, BUT it has NO requirement that the development occur only through municipal annexation.

What this means is that a developer can use the plan to gain approval of a project that is NOT compact or contiguous, but is consistent with the plan map. And there isn't much the county board can do to stop them if the project is consistent with the map.

Take a look at the map, especially the area by Marengo and Union. The purple areas are proposed Commercial/Office/Research/Industrial areas and the yellow parts are planned for rural residential development. Thousands of acres of each use on land that is currently farmed. Thousands of acres underlain with groundwater that is highly vulnerable to pollution.

I repeat: I think the plan should show all undeveloped and unincorporated areas west of Route 47 as farmland or environmental resources. Someone suggested to me that this would be the absence of a plan, but I strongly disagree with that notion.

To plan for farmland and enviornmental resources in the unincorporated areas does nothing to stop municipalities from annexing land for development.

The best way to make it clear that the County is serious about wanting future development to occur in municipalities, to protect precious groundwater resources and to ensure there is a thriving agricultural industry in the county in the future, is to have a County Land Use Plan (aka a plan for future development in unincorporated areas) that reflects what the County Board would actually approve in the unincorporated areas.

The next question is "What can we do?" The short answer is to call your county board members and tell them what you think before they vote Tuesday night.

Spring Ephemerals are Up!

2010-04-09T18:14:00.003-05:00

Dutchman's Britches (Dicentra cucullaria) is one of my favorite spring flowers! The blooms look like tiny pantaloons (thus the name - which is also spelled Breeches).

This picture was taken April 9, 2010 at Wonder Lake Sedge Meadow - a TLC easement in, you guessed it, Wonder Lake! In addition to the sedge meadow on the 28 acre site, there is also an oak savanna in the upland buffer - that's where the Britches were growing!

This plant is one of the first native flowers to bloom each spring. Typically, we might expect to see them around April 24th, but this year everything is early! VERY early!

Bloodroot, another early Spring flower, has already come and gone in some local woodlands. Normally, it is still around in early May! The bluebells - which can almost always be counted on to brighten Mother's Day - are coming up already, and will probably have already passed by the time Mom's Day comes along a month from today (May 9th!).

Chorus frogs have been calling since late March, and the Spring Peepers (another species of frog) are already busy.

Bluebirds are nesting - I had one report of someone seeing a bluebird egg laid in one of their bluebird boxes on March 31st -- that's early! Very early!!

Even the bad guys like buckthorn and honeysuckle are going strong. In previous years, the earliest I noticed buckthorn in our local woods was April 12th. This year it was clearly greening up on April 1st (a really cruel April Fool's Joke!).

I'm having a hard time not thinking that this is another sign of Global Warming/Climate Change at work. The experts say that we will see more extremes in weather as the Global Warming process accelerates.

It's kind of a big deal when things start sprouting and blooming out of sync from their usual time of year. Insects pollinate flowers, but if the flower blooms before the insects emerge -- or if the insects come and go before their flowers bloom -- the flowers don't get pollinated. No pollination, no flowers in the future.

One oddball year here or there is okay, but if it becomes a trend, it could spell trouble!

County 2030 Plan Final Stretch

2010-04-05T12:33:00.007-05:00

I try to be an optimist, but sometimes it's really hard to keep my spirits up...

Take the McHenry County 2030 Land Use Plan as an example. The County Board held a series of Public Open House meetings last month that were very well attended. They received over 300 comments in some written form - emails, letters, notes about the maps, even handwritten comments.

But then the Planning & Development Committee - with scant discussion of the comments - voted to send the plan to the full County Board for a vote at its April 20th meeting. They made some changes to the map to reduce the amount of residential sprawl shown (although they decided to maintain the plan for residential development on top of two of the largest remaining oak woodlands in the county, despite TLC's request to amend that portion of the map). However, they kept all of the thousands of acres of commercial/office/industrial land around Marengo, despite three important facts:

1. the areas planned for this type of use are some of the most sensitive groundwater recharge areas in the entire county -- and everyone in the county is dependent upon groundwater for their daily water use (even elected officials).

2. many of the areas so planned are prime agricultural lands - some of the best farmland in the US, and even the world.

3. the agricultural industry is the second largest economic force in McHenry County. And consider that for every person who works on a farm, there are something like 20 people who have jobs because of those farms. Yep, think of the people who clean and process the seed, who manufacture and sell farm chemicals, who manufacture and sell farm equipment, who process the end products from the crops raised on the farms, etc, etc.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one like the idea of my food being raised in the USA, rather than imported from former South American grasslands or the Ukraine (two other prime agricultural regions based on climate & soils). And it kind of honks me off when our elected officials create a farmland preservation commission on the one hand, and then push a policy document aimed at further damaging an already threatened local industry.

That's two handful's of rich, black, humus-y soil in the picture on the left. And that is the reason for this area being such a primo spot for growing crops of all sort. The soil combined with a favorable climate where it rains regularly during the growing season. There may come a day on this planet when wars will be waged over resources like this.

Oh wait, that is already happening in Africa... But it would never come to that here, would it???

April is TLC month at Duke's Ale House!

2010-04-01T13:24:00.007-05:00

Just a quick reminder that for the entire month of April, 5% of purchases made at Duke's Ale House in Crystal Lake will be donated to The Land Conservancy of McHenry County! Just bring along a TLC coupon that you can print from our website, and present it to your server to help them keep track!

Additionally, Duke's mixologist created a special drink for the month of April called the Hairy Aster - named after a native plant (Aster pilosus). each martini-style drink sold during April will result in $1 being donated to TLC to support our land preservation mission!

Duke's Ale House has gained a reputation for their menu selections made from locally raised products including honey, beef, herbs and vegetables! They also host the monthly Green Drinks group where people gather on the first Wednesday of every month from 5-7pm to network with other people who are interested in the environment! Hope to see you there on April 7th!

Fleming Road Plans

2010-03-24T10:49:00.011-05:00

We've had quite a few calls from TLC members asking about the County's plans for rebuilding Fleming Road in Bull Valley.

It is a short stretch of road that runs less than 3 miles between Country Club Road on the south and Route 120 on the north. I drove the road this morning after reading today's article in the Northwest Herald. The article reports on the Open House that the County's Highway Department had Tuesday night to begin discussing the proposed road repairs with members of the community.

It appears that the County is taking pains to avoid the debacle that occurred last year when the plans for widening Alden Road were announced!

Fleming is already designated a scenic road by the county, and the 5 minute drive along the road - even on an overcast day like today - makes the reason clear. The road is narrow, hilly, and many areas are lined with oak woods. The character of the road is decidedly rural in character, which should prompt drivers to slow down - which is one key to safety!

Road construction is a frustrating endeavor (in my opinion). People like their cars, and don't like to drive on roads with potholes or washboard conditions. Many people also like to push the speed limits, and seem unfazed by poor visibility or poor road conditions. Highway engineers are often motivated by safety when they propose widening road, removing hills and curves, and cutting down trees.

But, that is why it is so important that residents get involved in the process early, and stay involved, because the safety of those few reckless maroons who want to shave a few seconds off their drive should not dictate the design of any road.

The expressed goal of the county is to improve the roadway while preserving the scenic character of the route. We'll be watching the project as it moves forward, as this road - that runs through the center of the largest concentration of oak woodlands in the county - and the residents who live along it, should continue as a scenic road.

Horse Fair Springs Fen update!

2010-03-22T17:27:00.008-05:00

That's skunk cabbage poking up through the snow on the first day of Spring (March 20th) at Spring Grove's Horse Fair Spring Fen! The little creek was thick with those early-rising, prehistoric-looking plants that are a sure sign of a natural, high quality wetland.

Kudos to Linda Balek for exploring this forgotten corner of the Village last year and finding this hidden gem! March 20th was the second Volunteer Work Party at the property, and what a Party it was. Just five of us made a big dent in the invasive brush, two with chain saws and three hauling & stacking the cut wood!

Who knew it would snow on that first Spring morning! But a few flakes didn't stop the volunteers, just as they didn't stop the skunk cabbage from poking up after its long winter nap.

The pictures on the right and left show the area before and during clearing -- lots of brush is visible. The picture on the right shows Ted Thornton & Rich Paull wrestling with a box elder that has been cut, but won't fall because its upper branches are hung up by grape vines. Snags like that have can't be left to fall later -- they could hurt someone if they fell unexpectedly.

The final picture is of the same area after the clearing is complete. The dark spot in the middle appears to be a wet area that will probably be thick with skunk cabbage next time we're out there!!

For the Love of Oaks

2010-03-10T10:04:00.004-06:00

Look at that red oak acorn! Looking like a chubby head with a cap that's a bit too small!

Did you know that an oak tree has to be 20 years old before it produces acorns? At 20-years, an oak is technically mature, but still just a kid -- kind of like people, I guess.

That is why the state of McHenry County's oak woods is so alarming. The rate things are going, we are going to lose a lot of the large old oaks in the next 20 years, but there are not many young oaks growing in the local woods to take their places when the ancient giants succumb to age or disease.

There are a number of reasons why oaks are not reproducing, but most of the problem has to do with what is happening on the ground under the trees, after the acorns fall. One of two conditions is often to blame: either a lawn is maintained under the oaks - meaning that any young seedlings that start to grow will be killed by the mowers; or, invasive brush chokes them out and blocks the sun that they need to grow!

For many years, I had one of those mowed lawns around our large bur and white oaks on our lot in Harvard. Then, about 5 years ago, we started restoring areas of the yard to native plants, gradually replacing large parts of the lawn with savanna & woodland species - grasses, wildflowers and shrubs like hazelnuts. We even installed a rain garden, and then last fall, mulched a couple of areas extensively to help eliminate even more lawn around the oaks.

And we see young oaks growing, thanks to the many squirrels that bury their acorns all over the yard!

TLC works with a lot of landowners who are tackling buckthorn and honeysuckle thickets around their oaks. One piece of advice we hear over and over again is "start small." Pick one oak, and decide to clear the brush around it - being sure to paint the cut stumps with an appropriate herbicide like glyphosate. When clearing the brush, keep an eye out for any young oaks trying to grow, and avoid harming them -- they are the future!

You don't have to do everything at once, but by resolving to at least start to make things more hospitable for oaks, we can all make a difference!

County 2030 Land Use Plan Meetings

2010-02-25T09:26:00.004-06:00

Public Meetings on the McHenry County 2030 Land Use Plan are scheduled for the first week of March: March 1, McHenry; March 2, Harvard; March 3, Crystal Lake; March 4, Marengo; March 6, Woodstock. Details can be found here. The weekday meetings will take place from 5-7pm and the Saturday meeting from 9am-noon.

Taking the time to view the maps and read at least some of the plan is important for residents, especially those who live in the north and west portions of the county that are predominantly farmland.

This is the document that will/should guide future land use changes in the rural areas of the county. The words are important, but let's face it, most people just look at the pictures anyway, so the map is really important.

I can sum up my comments in three words: Change the map.

The text is pretty good - actually quite strong in some areas - but the current map doesn't match the text. [Caution: do not try opening the plan document unless you have a high speed internet connection - it is 89 MegaBytes in size. Copies are available at local libraries.]

One of the big disconnects between the text and the map is in the area of projected population growth and the amount of land needed to accommodate all the new people and jobs that may be needed over the next 20 years.

The map was drafted using a very high future population number, but the text includes a smaller number that is more realistic. The map, therefore, shows a lot more rural residential development in the future than is realistic given the number of new people that are realistically projected to want to move here.

The result it that there are thousands of acres planned for rural residential development that are far outside any municipal boundaries. This directly contradicts one of the plan's primary goals, which is to promote compact & contiguous growth in and around municipalities where essential services are already available, rather than continuing to allow scattered development throughout the rural areas.

Fortunately, the County Planning staff already did a really excellent analysis of the possible changes to the map's sprawling residential development (as recommended by the Planning Commission). The map that staff prepared recommends removing various areas that were initially planned for rural residential development, and showing them as agriculture.

I found the planning staff's memo describing possible map changes to bring the plan's maps into line with the text very helpful in thinking about comments to make at the public meetings. Since this is information that has been provided to the County Board members who will ultimately decide what changes to make, I think using it as a reference is helpful.

There are other issues as well.

For instance, vast areas of farmland far outside of municipalities are planned for industrial development, far in excess of what could be needed to support job creation for future residents. Also, industrial development is planned for areas that are highly sensitive groundwater recharge soils, particularly in the area around Marengo and the Kishwaukee River. These mapped industrial uses are in conflict with the text which supports protection of groundwater resources and compact & contiguous growth patterns.

So, please attend one of the meetings near you and say something, even if it is that you support the map changes proposed by the staff. But it is important to say something, and to say it now, because in a couple of weeks it will be too late. Thank you.

Playing possum

2010-02-19T09:57:00.005-06:00

Here's a picture of our "mascot" the as-yet-unnamed-possum who shows up from time to time in search of food at Hennen Conservation Area.

This is one of those critters that people either hate or find adorable, so I decided to look up a few facts about possums.

First, I want to clear up a misconception that they are viscious. While they may show their many sharp teeth when frightened, they are actually very shy and just want to be left alone -- they are not aggressive. In fact, when attacked, they will often just role over and "play dead," which is where the term "playing possum" comes from. There are lots of stories out there of dogs carrying "dead" possums back to their owners, only to have the possum walk away as soon as the dog is distracted!

Opossums are the only North American marsupial, females carrying and feeding her young in a pouch (marsupium) for 2-3 months, and then carrying the young on her back for another couple of months. (If you are wondering what a marsupial is, think of the most well recognized marsupial, the kangaroo!)

They are comfortable living in trees, and their furless tail is prehensile, helping them climb. But don't believe the rumors that they hang upside down from their tails! The tail is really more like another arm, providing stability.

Opossums are omnivores, meaning they eat a little bit of everything -- insects, berries, grass, vegetables, etc. Note, if you leave a bowl of cat or dog food outside at night, and it is empty in the morning, it might have been a possum who cleaned it out. They are nocturnal, so generally not seen during the day.

They are one of the shortest-lived mammals, typically surviving only 2-4 years. They are killed by larger critters like dogs & owls, and are a frequent casualty of cars while crossing roads at night. They are slow moving, so don't have the ability to rush across the road when a car comes - they either freeze, or continue moving ahead slowly.

I hope this provides you with some appreciation for this gentle animal that is just trying to get by!

The information in this post was found through the National Opossum Society's website: http://www.opossum.org/

Go Play Outside!

2010-02-11T14:11:00.005-06:00

Those are the three words that American children do not hear enough. Michelle Obama talks about battling childhood obesity. Chicago Wilderness runs the Leave No Child Inside project. A whole organization called the Children & Nature Network now exists to encourage and support people and organizations working to connect young people with nature.

Results of a recent University of Michigan study show that our brains work better when we have regular exposure to nature. This echoes the results of many other studies that say there are abundant reasons to spend more time in nature. Health. Kids are less likely to have attention-deficit disorder. Hospital patients get well faster. And... there is an ever-growing list of reasons to spend time outdoors. The Association for Psychological Science has a nice summary of the Michigan study on their website.

The effects of nature on the brain are especially important during the years from birth through age 11, when many of the basic patterns and processes in the brain are being formed. The term videophilia has been coined by researchers to describe the new state we are living in. They define videophilia as meaning "the new human tendency to focus on sedentary activites involving electronic media."

Videophilia has been a trend since 1987 -- about the time that video games, home movies, VCRs, home computers, etc started to appear. Since 1987 the trend has also been that there are fewer visits to local, state & national parks. There are fewer hikers than before 1987. There are fewer campers. You get the picture.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but a good start would seem to be "Go Play Outside!"

Parks employ more people than WalMart!

2010-02-04T12:40:00.006-06:00

I'm pasting the entirety of an article that a friend just forwarded to me. The next time anyone hints that the environment must play second fiddle to the economy in these tough economic times, just whip this puppy out and show them some facts!

Text of article from The Daily Green follows:

Two New York Times articles published earlier this month illustrate the highs and lows of land protection right now. One, "Preservation Groups Find Bargains in Housing Bust," described how plummeting real estate prices have provided once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for land conservation organizations to protect irreplaceable natural treasures once destined for sprawling development. From Idaho to Florida and Virginia to Oregon, groups have preserved fields and forests, marshland and ocean waterfronts that as little as a year ago were slated for massive housing projects. Many of these scenic wonders now will be turned into parks.

That's the high. The low, "New Year but No Relief for Strapped States," noted the challenges many state governments face to rein in skyrocketing deficits. Actually, the earlier article hinted at this dilemma's environmental implications: dedicated funds for protecting land and creating new parks already have been a casualty of fiscal belt-tightening in statehouses from Olympia to Albany – just when they could do the most good. With red ink continuing to rise, even more drastic cuts are likely. There's a trickle-down effect, too. With less state support, county and municipal governments are being forced to slash their own budgets, so land preservation and parks often take another hit on the local level.

Why are these initiatives such easy deficit-reduction targets? Because there's a presumption they are luxuries. Sure, parks make us feel good and wildflower-filled meadows are pretty to look at, but they don't pay the bills. That's the all-too-common perception among legislators and even the public at large. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

For proof, take a look at Conservation: An Investment That Pays, a study released last year by The Trust for Public Land. It's one of the most comprehensive looks yet at the myriad benefits land protection offers our cash-strapped economies.

The report compiles a wealth of statistics offering incontrovertible evidence that:
- Parks increase surrounding property values and hence local revenues, while protected open space such as farms keep the costs of municipal services low. (Remember, cows don't go to school);

- New parks spur economic development and boost nearby businesses, often providing the catalyst for downtown revitalization. This point was driven home forcefully in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., (headquarters of Scenic Hudson, the organization I head) with the October opening of Walkway Over the Hudson, which transformed a rusting railroad
bridge into a dramatic park. In its first two months of operation, it attracted 400,000 visitors, while local restaurants have enjoyed a spike in business;

- Those of us who live near parks are more likely to exercise, which helps us ward off medical conditions responsible for out-of-control health care costs;

- Preserved forests and fields naturally purify our air and water while conserved floodplains prevent property loss from natural disaster – all reducing the need for costly manmade protections;

- By enhancing our quality of life, parks and open space attract new jobs and residents. (A healthy local environment is among business executives' top concerns when looking for a place to relocate or set up shop.)

Parks aren't freeloaders. Far from it, they provide communities with direct economic benefits. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has calculated that Americans who engage in hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching spend nearly $125 billion annually, supporting an industry responsible for 1.6 million jobs – more people than are employed by Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer. The National Parks Conservation Association reports that for each $1 invested in our national parks, there's a $4 return in local spending. In New York, figures are comparable for state parks; I bet the same holds for other states.

In many states, including New York, funds for land protection already have taken disproportionate cuts that fail to take into account these far-reaching economic and environmental benefits. It's imperative we let our legislators know they can't let the landscapes that enrich our lives – and, as it turns out, contribute so much to the bottom line – be the primary victims of future reductions. For in the end, it's us who wind up being the true victims.

Find this article at: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/employment-parks-jobs-synd

This is also true in Illinois where funding for the environment, conservation, public parks and the like has been on a steady decline for most of the last decade.

2010-01-25T10:01:00.004-06:00

T.S. Eliot may have said that April is the cruelest month, but if you were a bird, you would surely say that February ranked first on that list.

February is "Bird Feeding Month," promoted by the National Bird-Feeding Society (birdfeeding.org). February was selected because it is the hardest month for most wild birds, particularly in northern climates like ours. The weather is typically harsh, and food is scarce.

Project FeederWatch has nearly 16,000 participants across North America monitoring the activity at their backyard bird feeders. The data collected by these “citizen scientists” is used by ornithologists (bird specialists) and wildlife ecologists to monitor trends in bird populations. For instance, their data helps scientists spot when a species might be in trouble.

About 250 Illinois residents participate in Project FeederWatch, and the data they have collected over the past two decades revealed some interesting trends.

For example, the number of crows seen at feeders dropped dramatically between 2002 and 2003, and numbers have remained near 2003 levels since that time. The drop coincides with the arrival of West Nile virus in the region. Crows are particularly susceptible to this infection which is spread by mosquito bites (yep, birds are bitten by those pests too).

Another trend has been a steady increase in sightings of Cooper’s hawks at birdfeeders. As residential development expanded into previously rural areas throughout the 1990s and the 2000’s, the hawks found themselves having to adapt to suburban surroundings. The backyard birdfeeders proved a very attractive addition to the landscape for these hunters even though they do not eat the seed. Rather, the hawks eat small seed-eating birds that are found in large numbers at bird feeders. (Think: hawk buffet table.)

Anyone who feeds the birds can participate in Project FeederWatch which is run through the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University in New York. For more information on the program, and to find out how to sign-up, please visit: www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/. Participants are sent a kit with instructions on how to collect and submit data. New participants are accepted through the month of February.

Join TLC on February 6th at Hennen Conservation area at 1pm to learn how to make your own pinecone birdfeeder. There is no charge for the event, and materials will be provided. Please call the TLC office at 815-337-9502 to register.

Celebrate with TLC on January 31st!

2010-01-21T12:47:00.004-06:00

Ninety one years ago this month, January 6, 1919, Teddy Roosevelt died in his simple house on the outskirts of Oyster Bay New York. His passing affected many, for he was recognized by Americans in his day as a friend of the people and a man of courage.

TLC is pleased that the former President will come to life on January 31st at our Annual Meeting, giving those present a chance to meet the man responsible for preserving millions of acres of land through the creation of National Parks, the designation of National Monuments, and the establishment of the National Wildlife Refuge system.

We are still taking reservations, but with nearly 150 people signed up for the event, we will run out of room soon! Please visit our website to make your reservation today. Member tickets are just $35, and non-member tickets $45 (which includes a year membership - what a deal!!)

Among the items that will be included in the "Local, Green, Natural & Handmade" Silent Auction is a salesman's copy of the 1919 book 'The Life of Theodore Roosevelt" written by S. Draper Lewis. The book is in fair condition, but the many photos included in the book are all in good shape.

The brunch starts at 11am, TLC's awards program will begin at 12:30, and the President will speak starting at 1pm!

Bully!

Land of Oz article link

2010-01-11T17:18:00.006-06:00

Did you see the article in the Monday, January 11th NW Herald about TLC's purchase of a 60 acres we are calling the Land of Oz?

This is only the third time TLC has purchased land -- we only buy land when it is on the county natural areas inventory, and either too small or isolated to be purchased by the Conservation District. Otherwise, we leave the land-buying to them, and focus on work with private landowners.

Let's face it, land is expensive, the District has the money, and they are really good at acquisition. On the other hand, because of Linda Balek, TLC excels at working with private landowners to help them leave their legacies of land for future generations.

But, that brings us back to the Land of Oz. We purchased 60 acres of (mostly) wetland for $270,000, and will undertake restoration in the coming years. There is a lot of reed canary grass growing out there, BUT, there are also these amazing pockets of natural sedge meadow that have no reed canary. The pockets are dominated by blue joint grass, sedges, wetland forbs, and all the things one would expect to find in a natural sedge meadow.

The goal of TLC's restoration will be to connect the dots -- to expand the extent of the high quality pockets to the point where they dominate the site.

We decided to name the site the Land of Oz after the long-time owner, Nat Ozmon. But, the name fits for other reasons as well. Like Baum's Land of Oz, this place would only be found by accident, as when the Wizard's balloon blew off course and in to the Emerald City. It is otherwise inaccessible, and hidden from view due to topography. The Land of Oz lies at the bottom of a basin, and does not have direct frontage on any road.

Our local Land of Oz is also a place of wonder - a place where surprises lie around each bend.

We haven't seen any munchkins yet! Or cowardly lions. But I bet there are plenty of frogs & salamanders! We'll find out in the Spring - I hope you'll join us.

Another Amazing Year

2010-01-08T10:04:00.004-06:00

By the numbers, 2009 was an amazing year for TLC. Another 263 acres of precious McHenry County land will never be developed.

- ten conservation easements preserving a total of 200 acres of land.
- one land donation preserving 3 acres.
- one land purchase of 60 acres.

A huge THANK YOU to the landowners who chose to place permanent conservation restrictions on their land, ensuring that future generations will enjoy the beauty and abundance that these lands provide.

As in other years, the numbers are only part of the story. The places preserved include:
- twelve acres of critical recharge for the Boone Creek Fen
- 26 acres adjacent to MCCD's Glacial Park
- 60 acres of sedge meadow that provides a critical stepping stone of habitat
- nine acres of oak woods that are a remnant in the oldest glaciated area of the county
- 75 acres of sustainably managed tree & shrub nursery land
- four acres of buffer for the Parker Fen
- nine acres along the Nippersink Creek
- an ancient grove of hickories
- 16 acres of high quality wetland adjacent to MCCD's High Point Preserve
- three acres adjoining the 150 acre Finch Farm that TLC preserved in 2007
- three acres along Pistakee Lake, presrving a family legacy that has been passed down for most of a Century.

There are many more stories like these waiting to be told! Stories of people, land, and people with the land! I'll take the time to tell some of these stories in the weeks ahead.

If you can attend our annual meeting on January 31st, you'll have the chance to meet some of the people behind the stories! Hope to see you there.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-29T17:40:00.005-06:00

As the month of November comes to a close, and before the ever-busy month of December begins, I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks for 2009.

Thanks to the Board Members of TLC for being such excellent stewards of the vision that started this organization twenty years ago! In 1989, the idea of a local land trust working with private landowner to preserve those precious places in McHenry County that would otherwise fall through the cracks was just that - an idea! Over the last twenty years, the board of directors has ensured the vision and mission are clear, and the work moves forward! Thank you!!

Thanks to the awesome women I work with every day: Linda Balek, Cheryl Perrone and Jackie Eberle (shown here on a vernal pool outing with easement donor Susan Tauck). They are so much more than "employees"! Each one of them finds ways to go above and beyond her job description every day to make The Land Conservancy more than the "sum of their parts," and to do what each can to build an organization that embodies the mission and vision. THANK YOU!

Thanks to the growing number of conservation easement donors for choosing to preserve their land - forever - by permanently restricting future development. These individuals want to make sure that generations yet unborn will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and bounty that the land provides! Ninety percent of the land TLC has preserved was protected by these private conservation agreements! Their choices will have a lasting impact on the landscape of McHenry County. We are grateful to each of them for choosing to work with TLC to preserve their land!

Thanks to the many volunteers who work to help restore the land, complete mailings, file documents, and run events. TLC is a small organization in some ways, but the combined effort of our volunteers makes us mighty indeed! The scope and scale of work that volunteers make possible cannot be understated! TLC's volunteers ROCK!

Thanks to TLC's members and supporters. In these times of economic uncertainty, we are so fortunate to have steady supporters who make this work possible. Their (your!) support means that nearly 1,800 acres of McHenry County land have been permanently preserved forever. Remember, TLC does not collect tax dollars to pay our bills or to buy land! We work closely with private landowners to help them preserve their land - forever. And member support makes that possible.

There are many more thanks to give, for there are many individuals and organizations who do what they can to make this work succeed! Thank you all.

Driving (me) Insane

2009-11-11T18:41:00.005-06:00

Did you ever think about the amount of space in our communities that is devoted to parking? A lot. Next time you go to the store, note the size of the parking lot. Guaranteed, it is huge.

Americans are obsessed with our cars. We drive to work. Drive to the store for a gallon of milk. Drive to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Drive to the pizza place to pick up a pie for dinner. Drive, Drive, Drive.

In McHenry County, the average person has a commute of greater than half an hour each way, each day, and the vast majority of those people drive. They drive alone in their cars to and from their jobs five days a week.

My husband and I are very average in that way. His commute is about 35 minutes each way, and mine is about 25. I manage to carpool once in a while with a co-worker, but not nearly as often as I should.

All this driving has consequences to the environment, generating carbon dioxide and other exhaust chemicals that contribute to air pollution. The reliance on the car has impacts on our health too. We don't walk as much as we should -- when was the last time you walked to the store? the library? to visit a friend? Are you carrying a few extra pounds? Do you drive to the gym for a work out?

But the rest of the world is very different.

My friend Kathy Bergan Schmidt sent me this article from the Milwaukee newspaper. The author lives in Spain, where he and his family DO NOT OWN A CAR. Get this, they walk. Walk to the store. Walk to the movies. Walk to visit friends. Their property taxes are also a fraction of what ours are.

I bring this up because the McHenry County board is reviewing a new land use plan for the county, and the draft that was given them by their planning commission proposes that tens of thousands of new residents move to areas that are currently farmland, and are far removed from jobs, schools and shopping. This type of development is commonly known as sprawl.

Studies by American Farmland Trust and others have shown that sprawl is expensive for communities. It is more expensive to provide services like school buses, fire protection, road maintenance, etc. to all those scattered homes. So, taxes increase to cover the costs -- taxes increase for everyone, not just the folks who live in sprawlville.

And the crazy thing is that there are rumors that some board members think that even more sprawl should be permitted.

Let's think about this:

more sprawl = more cars on the road

more sprawl = less walking, more driving

more sprawl = higher property taxes

Any questions?

Seed Shraring Success!

2009-11-01T19:22:00.005-06:00

Halloween 2009 included a trick or treat of sorts for adults this year - seed sharing in Alden Township!

The table full of bags is an adult version of candy bowls - each bag containing seed from a different plant species, and all organized by habitat type. Instead of choosing between Snickers, Kit Kats, or Starburst, the seed sharers were grabbing handfuls of Monarda fistulosa, Zizia aurea and Rudbeckia triloba. I wish I had a good photo of one of the adults with a look of glee on her face while finding that species that she had been looking to add to her restoration!

Thanks to Orrin & Patricia Bangert for opening their garage to the seed sharers as a base of operations, and thanks to the Bangerts, Randy & Karen Stowe, Rich & Renee Dankert, Colleen & Lou Moeller and Kay & Dick Pfundt for opening their properties to the thirty or so seed sharers who came out Halloween morning to collect native seed from these mature restorations to either enhance or expand their own restoration projects.

This is the third year that TLC and the WPPC have teamed up with the Alden Township seed group to share their natural abundance with restorationists across McHenry County. Seed Sharing was initially the idea of George Johnson, former Alden Township resident who had a big influence on the spread of prairie and wetland restoration in the township.

The photo at right shows George (on the left) talking with Lou Moeller (on the right with a cup of coffee). Lou & his wife Colleen purchased the Johnson's house when George and his wife Marilyn moved to Madison Wisconsin a couple of years ago.

One of the most exciting things about Seed Sharing is seeing the restoration bug pass not just to new landowners each year, but to a new generation of landowners!

Mulch Right

2009-10-06T20:54:00.008-05:00

We had several very large branches removed from a couple of the old trees on our lot, and decided to keep the mulch for use around some of our trees.

This situation presents the opportunity for me to offer a short lesson in correct mulching.

Frankly, mulching ones trees properly is critical to the health of your trees -- or, perhaps I should say that incorrect mulching can kill trees.

Leaving the grass growing right up against the tree is problematic for many reasons, including:

- you risk mower damage to the trunk,

- if you fertilize or use herbicides on your lawn, you kill the beneficial soil organisms that the tree needs to take up nutrients from the soil, and

- you compact the root zone through continued traffic with a lawnmower.

Here are a few tips on mulching well:

1. NO MULCH VOLCANOES. Never, ever pile the mulch up in a hill around the trunk of the tree. This all-to-common mistake promotes root growth into the mulch, which weakens the tree. It also invites insects and rodents to feed on the smothered bark.

2. To keep weeds from growing up through the mulch, lay down several layers of newspapers in the area where the mulch will be placed. 6-10 layers of newspaper will smother the grass and weeds, but still allow water to soak into the ground, and permit the soil to breathe. The newspaper will break down over a year or so, and you will be left with a rich humus (organic soil) under the layer of mulch.

3. Pull grass and weeds out from the area next to the trunk before mulching. This step will save you work later, because sure enough, the first place weeds seem to show up is right next to the trunk -- unless you clear them out prior to laying down the newspaper and mulch.

4. The mulch should create a bowl of sorts -- thickest in the area furthest from the trunk. Think of the bowl as a way to ensure that water won't runn-off away from the tree, but will soak into the ground nearest to the trunk.

5. The mulched area should be at least three feet around the tree for oaks and hickories to protect the densest section of roots from compaction and disturbance. I have to admit that because of time, the mulch circle shown here extends only about 2 feet from the trunk.

After getting a good ring of protective mulch around the tree, then it is time for installing native plants under the rest of the tree's canopy! But that's a lesson for another day !!

Art of the Land - September 26th!

2009-09-23T08:16:00.003-05:00

There is so much to write about, but for now I just want to share a couple of thoughts about TLC's fall benefit - Art of the Land!

Logistics: Starline Gallery, 306 Front Street, Harvard, 6-10pm

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Visit www.conservemc.org to make your reservation before Saturday! Admission includes appetizers from Duke's Ale House in Crystal Lake, assorted desserts (after 8pm), wine, Starbucks coffee, Great Art, Great Music, a Silent Auction, results of the Photo Contest and lots of really awesome people!!

Dress: Whatever is most comfortable for you! I'm going formal just because I NEVER get to do that!!

Photo Contest Results: This is one of the many photos that were submitted by local amateur photographers - taken at TLC's 60 acre Dutch Creek Conservation Easement in Johnsburg. Thirty one photos will be on display, and taken at 29 of the nearly 50 properties TLC has protected across McHenry County. The winning photographs will be announced, and everyone will have a chance to VOTE for their personal favorites in the people's choice contest!!

Great Art! There will be art work from 16 talented local & regional artists -- all with a land-related theme! Most of the artwork will be for sale, with 40% of proceeds benefitting TLC's land preservation mission! Artwork ranges from large installation pieces to ceramic mushrooms, traditional oil paintings, fabric art, and so much more!

The silent auction includes items ranging from a Terry Evans photograph to a starter raingarden, orignial quilts, ceramic gnome, bird bath, and so much more! The silent auction closes at 8pm, so be sure to arrive before then so you have a chance to bid!

Glazz -- Woodstock's Latin Jazz group -- will be performing - a short set around 7:30pm, and a longer program after 8!!

If you want to take the Metra Train, there are a couple of options -- take the earlier train (4:51 from Crystal Lake) and arrive at 5:20 in Harvard, then get a bite to eat -- there are several bars with decent food all within a short walk from the train station - Bopps on Front Street, for instance. There is also a Mexican restaurant I am quite fond of called La Trinidad about 3 blocks south of the train station on Ayer Street. The Gallery is 3 blocks west of the train station at 306 Front Street!

The later train (leaves Crystal Lake at 6:51) arrives in Harvard at 7:20. The just 3 blocks west on Front Street to the Gallery!

Heading home, there is a 9:35 train from Harvard that will take folks to Woodstock, Crystal Lake & beyond! The train is just $5 on weekends for unlimited rides! Plus, it is a beautiful ride, especially between Woodstock & Harvard! It gives folks a good idea of what this "land preservation" thing is all about!!

Disc Golf versus a Wetland

2009-08-25T11:35:00.007-05:00

I read - with a groan - another rant in the newspaper from someone about those "special interest" people in McHenry trying to stop progress because it would mean kids throwing frisbees in their backyards.

I thought: Can't we all learn to get along? Isn't this world big enough for the frisbee-golfers too?

After a call from one of the anti-disc golf neighbors, I realized it wasn't just a case of some folks wanting to keep other folks out of their backyards. The proposed disc golf site is located on a wetland listed on the County's natural area inventory.

There are only about 170 such natural features remaining in the entire county. These natural areas took millenia to evolve, yet the only take hours to destroy through thoughtlessness -- or malice. There are lady slipper orchids growing out there. These flowers are typically only found in natural areas that have survived the onslaught of human beings.

The soil at the park is wet, mucky, not suitable for building anything, and certainly not appropriate for a bunch of people to be running around in, tossing hard discs into metal cages.

When most parks develop amenities in wet areas, things like boardwalks are built to allow people to move across the wetlands without damaging them. Think of Volo Bog or the Bog at Glacial Park near Ringwood. The wetland isn't usually planned for intensive use best suited to a mowed lawn.

Now I will rephrase my early question: "Can't we learn to get along with nature?"

People have destroyed or dramatically altered at least 99% of the landscape somoehow to the detriment of the natural communities that were once here. There are so few remnants of these unique combinations of plants, animals, soils and insects remaining, and yet we still find ways to trample on what little is left.

Call me a savage, but I think nature deserves some places to play too.

Life without the Internet

2009-08-15T08:55:00.008-05:00

It was a long three weeks in some ways.

TLC moved our office about 500 feet on July 25th from a pole building at the back of a plant nursery to a 100 year old farmhouse at the new Hennen Conservation Area to serve as care-takers of this City of Woodstock park. We'll open and close the gate every day, monitor the trails, pick up trash, and provide a presence to help ensure vandalism does not become a problem.

And the 500 foot move meant we were about 300 feet out of the DSL service area for our former Internet provider. Thus began our three week journey to find an alternative to DSL...

In the meantime, being disconnected from the world of Internet and e-mail meant that we had plenty of time to organize all of the records that were moved from the old office, and ample time to work on organizing the Hennen Conservation Area for a public opening later this month. (August 30th from 2-3:30pm!!)

Thank you to the crew of summer interns who worked through heat and rain to put in a trail system (over 2 miles) and to begin removing invasive species that were crowding the handful of giant oaks they discovered while exploring the property (like the 52 inch diameter one pictured above).

Our new location at Hennen will give TLC lots of opportunities to actually run programs to help connect people with the great outdoors and with the work that TLC does to preserve and care for the land. For example, we'll work with City staff to plan "back to nature" programs to help connect Woodstock residents with the great outdoors -- a special opportunity presented by this site.

Hennen Conservation Area is a 25 acre parcel that was donated to the City by Phyllis & Tony Hennen - long time residents who retired to Minnesota three years ago. The Hennen's were known to many in the community through their daughters Tonya and Tara, and through their involvement in the "Stop the Stacks" battle against a proposed peaker plant in their back yard.

So, I guess the bottom line for me is that three weeks without the Internet was a very small price to pay for the priviledge of getting to work here every day -- actually the three weeks was a gift. Just like the Hennen Conservation Area will be a precious gift for area residents forever!

Road Madness

2009-07-20T09:58:00.004-05:00

Promoting bicycle riding as an alternative to cars seems a good thing, right? The fewer cars we have on the roads, the less wear and tear on the roads, and the less need for widening them in the future.

There is a great informational video from the McHenry County Bicycle Advocates about the need to include bicycle lanes when planning to expand local road like Rakow Road!

If you have driven on Rakow, you know that it is a major east-west route in one of the most congested parts of the county, allowing people to drive from Randall Road to Route 31 as an alternative to Route 14.

Currently, Rakow can also be used for bicycle commuting because there is a sizable shoulder. However, plans to widen the road would mean that the shoulder would be eliminated, and bicycle commuting would be effectively eliminated as well.

The last reason I heard for this change was "cost." It costs more to include a bicycle lane, both in terms of design and pavement installation, because it means there is additional pavement to allow for both bicycles and cars to use the road safely.

Now, what if there were some highway funds that could be moved from a different project in the county and used for this one?

I know just the project: the proposed Alden Road widening project in Hartland and Alden Townships. The County Highway Department wants to add 8 foot shoulders the length of Alden Road because of safety concerns, and that will cost millions of dollars.

Alden Road does not have a lot of traffic - I've driven it several different times of day and days of the week recently just to see, and I can say that traffic is sparse. The impact of the widening would be huge, however. Landowners along the road have flagged trees and structures that would be affected by the increased shoulders -- it looks like at least 100 trees, a barn and portions of a couple of houses would be destroyed to add a wider shoulder to this rural road.

Alden Road also does not really provide an important travel alternative in this largely rural portion of the county, as Rakow does in a congested area. Nor does Alden Road make sense as a commuter bicycle route, as Rakow does... In terms of priorities, where would those road construction dollars best be spent?

So, here's a thought: why not reduce the speed limit on Alden Road to 45 miles per hour to improve safety, skip the expensive engineering and widening, and shift the Alden Road funds to the bicycle lane on Rakow Road? It would save lots of trees, a couple of houses and a barn, and would ensure that commuters can opt for riding their bicycles instead of driving their cars in a densely developed area of the county.

The MCBA website has more information, including a petition asking the county to include a bicycle lane on Rakow Road. Also, the Alden Road Alliance webiste has more information on the proposed Alden Road project.

A Cure for Affluenza?

2009-07-13T18:52:00.006-05:00

I don't often venture into the realm of economics, but after hearing Gus Speth, Dean of Forestry & Environmental Studies at Yale University, I had to reconsider my aversion to the Dismal Science.

I heard Dean Speth in an interview with Kai Ryssdal on NPR's Marketplace today while I was driving home from an early dinner out with my husband, Tom.

The interview blew me away! Speth was talking about how perhaps the current economic crisis might just prompt a reordering of priorities in our "shop til you drop" society. One of the tenets of modern economic theory is that the only way to grow an economy is to consume. So how would our economy grow without all the consumption of stuff it depended upon until the crash?

To quote Speth: "Depends on what you consume, doesn't it? There are lots of things in our society that we need to grow. We need to grow health care, we need to grow education, we need to grow infrastructure, we need to grow an entirely new energy system. But what we probably don't need to grow is the volume of our stuff. We now have . . . the square-footage of the self-storage industry in the United States would now cover all of San Francisco and the entire island of Manhattan combined."

Think about that - it isn't that we stop all consumption*, it's a matter of changing where those consumer dollars are spent. We don't need to build & buy more stuff - we need to build better stuff and better systems that serve the needs of all our residents in the long run.

Speth cited studies about personal happiness that have found -- consistently -- that more stuff does not make us more happy - in fact, the more materialistic people are, the LESS happy they become. Quoting Speth: "In our country, in the United Kingdom, in Japan, GDP per capita has gone up and up and up but the level of life satisfaction has been stable. And what really makes people happy is warm, close, personal relationships. And giving, rather than getting."

Think about the things that make you happy. Quality, not quantity. Not more friends, but closer friends. Deciding to help someone else, not waiting to see what he can do for you.

But won't we be in trouble if we don't get back to the way things were a couple of years ago? Speth's answer, with my highlights:

"Well, we might not grow as fast. And I personally think that there are diminishing returns to growth. There are diminishing returns to affluence. And when you get a country that's as rich as ours, it really becomes a matter of spending what we have wisely. And all of my adult life I've heard people say, "You know, we need to keep growing or we'll face the distribution issue in our society. And we kept growing and distribution of income and resources and assets got worse. So, I think it's time to worry about some of these other things, and not so much about just growing the aggregate economy. And gives us the time to do things in life that really matter. We're rich enough for that now."

I heard that and I wanted to cry. I believe him - it isn't like we are a poor country -- even during a deep recession, many people are still driving alone in their SUVs, paying nearly $3 a gallon for gas.

Perhaps the reason the interview struck me so profoundly, is because Tom & I had just attended a brief Rally in front of State Rep Jack Franks' office, trying to raise awareness of the need to figure out how to fund services for our society's most vulnerable - people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

That is the target group today -- yesterday it was natural resources -- tomorrow it might be health care, or clean air... Everything is up for grabs.

*For a primer on the deadend of our "build, buy, toss" consumerism, take a gander at Annie Leonard's Story of Stuff. It's a 20 minute animation that walks you through American consumerism. And the bottom line is this: we have had an unsustainable system that values style over substance and quantity over quality. Where obsolescence is built into consumer products --meaning that things are DESIGNED to break, and to cost more to repair than to replace, SO there is a built in incentive to throw things away and buy new things.

Does your water taste salty?

2009-07-07T19:04:00.008-05:00

In McHenry County, virtually all of the water people use in our day to day lives comes from the ground - groundwater.

An important thing to remember about groundwater is that once pollutants make their way into the water that is underground, it is very difficult and expensive to remove.

A "contaminant" of growing concern in local groundwater supplies is chloride - an element that is being introduced to the groundwater through septic systems that are connected to homes with water softeners and also road salt.

The salt that is commonly used in water softeners to remove hardness from household water is Sodium Chloride (NaCl). The water "softening" process results in the release of high levels of sodium and chloride ions into the septic system where they quickly pass into the drain field and down into the groundwater.

The standard for chloride in drinking water is 250 milligrams per liter (mg/L). This is the level at which the water will taste salty to most people. Less chloride than that and people tend not to notice it.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), standards for chloride in drinking water are merely guidelines since chloride does not pose a health risk - at least not at levels low enough that we cannot taste it.

We've all heard advice to limit salt intake to help stay healthy, right? It's linked to high blood pressure and thereby an increased risk of heart disease. For humans, the primary source of salt (sodium chloride: NaCl) is the diet.

But, there are members of our community who "taste" chloride at a level of less than 100 mg/L, and whose well-being is profoundly affected in even these small amounts. The level of sodium found in McHenry County groundwater (in the Boone Creek watershed) is already 80 mg/L AND RISING!

A study documenting the dramatic increases in chloride levels in even rural areas of the northeastern US provides a lot of good information about the ecological impact of increasing salinity. The impacts include:

- altered natural community composition (many plants and animals cannot tolerate the higher chloride levels, so are replaced by those that can)

- changes in plant and animal reproduction and mortality (some plants and animals stop reproducing, and others die)

- changes in the structure of microbial communities.

This last one may seem trivial, but those microbes are critical to the soil food web that so much of life depends upon. Consider that oak growing in your yard - if the water table becomes salty, the beneficial fungi and microbes that the trees roots depend upon to feed the tree can die, and then the tree won't be far behind.

Rainbarrels (and Composters) R Us!

2009-05-15T13:35:00.006-05:00

Thursday May 14th was the day for unloading rainbarrels & composters from trucks (over 200), and now Friday the 15th & Saturday the 16th are rainbarrel pick up!

So, we are pretty much all rainbarrels right now! 55-60 gallon barrels don't weigh a lot, but they are large, and stacked three high in the back of the building, they probably take up 500 square feet!

I asked one of the drivers where they get the barrels, and he said that all sorts of things are shipped in them from all over the world: pickles, banana peppers, olives, chocolate-covered cherries (??!!), etc. The barrels are made of really sturdy, food-grade plastic, but are not reused for shipping, so are a potentially huge waste stream. But, with a few simple additions, they make a great rainbarrel or composter.

The rainbarrels are fitted with a lid that has a screen covering one or more holes. This allows water to flow from a downspout into the barrel, but keeps mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the water. There is a spigot near the bottom, and a couple of small openings higher up where one can use a hose to connect multiple barrels together -- that way, when one barrel fills up, water starts to fill the next barrel.

The barrels used for composters have a solid lid, and a wooden stand with a bar through the middle of the barrel. This allows one to spin the barrel and mix the compost. The barrels also have a vent tube that allows air to get into the center of the barrel. (Air is one of the keys to making good compost.)

I bought one of the composters this year, and will be sure to let you know how it works. I can aleady vouch for the rainbarrels - I've had two for two years, and they are wonderful!

We plan to sell these every year - it is a fun way to raise awareness of the need for people to conserve water, and to recycle their food and yard waste.

Memorial Tree Planting Approaches

2009-05-10T19:29:00.007-05:00

On May 23rd, TLC will have its second annual Memorial Oak Planting! This is a program we started in 2008 to provide local residents with a unique way to create a living memorial.

There are two options available:

- for $50 per tree, TLC will plant a tree for you to commemorate a special occasion (like a birthday or anniversary) or remember a loved one. TLC will send a certificate to the person of your choice to memorialize the planting.

- for $35 a tree, individuals can come and plant an oak themselves. (Each additional tree planted is just $20, so two trees would be $55 if you plant them yourself.) Planting times are at 9:30am and 11am for those who wish to plant their own tree. Call the TLC office 815-337-9502 to reserve your time.

As I am writing this, I think we have 40 trees ordered! That is going to be a nice oak grove one day! We will erect a sign to commemorate the planting.

We are very excited about the location of the planting: it will be at one of our newest easements, the 25 acre Hennen Conservation Area on Dean Street in Woodstock. The site where the trees will be planted is currently lawn, but will be restored to savanna over time as a demonstration of how people with oaks can convert their lawns to savanna if they have oaks.

The Hennen property is in the process of becoming a public park, so the grove of 2009 Memorial oaks is ensured of a good home for the next 100+ years!

Visit http://www.conservemc.org/ to place your order.

Update from Yonder Prairie

2009-04-28T14:45:00.007-05:00

Thanks to site steward Scott Kuykendall for sending along a couple of photos from Sunday's Work Party at Yonder Prairie.

To the left is a Sandhill crane that he noticed at the site while he was taking photos as a baseline to help document the changes that we are going to see over the coming years. He noticed something move, looked up from the camera, and there he was - a male sandhill, probably looking for a mate!

Scott also saw a lot of marsh marigold blooming. These plants are such a happy member of our local wet natural areas. They come and go before most other wetland plants reveal their identities. They are a sure sign that there are more intersting species to be found at the site!

In addition to the singing of chorus frogs, Scott also heard the "descending whinny" of the Sora - a bird also known as the Sora Crake or the Sora Rail. This is a hard bird to spot, but I found a picture on the Net to give folks an idea of what they look like. These birds are found in wet areas, and research indicates that they prefer natural wetlands to restored (recreated) habitat. We'll be sure to keep an eye (and ear) out for them at Yonder to see if they are breeding there!

Lots of good news for local oaks

2009-04-23T14:43:00.008-05:00

Project Quercus is all about preserving and regenerating the oak woods of the county. And, as we have been saying for a couple of years, the only way we are going to have oaks as a significant part of the local landscape 100 years from now is if individuals, local governments and local businesses all step up to do what they can.

Just this week, we had two perfect examples of how the community can step up -- and, frankly, how some in the community want to step up and help.

On Earth Day, April 22nd, Infinity Day Spa in Crystal Lake, and Ohana Farms near Marengo teamed up with TLC to plant 20 white oak saplings at Ryders Woods Conservation Area in Woodstock. That's Robin Tessmann from Infinity - the awesome spa owner who closed her business for a few hours so her staff could come out to plant the trees. They did it as a promotion for their customers, so each tree was dedicated to someone. Ohana donated the 2-year old, bare-root trees, TLC brought the shovels, buckets and flags, and the City of Woodstock supplied the mulch. There are a lot of big, old white oaks in the park, but no young trees, so it will be nice to see some young 'uns growing there too! The NW Herald did an article about it but forgot to mention TLC...

The second example also happened on Earth Day, when OWC (Other World Computing) made a donation to TLC to support the planting of 20 oaks at Westwood Conservation Area on Saturday May 16th! Thanks to OWC employee Kayleen Ivers for asking TLC about this, and for working with us to make it happen.

There is a nice story about it on OWC's blog which is read by their customers across the country: http://blog.macsales.com/. OWC built a new office and warehouse last year, meeting all of the environmental and energy efficiency standards necessary to achieve LEED Platinum certification through the US Green Building Council. That's a really big deal in the construction world.

Their heating and cooling is geothermal, they are planning to install a wind turbine system to generate electricity, the building is super insulated, the grounds include native plantings, AND they are making investments in the community where they are located to support sustainability here too.

TLC is happy to be a part of these local businesses' efforts to "green" the community!!

Burn Baby, Burn!

2009-04-14T13:14:00.010-05:00

Ecological Fire Management of natural areas is so cool.

Take a natural area - prairie, wetland or woodland - and every year or two light it on fire. The fire knocks back invasive plants like buckthorn and garlic mustard, giving the deep rooted natives a fighting chance!

The picture makes fire look a little scary, with flames roaring higher than a person, but the truth is that when doing this, TLC is very careful. It is said that a really good ecological burn is slow and boring, and we strive to make sure our burns are the slowest and most boring!

First we make sure there are fire breaks surrounding the area we want to burn - this can be done by raking or mowing vegetation to get rid of stuff that will burn easily. The fire breaks provide a safe place for the crew to move in, and help ensure that the fire will stop at the edges of the site.

Then, starting at the portion of the fire break that is located such that the wind is blowing into our faces, we light a backfire -- this means lighting a fire a foot or so away from the fire break, and letting the wind push the fire to the fire break, resulting in a burned line that effectively expands the fire break. Because we are working against the wind at this point, we don't have to worry about the fire taking off across the site.

Once a really good blackline is burned in, we light the head fire. This is where the wind is at our backs, and the fire roars quickly across the site, dying out when it runs out of fuel at the blackline! Here is a picture of a head fire - you can see the flames leaving a charred landscape in their wake!

All through the burn, we make sure that crew members are positioned at strategic locations to catch any fire that starts up where it isn't supposed to be! Crew members are armed with flappers to smother the fire, rakes to get rid of fuel (grass and leaves), and waterpacks to extinguish the fire if needed.

Historically, fire roared across the landscape regularly, either started by lightning or lit by native people who used it to drive game. The plants that thrived in this landscape are therefore well adapted to fire -- the bur oaks have a thick, corky bark that withstands fire, and the native grasses and flowers have exceptionally deep roots that mean the plants will grow back!

The 2009 Spring burn season is drawing to a close now -- birds are starting to build nests, and grasses are starting to green up. We'd rather not burn down someone's house, not even a sparrow's!

Vernal Pools are Teeming with Life!

2009-04-07T12:42:00.011-05:00

That's a crayfish, and last Friday, we saw several tiny, immature crayfish in vernal pools up in Alden Township. They were so tiny that the claws were about the width of a strand of hair! The entire critter was perhaps a quarter of an inch long, looking like some random bug larva, but under a magnifying glass, it became clear that these little guys were teeny-tiny crayfish!

A project to gather information about our local vernal pools has been organized by George Johnson, formerly of Alden Township but now living in Madison Wisconsin. One of the things that George had always hoped to accomplish when he lived in McHenry County, was to raise awareness of the presence and importance of these local temporary, spring ponds.

These seasonally wet areas are uncommon in the Chicago region, in large part because they are places that are filled in by homeowners and developers who do not see the benefits of having a wet, mucky spot in the yard each spring and perhaps into the summer.

The spring ponds are fairly common in Alden Township for a couple of reasons: 1. the area is still sparsely developed, and 2. historically, much of the area was used for livestock grazing instead of row crop farming. This meant that the seasonally wet spots survived, along with a lot of critters that are not often seen in the "suburbs."

Friday April 3rd was the inaugural day of McHenry County vernal pool monitoring. During their pool sampling, volunteers saw a large number of fairy shrimp (ranging in color from pink to red to blue to yellow, and everything in between), a wide variety of midges, scuds, and other tiny aquatic life that plays an important role in the overall food chain.

It was a cold day -- 43 degrees in the sun. The water was cold too -- 45 degrees. Yet, when we gazed into our dipping nets as we pulled them from the pools, tiny little eyes looked back at us! I had no idea there was so much activity on a cold day in cold water!

Unfortunately, there were also lots of mosquito larvae. These are another link in the web of life, providing a food source for dragonflies, frogs, fish, birds and other species that feed on water organisms, but I still don't like them. The skeeter larvae spend most of their time at the surface of the water breathing through a tube in their abdomen, as shown in the picture.

The eggs from which the larvae hatched were probably laid in the damp ground last summer or fall, and remained in an embryonic form until conditions were right for them to develop into larvae. The larval stage lasts a week or two, then turns into a pupa for a couple of days -- just long enough for it to become a fully-formed adult mosquito, ready to start feeding...

Now, don't blame the vernal pool for the mosquito larvae. These guys will develop in any little wet spot, regardless of the habitat. Lawns, bird baths, potholes in the road, etc. If it holds water for even a few days, it can be a source of skeeters!

One of the beautiful things about these vernal pools is that they are literally teeming with life of all shapes and sizes. There are microscopic things being eaten by tiny critters, which in turn are eaten by somewhat larger things, etc, etc. In that chain are tadpoles, young frogs and salamanders that eat mosquito larvae.

My wish is that there will be a large number of frog and salamander babies in all of our local vernal pools to eat those larvae before they become adults!

Low Impact Development

2009-04-03T07:48:00.006-05:00

Recently, I listened to a webinar (a seminar on the Internet) about Low Impact Development (LID for short). It was put on by JFNew and the Delta Institute. JFNew is a native landscaping company, and the Delta Institute is a group that works towards creating a sustainable Great Lakes Region.

So, what is LID? It is all about working with the natural features and qualities of the land to manage stormwater in a non-structural way.

The stormwater management paradigm has long been to build systems to collect and transport away all of the rainwater that falls in a given area. Storm sewers, concrete lined swales, even traditional lawns, are essentially ways to keep water moving away from wherever it fell.

LID means capturing and using or infitrating water closer to where it lands through green infrastructure systems that are actually disconnected.

Try to picture this yard:

1. Rain hits the home's roof, and runs into the gutters, then through the downspout. At the end of the downspout is a rain barrel that collects the first 60 gallons of water for later use watering plants in the garden.

2. Once the rain barrel is full, water then flows out into the yard, where it encounters native plants that absorb some of the water, and slow the flow of the water (unlike a turf lawn that tends to move water quickly).

3. Eventually, some of the water reaches a rain garden - an area of native plants whose deep roots help absorb the water into the ground, and whose leaves help transpire water back into the atmosphere.

4. The yard also has several large trees whose leaves and branches intercept hundreds of gallons of water each time it rains, keeping that water from becoming run-off.

In this scenario, no water ever needs to reach the street and the public stormsewer system.

LID means doing this on a larger scale, and even though it saves money (today and in the future), it is still a very misunderstood, and little used method of handling rain water.

Why? A couple of reasons:

1. It isn't what most public works or consulting engineers learned in school. It is new, and perhaps seen as untested. Let's face it, stormsewers have been around for a long, long time. Builders, engineers, even the average person on the street, have a pretty good idea of how they work.

2. LID involves green stuff, not concrete. How can living things perform as well as -- or better than -- the concrete things we build? I think there is a suspicion of natural systems, because they are harder to quantify and predict. Fortunately, that is changing!

3. Our culture likes control. LID means turning over control of the rainwater to natural systems - to trees and rain gardens. LID means trusting living, growing green things to do their jobs. Yep, they will do what they are made to do whether we tell them to or not!

4. Local ordinances make it harder. Since LID is newer, many local governments do not yet have standards in place to facilitate these systems. Developers often have to fight for the right to use less -- or no -- stormwater piping!

It is time to embrace our natural systems, and to help them do what they are meant to do! It is a peculiar hubris that leads people to believe that they can design something that will operate better than the systems that Mother Earth provided! Call me a savage, but that seems very naive!

Amphibians Under Threat

2009-03-30T19:01:00.007-05:00

The April 2009 issue of National Geographic Magazine has an article about the dramatic, worldwide decline of amphibians (frogs and salamanders) due to a fungus that has been spreading rapidly over the last couple of decades.

The fungus, chytridiomycosis, targets the protein keratin which increases in frogs as they mature. So, a pond with the fungus may be teeming with tadpoles, but have no adult frogs. (And once those frogs mature, they will die too, and then the source of future tadpoles is gone...)

Even areas that are remote from civilization, like lakes high up in the Sierra mountains, have seen devastating die offs of frogs as the fungus has reached those seemingly isolated spots. The following quote seems to sum up the problem:

" 'Today's amphibians have taken not just a one-two punch, but a one-two-three-four punch. It's death by a thousand cuts,' says University of California, Berkeley, biologist David Wake. Habitat destruction, the introduction of exotic species, commercial exploitation, and water pollution are working in concert to decimate the world's amphibians."

Add to these other items the spread of the chytrid fungus, and the population of frogs and salamanders across the planet are in trouble. Hundreds of species have already gone extinct. Many other species are now found only in captivity, where scientists hope they can keep them around through breeding programs, and then reintroduce them to the wild once (if?) the situation with the fungus is resolved.

"Why care about frogs? 'I could give you a thousand reasons,' says herpetologist Luis Coloma. Because their skin acts not only as a protective barrier but also as a lung and a kidney, they can provide an early warning of pollutants. Their insect prey carries human pathogens, so frogs are an ally against disease. They serve as food for snakes, birds, even humans, playing a key role in both freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. 'There are places where the biomass of amphibians was once higher than all other vertebrates combined,' says David Wake. 'How can you take that out of the ecosystem without changing it in a major way? There will be ecological consequences that we haven't yet grasped.' "

It all goes back to Aldo Leopold's rule about intelligent tinkering: be sure you keep all the parts.

For a quick slide show of frogs from around the world, click here!

Have you Hugged Your Salamander Today?

2009-03-26T15:13:00.010-05:00

Meet the Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum, one of the few salamader species found in McHenry County. Our local Tigers can be as large as 14 inches, but are more likely to be 6-8 inches long. You are most likely to find one of these guys in a moist woodland under leaf litter - they tend to be very private, probably to avoid predators!

There are about 500 species of salamader worldwide, with the largest type found in China, and weighing in at 140 pounds and nearly 6 feet long!

In Illinois, the largest salamander is called a Hellbender, and can be two and a half feet long. They are found in fast moving streams in the southern part of the state, so don't expect to see one in McHenry County!

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina is considered the salamander capital of the World, boasting 30 different species ranging from the inch and a half long pygmy salamander to the 30 inch hellbender!

Salamanders are amphibians, meaning they spend part of their life on the land and part in the water. They are most closely related to frogs and toads, although they may visually resemble lizards (or snakes with little feet). Their skin must be kept moist or they dry up and die.

Many, but not all, salamanders breathe through their skin, making them highly susceptible to pollutants like pesticides or other chemicals, as these things are absorbed directly through the skin and into the organs.

Salamanders fill an important niche in the overall food chain. They are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals like insects, eggs, small fish, and even small rodents or young frogs. In turn, they are eaten by raccoons, possums, large birds like herons and hawks, snakes, turtles and other medium-sized carnivores.

Following the first big rain in the spring, when temporary pools of water flood, salamanders emerge from hibernation, and head out in search of something to eat and a place where they can meet salamanders of the opposite gender! This drive to reproduce often results in so-called "breeding events" in the temporary pools, where several salamanders gather to lay and fertilize eggs. (Kind of a salamander orgy.)

However, because the salamander is a small, reclusive critter, any given salamander is unlikely to have the opportunity to breed more than once in its lifeime! So, if you happen to chance upon a salamander breeding event in your local vernal pool one spring, just look away, and let them enjoy the party -- it might be the only party any of them ever attend!

Fight for the right to bike in Crytal Lake!

2009-02-27T09:43:00.004-06:00

There is a petition circulating by a group called McHenry County Bicyle Advocates, seeking support for a campaign to ensure that bicycle lanes are provided along Rakow Road in Crystal Lake when that road is widened. Adding a multi-use trail along the side of the road may only increase project costs by 2-3%. Total project costs are estimated at $30 million.

With gas prices expected to go up again, and the economy expected to drag for a while longer, more people are choosing to use bicycles - and even their feet - for getting around. And Rakow Road shouldn't be a nice short-cut just for cars.

TLC member Eberhard Veit is President of MCBA, and he is putting a lot of energy into this campaign.

You can find more information at their website: http://www.mcbicycleadvocates.org/, and you can contact Eberhard by email at eberhard.veit@eisenmann.com to find out where you can sign a petition, or how you can get a blank petition to help collect signatures.

Trees and Stormwater

2009-02-17T15:47:00.004-06:00

Davey Tree Expert Company has a calculator on their website where individuals can calculate the annual dollar value of all the benefits the trees on their property provide -- to them and to the community at large!

For example, the 39 inch bur oak provides nearly $400 worth of benefits annually, including more than $195 in stormwater management by eliminating over 7,000 gallons of stormwater runoff every year! Without that tree, all of that rain water would flow rapidly to the street, helping to overwhelm the stormsewers.

Now, when I add up the stormwater caught by all of my trees: three bur oaks, one white oak, a cottonwood, two maples, two pears, and two honey locusts, the stormwater savings alone of these trees amounts to nearly $2000 a year, or 65,000 gallons of stormwater that is intercepted rather than running off into the stormsewers!

According to the Center for Urban Forest Research, trees act as mini-reservoirs, controlling runoff at the source. Trees reduce runoff by:

- Intercepting and holding rain on leaves, branches and bark

- Increasing infiltration and storage of rainwater through the tree's root system

- Reducing soil erosion by slowing rainfall before it strikes the soil

And you know what, the trees cost us virtually nothing. Sure, we rake the leaves in the fall (which is good exercise, by the way), and pick up branches after a windstorm, but the annual cost is minimal.

This kind of information makes me think that more communities could invest in promoting city trees as part of their stormwater management program rather than (or in addition to) expanding their stormsewer systems. I would guess that it is much less expensive to manage 7,000 gallons of water with a mature tree than by building more stormsewers.

According to American Forests: As communities grow, trees are removed to make way for impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roads and buildings. Our studies show that impervious surfaces have increased by 20% over the past 2 decades in urban areas. Constructed stormwater facilities are created to compensate for the tree loss. These facilities are expensive to build and maintain. The cost has been calculated to be in excess of $100 billion nationally.

Do you have time to help TLC?

2009-02-09T19:43:00.013-06:00

Volunteers are the heart of any nonprofit organization, and TLC is no exception!

A whole diversity of TLC volunteers attend our regular Work Parties, cutting brush, burning prairies and wetlands, collecting seed, etc. They are awesome, and their combined efforts each year are equivalent to a half-time staff person.

Some volunteers are licensed herbicide applicators, a skill that requires taking a special class and passing a test. Some bring their own chainsaws, fuel and extra blades to help cut buckthorn and other brush and trees. But they all bring their hearts and energy to the work, doing what they can to restore the Earth.

Our board members are all volunteers, and they do much more than just attend a monthly board meeting! They serve on committees, attend conferences to learn more about conservation and nonprofit management, help out with land stewardship, and basically anything else that they can do to be helpful. The picture to the right is of board members Steve Wenzel and Randy Schietzelt visiting a property one weekend to see whether it was appropriate for TLC to accept as a donation.

TLC's Oak Keeper volunteers are making important contributions to understanding the 15,000 acres of privately owned oak woodlands in McHenry County. In their first year of monitoring private woods, the Oak Keepers have already "discovered" the first two documented occurrences of natural swamp white oak trees in the county - ever. That is really cool, and it was all because of the Oak Keepers project and the work of the TLC Oak Keeper volunteers.

There are many opportunities to make your own contribution as a TLC volunteer. Whether you have a couple of hours a month or a couple of hours a day, there is an opportunity waiting for you at TLC! Give us a call today!

February is bird-feeding month!

2009-02-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

I knew that February was African-American History Month, but only just learned that it is also "Bird Feeding Month," promoted by the National Bird-Feeding Society! (birdfeeding.org) The designation was made by Illinois Congressman John Porter in 1994, and has grown in popularity ever since.

February was selected because it is the hardest month for most wild birds, particularly in northern climates like ours. The weather is typically harsh, and food is scarce. The point of having a month devoted to raising awareness of the importance - and enjoyment - of bird feeding.

So, why feed birds?

Keep in mind that a typical backyard bird doesn't weigh as much as two nickels. They spend most of their waking hours searching for food - without the help of "hands" and "fingers". They may consume 20% of their body weight overnight just keeping warm enough to survive. Providing them with an easy to access source of nutritious food makes a big difference to these little guys!

Providing wild birds with food, water and shelter supplements their natural diet and helps them survive. A Wisconsin study showed that chickadees with access to feeders made it through a severe winter better than those without.

And feeding backyard birds is fun. It is exciting to look out and see a dozen or more birds - of different sizes and colors - hopping from bush to feeder and back again.

Here is a collection of advice and tid-bits I pulled off the Internet:

- Keep feeders full, so the birds have a dependable supply of food during cold weather.

- Keep feeders free of snow and ice.

- Offer suet, which is pure fat, a great source of energy for those backyard birds whose summer diet was mostly insects, like woodpeckers, as well as chickadees and nuthatches.

- Stamp down the snow underneath the feeders to help the ground feeding birds, such as juncos, cardinals, blue jays and doves.

- People shouldn't be discouraged if they put up a new feeder and the birds don't flock to it immediately. Because birds find food by sight, it can take a while for them to locate a fresh source. Try putting a piece of aluminum foil on the ground near the feeder, where sunlight can be reflected and catch their eye.

And bird feeding is good for one's health!

Watching wild birds relieves stress and helps one start the day on a positive note. Bringing birds into the backyard, particularly during gloomy northern winters, adds a welcome flash of color, dash of motion and splash of sound. Wild bird feeding is the principal connection many people have with wildlife, considering the continued trend toward moving out of rural and into urban areas.

So, if you aren't already a bird-feeder, now is the time to start! Advice from the experts is to start with a tube feeder, as pictured here. It will attract a diversity of birds. The Cornell University website has a wealth of information about birds and bird-feeding.

TLC's 2009 Annual Meeting a Celebration of People & the Land they Love!

2009-01-25T17:36:00.011-06:00

About 130 people gathered at the Bull Valley Golf Club for The Land Conservancy's 2009 Annual Meeting Sunday January 25th. The audience re-elected Sandra Scheinfeld and John Sterling, and elected new board member Jim May (not pictured here!)

Two individuals were presented with the Living with Trees Award for 2008: Dale Shriver for his tireless management of nearly 80 acres of remnant oak woods that he owns, and Robert Roe for his tireless efforts to restore the fen and oak woods at Dutch Creek - all on land that is protected by a conservation easement in his subdivision, Dutch Creek Estates.

The stories of five easement donors were shared with the audience:

- Dale Shriver & Judy Rogers for their 53 1/2 acre easement on the oak woods that MCCD didn't want to buy - but they wanted to be sure it was protected. The woods, which have been there since at least 1837 when the first public land survey was done for the county, have been sustainably managed for many years. At some point in the past, the white oaks were harvested to make bowling pins! So if you find any wooden bowling pins at an antique mall, just think - they might have beem made from Marengo oaks!

- Marty & Lynn Sobczak (who were unable to attend) for the 3 acre easement they dedicated on land that adjoins MCCD property on two sides, and contains the last natural lily pond along Nippersink Creek.

- Randy & Karen Stowe and Orrin & Patricia Bangert for dedicating conservation easements on land they own adjacent to the MCCD High Point Conservation Area. Their willingness to pledge that they would donate conservation easements on their land if MCCD purchased the adjacent natural area that contains the highest glaciated point in the State!

- Phyllis & Tony Hennen (who were unable to attend), for choosing to dedicate their 25 acres south of Woodstock as a conservation easement, and donate the land to the City of Woodstock as a public natural area. Attorney Jane Collins accepted their plaque for them. Ms. Collins was instrumental in the "Stop the Stacks" Peaker Plant battle that the Hennens fought for years, even turning down a very high offer from the peaker plant company, choosing not to sell out their home. Today, their choice means that not only is there no peaker plant south of Woodstock, but there will be a public park for all future residents, forever.

Numerous green, organic, local and homemade items were available in a silent auction. Where else can you get an organic turkey, organic onions, and organic honey in addition to a hand woven-silk shawl and hand carved wooden bowls.

Personally, I'm thrilled that I had the winning bid for the Farmer John Gift Bag that includes the movie "The Real Dirt on Farmer John," a copy of the Farmer John Cookbook, two Angelic Organics t-shirts, 2 pounds of organic coffee, two jars of organic honey, a pound of worm castings to use as a soil amendment, plus a delicious collection of handmade milk soaps!

Batavia author Gina Olszowski delighted the audience with her story based on her self-published book. Gina is the youthful 25 year-old author of Coming Soon to a Town Near You: Voices of Urban Sprawl. The book combines black & white photos with excerpts of interviews with residents and public officials to tell the story of urban sprawl and the effects it has on communities.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to it being an inspiring day!

You can help track climate change!

2009-01-17T17:16:00.006-06:00

This is the year of change, isn't it? The whole presidential campaign was about change -- President Obama's Campaign theme was "Change We Can Believe In." The theme for his election is "Restoring America's Promise," which implies that we have lost our promise, and need to make some changes to earn it back...

While there are still a few folks debating the causes of climate change, it is pretty clear that our weather patterns are changing.

Here's an example that any gardener can relate to: Portions of the Chicago region have edged up from Hardiness Zone 5b to Zone 6 according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

“The USDA map just doesn’t seem right anymore,” said Woody Nelson, vice president of communications for the foundation. [Yes, that is his actual name - Woody - and he works for the Arbor Day Foundation!] “So we took it upon ourselvesto do our own map.” For an updated take on which plants are hardy in your region, look at the foundation’s map online.

The map puts the Chicago area in Zone 6 with an average low of 0 to -10 degrees. The area is in Zone 5 on the USDA map. The foundation used data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the same source the USDA map uses, but the data are more recent, collected from 1990 to 2004. The foundation’s map, like the USDA’s, is a compilation of average low temperatures because the lack of cold hardiness is the most profound barrier to plant success. Plants simply can’t adapt to regions where they are unable to survive the winter.The changes were startling. Many areas jumped one or two zones higher. “The climate has changed,” Nelson said. “It has warmed.”

It turns out that we can all help contribute real world information that will help scientists understand the implications of any changes that may be happening. The citizen tracking effort is called Project Budburst, and it is sponsored by organizations ranging from the US Forest Service to the Chicago Botanic Garden. You can join with thousands of gardeners across the country in tracking when the plants in your yard leaf and flower each year.

If you are at all like me, you delight in noticing those early blooms and sprouts - whether they are chives, crocuses or dandelions! Now, you can sign up to share that information with a national network, and be part of a pretty cool "citizen scientist" project that has practical applications for folks everywhere!

Cold ... ccccold

2009-01-16T18:43:00.003-06:00

This morning, I had a call from someone who told me that his car's thermometer said it was 32 degrees BELOW ZERO while he was driving through a rural area in McHenry County.

Okay, I grew up in the Chicago area, and remember the big snow in 1978, and the deep freeze the winter 1981-2, but this is ridiculous.

First we have snow, snow and more snow, then this brrrr cold stuff! What's up? It's almost enough to make someone a global warming doubter...

I actually saw a cartoon earlier in the week that said: "Yea, long-term I'm worried about global warming, but today I'm worried about freezing my *ss off!"

Inaugural Work Party!

2009-01-13T16:00:00.000-06:00

Who's up for a winter work party?!

The Presidential Inauguration is going to be Tuesday January 20th, and the theme is "Restoring America's Promise," so what better way to celebrate than by attending the Inaugural Workday at our newest preserve: West Woodstock Prairie?!

The President-elect's Inaugural Committee is having a Day of Service on Monday, January 19th, the MLK Jr. Day Holiday, and encouraging people to volunteer in their communities to kick-off this new era of restoration!

It's practically a Presidential Decree! And you can be a part of this historic event by participating in TLC's Inaugural Work Party at West Woodstock Prairie!! You don't want to miss out on the fun!

Meet at 9am on Rose Farm Road, south of Kishwaukee Valley Road on the west side of Woodstock! You can park at the side of the road. Thanks to Seneca Township for clearing the shoulder for us to park on! Dress for the weather, and in work clothes. We plan to get a bonfire going to burn the brush we cut - and help us stay warm. We'll have something warm to drink and sweet things to eat!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-29T18:46:00.007-06:00

As 2008 draws to a close, and 2009 looms on the horizon, it seems time to stop and take stock of where we've been, where we are today, and where we are heading, doesn't it?

Despite the economic downturn, our members and supporters have been wonderful, and we are finishing the year in good shape financially. Thank you!

From a conservation standpoint, it was a blockbuster year with some amazing projects completed: the key 40 acres at West Woodstock Prairie (still looking for a knock-out name for the site!), 53 acres of beautiful oak woods across the road from MCCD's Marengo Ridge preserve (thanks to Dale Shriver and Judy Rogers), and a 3 acre addition to the protected area at Barber Fen in Greenwood (thanks to Marty & Lynn Sobczak).

As we look into the early days of 2009, we see several other land protection projects coming together - perhaps as early as the Annual Meeting on January 25th! Be sure you join us at Bull Valley Golf Club at 11am that day for brunch and to hear our speaker, Batavia author Gina Olszowski, as she tells her story of suburban sprawl. It's just $35 for members (and if you are not yet a member, $45 which includes a special introductory membership in TLC)!

Looking further into 2009, we will be continuing to build our local support through a matching grant from the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. For each new dollar we raise through increased giving levels from existing members, brand new members and returning members, the foundation will provide matching funds up to a total of $35,000 over two years.

In 2009, you can expect to hear more stories from TLC - stories of people and the land - as world renowned storyteller and author (an new TLC board member) Jim May helps us put the right words together to help convey the magic that occurs when someone loves the land so much that he or she chooses to permanently restrict the development of that land.

Also in 2009, you'll see TLC planting many more oak trees as we start a program to assess our easement properties for their oak reforestation potential, and then working to help them realize that potential!

We're Facebooking!

2008-12-15T15:03:00.003-06:00

TLC has entered the modern world with our very own Facebook Page!

Why? Well, Facebook is a Social Networking site that helps people connect with people they know, as well as people who share interests. So, by having a TLC site on Facebook, we can start a "fan club" and then those individuals help connect us to their own personal networks.

I think the term is "viral marketing" when information spreads through a pre-existing network to increase general awareness of a product, event or organization.

If you are not yet using Facebook to communicate with your network of friends, then I'm guessing you may never start...

If you do want to start, just visit http://www.facebook.com/, and you can start your own page. All you need is an email address - really, it's that simple.

Once you are in the Facebook realm, just type "The Land Conservancy of McHenry County" into the Search box, and our page will come right up!

Call me Savage

2008-12-10T12:00:00.000-06:00

In a previous post, we read the wonderful quote from Chief Seattle. One of the parts that struck me as particularly poetic was his use of the phrase "I am savage and I do not understand..." in reference to the nonsensical things that he observed the white man do.

Well, call me savage, because I don't understand some of those things either.

Like how some people can choose machines at the expense of the natural world.

Or how some people can think that clean air, clean water or safe & abundant food are "special interests." Last I checked, we all had to breathe air, drink water and eat to live. In fact, people can only live without air for a couple of minutes, without water for a few days, and without food for a few weeks (depending on how much ballast they are carrying, I suppose).

But how long could a person live without a car? Without a television? Without a cell phone? You get my point. Billions of people have and will live long and happy lives without any of those things.

Is it so awful to consider the needs, rights and integrity of the natural world when we make decisions about our daily lives? Is that really such a savage idea?

Ask yourself: will my actions enrich the web of life or degrade it?

Baseball for Gravel Pit proposal

2008-12-07T19:23:00.005-06:00

I just have to get something out there:

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is not for or against the proposal to build a baseball stadium in Woodstock in exhange for allowing the surrounding area to be mined for gravel. There have been implications in public meetings that TLC has some interest in the project - that is not accurate.

TLC's interest is in ensuring that the environmental resources on and around the property are safeguarded should the development project go forward.

There is a large, high quality wetland area in the center of the parcel. While the proponents say that they will take necessary steps to preserve the wetland, the history of gravel mining adjacent to wetlands is that the wetlands lose because of the changed hydrology (water flow) over and through the site.

The wetland is dependent upon groundwater flow through the surrounding porous soils. Building a baseball stadium will decrease the ability of water to infiltrate at this site, and has a good chance of reducing the flow of water through the ground into the wetland. It also has a good chance of increasing the surface water flow into the wetland, thus changing cool clean groundwater for warm, dirty surface water. The change is likely to mean that the wetland will be more susceptible to invasion by non-native, invasive plants like Phragmites australis, an invader that thrives in urban wetland because of its tolerance of poor water quality and salt.

Now, don't get me wrong, gravel pits can be reclaimed to become lovely conservation areas such as MCCD's The Hollows and Lake County Forest Preserve District's Independence Grove.

In this case, the proposed end use for the gravel pit area is a new County Fair Ground should the Fair Association have the funds needed to purchase the site from the gravel company after the mining is complete.

A question I have in that regard is this: if the gravel company digs down to within a foot of the seasonal high water table, will that leave enough of a separation between the water table and the ground surface for development of a fair ground facility? Or, will soil have to be brought in to increase the separation? And, if the mining will go within a foot of the seasonal high water table level, where will it be in relation to the record high water level? And, how will the water level change with the addition of a baseball stadium and large parking area?

These are not trivial concerns. As the answers emerge, I'll be sure to report back!!

Ephemeral Morning

2008-12-05T10:45:00.005-06:00

After a recent column I wrote in the Woodstock Independent, I received a mysterious fax of a poem titled: Ephemeral Morning.

Earlier this week, I ran into TLC member Beverly Meuch who asked me if I received her fax! Now that the mystery of the poem's author is resolved, I am happy to share the poem here:

Ephemeral Morning

by Beverly Meuch

Mist moves in with the morning.

The forest stands cloaked in grey,

Silence and stillness adorning

The dawn of mysterious day.

The fern slowly frees its frond,

And fog encircles the leaf.

While out in the meadow, the pond

Reflects the sun, the thief.