The Wetland Oddballs: Bogs & Fens
One’s devastatingly acidic and the other is incredibly alkaline. Bogs and fens seem like they couldn’t be any more different, yet they often come part and parcel in the wetland world. So, what mysteries lay under the moss? Are bogs and fens actually more similar than they seem? A Briefing on Bogs Bogs are a […]
Grow with the Flow: Wisconsin’s Water Agriculture
With the rise of hydroponics and other alternative growing methods, water agriculture seems like a contemporary development in the U.S. Surprisingly, Wisconsin has a strong history of using natural waterways to grow food. So, what’s the scoop? Cranberries Small but mighty, cranberries are Wisconsin’s number one fruit crop in both acreage and economic impact! In […]
Ohe·Láku Among the Cornstalks: A Legacy of White Corn
The corn season is an exciting time; it tells of coming autumn breezes, corn mazes, and pumpkin picking. For Laura Manthe and other members of the Oneida Nation, the corn harvest is an important cultural tradition and a symbol of community resilience. The Oneida Nation are a part of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy. They’re […]
What’s the Deal with Algae?
They aren’t a plant and they aren’t an animal, so what are algae? Algae are primary producers, which means that they’re at the very bottom of the food chain. They create their own food through photosynthesis like plants do, but they’re actually considered protists.3 They serve as food for small aquatic critters like insects and […]
Friend or Foe? Lily Pads in Wisconsin
With gorgeous blooms and vibrant foliage, lilies are a gorgeous addition to an ornamental pond, but can become quite a nuisance in a recreational body of water. Imagine trying to reel in a fish through a densely knotted mess of stems and pads or, worse yet, detangling the mass from your boat’s propeller. What a […]
Soaking up the Sun: The Western Painted Turtle
During rural Wisconsin summers, turtles are hard to miss. Whether they’re sitting out on a log in a lake or accidentally finding their way into your backyard, they have their few months of glory and then disappear. So, who are these mysterious critters anyway? Well, I’m glad you asked. Being Wisconsin’s most common subspecies, you’ve […]
4 Critical Types of Wisconsin Wetlands
Wisconsin has a wealth of wetlands, and we’re better for it! Wetlands play an important role in our local landscapes and biodiversity. They prevent flooding by capturing excess water, purify water by filtering out pollutants, and serve as nurseries for many of our young fish and wildlife.2 Wetland is a general term for a whole […]
Are You a Farmers Market Regular? Here Are 5 Reasons You Should Be
Every summer, Midwesterners flock to their local farmers markets, and they should! Not only do farmers markets connect us to the neighbors who grow our food, but they also support our environmental and economic health. Here are just a few reasons why going to the farmers market should be part of your routine this summer. […]
Does Composting Really Make a Difference?
I grew up in a family that so badly wanted to be good at composting. Throughout my childhood, there were multiple attempts at starting our own household system. Whether it was the compost bin that split open (it was as much of a mess as you can imagine), or the hole in the ground that […]
3 Steps to a Beautiful & Delicious Garden
As more and more people become interested in growing food in their own yards, the line has begun to blur between edible garden plots and ornamental landscaping. While the results are stunning, not everyone has the time or resources to completely overhaul their pre-existing layout. Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways to adopt this new […]
