My good buddy and fellow freelance journalist, Dave DeWitte, recently bought a new reel mower to reduce his carbon footprint. Find Dave’s candid impressions and assessment of his new mower here: By: Dave DeWitte My knees and shoulders are sore in ways I haven’t felt for years. I’m surprisingly comfortable with this discomfort. That’s […]
You are browsing archives for
Author: Cindy
Weekend photo gallery: Cedar Rapids Down...
Flood worries were set aside Saturday, June 1, as incessant rains let up in time for the first Downtown Farmers Market of the season and the Mount Vernon Chocolate Stroll. I missed out on the chocolate-covered bacon, but was able to feed my addiction for Mickey Miller’s handmade truffles at Mount Vernon Confections during the […]
Iris garden open for viewing Sunday in C...
I first visited Wanda Lunn’s garden back in 2008, when she invited me to see her iris in bloom in one of only two display gardens in Iowa for the Historic Iris Preservation Society. Anyone in this area who enjoys viewing beautiful gardens is in luck. Wanda hosts periodical open gardens at her home in […]
Iowa sets record with rainfall; most pre...
Just a month ago, we worried about another drought in Iowa. Now the concern is too much water. Earlier today, I traveled to Tama County and saw the flooding up close, a reminder of what we experienced in Cedar Rapids in 2008. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources noted in its water summary of May […]
Under water, again; flooding and storm w...
CHELSEA – It was odd seeing ducks and geese today, next to Highway 30, swimming in farm fields. I traveled to my uncle’s farm near Chelsea, in Tama County. I’m grateful that the past generations of my family chose to settle on high grounds in the rolling hills of East-central Iowa, but even that land […]
Viticulture: Playing with fire
The past two weeks have been busy ones for the Vineyard Management class at the Kirkwood Vineyard in Cedar Rapids. We’ve planted more than 30 grapevines, learned to string trellis wire, attached grow tubes to the new vines and tonight, had our chance to play with fire.
Downtown Farmers Market kicks off 2013 s...
With more than 220 vendors, the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids is one of the largest markets in Iowa. The season kicks off Saturday, June 1, 2013, with markets following on June 15 and every first and third Saturday of the month, through Sept. 21. Find details on more than 40 Eastern Iowa farmers […]
New farmers market seeks vendors
Cody Zoss, of the Iowa Food Systems Council, passed along the following about an innovative concept under way at the Farm Bureau office in West Des Moines: Farm Bureau is planning to launch a weekly farmers market and is looking for farmers and vendors to supply vegetables, fruits, baked goods and other items for sale […]
Flash flood warning in effect in Eastern...
The National Weather Service issued the following on Sunday, May 26, 2013: A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 1:45 am CDT for Southwestern Cedar, Southern Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Southwestern Linn and Northwestern Muscatine counties. At 7:57 pm CDT, National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated that the heavy rain producing
Rain or shine, mulch offers multiple att...
When rain is forecast for days on end, it might seem that having mulch on a garden bed is of little importance. It’s true that mulching lessens the need for watering by retaining moisture in the ground, but mulch also can prevent soil-borne diseases that might otherwise splash up on un-mulched plants from bare soil.