Pollinators have been a worthy focus of habitat restoration efforts, one of the themes at this year’s EcoFest in the New Bohemia area of Cedar Rapids. Members of Monarchs in Eastern Iowa, along with numerous willing young volunteers, made milkweed seed balls during the event, which will be used by RAGBRAI riders to spread across […]
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Tag: Iowa
Beauty of weeds in the eye of the “bee”h
Overnight, my yard has exploded into a sea of yellow. Rather than go through my usual, futile, efforts to eradicate the dandelions this year, though, I’m turning them over to the bees. Dandelions are among the early plants that provide pollen and nectar for bees when they emerge in the spring. Increasingly, more people are […]
Pork and shrimp create perfect combo at ...
By Cindy Hadish/for Radish magazine Denny and Lea Rehberg have added a decidedly coastal flavor to their Midwestern farm. Rehberg’s Pork is well-known at Iowa farmers markets for its bacon, ham, sausage and other purebred Hampshire hog products, but the farm is poised to make a name with its shrimp, as well. The Rehbergs are […]
Learn how to help pollinators in free se...
Linn County Master Gardeners are continuing their theme of the “Year of the Pollinator” with three sessions this April in the Creative Gardening Series at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. The year began with an event at Kirkwood Community College, featuring Chip Taylor, founder and director of Monarch Watch and professor of ecology and evolutionary […]
Iowa’s Glacial Trail offers local foods
(Editor’s note: Check with the establishments on updated hours/closures when planning your trip.) By Cindy Hadish/for Edible Iowa River Valley The Glacial Trail Scenic Byway’s setting, off the beaten path, contributes to its enchanting appeal. Visitors seek out the Glacial Trail’s rolling hills and picturesque landscapes for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities, as well […]
Easter Showcase happening at Noelridge G...
CEDAR RAPIDS – The warmth of the Noelridge Greenhouse can dispel the gray skies that sometimes tend to accompany this time of year. That’s particularly true during the annual Easter Showcase, held this Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council Street NE. See […]
New planting zones and crop options in I...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan Iowa farmers could grow almonds as a new crop and other less-hardy plants should be able to thrive in the state under a climate study’s projections. University of Idaho researchers used climate models to assess how the coldest temperature recorded each winter in the United States may change over the next […]
Last Maple Syrup Festival in Indian Cree...
CEDAR RAPIDS – It’s another milestone moment for the barn at the Indian Creek Nature Center. The Maple Syrup Festival, which has been held in the iconic dairy barn since the event’s inception 33 years ago, will take place in the building for the last time this weekend. Related: Photos from 2015 Maple Syrup Festival […]
March of the morel mushroom season
Early March is generally too soon to find morels in Iowa, though this weekend’s mild temperatures have stirred that longing in mushroom hunters. The season can vary, but already, mushroom hunters in Missouri are finding the sponge-like delicacies, and the soil is getting close to needed temperatures in Iowa. That perfect soil temperature can vary, […]
Chelsea, Iowa, watermelon seeds travel t...
Iowa’s Seed Savers Exchange has deposited many varieties of its heirloom seeds at the international Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, and this year, Chelsea Melon seeds made the trip. My late grandmother, Elsie Musel, provided the seeds from the watermelon to her neighbor, Marvin Kucera, who donated them to Decorah-based Seed Savers Exchange, a […]