Elaine and I will be giving a locavore talk on Tuesday, October 2 at the Blue Ridge Library in Botetourt County. Beginning at 7:00 P.M., we will be talking about some of the fall fruits (grapes, paw paws, and persimmons) and nuts (black walnuts and three species of hickory nuts) that folks can gather in this region.
We'll also cover raising apple and crabapple trees, and some of our favorite varieties. For example, this fall Elaine made bread from our Rome apples and pies and cobblers from the fruit of our Dolgo crabapple tree.
Finally, we will be covering how to prepare venison and why it is such a healthy meat.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Giving Talk on Invasive Plants to Third Graders (Blog 409)
Tomorrow morning, I am giving a talk to my daughter Sarah's third grade class at Greenfield Elementary. The subject is invasive plants. I have never "taught" third graders or any elementary school students before, so I have tried to be really prepared.
Sarah asked me to gather invasive plants for a show and tell session with her students, plus the classes of the other two third grade teachers. It was not hard to walk along our Botetourt County road for 50 yards or so and gather a half dozen invasive plants.
And that's why students of any age group should learn about invasive plants in their areas. Invasive plants negatively impact both native flora and fauna and require a great deal of work to eliminate. I'm looking forward to the day.
Sarah asked me to gather invasive plants for a show and tell session with her students, plus the classes of the other two third grade teachers. It was not hard to walk along our Botetourt County road for 50 yards or so and gather a half dozen invasive plants.
And that's why students of any age group should learn about invasive plants in their areas. Invasive plants negatively impact both native flora and fauna and require a great deal of work to eliminate. I'm looking forward to the day.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
No Bowhunting in the Rain (Blog 408)
This entire week, I studied the weather forecast for Southwest Virginia, hoping that I could go bowhunting during Virginia's Urban Archery Season. A few times, I saw a few brief windows where I could possibly have climbed up into a tree stand for a couple hours.
But, alas, the rains have not relented, and I'll have to be content to go out and do some tree stand site scouting. I have a few places that I want to check out to see if they hold promise. One site especially has promise, as it leads to a clover food plot.
Another place is a Roanoke County backyard where the home owner says deer have been venturing into during the evenings. I'll just try to put myself into position to be successful next weekend.
But, alas, the rains have not relented, and I'll have to be content to go out and do some tree stand site scouting. I have a few places that I want to check out to see if they hold promise. One site especially has promise, as it leads to a clover food plot.
Another place is a Roanoke County backyard where the home owner says deer have been venturing into during the evenings. I'll just try to put myself into position to be successful next weekend.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Bruce and Elaine to present Locavore Workshop
Tuesday evening September 18, Elaine and I will be presenting a locavore workhop at the Salem, Virginia library: https://www.evensi.us/hunting-gathering-fall-free-workshop-28-main-st-salem-virginia-24153/266569171. One of the things the workshop will be about is gathering fall fruits and nuts, which is appropriate because Wednesday afternoon after school, we went gathering wild summer grapes.
Upon finding some summer grapes growing along the side of the road, we later asked the Botetourt County landowner if we could pick them. As a reward for the person's generosity, we gave her a jar of peach preserves that Elaine had made.
Thursday, we removed the berries from the stems and Elaine made the juice. Saturday morning was making jelly time, and Sunday for breakfast will be the taste test. Summer grape jelly is my favorite jelly of any kind, it is pleasantly tart.
Upon finding some summer grapes growing along the side of the road, we later asked the Botetourt County landowner if we could pick them. As a reward for the person's generosity, we gave her a jar of peach preserves that Elaine had made.
Thursday, we removed the berries from the stems and Elaine made the juice. Saturday morning was making jelly time, and Sunday for breakfast will be the taste test. Summer grape jelly is my favorite jelly of any kind, it is pleasantly tart.
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Snafus Aplenty on Opening Morning of Virginia's Urban Archery Season (Blog 406)
I thought I had planned everything for opening morning of Virginia's Urban Archery Season...clothes in a scent free container, safety harness in an adjacent container, gear all proportioned nicely in my day pack.
Nevertheless, I drove off without having my safety harness in tow, which caused me to have to return home. When I finally made it up to my tree stand and secured myself, it wasn't long until my bow haul apparatus fell out of my pocket and crashed to the ground.
Probably my late arrival to the stand and my haul rope falling had nothing to do with my not seeing a single deer on opening morning. I can believe that anyway, I guess. The day was not one of my better performances afield.
Nevertheless, I drove off without having my safety harness in tow, which caused me to have to return home. When I finally made it up to my tree stand and secured myself, it wasn't long until my bow haul apparatus fell out of my pocket and crashed to the ground.
Probably my late arrival to the stand and my haul rope falling had nothing to do with my not seeing a single deer on opening morning. I can believe that anyway, I guess. The day was not one of my better performances afield.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)