馃寫 It鈥檚 Friday, March 28. Here鈥檚 what鈥檚 on deck:
- Yet another eclipse!
- Trump cuts hit farmers
- Whale pee
But first,
Enter your email to sign up for Out There
开云体育's biweekly dose of all things environment.
The merits of mud season
Every year, sheep farmers cut the wool off their animals before lambing begins. It keeps animals comfortable and makes for cleaner births. As a sheep-loving friend told me, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a signal of spring for shepherds 鈥� it marks the beginning of a new cycle.鈥�
It鈥檚 a chance for farmers to check on the health of their sheep. And when shearing is done, they get a gorgeous fleece. Another bonus: there鈥檚 a natural oil on sheep鈥檚 wool called lanolin, which helps keep sheep dry in the rain and is a great moisturizer.
If you鈥檝e got the mud season blues and don鈥檛 have any sheep in your life, here are some other ideas for enjoying this time of year between snow and green up:
馃尫 Surround yourself with flowers: Some farmers grow tulips year round, 鈥渇orcing鈥� them to flower early. At a flower farm in Bristol, bulbs are planted in a crate and kept cool before moving to a warmer, light-filled space to mimic spring. Now their flowers planted in an outdoor greenhouse are about to bloom as well. You can pick up Vermont-grown tulips at local markets, through flower CSAs or on-site farm stands.
馃崄 Make syrup: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of romance associated with it,鈥� some sugarers say 鈥� along with hard work, frustration, and soggy boots. If you have maple trees on your property, , no evaporator needed. Or, head to the at the end of April for tastings, sugar house tours, a parade and more.
馃尡 Start seeds inside: Most seeds need 4-8 weeks of indoor growing, but check the seed packet to be sure. It's better to start a little late than early so your plants don't get overgrown and leggy (growing too fast and tall). Vermont鈥檚 last frost date is usually in mid-May, depending on where you live, so now is the time!
In other news
馃馃帓 Federal cuts target farm-to-school programs: The USDA canceled $1.7 million in grants to help Vermont farmers get their produce and meat to schools and organizations that serve low-income families. Every school district in the state received free local food through the program. A new program to provide local food in child care centers set to launch this year was also canceled.
馃惓 The biggest way whales transport nutrients to the tropics? Their pee. That鈥檚 according to that looked at how whales move thousands of tons of nitrogen across oceans during their long migrations 鈥� nutrients that are limited in tropical waters. The animals also transport nutrients through their placentas (weighing several hundred pounds) .
馃帲 Anglers blast proposal to ban sale of certain species: The fish in question are a type of panfish called crappies, also known as speckled bass or silver perch. They鈥檙e relatively expensive and account for just 4% of sales. State biologists say the problem isn鈥檛 the health of the population, but law enforcement. Commercial fishers say that鈥檚 not enough reason for a ban.
Get out there
馃寘 Watch the partial solar eclipse: During sunrise Saturday morning (tomorrow, March 29), , casting a shadow. Only a portion of the sun will be blocked 鈥� upwards of 50% . The eclipse will last from sunrise until a few minutes after 7 a.m. And a reminder, you can鈥檛 look directly at the sun, so dig out your eclipse glasses, , to see the show in the sky.
馃尦 Buy native trees: Conservation districts across the state are selling fruit trees, shrubs, and in some places, trout. , but the earliest is April 1. The sales take place every spring and raise money for conservation and education programs around the state.
馃摉 Daily observations from a Vermont hillside: That鈥檚 the premise of a new book from naturalist and former zoologist Ted Levin, who will be at the Norwich Bookstore Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. .
Enter your email to sign up for Out There
开云体育's biweekly dose of all things environment.
Credits: This week鈥檚 edition was put together by Lexi Krupp with lots of help from the 开云体育 team, including graphics by Laura Nakasaka and digital support from Sophie Stephens. Editing by April McCullum.
