|
Hello [name]: Humidity is rising as staff at the Rodale Institute head out for the July 4 holiday, but it’s been a great week for making hay in eastern Pennsylvania. After a cold May and a warm June with its share of untimely drizzle events for those trying to put up their forage crops, a week of dry weather has been welcome. Taking advantage one evening this week was our neighbor, John Brubaker, on a field of grass hay he rents here at the Institute.
I’ll keep this short, knowing you have places to go and want to away from your computer screen this weekend. Do this, however: If you will be anywhere close to Kutztown, Pennsylvania, on July 18 plan to attend our 2008 field day: Organic No-till: New Farming Strategy for the 21 Century. See field demonstrations and hear analysis from a collection of specialized crop-related researchers from Rodale Institute, Penn State and Virginia Tech. This year’s focus will be on fuel-saving and soil-building no-till practices and equipment for small-farm vegetable production and various aspects of cultural weed management and cover crops.
We’ve got news stories in our Global Warming section on the push for home solar water heaters in Hawaii, but a set-back for planned solar projects on public land with the imposition of new environmental reviews by federal officials. Taking the opposite approach, a Georgia judge stops construction of a coal-fired power plant until the company provided ways to limit its carbon dioxide emissions. Also, check out Wal-Mart’s announcement that it is trimming costs and food miles by buying more local (in-state) food for its grocery outlets.
We wish a dry holiday for those still recovering from recent flooding and dealing with its agricultural aftermath in the Heartland.
Greg Bowman and the
Rodale Institute editorial team
|
