Common Reed Grass (Phragmites australis) is an aggressive invasive plant. We often see them along highways growing in ditches and ponds. Although considered attractive by many, their beauty is not worth the destruction they cause. Originally from Eurasia, they have spread throughout the U.S. and Canada. These dense, fast growing stands destroy natural habitats that provide critical food and... read more
We have been offering rain barrel workshops for over 11 years now and have sold thousands to the public. Rain barrels are a catchment system that captures the rainwater that runs off your roof and down your downspout. This morning talking to my hairdresser, Joe, he mentioned that he has a rain barrel. It's a barrel that sits in... read more
Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District's is hosting a bicycle tour of stormwater infrastructure as part of the Cuyahoga 50 celebration. To quote from the Cuyahoga 50 event page "Water. It sustains us, nourishes us, and drives our economy. By the time of the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire, there was no visible life in the water. Fifty years later the... read more
Last June I received a call from one of my site contacts, Pete Daugherty with Snavely Group, who was concerned about some young falcons flying into his construction site. The young birds were American Kestrels. The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon found in eastern north America weighing only 4.1 oz. with a wingspan of 22 inches. They... read more
Last year, I took part in a five week train-the-trainer type of course to become a Master Rain Gardener. A requirement to earn my Master Rain Gardener badge (actually a t-shirt) was either to assist on maintaining a rain garden, or to build a rain garden myself. I earned my shirt through a grueling work day at the... read more
