Fox Run Environmental Education Center

Peat moss is a common material used in gardening. It’s found in many mixes for seed starting and potted plants. Gardeners use it to improve their soil, start seeds, or fill raised beds. It is valued because it holds water well and improves soil structure. It prevents soil compaction and lowers pH which is good for acid loving plants like hydrangeas and blueberries.

Sounds great? However, there is a down side. Peat moss is not environmentally friendly for several reasons. The primary concern unsustainable harvesting and the environmental impact of peatlands, which are critical ecosystems.

Lets look at what peat moss is, how its harvested and some good replacements.

If you have grown fennel before you may know that their are two main types. Florence fennel or finocchio like this one make a bulb and is used as a vegetable. Regular fennel is an herb grown primarily for its leaves and seeds. It is also a great pollinating plant and medicinal herb.

Perennial onions are great because they need little care and are great for flavoring dishes. This article will teach you how to grow and use Egyptian Walking Onions.

Planting bulb flowers in the fall is an excellent way to ensure a vibrant and colorful garden come spring. I love watching crocuses pop up through the snow. It energizes me. Planting bulb flowers in the fall is an excellent way to ensure a vibrant and colorful garden come spring.

In USDA Zones 5 & 6, the timing and selection of bulbs are crucial to achieving the best results. Let’s talk about when to plant some common bulbs, growing conditions, and some of the different options. Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, and tulips.

Easter Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) are one of the more common venomous snakes in America and are responsible for the most snakebites from any venomous snake in the country. The beautiful although a bit menacing-looking copperhead has a distinctive hourglass pattern.

Angel wing aka airplane wing is a deformity that affects the carpal or wrist joint of growing waterfowl like ducks and geese, causing the wing feathers to stick out sideways instead of lying flat against the body. This can also affect domestic fowl but this article focuses more on wild species.

Winter is a tough season for birds. Food is scarce, temperatures drop, and daylight hours shrink. Yet many birds stay right where they are and survive just fine. They do this through a mix of physical adaptations and behavior changes.

The spring peeper, Pseudacris crucifer, a tiny chorus frog, lives throughout the eastern United States and Canada. They are one of the first signs that winter is ending. On warm evenings in late winter and early spring, wetlands come alive with high-pitched peeping that can carry for long distance.

The northern saw whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a tiny bird that ranges over much of North America, so your chances are good that one might live near you. Their breeding range includes southern Alaska, most of Canada, and areas of the northern and western United States.

Saw-whet owls are curious birds, allowing humans to come quite close before flying away. Today we are talking all about the saw whet owl, tips for finding them in nature and ways you can help them.

Birding is one of the easiest ways for families to spend time outside and learn about wildlife. You do not need expensive gear or special training. Birds live in cities, suburbs, and rural areas, so most families can start right in their own backyard or neighborhood.

Cemeteries are fabulous places to explore nature and learn about an ecosystem. Because they are protected from development and relatively undisturbed they have a wide variety of plants and animals.

There’s nothing quite like the magic of a forest to spark a young child’s imagination. The dappled sunlight, chirping birds, earthy smells, and crunchy leaves create a natural classroom that invites exploration.

For preschoolers and early elementary-aged children, a forest sensory walk is a wonderful way to learn about the environment. Full of things to hear, see, smell, taste, and touch. Plan to take a walk in the forest and use your senses to explore.

Creeks and streams provide a place for children to explore nature. Around creeks, kids can see various animals and plants that make up a complex food web. Everything is connected, and the survival of one animal is often dependent upon the survival of another.