Cultivate

Monarchs on the Move

May 19, 2020 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

A UNA MARIPOSA MONARCA (To a Monarch Butterfly)
by Homero Aridjis (translated by George McWhirter)

Tu que vas por el día
como un tigre alado
quemándote en tu vuelo
dime qué vida sobrenatural
está pintada en tus alas
para que después de esta vida
pueda verte en mi noche

You who go through the day
like a winged tiger
burning as you fly
tell me what supernatural life
is painted on your wings
so that after this life
I may see you in my night

Don’t know why exactly, but there is something special about a monarch sighting. Maybe it’s the mystery of where it’s going, where it’s been, or the mystical legend of monarchs as returning spirits of deceased loved ones. But, to watch thousands of monarchs flying en masse………..well, you just have to see it!

The Wings of Life – Monarch Butterflies is a short video from Disneynature studio that captures in spectacular time-lapse/high speed/macro cinematography many thousands of monarchs wintering in Mexico, with close-up views of these amazing butterflies in action. The video documentary was directed by award-winning nature filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, and narrated by Meryl Streep.

Monarch Migration
–One of the most remarkable natural phenomena on Earth–

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic pollinator species native to the New World where it can be found from southern Canada to northern South America. Monarchs can also be found hanging out in other parts of the world: Caribbean, Hawaii, Cook Islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, the Philippines and North Africa, and they make an occasional visit to the UK as an ‘accidental migrant’ (displacement is caused by storms, high winds, swift currents). Bright orange coloring with black and white markings make monarchs easy to spot, but they are commonly misidentified as the smaller viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), another North American butterfly with similar pattern and coloring.

A monarch’s life is spent on the move, and it’s complicated. Each year in late summer to early autumn, millions of monarchs migrate thousands of miles south from central and northern US states and southern Canada to Mexico, Florida and the coastal areas of southern and central California where they make a winter home in large clusters of colonies high within trees. Taking advantage of air currents and thermals and traveling only during daylight hours (roosting in clusters to stay warm at night), the trip takes about two months, covering 50-100 miles a day at a flight speed of about 5.5 mph (9 km/hr). In spring, they make the journey back north.

During the spring migration northward, the travel itinerary is quite different as monarchs mate and produce four generations along the way. The first three generations have life spans of only 2 – 6 weeks, but each continues mating and moving north. The fourth generation lives 6 – 8, sometimes 9 months, and is the generation of monarchs that will migrate south for the winter. No one really knows how these later generation monarchs navigate their way to a winter home they have never before visited. Clearly, they must rely on instincts rather than learning as the last generation with knowledge of the route is long dead. Some experts have determined that monarchs must be genetically programmed to migrate long distances and use some sort of biological sun and magnetic compasses as orienting tools.

No other butterfly is known to make an epic round-trip migration as the monarch does every year. While this makes the monarch extraordinarily unique, the long journeys also cause monarchs to be particularly vulnerable to climate conditions and human activities that disrupt and destroy their habitat. Consequently, their numbers have decreased significantly during the last 20 years (a decline of more than 80 percent over the past two decades), and there is great concern that monarch migration is at high risk of failure. Conservationists, scientists, and federal, state and local organizations in the United States, Mexico and Canada have begun efforts to stop the destruction before it’s too late, and yes— everyone can do something to help monarchs and have fun doing it!

• Create a Monarch Habitat Make a special spot for monarchs. Maybe it’s just a small pot on your front steps, patio or balcony, a backyard garden, pasture, farm or ranch land. Plant milkweed and nectar plants that are native to your area and free of pesticides, insecticides and neonicotinoids.

• Help Scientists Study Monarchs

• Get Involved as a Community Join forces with friends, neighbors and colleagues to develop ‘monarch friendly’ landscaping at schools, businesses, community parks and gardens, and urban green spaces with native plants and wildflowers for monarchs.

• Garden Organically Using organic methods in your garden will reduce your impact on monarchs, their food plants and other pollinators.

• Support Conservation Efforts

• Spread the Word about Pollinators, Conservation, and How to Help It’s easy to get started with this one — Share this article with your friends!

Monarch travel many miles in migration, and there are things each of us can do to help monarchs survive the journey — Monarch on a Thistle, Lake of the Ozarks, by Sean Stratton/Unsplash CC0

References/Information Sources [To learn more about helping monarchs, check out these selected resources]:

Monarch Butterfly Basic Facts, Defenders of Wildlife website

Monarch Migration, University of Minnesota website, Biology & Research

Migration and Overwintering, USDA Forest Service website

Monarch Butterfly Migration Interactive Map It’s fun to keep track of monarch migration. This interactive map has the best up-to-date info on Spring 2017 first sightings (January – July). Check it out, and report your sightings, too.

Monarch Migration Could Collapse as Population Remains Low, Center for Biological Diversity (March 5, 2018) More milkweed needed! The count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico (released 3/5/18), shows a decrease from last year’s count, and “confirms the iconic orange and black butterfly is still very much at risk”.

The Monarch Butterfly is in Trouble —You Can Help! US Fish and Wildlife Service

“Monarchs Still Need Your Help” (Open Spaces, US Fish & Wildlife blog, 2/14/2017)

How to Build a Butterfly/Pollinator Garden in 7 Steps, US Fish and Wildlife Service (May 18, 2016). Regional Milkweed Planting Guide –The Xerces Society website

Study Monarchs: Citizen Science Opportunities. How to help scientists count and track monarchs.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Located within rugged forested mountains about 64 miles (100 km) northwest of Mexico City, researchers first discovered monarchs overwintering within the area in 1975. It was designated a federal reserve in 1980 by presidential decree and a World Heritage Site in 2008.

WWF Monarch Butterfly Tours – Ecotours of central Mexico provide an opportunity to observe and photograph large colonies of monarchs at their remote winter roosting sites in the highlands of central Mexico. “The Kingdom of the Monarchs” 2018 tour dates are scheduled January thru March.

Myth and Mystery in Mexico’s Monarch Kingdom, Good Nature Travel (October, 2009)

“Migration: The Biology of Life on the Move” by Hugh Dingle (Oxford University Press, 2014)

Nature is full of extraordinary sights to experience and explore, and talented photographers bring it all to life on your screen. You’ll be amazed! Watch and discover Natural Beauty via On2In2™ selected videos. Free to Watch – On Demand

Feature photo of monarch butterfly is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Backyard Birding

May 2, 2020 By Zola Zeester 4 Comments

You don’t have to travel or hike for miles to enjoy birdwatching. There’s plenty of great birding in your backyard, and you can attract even more birds by creating a garden sanctuary filled with the food, water, shelter and nesting sites birds need throughout the year. Moreover, tired, hunger birds face many dangers during migration and nesting season, and your bird-friendly backyard can be a life saver.

First, choose backyard plants wisely as they are a source of food (bugs, fruit, nuts & seeds, nectar) and shelter for birds in your neighborhood. Use this resource link to find the best plants for birds in your area ⇒ Native Plants for Birds

Don’t have a backyard?–no problem. You can attract birds to your balcony or patio with a bird-friendly container garden (here’s how ⇒ Get Started and Wildlife-friendly Planters, Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes)

FEEDING

Birds often have trouble finding enough calcium in their natural diet of seeds and insects, and they need even larger quantities of the mineral during nesting season. Providing calcium-rich food as a diet supplement for your backyard nesting birds will help in egg laying and chick development. Examples of good calcium supplement sources that are easy to place in your backyard: i) Feed birds dried mealworm; ii) Mix a small amount of crushed eggshells into bird seed or put eggshells from kitchen into compost pile or bin; iii) Provide a separate ‘grit’ dish away from bird feeders and fill with crushed oyster shell, dried finely-crushed gravel or mortar, sand, or wood ash from fireplace or fire pit (not chemically treated fire logs such as Duraflame).

You’ll be amazed at the variety of bird feeders available, and there are many options for those without a backyard or big outdoor space. Click/Tap this link to shop online ⇒ BIRD FEEDERS *

Heartland Gardener @nk03262 enjoys mixing up batches of her ⇒ ‘Nancy’s Bird Butter’ for backyard bird extra nutrition and love.

NESTING

Birds need a good location and the right materials to build nests. The best place for nesting, however, varies among different bird species — from trees, bushes, vines to right on the ground, and they creatively use building materials such as dried grass, twigs, sticks, wood chips, mud, animal hair, moss, lichens, spider silk, plant fibers, feathers, and just about anything else.

There are three types of nests: cup, platform and cavity. While ‘primary’ cavity nesting species (such as woodpecker) dig out their nest cavities, ‘secondary’ cavity nesters can’t do the digging; consequently, they must search for pre-existing cavities to nest (e.g., the Mountain Bluebird has historically used tree cavities previously excavated by woodpeckers). Nesting boxes* and bird houses help make a bird’s search for a nesting cavity a little easier by providing more nesting opportunities. Even better, you can create natural starter holes for these cavity seekers with a drill and a little know-how ⇒ Instructions HERE

Information/Resources:
How to Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly, the National Audubon Society website (April 6, 2016) – choosing plants, planning, preparing and caring for a bird habitat garden
Bird Notes: Creating a Garden For Birds, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (No. 13, Catalogue No. 223)
Attracting Birds, The National Wildlife Federation
Plants for Wildlife – everything you need to know about making a home for nature in your large or small garden (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
Common Nesting Birds, NestWatch (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) – information by region on habitat, nesting type and location
Plants For Birds (Native Plant Data Base – National Audubon Society) Find the best plants for birds in your area
Ten Spring Migration Tips to Help Birds on their Way, American Bird Conservancy

The Backyard Bird-Lover’s Guide* is a colorful reference book by Jan Mahnken filled with information on bird territory, courtship, nesting, and parenting with detailed illustrations by Jeffrey C. Domm as well as tips to attract, feed and watch 135 American bird species. Click/Tap on the image of the book for more info and purchase. [*If you purchase this book or any product directly through an affiliate link to Amazon shopping located on this page, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.]

WATCH On2In2™

If you missed Amy Tucker’s , talk Birding Basics: Preparing Your Backyard for Nesting Season at the Fayetteville Arkansas Public Library on February 27, 2018, it’s not to late to watch a video recording. Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or the video post on the video player below ↓

Hummingbirds are Fast and Fearless, and so much fun to watch

We’ve got a garden chat group & would love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article or join the conversation going on at the Heartland Gardeners group, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

Feature photo is courtesy of Irina Blok/Unsplash, CC0
Bird Nest photo is courtesy of Landon Martin/Unsplash, CC0

Urban Farmer

April 7, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” — Alfred Austin

From New York, to Paris, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and cities everywhere in-between— rooftops, backyards, and vacant lots have become unique spaces for urban farming, and city dwellers are able to experience the joy and sense of purpose when getting their hands dirty and growing food in their own neighborhood.

Urban farmer, Heidi Kooy, shows us what can be accomplished with 1,000 square feet and a lot of ingenuity, and tells how it has provided more than food to her and her family.

Information/Resources:
How-to Start an Urban Farm or Garden – City Office of Sustainability, Austin, Texas
How My Little Community Garden Plot Went From Flop to Flourish by Carolyn Beans (Aug 17, 2017) Advice for getting the most from a community garden
Goat Farming, resource list provided by Beginning Farmers
“The Truth About Backyard Goats”, Living Homegrown
Farming My Backyard, “Raising Urban Dairy Goats”
The Whole Goat Handbook: Recipes, Cheese, Soap, Crafts, and more, by Janet Hurst

*SHOP here for → Goat Feeders → Fencing → and other Goat Supplies

Watch: Agrarian Pursuits A selection of “back-to-the-land” video documentaries to inspire you.

Sign up via the ENGAGE page to join the conversation, share your inspiration, ideas and creation, and network with On2In2™ playmakers.

*This page includes an affiliate link to a shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Feature photo of vegetable garden courtesy of Peter Feghali/Unsplash, CC0
Photo of goat is courtesy of Brenda Timmermans/Pexel, CC0

Fast and Fearless

April 6, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

A symbol of vitality and energy to the Aztecs, connected to rain water by the Hopi and Zuni tribes of the American southwest, John James Audubon called hummingbirds “glittering fragments of rainbows”, and we’re still fascinated by these tiny, powerful fliers. In fact, no bird can fly like the hummingbird — moving forward & backward, hovering for extended periods of time, and diving at speeds of up to 60mph. It’s the reason they are so amazing to watch.

Watch hummingbirds as they feed in the Panama jungle via time-lapse/high speed/macro cinematography, and be amazed at the graceful agility of their flight. It’s like seeing dancers performing in the air. Disneynature: Wings of Life: Hummingbirds – video filmed and directed by Louie Schwartzberg, and narrated by Meryl Streep.

Hummingbirds are fascinating…. for a lot of reasons. Found only within the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern Alaska to southern Chile, there are more than 300 species of hummingbirds living in a variety of environments, including mountain ranges, lowlands, deserts, rainforests, and tropical areas. Twelve hummingbird species summer in North America, migrating south to winter in the tropics.

In every environment, hummingbirds eat flower nectar, tree sap, insects and pollen, and they are big eaters because their super fast metabolism rate (about 100 times higher than an elephant) quickly burns up fuel. They also need a water source for bathing and perching spots to rest up during the day, sleep at night, and stand guard over their territory as they do not tolerate intruders (including other hummingbirds).

While loss of habitat and changes in temperature threaten hummingbird survival, they do have at least one thing in their favor—humans love to see them hanging out in the backyard, and create nourishing habitats to encourage frequent visits.

To attract, feed and care for hummingbirds in your own backyard, think – Flowers, Perches/Nesting, Insects, Feeders, and Water.

Plant Flowers

Always keep something in bloom during the time hummingbirds are in your area. They like blossoms with loads of concentrated nectar, and favorites are typically long, tubular blossoms that are red, orange, yellow or blue. Do some flower garden research on the best plants in your area for attracting hummingbirds and other wildlife: i) See “Information/Resources” list below for planting suggestions and other helpful hummer tips, and ii) Ask local nurseries and garden clubs for advice and recommendations.

Provide Perches and Nesting Spots

Assure there are plenty of good places for perching throughout your garden landscape, such as thin, bare branches or twigs on trees and large plants, a brush pile, and a thin clothes line.

Shrubbery and small trees that lose their leaves and regrow seasonally may encourage hummingbirds to nest in your yard.

Attract Insects

Hummingbirds need protein; therefore, eliminate insecticides, and plant native, insect-pollinated flowers along with the hummingbird-pollinated flowers.

Hang Nectar Feeders

In the spring, a couple of weeks before the first hummingbird sighting in your area, place several feeders in the shade around the yard, far apart so that hummingbirds can’t see each other feeding. In the fall, don’t take down the feeders until a couple of weeks after seeing the last hummingbird. Shop Hummingbird Feeders

Provide Water

Hummingbirds like to rinse off and bathe regularly, and prefer shallow, moving water, or a fine mist spray.

MORE ABOUT BIRDS → Birds of America California Brown Pelican Mockingbirds

Information/Resources:

Basic Facts about Hummingbirds, Defenders of Wildlife

Check out estimated spring arrival time of hummingbirds in your area: eBird or Hummingbirds at Home

How to Create a Hummingbird-Friendly Yard, the Audubon Society (gardening tips for attracting hummingbirds to your backyard and advice on their care and feeding)

Feeding Hummingbirds – How to feed hummingbirds and hummingbird nectar recipe, the Hummingbird Society

Perches for Hummingbirds – How to fill the backyard with good places for perching, the Spruce (home improvement advice website)

How to Take Hummingbird Photos – Pro tips for the amateur photographer

Birds – A spiritual field guide by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Explore the Symbology & Significance of These Divine Winged Messengers)

We’re the social type as well as bird lovers. Please register via the ENGAGE page to join the conversation, share your inspiration, ideas and creation, and network with On2In2™ playmakers.[/su_note]

This page includes affiliate links to a shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Feature photo and hummingbird close-up photo are courtesy of Unsplash CC0

Glowing Glühwein

December 15, 2019 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

Glühwein (‘glowing wine’) is a popular mulled wine with a tradition in German speaking countries and the Alsace region of France, especially during the holidays when it is offered at Christmas markets. One taste, and there’s no doubt about the reason for the popularity; it’s a delicious, flavorful winter drink that instantly warms and comforts. It’s also easy to make this speciality at home on your stovetop with an added bonus — your kitchen will be filled with beautiful holiday aromas.

There are a number of Glühwein variations, and many family favorite recipes differ slightly. Some recipes call for anise star, vanilla bean, or a splash of brandy, and there is a non-alcoholic version (‘Kinderpunsch’). But, the best Glühwein recipes have traditional basics in common — heated red wine, spices, sugar and citrus, so we recommend you start with the recipe below (Zola’s personal favorite), and if you’d like to tweak it, experiment with added or adjusted ingredients and different wines when making the next batch. And, there will be a next batch because you, your family and friends will love this holiday magic in a mug.

Glühwein Recipe

Ingredients:

1 bottle Red Wine. Use any good quality (but not expensive) big, bold and full-bodied red wine (Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Zinfandel, or try a blended red wine).

2 cups Water
4 – 5 Tablespoons Sugar (adjust to your liking)

1 Cinnamon Stick
3 – 6 Whole Cloves
2 – 4 Allspice Berries

1 Orange (sliced)
1 Lemon (sliced)

Directions:

Put water, sugar, and spices into a large saucepan or casserole dish placed on a stovetop, and bring to a boil. Let simmer for about 15 – 20 minutes.
Add the wine, orange and lemon slices. Heat through until the wine is steaming, but be careful to not boil and don’t let it simmer.
Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice berries. Serve immediately in mugs, or store cooled Glühwein in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, and reheat later to steaming in a saucepan (heat up slowly and do not boil).

Notes: Makes approximately 5 servings. Recipe can be doubled, or triple for a really big holiday party.

Feuerzangenbowl (‘Fire Tongs Punch’) is a German celebratory wine punch often served during the Christmas holidays and New Year’s Eve, featuring a lighted, rum soaked sugar cone dripping into a hot bowl of Glühwein. It is quite a show! Watch Chef Uwe Rudnick explain how it’s done in this demonstration video.

It never goes out of style — How to make → The Perfect Martini

We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your favorite mulled wine recipe, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

Feature Glühwein photo: Hannah Permberton/Unsplash CC0

Chocolate Amaretto Truffles

November 29, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

This easy, no-bake chocolate delight with just a hint of sweet almond flavored liqueur pairs perfectly with an after dinner cup of coffee. These truffles also make a great gift. Here’s the recipe discovered in a magazine 30 years ago.

Chocolate Amaretto Truffles

Prep time: 30 minutes, plus chilling
Makes: 3 dozen
Store in refrigerator up to 3 days. Freezes well.

Ingredients

2 bars (4 ounces each) German sweet chocolate

1/4 cup amaretto liqueur [Amaretto is a sweet liqueur that originated in Saronno, Italy. You can substitute any almond flavored liqueur.]

1 teaspoon instant espresso. dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut up and chilled

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sifted cocoa powder

Directions

Melt chocolate bars with amaretto and dissolved espresso in top of double boiler over simmering water. Stir until smooth. [Note: If you don’t have a double boiler, you can melt using a microwave oven. Just be careful to avoid burning.]

Remove top of double boiler from heat and whisk in the butter 1 tablespoon at atime until smooth.

Add vanilla and stir.

Cover and refrigerate until firm (about 3 hours).

Scoop mixture into rough, round shapes (about 1 – 1 ½” in diameter).

Roll in the cocoa powder and place in individual small paper cups.

Are you thinking — a cup of coffee sure would taste good right now? It’s easy to brew delicious handcrafted coffee at home using a french press with these step-by-step instructions → HERE

We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

Cookie Crunch

November 8, 2019 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

Traditions of cookie decorating can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and got a start in North America during the 17^th century with the introduction of cookie cutters, molds and holiday decorating by Dutch and German settlers. About 200 years later, decorating cookies for Christmas gained popularity in America as more German-imported cookie cutters became available and cookbooks featured cookies cut in holiday inspired shapes sparked creativity in home kitchens. Today, the popularity of cookie decorating continues to grow during holidays throughout the world with all sorts of creations.

This holiday season, Zandy R (@pillbug) has been working on a cookie cookbook and experimenting with different iced cookie recipes and techniques (sugar cookie cut-outs decorated with royal icing). You can do it, too. Here are her cookie decorating tips:

• Use your favorite sugar cookie and royal icing recipes, try something new or go nostalgic with a family recipe. Find Zandy R’s (@pillbug) absolute favorite sugar cookie and royal icing recipes here → Roll & Cut Sugar Cookies. If this is your first cookie decorating adventure, best to do a little research before starting. The Complete Photo Guide to Cookie Decorating by Autumn Carpenter

• It helps (a lot) to have the right equipment. To decorate cookies with royal icing, you’ll need piping bags and/or squeeze bottles (a bunch, if using different colors) and a small offset spatula or rounded butter knife (to help spread the icing). Also, toothpicks come in handy for tiny, precision work.

See Zandy’s favorite cookie baking tools below. The stainless steel rolling pin eliminates the sticky dough problem by keeping the dough cool, the battery-powered sifter is genius, the 4-tier cooling rack is a great space saver during mega cookie baking projects, and the Kitchen Aid mixer—well, that’s really a dream machine. For more information on any item, click/tap on the photo within the in the ad, and there’s a search box to help you find anything else your heart desires.

• Roll out cookie dough with a chilled rolling pin to avoid sticking. Have fun cutting out a variety of cookie shapes Holiday Cookie Cutters

• After cookies are baked and cooled, keep at least overnight (loosely covered with a sheet of parchment paper) before decorating.

• If using royal icing (as Zandy R did for her cookies), there are no quick short-cuts. Let each application dry before applying the next one. Check out Betty Crocker’s advice for decorating cookies with icing ⇒ here

• It’s a creative process of experimentation and experience, and that takes time and patience. Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and colors because you’ll get better and better the more you decorate.

• When something goes wrong and you totally mess up a cookie, eat it immediately.

Decorate Valentine Day cookies with these helpful tips

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Cookies decorating ideas and inspiration from On2In2™

It's fun to bake and decorate christmas cookies with these On2In2™ recipes and tips.

It's fun to bake and decorate holiday cookies with these On2In2™ recipes and tips.

Cookie decorating for Thanksgiving holiday

Feature photo courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Creature Comforts

November 6, 2019 By Zola Zeester 4 Comments

We all need a safe, comfortable place to call home, and wildlife is no exception. Animals and birds need cover to protect against inclement weather and predators, and that can be difficult to find in your neighborhood without a little help from humans. Here are some ideas for creating wildlife homes in your backyards and gardens:

ROOSTING BOX

The birds that hang around instead of migrating south for the winter must hunt for a good spot to stay warm. A roosting box is specially designed to provided needed shelter for birds during the long, cold winter nights. Set one of these up, and make a bunch of birdies very happy.

BAT HOUSE

Bats do more good for our world than most people realize; eating insects, pollinating cactus and agave plants, and providing farmers nutrient-rich fertilizer via bat guano. Yet, bats are vulnerable to extinction as they are slow reproducing mammals and are threatened by climate change, deforestation, hunting, wind turbines and fungal infection.

By installing a bat house in your backyard, you’ll provide grateful bats a place to roost and a female bat a safe, warm place to raise a young, healthy pup.

TOAD HOUSE

Toads like to hang out in leaves and undergrowth and chow down on insects, but they also need a place to escape from sun and predators. Toad houses make the perfect little hide-away as well as add a little character to your outdoor space.

SQUIRREL HOUSE

Where there are birds, there will be squirrels eating from bird feeders and taking over bird houses. Giving squirrels a special place to call home will give them cover from weather and predators, and just maybe keep them away from bird sanctuaries.

NANCY’S BIRD BUTTER

In winter, food for wild things often becomes scarce. You can help backyard birds with full, easy to find feeders, and by offering foods high in fat and calories that provide the energy required to keep birds warm.

Nancy (@nk03262) shared her Nancy’s Bird Butter recipe in a 1/12018 post. It’s perfect winter bird food— “good for the birds and your soul”.

• Melt 16 oz lard and 2 cups crunchy peanut butter in the microwave in microwave safe bowl (mine takes 3 to 4 minutes on High to melt). It’s hot – Be carefull removing bowl.

• While the melt is happening — Mix 4 cups quick oats, 4 cups cornmeal, 2 cups flour, and 2/3rds cup sugar. Stir this mixture into the melted lard and peanut butter.

• Spread into a disposable 9 X 13 aluminum pan, and place in freezer. When solid, remove and let soften a bit, and then cut into 6 squares. Store squares in zip locs in freezer.

• Place one in a square suet feeder in your yard, and watch our feathered friends come with open beaks and gratitude, especially in winter.

• To keep squirrels out of the bird feeders, you need the right equipment, e.g. pole mount, wrap-around baffle and hanging baffle.

Feature squirrel photo is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

In2 the Kitchen LIVE

November 4, 2019 By Zola Zeester 3 Comments

The James Beard Foundation is a culinary arts non-profit organization that creates programs to help educate people about American cuisine and provide support and promotion to chefs and other industry professionals. Throughout the year, chefs are invited to “perform” at the Beard House Kitchen by presenting lunches, brunches, workshops, and dinners to Beard foundation members and the public. If you can’t get there for dinner, or you’re just curious about what goes on behind the scenes, watch this live stream broadcast from the Beard kitchen here On2In2™.

Programming Notes: Scheduling changes or interruptions in the live broadcast are sometimes unavoidable. If you miss a live broadcast, a video recording can be viewed immediately following the live stream close (Click/Tap “Watch Again” or select from the video posts located at top right corner of the JBF Kitchen Cam media player below).

Live streaming of In2 the Kitchen programming is broadcast when events become available for public viewing. (Go to JBF Events to find schedule, info on featured chefs and menus.)

Beard House Kitchen dinners are typically prepared 3-4 evenings each week, so please check back for live action in the kitchen or take a look at the On2In2™ Live Stream Programming Guide for other live stream viewing options.

You’ve got time to do a little bargain shopping
for kitchen gadgets while you wait for the next live broadcast.
Click/Tap on this Amazon link* ↓

Yountville, California is a special place. Known today for its world class restaurants, luxury hotels and inns, the friendly residents and small town feel, it’s also a great wine tasting location. Discover the historic beauty and charm of Yountville with Zola’s Y-walking wine tour guide — all the information and tips you need for a perfect, budget-friendly day wine-tasting some of Napa Valley’s best wines.

We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment, join the conversation, or share your cooking inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page‘. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

Feature photo courtesy of Unsplash CC0

Say Goodbye, Jack

November 1, 2019 By Zola Zeester

It’s fun while it lasts, but the job of protecting our homes against vampires and chasing off evil spirits is done after Halloween night…..What to do with all those jack-o’-lanterns? Rather than throwing an unwanted pumpkin in the trash, here are some tricks* that make good use of it and keep the treats coming a little while longer.

*Editor’s Note: Toxins in paint can be harmful to people and wildlife; therefore, these pumpkin recycling suggestions apply to jack-o’-lanterns and other pumpkins used for holiday decoration that have not been painted.

COMPOST IT

A fundamental of organic farming is a nutrient-rich compost that’s made of recycled and decomposed “green” waste materials, such as leaves, grass clippings, vegetable trimmings, and food waste.

Pumpkins breakdown and decompose quickly because they are 90% water. To avoid sprouting pumpkin plants in your compost pile, make sure all seeds have been removed from your jack-o’-lantern before throwing it in your compost bin. If you don’t compost, check with gardening friends and neighbors, community gardens and farms about donating pumpkins.

Starting a compost project at home, indoors or outside, is easy, good for your garden soil and the environment. For the best results, first read up on the basics [EPA website: “Composting at Home Basics “, and for more composting info & gardening tips, check out this ⇒ Book Selection ], and get the right equipment [Click here to see selection of handy kitchen food scrap bins and a variety of garden composters ⇒ SHOP ].

SEED & FEED

You’ve got to pull away the seeds from the stringy, slimy pumpkin flesh, rinse them off in a colander, then let dry a bit (not on paper or cloth because they’ll stick). You can, of course, roast the seeds for a crunchy snack as it’s easy enough to spread them on a baking sheet, coat with oil, sprinkle with seasonings, and bake in 350F/180C preheated oven for 10 minutes. However, there are probably some hungry birds outside. Why not give them a treat?

For the BIRDS: Take the clean, dry pumpkin seeds, don’t add a thing—no salt, oil, or seasoning, and no roasting, and simply place them outdoors on a flat surface, tray, or shallow bowl, or mix with commercial bird seed. Watch happy birds chow down.

For PLANTING: You can also save some of the pumpkin seeds for planting next spring. If your gardening space is limited or nonexistent, try growing pumpkin plants in 5-10 gallon buckets. Learn more about planting, growing and harvesting pumpkins from the Farmer’s Almanac.

CUT UP for CRITTERS

Animals (deer, rabbits, squirrels) enjoy eating pumpkin as much as we do. Just cut the pumpkin into pieces and leave outside (away from the house & best near trees) for your neighborhood wildlife. Easy! But…. if you’ve decorated you’re jack-o’-lantern with paint, plastic or anything else that could be toxic to animals, this is not any option.

Give the wild things in your backyard a cozy winter home ⇒ Ideas for creating wildlife homes

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Sad old jack-o’-lantern photo by Flickr user, Seth Halstead, CC BY-NC 2.0