Smell Like Dirt
In Spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret AtwoodArchive for hawk
Worm Workshop!
Worms are a gardeners best friend! Not only do they keep your soil loose in the garden, if you keep a worm bin, they will turn your kitchen scraps into great food for your plants! And worms make great pets. Low maintenance and they work 24×7 eating and pooping until you have a perfectly natural additive to your garden. Composting is basically managing a natural process, and so is vermicomposting. I’ll be facilitating a vermicomposting workshop on 11/4 at 7pm (after the polls close). If you would like to participate, send an email to HAWKNCWF@gmail.com. Cost is $15 per bin or you can just observe for free. To get an idea of what we will be doing, take a look at this video we shot about building a worm bin called “Global Worming” Get it?
Habitat Steward Training
If you live near Charlotte, NC and are interested in learning more about creating habitats for wildlife and helping educate others about the importance of habitat preservation, please join us for a three day workshop being held in September. The Habitat Steward Program is a 24 hour course (3-8 hour days) developed by the National Wildlife Federation to help train volunteers to work with individuals, businesses, schools, places of worship, etc to create wildlife habitats in their communities. The course covers providing the four elements of a habitat (food, water, shelter, places to raise young), composting and soil stewardship, planting with natives, removal of invasives, wildlife identification, and a lot more. The program is being held Sept 19, 20 and 21, 8am-5pm each day, and you must attend all three days. The cost is $50 per person plus 40 service hours in your community. I will be facilitating the program hosted by Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK), a chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. Space is limited so if you are interested in joining us, please send me an email at HAWKNCWF@gmail.com.
Swat a Litterbug!
Don’t you just hate litter?!? Litter is ugly, costly to remove and dangerous to wildlife. A lot of hawks and other raptors are injured and killed each year by cars. And one of the main reasons is that people throw litter from cars on the roads and highways, which attract rodents to the sides of the roads. And the presence of rodents attracts hawks and other raptors. Many cities, counties and states have started Litterbug Hotlines to allow citizens to report Litterbugs. Here in the Charlotte, NC area, we have two ways to report litterbugs. You can call the hotline number (704 432 1772)or go online and fill out a report. I have the number programmed into my cellphone. When I see someone throw something out the window, or debris fly out of the back of trucks, I use my cellphone to report the deed! When you witness a litterbug in action, note the license plate number, date/time and location of the incident, and the type of litter (cigarette butt, soda can, etc). When you can safely do so, call the number and leave the information on the hotline voice mail or go online to fill out the form. The offending party will be sent a letter informing them that someone reported their “litterbuggy-ness” and a warning of the fines that could result if s/he continues to litter. If you live elsewhere in the United States, do a Google search for a Litterbug Hotline near you. Maybe if offenders realize that there are eyes everywhere watching, they will think twice before they toss their trash out of the window. So go on! Swat A Litterbug!
Smell Like Dirt 