Mid-Shore Life

Beginner Vegetable Gardening at Evergreen Cove
Instructor: Elizabeth Beggins

Sunday • February 7 • 2 - 4:30 PM 

Sliding Scale Fees

Standard: $40; Members $35

Sustaining: $50; Minimum: $25

By Elizabeth Beggins

Last year, as people grew frightened of their peanut butter, and recession gripped the nation, thousands of Americans made the decision to get back to basics by growing their own food.  Seed companies were inundated with orders from enthusiasts ready to get their hands dirty in their new, or newly expanded, backyard gardens.  Perhaps you were among them?  Or maybe you only got as far as your good intentions.  Those new to vegetable gardening are often daunted by the perceived magnitude of what lies before them when, in fact, vegetable gardening is actually quite simple.  That is, if you remember a few important truths. 

First:  Most vegetable plants need at least six hours of full sun a day.  If you don't have a single location which offers that, consider several smaller sites. Interspersing your landscaped areas with edible plants can create suitable growing spaces, as can planting in containers.  Different kinds of plants prefer varying levels of light.  Summer crops, like tomatoes and squash, prefer more sunlight, but others, such as leafy greens and certain beans, are more shade tolerant.

There was a massive southern movement of Pine Siskins during the 2008-09 season. Read more.

Ithaca, NY—What happens in the backyard should not stay in the backyard—at least when it comes to bird feeders. By sharing information about which birds visit their feeders between November and April, backyard bird watchers can help scientists track changes in bird numbers and movements from year to year, through Project FeederWatch, a citizen-science program from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

Project FeederWatch begins on November 14 and runs through early April. Taking part is easy. Anyone can count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders and enter their information on the FeederWatch website. Participants submitted nearly 117,000 checklists last season. Since 1987, more than 40,000 people from the United States and Canada have taken part in the project.

“To get the most complete picture of bird movements, we always need new sets of eyes to tell us what species are showing up at backyard feeders,” says David Bonter, leader of Project FeederWatch. “Participants always tell us how much fun it is and how good it feels to contribute to our understanding of birds by submitting their sightings.”

Project FeederWatch is for people of all ages and skill levels. To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Cornell Lab toll-free at (866) 982-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Cornell Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds, a calendar, complete instructions, and Winter Bird Highlights, an annual summary of FeederWatch findings.

Participant Nancy Corr of Harrisburg, Oregon, sums up her Project FeederWatch experience: “Thanks for the wonderful opportunity to share our love of birding and to participate in something meaningful!”

Good Dogs aren't born - they're Trained!

by Cyndi Paxton Johnson

with special thanks to Dan Salb of Dan's Elite Dog Training

In April we adopted a young black lab that had been rescued from a kill shelter in Georgia. Instantly our somewhat chaotic household was immersed in constant insanity - the dogs fought, the cats hissed, the children screamed, and the young male dog was a force in motion - constantly chewing, jumping, biting, destroying, etc. Even our animal-crazed children begged us to get rid of him. He was, quite frankly, the canine spawn from hell.

In desperation I emailed several dog training groups around the Mid Shore. I've trained dogs before, but had never encountered a Beast such as this. I was concerned about joining a "rewards only" dog training class. Even with smaller, calmer dogs I've always had the best results from a combination of rewards and a properly used choke chain collar. But nothing in my past prepared me for this unmanageable, wild beast. We had just about admitted defeat and were prepared to return him when I spoke with Dan Salb from Dan's Elite Dog Training in Easton.  Dan was confident that our Beast could be trained - and guaranteed that, if we followed his program, our dog would be OFF-LEASH reliable at the end of the 10 week training program.  He sounded so confident that I instantly felt better - the feelings of hopelessness and defeat were GONE.  We had a plan!

I was very encouraged following our first class - I could already see a difference with his behavior outside, on leash. Unfortunately that didn't address his MULTITUDE of problems indoors. I was told to keep him crated unless I could devote my time to him, and to return him to the crate if he became unmanageable.  He spent a LOT of time in that crate. (and yes, I felt guilty about that!)

Lord I hope it ain't no train! B.B. Watson

Subtitle: More Adventures in Dog Training
The hyperactive lab puppy and I just completed our sixth week of dog training with Dan Salb of
http://danselitedogtraining.com/home.html[_new]Dan's Elite Dog Training. I'm thrilled to report that we BOTH passed our first test - which involved Gryffindor responding to my commands, including a complicated heeling workout, while attached to the leather leash by only a thin piece of string. (if the string breaks - you fail).

I've been frustrated to tears as I've worked to turn this unmanageable beast into a well-behaved dog. The other dogs immediately turned into model companions - but mine required more strength, perseverance and patience than I had ever imagined. I was having fantasies about shock collars, cattle prods - whatever would break the beast from his painful jumping, chewing and wildness. Dan talked me down each time, telling me to stick with the training method and have faith. He even worked extra with me, since I was having SO much trouble. It turns out I wasn't quite doing the turns and corrections right - close - but no Kewpie doll. Once I learned the correct way - I saw immediate improvement. (which explains how we managed to pass our test!)

by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
I met a delightful older man yesterday, sitting with his equally delightful Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Corgi wasn't that interested in us - she was content to sit by her master's feet, eying him adoringly. The man chatted about the many attributes of his dog - her obedience, her dedication to him, her calm demeanor.

I mentioned that I was currently going through dog training classes with my less than calm lab pup. He acknowledged that he had indeed taken his lady to puppy kindergarten once - "but she really didn't need it - she just always behaves." In that infinitesimal moment I hated that kind, charming gentleman.

And his little dog, too.