November 3 is Election Day: do you know what’s on your ballot? The midterm elections represent a potential shift of power at the federal level but, but the Pennsylvania General Assembly is up for grabs, too. Down-ballot races continue to represent critical impacts on our daily lives, and this year is no exception. Hopefully this post will help you make a plan to vote.
I’ve been battling thistle for years, trying manual and organic methods, refusing to use herbicides that pose significant harm to human and environmental health. It’s possible that my patience and persistence are finally paying off… or that I’ve found something that really works. This something is a synthetic herbicide, but its environmental impacts are arguably less than chemicals I’ve used in previous years.
I love that my garden has been a teaching opportunity for my neighbors, as well as a habitat for native wildlife. This year, that opportunity expanded to educate my local code enforcement officer when my garden was flagged for violating our local property maintenance requirements. After another season of hard work, I was pleased that my work justified itself in big and very small ways.