Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/echo/page/177/)
Video: Great Lakes resource managers are turning to biological controls to deal with garlic mustard, a woodland invader that smothers native plants and poisons the soil in forested areas, campgrounds and backyards.
Mexican drug trafficking organizations are expanding east, cultivating near Great Lakes states’ large consumer bases like Detroit and Chicago, police say. It’s an often violent, lucrative form of manifest destiny in reverse.
A recent report rates Michigan’s progress in lowering the risk of eating fish as poor.
Officials blame the failure to reduce the atmospheric deposition of mercury and on PCB contaminants. And stormwater runoff and sewage overflows are an increasing concern.
The first falconry field meet in North America was in 1938 in Pennsylvania. It’s a sport that continues to be cherished throughout the Great Lakes states.
“It’s like a front row seat to an I-max movie to nature,” said Kory Koch, communications director of the Michigan Hawking Club.
Nearly 19 percent of Michigan residents reported a time in the past 12 months when they lacked enough money to buy food.
The statistic comes from a national Gallup survey of more than 530,000 Americans.
A decade ago, development was proposed for the Detroit River’s Humbug Marsh. Citizens pressured government for protection. And recently the site received international recognition.
Chickens are free to roam the student organic farm at Michigan State University.
Unlike confined chickens, free-range chickens interact with with plants and other creatures for the good of the farm system.
See video.
For almost a month now, I have been watching an interesting discussion unfold about school food safety occur on the ComFood Listserv, a discussion place for people interested in issues dealing with community, food and agriculture. And today, I feel I have to finally weigh into the conversation. The public procurement of local food has recently made its way through a variety of unique institutions. Hospitals, prisons, schools, and universities are now purchasing and using the food. They are supporting local farmers, reducing their food miles, and providing themselves with one more environmentally friendly marketing initiative.
Researchers found mercury and PCB contaminants in every fish they sampled. Fish in about half of all lakes had dangerous mercury levels. But the study found thriving lakes in much of the Great Lakes region.
Cash-strapped government officials have struck a deal with a state workers union to allow volunteers to groom Michigan ski trails.
In December the agency announced that only eight state forest ski trails would be groomed, and mostly by volunteer organizations.
Grooming involves removing debris, adding or removing snow and creating a level amount of snow, to improve skiing.