A post-fire area of the Sierra Nevada mountains with negligible conifer regeneration. (Joseph Stewart, UC Davis/USGS) In the aftermath of megafires that devastated forests of the western United States, attention turns to whether forests will regenerate on their own or not.
January is a time many of us turn to healthier foods, and one good way to do that is to include leafy greens in our daily meals. Kale is a particularly nutritious green vegetable, whether eaten cooked until tender or raw in salads and smoothies.
After a lengthy and rigorous review by independent auditors, UC Merced can proudly announce it is the first public research university in the country to achieve carbon neutrality, two years ahead of its goal.
In California, ~9 million acres of forestland are owned by individuals, with ~90% of these owners owning less than 50 acres each. Considering California has ~33 million acres of total forestland, that 9 million acres makes up to a lot of our state's forests that individuals are responsible for.
In less than a decade, some of the burned expanses from this year's megafires could burst into intense flames again, reported Ula Chrobak in Scientific American. Frequent, low-severity fires, which clear out patches of low-lying vegetation and dry leaf litter, have an preventative effect.
The UC Cooperative Extension Central Sierra office is selling the Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States book at a discounted price of $30.00 total (includes shipping and tax). The book regularly sells at $37.00 (tax and S&H not included.
If you've been talking to your plants for years, you are not alone. But know this: plants can communicate, too. They eavesdrop, sense danger in the environment, and can distinguish friend from foe.
When I look past the loose cows at my neighbor's farm, I see snow on the Sierra! Large bodies of water and snow give me a sense of calm. It is a nice start to a short week heading into Thanksgiving. I continue to be thankful for the people and work of UC ANR.
