Alabama Red-belly

As you know, taking care of gardens doesn't stop at your property line. Everything in nature is intrinsically connected. If you don't care for the plants and animals in your area, you're indirectly endangering your own plants. It is for this reason that many people are trying to conserve both plants (heirloom and organic) and animals (endangered species).

Today I'd like to highlight the Official Reptile of the State of Alabama.

Photograph by Bob Moul 2007

The Alabama Red-belly Turtle has been on the endangered species list since 1987 and was adopted as the state reptile since 1990. These beautiful turtles reside mainly in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, but they can also be found along the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Check the map from US Fish and Wildlife Services below and find out what other species are endangered in your state here).

The most distressing part of this creature's plight is that it is man-made. For the Alabama Red-belly, the number one cause of death is automobiles. That's right, even with all of the alligators, herons, feral hogs, fish crows, and raccoons out there preying on the hatchlings, more of these turtles are killed by our own cars than anything else.

from outdooralabama.com

There's good news, however. In 2008, a fence was erected along the causeway to help protect the baby turtles. And help it did! According to Dr. David Nelson of the University of South Alabama, 94 babies and 15 adults were hit by automobiles in 2007. In 2008, those numbers dropped to 19 hatchlings and 9 adults--an overall reductions of 80%!

from savetheredbelly.org

from savetheredbelly.org

from savetheredbelly.org

This news is especially good, since a recent study concluded that roughly 6% of all drivers will actually swerve to hit animals in or near the road. 

The next time you're down on the bay and you see one of our friends trying to cross the road, stop the car and help them out. I promise you'll feel great for the rest of the day!

from outdooralabama.com

Planting the Community: Building a Community and Building Muscles

A great way to experience the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast is to go biking. I know, most of you are thinking, "I don't have anyone to ride with." Well that excuse isn't good anymore because MOB (Mobilians on Bikes) is a quickly growing community of bicyclists of all talents and ages.

from facebook.com

Participating in a free community organization like Mobilians on Bikes is a great way to plant the community and a great way to get some ideas for your lawn or garden!

If you're not ready to take a big plunge, or if you're still pretty wobbly on the wheels, you should definitely join them for their Saturday or Sunday slow rides. It's a leisurely bike ride through some of Mobile's most beautiful neighborhoods.

They have a wide variety of places to cycle and all of them are great for getting to know your community, staying healthy, and spending time with family or friends. Here are a few of the recent events.

Farmers Market Ride

Kids Art and Bike Ride

Take it Slow, Saturday Morning Down by the Bay

Sunday Morning Breakfast Club


Here's their tagline: "Mobilians on Bikes promotes the utilitarian use of cycling for all Mobilians. We work to support the bicycle as an effective, fun, and safe means of urban transportation. Go to our group website to keep up with all the fun."


Here they are visiting a farm!

In short, Mobilians on Bikes is a great way to keep healthy and build a solid, safe, and productive community.

April 22 is Earth Day 2012!

That's right! We're just six days away from one of the best days of the year: Earth Day 2012!

This year the Greater Mobile Alabama area is having a big celebration in Fairhope, Alabama at the Fairhope Pier Park. There will be music, exhibits, talks, blessing of animals, and, of course, recycling! The best part is, it's all free!

Festivities begin at 10AM and last until 7PM, so there's plenty of time to get out there with the whole family! Taking care of our earth is important and this is a great way to pass that lesson on to your kids and learn new things that you can do at home that will not only help the earth, but might also save you money!

RECYCLING

City of Fairhope:
computers, old TV's and electronics - "Amnesty Day"!

Daphne Utilities:
Used cooking oil and grease -> bio-diesel

Baldwin County:
Aluminum, plastic and cardboard items

All of these providers will provide collection for free at the Earth Day Mobile Bay Festival!

For more information contact EarthDayMobileBay.org

Directions to the Festival from the festival web page

Location:	Fairhope Pier, South Beach Park, Fairhope, Alabama
Parking:	Food World (closed) parking lot, N Greeno Road, Fairhope
	Ecor Rouge Place Shopping Plaza, NW Quadrant of Fairhope Ave (CR-48)- Greeno Rd Intersection (Hwy 98)
	McDonalds at north end of parking lot.

From I-10 take the Highway 98./ Daphne/Fairhope exit, exit #35. Go south to Fairhope on U.S. Highway 98. Please do not take the exit to Downtown Fairhope; continue on the Hwy 98 /Greeno Road 4-lane to event parking just north of intersection of Hwy 98 with Fairhope Ave. (County Rd. 48).

Catch the Free Shuttle at the (closed) Food World grocery parking lot North West of the Fairhope Ave. (CR 48) - Hwy 98 ("Greeno Road") intersection in the 'Ecor Rouge Place Shopping Plaza'.

BRATS shuttle buses will run from parking to Pier Park
beginning at 10:AM Sunday, Apr.22.
Trips are free, no cost to riders.
Thanks to the Sierra Club and Earth Day Mobile Bay!


Click for Google directions to parking.

Music and Activities Schedule:

10:00 AM	Mayor's Earth Day Welcome
10:20 AM	Yoga Birds demonstration
11:00 AM	Auntie Litter
Noon	Katawompus
1:00 PM	Full Circle  Robin Smith & Tod Creamer
2:00 PM	The Woodshed
3:00 PM	Zombo Combo
4:00 PM	Delta Reign
5:00 -7:00 PM	El Cantador

Here's the full schedule of events from earthdaymobile.org

Know Your Zone! The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Has Changed

It's true. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map has changed, big time. It now has 26 zones.

Having trouble reading? Click here for a HUGE version of this image!

If you're in the Southeast, click on your state to view the different zones! If you're somewhere else, click the link above and you can select your state from a drop-down list or by entering your zip code.

• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana

Since we're based in Alabama, here's Alabama's map for you! Most of the Mobile area is zone 9a. Dauphin Island is 9b. 

From the USDA website: 

"The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

For the first time, the map is available as an interactive GIS-based map, for which a broadband Internet connection is recommended, and as static images for those with slower Internet access. Users may also simply type in a ZIP Code and find the hardiness zone for that area.

No posters of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map have been printed. But state, regional, and national images of the map can be downloaded and printed in a variety of sizes and resolutions."