Orcas have always played a significant role in Puget Sound, with cultural significance ranging back thousands of years. As apex predators, they are crucial to the local ecosystem, and they also assist the regional economy by bringing in tourism. These creatures have many layers of significance in this region, and those who live in the […]
wildlife
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Special Winter Birds
Many birds that nested in the North use the Pacific Northwest as their “south.” Their arrival at this time of the year is a winter highlight for the birding community. Audubon chapters plan their field trip schedules so members and visitors have a chance to see several of the popular locations. Some areas are considered […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Community Education Opportunities
Salmon Steward Learn about salmon and their habitat, life cycle and species in the Puget Sound. Trainees who work two hours at salmon events get a new Kitsap Salmon Field Guide and are eligible to have the class fee refunded. Choose from a single-day session or a series of Wednesday evening sessions. Salmon Viewing Events […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Who’s to Blame for Climate Change? The Answer May Surprise You
No question about it — a blazing argument, sometimes lacking in cold-hard facts, continues globally and concerns whether or not our little globe is getting warmer (it seems to be, if ocean temperatures are a reliable marker). And who’s to blame? The sun? The Earth’s volcanic core? Those little men with their fantastic machines? Some […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, Gardeners Corner
The Benefits of Gardening with Children
Slow down. Feel the sun on your face. Feel the softness of the earth between your fingers. Bury your hand in the soil — perhaps you will find a spud, ready for supper tonight. Perhaps you’ll find a tunnel and follow it along to see where the moles make their home. Lift the leafy litter […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
What’s Going on with the Diminishing Sea Star Population?
As many people have noticed over the last few years, there aren’t anywhere near as many sea stars around as there used to be. Beaches that were home to hundreds of stars now maybe have a dozen or perhaps none at all. This mass death of sea stars has been caused by an illness called […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Poulsbo’s Fish Park — A Study in Community Leadership
In my 25 years of public life, I have come to believe that community leadership is the key to a good community. Leaders create positive change. This was proven true again in 2002, when a very small group of civic leaders decided to work with the city to save a 13-acre site near downtown Poulsbo. […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Nature’s Bounty in the Fall — The Table is Set for the Birds
From late summer into early fall, the wild bird population reaches its highest numbers for the year. This year’s young account for the increase. The population boom coincides with nature’s fall abundance. Many birds, including this year’s young, won’t survive the winter. Their survival depends on the natural food supply. During the fall migration, hundreds […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Turning Zucchini Excess into a Yummy (but Overflowing) Casserole
What do you do with a zucchini the size of a small pony, enough basil to fill a wheelbarrow, so many small tomatoes that could choke a dragon, and ample packages of moose meat in the freezer? These items in themselves come with a million recipes. Zucchini this, zucchini that… I wasn’t about to go […]