Environment 68 results

Permaculture, says writer Daniel Bingham, originated as an attempt to reshape industrial agriculture into sustainable ecological design that works in harmony with the natural world. First applied to farmsteads, it’s also used to create self-reliant homesteads. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Can Permaculture Make Society Sustainable? Part 1

Daniel Bingham, Natasha Komoda

Permaculture, says writer Daniel Bingham, originated as an attempt to reshape industrial agriculture into sustainable ecological design that works in harmony with the natural world. First applied to farmsteads, it’s also used to create self-reliant homesteads. Part philosophy, part methodology, and part science, permaculture integrates humans with the natural environment. Click here to read the full story.

April 11, 2016

The Eastern box turtle is one of many Indiana species on the state's "special concern" list. | Creative Commons, Branlon

150 Species in Indiana Now Listed As Endangered or ‘Special Concern’

Susan M. Brackney

What would happen if the hellbender goes? More than 150 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mollusks that call Indiana home are now listed as “endangered” or “special concern” in the state. Susan M. Brackney shows who decides which animals make the cut — and how. Click here to read the full story.

March 11, 2016

The stars of the 7th Annual Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County. Tens of thousands have already been spotted in the area. | Photo by Thomas Marriage

Treasure Hunting at Goose Pond During Marsh Madness

Limestone Post

The spring migration of sandhill cranes and countless other birds will be celebrated on March 4-5 during the 7th Annual Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. David Rupp, owner of IndiGo Birding Nature Tours, gave Limestone Post a preview on a recent trip to the pond. Click here to read the full story.

March 2, 2016

The American Discovery Trail is a 6,800-mile, coast-to-coast phenomenon that is the first of its kind in the country. Much of it travels along existing trails, such as this one in the Harrison-Crawford State Forest in southern Indiana. | Photo by Ron Eid

From the B-Line Trail to the Pacific Ocean — Hiking the American Discovery Trail

Ron Eid

Imagine hiking from the B-Line Trail to the Pacific Ocean (or the Atlantic) without ever leaving an official hiking trail. For years, hiking enthusiasts have been working on the American Discovery Trail, a coast-to-coast trail that passes through southern Indiana. Connecting it to the B-Line, via the Knobstone Trail, isn’t far-fetched. Click here to read the full story.

January 26, 2016

Getting Fresher Greens This Winter — Indoor Gardening Is Easier and Cheaper Than Ever

Susan M. Brackney

Nothing beats just-picked veggies, and the cold, short days of winter need not stop you from having them. Susan M. Brackney shows how greens, sprouts, microshoots, and vegetables can be grown cheaply and easily indoors. One reason, she explains, is that lighting has become more efficient. T-what?! Click here to read the full story.

December 11, 2015

Plant-dyed wool dries on the sheep deck while the Marble Hill Farm cattle enjoy their evening graze. | Photo by Samuel Welsch Sveen

Farm to Yarn: The Dye Part 2 of a 3-Part Series on the Life of Local Fiber

Lindsay Welsch Sveen, Samuel Welsch Sveen

Lindsay Welsch returns to Marble Hill Farm for the second article in her three-part series on procuring yarn from its source. Stage two comprises the many steps in dyeing wool and the hands-on relationship that develops with color as it’s drawn out of indigo, goldenrod, marigold, and onion skins and affixed to the animal fiber. Click here to read the full story.

October 30, 2015

This unprocessed fleece has been soaked and skirted (the dirty parts removed) but still contains organic debris and long, scraggly top hairs. It will be among the fleeces Whitney sends off to be milled for her spring CSA shares. | Photo by Lindsay Welsch Sveen

Farm to Yarn: The Wool Part 1 of a 3-Part Series on the Life of Local Fiber

Lindsay Welsch Sveen

Knitting and other fiber crafts have found a new generation of enthusiasts who care about the source of their yarn as much as about its color and pattern. In this first installment of a 3-part series, Lindsay Welsch traces yarn to one of its local sources, Marble Hill Farm. Click here to read the full story.

September 4, 2015

Honeybees swarm their hive at Bloomington Community Orchard. | Limestone Post

Bee-Town Gets Busy: The State of All Things Bee and How You Can Help

Susan M. Brackney

While the honeybee population in Monroe County is thriving, studies show Indiana's colony loss is worse than the national average. Bloomington beekeeper Susan M. Brackney addresses the complicated and troubling issue, and she offers advice on helping not only honeybees but also bumblebees, butterflies, and other native pollinators. Click here to read the full story.