Odds & Ends

I’m still trying to figure out my garden situation that I am now overly obsessed about.  Under the house are some left over deck boards which I initially thought I would build a raised bed from.  That was until I decided that p.t. wood probably wasn’t the best choice of material.  Then I figured I would cut down those pine trees (remember the ones that were infested with pine bark beetles?) and build a cordwood wall.  That would take care of two issues, disposing of the pine trees and building the raised beds, but alas, removing the trees is cost prohibitive at the moment.  Then I had another idea, which I’m still hoping will work.  My neighbor has some nice rectangular cut urbanite stacked up by their guest house.  I left them a note asking them if they would be willing to part with it, to which there has been no reply.  I’m not sure if they intend on using it or if they are possibly concerned I’m just someone who is looking to make a buck off them.  At any rate, I’ll have to wait until I see them working in the yard to approach them about it.  In the mean time, I decided to purchase this pond liner material and stakes that assemble into a raised bed.  My rational was that it’s affordable, easily rolled up and stored or can be moved to another location in the yard when I’m ready to build the permanent bed.

On the seed front, I’ve started some fresh ones: chantenay carrots and bulls blood beets.  Determined to have as little initial investment as possible, I made these little seed trays (pots?) out of rolled up newspaper.  So far so good.  The lettuce is doing well, there just isn’t enough to have more than one salad a week.  On a positive note, my next door neighbor told me she was inspired by my earth box garden and she’s started a few vegetables of her own.

And then there’s the animals… (big sigh) Elvis is great for a rabbit going on 10.  I strategically placed the compost bin near his cage so the compost is fed regular shovelfuls of rabbit poop.  Most Excellent!!  Cool, the sigthers 18 year old cat, is also in the same geriatric club as Elvis, though he gets along quite well.  Last week, he punctured his paw and wound up with an abscess that had to be drained.  Needless to say, he had to wear one of those Elizabethan cones while it healed.  We felt sorry for the little guy and at the same time it was a bit humorous.  Tango, the please rescue me-parvo puppy turned mange face, was completely mesmerized by “the cone” and couldn’t take his eyes off Cool.  Tango has turned into a handful and is beginning obedience classes next month.  The vet wanted to postpone neutering until he was healthy enough and now we are counting the days.  Meanwhile, Lola has turned into a complete mush pot, though she still maintains her position in the household and continues to startle unsuspecting guests.

  

The Link Between Tango, The Bark Park, Sea Turtles & Sustainability

That’s a long title.  What do Tango, the Bark Park & sea turtles have to do with sustainability?  Well, a lot.  They all encompass some of the key elements that comprise sustainability, as defined by the 1987 Brundtland Report.  Starting with Tango (he’s a cutie & mischievous), he’s a rescue dog pulled from a local overcrowded, ill-kept kill shelter.  Two women friends run the Canine Rescue, a non-profit organization in our community that saves animals, educates people about the virtues of having a dog companion and strives to stop the proliferation of unwanted pets.  Animals that are allowed to pro-create and then are abandoned create a burden on our communities resources.  These animals have to be collected, cared for, euthanized and disposed of at tax payers expense.  Some animals that are “disposed of” may be sent to rendering plants (warning - not for those with a weak stomach) that pose serious environmental hazards.  By providing a service like the Canine Rescue they are helping to build caring, responsible communities.

Next, the Bark Park.  Again, this is a non-profit organization formed to establish a local fenced, off-leash park for dogs.  As we petitioned for the park and presented our mission to the county commissioners, we had much opposition.  It seems many individuals thought this was a waste of time and money.  Not so.  The county has ”leased” the Bark Park 2 acres of land that would otherwise be rendered useless due to it’s proximity to wetlands and hurricane debris fill site.  Both controlled by the DEP.  No one wanted this land.  The county volunteered to do all site preparation, though all other infrastructure including parking, fencing, water, etc. was the responsibility of The Bark Park.  In come fundraisers galore.  The park is now in place and provides a safe haven for pets and owners to exercise and mingle.  Many local relationships and networks where born out of the love for a dog.  Organizations like the Bark Park help strengthen our society by fostering a sense of community.  In addition, this particular park turned a barren piece of swamp land into a vital communal stomping ground.  It also, gives dog owners an alternative to the beach which can often lead to disturbing beach goers and native wildlife.

Finally, about that native wildlife, usher in the sea turtles.  Here in Walton County, we have a group of volunteers that run the Sea Turtle Watch program.  Sea turtles are an endangered species and are protected by the Endangered Species Act.  These volunteers scout the beaches for turtle nests, mark them and keep vigilant watch over the nests to ensure the emerging young turtles make it back to sea.  I’m envisioning another post coming about construction, turtle lighting and sea turtles.  In Topsail Island, North Carolina, they also take sea turtle endangerment seriously as well as one step further.  In this coastal town you can find the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.  At this turtle hospital, injured and sick turtles are cared for and released back to their natural habitat.  If you want to see something really cool, check out their live turtle webcams.  Saving sea turtles preserves the biodiversity of our natural environment as well as boosts our communities cultural and natural resources.  For places like South Walton County Beaches and Topsail Island, saving sea turtles is directly linked to the local charm that attracts tourists and potential home owners alike and keeps our local beach economy buzzing along.

And that’s what a dog, a park, and a turtle have in common. 

Tango

I thought I’d share a photo of the cute little boy, Tango.

He’s the puppy we’ve been fostering for the Canine Rescue.  It was through the Canine Rescue that I became involved with the Bark Park.  two years ago, I called the C.R. and inquired about Rosie, a little hound dog.  We couldn’t adopt her because we didn’t have a fenced yard and being a hound, they are prone to wander after any scent they catch.  So, we were told about a little blue heeler mix puppy, Lola that was up for adoption.  She’s the one we took home and fell in love with.  The person that was fostering her was a woman named Spike and it was her dream to start an off-leash dog park in honor of her late dog, Nyx.  She told me about her vision and I offered my services to help her put her ideas on paper so others could share in the vision.  For the last 2 years, we (a handful of women and fellow dog lovers) have fund raised, petitioned and appealed to the County Commissioners for help in opening a park.  Finally, we were able to secure 2 acres of land in partnership with the county to site the park.  With many generous donations we now have in place all the fencing, water, handicap parking, site prep., pet waste removal service, signage, benches, and a statue of St. Francis of Assissi among other odds and ends.  Today is the big day.  We will be joined by the Chamber of Commerce for an official ribbon cutting in recognition of the Grand Opening.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to capture a few pictures this afternoon to document the event.