Walter Walleye Meets Hiram the Pioneer

Hiram from the Western Nebraska Pioneers Baseball and Nebraska H2O’s Walter Walleye

Lied Scottsbluff Public Library hosted a SUN-SATIONAL STAR-STUDDED MORNING on Tuesday, June 11th for A Universe of Stories-Children’s Summer Reading Program. Participants enjoyed a skit by Western Nebraska Community College Theater and variety of activity booths.

Nebraska H2O’s Walter Walleye and Western Nebraska Pioneer Baseball ‘s Hiram mingled with the kids and families.

Butterflies and Bees Thank the TAC!

Thank you to Lied Scottsbluff Public Library’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) for planting a Bloom Box in celebration of Nebraska Wildflower Week last Friday.

The Bloom Box contained 24 hand-picked native and pollinator friendly plants from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the TAC planted them according to the design template included with the box. A mini Greener Nebraska Towns grant provided additional plants for the plaza.

Thank you, TAC!

Teen Advisory Council Members from the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library work with Rachel Anderson of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum to plant a Bloom Box in the Broadway Plaza.

Waterwise Wednesday: Rain Here and There

Only two planets are known to get liquid rain at the surface, Earth and Titan (one of Saturn’s moons). Earth’s rain is water, Titan’s is liquid methane.

The rain on the rest of the planets discovered so far evaporates before reaching the planet’s surface. Which may be a good thing since the “rain” is actually solid rock (COROT 7b), diamonds (Neptune, Saturn, and Jupiter), or Sulfuric Acid (Venus). Makes a walk in the rain on earth rather enjoyable, don’t you think?

Photo © creativecommonsstockphotos

Waterwise Wednesday: What’s Your Water Footprint?

It’s easy to think of our household when we think about water use – dishes, bathing, cooking, laundry, drinking. Our water footprint also includes the water used in the production of power, clothing, food, and manufacturing of the products we use. How much water do you really use? Check it out with the water calculator below.

https://www.watercalculator.org/

Waterwise Wednesday: National Learn About Composting Day

Photo © Richard Griffin

Yes, it’s an officially recognized day.

Compost can be made from kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, newspapers, leaves wood chips, coffee grinds and even meat or fish products (when done properly) – just not processed foods.

Nutrient rich compost is a natural fertilizer that boosts soil health, prevents runoff and groundwater from chemical toxins, and insect friendly which means more pollinators and beneficial insects boosting the health of your yard and garden plants.

For more information :

EPA Home Composting: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home#basics

UNL Extension Vermiculture: https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml

Waterwise Wednesday: International Day for Biological Diversity

This day is dedicated to making sure all creatures not only survive, but also thrive.

In simple terms, Biodiversity refers to all the variety of life on Earth (plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms), the communities they form, and the habitats in which they live.

Biodiversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. Ecosystems with more varieties of life have greater productivity, are more resilient, and recover faster from disaster. Our food, medicine, climate stability, gene pool, and even culture (e.g., our ag/ranch based lifestyle) are all linked to biodiversity.

Photo © Stephen Adamson

Stormwater Treatment Ideas

The primary advantages of tree box filters include ease of construction and simple, cost-effective maintenance. Plant selection allows for a good blend into the environment. Maintenance is normally done with a rake and shovel to remove spent mulch and captured trash.