By KRISTEN NOWAK WINN
Accent Editor
In this year’s Christmas story contest, we gave readers the challenge of saving Christmas by somehow conserving energy at the North Pole. Entries piled in like presents under the tree, and the creative solutions stunned us.
Here are a few excerpts from some of our favorites:
“Mrs. Claus can unplug her mixer when [...]

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By MIKE MILLER
OSU Extension Medina County
A soybean plant introduction has been found to show resistance to soybean aphid in Ohio, paving the way to control this serious insect through new resistant cultivars.
The soybean PI, labeled PI 243540, contains a single dominant gene allowing the plant to resist soybean aphid feeding and aphid colonization. These [...]

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By MIKE MILLER
OSU Extension Medina County
Ohio regulations allow open burning with written permission from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, or if the fire is for certain limited uses, like cooking fires, campfires, warmth, ceremonial or recreational purposes. Fires must use clean, seasoned firewood or clean- burning fuel, be less than 3 feet in diameter and [...]

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By MIKE MILLER
OSU Extension Medina County
Earthworms can change the chemical nature of the carbon in forest litter and soils, potentially affecting the amount of carbon stored in forests.
Purdue University scientists, along with collaborators from the Smithsonian Institution and Johns Hopkins University, study the habits of earthworms originally brought to North America from Europe. [...]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Special to The Gazette
Plant: Wild grapes
Latin name: Vitis species
Description: Growing in Ohio, wild grapes can be found in and among other wild plants. Vines grow tall and attach themselves to trees or bushes in parks, wooded areas, river banks and nature preserves. Much like cultivated garden grapes, the leaves are heart-shaped but grow [...]

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By MIKE MILLER
OSU Extension Medina County
Now that cold temperatures are here, cost-conscious Ohioans will be looking to save money on heating bills.
For many, the solution is burning firewood. Officials at the Ohio Department of Agriculture who are responsible for enforcing Ohio’s firewood laws remind Ohioans to follow some basic tips when purchasing wood to [...]

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By KRISTEN NOWAK WINN
Accent Editor
Christmas may still be a month away, but there are only 20 shipping days left.
As you start to think about how you’ll package up gifts to loved ones far away, consider the following Earth-friendly tips.
o Reuse boxes for packaging. Just be sure the boxes are still sturdy, and rip off any [...]

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By KORINNE CANIGLIA
OSU Extension
Hundreds of volunteers and sponsors deliver 4-H values to young people in Medina County.
Ohio State University Extension, which coordinates the county’s 4-H program for more than 1,200 youths, recently honored the leaders at a banquet at the Medina Community Center.
Last year, more than 600 volunteers and sponsors donated $40,000 and 100,000 [...]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Special to The Gazette
Plant: Staghorn sumac
Common names: Velvet sumac, Scarlet sumac
Latin name: Rhus typhina
Description: From summer green to deep red, the small beautiful sumac shrub is not poisonous, unlike its “poison” sumac relative, Toxicodendron vernix, formerly known as Rhus vernix.
Indeed, the staghorn sumac, now fabulous in November, has long graceful and soft fuzzy stems [...]

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By KRISTEN NOWAK WINN
Accent Editor
Whether you’re the head honcho at the office or still working your way up the corporate ladder, there are plenty of ways to do your part to go green.
Doing so can help employees take pride in their place of work and provide an environmentally friendly environment. And unlike sales calls or [...]

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