Jennifer Yates from the Calhoun County Extension System and the County’s Recycling Program spoke to our MG meeting about the County’s new sustainability programs. Jennifer’s job is outreach and she will be helping us make our county more sustainable. What does that mean? Sustainability, a very big word, is the new buzz word around the country for a new way of life--one in which we become stewards of our environment. We will reuse more, recycle more, use less water, less energy to heat and cool, improve the quality of our water, and work in harmony with nature to preserve and protect our community’s resources. As gardeners there are many steps we can each take: compost to reduce the amount of yard waste that goes into the landfill; use more native plants in our landscape; learn to be water wise and develop other means for "smart"yards. If each of us makes small changes in our lives, we can reach the goal of having a sustainable community.

With a grant from Legacy, Jennifer will offer a series of public workshops geared to creating a sustainable community. There will also be a new program, Masters in Conservation, which will be similar to the Master Gardeners Program. Congratulations to our County government, the Calhoun County Extension System, and Jennifer for their important effort to improve our community for ourselves and our children. You can reach Jennifer for more information at 256-237-1621.

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Aren’t these two little ones precious? They live in my neighborhood and come through all the yards daily to checkout what there is to munch on. The one with the spots was born this year and the larger one was born last year. Our deer are so used to us they don’t run from us and actually respond to our voices. Yes, we know our local deer by heart. I love them, until I discover the begonias are missing their flowers, hostas have no leaves left, or the hydrangeas are bloomless. I want to admire these delicate creatures from afar and hope that no harm becomes them. Deer can be a menace for humans driving their cars at dusk.

You know you have deer when you find ragged edges on your ornamentals, deer droppings, or deer tracks. Deer are like goats and graze constantly. We humans keep building more houses in areas that used to be theirs, going further and further in what were wildlife habitats. Thus, we now have more and more deer in our neighborhoods. They adapt very well to land between forests and our landscapes. We have lush lawns and beautiful ornamentals which make perfect snacks.

A question I, as a master gardener, am frequently asked is how to minimize deer damage. Scare techniques like loud noises and irrigation tend not to work as the deer get used to the noise. Fencing can work but it has to be high enough that a deer can’t jump over; fencing can get expensive and can be unattractive. Deer do have preferences for what they like to eat so we can plant things that they find less attractive. Being really careful about what you plant can reduce deer damage. That won’t help what you already have. My method of choice for controlling deer damage is repellants in the form of granules or spray. It is absolutely not harmful to the plants or the deer. The one I choose, Deer Stopper, has putrefied eggs, rosemary oil, and other ingredients. It smells pretty strong when I first spray it, but the smell evaporates. The plants I keep diligently sprayed have escaped deer damage. The cue is to have a good spray program. Where there is a will there is a way – to enjoy these creatures and minimize damage. With a little effort humans and deer can live in harmony with each other.

For more information consult aces.edu (the web site for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System) and search for Publication ANR-1370