Fertilizer

Stormwater problem is real

2013-05-03 10:30:00

Many thanks go to Alison Prost of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for her explanation of the stormwater fee ("Beyond 'rain tax' rhetoric," May 1). I would like to add a little historical background. When Europeans first visited the Chesapeake Bay, it...

Federal inspectors should have warned of Texas fertilizer blast

2013-05-01 06:45:00

In my reading and listening about the fertilizer plant fire and explosion in West, Texas, I have noticed a dearth of comments about the dangers faced by first responders ("Obama to honor firefighters killed in Texas fertilizer blast," April 24). One...

Efforts to protect Carroll County stream to take root April 20

2013-04-13 12:33:00

The task may seem daunting for those considering spending Saturday morning planting 1,400 trees and shrubs on 7 acres of a dairy farm in Union Bridge. But the rewards are considerable, according to Rob Schnabel, a research scientist for the Chesapeake...

If not firearms, how about fireworks control?

2013-04-24 11:30:00

Let us beat the gun-rights crowd to the punch and agree with them right here and now that firearms aren't the only dangerous devices out there in dire need of greater regulation. It seems that certain types of fireworks may need to be added to that list,...

Food-scrap composting finds a home in Howard

2013-04-21 14:37:00

Howard Hord considers himself a chef of sorts, but the food he works with is a little past its prime. Using moldy melon rinds, orange peels and other castoff fruit and vegetables from some Howard County kitchens, Hord is "cooking" the first batches of...

More mulch is not better

2013-04-17 16:23:00

Please settle an argument. You say to spread no more than 1-2 inches of mulch around a tree. Since mulch holds moisture in soil, isn't more mulch even better? Seems logical — but more isn't always better in this case. Mulch does shade soil and...

Embracing the realities of gardening shortcomings and deer [Commentary]

2013-04-15 10:24:18

It's the time of year when I probably ought to be thinking about gardening, but this year I'm thinking about not gardening. Gardening has never been among my strong abilities. I can dig a hole and plant something. I have a lot of success with trees,...

A better solution for manure

2013-04-01 08:58:00

Optimism might seem out of place after the Waterkeeper Alliance's bitter loss in a recent lawsuit to hold Perdue Farms and its grower Alan Hudson responsible for polluting waterways with poultry manure. But it's possible to at least be hopeful of...

Warm winters can hurt lilac blooms

2013-03-27 11:08:00

The last couple of years my lilac hasn't bloomed. It's always been a favorite. What can I do? There could be several causes. Because we've gotten many calls about this in recent years, it may be related to climate change. Our common lilac will...

Bill would give farmers 10-year reprieve on new regs

2013-03-26 17:29:40

A bill moving through the General Assembly would give Maryland farmers a 10-year reprieve from new state or local environmental regulations if the state Department of Agriculture deems they're doing their part to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. To get the...

Compost should go beyond kitchen scraps

2013-03-14 15:43:00

I want to start a compost pile, but I'm worried that kitchen scraps will attract animals from the woods nearby. Any thoughts? Usually kitchen scraps are a small portion of a pile's ingredients. Most kitchen scraps are small pieces, damaged or bruised....

Protecting the Chesapeake Bay from pesticide runoff

2013-02-21 05:15:00

As a concerned mother and environmentalist, I want to thank The Sun for its recent article on pollution in the Chesapeake Bay ("Report finds widespread contaminants in the bay," Jan. 22). Meaningful efforts to significantly improve the bay must...

The remains of a fertilizer plant burn after an explosion at the plant in the town of West, Texas.

2013-05-01 14:53:02

The casket of Joseph "Joey" Frank Pustejovsky, Jr. of the West Volunteer Fire Department is shown at the West memorial service at Baylor University on April 25, 2013 in Waco, Texas.

2013-04-26 04:23:00

The remains of a fertilizer plant burn after an explosion at the plant in the town of West, near Waco, Texas early April 18, 2013.

2013-04-22 14:29:00