Today's Features

The N.C. Fourth of July Festival is seeking individuals, groups or restaurants that would like to face-off for bragging rights at the second annual chowder cook-off from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at the Oak Island Moose Lodge.
All awards will be decided by a vote of those attending the cook-off. Awards will be given for first, second and third place in the Professional Division and the Individual Division. There will also be an overall Best Decorated Booth award. There is no fee to enter the competition. Application deadline
is Feb. 17.

Having read the announcement in the Beacon and knowing the facilitator of the group made me curious and eager to attend. Its name, Poetry Revisited, is a bit of an affirmation of poetry, as well as another look at the individual writing presented by the participants.
However, my intrigue leads me to offer another description. In my mind’s eye, I see a gathering of folks who have embraced the concept of carpe diem. They are seizing the day as live poets willing to put their life experiences into poetic words.

I would be lying if I said that this weather was not confusing. I am fighting the urge to work in the garden but I still suspect we may experience cold temperatures in the month of February.
I have decided to put my energy toward seed selection for this spring. Growing plants from seed indoors can give you a head start on the growing season. It can also allow for more diversity in the plants you are able to find.

By Tom Woods
Master Gardener
I came across this article in a recent issue of Soil Science and found it interesting. There are many closed and razed industrial sites that could be reclaimed as useful ground using this technology.
Cleaning up soils contaminated with heavy and toxic metals is a difficult task, but a technique called phytoextraction can ease the challenge by using metal-tolerant plants to rid soils of metals and contaminants.