Healthy Kids Snacks educational story video #GardenCuizine @CUMaurice #eaglesknowbest #preventdiabetes

Provide Kids Healthy Snacks to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Diabetes

Over the past few years New Jersey's endangered American Bald Eagles have made a strong return, especially in South Jersey, not too far from where I work in Cumberland county. 

American Bald Eagles get illustrated in story telling and are the symbol of strength and power featured in designs on the US National seal, passports and money.

The recovering Bald Eagle population is wonderful news. Especially for bird watching enthusiasts, biologists and environmentalists who knew that Eagles had rapidly declined after pesticide use of DDT in the 1950's through 1972 when it was finally banned. 

According to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, there was only one Eagle's nest left in NJ by1982. Since then a lot of people have worked hard to save the American Eagle from extinction.

Today, majestic Bald Eagles can be seen soaring throughout the state of NJ, usually near water. The majority fly near their huge nests, built in tall trees, along the Delaware Bay in Salem and Cumberland counties. Eagles lay their eggs right now, from mid February to early March.

Harry and I were thrilled to tour that beautiful area with the group Citizens United Maurice River. The winter morning we went was misty and cold. As we looked across the wetlands, three, white, mute swans photo-bombed my attempt at photographing Eagles! That photo turned out to be one of my favorite pictures, "Misty Mute Swans Soaring South Jersey Wetlands."

Anyway, the CDC story below caught my attention since it includes a wise Eagle. It is taken from one of a series of Eagle books written by Georgia Perez. She features Native American children (who have high risk for diabetes), Miss rabbit, a tricky coyote and a wise Bald Eagle. 

• Mr. Eagle encourages the children to drink water instead of soda and to select healthy snacks like carrots and cherries instead of chips and cookies.

• Eating a healthy diet along with exercise has been shown to help prevent childhood obesity and related diseases like diabetes.

• Bald Eagles know best about good snack choices. We can all learn skills from Mr. Eagle on how to better navigate the environment when others (coyotes) tempt us with tricky treats.

This story inspires me to inquire about being a vendor at the Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival next February in 2020. Keep learning about Eagles and the importance of protecting their habitat. And, remember that healthy food choices help to prevent childhood obesity and diabetes.

Related Links
Conserve Wildlife Endangered Species

Blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved. Tricky Treats video story illustrations are by Patrick Rolo and Lisa A. Fifield. United States Seal image courtesy of Wikipedia. Public Domain.

NJ #nativegardens "Bringing Nature Home" author Dr. Tallamy @WheatonArts @NWF #gardenchat

Wheaton Arts ECO Fair
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Doug Tallamy

WHEN

Saturday, May 7th, 2016

at 1:30 pm

The presentation will be followed

by his book signing: Bringing Nature Home

WHERE

Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center

1000 Village Dr, Millville, NJ

COST

FREE!

CU Maurice River invites anyone who gardens, would like to garden, and/or who would like to support local biodiversity to attend Dr Tallamy's presentation.

Wheaton's ECO Fair will be open 10 am to 5 pm and will also feature local NJ Artists, Nature Walks and a Rain Barrel Workshop!

photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Grow More Native Plants, but why? #gardenchat #gardenforwildlife #NJ

Grow Native Plants,
but Why?

This year we hope to add more native plants to our yard and landscape. Like many people, our yard has a mix of invasive, non-native and natives. Harry recently asked me with regard to plants, "What does native mean?" And, why do native plants matter?" 

Does native mean grown in the state? Or, native to the United States? Or in our case, native to the East Coast? What a good question. It would seem "native" regions would vary depending on water, soil and weather needs for the plant to thrive. 

For those in South Jersey with interest in learning more:  The book "Bringing Nature Home"  - will be the topic at the Millville Public Library on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 6 pm. There will be a reading circle hosted by the group CU Maurice River and led by CU member and Rutgers Master Gardener Suzy Merighi.

A good reason for growing more native plants is to sustain biodiversity and provide food for wildlife. Do you enjoy nature and getting outdoors and watching backyard birds, hummingbirds, squirrels, ladybugs and butterflies? Then plant shrubs and blooms that sustain these critters. Clearing trees for housing developments and planting non-native plants deprives local wildlife of habitat and sustenance. 

The more I learn, the more I cringe, because we are GUILTY of growing invasive, alien, non-native plants. As many of you know, if you read my last post, I mentioned that I relocated a few butterfly bushes; they are a big NO-NO in native gardens. We have too many non-native plants like Burning bushes, Mugwort, English Ivy and Periwinkle.

The good news is that we are trying to grow more natives! Mother Nature will thank us and will thank you too if you do the same. I'm looking forward to planting more Mountain Laurel and may try Highbush Blueberry and Beach Plums. Any other recommendations?

Happy Gardening!

Related Links
Citizens United 2016 Calendar of Events
8th Annual Native Plant SWAP
Galloway, NJ: Saturday, May 7, 2016 (9 am - 2 pm) -- rain or shine!
Pat Sutton's Source List for Native Plants 2016 
Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens by Pat Sutton

Blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.