Compost bags will be available in Hobart beginning Monday

HOBART | The compost bag program will begin Monday for Hobart residents.

Salt can leave a bad taste in lawns and gardens

Salt in the soil can be deadly for lawns, trees and gardens, robbing plants of their ability to absorb water. Salt-tolerant varieties are available, however, and ground laden with soluble toxins can be flushed clean to depths below the root zone.

Gardeners need a sense of humus

Let's pay homage to humus. As the garden gets into full swing, it's a good time for such tribute, because enthusiasm can be parlayed into action.

Consultant hired to find fix for Stone Avenue pipe

PORTAGE | The Portage Utility Services Board hired Abonmarche, an engineering and design firm, on Wednesday to come up with a solution to a failing drainage pipe.

LARRY DeBOER: Soil productivity factors and farmland property taxes

The assessed values of farmland for property taxes have been rising. Mostly this is because of increases in the "base rate" per acre of farmland. But now, another element of the assessment calculation, the "soil productivity factors," might rise as well.

Heath beds require some soil preparation

Botanical kin sometimes make good garden companions, and such is the case for the heath family.

A Thanksgiving for garden soil

For putting food on our tables, let's give thanks to the soil in our vegetable gardens.

POTW Mar. 20-Mar. 26 - Soil Composition Presentation

Kyle Elementary School first-grader rolls wet cocoa powder in her fingers Tuesday to test pretend soil composition during a presentation by Michelle Benson, of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District. The Portage students were presented with three different kinds of cooking po…

Good, clean fun and dirty kids

Kyle Elementary School first-grade teacher Bev Mundt lets student Mason Meade smell a common cooking powder Tuesday while learning about different similar soil compositions during the "Sweet on Soil" presentation by the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Good, clean fun and dirty kids

A Kyle Elementary School first-grader rolls wet cocoa powder in her fingers Tuesday to test pretend soil composition during a presentation by Michelle Benson, of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District. The Portage students were presented with three different kinds of cooking …

Good, clean fun and dirty kids

Michelle Benson, of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District, teaches students at Kyle Elementary School about soil composition Tuesday during her program "Sweet on Soil."

Good, clean fun and dirty kids

Michelle Benson, of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District, rolls pretend soil in into a ball Tuesday while showing Kyle Elementary School first-grader Cooper Jeremiason about soil texture. Benson used common cooking powders to resemble different soil types at the Portage school.

Students learn how ancestors 'gathered and grew'

Michelle Benson, center, of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District helps Matthew Mata, left, and Sydney Urycki identify seeds Wednesday during a "Gather and Grow" presentation to South Haven Elementary School fourth-graders. The presentation taught students about what are res…

Students learn how ancestors 'gathered and grew'

South Haven Elementary School fourth-graders use tweezers Wednesday to pick out seeds from a dish during a Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District "Gather and Grow" presentation.

Students learn how ancestors 'gathered and grew'

Michelle Benson of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District points to seeds early settlers ate during a "Gather and Grow" presentation Wednesday to South Haven Elementary School fourth-graders.

Students learn how ancestors 'gathered and grew'

South Haven Elementary School fourth-graders Clarissa Espinoza, left, and Oliva Gomez tally their seeds Wednesday during a project to learn about what residents of the area once ate. Michelle Benson of the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District led the presentation.