http://freshare.net/article/ en bobk@freshare.net Copyright 2012 2012-05-18T16:36:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/conservation_areas_perfect_for_celebrating_national_trails_day/ http://freshare.net/article/conservation_areas_perfect_for_celebrating_national_trails_day/#When:22:09:00Z On the first Saturday of June each year, the American Hiking Society encourages people to discover the healthy fun of spending time hiking, biking and horseback riding. National Trails Day falls on June 2 this year, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) bends over backwards to make it easy to celebrate the occasion. Conservation areas (CAs) have… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Hiking and Camping 2012-05-16T22:09:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/a_problem_with_patches/ http://freshare.net/article/a_problem_with_patches/#When:21:59:01Z A lawn can be a source of pride when healthy and green, but a front yard full of disease can be an embarrassment. Dead-looking areas of the lawn can be the first sign of two common fungal diseases. Large patch of zoysia and brown patch on tall fescue showed up especially early this year thanks to above-normal temperatures… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-05-16T21:59:01-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/tagged_catfish_are_being_stocked_around_the_state/ http://freshare.net/article/tagged_catfish_are_being_stocked_around_the_state/#When:01:57:00Z The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fisheries Program is continuing their efforts to get families involved in fishing with a tagged catfish campaign. Thousands of channel catfish from the AGFC’s warm-water hatchery facilities are currently being stocked at several locations around the state. Hundreds of the fish are being tagged with special Family… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-05-10T01:57:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/thinning_fruit_in_the_home_orchard/ http://freshare.net/article/thinning_fruit_in_the_home_orchard/#When:15:16:00Z Sometimes fruit trees try to produce more fruit than is good for the plant. Poor fruit size and flavor, plant stress, and alternate bearing can result when certain types of fruit trees aren’t properly thinned. “For gardeners with fruit trees, this process may be difficult, but it’s necessary to avoid these tendencies,” said Marlin Bates, University of Missouri… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-05-08T15:16:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/bull_shoals_lake_is_incredible_fishery_for_bassmaster_elite_anglers_amateur/ http://freshare.net/article/bull_shoals_lake_is_incredible_fishery_for_bassmaster_elite_anglers_amateur/#When:14:37:00Z Bull Shoals Lake is an incredible fishery – just ask a pro, especially those at the recent Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest held April 19-22 on this 60,000-acre impoundment. “Most definitely this is one of the best lakes I’ve fished in a long time,” said Bassmaster Pro Gerald Swindle. “If you’ve got children and you want to spend… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-05-02T14:37:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/as_temperatures_rise_gardeners_look_to_warm_season_vegetables/ http://freshare.net/article/as_temperatures_rise_gardeners_look_to_warm_season_vegetables/#When:14:19:00Z Home gardeners can finally put their green thumbs back to work on garden mainstays like tomatoes and peppers. Warm-season vegetables need the milder temperatures of late April and early May to ensure successful growth from seedlings to fruitful plants. The average frost-free date-the day when the chance of a late freeze falls to 50 percent-was April 10 for… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-04-26T14:19:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/benefits_of_a_well_drained_soil/ http://freshare.net/article/benefits_of_a_well_drained_soil/#When:13:58:00Z An ideal soil is half solid and half pore space by volume, and that pore space should be equal parts air and water. Gardening practices greatly influence pore space in cultivated soils. “Most gardeners don’t have an ideal soil, particularly as it relates to pore space,” said Marlin Bates, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “We need… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-04-25T13:58:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/start_at_the_bottom_for_better_fishing_results/ http://freshare.net/article/start_at_the_bottom_for_better_fishing_results/#When:23:50:00Z When the fish are not biting, go to the bottom. It’s a technique that has worked for generations and often one that turns a poor fishing day into a satisfactory one. The basic idea, according to experienced anglers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is to get your bait or your… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-04-19T23:50:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/to_seed_or_to_transplant/ http://freshare.net/article/to_seed_or_to_transplant/#When:22:06:00Z A fundamental and often overlooked decision in planting a garden is whether to directly seed a crop into the soil or to place transplants of a crop into the garden, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Gardeners typically let this decision to be made for them,” says Marlin Bates. “If transplants of a particular crop are available,… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-04-19T22:06:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/get_into_a_two_week_planting_schedule/ http://freshare.net/article/get_into_a_two_week_planting_schedule/#When:17:44:00Z Too many gardeners go all in when it comes to planting a vegetable garden by planting the entire garden at once, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Some fruiting vegetables can produce throughout the season, so it makes sense to plant them all at once,” said Marlin Bates. “Almost all other vegetables, though, can be planted in… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-04-17T17:44:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/its_time_for_asparagus/ http://freshare.net/article/its_time_for_asparagus/#When:17:41:00Z Asparagus is always a welcome sight in spring as a first opportunity for fresh vegetables straight from the garden. It is important to know how to prepare and store fresh asparagus for the best taste and maximum freshness, says a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist. “If you are buying fresh asparagus, look for firm,… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-04-17T17:41:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/bream_are_plentiful_and_in_many_forms_in_arkansas/ http://freshare.net/article/bream_are_plentiful_and_in_many_forms_in_arkansas/#When:13:03:00Z The term “bream” is familiar to any Arkansan who has fished and also to others who have partaken of the small, tasty fish at the dinner table. But the term bream is a label, a catch-all word. There isn’t a fish living in Arkansas that carries the official name of bream. Still, the species covers several… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-04-13T13:03:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/lesser_known_plants_that_deserve_a_place_in_the_midwest_vegetable_garden/ http://freshare.net/article/lesser_known_plants_that_deserve_a_place_in_the_midwest_vegetable_garden/#When:15:20:00Z There are a lot of vegetables out there for home gardeners in the Midwest to try beyond the standard offerings at the garden center, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist. Marlin Bates suggests gardeners look into some of the lesser-known members of the Apiaceae (ay-pee-AY-see-ee) family. Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-03-29T15:20:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/spring_pruning_subtraction_with_a_plus/ http://freshare.net/article/spring_pruning_subtraction_with_a_plus/#When:21:54:00Z Trees, hedges and bushes.... When spring comes, the impulse is to hand out haircuts. Correct pruning can help keep your plants’ size in check, remove undesirable growth and stimulate desirable growth. Spring is a good time for tree and shrub pruning for several reasons, says Chris Starbuck, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “You can… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-03-27T21:54:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/soil_test_calibration_measurement_will_help_feed_lawn_not_burn_it/ http://freshare.net/article/soil_test_calibration_measurement_will_help_feed_lawn_not_burn_it/#When:21:49:00Z Not only have flowers, buds, pollen and green grass appeared with the coming of spring, but so have those fertilizer commercials. “Before you follow up on the advertisements’ suggestions, be sure to have your soil tested for free through your local… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-03-27T21:49:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/managing_your_gardens_soil_moisture_doesnt_have_to_be_difficult/ http://freshare.net/article/managing_your_gardens_soil_moisture_doesnt_have_to_be_difficult/#When:21:37:00Z Managing soil moisture is an important part of successful vegetable gardening in the Midwest, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Springtime in our region often brings ample total moisture, but for gardeners with heavy soils, this can be as bad as drought,” says Marlin Bates. Too much moisture early on can stunt plants and prohibit good root… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-03-21T21:37:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/march_planets_in_view/ http://freshare.net/article/march_planets_in_view/#When:15:37:00Z If you’ve scanned the heavens at night this month, you probably couldn’t help notice a very bright “star” in the western sky. That’s actually sunlight reflecting off the clouds that surround our planetary neighbor, Venus. It’s proximity to Earth makes Venus glow brilliantly in the night sky. The other bright object that appears close to and just to the left… Pursuits, Backyard, Night Sky 2012-03-16T15:37:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/its_crappie_time_and_here_are_a_dozen_fishing_tips/ http://freshare.net/article/its_crappie_time_and_here_are_a_dozen_fishing_tips/#When:14:05:00Z When spring approaches, a large segment of Arkansas anglers think of crappie. It is true that crappie can be caught any time of the year, but spring and crappie seem to go together like ham and eggs, red beans and rice, grits and gravy. Yes, it is natural to use food analogies with the great-tasting crappie… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-03-15T14:05:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/can_potting_soil_be_reused/ http://freshare.net/article/can_potting_soil_be_reused/#When:13:55:00Z With warm temperatures on the horizon, many gardening enthusiasts are making plans for their spring and summer gardens. With consumers facing rising costs in just about every area of their lives, some gardeners may wonder if it is OK to reuse potting soil. Kim Toscano, host of Oklahoma Gardening, said generally there is nothing wrong with… Pursuits, Backyard, Gardening and Landscaping 2012-03-15T13:55:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/onsc_offers_march_programs_for_adults_and_families/ http://freshare.net/article/onsc_offers_march_programs_for_adults_and_families/#When:19:45:01Z The Ozark Natural Science Center near Huntsville, Arkansas has several programs in store for interested adults and families. The center is located about 3 miles off Highway 23 in the McIlroy Madison County Wildlife, between Huntsville and Eureka Springs. The center hosts educational,… Pursuits, Destinations, Arkansas Destinations 2012-03-09T19:45:01-06:00