Backyard Wisdom

Putting Up Summer’s Bounty

Some people may have discovered that their home gardens are out producing their family’s ability to eat the fresh produce. But there is no reason to let fresh fruit and vegetables go to waste. There are lots of ways to safely preserve your garden’s bounty. Canning, freezing and drying are some of the most popular ways.

I learned the basics of freezing vegetables as well as making pickles, relishes and jellies from my mother. But it’s unknown territory for some of my friends and, I know, many other folks as well. And even veteran food preservers have questions now and then.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has a number of excellent publications that can guide you through freezing and canning. Many can be found online here. You can also purchase a hard copy of the Home Food Preservation here.

Bats In The Belfry

Dr. Jim Armstrong, who is a wildlife scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, visited Backyard Wisdom last week to talk about bats. Did you know that 16 species of bats call Alabama home? There are species that live here year-round, while others pass through as part of their annual migrations.

Two species, the gray myotis and the Indiana myotis, are listed as endangered species by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Four others—the northern yellow bat, the southeastern myotis, the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat and the Brazilian free-tailed bat—are listed as species of special concern by the Alabama Department of Conservation.

Bats in Alabama usually make homes in trees or caves. But attics, eaves and chimneys of homes can make ideal roosting areas for bats. Bats roost during the day and feed at night. Natural feeding areas include forests, wetlands and other habitats. At my house, I often see them feeding on insects drawn by my outside lights. I was amazed to learn that bats can catch thousands of insects in a single night.

For more information about bats in Alabama, how to keep them out of your attic, and how to provide suitable shelter for them, check out Bat Management In Alabama at the ACES Web site.