Home & Garden

Spring cleanup in Huntsville this weekend

Submitted by Mike Brown, Area man

Monday, April 1st, 2013, 11:50am

Spring cleanup in Huntsville this weekend

Huntsville, AL (WAFF) - Spring is in the air, and the city of Huntsville wants you to come out and help clean up the town.

The city is hosting it's annual Great American Cleanup & Beautification Day this Saturday, April 6th.

Before that, however, there is a supply pickup where you can come out and get ready for the big event. From 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Friday, you can come and pick up trash bags, a tomato plant and hot dog for free! You can also register to win a cedar raised planter bed. The supplies will be at City Hall at 308 Fountain Circle.

For more information, call Operation Green Team at (256) 532-5326.

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Decorating for Christmas on a budget

Submitted by Bliss Bowman Wade, Digital Content Director

Friday, November 30th, 2012, 12:44pm

If you’re anything like me, you love Christmas decorations, but lack the creativity to bring your ideas to life. Lucky for me, I know Bethany Oliver. She is a decorating genius, and all around talented woman. I met her when she did my wedding invitations earlier this year. I found examples of her work on the Carriage House Facebook page, and knew Bethany would make my house look just as fabulous.

Her resume isn’t too shabby either. Bethany and her business partner, Jason Allen, have decorated the homes of several country music stars in Nashville.

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Banana trees bear fruit in Huntsville man's backyard

Submitted by Christine Pae

Monday, November 12th, 2012, 11:51am

Banana trees bear fruit in Huntsville man's backyard

A Huntsville man hoped for years that the banana trees in his backyard would bear fruit.

The trees flourished in height and foliage for about a decade but never produced bananas – until now.

“Thanks to the mild winter this year, the lower portion of four of my trees managed to survive and come up earlier,” said Seth Lubega.

Lubega, a native of Uganda, moved to Huntsville nearly fifty years ago to attend Oakwood University.

His wife brought two banana saplings to their home in 2000. Lubega planted them in his backyard at his north Huntsville home, wondering how they would fare in the valley’s non-tropical climate.

“As they sprouted new babies, I planted them until I had a row in front of my house.

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The Dust Bowl....Remembered

Submitted by Jim Segina, Photojournalist/VJ

Thursday, November 8th, 2012, 2:09pm

In the 1930s, a manmade ecological disaster of epic proportions swept the American Midwest and threatened to destroy the nation’s bread basket. The Dust Bowl, as it became known, turned prairies into deserts and unleashed a pattern of massive, deadly dust storms that for many seemed to herald the end of the world. The story of this national calamity is captured in famed filmmaker Ken Burns’ newest documentary, THE DUST BOWL, premiering Sunday, Nov. 18 and Monday, Nov.19 at 7:00 p.m. on Alabama Public Television.

Thomas D Atkinson, who heads up the local Madison County USDA/FSA says, "Although the storms of the Dust Bowl did not reach Alabama, the measures taken to prevent future tragedies had a major impact on Alabama agriculture. That’s why people throughout the state should tune in to see the two-night, four-hour film. "

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Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE)

Submitted by Jim Segina, Photojournalist/VJ

Saturday, October 20th, 2012, 1:10am

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE)

(Huntsville, Alabama) Oct. 19, 2012 —Farm Service Agency Madison County Executive Director, Thomas Atkinson said the sign-up period for the 2011 crop year Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program will open Oct. 22, 2012, and end June 7, 2013. The SURE program authorizes assistance to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011.

“Any eligible producer who suffered losses during the 2011 crop year is encouraged to visit the FSA office to learn more about the SURE program and how to apply,” said Atkinson.

Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.

To be eligible for SURE, a farm or ranch must have:

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Review: Tasia's Table cooking class

Submitted by Bliss Bowman Wade, Digital Content Director

Thursday, September 6th, 2012, 1:52pm

An artisan cheese maker offers cooking classes at her Huntsville home, bringing people together for fellowship and food. Wednesday’s class, Cooking with Chèvre, offered participants a chance to learn about cooking with goat cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you’re like me, you love goat cheese, but are intimidates when it comes to finding many uses for it. I’ve been eating Belle Chèvre goat cheese for about two years, and I’m sad to say I’ve only spread it on bagels for breakfast, sprinkled it in salads, or used it as a spread. It’s definitely delicious used these ways, but after the class with Tasia, I’m excited to try my hand at utilizing the versatile product.

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RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY

Submitted by Jim Segina, Photojournalist/VJ

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012, 9:26am

The billboard in Jacksonville, FL read, "If you prayed for rain, you can stop now." This, of course, after they were deluged with water from the recent tropical system that moved through the Flordia panhandle.

Those prayers, however, can certainly be used here.

"It's been tough. It's been tough," says Suzie Harvin of Harvin Farms. "We have an irrigation system, but we need the rain. We've lost a lot of the tomatoe crop this year."

A bit of good news from the 48 news weather team has showers in the forecaset this week.

Hopefully, those showers will bring enough rain to salvage desperate crops wanting a drink.

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