General
Do you know your wild neighbors? This website was developed by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to introduce Wild Neighbors , a program that "promotes nonlethal means for resolving conflicts between wildlife and humans..." and "cultivates an understanding and appreciation for those wildlife species commonly found in cities and towns." HSUS also uses this site to introduce the Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program (UWSP). UWSP provides individuals and communities with support and information about creating quality wildlife habitats on their property. This website contains links to urban-relevant wildlife issues such as feeding winter birds, gardens and wildlife, negative impacts of litter, and animal tracking. [NL]
http://www.seedsavers.org/wholepgs/Mainpgs/planting_guide.htm
This website will be of interest to gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike. Seed Savers Exchange (SSE), an 8,000 members-strong leader in the "heirloom seed movement," has assembled a planting guide that includes planting instructions for a variety of herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Divided into those three categories, the plants are listed alphabetically by common name. In addition to planting instructions, the herb section includes plant history and uses, the flower section includes plant history, and the vegetable section includes seed saving instructions. This site has links to other components of the SSE operation such as Heritage Farm, an agricultural project that currently maintains 18,000 rare vegetable varieties! [NL]
http://www.history.nih.gov/exhibits/thinblueline/
In today's world, the test for pregnancy is only a pharmacy, and minutes, away. This wasn't always the case, however. Until 1978 no definitive means existed for at-home pregnancy testing. This site, from the National Institutes of Health, traces the history of the test back to its earliest roots at NIH. The site includes historical information on the early Egyptian practice of women urinating on wheat and barley to the more modern research into human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the so-called pregnancy hormone sought out by pregnancy test kits. An interesting part of the site includes stories from people whose lives have been affected by the pregnancy test. At the Your Stories link, visitors can either add a story or read what's been submitted so far. [JPM]
http://lamington.nrsm.uq.edu.au/LamingtonIntro.htm
To see the "dangerously venomous" Common Death Adder or hear the low growl of the Giant Barred River Frog, take a trip to the Lamington National Park website. Here you will find a treasure trove of great information about the wide variety of plants, animals, and insects found at the park. Laminton, a huge park (20,000 hectares) is located in Queensland and carries the distinction of a World Heritage Area. The website, offered by the Green Mountains Natural History Association and the University of Queensland, not only has descriptions of the various flora and fauna found in the park, it also has a link to the park's history and information for prospective visitors. [JPM]
http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1539095.html
Some people hunt animals and others hunt for trees. In this National Public Radio story, one in a special series called Big Trees and the Lives They've Changed, Ketzel Levine accompanies the foremost big tree hunter into the forests of the northwest. While they do find some big trees, it's what they don't find -- the absence of big trees -- that's most illuminating. By big, we're talking trees that are in excess of forty feet in circumference and as tall as a football field is long; they are huge harbingers of life and whole ecosystems. The story is perfect for a lay audience, but would also be a great addition to any class studying related topics. [JPM]
