ENVIRONMENT A recent study finds that the often-feared big cats actually help keep crops and domesticated animals safe from other threats. (Scientific American) Zoom in on the dwindling range of the biggest of the big cats with today’s MapMaker Interactive map. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas New research investigates “ecosystem services” offered by tigers … Continue reading How Tigers Benefit Farmers
UNITED STATES As cheaper technology and a changing climate make growing food easier, more Alaskans are turning to farming. (High Country News) When is Alaska’s growing season? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit Text Set. Discussion Ideas What makes Alaska’s physical geography ideal for farming? Alaska’s geologic activity has created rich soil. “Thanks to built-up organic matter … Continue reading Alaska: The Last Frontier of Farming
Becky Collins, this week’s Educator of the Week, created a gardening program for her kindergarten students, teaching them about where food comes from and how it’s grown. Through this project, Becky has convinced her pickiest eaters to try broccoli, and in the process she has changed the way they learn new skills. She is a kindergarten teacher at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, and has … Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Kinder-Gardening Leads to Growth
Jillian Levine lives in Maryland, where she works as an assistant market manager for Butler’s Orchard. For more information about Butler’s Orchard, visit http://www.ButlersOrchard.com or email Jillian at Jillian@ButlersOrchard.com. If you’ve ever traveled through the suburbs of upper Montgomery County, Maryland, you might be surprised to come across Butler’s Orchard, a family-owned and operated market and 300-acre Pick-Your-Own orchard. Nestled in between sprawling suburbs and new housing … Continue reading The Geography of a Suburban Farm
FOOD Mechanization has made the farming of many crops—lettuce and tomatoes among them—a lot less labor intensive. But some crops are still tended and harvested by hand, and it can be painstaking work. (NPR) Take a look through our new map layers on the world’s leading food crops. Discussion Ideas Read through the NPR article, then read the Background Info in our media spotlight on mapping … Continue reading Hand-Harvesting is Hard Work
