This week Casey gives us an update on some of the things that are blooming out at the farm. Since it’s a seed farm, things are blooming that, on other farms, would have been harvested or plowed under by now. Soon these flowers will form fruits which will house the seeds of future crops.
Speaking of phenology, there is so much out there to observe and track that scientists can’t possibly do it all themselves. They rely on citizen scientists like you and I to help. A number of apps have been developed to help us become better citizen scientists, and Daniel introduces us to a few, including:
- iNaturalist – a popular app for reporting on all types of flora and fauna
- Leafsnap – for identifying plants and helping researchers map and track their populations
- Bugwood Apps – a series of apps for reporting invasive species and insect pests
- Bumble Bee Watch – for tracking bumble bees (check out the Pacific Northwest Bumble Atlas for information about tracking bumble bees in our area)
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This episode aired on Radio Boise in July 2018 and featured music by Toy Zoo.