Here in Michigan, we're just a bunch of saps

Michigan's maple syrup producers pumped out around 100,000 gallons of maple syrup this year. That's the most since 110,000 were produced in 1964 according to WWMT.com. Michigan ranks sixth in the nation in maple syrup production with Vermont leading the way with 500,000 gallons produced in 2008. On average, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.

Quick Fact: Native Americans harvested maple sap to get their sweet tooth fix. Since they didn't have a way to hold it in syrup form they boiled the sap down to maple sugar for a nice portable sweetener.

For more information on Michigan's maple syrup production visit the Michigan Maple Syrup Association.

Michigan senator wants yard waste back in landfills

State Senator Patty Birkholz has introduced a bill that will bring yard waste back into state landfills 13 years after yard waste was banned. She claims it will help create methane (quicker than current garbage residing in landfills) which can be harnessed for power. Since we still see fit to import trash from Canada I just don't see the benefits (nor any actual scientific data) to back this bill.

Community compost piles and individual compost bins are the way to go (in my humble opinion). I use a mulching blade on our mower and I don't even have to worry about raking grass. It all goes into the ground to become nitrogen and help feed the lawn.

For more information on how to compost, what to put in compost, etc. see The Lazy Man's Guide To Compost.

Normandy Cemetary

D-Day Cemetery, originally uploaded by Jason's Travel Photography.