Environment Resources
-

This resource offers practical guidance for creating pollinator-friendly habitats on balconies, porches, or patios using potted plants. Designed for those with limited outdoor space, it covers choosing the right containers, selecting native and pollinator-attracting plants, and providing essential resources like water and shelter. Readers will learn how to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with seasonal blooms, proper placement, and maintenance tips.
Becky Griffin, Bethany A Harris, and Kim Toal
|
-
RenewedPlanting pollinator-friendly flowers in your yard is a great first step for improving the quality of pollinator habitats. Adding nesting sites and nesting materials is another important measure in creating sustainable habitats, especially for native bees. When bees have access to a diversity of nesting materials, their numbers are positively affected, so providing nesting resources in your landscape is very beneficial to bees.
Published with the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources as WSFNR-17-48.
Elizabeth McCarty and Becky Griffin
|
-

C 1213
Georgia Fireflies
RenewedGeorgia is home to over 50 species of fireflies, more than any other U.S. state. Also known as lightning bugs, the insects’ “dancing light” patterns are an important, and nostalgic, part of Georgia summer evenings. To protect fireflies and ensure that we continue to enjoy their presence in the landscape, it is important to understand their lifecycle and habitat needs.
Becky Griffin and Jason Schmidt
|
-

Brassica carinata is an annual oilseed crop used for the commercial production of jet fuel, animal feed, and valuable chemicals. Carinata has recently been introduced in Georgia as a cool season cash crop with cover crop benefits. Because it is grown in the winter, it has the potential to sustain and recover from frost damage. This publication outlines conditions that can cause frost damage and how the plant will react to this stress.
This resource was written in collaboration with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Southeast Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata.
Daniel Geller
|
-

An abundant supply of clean, safe drinking water is essential for human and animal health. Water from municipal or public water systems is treated and monitored to ensure that it is safe for human consumption. Many Georgia residents, especially in rural areas, rely on private water systems for human and livestock consumption. Most private water systems are supplied by wells. Water from wells in Georgia is generally safe for consumption without treatment. Some waters, however, may contain disease-causing organisms that make them unsafe to drink. Well waters may also contain large amounts of minerals, making them too “hard” for uses such as laundering, bathing or cooking. Some contaminants may cause human health hazards and others can stain clothing and fixtures, cause objectionable tastes and odors, or corrode pipes and other system components.
Uttam K. Saha and L. Mark Risse
|
-

This field guide is based on a 2-year study of ground-dwelling spiders in blueberry farms in southeastern Georgia and shows the most common spider families and genera found. This guide is for farmers, students, and educators to help them recognize these groups. Spiders are helpful organisms that feed on insects and other small creatures. In many cases, they are among the most effective natural controls of pest insects in gardens, farms, forests, and even inside homes.
Sarah Miranda Rezende, Bodie V. Pennisi, and Jason Schmidt
|
-

Georgia is experiencing rapid growth in utility-scale solar energy development. This resource addresses some general concerns and questions residents have asked UGA Extension about how the construction and operation of these solar facilities could affect our soil and the quality of our shared surface and underground waters, including well water.
Uttam K. Saha
|
-

An estimated 1.7 million people in Georgia rely on 640,000 private wells for their drinking water supply, and private well water users are responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of their water supplies for domestic, livestock, and irrigation use. This online tool provides interpretations and recommendations for drinking water quality.
Uttam K. Saha
|
-

With growing demands for water that is suitable for drinking (potable) and expanding irrigated acreage, there is an increased pressure on irrigated farms to consider using nonpotable alternatives. However, low quality irrigation water can adversely affect soil physical conditions and crop production. This resource provides in-depth information on the importance of irrigation water quality, water quality attributes, salts content, toxicity and the sources of toxic components, and bacteria in water sources.
Uttam K. Saha, Stephanie Butcher, Gary L. Hawkins, Wesley Porter, and Jason Lessl
|