Good day, I’m Terry Rounds, and welcome to the Fairfax County News to Use podcast of Feb. 12th, 2008. Coming up, learn about trout fishing, the 2008 Native Seedling Sale, soil testing and free tax preparation services. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
Cast your line and catch your limit at Lake Accotink and Lake Fairfax parks as the spring trout fishing program begins this February.
Weekly stocking will alternate between the two parks, with the first stocking of 1,000 pounds of farm-raised, safe-to-eat rainbow and golden trout taking place on Friday, Feb. 8, at Lake Accotink. Fishing will continue at both parks until April 20, from 7 a.m. until dusk. For fee information, daily fish limits and directions to the parks, visit the News to Use Web page.
The Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District seedling sale is in full swing! This year, we are offering 12 bare-root seedlings and 2 seed packets to help you provide a butterfly buffet in your yard. The selections provide nectar for butterflies or are butterfly hosts, the special plants that butterflies select to nourish their caterpillars. The cost for this year's package is $17.95. Supplies are limited, so don't wait to order. Orders will be taken while supplies last or until April 14, 2008. For more information call 703-324-1460, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/announcements.
Do you like to eat Crabs, Oysters and Rockfish? We can all do our part in ensuring that the harvests will be bountiful. You can start in your own backyard. Before you do anything, have your soil tested. You can pick up a test kit at any Fairfax County Library. The kit has instructions explaining how to gather and send your sample to the Virginia Tech soil testing lab. You will receive a detailed analysis of your soil within 2 weeks, with information of what your soil needs. The cost is $7.00.
Needless fertilization is carried by spring rains into our freshwater supply from your backyard right into the Chesapeake Bay. Phosphorus in fertilizers is a major contributor to excess algae growth in the Bay. This can seriously degrade prime oyster and fish nesting sites. Before you fertilize, have your soil tested. The soil test may point to other options such as aerating the soil to reduce compaction, or adding organic material to help build microorganisms, which are beneficial in maintaining good lawn health. We can all do our part in keeping the Chesapeake Bay clean and bountiful. For more information, you may call the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District at 703-324-1460 or the Virginia Cooperative Extension at 703-324-5369.
And finally, The Creating Assets, Savings and Hope program, or “CASH,” is now open at 12 sites throughout Northern Virginia. This all-volunteer coalition provides free income tax preparation services to residents with annual household incomes less than $40,000. Hours and days vary by location. Clients should bring photo identification and Social Security cards for all taxpayers, spouses and dependents. Volunteers also are needed to help prepare taxes. For more information, including site locations, visit the News to Use Web page or call 703-324-5171.
That’s all for this News to Use podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for continuous news updates, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news. You may also call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. News to Use is produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, government.