implementing photos on Flickr

20230412-FS-CDP-0386 by U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Beattra Wilson, U.S. Forest Service Assistant Director for Urban and Community Forestry, walks and talks with a local stake holder at the end of a public meeting, April 12, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Dr. Homer Wilkes, U.S. Senator Cory Booker and White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta announced historic funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand access to urban nature, combat the climate crisis, and advance environmental justice, after meeting with local and state stake holders.

The funding announced that day is part of a $1.5 billion investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The grant funding is available to community-based organizations, tribes, municipal and state governments, nonprofit partners, universities, and other eligible entities as they work to increase tree cover in urban spaces and boost equitable access to nature while bolstering resilience to extreme heat, storm-induced flooding, and other climate impacts. This historic level of investment will enable the Forest Service to support projects to improve public health, increase access to nature, and deliver real economic and ecological benefits to cities, towns and tribal communities across the country. (USDA photo by Christophe Paul)

Prince Alfred Ernest Albert 1844 - 1900 by Pauline and John Grimshaw

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Prince Alfred Ernest Albert. Painted for Queen Victoria by Franz Winterhalter in 1865. Oil on Canvas Royal Collection.

During a visit to England in 1859-60 The Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Grey suggested to Queen Victoria that while her eldest son was about to pay a Royal Visit to America, (to inaugurate the Victoria Bridge across the St. Lawrence) Prince Alfred, her second son, should “confer a similar distinction” on South Africa and act as the Queen’s representative in the ceremony marking the commencement of the harbour improvements in Table Bay. Victoria concurred and Prince Alfred left England on 5th May 1860 aboard the steam frigate “Euryalus” arriving, via Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, in Simon’s Bay on 24th July. Alfred was still only sixteen but had already been in the Navy since the age of twelve.

After touring the Cape for seven weeks, on the 17th of September the Table Bay breakwater ceremony was held and Alfred pulled a trigger to release the first truck-load of rocks for its construction. On 19th of September after inaugurating the newly-completed Prince Alfred’s jetty he embarked on the Euryalus for the journey back to England via St. Helena, Ascension, Sierra Leone and The Azores.

A full account of his one-day visit to St. Helena is described in: “The progress of His Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert through the Cape Colony, Kaffraria, the Orange Free State and Port Natal in the year 1860”. Published by Saul Solomon & Co. 1861 it is available to download at books.google.co.uk and edited extracts are given below

Saul Solomon was born on St Helena in 1817, left for South Africa with his family about 1830, and later became an MP for Cape Town and founder of The Cape Argus. His memorial is in St James’ Church, Jamestown.

Ten days after leaving Cape Town day the bold, cloud-capped peak of the island was descried on the horizon, and by eleven a.m. the Euryalus made her way into James' Town harbour. The bustling, loyal Saint Helena men were for once in their lives taken fairly by complete surprise. They had been expecting the Prince, indeed, for weeks before, but an arrival of a few days previous assured them that His Royal Highness could not possibly be there for some time to come. His Excellency the Governor was now at Plantation House, a few miles distant, and the Colonial Secretary, as his representative, proceeded on board to receive the Prince, to suggest that the landing should be delayed a little longer than had been contemplated, and to tender, in His Excellency's name, the services of Lieutenant-Colonel Knipe, Colonial Aide-de-camp, Captain Peile, Royal Artillery, and Captain Tayler, Saint Helena Regiment, as Aides-de-camp to His Royal Highness during his stay on the island. The Prince cordially accepted the proffered loyal compliment, though, as the time at his disposal for witnessing the "lions" of the place was to be brief, he preferred disembarking immediately. But in the short interval which did elapse since it was known that the frigate in the roads was Her Majesty's steamer Euryalus the aspect of the town was completely transformed as if by sudden magic. The flags and banners, bearing their appropriate mottoes, prepared so long in advance and afterwards laid aside in reserve, were now brought forth and over the head school of the Island appeared, in conspicuous characters, the graceful, simple salutation, "SALVE "FILI VICTORIA."

As the Prince's boat reached the wharf, where a great crowd of the inhabitants had assembled, and where the Saint Helena Regiment were mustered as a guard of honour, His Royal Highness was received by the Chief Justice and the principal officers of the Government and the garrison; a thundering salute was fired from the battery of the precipitous Ladder Hill; and having entered the Netherlands Consul's carriage, which was placed there at his disposal, the Prince proceeded onwards to the city, meeting on his route the Volunteer Rifle Company with presented arms, and hailed by enthusiastic cheers from the concourse of people. When near the drawbridge he was met by the Governor, Sir E Drummond-Hay, the Bishop, Dr. Claughton, and His Excellency's Aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel Knipe. Without waiting for the horses to be properly halted His "Royal Highness with one bound vaulted out of the carriage and shook hands with the Governor in the most cordial manner, and after a little talk they both stepped again into the vehicle and proceeded to the Castle. The sanctioned stay in Saint Helena was limited to that one day, and it was, therefore, of course determined to make the most of it with the least possible waste of time. Accordingly, within a few minutes after the arrival at the Castle a levee was announced, at which His Excellency the Governor presented the officers of the Civil Government and of the Volunteer Rifles, as well as the inhabitants; after which, again, Lieutenant Colonel Beatty, Royal Engineer Commandant, presented the officers of the garrison.

At one o'clock the Prince set out to visit Longwood, with all its memories of the First Napoleon. On arriving there the scene that presented itself was a widely different one from what it had been but four short years before. Then the house in which the great ex-Emperor lived was in a wretchedly dilapidated plight; the room in which he had been laid out in state was converted into a barn, filled with heaps of corn, a threshing machine, and other farming implements; the walls were covered with the unknown names of ambitious aspirants to immortality who had visited the scene; and the bed-rooms, including that in which Napoleon died, had been sacrilegiously transformed into a common stable. As one of the many results, small as well as great, of the recent entente-cordiale between the neighbour nations, this disgraceful state of affairs at Saint Helena has ceased to exist. The residence has been restored much after its original fashion and is kept in the most perfect order; the grounds around are carefully dressed; and the vacant tomb itself is reverently attended to by Monsieur De Rougement, the French official gardien and conservateur specially appointed by Napoleon III, with the willing consent of Her Majesty's Government. On the arrival of Prince Alfred here he was received by Mr. N. Solomon, the acting Vice-Consul for France, who presented Monsieur De Rougement with all fitting ceremony and the young Sailor inspected the house with manifest interest. Returning from these scenes, the Prince and his suite were entertained by their French host to a sumptuous dejeuner, after which the whole party proceeded to James' Town. The next event in the programme of the day was the presentation of new colours to the Saint Helena Regiment. The ceremony was conducted with ample success and eclat, having the added interest of a solemn consecration of the colours and the men who bore them by the Lord Bishop of the Island. The address of the Prince to the regiment was brief, but frank and hearty, and the response of the commanding officer was in the same appropriate strain. Next His Royal Highness proceeded from the Parade to the Castle, to receive addresses from the inhabitants generally, from the clergy of the place, and from the community of liberated Africans settled on the Island. The address of the inhabitants, which was presented by a deputation, spoke forth in glowing language the undoubted loyalty and the honourable self-exaltation of the enterprising Islanders. We quote the following as a sample of it:

"For upwards of two centuries this Island has formed a part of the dominions of the British Sovereign; and, though isolated by our natural position, we feel, and exult in feeling, that we form a component portion of an Empire whose glory has never been surpassed and are subjects of a Sovereign who, secure in her People's love, may well be the proudest that ever graced a throne.

"We regard ourselves as contributing to the strength and security of the British Empire by the advantages with which Nature has endowed our Island. The trade-wind blowing "constantly over us, the depth of water and safe anchorage of our harbour, the numerous springs of purest water afforded by our mountain slopes, the fertility of our cultivated valleys,—all these have combined to obtain for our island the title of' The Inn of the Ocean.

Here the tempest-tossed mariner from the East and the soldier enfeebled by the burning clime of India find an agreeable spot for comfort and refreshment; hither the wrecked and destitute have ofttimes fled for aid and shelter, readily accorded; hither the captured African is brought, and his shackles fall as his feet touch our strand, and he is instructed in that service which is perfect freedom. The traveller, the man of commerce, and the man of science find here a place of pleasant sojourn; and to such our hospitality is ever most cheerfully extended.

His Royal Highness, in his reply, expressed regret that he knew so little of the Island yet, but hoped that in the future exercise of his profession he might have many opportunities of renewing and extending his acquaintance with it.

Next was read, by Bishop Claughton, the address from himself and his diocesan clergy, which, with appropriate variations, was mainly in the same strain as that from the general community. And finally came the following and the most interesting of all from the liberated Africans, of whom a deputation were there assembled to present it:

"We are glad when we see the Son of our Queen, for we can tell him how happy we are that we are her subjects, and how many blessings we enjoy under her rule. And we "hope that Your Royal Highness will tell Her Majesty that we say this, because we know that it is owing to her and her people that we were set free from slavery and delivered from cruel masters, and are now able to get our living by our own labour.

And we wish to say that we have been taught the good religion, which we believe has both made the English people so strong and caused them to think of us in our land, where we were suffering such cruelty and sorrow.

And will Your Royal Highness tell the Queen that we have looked upon the face of her Son, and shall not forget him, and that for Her Majesty and her husband and all the "Royal Family we shall always pray to God through Jesus Christ.

By this time the afternoon was well spent, and shortly after six the Prince, attended as before, set out to the Governor's country residence at Plantation, where a large company had been invited to meet His Royal Highness at dinner. This comfortable and spacious mansion is distant some four miles from the town, and is situated in a rich valley, which, with its abundant avenues of oaks and firs, may be considered as the garden of the Island. On the Prince's arrival here the whole of the Saint Helena Militia were mustered and drawn up on the lawn in front. As His Royal Highness approached the infantry presented arms, the artillery fired a salute, and their band played out "God save the Queen," for all which marks of loyalty and respect the young Prince warmly complimented the corps and their commanding officers.

While these events were proceeding at Plantation, signals were hoisted from the loftiest signal-hill, conveying the information all over the Island that at nine o'clock His Excellency would give a ball at his town residence in the Castle, and this, according to previous arrangement, was the somewhat novel and peculiar fashion of the invitation. But novel and peculiar though it was, it certainly was perfectly successful; and punctually to the appointed hour the ball-room was amply filled, and dancing was commenced without delay. At a quarter to ten the Prince, with the Governor, arrived from Plantation. The town was brilliantly illuminated in all directions; the streets were filled with cheering Islanders; and at the entrance to the Castle a guard of honour was posted in waiting for the Royal Visitor. But the scene which showed immeasurably finer than any on the Island, and that might well compare with the best of the sort he had seen in Africa, was arranged as he proceeded down the steep slope to the town. The long street through which he passed was lit up with a thousand Chinese lanterns. At a given sign the Great Inclined Plane, or so-called Ladder to the precipitous battery rocks six hundred feet above, was illuminated by chains of blue lights; while innumerable rockets shot up into the sky from the highest summit of the mountain. As the Prince entered the ball-room, dancing, of course, immediately ceased, and, the company rising, the band of the Saint Helena Regiment performed the National Anthem. A few minutes more were spent in receiving and replying to an address from the Masons of the Island; when dancing was again resumed, in which the Prince, like a young sailor as he was, joined with right hearty vigour. But the time fixed for embarkation was drawing rapidly nigh; and at a quarter to twelve His Royal Highness left the ball-room, leading Lady Drummond-Hay on his arm, the band, meanwhile, again striking up " God save "the Queen." From the ball-room to the wharf the distance was short, and, accompanied by the Governor and a numerous staff, he arrived there within a few minutes after midnight. Approaching the landing-place, he was lighted to the jetty by blue lights, and while he bade a cordial farewell to Sir Drummond Hay and his immediate friends, the assembled crowd cheered vehemently. As, in the dense darkness, the boat rowed slowly off from the Old Rock, loud, loyal cheers for the Prince and for the Queen followed it across the waters, and within a few minutes more the Royal Mid was again on board the Euryalus, and early next morning the frigate was bowling with a fair breeze on her way northward.

RBG Farm Implement by Notley Hawkins

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A rural farm under a cloudy moonlit sky near McBaine in Boone County Missouri by Notley Hawkins Photography. Taken on a cool August summer's evening with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera with a EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens. Colored gels were used with an exposure of 90 seconds.

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©Notley Hawkins

Official-Implements P1310731 by Pasadena Senior Games

20190919-NRCS-LSC-0427 by U.S. Department of Agriculture

Seen, Norwood Farms owners and producers Don and son Grant Norwood work with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist Ron Harrison to implement their crop rotation and residue management practices to reduce erosion leading to improved land use and crop production; they also practice no-till farming on nearly every acre in the operation, in Henry County, TN, on Sept 19, 2019.

The stover of remaining corn stalk stubs, leaves, and cobs that are expelled and and left behind the corn harvester becomes a cover crop. The stover can be seen between soybean crop.

Crop dusters adapted with a seed spreader can seed directly into standing corn and standing soybeans. This gives the seeds a chance to get established before it freezes. In the spring, the cover crop will grow up through the corn stover.

Norwood Farms have successfully established the building blocks of conservation with conservation crop rotation on the entire Norwood operation. The crops are rotated between corn, wheat, soybeans and in some cases, corn cover crops and soybeans cover crops. The practices are implemented to reduced erosion sediment in surface water and are leading to improved land use and crop production.

Conservation Crop Rotation (Practice Code 328) is a management practices where growing a planned sequence of various crops takes place on the same piece of land for a variety of conservation purposes. Crops included in conservation crop rotation include high-residue producing crops such as corn or wheat in rotation with low-residue- producing crops such as soybeans. Crop rotations vary with soil type, crops produced, farming operations, and how the crop residue is managed. The most effective crops for soil improvement is fibrous-rooted high-residue producing crops such as grass and small grain.

Residue and Tillage Management (Practice Code 329) is managing the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface throughout the year. For our area, we are utilizing reduced tillage and no-till. Residue and Tillage Management should be used on all cropland fields, especially where excess sheet and rill erosion are a problem. Residue and tillage management is most effective when used with other conservation practices like grassed waterways, contouring, field borders, etc.

NRCS has a proud history of supporting America's farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. For more than 80 years, we have helped people make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat. As the USDA's primary private lands conservation agency, we generate, manage, and share the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science. And through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, we help ensure the health of our natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.

Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the Department's focal point for the nationâs farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs, and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs.

The agencies and services supporting FPAC are Farm Service Agency (FSA), NRCS, and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

For more information please see www.usda.gov

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

"Show Me City" Continues Strong Growth and Progress by City of Missouri City, Texas missouricitytx.gov

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Photos courtesy of Missouri City

From Parks' projects to public safety initiatives, the "Show Me City" has implemented many successful citizen programs in 2011. At left, the Edible Arbor Trail is a site for nature lovers to see and at right, thousands of residents participated in this year's National Night Out.

"Show Me City" Continues Strong Growth and Progress

Missouri City has achieved significant successes in 2011 by continuing strong collaborations with citizens, gaining new business partnerships, earning local, state and national distinction for excellence and battling against record breaking drought conditions that brought many challenges to our parks. City Council's continued policy direction has allowed the momentum begun in 2010 to continue.

Building on Missouri City's national recognition as one of America's best places to live, according to Money magazine, and one of the country's safest communities, 5th safest in Texas, the "Show Me" City continues to garner awards. Missouri City has earned further honors for its excellent fiscal practices and policies. The prestigious gold Leadership Circle Award from the Texas State Comptroller's Office salutes the City's transparency in financial, audit and budget reporting to residents. This expansive information is available on the City's website homepage under Hot Topics.

And for more than 20 years the City Budget and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report continue to be recognized annually by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for their detail on City services and programs and the City's financial condition.

A strong community connection is vital to the area's dynamic growth. Citizens played a major role in the decision to purchase the Quail Valley golf property in 2008. And more recently they weighed in on what they wanted for the new Community Center and Golf Pro Shop under construction there. This facility will offer another option for Fort Bend County residents and businesses to host their special occasions. The second floor ballroom will seat 300 and overlook the 18th holes of both the El Dorado and La Quinta golf courses. There also will be smaller rooms available for use. A restaurant will be fully staffed but plans are to have a select list of catering companies for individuals and groups planning large events.

In the past 12 months, the two courses have logged almost 54,000 rounds of golf, and close to 100 golf tournaments. We thank all of our residents for their support as well as the many others who have enjoyed the two 18-hole courses here. Citizens also shared their opinion on activities they wanted at the new the Tennis and Recreation Center currently being built on Cypress Point Drive. Residents will be pleased with the recreational amenities that will be offered. The new City facilities are scheduled to open in the spring 2012.

On the business front, the City continues to expand its commercial square footage to not only diversify the property tax base but to provide jobs for our citizens.

The Lakeview Business Park and the Beltway Crossing Complex, both off the Sam Houston Tollway, are attractive locations for nationally- and internationally-respected companies. Coupled with business growth elsewhere in the City, 800 new jobs were created in the past four years and new companies coming to Missouri City will add almost 1,000 more positions when they are fully staffed.

In the past 6 years, our commercial tax base has grown from 15 percent to 24 percent. Contributing to that expansion is Global Geophysical Services on South Gessner Road-the international firm recently celebrated a milestone when company officials rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. Another major contributor is Ben E. Keith, one of the largest food purveyors in the nation. Their half-million-square-foot distribution facility currently is under construction on its 82-acre site, with the future opportunity to expand to more than 1 million square feet. Warren Alloy will also move to Lakeview Business Park, joining a respected list of companies already based in the center. State Highway 6 continues to be a popular destination for many shoppers who now can enjoy a new type of movie experience with the Star Cinema Grill. The City's first hotel, La Quinta Inns & Suites is set to open in early 2012.

The planned expansion of the Fort Bend Toll Road across the city's eastern boundary to Sienna Plantation should encourage further commercial development. Missouri City has leveraged its capital project dollars through partnerships with other government entities, resulting in improved safety and mobility for motorists:

*The revitalization of two gateways-South Gessner Road and Texas Parkway-increases motorist and pedestrian safety and encourages continued development. South Gessner from Beltway 8 to Cravens Road was fully replaced, mosaic-tiled City monuments were strategically placed along the roadway and sidewalks were added. Upgrades to Texas Parkway feature a prominent City monument at the intersection of US90A, drainage improvements and the addition of sidewalks. Phase Two on this thoroughfare will add landscape and signage.

*Construction of raised medians on Highway 6 caused initial resident concern but feedback now is that they are pleased with the added safety factor. In addition, six new Dynamic Message Signs along Highway 6 alert motorists to important traffic information and emergency messages.

*The largest project the City has ever undertaken will be operational early in 2012. The surface water treatment plant project, a partnership among 40 government and private sector groups, who are paying for the facility through user fees, will initially serve Sienna Plantation outside of the city limits of Missouri City. The project meets a mandate for water users to move from ground to surface water incrementally over the next 15 years.

Aerial view of the new Surface Water Treatment Plant

Missouri City reaches out to meet the needs of residents through a strong homeowner's association liaison program.

The Show Me City also uses a variety of communications tools to keep the community informed, anchored by the website, www.missouricitytx.gov, Missouri City television, the quarterly citizen newsletter, news releases and the new radio station, 1690 AM.

Key to residents is the City's ongoing proactive community-based public safety programs. National Night Out each fall allows residents to meet their neighbors, discuss crime prevention measures and talk with their City Council members, the officers who patrol and the firefighters who also protect their neighborhoods. We can credit our low crime rate to police working so closely with citizens to prevent crime. In the past year, the Police Department also won a competitive federal grant for $893,000 that funded four new positions during fiscal year 2011.

In other proactive steps to curb crime in Missouri City, the Police Department is utilizing the newly-formed Burglary and Auto Theft or "BAT" Team that focuses on those crimes.

Since the formation of the BAT Team, auto thefts have decreased 20 percent over the previous year, and auto break-ins have declined 20 percent, with 11 stolen vehicles recovered, 10 auto theft suspects arrested and more than $113,000 in stolen property recovered.

Residents are pleased with the Route 170 direct transit service to The Medical Center, with connections to METRO's transit system network downtown. In a service survey, 98 percent of riders said they were satisfied with service.

The year also saw the start of METRO Park & Ride bus service for area residents with 98 percent of riders satisfied with the commuting option. Residents are overwhelmingly supportive of the rides that give them access to jobs in the Medical Center and Houston downtown transit points. Plans are under way for the permanent Park and Ride site to be located behind the Fort Bend Town Center located on Highway 6 at the Fort Bend Toll Road.

After years of planning and preparation, the City officially celebrated the grand opening of the Edible Arbor Trail, the first of its kind in the region. Visitors to the trail, just west of Murphy Road, can sample treats created by Mother Nature including Mexican Persimmon, pomegranates and kumquats.

The second phase of Oyster Creek Trail, which will be completed soon, offers a bike/pedestrian trail along Oyster Creek Bayou between Dulles Avenue and Cartwright Road that will allow residents to travel on foot or on bicycle from Mosley Park on Murphy Road to Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land.

Another major milestone for citizens was the grand opening of an historic landmark - the Dew House and DeWalt Heritage Center in Fort Bend County's Kitty Hollow Park on Highway 6 South. The treasured house ended the year with an old-fashioned Holiday Wassail Program in December.

And Missouri City celebrated the year's end with the annual Snowfest Festival and the Snowfest Parade. Main attractions were the lighting of a 26-foot tree, the popular Snow Hill, fireworks and a special appearance from Santa.

In 2012, citizens are welcoming a new City Manager, Edward Broussard. He has been city manager since 2005 for Hutto in the Austin area and brings 16 years' experience in Texas municipal government. Former City Manager Frank Simpson accepted a position in College Station in May.

Also in the New Year, the economy will continue to control the pace of growth. Missouri City's physical location in the Houston area coupled with a developer-friendly environment and its growing reputation as a great place to live, should offer continued opportunities for the "Show Me City".

Valle del Cauca implementa programa de rehabilitación integral para personas en condición de discapacidad visual. by Dirección para la Acción Integral contra Minas Antipersonal

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Valle del Cauca implementa programa de rehabilitación integral para personas en condición de discapacidad visual. Foto: Deywis Ayure Casas

20190919-NRCS-LSC-0362 by U.S. Department of Agriculture

Soybeans grown by Norwood Farms owners and producers Don and son Grant Norwood who have been helped by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist Ron Harrison to implement their crop rotation and residue management practices to reduce erosion leading to improved land use and crop production; they also practice no-till farming on nearly every acre in the operation, in Henry County, TN, on Sept 19, 2019.