Running Mink Gardens and Apiary

02/13/2026

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🐦🌤️ Let’s Go Birding at Cemex Reserve! 🌤️🐦

Join Beaver Creek Wetlands Association for a birding walk at Cemex Reserve led by Bethany Gray, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist and Greene & Clark County contact for the Ohio Bluebird Society!

We’ll be tracking the number of bird species we observe and submitting our findings to the Great Backyard Bird Count — a global citizen science tradition that helps scientists better understand bird populations around the world. 🌎🪶

And here’s some good news… the forecast shows the sun should come out in the afternoon! ☀️ Perfect timing for a walk in the wetlands!

📍 Meet: Cemex Reserve Parking Lot
1100 Sanctuary Dr, Fairborn, OH 45324

📍Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 at 1pm

👟 Dress for the weather.
❄️ Event will be cancelled in the event of severe rain or snow.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just bird-curious, come enjoy fresh air, good company, and the sights and sounds of winter wildlife in YOUR Beaver Creek Wetlands.

We hope to see you there! 🐤💚 RSVP at the link in the comments!

02/05/2026

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The North Central Ohio Pollinator Pathway presents a neighborhood Pollinator Pathway Workshop featuring our owner and founder, Gale Martin! Gale will be presenting on “Landscaping with Native Plants” on Saturday, February 28th from 1pm-3pm! The workshop will be held at the Women’s City Club in Delaware (135 North Franklin Street). Register by scanning the QR code on the flyer. Hope to see you there!

02/02/2026

🚨 February Is One of the Most Dangerous Months for Wildlife on Ohio Roads 🚨

Here in rural Ohio, late January through March is when we see the highest number of wildlife road fatalities — especially skunks, foxes, coyotes, opossums, and even deer.

Why February is so risky:
• It’s peak breeding season, so animals roam far beyond their usual territory
• Males may travel 10+ miles searching for mates
• Food is scarce after winter, forcing animals to take bigger risks
• Wildlife is distracted by scent-marking and territorial behavior
• Dawn and dusk (our commute hours) are when animals are most active

What you may notice right now:
→ Skunks crossing roads slowly (poor eyesight + slow movement)
→ Foxes and coyotes moving during early morning and evening hours
→ Opossums wandering in search of mates
→ Deer appearing in unexpected places

If you’re driving at dawn or dusk in February:
• Slow down, especially on country and back roads
• Use high beams when safe to spot eye shine sooner
• Watch road edges, not just straight ahead
• If you see one animal, assume there may be more nearby

The animals you see on the roadside aren’t careless.
They’re hungry, distracted, and following instincts they can’t ignore.

Please drive like wildlife could be anywhere — because this time of year, it truly is.

Stay safe out there. 🐾🌲

Running Mink Gardens and Apiary

02/01/2026

The dreaded Squash borer, one of the worst!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Acu5fKbR8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The dreaded squash vine borer is one of the few garden pests that still makes me nervous every single season. I have taken notes upon notes in my Garden Journal each year on how to combat them. The damage used to be brutal. Lost plants, wilted vines, heartbreak. Over time the hits have gotten lighter. They still show up, but they do not wipe me out like they used to.

Here are 5 things I do that I truly think helped tip the balance in my favor. First, I start some squash early and some late so everything is not at the same vulnerable stage. Second, I wrap lower stems with stretchy athletic tape to physically block egg laying. Third, I grow vertical whenever possible to toughen stems and improve airflow. Fourth, I rotate crops and disturb the soil where squash lived the year before to break their life cycle. Fifth, I add a little hardwood ash to the soil and use weekly BT stem injections during peak season as insurance.

They are not magic. Vine borers still sneak through. But the difference between doing nothing and doing something is huge.

What is the one trick that has worked best for you against squash vine borers?

01/14/2026

Definitely seeing a lot of recent coyote activity on our game cameras the last week of so…

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Your dog just went out the back door alone. You have 60 seconds before a coyote can strike.

RIGHT NOW: Coyote mating season (next 4-6 weeks). Males are territorial, aggressive, and hunting small pets.

What happens: Silent. Fast. Your pet is gone before you hear anything.

What to do TODAY:
→ NEVER let pets out alone (day or night)
→ Leash walks only (even in your yard)
→ Scan yard before opening door
→ Motion lights + air horn by door

Your dog trusts you to protect them. They can't protect themselves from a 40-pound predator.

Go outside WITH them. Every. Single. Time.

01/13/2026

Please share ❤️

01/10/2026

January in Ohio — Slow, Quiet, and Beautiful Winter settles in a little deeper here in January, and life on the farm takes on a calmer rhythm. Snow-covered fields, crisp air, and peaceful mornings remind us that this season is about rest, resilience, and care — for the land and the animals who call it home. At Running Mink Gardens & Apiary, winter days mean extra hay, warm water checks, and quiet moments watching critters enjoy the stillness that only a snowy Ohio morning brings. Nature may be resting, but there’s beauty in every season — even the cold ones. London, Ohio

Running Mink Gardens and Apiary

12/05/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/16r2j3aARN/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) has released four research grant opportunities relating to pollinator conservation. Visit pollinator.org/grants for more information and how to apply! 🐝🔬

11/23/2025

Did not know..

https://www.facebook.com/share/17Gv2KDW5f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🌰

10/09/2025

So majestic 💜💜💜Running Mink Gardens and Apiary

10/07/2025

Pine cones move without nerves or muscles. Microscopic fibers swell or shrink with moisture, snapping them shut in damp air and prying them open in dry conditions.

A perfect survival mechanism, silent and precise.

10/05/2025

🐛🍂 Woollyworms Are On the Move at Running Mink Gardens & Apiary! 🍂🐝

Have you spotted these fuzzy little travelers lately? Woollyworms — also called banded woolly bears — are the caterpillars of the Isabella tiger moth. Their rusty-brown and black stripes make them easy to spot this time of year as they crawl around looking for a cozy place to spend the winter. ❄️

Fun fact: woollyworms produce a natural antifreeze to survive freezing temps! 🧊✨
According to folklore, their color bands can predict how harsh the winter will be — but science says their stripes are actually influenced by age and species, not the forecast. Still, it’s a fun fall tradition to keep an eye out for these fuzzy forecasters around the farm! 🍁



Running Mink Gardens and Apiary