**Styrene "peanuts," those nuggets of ecologically disastrous packing foam, may soon be a thing of the past. A new packaging product made from 100 percent cornstarch will dissolve within seconds after contact with water. You can compost it, rinse it away, or leave it out in the rain to dissolve. Sony, Amway, and Kodak are among the companies already using it.

Woman's Day, November 1, 1995

**If you want proof that environmental protection policies can be effective, witness the resurgence of the American peregrine falcon. Twenty years ago these magnificent birds were on the brink of extinction, with only 39 known pairs in the U.S. and Canada. Today there are about 1,200 pairs and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed that they be removed from the endangered species list. The decline in the falcon population was blamed on wide spread use of the now-banned pesticide DDT.

-Woman's Day, November 1, 1995

**The Garden Clubbers will be packaging and labeling seeds on February 8 and 15th at 2:00 pm in the Mona Bishop room of the Sierra Vista Library. These seeds will be offered free or for trade at the High Desert Gardening & Landscaping Conference. Anyone wishing to donate seeds toward this effort can drop them off at the Cooperative Extension office or bring them to the Mona Bishop room at the meeting times. Along with the seeds, please bring identification, short description, and planting instructions.

**From Yvonne Jingle, Master Gardener and President of the Sierra Vista Garden Club, we get this hint. If you have a problem with cats around the bird feeders or bird bath, try planting cactus under or around them. It works for the Jingles!