Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture - Iowa State University

http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/

Discus Macclintocki - Iowa's Endangered Escargot

Here's a great recipe for all you lovers of escargot.  Just don't plan on using any Discus Macclintockis for this dish.  Otherwise known as the Iowa Pleistocene Land Snail, these slow crawlers are an endangered species and found in only 30 isolated areas of Iowa.  Chilling out since the ice ages they have managed to make it to the 21st century but should French cuisine ever hit the big time in Iowa their days would likely be numbered.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discus_macclintocki

http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/livingOnTheEdge/IowaPleistoceneLandSnail.asp

Geodes

I loved rocks as a kid.  I remember in 5th grade at Crestview Elementary in Clive we had to choose a science protect and I was stuck with a partner who quite frankly scared me.  We were almost neighbors but I would try to cross the street if I was ever walking home and nearing his path. I think the kid even smoked at the age of 9, ok that may be embellishing a bit but surely by the time we were paired together he was puffing away. All that said, rocks seemed to soften his sole.  We actually had a blast scouring the neighborhood looking for specimens and the state rock the Geode was the biggest goal we had.  We never found one and I had to admire the polished geodes at my Aunt Marvel's house and to this day I am reminded of their beauty every time I come across a stone bursting with color.  I wonder if my rock friend is such a softy when it comes to pretty rocks these days as well?? 

  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geode

http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/browse/geodes/geodes.htm