Researchers at the University of California have identified the genes responsible for providing frost tolerance for wheat, giving plant breeders hope that damage resulting from wheat frost could soon become a thing of the past. That, in my book, is good news! The team of US and European scientists aimed to identify genetic factors associated [...]
Yesterday, I finally roused myself from my miserable sickbed and rejoined The Community of (Hu)Man: I took my weekly trip to the feed store. I always pick up all kinds of necessities there, like brass sprayer tops or pumps for plastic bottles, red clover seed, the latest gossip — um, news, that is. The only [...]
When I’ve recovered from my Mosaic trial (which I’ve come to see this bout of illness as), and come to terms with more emotional issues (like happening on details in print of the death of our student who was victim of a hit and run), I want us to sit down and discuss the Poppers’ [...]
There is firm evidence that organically-grown produce is healthier to eat than conventional crops as they contain more nutrients. Research has shown that they contain more secondary metabolites than conventionally-grown plants. Secondary metabolites are substances which form part of plants’ immune systems, and which also help to fight cancer in humans. Organic crops also have [...]
I’m a hunter. I hunt because hunters are dwindling in numbers, and deer populations need culling to keep them healthy.. and I like free food. It is a great skill to have, and it gets a person out in nature, where even if one doesn’t see a deer, they will see a beautiful sunrise, and [...]
So, I was on my home from work, heading up Highway 51, Thursday night, and came up on a truck with its bed FULL of bags of leaf and pine and grass waste. I pulled up alongside the truck, and shouted to the driver, “Are you taking those leaves to the dump?” He nodded, “Yes.” [...]
Continue reading about More On Composting– A Lucky Score On The Way Home…
I know, I know. Common sense knowledge tells us that composting is an extremely complicated scientific process requiring years of study and precise measurement of carefully segregated organic materials, and failure to acknowledge the necessary expertise or adhere to proper procedure risks not only death and destruction in your own gardens, but possibly chaos, catastrophe [...]
My online friend Ke Xu, from the LATOC Forum has motivated me to try planting Potatoes In Large Containers. I am going to plant up some Pontiac Red Potatoes, and see how they do. I like New Potatoes, and Pontiac Reds are pretty good Early-Season keepers. First off, I ordered the seed potatoes from The [...]
New Ageism? No. Stark reality. As I was returning home late last night, I was listening to a BBC report on the radio. Damning report indeed. By 2025, two thirds of the population will experience a severe shortage of water. I can’t find the audio, but believe me, we are facing a serious crisis. The [...]
Continue reading about The Source of Life is Ebbing Away From Us
Last week, I compiled a brief list of some things every gardener should keep around. This week, I’m going to talk about a less common remedy: a concoction for the garden itself.
Continue reading about The Gardener’s Medicine Cabinet, Part II