Rhode Island Feeds

Pardon me for my ignorance and excitement, but today I’m newly enthralled with a word that I’m sure some of you have heard before: agnotology. Not yet recognized by my spell-check, agnotology is defined by Wikipedia as “the study of culturally-induced ignorance or doubt.”

Now, one might ask at first blush: Why on earth would anyone want to study that? In this age of enlightenment, of the Internet, there ought to be oodles of real knowledge everywhere. And yet, as the universe’s leading expert on the subject has pointed out, “the conscious creation of ignorance is rampant.”

Stanford University scholar Dr. Robert N. Proctor even wrote a book about his word: http://www.sup.org/book.cgi?book_id=5652%205901 and I ordered it today. The chapters treat examples from the realms of global climate change, military secrecy, female orgasm, environmental denialism, Native American paleontology, theoretical archaeology and racial ignorance. The primary focus of Proctor’s work, however, has been to call out the cigarette industry for its decades of misleading information.

The manufacturers and marketers of your grandfather’s Marlboros, as is now so widely known, consciously conspired to conceal information from the masses so that they’d keep lighting up. Today, even though some folks know butts are bad for them, they still smoke. Companies are allowed to make them and sell them and, well, it’s anyone’s right to increase their risk of lung cancer if they want to, right?

Though I’ve not yet had time to study this, I’m sure that agnotologists have unearthed myriad recurring patterns, or tactics, whether you’re talking about cigarettes, or lead in paints, or climate change and, to be sure, lawn chemicals. The folks agnotology would really appear to be studying are the lobbyists who are paid to change public opinion in a facts-be-damned recklessness that leaves planetary and human health in its wake.

None of this is new, of course. Politicians and preachers have been leveraging doubt to sway public opinion since the beginning of time. Whenever something can’t be explained empirically — and it so rarely can — it leaves an opening for ignorance to creep in. In that case, a made-up answer is every bit as valid as the truth in most people’s minds. Just deliver the load of bull with confidence and you’re likely to find a receptive audience.

And I’m not sure why the discovery of this word is so exciting. Applying a name to the study of corporate deception won’t stop the lies, after all.

But I, for one, would prefer to believe in collective and collected human intelligence. Perhaps agnotologists will one day be able to make the successful case that second-hand cigarette smoke wafting through a room is fundamentally no different than second-hand lawn chemicals drifting through a neighborhood, or that the people now denouncing global warming came from ancestors who thought dumping open sewage into lakes and rivers was just fine.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll wake up before it’s too late. We need to at least hope.

To say that I have felt left out is a bit of an understatement. Other gardeners have posted about their monarch caterpillars, their delicate chrysalis, and the subsequent emergence of the beautiful monarch butterfly. Not here. For the past five... Layanee DeMerchant

Those of us who preach organic gardening and farming in religious tones almost always buck up against science, which has forever struggled to explain what we accept as innate understanding. In other words, the scientists usually denounce what they can’t prove beyond a shadow of a doubt.

That’s why the study out of the University of Michigan last week set the Internet abuzz. Titled “Ecological Complexity and Pest Control in Organic Coffee Production: Uncovering an Autonomous Ecosystem Service,” the study went a long way toward explaining why organic systems really are more disease free. The study was published in the journal BioScience and reported broadly at BeyondPesticides.org and elsewhere, including this piece: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826122620.htm

Excerpt from the full article:

A heirloom tomato (called a heritage tomato in the UK) is an open-pollinated (non-hybrid) cultivated variety of tomato that can be grown from seed. Conventional hybrid tomatoes bought from your local grocery store, however, cannot be grown from the seeds you would save from them.

I figure, what’s the point of paying for and supporting parts of the food chain that are not self sustainable? Besides, heirloom tomatoes are very tasty fruits that are easy to grow and it’s free to save the seeds for the next growing season.

An article today from an Indiana newspaper is worthy reading for anyone in any states where lakes and ponds are a factor. The article doesn’t deal specifically with fertilizer runoff from lawns, but it does specifically cite phosphorus as the major culprit in the death of a major lake: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100829/EDIT10/308299957/1021/EDIT

Chocolate Cherry on the vine

I am evaluating the tomatoes I grew this year, and having already gushed about “Orange Russian” in a previous post, I will now turn my critical eye toward two more cultivars. Both of these are new to my garden. One is performing magnificently and the other is a disappointment. The cultural conditions are the same for both, in fact, they are growing next to each other.

Chocolate Cherry:

This is a well-known heirloom, and I am happily surprised by its vigor and the proliferation and taste of the fruits. Of course, they do not taste like actual chocolate cherries, but they are definitely dark and sweet. They are also quite a bit larger than other cherry types I have grown – about 1 inch or even more in diameter. All in all, I found this to be a productive and trouble free tomato – and the fruits are delicious.

Milano:

I decided to try this plum type tomato after reading a glowing review in a seed catalog – one I trust. The seed is imported from Italy, and the fruits are supposed to be ideal for sauces and sun drying. I am also growing San Marzanos and I have already harvested two batches and made sauce. The Milanos, on the other hand, are sort of languishing. I haven’t picked a single one yet. Maybe I’m doing something wrong with these, but all the others are doing great, so I don’t think that’s the problem. I won’t bother growing these next year.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=125722&catid=2

This hybrid stonecrop is new to me. It is the latest member of the sedums in my garden. 8.27.10 Like all sedums, the leaves are characteristically succulent and fleshy, but these are smaller with a tinge of reddish purple. The...

The label that accompanied 'Dragon's Blood Tricolor' Stonecrop, Sedum spurium read, "Fleshy leaves have bright variegation. Rosy-pink flowers.". 7.29.10 I found this plant in a small (3-inch) pot back in late May or early June and planted it by the...

(en español debajo)

Hello Gardeners!

I’d like to schedule a workday and a couple workshop days, and maybe we can combine most of it into a workweekend. The way I envision it is that we have a full workweekend like we did in the early Spring with select “break hours” for workshops. I’m very interested to hear ways we can better this plan, so please give me input wherever you may have it.

Unofficially, every Thursday evening is a work(night), but there are things that need to be done in the garden that might require a stronger workforce.

I’m thinking to schedule it for the weekend of September 18-19 so we have time to really plan it. September usually offers luscious weather for such events, and it’s only 3 weeks away so it’s not too crowded between now and the Harvest Party which is scheduled for the 21s of October.

I’d like volunteer resident experts for the following subjects:

Seed Saving – how to let plants go to seed and/or collect and (if) process seeds for next year
James said he’d head the tomato department

Compost Management – how to really work compost

Weed Management – which plants are weeds, which are not, which can be eaten.

Harvesting – when to harvest certain items

Companion Planting- which plants benefit other plants

Pest Control – best methods of organic pest control

Food Storage – I’d really love to see a canning class which can be held off-site and possibly on a different day. If we have enough interest in this, I’ll look for a site where we can hold it. Otherwise, methods of processing for storage in the freezer or cellar.

If you have interest in leading one of these workshops or have a suggestion for a workshop, let me know by going through the website, email or phone: 831.224.7352

http://www.foxpointgarden.org

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¡Hola Hortelanos!

Quisiera a planificar un día para la limpiada de la huerta y tambíen a organizar las clases para cosas importante a la huerta. En la manera que lo veo en mi mente es que nos tenemos un fin de semana completa como nos teníamos en la primavera temprana con eligado “horas a parada” para se participan en las clases. Tengo mucho interesada las maneras a mejorar esta planifica, asi pf me dan cosas en cualquiera manera que ustedes piensan me ayudaré.

Habitualmente dedicamos las tardes de los jueves a la huerta, pero hay otras cosas que también requieren nuestra atención y nuestro trabajo en grupo.

Estoy piensando a programarlo para la fin de semana del 18-19 de Septiembre asi que nos dispongamos el tiempo a planificar bien. Normalmente, los días de Septiembre son muy bien para estos eventos y también esta solamente lejos a 3 semanas asi no es una conflicta con la Fiesta de Cosechado, en el calendario para el 21 de Octubre.

Quería los voluntarios para las temas siguentes:

Guardado Las Semillas – como se permita las plantas a ir a la semilla para colectar y (si necesario) procesarlas para el año siguente
James de tomate me dijó que él demonstrará como guardar las semillas de tomates

El Manejamiento del Composto – cómo se usa completa

El Manejamiento de las Hierbas – Cuál plantas a comer, cuál no, cuál a removar.

Cosechando – cuando a cosecharlas

Sembrar a Compañero – qué plantas se pueden cultivar junto a otras a fin de que se beneficien mutuamente

A Controlar las Plagas – los métodos para controlar de forma natural las plagas del campo.

Guarda los Alimentos – sería muy agradable tener algunas clases sobre cómo conservar en frascos los productos de la huerta. Si hay muchas personas interesadas en esto entonces habría que buscar un lugar más adecuado que la huerta. También veremos cómo congelar los alimentos o cómo conservarlos en el sótano.

Si tiene la interesada enseñar un o más de esas clases (o tiene una sugerencia para una otra), no se deje contactarme por el sitio de web, email o telefono 831.224.7352
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http://www.foxpointgarden.org

Since I have missed Wordless Wednesday, I thought I would give Three for Thursday a go. Hosted by Cindy at My Corner of Katy, Three for Thursday suggests that your post contain three photos, rants or reviews, in fact, three... Layanee DeMerchant

I was wondering whether any of you has used a product called “Superthrive.” (And no, I am not working for the company that makes it!)

I’ve been using it for several years, and have been getting good results. It’s not a fertilizer, rather a kind of supplement that provides plants with micronutrients. I first heard about it when I was volunteering in a greenhouse, and the team leader used it to revive some wilted plugs. Then I heard more while attending a class on orchid culture. The instructor told us that she alternated “Superthrive” with her regular orchid fertilizer.

So, I bought one of those  little bottles with the miniscule text and teeny tiny photos. If you want to actually read that tiny text, here’s a link to it on the “Superthrive” website. I think it’s kind of  funny how they try and cram all that information onto a small label. But whatever the bottle looks like, I find the product useful, especially when I’m transplanting, or putting new plants in. They seem less traumatized if  I add it to the water. I also use it on my orchids, alternating with orchid fertilizer.

I would love to hear your comments and/or experiences with this stuff, or any other products for that matter!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annie-spiegelman/the-organic-lawn-care-man_b_691377.html

Thanks, Annie!

I’ve always wondered a little at the seeming redundancy of the phrase “unexpected surprise”. But I think I get it now. I came back from vacation fully anticipating certain changes and was still caught off guard. Even though the rain held off until my return, I knew that (unlike at home) the gardens here would grow [...]

The food preservation workshop originally scheduled for today, Wednesday, August 25th, has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, September 1st. The time (6:00 p.m.) and location (the Southside Community Land Trust offices at 109 Somerset Street) will remain the same. We hope you can join us a week from today to learn how to can and freeze your summer harvest to enjoy all year long!

For the latest news about workshops and events related to growing food in the city, visit www.plantprovidence.org or call (401) 273-9419, ext. 27.

With ambient temperatures on the rise across the U.S. this season, almost everything in the plant world is early. Plants bloomed ahead of schedule, insect infestations ignored the calendar and, now, weed seeds that usually come at the end of the year are beginning to creep into lawns early.

That makes it time to trot out the common sense message: IF YOU DON’T WANT MORE OF THE SAME WEEDS NEXT SEASON, GET RID OF THIS YEAR’S SEEDS.

I’m not a fan of bagging mowers. It’s a much better idea to return the clippings to the lawn, where they quickly biodegrade and provide nutrients and valuable organic matter. In September and October, though, a bag attachment can make quick work of collecting the seeds from plantain, crabgrass, goosegrass and scores of other weeds that send up seeds in the fall.

Of course, these can also be dug out by hand or spot sprayed with a non-selective organic weed killer. But for large lawns, the bag is the most practical solution.

One Important Note: Once you have collected the weeds and seeds, don’t add these to the compost pile unless you’re a master composter who can routinely guarantee temperatures of 130-150 degrees in the pile. Instead, take the weeds and seeds way out into the woods where they won’t germinate or place them in a biodegradable bag where they’ll be recycled at the municipal transfer station.

A few photos from the visit to Kew

It is Day 3 of rain, but just a little drizzle, not a wash-out. I went outside periodically to deadhead the flowers and trim off the branches of cosmos, hardy hibiscus, hydrangeas and few other flowering plants weighted down...

I came across this blog today from a group of landscape designers. It’s a rather long read, but well worth it: http://apld.posterous.com/greenwashing-part-2-advent-of-a-new-ecorealis.