Air pollution is making it harder for bees and other pollinating insects to find food, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia.
Pollutants such as ozone (smog) and nitrate radicals, formed mostly as a consequence of car exhaust, are binding with the volatile scent molecules given off by flowers, the scientists found. This chemically alters the molecules so that they no longer carry a sweet scent, and do not attract pollinating insects to plants.
I would say it probably has something to do with it but pesticides and things like that in my mind would be the worse culprit. And remember this: Honeybees are the primary pollinators for 80 percent of the world’s food crops. Bottom line is this. If the Bees Parish so do we.
Look for more info on beans in my new gardening book which will be coming out this spring.
Green beans & peas are a popular, warm season, home-grow crop. Growing best in loose deeply dug soil with plenty of compost, full sunlight, and adequate moisture. Beans & peas come in many types & varieties. Beans & peas will not produce well in a dry soil. They require constant even moisture especially pole beans during the first 30 days of growth. If not, the beans will be tough and stringy — if they produce at all. Pole beans produce best when trellised. I prefer using poles cut in our bush out back apposed to wire or fencing. The metal trellis’ gets to hot in the sun, and blister the vines somewhat. Poles allow much easier harvesting as well. Bush beans & most peas are less labor intensive, but produce less. It is back-breaking chore to harvest bush types in my opinion. Many gardeners like bush beans, but I’m not one of them. Beans harvested on bush types are almost always muddy hanging so close to the soil. I have found them to be much less productive as well. Their flavor is comparable to their pole cousins.
Drop by your local barber shop and ask them to save you the hair. Place human hair around the border of the garden. Wild animals can’t stand it. The smell of many unseen humans in close proximity will drive them crazy. Never tried it but sounds good. I do have a guaranteed remedy, will let you know at a later date. It will be in my new book which is coming out in the spring though. Talk Soon
This is a good recipe for helping your plants grow acts as a fertilizer and helps in keeping insects away from your plants. Can’t beat it. Also look for more information on things in my new gardening book coming out this spring.
Ingredients:
2 plastic buckets
Comfrey leaves
Plate, Brick or other heavy object that fits inside bucket
Flower pot that fits inside bucket
Directions:
1. Cut holes into the bottom of a plastic bucket.
2. Fill bucket 3/4 full with Comfrey leaves. Pack down tightly.
3. Place a plate on top of the leaves and weigh it down with a brick or other heavy object.
4. Place an upside down flower pot inside another bucket. Set the bucket containing Comfrey leaves on top of the flower pot.
5. After 3 weeks, there should be a brown liquid in the bottom of the lower bucket. Bottle this liquid, an place the contents of the top bucket in the compost heap.
Use:
To use Comfrey spray, dilute 1 tablespoon with 2 pints of water. Add a teaspoon of dish washing liquid to the contents.
Here is a simple recipe that helps keep insects away from ones vegetables. No chemicals needed. Also look for more information on gardening and things in my new book coming out this spring.
Ingredients:
1 un-peeled onion
1 un-peeled head of garlic
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3 pints water
Directions:
1 Chop onion and garlic and combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer 20 minutes.
2. Cool and store in jars in the refrigerator for 6 weeks.
3. Strain and store in jars.
Use:
To use, dilute 8 tablespoons of concentrate per gallon of water. Add 1 tablespoon of dish washing liquid. Red pepper spray is a good general insect spray and is an effective repellent against insects and animals.
My most favourite food and if I was asked. Every one should be eating a half a clove a day. Garlic provides nourishment for the circulatory, immune and urinary systems. It aids in supporting with normal circulation, nourishing stomach tissues, maintaining normal blood pressure and aids the body’s natural ability to resist disease. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and fungicide. And real good with cheese just before supper. MMMMM good. Talk Soon
Aloe Vera has historically been known for assisting the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, and for its properties of soothing, cleansing and helping the body to maintain healthy tissues. This plant has a reputation for helping with digestion, aiding one’s blood and circulation, as well as kidney, liver and gall bladder functions. Aloe contains at least three anti-inflammatory fatty acids that are helpful for the stomach, small intestine and colon. It naturally alkalizes digestive juices to prevent over acidity – a common cause of digestive complaints. Also, great for cuts, scrapes, and burns. A newly discovered compound in aloe, acemannan, is currently being studied for its ability to strengthen the immune system. Think every one should have one of these growing in one’s home.
Did You know plant phytonutrients found in Brussels sprouts boost the body`s natural defense systems to protect against cancer and other diseases. Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables disarm cancer causing chemicals and encourage the body`s detoxification enzymes.
Well cool morning here down to 6 below 0 old scale. Almost had to put my coat on walking over to the shop. I gotta’ say though, even though it’s this cold it sure is nice out there. When looking at things they are so clear, reason being there is no pollution in the air. The icicles just seem to glitter. When you take a breath of air you just know it’s fresh. Good to be alive. Talk Soon
Garlic can wipe out unwanted visitors in the body and prevent disease. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Its pungent, spicy flavour adds a kick to any dish. Just one clove a day will provide your body with vitamins A, B and C, as well as a vast array of minerals including selenium, iodine, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium.
Garlic is more beneficial when it is fresh out of the bulb. As soon as it is smashed it begins to lose it potency. Talk Soon
I got to tell you on these cold mornings there is only one breakfast that gets me going. That is bacon and eggs with a couple cups of fresh perked coffee. Just something about them makes me feel good. One thing is the smell of the bacon cooking and coffee perking away on the stove, boy it sure gets the mouth to watering. I know most folks say they aren’t good for you, but I look at it this way. It’s the amount one eats. If you eat bacon and eggs say every day, well I would think that it would be a bit much. But if you say, had it twice a week or so, well it wouldn’t hurt you a bit. It’s all in the amounts. Talk Soon
Now there is something that the Powers To Be wants us all to switch too. Well for this old feller it will never happen. The biggest reason is the mercury that is inside the bulbs which is deadly to humans. I don’t know where these folks get their thinking as it won’t make our world a better place, it will make it a hundred times worse. If you happen to drop and break a bulb you are in trouble as the mercury is so fine it can be in the air in seconds. Don’t use your vacuum cleaner if you break one to clean it up as it will put the stuff all through the air. Sweep it up the best you can. Where does these bulbs go when they break or wear out. Yep right to your dump, in the ground, and then into your water and food. For another reason I don’t like them I don’t like the light they give off. I enjoy the yellowish look of our old bulbs as it relaxes me. The Fluorescent Bulbs give off a cold feeling. Talk Soon
Well hope you all had a good garden this year and got lots put away for winter. I am thinking this is going to be the way in the coming years, as with the way our food supply is going one has to take a serious look on what he or she is eating these days. One sure fire way of fixing the problem of not having good food for the table is to grow their own.
At any rate on the Garlic department, this is the time of year to plant it. Yep hard to believe but Fall is the time to put it in the ground, just before the freeze. I plant about ten bulbs each year which makes about two fifteen foot rows. Just buy up some bulbs at the grocery store, take them apart and put one clove in each small hole, about an inch or two deep and about three inches apart. That’s it and come next June you will have some of the best, healthiest vegetable going. Talk Soon
I think after looking at how the trees, birds and animals and a few calculations that we will have below normal temperatures for the summer months of 2008. So we will see how it goes. Talk Soon
For years now I have been trying to persuade folks to eat more fresh fruit and veggies. The only thing is that to get the good ones, one almost has to grow their own now a days with all the pesticides and things. And with spring just around the corner there is no reason for folks not get to planting their own gardens. You will be glad you did and better yet so will your body. Here is a couple articles that got my intention and thought I would share. I
Fruits such as blueberries, are not only healthy food choices, they may actually be able to reverse age-related memory problems. That’s the conclusion of a study by a research team from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School in England.
The chemicals that give tart cherries their red color may relieve pain better than aspirin and may provide antioxidant protection comparable to commercially available supplements like vitamin E, according to Michigan State University researchers. The new findings “suggest that the consumption of cherries may have the potential to reduce cardiovascular or chronic diseases in humans (such as arthritis and gout),” write the scientists.
Also fish is a good thing to eat which a lot of us don’t do. Think I had better take some time off this year and do a bit more. Take A Look:Higher consumption of fish oil may lead to a significant reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a meta-analysis conducted by researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
We live in the great white north but I got a hinklin that spring is headed our way. I was talking to a friend in Michigan and they were telling me the Woodchucks, Starlings and Robins were all sighted yesterday, so I would think that is something that isn’t to far off here in Port Loring. Got to tell you folks I sure am ready for spring. Think every bone in my body is aching this year because of the cold. Nice when in our home here heating with wood as it is the best source one can have for problems like I have. Takes the dampness right out of the old bones. Well Talk Soon.
Well got to say it sure is a cold one out there the past two mornings. But on the bright side its a real good time to split wood, which we have. This year I bought some logs delivered to the house to save a bit of money. Took the wife and I a bit to get the oooold body going but each day it got easier. I think the problem with most folks today is that they don’t get enough hard exercise. I had a few problems for years but now that I cut split and piled 20 cords of firewood I am feeling like a 20 year old again. Hard to believe huh. I will say this though, having them logs laying by the house for folks to see sure kept company away, LOL. Might be the answer for them unwanted guests huh? Well guess will go and get my breakfast and then get back at cutting and splitting. Should finish it up today or tomorrow. Will take some pictures when all said and done of before and after. Oh and takes a week of steady work to cut, split and pile around twenty cords of firewood 16 inches long and no log splitter other than an ax an some muscle. Talk Soon.
Well with winter about half way through we sure have been enjoying our preserves we did up last summer. Nothing can be nicer that enjoying fresh fruit and veggies in the middle of winter. Also nice knowing that we are eating health food too as growing them you know what’s in them or on them. We put away lots of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, and just to many veggies to name. The wife freezes most of them but she does up a lot of tomatoes in jars. One has to put a bit of work into a garden but the benefits out way the work. Well thought I would say hello and hope you are all doing well in 2008, man where does the time go. Talk Soon
Welcome to my little corner of the countryside, where storytelling meets the everyday joys of woodworking, farming, and gardening. I’m GW, a writer and published author with over thirty years of experience.
