What's Bugging the Bees?

Here's one possible answer.  The mysterious disappearance of bees (aka pollintors) is a problem we must solve. It's not just about the honey.  Without bees flowers go unpollintaed, and that means much lower crop yields.

Fungus may be behind the loss of bees - Earthtimes.org

Earthtimes.org

Fungus may be behind the loss of bees Earthtimes.org - 4 hours ago Diana Cox-Foster of Pennsylvania State University said the pathogen was one of the many being studies for possible role in the annihilation of bees. ... UCSF RESEARCH: Fungus Killing The Nation's Honey Bees KTVU.com Experts may have found what's bugging the bees amNewYork all 60 news articles

technorati tags:gardening, bees, pollinate, organic, fruit, food

Urban Vegetable Gardening

You really can do a lot with a little. Urban gardeners everywhere are growing their own food.

Be determined to grow at least some of your own food.

Be creative in looking for growing opportunities around your yard or patio or even indoors.

Be flexible, be resourceful.

The payoff is tremendous. It's relaxing, it's meditative and the feeling of eating food you have grown yourself is enormously gratifying. And good for you.

Ithacans embrace urban gardening - Ithaca Journal

Ithacans embrace urban gardening Ithaca Journal, NY - Apr 18, 2007 ITHACA — As spring planting season begins, some Ithaca gardeners say they don't need big plots in the country to grow vegetables, fruits, nuts and herbs. ...

Are cellphones killing bees?

If this is true, we have a real problem.  We need bees, not just for honey.  We need bees for our food supply, no kidding.  Most plants need to be pollinated to produce a fruit or a vegetable.  Bees do a lot of this pollinating work.  Without them we are in trouble.

Bees in danger - Champion Newspapers

Champion Newspapers

Bees in danger Champion Newspapers, UK - 2 hours ago Mobile phone masts have been blamed for the death of millions of bees and Cllr Jones says we should heed this finding. "I had heard a year ago that certain ... Report links phone masts to cancer Norwich Evening News all 2 news articles

technorati tags:bees, gardening, organic, foood, supply, fruit, pollinate

More Plant Choices When You Start Your Own Seeds

Here is the best reason to start your own seeds.  Sooner or later you'll covet plants that you just can't find already growing at the nursery.

If you get really carried away, you'll end up like the woman in this article, with your own greenhouse.  I have a feeling this is where I may be headed.

Start seeds for exactly plants you want - Chippewa Herald

Start seeds for exactly plants you want Chippewa Herald, WI - 7 hours ago Start seeds in a specially formulated “germinating mix,” a soil-less mixture that’s pulverized to a fine texture just right for small seeds. ...

technorati tags:gardening, seeds, greenhouse, grow, food, heirloom, varieties

My Kind of Yard

I moved into a house with lots of lawn.  Slowly but surely I am eliminating the grass in favor of raised beds and areas to be planted with pollinator attracting flowers and plants.  And it looks like I'm not the only one.

Out with the lawn, in with edibles - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Out with the lawn, in with edibles Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - Apr 9, 2007 "We've seen that growth (in gardening interest) and added so many more programs recently," said Kathy Dang, a teacher at Seattle Tilth, an organic gardening ...

technorati tags:gardening, lawn, vegetable, pollinator, grow, food

NewsFlash! Playing in the Dirt Makes You Happy!

Here's something gardeners have known for a long time. It turns out that some of the bacteria and microbes in soil act similarly to anti-depressants.

Play in the Dirt for Your Mental Health!

Sometimes a Gardener Needs to Destroy Plants

I am not one of those who believe all plants are sacred. Some of them are just a nuisance and a waste of good growing area.

So it had to happen sooner or later. The monster in the backyard had been appeased and ignored long enough. it had even been coaxed and cajoled to no effect. Today was the day.

No more negotiation, no more Miss Nice Girl.

I called in the big guns, the tree service. Three young men with chain saws and a giant chipper. The Laurel Hedge, aka, the beast, needed to be tamed. It had claimed 3 or 4 feet of our backyard as well as 3 feet and all the sun from our neighbors. It stood at least 25 feet high and showed no signs of stopping.

So in a couple of hours it was turned into a sedate swath, a polite wall. I hope I'll be able to keep up with it. I know it will try to recreate all the mass it lost today. Everyone will get more sun. The power lines and cable will no longer be in peril. We'll have more planting area in the backyard and maybe a place to sit and enjoy the winter sun.

Now we just need to get rid of the creepy hot tub and the rotting deck.

Upwards and onwards.