Hello everyone! So happy to have found a community where I can share one of my passions. My name is Maggie, I'm 32 and live in Melbourne, Australia, I'm a fairly new gardener but on a very steep learning curve. I've just set up my first raised experimental veggie patch. It's a temperate area, with wet cold winters and VERY hot summers. I can grow most plants barr the most tropical ones, am VERY lucky. Now, I have a bit of a question I hope someone can help me with. I went away over Christmas and I THOUGHT I'd put all the potatoes in the fridge. I missed about 6 which rolled to the very back of my cupboard. I found them this afternoon and they have started sending out some very strong looking shoots. The shoots are close to 30cm long now, and the spud itself is NOT green at all, a very healthy if somewhat withered brown.
Now my question is, is it safe to plant these spuds out? Or would I end up poisoning myself? :P I've never grown spuds before, and it's not trully the season to be doing here right now, but I'm curious and wouldn't mind seeing if the experiment would succeed, since I can't eat them now anyway. But yes, landing myself in hospital would probably be a situation better off avoided. Any advice would be appreciated, and yes I can post a photo if anyone wants to see, but that'll have to wait until tomorrow as I'm currently at work :)

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Grow-It/Contaminated-Compost-Clopyralid-Aminopyralid-Pyralid-Dow-Chemicals-Toxins.aspx

Contaminated Compost: Coming Soon to a Store Near You
9/4/2009 8:33:34 AM
By Barbara Pleasant
Tags: compost, herbicides
In Santa Rosa, Calif., the folks at Grab n’ Grow have been making compost and planting mixes for 25 years, using organic materials generated in Sonoma County. In 2002, the company detected residues of a potent herbicide called clopyralid in a batch of compost. The next year, Grab n’ Grow manager Don Liepold and his wife saw the herbicide’s trail of destruction in their raised bed organic garden — lettuce that refused to grow, curled and wilted peas, and stunted, gnarled tomato leaves.

As we reported in July 2009, clopyralid and its close cousin, aminopyralid, easily persist, sometimes for YEARS!, in hay, manure and compost. When contaminated materials are used in food gardens, tomatoes, beans and other sensitive crops develop curled foliage that looks like a disease, if they grow at all.

Both herbicides are manufactured by DowAgrosciences, which seems to have no moral or ethical problem selling products which clearly are polluting the public compost stream. Meanwhile, aminopyralid pesticides have been pulled from shelves in the United Kingdom. Liepold, the Rachel Carson Council and MOTHER EARTH NEWS think the U.S. EPA should take the same action here.

“I have been testing and detecting herbicide residues and thus rejecting cow manure, horse manure, turkey mulch, rice hulls, mushroom compost and yard trimmings,” says Grab n’ Grow manager Don Liepold. “I spent $20,000 in lab fees in 2008, and am on the same track for 2009,” he says.

It is extremely difficult to keep contaminated materials out of commercial compost. “One load of contaminated grass clipplings can ruin a batch of compost,” says Eric Philip of Anatek Labs in Moscow, Idaho. Philip has seen so many positive tests for clopyralid residues in compost that he would not use untested compost in his own garden.

“When folks have plants die in their home gardens, their first assumption is that they did something wrong,” Philip says. But with pyralid-laced commercial compost becoming more common, contaminated soil amendments are often to blame.

The source of pyralid pollution can be impossible to trace. For example, a horse stable may use hay brought in from a neighboring state, without knowing that it is laced with pyralid herbicides. If the horse’s manure or stable litter ends up in a garden, disaster is ready to strike. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Liepold stopped making one of Grab n’ Grow’s most popular products, Mango Mulch, for more than a year because he could not find an uncontaminated manure supply. Now he’s getting it from two local organic dairies.

Testing for contamination is a slow, painstaking process that comes at a steep price of $350 (or more) per sample, so most commercially-made compost is not tested.

Both of these herbicides were approved by the EPA before their persistence in compost was known, and before lab tests existed that could detect residues at damaging levels. We think approval of these pesticides should be revoked before the damage gets worse.

To express your concern about this hidden danger to your garden, write to your senators and congressional representatives to make your voice heard. You can also contact Rick Keigwin, director of the EPA’s pesticide review division.

See our earlier report: Milestone Herbicide Creates Killer Compost for lots more background on this issue.

1) We made guacamole last night and I now have three pretty avocado seeds that I want to try growing. I've always been unsuccessful before so any tips/tricks?

2) I live in N. Virginia (zone 5/6), when should I start seeds inside? Last year mine weren't ready and I had to buy plants from a local farmer's market which is no biggie but I want to start at least some of my own stuff from seed.

3) Our lemon tree blooms 3-4 times a year but we haven't gotten lemons since our friends gave it to us. Does it need another lemon tree to fruit or is there some other reason? The bees love it, so its definetely getting pollinated when its outside in the summer.

Thanks in advance guys!

В посте «Банный день»: http://jazzy-o.livejournal.com/36126.html поднималась тема очищения организма от разного рода паразитов (от мельчайших-до крупных), были даны отличные рецепты очистки организма некоторыми народными средствами.

С того времени по этой теме накопилось много интересного материала, самое лучшее из которого я опубликую здесь:

- Вначале идут отрывки из статей, посвященных в целом проблеме того, что подавляющее большинство людей заражено теми или иными видами паразитов, и многие люди даже не подозревают об этом, а лечатся, при этом, от болезней, которые являются следствиями заражения;

- Далее опубликованы одни из лучших и действенных рецептов очищения организма натуральными средствами от разного рода паразитов;

- И в завершение--даны некоторые интересные методики в целом комплексного очищения организма, разных органов.
( Read more )

Hi. ^^ This is my first post, but ive been lurking for about a year now. You guys got me through the winter here. =P I live in western australia, and we've in the middle of our summer. My garden is looking fabulous and my tomatos are starting to ripen so I thought Id post some pictures. This is my second year with a garden, although I helped my parents in theirs a lot growing up. I mostly like to grow edible things.

( Pictures! =) )

I know things are slow this time of year but I thought I'd go ahead and pose a question, even if I don't get around to planting till later. I live in north Florida, zone 8B, and I have a small area by my driveway/gate that is begging for a plant. It's a difficult spot - it's shady, sandy, and usually dry except for when it rains (the gutter spout is right next to it so I'm sure it would get overflow). Any suggestions?

I got my very first seed catalog yesterday in the mail.  I didn't have time to do much more than flip through a few pages but I can see how gardening can become an addictive hobby quickly. I'm excited to be able to sit down and ooh and ahh over all those bright, colorful, glossy pictures.

Note to self: You're still poor.  You cannot buy a bunch of stuff, no matter how pretty the pictures are!  lol  :-)

Wood Blewits are mushrooms that are commonly hunted and eaten in Western Europe, and are even cultivated there. They occur all over North America as well, and can be found during colder months growing on leaves, pine needles or garden mulch. They're pretty distinctive--you don't see a lot of violet mushrooms! They typically occur in small clusters or in fairy rings, have a very distinct, fruity aroma and leave a pale pink spore print.


So I was in a park on Friday and I found a dozen or so. As I was pulling them up, I had an idea...
( More pics and whatnot, and THE PLAN. )

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

I was sorting through my camera today and ran across some photos I took months ago with the intent to post and share. Unfortunately soon after I took the spring photos my computer's motherboard initiated technical difficulties that lasted for the majority of the summer and into the fall. I'm all set up and have been running a stable machine for a few months now and it's high time I got around to taking care of these pictures!

Some of them I've embedded under a cut, others are just links to where I have them hosted. Hopefully these will brighten your day, especially those of you in the frozen north or currently being pounded by a blizzard!

( Springtime Sprouts (April) )

( Summertime (July) )

The garden has gone somewhat dormant for the winter; the grapes are losing their leaves and everything that withered and died has been added to the compost.
The artichoke has bounced back, though, some young sunflowers have already volunteered, and my tomatillos are still giving me salsa ingredients.

Does anyone have any winter or indoor gardens?
Maybe we have members from the Southern Hemisphere with bright new plants growing?
Memories from last year or plans for the next?
Do share!

Приглашаем Вас на МЕДИЦИНСКИЙ видеопортал!

Здесь вы найдете актуальные материалы из различных областей медицины. Вся информация предоставлена ведущими российскими специалистами.

Материалы портала - это видеозаписи, которые доступны для просмотра в режиме on-line. Все видео доступно только после регистрации. На нашем портале вы сможете увидеть:

• видеозаписи лекций из ведущих российских медвузов;
• хирургические операции в реальном времени с комментариями хирурга;
• выступления на научных конгрессах и крупнейших конференциях медицинской направленности;
• видеозаписи сообщений о последних достижениях медицины.

Для регистрации на сайте необходимо пройти по этой ссылке:
http://www.med-edu.ru/register/id1325

Современный человек, оторванный от природы, часто живущий не в согласии с собой, своими настоящими стремлениями и желаниями, находящийся практически все время в напряжении (сегодня есть работа, а завтра ее может не быть; сегодня какая-то денежная сумма есть, а завтра она может обесцениться и т.д.)--очень часто испытывает почти постоянный стресс, который в итоге может перерасти в депрессивное состояние.
Также здесь свое влияние на людей имеют последствия технологического "прогресса".

Нередко сталкиваюсь с людьми, которые отчаянно ищат средства (психологические тренинги, или снадобья на растительной основе), чтобы улучшить настроение, поднять иммунитет, как-то укрепить организм.
И вот недавно я поискала через один поисковой сайт инфо на эту тему и, надо сказать, оказалось, что есть просто замечательные и простые в применении, на натуральной основе, средства для улучшения настроения, для укрепления памяти (разные тренинги тут, конечно, тоже очень помочь могут, но это--отдельная тема, здесь я ее затрагивать не буду).

Далее--об основных средствах растительного происхождения, улучшающих настроение, помогающих при астениях, тревожных и депрессивных состояниях, при упадке сил; укрепляющих память.
А также:
- о методах лечения народными средствами ран, синяков, ссадин;
- любопытная методика избавления от сутулости.
( Read more )

I got a surprise gift of two poinsettias today, and I've been doing some reading on how to care for them. Direct sunlight, water when dry, etc. My house gets no direct light through the windows though, will putting it under the reflected florescent light with my other plants be ok?

I've also read up a little on how to get them to bloom year after year. Something about cutting them back after they start to wilt, then putting them outside in the summer, bringing them inside during the fall, and giving them at least 14 hours of total darkness through roughly Thanksgiving before bringing them out into the light again. Does this sound about right? Thanks guys. :D

Edit: Photo behind cut. Does it need to be replanted? I can never tell for sure; both are about the same size.
( Photo )

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.

We got a few 70 degree days across the weekend so I went ahead and took the caterpillars back outside to the milkweed plant, and set up a mini greenhouse with a heater. It's easier to maintain than keeping them in a tank inside, and they get to have fresh plant to eat.

They've gotten HUGE! I am betting Frijoles margaritas with one of my friends that they will change by Monday.

One big fella munching away

The 2 remaining bigs

Little Numero Fiveo still catching up

Well I finally got my dahlia bulbs dug up yesterday before we settle into a deep cold snap here in the Boston area. Can you suggest a good way to store them for the winter? I have tried peat moss in paper bags with mixed results. Since I paid some good money for these plants I would like to give them the best chance of surviving the winter. Thanks in advance for your help!