Category: Interacting with nature

Georgia Organics conference – importance of nutrition

This weekend (Fed 22 -23) I attended the 15th annual conference of Georgia Organics ("GO"), which emphasized the importance of nutrition.  This was my 8th conference and each time I wonder if I will learn anything new and the result is always a resounding "yes".  The organization has grown robustly.  Lots of young food activists.  I asked one last evening at the concluding Farmers Feast dinner why Atlanta has such a strong movement and he said "leadership".  Atlanta has growing ethnic populations Read more [...]

5 steps to conversion and organized skepticism

The nice thing about engaging in politics while running is you work out your anger quickly and without upset.  If you engage too loudly or passionately, your companion/opponent may edge away or pick up speed or become distracted by the passing natural attractions.  In the event, no harm is done, and you both feel better for the exercise and the ridded emotions. On the topic of global warming, Bob has made some progress over the past 5 years and is now at level three of the five step climb which Read more [...]

signs of spring

In the pond in the woods I noticed a big bubble containing lots of smaller bubbles each with a black object - frogspawn with the black dots growing daily larger into tadpoles. The bouts of warm weather interspersed with freeze spells have stimulated budding on several plants. Similarly my raspberries and elderberries. And at the tips of the branches of my apple trees, young leaves begin to unfurl. Of concern, as in previous years, is the proclivity of the peach trees to Read more [...]

horse manure control test

In March 2012 I performed a simple test to get some confidence that the horse manure I was collecting was not harmful to my plants.  The test indicated that my plants would not be harmed but the effect on worms was undetermined.  I had not visited the stables for some time until early this January I headed their way.  One of the immediate changes was the password controlled electric gate.  The new owners, a husband and wife team were welcoming, and when I mentioned I usually paid $20 per load Read more [...]

2 good talks – EpiPen and chestnuts

Bee Stings & Allergic Reactions Last Thursday was the monthly meeting of the Cherokee Beekeepers' Club meeting and the speaker was a MD who specializes in medical emergencies and is also a beekeeper.  Well qualified in all respects.  He outlined the differences between a local reaction to a bee sting (swelling, pain, redness) which is normal; a large local reaction where the symptoms persist for up to a week; and an allergic reaction of which anaphylaxis  is the most serious and is life Read more [...]

taking a chance with citrus

My zip code says I am in plant hardiness zone 7 (0 to 10 deg F) .  With ongoing climate change and with use of micro climates, I coax myself that I am in zone 8.  Which means I can try my hand  at cold hardy citrus grown outdoors.  It's a novel idea to think of growing citrus where I live.  But I love citrus, even lemons.  I used to chew on lemons until my dentist observed significant enamel erosion and presciently asked if I ate lemons.  End of my lemon eating, but oranges and grapefruit Read more [...]

when it rains incessantly – then build a bat house

Rain has been unrelenting in the Atlanta area.  I have captured all I can in my storage tanks and contour ditches and I hope most of the surplus is recharging the underground reservoirs and not running for the Gulf.  So, with little to do outside, I decided to build a bat house. I am increasingly relying on natural predators to combat pests.  Because the weather has been unusually warm, a number of pest families are happily populating themselves on my lettuce in my cold frames.  So I was pleased Read more [...]

short-night veggies

I was aware of but didn't not pay much attention to the long-day and short-day preferences of certain vegetables.  I knew that with onions, since I live in the south, I needed to grow the short-day variety.  But that was it - until recently.  In spring last year I had a lot of success with radishes and beets and so this past fall I seeded the ground again with  radishes, beets and, for good measure, turnips.  Only the turnips grew, excepting a couple of sorry looking beets.  Got me wondering.  Read more [...]

wood ash and the van Helmont experiment

On cold nights I burn wood in the hearth.  Really inefficient with most of the heat going up the chimney and I am resolved to install, some time, a good wood stove.  However, what puzzles me as I stare at the burning embers is why there is so little residue from the logs.  The amount of ash remaining depends on several factors such as type of wood, moisture content and heat of combustion.  Seasoned wood has a moisture content of say 20% (water represents 20% of the total weight).  The ash remaining Read more [...]

why do tulip poplar trees have such unusual trunk variations?

I don't yet have the answer for why, in the woods, a number of tulip poplar trees have multiple trunks from the same base. But the really unusual feature is how the base of the tree appears hollowed out. My current theory is that the tulip poplar grew up alongside the stump of a tree and then it sent out adventitious roots around the stump to mine the ingredients in the stump and when this was done and the stump had disappeared, it was left with a hollow base. Here is another example Read more [...]