Green Thumbs: Notes of a difficult growing season Oct 31, 2009
Homeowners who may have experimented with vegetable gardening for the first time this summer should not be discouraged if their attempts to cultivate their own produce were minimally successful. Lack of warmth and sunshine accompanied by seemingly perpetual dampness took a toll on our warm weather crops with an abundance of fungal diseases and a profusion of weeds. (Hanover Mariner, MA)
Italy Food Goes Mafia-Free Oct 30, 2009
A short ride from Palermo a group of young people cultivate about 490 acres of land once owned by some of the most ruthless Mafia bosses. They belong to an umbrella organization called Libera and are led by Don Luigi Ciotti, a priest who has dedicated his life to the fight against organized crime in southern Italy. (Newsmax)
Africa: Could Regulation Ease Fears Over Land Grabs? Oct 27, 2009
"Land acquisition is targeting the proportion of this land (that is) in government hands and those coming to access this land have a feeling that there is land we are not able to cultivate ourselves, but the situation is different. If we had the basic facilities and better capacity we would cultivate that land," Kiriro said. He said it was critical that there are checks and balances on land acquisition to prevent smallholder farmers from losing their livelihoods. (allAfrica.com)
In search of native plants Oct 25, 2009
In fact, Love said, European gardeners are more likely than Americans to cultivate the descendants of Rocky Mountain plants like penstemon, after 19th-century botanist-adventurers descended on the West with their collection sacks and lugged the resulting bounty back across the Atlantic ... Gardeners have long struggled to cultivate them, largely because the plants rely on a nearby companion -- sage brush or native bunch grasses -- to help them soak up the moisture they need to thrive. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
The blue GM rose on sale in Japan Oct 22, 2009
In 1847, American nurseryman Samuel Parsons wrote in his book The Rose that progress in science and technology might, indeed, enable gardeners to cultivate blue roses. If so, he said, they would be worth the effort. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Kenyan Farmers in a Dilemma After Retailers Run Out of Maize Seed Oct 22, 2009
He said he had decided to cultivate a smaller portion of his land this season because he did not want to risk incurring losses similar to the ones he suffered last season when the rains failed. Meya operations director Albert Munywoki said most farmers wanted to plant short season crops because they were not sure of the rainfall pattern. (allAfrica.com)
5 Surprising Things That Attract Her Oct 20, 2009
It takes a patient, affectionate man to grow healthy plants, and with our trend of going green, a woman who pays attention to how you cultivate plants is also seeing your nurturing spirit in a much bigger picture. Nuts, U.K. s No. 1 selling men s weekly magazine, polled 1,500 women on what personality traits they find most attractive in men, and caring for the environment grabbed the top spot. (Fox News)
L.A. Prosecutor Vows to Target Pot Shops Oct 20, 2009
One possibility:$100 per year for a permit to cultivate a dozen plants. It's a win-win. (CBS News -- US)
Climate Assumptions From Another Planet Oct 19, 2009
eIBD Investor's Business Daily Digital Edition. Access recent eIBD issues easily. (Investors Business Daily)
Kauai power deal forged Oct 16, 2009
PacWest is open to farming the land itself or having others cultivate it, Maloney said. It hopes to plant two-thirds of the land in sugar cane, which could be processed for sugar before the cane is burned, and the rest in woody biomass crops. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Africa: The Food Benefits of a Command Economy Oct 16, 2009
Before the reforms kicked in, Chinese people were not allowed to cultivate private land, but in 1978 individual farm households were given the right to use collectively owned land on long-term leases. "This reform, known as the household responsibility system (HRS), also granted farmers access to markets where they could sell their surplus crops after meeting the collective's production quotas," the WFP series noted. (allAfrica.com)
Grant to grow beach grass in Barnstable Oct 13, 2009
The nursery will be used to cultivate native plants to be used to replenish beach dunes and practice sustainable land management. It will be located at the former Suni Sands Motel on Craigville Beach Road. (Cape Codder, MA)
* Taiwanese team discovers rices flood-tolerant gene Oct 11, 2009
She expressed the hope that the discovery behind rices growth can help human beings cultivate more crops that are resistant to floods, drought, salt and hot or cold temperatures at a time when extreme weather conditions -resulting from global climate change have become common and often lead to diminished crop yields. Yus study was selected as the cover story for the current issue of the journal Science Signaling. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
First Mine-Free Farms in Guinea Bissau Since 35 Years Oct 10, 2009
Bigene For 35 years, hundreds of villagers living in Suar in the Cacheu region of northern Guinea-Bissau have been too scared to cultivate the land around their villages for fear of landmines ... Most of the inhabitants of Suar and Bintam villages fled during the war, returning afterwards to cultivate their crops. (allAfrica.com)
Culinary Ecotourists Turn Wilderness Foraging into Dinner Oct 10, 2009
The here is a laboratory for many of evolution s flamboyant experiments: hundreds of garish bird species such as toucans and scarlet macaws; astonishing leaf-cutter ants marching in flotillas 300 feet long to nourish the fungi they cultivate in their subterranean nests. There are formidable snakes--the eyelash palm viper and the terciopelo--and rare amphibians like the gaudy strawberry poison dart frog. (Scientific American)
More of this story... Oct 9, 2009
The drug trafficking organization has been identified as using public lands to cultivate large scale illegal marijuana grow sites up and down the state of California. These grow sites have been eradicated including one site with 50,000 illegal marijuana plants. (The Exeter Sun, CA)
Mom-and-pop pot growers cut cartels profits Oct 8, 2009
Well-organized Mexican cartels have also moved to increasingly cultivate marijuana on public lands in the United States, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center and local authorities ... With a $100 investment in enriched soil and nutrients, almost anyone can cultivate a plant that will produce two pounds of marijuana that can sell for $9,000 in hundreds of medical marijuana clubs or on the street, according to growers. (MSNBC -- International)
* Crackdown spurs a heroin clearance sale in southeast Asia Oct 8, 2009
Under pressure from China, the Wa forbade farmers in their territory to cultivate opium. But such concerns could quickly dissipate in crisis, Chin said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Energy companies turn to algae for oil Oct 5, 2009
Skeptics say that it's a beachcomber's fantasy, that it's too costly to cultivate any significant amount of algae, that fuel inside whether in the form of oil, ethanol, gas or hydrogen is too expensive to extract or produce on a large scale. But, in recent years, San Diego, along with Silicon Valley, St. Louis and Seattle and a few other cities, have disregarded the skeptics and emerged as hotbeds of algae biofuel research. (Honolulu Advertiser)
‘Feng Shui for Success’ shows how to create healthy personal environment Oct 4, 2009
They savor the aging process and rather than aspire to be one of the blue-eyed blondes Americans seem to favor, they cultivate rich inner lives which transform the outer ones, making their beauty unique rather than cookie cutter. From work ethics (the French prefer having a life to making a living, and they have government-supported, six-week vacations to prove it), to valuing nuanced thinking, Ollivier shows how the French way of life might enhance our own. (Boston Globe)
Farmersville drafts limitations for marijuana cultivation Oct 1, 2009
Currently, the City does not have any regulations in regard to California Proposition 215 that in 1996 enabled residents to cultivate limited quantities of marijuana for medical use ... Patients would also be required to register with the City Manager, Rene Miller, with information including the name of all persons in possession, a copy of a valid medical marijuana recommendation, the number of plants being cultivated and any other documentation deemed reasonable by Miller with all information... (The Exeter Sun, CA)
Ants Vs. Worms: New Computer Security Mimics Nature Sep 30, 2009
Leaf-cutting ants, one of a few groups of social insects to cultivate crops and live in dense colonies. . (Science Daily)
Inside India's Sacred Heart Sep 30, 2009
We are meant to cultivate indifference but still I remember her. . (India Times, India)
Jatropha - Finding Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Sep 26, 2009
Judging by the current scale on which bio-fuels are cultivated coupled with the fact that traditional food crops are now energy crops i.e. food and energy are competing for the same feedstock, food price hikes are inevitable ... Mr Bassey cited an example in Swaziland, where a company called D 1 Oils Jatropha, convinced local farmers to cultivate the plant because it does not need plenty water to thrive. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Pitt researchers net $5 million from NIH to explore better ways to grow cells for regenerative medicine Sep 26, 2009
Using a bottom-up approach, Banerjee will cultivate stem cells into pancreatic cells, noting molecular-level information that could be integrated into dictating cell development, such as the influence of environmental factors and gene and protein networks. "I want to take a completely different approach to addressing the complex process of cell development, which will potentially advance our understanding of regenerative medicine and stem cell bioengineering as a whole," Banerjee said. (EurekAlert!)
* Taiwan helps Panama breed endangered orchid Sep 26, 2009
One of the missions experts, Huang Chia-hsiang (), said they adopted biotechnology to cultivate the seedlings in greenhouses and were now able to produce 3,000 plants annually. The Espiritu Santo project was part of a program launched in 2006 to help Panama cultivate orchids. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Rare Indian lotus 'disappearing' Sep 24, 2009
Conservation experts have tried to cultivate more of the plants by numerous means, including making cuttings, growing them from seeds and high-tech methods such as micro-propagation from tiny bits of sterile plant matter in a dish. "Lotus is the national flower of India," said Professor Tandon. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Palo Alto launches reusable-bag campaign Sep 24, 2009
She says it is important to cultivate a habit, and placing bags close to one's purse or wallet might help. According to a city news release, reusable bag use doubled from 9 to 18 percent at Palo Alto grocery stores and pharmacies between 2008 and 2009. (Palo Alto Online, CA)
* FEATURE : Franz CEO aims to bring human touch to business Sep 21, 2009
Gift-giving plays such an important role in helping people cultivate relationships and communicate messages that they will not abandon the practice. . (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Food Needs Drive New Scramble for Africa Sep 19, 2009
5] They point out that 'there is a big difference between announcing plans [to sell or lease land] and actually acquiring land - let along starting to cultivate it ... 8] In Ethiopia, the government of Meles Zenawi has recently accepted a deal of US$100 million for farmlands permitting Saudi Arabia to cultivate barley and wheat. (allAfrica.com)
Help butterfly study efforts Sep 19, 2009
However, those of us who appreciate the vital role the plant plays in the life cycle of the beautiful monarchs often cultivate it within the borders of flower gardens. Once again, we ask for your assistance in helping us locate large stands of milkweed. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Feature: A lifetime of rural re-education Sep 17, 2009
In 1989 when I went back to Chongqing for the first time since marrying Tan, my younger brother sent me money," she says. Zhang says she felt hurt and guilty as she had also been unable to see her mother before she died in the winter of 1970. When she knew that her mother was seriously ill, she immediately left for Chongqing. She arrived home after traveling for three days to find her mother was already dead and buried. She felt heart-broken. A WIDENING GAP Zhang and her husband still cultivate... (Xinhuanet, China)
Growing grapes in Sendayan Sep 17, 2009
No doubt we may not be able to cultivate a large variety but we can still churn out good-quality grapes for local consumption, he said. Azrul, the managing director of A-WINN Global Market Services said he approached grape growers in Thailand for their expertise in the field before setting up his first vineyard. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Police take down 69pot plants at county line Sep 16, 2009
Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 5:52 PM CDT The Blackford County Sheriff s Office working with the local conservation officer has taken out 69 cultivated marijuana plants near the Blackford-Delaware county line after receiving a tip from a Blackford County landowner ... After observing the plants and the manner in which they were cultivated the officers decided to search the area for more plants ... This is maintained, and the area has been prepared to cultivate the plants, Sones said. (Hartford City News-Times, IN)
Sheabutter Association calls government support Sep 14, 2009
They said with a good price from the purchasing companies, farmers of sheanut would be able to cultivate large plantation, which in no doubt would contribute significantly to the growth of the economy in terms of job creation and increase in income levels. The Association made the appeal at a forum at Kperisi last Wednesday to discuss ways of improving the quality of sheanuts and sheabutter packaging for the market. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
* Research institute works to save rare water taro Sep 12, 2009
So far, the plants being tended by the institute have been growing well and the institute plans to cultivate the species on a wider scale and promote it as a food crop, the researcher said. Aponogeton taiwanensis Masamune is a small plant that is easy to cultivate once it gets sufficient water and is grown under the right conditions, he said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Africa: Soybean, the Golden Seed for Wealth And Health Sep 10, 2009
Scientists are urging farmers to cultivate and incorporate soybean into their local diets for improved nutrition and to generate income. It's also important for people in developing countries to diversify their diets for the food demands of their growing population to be met. (allAfrica.com)
Gardening the Garden Island Sep 10, 2009
Learn how to select and cultivate the best crops for your space, climate and taste. Design, prepare the site and soil and start up seedlings, feed and water plants and what to do about pests, weeds and diseases. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Agriculture Ministry offers assistance to roots and tuber farmers Sep 10, 2009
Cape Coast, Sept. 9, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has put in place a programme to assist farmers who cultivate root and tuber crops products such as cassava, sweet potatoes and yam. Dubbed "Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP)" it does not only offer such farmers the opportunity to expand their farms with the supply of planting materials but also gives them grants to buy farm inputs. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Ghana: Land Grabs Force Hundreds Off Farms, Growers Say Sep 9, 2009
Accra Dozens of farmers in northern Ghana claim they have been forced off their land with no alternative source of income after a multinational firm bought their farms to cultivate jetropha, a non-food crop whose seeds contain oil used to produce biofuel ... Farmer Mumud Alhassan Adam, 50-year-old father of five, lost his eight-hectare plot on which he cultivated maize and rice ... Kwadwo Poku, a local consultant for several of the multinationals with business in Ghana, told IRIN: "With so much... (allAfrica.com)
New genomic model defines microbes by diet -- provides tool for tracking environmental change Sep 8, 2009
"In essence, by analyzing and comparing the strategies of the dominant organisms we should have an idea of the carbon flux going through the environment which in turn will be affected by global warming. The oceans, which make up 71 percent of our planet's surface, are home to microorganisms that are adapted to life strategies along a continuum of two extremes: those that thrive in nutrient-rich waters often associated with warmer regions and those that prefer nutrient-poor waters. Collected from... (EurekAlert!)
People on the Move: Sept. 8 Sep 8, 2009
In his new role, he will oversee the health care design and planning team and cultivate existing and new strategic partnerships. Alyson Steele has been named a principal of Quinn Evans Architects. (Washington Business Journal, DC)
How can Bangladesh fight its floods? Sep 7, 2009
Britain's Department for International Development is sponsoring farmers to cultivate crabs not crops, ducks not chickens, and gardens that float. The BBC's David Shukman has been to see how some of the solutions may help those who are in areas vulnerable to flooding. (BBC News)
Tree trimming work to impact traffic for months (517) Sep 7, 2009
riverriim wrote on Sep 6, 2009 1:40 PM:" Even though in few days we'll still be two years away from making 20 years since Hurricane Iniki , for simplicity sake let's just say it's been 20 years since Iniki removed and pruned the trees on both sides of the highway right-of-way, ROW, between Kolo Rd. and Anini Vista Road. Since Iniki, the state Department of Transportation Highways Division, DoT , has on numerous occasions throughout every year had crews of rarely less than a half dozen men and... (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Colonial American Foods and Diets Sep 6, 2009
Although there was no turkey at the first Thanksgiving, early settlers learned to cultivate new crops, hunt deer and fowl, and create diverse, healthy diets ... English colonists, however, never adopted the potato although Thomas Jefferson cultivated them on his plantation in Virginia ... Colonists brought fruits and vegetables from England to cultivate, like the apple. (Suite101.com)
Veggie Vandals: community gardens deal with theft Sep 6, 2009
In some cases, the people who pay a fee for the land and volunteer their time to cultivate the plots are being forced to place their gardens under lock and key. "We've had people come in periodically when the tomatoes were especially ripe and taking a few," said Terry Lueckenhoff, one of the gardeners at the Fox Park community garden. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Zuma reaches out to expats Sep 4, 2009
But, Zuma said, while South Africa's Constitution protects the rights of minorities, and one of his responsibilities as president was to cultivate the country's cultural diversity, this should not be at the cost of unity. "Much as we are conscious of who we are culturally and otherwise, it must not take away the national identity, as we should be South Africans first.". (iAfrica.com)
Local Preferences, Nationalism Boost Chinese Consumer Firms Sep 4, 2009
Barack Obama's political fate depends on a group of Americans he hasn't done much to cultivate the rich. Presidencies can succeed or fail on one transcendent issue. (Investors Business Daily)
Investor Report: Wind Energy Sep 4, 2009
For example, certain types of cash crops are more difficult to cultivate if there are turbines on the property. Seed corn, for one, requires certain row formatting that is more difficult with turbines. (RealtyTimes)
3 arrested in marijuana bust Sep 3, 2009
The room had been modified to specifically cultivate marijuana, including special lighting, ventilation systems and irrigation, Seifert said. The plants averaged 3-feet in height. (Lake City Reporter, FL)
Going Green (with tea) Sep 3, 2009
Local farmers cultivate it by traditional methods, from growing to grinding. A couple of weeks prior to harvest in the spring, farmers cover the tea plants with bamboo mats or tarps, slowly reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches them. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Earth experiment could buy time Sep 2, 2009
Page last updated at 09:10 GMT, Tuesday, 1 September 2009 10:10 UK. Earth experiment could buy precious time. (BBC News -- Science)
Casinos too risky in Catskills Aug 29, 2009
Our aim is to cultivate economic development by creating new green businesses and jobs -- from farming and forestry to tourism and education -- that are compatible with the proud history and unique resources of the Catskills. The Catskills ecosystem encompasses the 700,000-acre Catskill Park and half of the state's drinking water. (Albany Times Union)
'Plasmobot': Scientists To Design First Robot Using Mould Aug 28, 2009
16, 2007) Tomato growers are likely to soon be able to cultivate new tomato varieties without having to use pesticides against grey mould (Botrytis. (Sep. (Science Daily)
10 Maya foods that changed the world Aug 28, 2009
Though Cort;s learned of chocolate from the Aztecs, they had acquired it through trade with the Maya, who first cultivated it about 3,000 years ago ... (vainilla) The elixir from the world's only known edible orchid, probably first cultivated by the Totonaca in neighboring Veracruz state, had become a common flavoring for the Maya's chocolate drinks by the 1500s ... Though corn was a dietary staple in most of Mexico as long as 6,000 years ago, it was the Maya who first cultivated it around 2500... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Travel)
Govt provides GHc10.7 million to support youth in agric programme Aug 26, 2009
1 million for eight farmer-based organizations and associations in the Northern and Upper West Regions to cultivate 180 acres each of mango plantations, to be intercropped with annual crops like soyabeans, groundnuts and yams. He said the intercropping with the annual crops was expected to ensure judicious use of land as well as increase in food output and improvement of household income in the short to medium term during the gestation period of the mango. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Roll your own? Some smokers start growing their tobacco Aug 25, 2009
Driven largely by ever-rising tobacco prices, he's among a growing number of smokers who have turned to their green thumbs to cultivate tobacco plants to blend their own cigarettes, cigars and chew. Byars normally pays $5 for a five-pack of cigars and $3 for a tin of snuff; the seed cost him $9. (Juneau Empire)
Now, markets cultivate farmers Aug 25, 2009
Markets compete for farmers in Bay State as demand grows - The Boston Globe. Local Search Site Search. (Boston Globe)
* FEATURE : Despair looms as drought hits Australias Mississippi Aug 25, 2009
Rather than leave the land, like many farmers along the Murray, the tenacious 78-year-old Italian migrant scaled back his operation so he could use limited water resources to cultivate export-quality produce for Asia. I couldnt sleep for nights before pulling them out, I was tossing and turning he said, pointing to the blackened branches of dozens of trees he bulldozed and burned. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Cultivating mushrooms no easy task Aug 24, 2009
The familiar button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) has been cultivated for 300 years ... Imagine trying to cultivate a tree when all you can see is its fruit, and you never know which acre of your orchard it will show up in. (San Francisco Chronicle)
LETTER: How high can fence go to stop hungry deer? Aug 24, 2009
I cultivate a small garden on my adjoining vacant lot. Will I be permitted to erect a fence tall enough to keep out any hungry (or otherwise) deer. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Increasing number of smokers cultivating tobacco Aug 23, 2009
Driven largely by ever-rising tobacco prices, he s among a growing number of smokers who have turned to their green thumbs to cultivate tobacco plants to blend their own cigarettes, cigars and chew. Byars normally pays 5 for a five-pack of cigars and 3 for a tin of snuff; the seed cost him 9. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Fungus-resistant gene found in rice Aug 21, 2009
HONG KONG: Researchers in Japan have identified a gene that allows rice plants to fight off a fungal disease called blast, which may open the way for farmers to cultivate hardier plants ... Researchers have identified a gene that allows rice plants to fight off a fungal disease called blast, which may open the way for farmers to cultivate hardier plants. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Swaziland: Farmers Change From Food to Sugar Growing Aug 18, 2009
The International Sugar Organization expects sugar prices to rise 76 percent in 2009, making it an attractive proposition for small farmers to cultivate, as it will yield far higher profits than cereal or vegetable crops, whose excess after household consumption is sold at local markets to obtain cash. A household survey by the WFP and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, found that farming families depended on local shops for basic... (allAfrica.com)
Seven Principles of Deep Ecology Aug 18, 2009
Understanding the principles of the movement can cultivate respect for this school of thought. Deep ecology is a broad field and not all of its varieties can be captured in a single definition. (Suite101.com)
