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| Food
Storage |
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Home
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Solar
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Selecting
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Create
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Homemade
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| Homemade
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Raising
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Fruit
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Fruit
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Floyd County Needs Farmers.
Floyd County In View Asks:
any orchardists, farmers or would be farmers who are looking to
relocate or are looking for new agricultural land to
organically grow fruit, produce and grains,
please consider Floyd County.
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we Americans are distressed
at what's happening to our quality of life by virtue of America's
dependence on foreign oil, if we don't preserve farms, farm lands and
farming
families, just wait to see what our life is like when America has to
depend on foreign food |
Grow Local
- Buy Local - Eat Local: Foods
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in your own community by asking for and buying locally grown organic
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Quick Tips by Mike McGroarty
Gardening Tips
Controlling
Earwigs in Your Garden and Yard
Earwigs are
unwelcome guests in most everyone's garden or
home.
These ¾" long, reddish brown insects look particularly
formidable,
with their rear pincers and quick movements.
Earwigs can
damage your plants, but they rarely bite people.
Their name
comes from an old European superstition that
these
nocturnal insects will crawl into the ears, and then
into the
brains, of people while they sleep. (Remember the
chilling
scene from the movie "Star Trek: The Wrath of
Khan"?
Creepy, but
pure fiction!)
Earwigs are
native to Europe and were accidentally introduced
to the US in
the early part of the 20th Century. Since then,
the
population has spread quickly across the country.
Earwigs
overwinter and lay their eggs in the soil. They hide
during the
day and come out at night to feed on insects and
plants.
Earwigs will eat aphids, mites, fleas and the eggs of
other
insects. But for most folks, the bad habits of earwigs
outweigh the
good. They'll also feed on a variety of
flowering
plants and hostas, along with some garden vegetables.
They'll hide
under well caps, inside electrical outlets and
any other
dark place they can crawl into.
To control
earwigs, some experts suggest removing possible
hiding places
from your yard to create a dry, sunny environment
that earwigs
will avoid. But if a dry, sunny yard is not your
cup of tea,
there are chemical and organic methods for
controlling
the nasty beasties.
Sevin and
some other chemical insecticides will kill earwigs.
Ask your
local garden center what they have available for
earwig
control, and follow the directions on the package.
Insecticidal
soaps kill earwigs on contact, and should be
sprayed in
the evening when the earwigs are active.
You can also
trap earwigs by placing damp, rolled up newspapers
overnight in
the areas they frequent. Gather the newspapers
in the
morning and shake out any earwigs into a bucket of
soapy
water. If earwigs get inside your house, just vacuum
them
up. They come inside to find a hiding place, but they
do not breed
indoors.
************************************
Attracting
Beneficial Insects to Your Garden
The previous
info was all about how beneficial insects
can help you
fight plant-eating insects in your garden. But
if there
aren't any beneficial insects in your garden, they
can't come to
your aid. This week you will learn how to
attract
beneficial insects to your garden.
There are a
variety of common plants and flowers that attract
beneficial
insects. Beneficial insects are not only attracted
to plants
which are infected with their insect prey, but they
also tend to
be selective about the plants on which they lay
their
eggs. Many beneficial insects also spend part of their
lives
surviving on the nectar and pollen of their favorite
plants.
Ideally, your garden plants will provide food, shelter
and a nursery
for beneficial insects. Some of these plants
may already
be in your garden.
Caterpillars,
leafhoppers, beetles, moths and grubs are attacked
by tiny
parasitic wasps. Because they are so tiny themselves,
parasitic
wasps prefer tiny flowers when they want a drink of
sweet
nectar. Parasitic wasps will frequent a garden that
features some
yarrow, dill, parsley, Queen Ann's lace or tansy.
These
umbrella-shaped flowers are very attractive to a number
of beneficial
insects.
Green
lacewings and ladybugs will also appreciate the same
umbrella-shaped
flowers. They also like cosmos, prairie
sunflower and
even dandelions and alfalfa. Lacewings prefer
to lay their
eggs in shady areas that are protected from the
weather.
They'll be happy to find some of their favorite
plants in a
quiet, protected corner of the garden.
Various herbs
are attractive to some beneficial insects.
Adding some
herbs here and there amongst your flowers or
vegetables
will surely lure some beneficial insects to work
in your
garden. Lemon balm, pennyroyal, spearmint and parsley
will attract
hoverflies, parasitic wasps and tachinid flies.
Tachinid
flies look like hairy house flies and they lay their
eggs on
caterpillars which can do a lot of damage in a garden.
Tachinid fly
larvae will destroy corn earworms, cabbage worms,
armyworms,
and other fly larvae.
Providing the
proper plants for food and shelter is just one
step toward
attracting beneficial insects to your garden. The
most
important thing to do to encourage beneficial insects in
your garden
is to stop using chemical pesticides. Chemical
pesticides
are not selective and will kill both harmful and
beneficial
insects. Many organic insecticides are selective
and when used
properly, will not harm the beneficial insects.
****************************
Helpful
Insects for Your Garden
Have you seen any baby ladybugs in your
garden?
They may be on your plants right now, quietly working away for
you in a miniature drama as they rid your plants of aphids,
spider mites and other small insects. Adult ladybugs also
dine on insects, but it's their young - the larvae - that are
the most voracious killers.
Adult ladybugs will seek out plants that are infected with
aphids and they'll lay clusters of tiny yellow eggs on the
plant. Within a few days the tiny ladybug larvae hatch and
begin hunting for food.
Ladybug
larvae look much like tiny black alligators with orange
stripes or spots on their backs. When they first hatch, they
are no larger than this comma , but they grow quickly and
aggressively search for food.
Recently I noticed a heavy aphid population on the new growth
of a Rose of Sharon shrub. I also noticed some ladybugs on
the plant, so instead of spraying the plant I decided to watch
Nature take its course. Soon I observed many ladybug larvae
busily scouring the plant and within a week there were no more
aphids. These little guys do a great job!
There are other beneficial insects that will help you keep a
healthy garden. It's important to recognize these good
insects
so they aren't inadvertently destroyed. Many of them have the
appearance of being harmful, but they really aren't...unless
you're an aphid.
To learn more about beneficial insects and to see photos of
the good guys of the insect world, go to this page:
http://entweb.clemson.edu/eiis/pdfs/bb1.pdf
*********************************************
Trimming Rhododendrons and Azaleas
Here in Northern Ohio, zone 5, Rhododendrons
and Azaleas
are in full bloom right now. Rhododendrons and Azaleas
start making new flower buds for next year soon after they
finish blooming. So the ideal time to trim them is right after
they finish blooming. That way you cut off the seed pods
from this years flowers, and get the plant trimmed before it
has a chance to set any new flower buds. Once trimmed,
the plant will set new flower buds and your plants will be
loaded up with blooms for next year.
Most people are afraid to trim Rhododendrons because they
aren't sure how to go about it. I just take my
hedge shears and
cut away, just like I would any other plant. The
result? A
beautiful plant that is tight and full, and loaded with blooms
each year.
Most Rhododendrons and Azaleas are slow growing evergreens
so they don't need or like much fertilizer. I never fertilize
mine.
If you want to make them really happy, just make sure they are
planted in good soil that drains well.
If you have a Rhododendron that is doing poorly, chances are
it's in an area that stays too wet. Maybe back by a wall where
a downspout drains and the soil stays moist all the time. They
hate that. Raise it up and put good topsoil around
it. You'll
see a difference in the plant.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It Pays to Compost
More and more people these days are composting, and for good
reason. Composting is a simple process which offers many
benefits.
When you turn your garden refuse and kitchen scraps into compost,
you are creating fertilizer for your plants and conserving
landfill space. Compost will improve your soil, giving it the
ability to hold moisture and drain well. Even hard clay soil
will be improved by adding compost.
Composting can be as simple or as complex as you want it to
be.
Compost bins and tumblers can be purchased or you can make your
own, or simply leave your compost materials in a pile without
a bin.
To make compost, you'll need a good mix of "brown" and "green"
material. Brown materials are things like dried leaves,
coffee
grounds, shredded paper and straw. Green materials are grass
clippings, fresh garden refuse and kitchen scraps. Add the
brown
and green ingredients in layers,. Avoid adding bones, meat
scraps or dairy products to your compost. These items
decompose
slowly and will attract animals to your compost pile.
Manure is also a good addition to compost, but manure from
meat-eating animals should be avoided. Manure contains a
great
deal of nitrogen and also beneficial microbes that will help the
composting process. Manure makes a great fertilizer, but it
should be composted before adding it to the garden because fresh
manure is so strong or "hot" that it will burn tender plants.
A compost pile will heat up and cook more quickly if it is kept
moist. Compost should be as moist as a sponge that has been
wrung out. Too much or too little moisture will slow the
decomposition process. A compost pile that is cooking
properly
will feel warm or hot inside the pile. If the temperature
inside
the pile is no warmer than the air temperature, the pile needs
more green material and perhaps more moisture.
Air circulation is also important for a compost pile. A
compost
pile that is regularly mixed or turned will decompose much faster
than one that is never turned. But given enough time, even a
compost pile that is never turned will eventually decompose.
Concerned about the smell of a compost pile or worried that it
will attract rodents? Simply bury fresh materials in the
middle
of the pile or cover the smelly material with some soil.
Burying
the material in the pile will add some needed air circulation,
and the addition of soil will also include some helpful microbes.
Finished compost will look like good black soil and can be added
liberally to your garden. Make you own compost for your
garden
and you will soon understand why it is called black gold.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Growing Potatoes
Potatoes, taters, spuds....call them
what you will, potatoes
are a staple in the diet of many people all across the
planet and they're also incredibly easy to grow. But
before you run out to the garden with your shovel and hoe,
there are a few things to know about planting potatoes.
You may have heard the old saying that potatoes should always
be planted on Good Friday. This is an old wives' tale that
should be forgotten. Good Friday does not fall on the same
calendar date each year and many parts of the country are
still buried under snow at that time.
Potatoes should not be planted too early while the ground is
still icy. Potatoes do tolerate cool soil and a light frost,
but not much growth will take place until the soil warms up a bit.
You won't find potato seedlings or packets of potato seeds for
sale at your local garden center. Instead, potatoes are grown
from seed potatoes. A seed potato is nothing more
than an
ordinary potato with at least one "eye" or sprout. Garden
centers and seed catalogs offer an amazing variety of seed potatoes.
Seed potatoes may be planted whole or cut into pieces with at
least one eye per piece. Seed potatoes with more eyes will
grow to produce a larger quantity of smaller potatoes while
seed potatoes with fewer eyes will produce fewer, but larger
potatoes.
If you choose to cut your seed potatoes into smaller pieces,
divide them the day before planting. This will allow the cut
to
slightly heal which helps prevent soil-borne diseases from infecting
your crop. Always choose seed potatoes that are free from
blemishes.
Plant your seed potatoes two to three inches deep in good, rich soil.
Rows of potatoes should be about three feet apart and the potatoes
within the row should be about a foot apart. To prevent scab
on your
potatoes, toss a handful of dry pine needles in each hole with the
seed potato. Scab is a soil-borne disease that causes
scab-like
blemishes on the potato skins. Planting your potatoes in a
different
area of your garden each year will also help prevent scab.
Depending on the warmth of the soil, potato plants will begin to
emerge one to three weeks after planting. When the plants are
about
a foot tall, use your hoe to mound six to eight inches of soil
against the potato plants. This is called "hilling" and it
ensures
the little potatoes will stay out of the sunlight that causes them
to be bitter and green.
Keep your potato plants evenly watered during the growing season.
Once the plants have bloomed, you can begin to harvest little new
potatoes. After the foliage has begun to dry and die back,
the
entire crop can be dug. Allow the potatoes to dry for a day
or
two out of direct sunlight before storing them in a cool, dry and
dark place.
Freshly dug potatoes taste so much better than any you'll buy at
the grocery store. Grow some yourself and discover how easy
and
fun it is to produce a staple crop of delicious potatoes for your
family.
-Mike McGroarty
McGroarty Enterprises Inc.
P.O. Box 338
Perry, Ohio 44081
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Investing
in renewable energy: Samso's
eco-revolution
Sara Nunnally
Published : Mon 27 Mar, 2006
It’s 8:10 p.m. Samso Time,
Thursday, February 23, when the ferry pulls into dock at Kolby Kas
after a two-hour float from Kaludborg. It’s dark...and dusty.
And cold.
There are no streetlights between cities, I notice, as I blindly follow
the car ahead of me to the centre of the 20-mile by 6-mile island, to
Tranebjerg and Flinch’s Hotel - my home base for the next two
days. The island feels deserted, and it is in a way...February is
Denmark’s coldest month, and many of Samso’s 4,300
residents are burrowed snugly in their warm homes - a stark contrast to
when an influx of several tens of thousands visit the island during the
tourist season.
Many come in July for the popular music festival, the beautiful
beaches, and sailing. But of late, Samso has been invaded by a
different kind of tourist...an eco-tourist.
That was my mission...why I travelled over 4,000 miles: to discover
Samso’s Eco-Revolution.
In 1997, Denmark held a national competition. The selected winner would
be home to a one-of-a-kind experiment: The winner would be expected to
convert all its energy supply to 100% renewable energy within 10 years.
The small island of Samso was given the nod. Because it is an island
that has no conventional energy resources of its own, Samso was an
ideal choice for such a controlled experiment.
Since 1998, Samso began converting its energy into renewable energy,
and has been so successful that 100% of its electricity comes from wind
power and 75% of its heat comes from solar power and biomass energy.
That’s a near total Eco-Revolution...but it gets better.
Here’s how they do it...
Investing
in renewable energy: Wind turbines
Think
of the amount of time that wind turbines have been around...and
multiply that by 40.
According to the Danish Wind Industry Association, wind turbines and
wind mills have been “a part of the northern European
landscape for more than 800 years.” Now, wind power makes up
approximately 20% of Denmark’s power consumption...and
that’s with Danish wind manufacturers selling 90% of their
production outside of the country.
Germany is the largest buyer of Danish wind turbines snatching up 24%
of exports, and Spain comes in second with 10.5%. Big numbers for big
markets. In total, Danish manufacturers held 40% of the world market
for wind turbines.
That equates to over DKK21 billion, or nearly $3.4 billion here in the
U.S. - about 1.8% of Denmark’s GDP.
With power like that, wind is like Denmark’s new currency.
Samso has taken the torch and has really shown the world what wind
power can do.
With the completion of an offshore wind farm comprised of 10 beautiful
turbines, Samso has become carbon neutral. The energy produced by these
wind turbines compensates for the island’s transportation
emissions, including the ferries, and all other non-renewable energy
sources.
In fact, sometimes Samso’s wind turbines produce so much
energy that the island sells it back to the mainland!
But wind power isn’t the only thing that’s
super-charging Samso’s Eco-Revolution...
Investing
in renewable energy: Solar power
On
Samso, it’s much more effective to use solar power for
heating. Because of the expense of solar modules, the island has put
them to use in a “collective” environment. Instead
of installing solar arrays on individual homes for electricity, Samso
uses solar power for heat at its district heating plants.
District heating plants pump hot water to nearby homes for individual
heating purposes. The water is heated using a combination of solar
panels and renewable wood pellet or straw-furnaces.
Studies have shown that it’s about 20% cheaper get heat from
the local district heating plants than it is to buy oil for heat.
There are about 250 homes that have installed solar cells for heating
their own water tanks in instances where they reside too far from the
district heating plant. In total, Samso is pushing past the 75%
renewable mark when it comes to heat energy needs.
By combining solar power with local, renewable, biofuel, Samso has
custom-tailored a renewable energy program that is simple and highly
effective. Solar panels are so efficient that on a cloudy winter day,
it can heat the water to 25 degrees above freezing on its own.
With only 25% of heat energy derived from fossil fuels,
Samso’s well on its way to achieving 100% renewable status
ahead of schedule.
There’s only one sector left to tackle, and it might prove to
be the most difficult.
Investing
in renewable energy: Transportation
Samso’s
Eco-Revolution is in danger of stalling...so the many naysayers say.
Every critic of Samso’s progress ritualistically cites
transportation as the missing cog in the otherwise praiseworthy
renewable energy system.
Well, they’ll be eating their foot once Samso’s new
projects have been put into place.
The experts on Samso will by applying two radically different concepts
to tackle the transportation problem.
The first project is a biofuel: rapeseed oil.
Rapeseed oil can be used to fuel any vehicle once a simple adaptation
is made to the engine. It is cleaner than ethanol, and does not need to
be refined in a clunky, energy-consuming refinery. That
wouldn’t be practical for this small island.
All that you need to make your own biofuel is rapeseed, and a rapeseed
press...and cows to eat the waste. Once pressed, the oil can be put
directly into your fuel tank.
The island can grow approximately 600 hectares of rapeseed a year.
That’s not enough to run every car, but it’s
definitely enough to take car of the largest diesel guzzlers: farm
tractors and ferries.
To eliminate the rest of transportation’s oil consumption,
Samso wants to introduce a hydrogen plant, powered by all that excess
wind power. That’s a few years down the road, but in the
meantime, the Energy and Environment Office wants to put a
hydrogen-fuelled truck on display at its new Energy Academy upon its
completion.
The hydrogen truck, designed by H2 Logic Alps, would be a demonstration
piece to start generating interest in this new, renewable fuel. Samso
is planning on banning traditional combustion engines from the island
once vehicles are converted to hydrogen.
Generating community interest has been a key way of developing projects
and increasing investors. Samso’s Energy and Environment
Office was so successful because it offered more than just a great
chance at a return on investments...
Investing
in renewable energy: Samso's
residents
In
order for renewable energy project to survive, they needed strong
backing from the community. In that way, Samso’s success goes
way beyond the “greening” of energy consumption.
This Eco-Revolution was not only an environmental change.
Samso’s residents embraced a way to save their economy and
improve their way of life.
Through investing in co-ops that financed wind power and district
heating plants, islanders took personal control over their quality of
life. By introducing these renewable energy projects, Samso has created
new, better-paying jobs, increased tourism, and added to its economy.
“The community is more inclined to support the project
because they see it as something that is done locally by local people.
As such, people participate not because they are forced to by the
authorities but because they want to,” says Soren Hermansen,
director of the Samso Energy and Environment Office, in an interview
with Chan Cheng Tuan of Sunday Mail.
Community commitment is necessary for the advancement of any project,
which is why Samso uses many local resources like straw and wood
pellets for the district heating plants. Soon rapeseed will be added to
that list.
Residents want to see Samso succeed, and understand that by
participating in the islands renewable energy projects the whole island
benefits.
Regards,
S.R. Nunnally
for The Daily Reckoning
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Use the FCIV
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Use the FCIV
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to offer or seek a ride
When you drive
alone to work every day, you foot the bill for gas. If you share the
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Sharing a ride regularly with
just one other person and you'll spend half of what you used to. Even
once
a week will help. You'll not only save on gas, you'll also put fewer
miles
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