Monday, 30th May, 2022
The Day’s hand-picked ideas, tips to better grow Vegs, and meet people you should know.
Share this Edition Tweet | Facebook
1
Feeding the world sustainably
"More than one-fifth of the world’s greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions stem from agriculture—over half from animal farming.1 Unless these emissions are actively addressed, they will probably increase by 15 to 20 percent by 2050 as the Earth’s population rises and the need for food continues to grow. Limiting the impact of climate change will require shifts in what we eat, how much we waste, and how we farm and use our land." — In the article they identify several key, cost-neutral solutions needed to reduce GHG emissions, including zero-emission farm equipment; efficient farming practices and reducing food waste. Those aren’t just for the big Agriculture companies and farmers. Each gardener must help too, and here is how you can:
# zero-emission farm equipment > use just a few tools in your garden, use no-dig!
# efficient farming practices > eliminate food miles and grow at home all your Vegs (Microgreens) and some fruits; improve your soils for nutrients-rich Vegs
# reducing food waste > do that (you know how!), and what’s left, simply compost it all (use a Hotbin if you have little space and just want great compost without much efforts and no triage!)
2
Gardening's “bad girl”?
"She inspired the names of almost 200 plants, but the reputation of 19th Century horticulturalist Ellen Ann Willmott has been tarnished, with rumours that she sabotaged other people's gardens and carried a gun. In Chelsea Flower week, we look at a recent discovery which sheds new light on the gardening great - and her rude behaviour. It was said Ellen would carry the seeds of this thorny plant in her handbag and scatter them surreptitiously in other people's gardens to sabotage their designs. Rumour had it that Miss Willmott would carry around a loaded revolver in that handbag, too. But is this picture of a pistol-carrying guerrilla gardener accurate? — What a fascinating (his)story this is about a gardener who was pushing boundaries in so many ways in the 1890s. Get the book by Sandra Lawrence!
3
Let’s Save The Bees And All Of Their Friends
"Everyone talks about saving our bees, and we should! But did you know honeybees only make up a small percentage of pollinators are essential to our ecosystem? In the Maryland, Delaware and DC region alone there are over 40 distinct species of bees. And let’s not forget bats, birds, butterflies, and other beneficial critters we depend on for pollination. What can we do to help them? The human race can’t survive without pollinators of all kinds. Pollinators make the world go round, make our food crops more robust and our flowers more beautiful." — While I’m all about Vegs, try adding a variety of native plants (it’s important as pollinators are particular about shape, colours and type of flowers they like!) to provide nectary and food sources to the pollinators throughout the season.
4
People you should know
"Three old girls who like to garden and love to laugh. We’re three sisters who take a light-hearted look at seasonal gardening issues and share tips to keep you on track summer and winter." The3growbags. — What a great name to start with! They have many good tips with good humour & gifts for Gardeners (always need some!). Plus they are on the same island as me.
5
Never a dill moment
How to grow Marjoram: "It’s a low maintenance plant that’s great for beginners who want to enjoy home grown herbs. This guide will help anyone start growing marjoram by sharing all the essential care steps it takes to keep it thriving." — While it doesn’t get as much air time a Mint, Lavender or Thyme, it’s a great herb to add for your cooking.
+ Mulching it all: "Mulching Potatoes – An Easy Way To Grow A Bumper Crop Of Spuds: Can you imagine life without potatoes? No hash browns or fries, nor a baked spud or a bowl of garlic mashed potatoes in sight. Not even a potato wedge with sour cream, chives and bacon. Notice that all of these ingredients come from farms, not just the store. They are foodstuffs you can grow all on your own if you have the land. Chives can even thrive in containers on your kitchen counter. But it takes the humble potato to bring everything together. — even if you only have a small garden, try growing speciality potatoes (and buy your main supply from a farmer or supermarket) in a small area or pots.
+ Aphid Assasins: "One of the most effective pest predators in the garden is also one of the most ethereally beautiful. Usually green in colour, often with bright golden or copper eyes, and translucent wings etched with delicate veins, lacewings are a prize in any garden." — if you see some, make sure not to disrupt them, they are about to make a meal of your Aphids!
6
Bottom of the compost pile
Mycorrhizae! Myco what?? “How do we keep the mycorrhizae growing with our garden plants? Most gardens are well inoculated with mycorrhizae at least the AM kinds. To get more access to EM it is necessary to also provide the organic carbon that they affiliate with. While EM absorb sugar from plant roots, their hyphae also grow into woody mulches helping to solubulize the nutrients contained in mulch and bring them back to their tree hosts. The litter and woody debris that fall in forests (litterfall) are essential for these organisms. We can simulate litterfall in gardens by applying fresh arborist chips and nourish the EM fungi as well as our woody garden plants at the same time." — so keep it simple, keep mulching with fresh arborist chippings.
+ A rapid-fire Q&A session with Tony O’Neill on everything composting: “1. Everybody can compost. if you dump any previous living materials (plant or animal) in a pile, it’s going to break down to compost. 2. Not a big fan of Trench composting method (dig a trench and burry materials) because it has No microbial life into it and can’t plant anything for about 4months as it turns anaerobic. 3. Turn compost once (build to heating, turn, then to 2nd heating) so the outer layers’ weed seeds are killed also. 4. minimum need 2 bins to turn-over. for a larger one, go for 5 bins systems. 5. anything that was living can be composted. How you will compost them is what differs (Bokashi compost first then add to compost pile)” — as long as it works, it’s all good. Get Tony O’Neill book Composting Masterclass: Feed The Soil Not Your Plants learn more!
Thank you as always for tuning in. If you're enjoying Veg Geek's newsletter, would you mind forwarding this issue to a friend?
Keep Growing-
Anthony - Veg Geek