Blog edition. The whole newsletter is available here.
In the News
- No more Crocs? Well, no matter what your politics may be, it’s sad to lose such a comfortable, indestructible shoe – my favorite for weeding and strolling.
- Researchers at the USDA think they might have created a fungus that’ll solve the national kudzu problem. It works SO fast that if you spray kudzu in the morning it’ll show signs of damage by mid-afternoon. It’s called Myrothecium and here’s the story.
- Window boxes are the new allotment gardens, says the National Trust in the UK.
- Justin Timberlake opens his new low-impact golf course.
- SPIN farming to transform cities? Suddenly I’m seeing it everywhere.
Found on the Web
- Got pests? Better than switching to organic products is switching to trouble-free plants – or using companion planting to control pests. Makes more sense than the simplistic organic-good/inorganic-bad mentality.
- And here’s a perfect example of that mentality. In the first comment to this round-up of reasons to hate Monsanto is the recommendation to use something "natural" rather than Roundup. Because if it’s natural it’s safe? Like hemlock, like nicotine?
- Tom Christopher recommends a new book about drip irrigation and implores us to get on board and save BIG on water.
- Danger! Whole campus being sprayed for "general insects". Really, really stupid.
- Looks like the vegan diet is the most sustainable, and organic gardening with no animal inputs is catching on.
- More reasons to lay off the products? Read Rodale’s round-up of pesticides that end up in our bodies, including the ones in garden products.
- 75 things you can compost that you didn’t think you could, by Colleen in her new gig at Discovery’s Planet Green.
On GardenRant
- EPA shows off low-impact landscaping.
- Some cities get it long before others. See Spokane contrasted with Seattle.
- Aquaponics have come to Buffalo.
- Help get lawn-pesticide documentary seen.
- HOT debate about invasive plants!
Green the Grounds Update
- Great coverage of a great governor’s garden in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Philadelphia Inquirer, thanks to reporter Mackenzie Carpenter.
- And terrific news out of Frankfort, KY. First Lady Jane Bashear started a veg garden recently and in reading the news about it I discovered her plans for greening the mansion – starting with grounds keeping. "Today, using fuel-efficient equipment, water conservation, native plants, fewer chemicals, and soil nutrients. Future – organic solutions and plantings to reduce the mansion’s footprint." Well alrighty, let’s find out more!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Susan, just a word of thanks to you for doing all that incredible research and legwork on the Pennsylvania governor’s garden, which made for a great story — it wouldn’t have happened without your hard work!
Mackenzie
Lots of great info. Will read more about the kudzu.
I understand what you mean about the “organic=good & inorganic=bad” mentality, and I agree – it can get out of hand!
However, sort of gave me the impression that you give ‘Round Up’ the infamous weedkiller, the benefit of the doubt.
REMEMBER: This substance that they promote is highly toxic. After 30days of having round up sprayed onto the ground, 98% of the substance stayed within the soil, continuing to denigrate it.
I’m not trying to give you any trouble, just awareness I guess.
Beautiful site you have here, keep up the great work!