UN forum focuses on organic access « Inside the United Nations

Delegates and experts gathered in the German town of Nuremberg during 13-15 February to examine the impact trade standards have on the farming business in the developing world. The theme of this year’s event was a “Spotlight on India.” With worldwide sales in organic products surpassing $59 billion in 2010, trade buyers were excited to …

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About Types of Soil

There are a lot of different classifications of soils, but the most common are: sandy, silt, clay, loam and peat. All these types of soil are characterized by the size of the particles that make up them. Sandy soil is composed of very large particles: 0.05-2mm. It cannot carry water efficiently because of the spaces …

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Take A Look At These Organic Gardening Tips!

Organize your gardening so that you can work efficiently. Have your tools ordered out in an orderly way so you do not have to search for them. Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. …

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Drought-tolerant small shrubs are worth the hunt – Mywesttexas.com: Life

It’s wonderful we have so many great choices in drought- andheat-tolerant landscape plants. There are several in the dwarf andsmall mature shrub size category that are valuable in home andcommercial landscapes. These are a little hard to find, but theyare well worth the hunt. – Turpentine bush (Ericameria laricifolia) grows about 3 feettall and wide. …

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Why is soil so important?

“Why is Soil so Important?” is an informative book for the beginner vegetable gardener wanting information and tips on how to improve their existing garden soil and for the avid gardener wanting to keep their soil healthy and fertile. Healthy plants, tasty veggies to harvest and a pest & disease free organic garden all start …

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UN forum focuses on organic access « Inside the United NationsAbout Types of SoilTake A Look At These Organic Gardening Tips!Drought-tolerant small shrubs are worth the hunt – Mywesttexas.com: LifeWhy is soil so important?

Feb
22

Bulgaria travel review: Tracing the Thracians

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1329905652 51 Bulgaria travel review: Tracing the Thracians

A view of the Rhodope mountains from Asen’s Fortress

Better known for its ski slopes and stretches of golden sand on the Black Sea coast, Bulgaria has a rich history and culture crying out to be discovered.

Its rich red wine was written about by Homer and every year people are digging up intricate Thracian treasures in their back gardens.

Bulgaria is blessed with a dramatic and deeply contrasting landscape, from the mysterious Rhodope mountains in the south to the central Thracian plain, home to the Valley of the Roses, where you can spot one of the hundreds of migrating birds such as a buzzard or a great white egret perched on a motorway post.

The ski resorts like Pamporovo, blessed with mild and sunny winters, are popular with tourists, with the British making up the majority of winter sport travellers.

But the nearby capital Sofia is yet to be discovered by hordes of tourists making it an exciting and inspiring place to explore.

Sofia, at the foot of Mount Vitosha, has a strong street food culture and bustling markets as well as recognisable high street shops. In winter, hungry shoppers buy slices of steaming baked pumpkin from carts while in summer boiled corn is the snack of choice. And as every meal in Bulgaria begins with a salad, there are rows and rows of fresh fruit and vegetables. There are stacked boxes of pickled cabbage, cute kiosks selling dried fruits, nuts and seeds and mouth-watering displays of pastries and biscuits.

Emerging like something out of a Bond film, imposing and solitary in front of a misty hill is the breathtaking National Museum of History. The treasures inside the enormous marble-clad building match the majestic setting and rival those on display in any famous European museum. They include tiny intricate golden jewellery found in a necropolis in the village of Dubene in the Karlovo district in central Bulgaria that are so small – their diameter measures just 5.5mm to 10mm – they have to be viewed with a magnifying glass.

The 650,000 treasures ranging from the Prehistoric ages until the present day include a Royal ritual set thought to belong to the Thracian king Suethes III in the late 4th century BC. Weighing 6.146 kg of pure gold – the rhytons shaped as animals, jugs representing Athena, Aphrodite and Hera and the phiale decorated with heads – were unearthed by three brothers in 1949 in Panagyurishte, in the south.

The capital’s namesake, the Hagia Sophia Church, the second oldest church in the capital, dates back to the 6th century and is built on an ancient necropolis. Works are currently going on deep underground to open up the tombs to the public. Beside her is the symbol of Sofia, the colossal gold-plated St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Nightlife in Sofia is healthy even in the quieter residential streets where you can find a couple of bars open late but for more variety head to the area around Sofia University.

Further east is the Bulgaria’s second city, Plovdiv, home to the Romanian amphitheatre, cobbled streets dotted with museums and colourful houses. Seen by many as Sofia’s prettier sister, its picturesque streets feel well trodden by visitors and its laid-back pace lacks some of the energy of Sofia.

A definite must-see for any tourist using Sofia as a base are the beautiful Rhodope mountains. Although package holidays bring throngs of tourists here in the winter for skiing, do as the locals do and hire yourself a place for a couple of days. There are plenty of hotels on offer or you could try a cabin which sleeps four for as little as £20 a night.

Step back in time and let the traditions seduce you. The haunting sounds the Rhodope bag pipes are played in the inns where a whole lamb is roasted on an open fire, the walls are covered in bright wool rugs and where each meal begins with the fiery warmth of the national drink rakia.

The medieval Asen’s Fortress, is built defiantly on a rocky ridge in the Rhodope mountains near the town of Asenovgrad. The terrifying walk on a narrow rocky path wrapped around a huge rock is rewarded with the site of the 13th century Holy Mother of God church perched miraculously on a rock. A climb up the narrow staircase reveals mural paintings from the 14th century.

Bulgaria offers a rich and rewarding experience topped off with great hospitality, where restaurant hosts hold out a loaf of bread to welcome guests which they can either dip in a herb-infused oil or some rich local honey.

Hotels used during the stay:

Crystal Palace Hotel, Sofia crystalpalace-sofia.com

Orlovetz hotel, Pamprovo

Todoroff Wine and Spa Hotel in Brestovitsa village near Plovdiv todoroff-hotel.com

European Union member since 2007

Under Communism from 1946 to 1990

Ottoman Bulgaria spans nearly 500 years, from 1396 to 1878

Currency is the Bulgaria Lev

Language is Bulgarian

Uses the Cyrillic alphabet created 10th century AD and named after St Cyril, a Byzantine missionary

Population is 83 per cent Christian Orthodox and 12 per cent Muslim

A must try is a wine from the Mavrud grape variety, unique to Bukgaria, which produces a rich and complex red

For more information visit bulgariatravel.org

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Feb
22

Download Environmental Soil Science, Third Edition (Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment) e-book

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51ZGWQ%252BR3VL. BO2,204,203,200 PIsitb sticker arrow click,TopRight,35, 76 AA300 SH20 OU01 Download Environmental Soil Science, Third Edition (Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment) e book

This book. Materials Science-General Series: Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment Principles of soil chemistry – Kim Howard Tan – Google Books . provides coverage of the important chemical principles and processes operating in a soil environment.. —Agrochimica, 2000 –This text. . Environmental Soil Science, Third Edition (Books in Soils, Plants. in chemistry and soil science. a useful reference. Chemical and Isotopic Groundwater Hydrology_ Third Edition (Books in Soils_ Plants_ and the Environment) Computer-Aided Design of Polymer-Matrix Composite Structures. Soil Erosion and Conservation, 3rd Edition – Ebooks Free Download Environmental Geology, June 2006 The third edition of. Soil and Environmental Analysis (3RD 04 Edition) by Smith: Evaluating. Principles of soil chemistry. humic acids in soil reactions. Soil and Environmental Analysis (3RD 04 Edition) by Smith – Powell. science, underscoring their combination into environmental soil science. Third Edition. Environmental Soil Science, Third Edition, (1420072803), Kim H. Other titles in the Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment

download The 2011 Import and Export Market for Plastic Baths, Shower Baths, Washbasins, Bidets, Flushing Cisterns, and Lavatory Pans, Seats, and Covers in South KoreaTale of Three Tractors read

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Feb
22

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville holds annual bamboo sale

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1329903261 40 Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville holds annual bamboo saleBy Alison SchwartzCorrespondent Published: Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 11:48 a.m.

The cold weather hasn’t been kind to all of the greens at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.

Facts IF YOU GO

What: 30th annual Winter Bamboo SaleWhen: Through the end of FebruaryWhere: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th DriveInformation: A list of the bamboos on sale is available at kanapaha.org. Visitors who come in person to buy bamboo will have their admission ($7 for adults) subtracted from their sale total.To order: Bamboo plants are offered on a dug-to-order basis, and orders can be placed by phone (372-4981) and paid for at pickup (about a week later)■ ■ ■GET EDUCATEDWhat: Bamboo workshopWhen: Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Where: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th DriveCost: $10 for individuals, $15 for couples, $7 for membersTo register: Call 372-4981■ ■ ■WHAT’S ON SALEHedge Bamboo: a 30-foot-high clumping bamboo that sets the standard for visual screening; $32 for a 15-gallonStripestem Bamboo: clumping bamboo, whose 25-foot golden yellow canes feature green pinstripes; $51 for a 15-gallon, $71 for a 20-gallonGraceful Bamboo: slightly smaller version of Wong Chuk that grows up to 30 feet; $235 for a 20-gallonBeautiful Bamboo: a running bamboo with bright 30-foot canes; $37 for a 15-gallon, $51 for a 20-gallonBlack Bamboo: one of the most popular species at the sale because of its jet-black canes, which reach 20 feet; $115 for a 15-gallonSource: kanapaha.org

Landscape plants like leather-leaf ferns and lady palms, considered “hardy” in their ability to withstand the winter chill, aren’t at their finest, most lush, during this season.

But visitors need not look past the entrance of the gardens to see that January has not gotten the best out of all of the offerings at Kanapaha.

Separated from the main walkway from the parking lot, towering over a quaint pond just off to the side, lo and behold, grows the royal highness of the 62-acre botanical garden: the Wong Chuk.

Called the “royal bamboo” and nicknamed after Kanapaha itself (the botanical garden grows a separate, more grand variety of the bamboo, says director emeritus Don Goodman), Wong Chuk, which grows up to 40 feet high, is just one of 14 types of cold-hardy bamboo still up for grabs until the end of February at the garden’s 30th annual Winter Bamboo Sale.

“I can’t think of another type of plant that has the same aesthetic rewards,” Goodman says of bamboo, before cautioning, “if you make the right decisions in the beginning.”

These decisions range from space and budget to purpose and personal taste. From the 8-foot-tall Chinese Goddess to the 55-foot Buddha’s Belly, the bamboo — which are sold on a dug-to-order basis with a week turnaround — can be purchased in 5-gallon, 15-gallon and 20-gallon sizes based on the capacity of a standard nursery pot the rhizome mass, or root ball, would fit into if it was sold with soil. (The bamboo plants are sold sans dirt with the root ball bagged in plastic because of their large size.)

Each type of bamboo, however, is offered in a different size depending on the size of its root ball, Goodman says. Wong Chuk, the most expensive of the bunch at $285 because of its branch-less lower legs, is only offered in the 20-gallon size. The 15-foot Switchcane, native to the southeastern U.S., is the cheapest offering of the sale, ringing up at $20 dollars for the 5-gallon size.

Historically, bamboo has represented longevity in some Asian cultures. Today, bamboo is often used for visual screening, he says, explaining that its canes create a natural, beautiful barrier, especially helpful for people who want to keep their neighbor’s eyes away from their yards.

The plants, which are best transported this time of the year, also vary in look depending on if they’re clumping (close-spaced canes) or running (more widely-spaced canes) bamboo.

And for those new to bamboo, Alexis Caffrey, botanical garden director, recites an old saying.

“The first year it sleeps,” she says. “The second year it creeps. The third year it leaps.”

This rhyme refers to the bamboo’s ability to grow exponentially, she says — a trait that distinguishes it as one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet.

Goodman jokes, “You’ll get hit in the chin if you don’t step back.”

This quality has led to a sci-fi-like image of an out-of-control organism that “breaks through sidewalks, impales dogs and ruins marriages,” Goodman says.

That’s why he’s encouraging those interested in adding bamboo to their homes’ landscapes to come out to Kanapaha, which has about 45 bamboo species on display — a collection that has blossomed since the garden first began digging for bamboo in Savannah in 1978 — on Feb. 11 for a workshop on the various bamboo species and their maintenance requirements.

The class, which runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., is $10 per person, $15 per couple and $7 for members.

“If there is a con [with bamboo], it’s because of the lack of knowledge of the people who plant them,” Goodman says. “This is a group of plants potential buyers need to know a fair amount about. That’s not true with azaleas.”

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Feb
22

I Think I’m Going To Take On A Garden

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1329902049 80 I Think Im Going To Take On A Garden

Let me start by saying I have absolutely no clue about gardening. I thought when I bought my house I’d automatically grow a green thumb. No, actually it’s dead along with several other things in my yard. It doesn’t help that we’re enduring a horrible drought here that’s been goin’ on a couple of years now. My neighbor on the other hand, is a goddess of gardening. She works 2 jobs and is hardly ever home yet her yard looks soooo green and wonderful. Her plants are always so pretty. I was finally able to corner her the other day when I was pulling up from work. She had the day off from her 2nd job and was cutting the grass. I asked her how she kept her yard so pretty being in a drought. Her reply “Oh I really don’t know how they’re surviving. I don’t water them…heck I really don’t do anything but cut the grass.” Yeah that was a big eye roller. Me over here struggling to keep something alive and she’s over here just throwing her hair back thinking “Yeah I’m just that good”. She continued to tell me she pays someone to come fert. her lawn and that she had prepped her flower beds with peat moss. Now as lame as I’m about to sound here, I’d never heard of peat moss…..I made a mental note to google that later. I had her come over to my yard to tell me what I had growing in my flower bed. I thought it was something I’d planted long ago trying to come up…..no just rag weed. Yeah, see…I told you. So upon my googling of peat moss, I discovered this bad boy holds on to 20 times it’s weight in water and that it releases the water as the soil needs it. BINGO. This is how her flowers look so good. Soooo….I’m figuring I need to go buy this and put it in my flower beds and give it a good watering. Anyways, I came across some real cheap veggy seeds (corn, spinich, lettuce, rasberry, green beans, tomatos, green peppers), blueberry plants, and strawberry plants. I’m thinking I want to see if I can grow some food. I know I’m getting a late start but here in my area of GA we really don’t start cooling down until about the begining of Nov. and even then it’s not really frost worthy. I’ve been reading up on it all today and apparently this goes beyond digging a hole in the ground and putting something in it. Here in GA we had a lot of red clay but my yard seems to be more sandy. From what I read this may be a good thing. For those gardeners, I know I would till up an area, but would you suggest just keeping it sand and use fertilizer or adding some black soil into it? I was thinking with the peat moss, since we’re in the drought, to put that on top. What do you think? Also, any other tips would be greatly appreciated as well.

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Feb
22

NFL Free Agency 2011: 15 Sleeper Free Agents Who Offer the Most Value

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1329893667 46 NFL Free Agency 2011: 15 Sleeper Free Agents Who Offer the Most Value

There are three ways to build a team (and I don’t mean “blindly,” “wisely” or “stupidly,” though those sure can apply).

You can build through solely through the draft.

You can spend heavily in Free Agency.

You can do a combination of both.

Any of them can be successful.

The New York Giants headed to Indianapolis with a team largely built through the NFL Draft. They have been able to fill their roster with homegrown talent and depth, and it has served them well for the most part.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots have done a little of both. They have constantly traded picks for other picks and added value through the draft but have, on occasion, made a move for a player they thought could bring them over the top, be it Corey Dillon or Shaun Ellis—they are pieces to a larger puzzle.

Different strokes for different folks, but done right—equally effective.

When mining through the Free Agency pool, some teams will get caught up in the big splash—the guy who will fill seats and make a statement that yes this ownership is serious.

The better teams may make a run at a big name, but that’s never everything they focus on. The better teams are always looking in their files and at their tape for those players who might not make a big splash on ESPN, but will make a big impact on the field.

While not destroying the cap figures.

Here are 15 players that the smart teams will be keeping an eye on when Free Agency hits at 4:00 pm EST on Tuesday, March 13.

(Note: For current status on free agents, I went to the Sideline View run by John Harris, Lance Zierlein and Adam Caplan. It is good stuff—I recommend it. Also, next time I cut and paste I will cut Lance’s first name AND paste it in front of his last name.)

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Jason Campbell—UFA—2011 Team: Raiders

Is it possible that Campbell is back with the Raiders this year? I suppose—after all, bumble bees defy gravity and fly, so anything is possible.

However, this is a new Raiders and right now it looks as if Carson Palmer is the guy in Oakland.

That said, Jason Campbell will want to compete for a starting job. While he might ultimately fail in that endeavour, Campbell is the perfect candidate for a back-up who can step in and play well if needed.

How many teams had quarterback issues this year? How many need some sort of veteran presence behind their number one to push that guy? There are even some starting jobs up for grabs which Campbell might win outright.

Campbell has something left in the tank and can be an effective quarterback. He’s a more proven commodity than a guy like Matt Flynn and while his apparent ceiling isn’t as high, his price is going to be much more manageable.

Dennis Dixon—UFA—2011 Team: Steelers

Dixon has been a bit of a disappointment so far in his career. Some of that is him—while incredibly athletic, his accuracy tends to get very inconsistent. I believe that some of it is also playing in a league which isn’t geared to use his skill-set to its fullest.

He’s an option quarterback in a pocket passer world. That is, until Tim Tebow and Cam Newton showed up.

While many believe the option to be a gimmick, I think it’s more than that. Teams may look to emulate some of the successful aspects of what the Broncos and Panthers did. The Panthers in particular were not a pure option or spread option team, but allowed Newton freedom of movement while also having him throw very effectively.

Dixon may have some accuracy issues, but he’s already less raw than Tebow. Some team will look past his flaws and give him a shot, a team who is looking to get ahead of the curve rather than jump in later.

Dixon is a guy you can bring in whose many tools could fit him in several different offenses, but whose athleticism makes him very attractive for a team who wants to run something closer to the option.

At the very worst, Dixon is a very good choice for any team running either the spread or a version of the option. He can sit behind the number one and if the guy gets hurt, step in without the offense losing a beat.

Kyle Orton—UFA—2011 Team: Broncos/Chiefs

Speaking of relatively cheap backups….

Orton isn’t going to win anyone any championships, but in the right offense he can put up some solid numbers. He’s a perfect choice for a team who wants to 1) push their number one and 2) make sure they have a good backup, just in case.

Orton may want a shot at a starter gig and if that’s the case, he still holds plenty of value. For a team who might be just starting to rebuild or already begun, Orton is a fine placeholder while the franchise either looks for their true long-term starter or develops one.

He’s a guy who can hold onto the wheel while the rest of the team takes shape around him, and he won’t cost you too much money.

Nick Laham/Getty Images

Terrell Thomas—UFA—2011 Team: New York Giants

Thomas was just hitting his stride when he tore his ACL back in August of 2011—the second ACL tear of his career. The Giants, as well as some other teams, will likely be a bit wary about signing him for the upcoming season.

Which says to me that someone is going to get a tremendous price on a very, very good cornerback.

In 2009 and 2010, Thomas had 70 and 81 tackles and five interceptions each year. In 2010, he also added four forced fumbles, one of which he recovered.

Now, of course an ACL injury will hurt his overall numbers and might make him a bit slower in coverage than the best of the best. However, Thomas will continue to be a willing tackler and a solid pass defender as well.

Someone will give him a shot. After a slow start, Thomas will repay that chance with a very good season.

Peyton Hillis—UFA—2011 Team: Browns

Once upon a time (pre-lockout), Hillis was poised to make some serious money. He was coming off a tremendous 2010 and even if the Browns wouldn’t pay him, he was going to get signed to a lucrative contract by somebody looking for a bruising, hard running ball carrier.

Fast forward a year and after injuries, attitude and sub-par play, Hillis’ prospects have dimmed. His future in Cleveland is uncertain and his attitude was not been well received. There’s a good chance that people will look at 2010 as an aberration and be unwilling to take a chance on a guy who might be perceived as just running for the money.

Hillis may not quite be the back he looked like in 2010, but he’s far better than what he did in 2011. A team will overlook the clashes with the Browns over money and the bad 2011 and see a back who runs hard on every down and will likely be very hungry to prove himself after under-performing last season.

Hillis is going to be hungry again. He’s going to have a chip on his shoulder. Some team is going to get him far cheaper than they would have last summer, had he been available, and he is going to go off for them.

Eddie Royal—UFA—2011 Team: Broncos

Royal is coming off another mediocre season, one in which it was very clear that he and new quarterback Tim Tebow just didn’t click. That’s not a knock on either guy—it’s just that Royal’s skills don’t quite translate to a Tebow/John Fox offense.

Royal can still be a very dangerous kick returner and fit in the slot for a team with a different quarterback very well. He’s unlikely to cost all that much and while he has not recaptured the flow of his rookie season, a new home and a new team will be just what the doctor ordered for a little career resurgence.

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Geno Hayes—UFA—2011 Team: Buccaneers

Hayes had a rough season last year, marred by inconsistency and losing his starting job. The Bucs were a mess and are busy making a regime change, so it’s a bit hard to see how much they might value Hayes.

If he hits the market, Hayes will make some team very happy. The weak-side linebacker hasn’t dominated, but has shown an ability to get at the quarterback and make a mess of things in the backfield.

If you placed him with the right people around him and in the right scheme, he would rise back towards what he had been and regain his form.

Another guy who could make a big impact on defense for not too much money.

Josh Johnson—UFA—2011 Team: Buccaneers

As long as we’re down in Tampa, let’s talk about another guy who might slip out the door during the changeover.

Johnson has been generally solid in back-up duties and he’s not getting a shot at the starting job anytime soon. Like I said earlier with Dixon, though, his athleticism and speed will make him attractive for teams looking to try out the option.

Also like Dixon, Johnson has some accuracy issues. However, with proper coaching, he can develop into a very good passer and his ability to be a weapon with his feet as well as his arm will catch some attention.

Again, it’s a different league now than it was when training camps kicked off in August. Teams will be looking at mobile quarterbacks in a way they haven’t before.

Whether it lasts or not, Johnson will get some looks as both a back-up to a current option or pure spread quarterback or even a starter.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Ryan Grant—UFA—2011 Team: Packers

Despite Packers running back James Starks not blowing up the way we expected him to, I am reasonably sure the Packers will not retain the services of Grant unless he takes a nice big hometown discount.

I don’t expect him to.

Grant isn’t a stud by any stretch, but he has been a reliable workhorse for Green Bay in the time he has been there. There are plenty of teams who will be in the market for a reasonably priced (cheap?) back who still has some speed and some moves and can carry the ball plenty.

Grant is unlikely to be averse to sharing the load either, and will be a perfect complimentary back.

Ronnie Brown—UFA—2011 Team: Eagles

The Eagles are going to take a long, hard look at their allocation of cap space and make some changes. While they might need a back-up for LeSean McCoy, they won’t pay high dollar for one and as good as McCoy is, they won’t be even looking to have someone to spell him all that often.

Brown has had an up and down career marred by injury and high expectations, but when healthy he can run the ball well. The key, of course, is the phrase “when healthy.”

It’s what will keep him from making too much money in free agency, and therefore make him a reasonably-priced guy who can split carries effectively for a team looking to have two effective backs.

Brown will be highly motivated as well to prove he can still play well. High motivation at a reasonable cost.

Steve Smith—UFA—2011 Team: Eagles

Staying in Philly, it struck me as an odd—and somewhat unnecessary—when the team signed Steve Smith as he was coming off a pretty bad leg injury. Even if they knew something we didn’t (they had to, right?), did they really need another possession receiver?

Whatever the reason, the fit never really was there and Smith was slower to heal than the team hoped. Meanwhile, when DeSean Jackson’s attitude exploded, it was Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper who stepped up, not Smith.

All that said, Smith will be over a year removed from his injury and hungry to prove himself. He has tremendous hands and is fearless going up for the ball. I don’t expect the Eagles to extend another contract to him and even if they do, I believe it will not be for much.

However, there are teams all over the league who could use a fearless, hard-nosed receiver, and with Smith looking to regain his mojo, probably won’t have to outbid the Eagles by much.

Elsa/Getty Images

Shaun Ellis—UFA—2011 Team: Patriots

Heck, maybe the Pats win on Sunday and Ellis calls it a career. Maybe they lose and he retires anyway. However, I believe that win or lose, Ellis will stick with it for another year or two.

He just loves to play that much.

Sure, Ellis had a far more limited role this past season than he previously had with the Jets. He’s still a good presence to have in the defense though and for Ellis, I am going to say the value isn’t so much what he does in terms of stats.

It’s his leadership which will be the value for teams who might be looking for some veteran help in the defense. Ellis can come in and help mold the younger players on the team, teach them how to play better than they have been and push themselves for heights they hadn’t thought of before.

Ellis could help settle down some of the youngsters in the Detroit defensive line. Or maybe help the Bucs come together more quickly.

There are lots of teams who might be able to use a guy like Ellis, and it won’t even cost them all that much.

Mike Tolbert—UFA—2011 Team: Chargers

If Tolbert leaves the Chargers, it won’t be with the expectation that he is the new Micheal Turner. What will be expected of Tolbert is that he continues to run and play hard for his new team.

Tolbert is a bowling ball and can pound on defenses, wearing them down for a smaller, quicker back.

He’s the perfect addition to a team which is looking for a tandem, but lacks the “thunder” to go with their “lightning.”

He won’t fetch the attention or high price of a marquee name, but that will suit some team just fine. They’ll take his production, add it to what they already have, and smile all the way to the end zone.

Andre Caldwell—UFA—2011 Team: Bengals

Caldwell likely ended his Bengals career on injured reserve, but even when he was healthy he struggled to reach his full potential. He has the physical tools you want in a wide receiver—the height, the speed, the reach—but never used them as well as the Bengals had hoped he would when they took him in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Despite this, Caldwell’s athleticism makes him an intriguing sleeper free agent for a team looking for someone to add some speed to their offense. He has some risk—he’s already underperformed—but the upside on Caldwell could be very big and his price tag is likely to be dirt cheap.

With a lot of money likely to be spent on guys like Robert Meachem, Dwayne Bowe and Marques Colston, Caldwell could be a cheaper alternative who can still develop into a potent weapon.

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Laurent Robinson—UFA—2011 Team: Cowboys

So this is what it looks like when Robinson is healthy? I think many people are going to be tempted to say Robinson stays with Dallas—certainly Jerry Jones can pay him.

However, with two high-profile (and not cheap) wide receivers, several free agents to re-sign and other needs to fill, I believe Jones will spend his money in other places.

Which allows Robinson to continue he career resurgence elsewhere.

Robinson is not going to fetch a ton of cash on the open market based on his injury history and lack of production in previous years.

A lucky team with an open spot will be able to swoop in and grab Robinson for a reasonable price—enough to make him happy but not too much to risk taking a bath if he reverts to his old injury-prone ways.

If he stays healthy, we’ll see more of the ability on display in 2011. Robinson has always had talent, just rarely health as well.

He could make a huge difference for a team looking for an inexpensive, but very good, wide receiver.

                                 

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Feb
22

Heavenly hellebores: Once restricted to a few muddy shades, these perennials now come in vivid, vibrant colours

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1329890059 52 Heavenly hellebores: Once restricted to a few muddy shades, these perennials now come in vivid, vibrant colours

By Martyn Cox

Last updated at 4:17 PM on 20th February 2012

Hellebores are one of the few perennials to flower in the depths of winter but until recently gardeners could pick from only a handful of unremarkable colours.

Now there’s a selection of vibrant plants to choose from, with flowers in shades of white, yellow, green, peach, pink, purple, slate-grey and near black, often speckled, splashed or exquisitely adorned with contrasting markings.

One man who has contributed greatly to this ever-expanding palette is John Massey, 62, owner of Ashwood Nurseries, near Dudley in the West Midlands.

A slate grey hellebore with even black spotting on the petals that is becoming better defined with breeding

John, who started breeding hellebores 26 years ago, says: ‘At the time hardly anyone bought them as the flowers weren’t particularly nice, coming in just a few muddy shades of white and red.

‘However, I thought there was potential as these plants are hardy, long-lived, free-flowering and easy to propagate by seed.’

John has since unveiled about 50 different varieties and now sells 10,000 hellebores a year.

Originating mainly from mountainous and woodland regions of Europe and parts of western Asia, hellebores are a large tribe of clumpforming plants that generally flower between January and March.

Extensive breeding work on these wild species at John’s nursery has led to the development of a colourful army of plants known as ‘Ashwood Garden Hybrids’.

Cup-shaped and star-like single blooms can be found, while those looking for something blowsier can go for double or anemone flowers – these boast large outer petals and a smaller boss of inner petals.

Unlike many other plants, most ‘Ashwood Garden Hybrids’ are not given a unique cultivar name but are described by the attributes of the flower.

From left: A double pale pink and spotted hellebore and a primrose yellow hellebore

Ashwood covers a ten-acre site where hellebores are grown cheekby-jowl in glasshouses, while others are planted in John’s nearby private garden, which is open to visitors several times during winter.

Exploreand you’ll find many tempting plants. Yellow has outwardfacing flowers and excellent foliage that turns golden before dying back in autumn; double-form white picotee has fine claret edges to its petals; and greenwith red spots is particularly striking, with the inner petals stippledwith purple dots that look as if they have been neatly placed there by someone with a fountain pen.

Otherwinners are the dark and dramatic single black, zingy double green, andneon – the inside of each petal of its upturned yellow flowers is delicately streaked with claret. However, at

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Feb
22

Pruning down to healthy growth may be what hopseed needs

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1329888849 60 Pruning down to healthy growth may be what hopseed needsDEAR JACK: I am writing to ask you about my purple hopseed bush/tree, which seems to be dying. It looks dead all on one side, giving it a lop-sided appearance. Yesterday I noticed a few dead branches throughout the rest of the tree.

It is 6 years old, 10-12 feet tall and 6-7 feet across at the widest part. It has not been fed or hand-watered since the first year. In fact, the main reason I bought it is because it IS so low maintenance and drought tolerant. My soil is sandy and probably could use some fertilizing.

I read online that trimming off some lower branches may encourage growth higher up. I did that yesterday to about 18 inches from the ground. Also cleared away some dead leaves from the base of the trunk to give it some “breathing room” and removed some creeping geraniums that were becoming invasive.

The bark is peeling, but there are no visible signs of a bug infestation. I would hate to lose my tree – I really like its airy, lacy look. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Love your column – it is most informative.

Thank you. V.A. Gray – North Long Beach

DEAR V.A. GRAY: When I first learned about the hopseed bush, Dodonaea viscosa “Purpurea,” in my Cal Poly plant identification class some 40 years ago, it quickly became one of my favorite plants. It is easy to grow, and the purple form is unique and attractive all year long, even though it does not have noticeable flowers. The purple color of the leaves intensifies during winter.

In college we were told that this plant is “short-lived,” but no one seemed to know exactly what that meant. Over the years I have observed that, depending on circumstances, this plant normally thrives for 5-10 years and then starts declining as branches die back. It seems to live longer where it gets regular irrigation in sandy soils, but an established bush can survive drought conditions with only natural rainfall for several years – not like a cactus, but better than most shrubs. I have found, also, that periodic pruning seems to stimulate it to keep trying, especially with more favorable growing conditions.

So I would recommend that you try this: cut off some of the upper “happy” growth – maybe about 2 feet – and give the plant a little plant food. It doesn’t need much – about half the recommended dose – so just about any plant food will do, as long as it has all three major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Be sure to water the plant food in well, too. I would expect to see new growth sprouting within a month or six weeks and hope this helps to prolong the life of your wonderful bush.

It occurs to me that perhaps hopseed bushes might live longer by alternating the maintenance schedule. Try two years of low water care then one year with regular landscape irrigation, and continue on this schedule. I don’t know for sure, but perhaps this would help to prolong the life and beauty of this delightful plant.

DEAR JACK: I have tried twice to grow three tomato plants in a small 8-foot-by-12-foot greenhouse during the summer. Both times the plants grew vigorously but were very leggy. They grew to the top of the 8-foot greenhouse and if I had not contained them would have occupied every square inch of the greenhouse. It became like a jungle. The plants did produce tomatoes, but not anywhere near the same amount as the same plants that were growing outside in raised beds. Is there a special variety of tomato plants for greenhouses? Can you give any direction so I will enjoy my greenhouse and feel it is worth the time to use it. Thanks.

Monica Gross – Downey

DEAR MONICA: According to the California State Agricultural Extension Service, in Southern California greenhouse tomato growers prefer to grow vining tomato varieties, such as Bingo, Celebrity, Floradel, Merced, Tango and any garden-type cherry tomato.

The best time to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse is from March to June, and from October to January. In the heat of our Southern California summers tomatoes grow like crazy but hardly produce any fruit at all.

The key to growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is proper control of temperature, humidity and ventilation. To produce good crops, tomatoes need surprisingly cool night temperatures – between 60 and 62 degrees F. Daytime temperature should not exceed 90 degrees F. Tomatoes produce a lot of moisture through their foliage, so they need good air movement and ventilation to keep their foliage dry. They will also require special attention to keep insects under control, especially aphids, spider mites and whiteflies, not to mention caterpillars. Actually it’s a lot easier to grow tomatoes in a large-size greenhouse.

Uh, maybe you would rather grow orchids…?

Five things to do in your garden

1 Satsuma tangerines are wonderfully sweet and ready to harvest, but tangelos could use a few more weeks to reach their best flavor. Grapefruit is still a bit puckery, but it’s good and juicy now. And navel oranges couldn’t be better. Harvest these gems as you need them, leaving the little green “star” on the fruit as you cut it off the tree with pruning clippers. Citrus stores best on the tree, because it stops ripening once picked, and it holds longest after picking if the “star” stays on.

2 It’s time to feed camellias, azaleas, gardenias, roses, and other shrubbery. All plants require nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for growth – listed on the plant food label as a three-number formula showing the percentage of each element by weight. In general, nitrogen promotes leaf development, while phosphorus develops roots, flowers, fruits and seeds, and potassium permits plants to make optimal use of these nutrients and other minerals. Flowering and fruiting plants need a fertilizer blend with a higher percentage of phosphorus, while green shrubbery needs less phosphorus, but a higher amount of nitrogen.

3 Prevent brown-rot disease in apricot, nectarine and peach fruits by spraying now, since this is when the fungus first takes hold. By the time you see it, it’s too late for controls. Spray fungicides containing captan or chlorothalonil, in accordance with instructions on the fungicide label. Also gather and dispose of any “mummies,” the dried-up remains of last year’s fruits, because they harbor spores that can spawn new infections.

4 Even though pansies flower longest when they are planted August, we can still plant them in February and March for several months’ worth of enjoyment. Choose from the traditional, large, funny-faced hybrids to the single-colored, faceless types, down to the tiny Johnny Jump-ups. Plant them in composted soil in a sunny spot in the garden where loved ones and friends can see them and smile as they walk by. And don’t hesitate to pick some for table decorations, because the more you pick, the more they’ll bloom.

5 Cut back leggy fuchsias the latter part of February. Leave at least two or three healthy leaf buds on each branch. Frequently pinch the tips of the branches during the spring and summer to force side growth, making the fuchsia bushier, and pick off flowers as they fade to promote more blooming. While you are in the garden with your clippers, be sure to prune your ginger, cannas, asparagus ferns, ivy and pyracantha, too.

Gardening questions may be sent to Jack Christensen at P.O. Box 1231-DB, Ontario, CA 91762-1231 or via email at . In the subject line type “Garden Question” and add your subject. As many responses as possible will be included in this column but may not be acknowledged individually due to the number of requests.

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Feb
22

Piles of dirt at Winchester’s Vinson-Owen construction site go green

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1329886488 43 Piles of dirt at Winchesters Vinson Owen construction site go green

If you’ve passed by the Vinson-Owen Elementary School grounds recently, you’ve probably noticed something odd about the huge piles of soil on the property.

They’re green.

Project Manager Neil Foley, who works in the town’s engineering department, said the soil is green because it’s coated with a substance called hydromulch. The substance is sprayed onto the soil and acts as a solidifying agent to prevent erosion.

Foley said the town’s Conservation Commission requires the application.

“It prevents the dirt from getting blown away,” Foley said. “It’s very similar to a hydroseed mixture.”

The excess soil on the grounds is collected into two piles: one that’s leveled off, and another that is not. Foley said the flattened pile is compressing the ground to prepare it for the installation of a storm water detention system. The system, which will be located underneath the fields that will be built at the front of the property, will collect excess water after storms. The pile will compress the land over six months, Foley said.

“It’s shaped so that it has a nice, even form and a nice, even compression over the area,” Foley said. “It’s highly engineered.”

The other pile of soil on the property is excess topsoil that was collected during the demolition phase of the project. It will be re-used by the building contractor during the construction phase.

Foley said the soil was collected during the demolition phase because environmental conditions were optimal in the fall. In the spring, melting snow and ice typically turns soil into mud.

“It wouldn’t be possible to strip and stockpile [soil] in the spring,” Foley said. “You wouldn’t get a nice, clean pile of soil that you could re-use.”

Evan MacDonald can be reached at .

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Feb
22

Soil vs. Dirt

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Soil vs. Dirt

Glynnis Whitwer

“But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. They are those who hear the message and understand it. They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted.”Matthew 13:23 (NIRV)

Being raised in the Arizona desert, I have a different approach to planting than folks in other parts of the country. This was pointed out to me clearly when I was in the beautiful and lush state of Oregon a few years ago.

Some friends and I were discussing the Bible story about sowing seeds and reaping a harvest. I made a comment about planting seed in dirt. “Actually,” one of the ladies replied kindly, “seed gets put in soil.”

I smiled, and said, “Maybe here it does, but in my part of the country, we’ve got dirt.”

We laughed about that, but it’s true. In many parts of the desert, in order to plant, we need to break up the dirt and replace it in part or in total, with good, nutritious soil. This soil is created with lots of additives, or brought in from somewhere else, like Oregon. Without healthy soil, our fruits and vegetables are only a poor reflection of what they could be.

Sadly, our hearts can sometimes be compared to hard dirt, resistant to the truth God longs to plant in it. When a seed of truth is presented to a hardened heart, it is not easily received or embraced. There might be an initial acceptance, but no long term change or “fruit.”

Jesus told a parable recorded in Matthew 13 about those who hear the truth, and what they do with it. In the story, some of the hearers did not benefit from the good seed because their “soil” wasn’t ready for it. As I read that parable, and considered the hard desert dirt, I wondered if there is any way we can soften hard hearts.

I believe the Bible, and the natural world, give us ways to do just that. Like planting in dirt, the first step is to break it up. We can break up the hardness of our hearts by asking God to search us and reveal the hard places. The psalmist asked God to do this in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me…” (ASV).

Then we can bring healthy “soil” in to those places. For example, if God reveals there is unforgiveness in your heart, mix in God’s truth about forgiveness. You might memorize Luke 17:4, “If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (NIV).

Finally, keep your heart “watered” so it doesn’t harden again. Jesus declared that He was living water, and that when we believe in Him, streams of water will flow from within (John 7:38). This water is the Holy Spirit, who lives in us when we believe and keeps our hearts receptive to God.

I believe God longs to bring many believers into a more mature and vibrant faith, but hardened hearts keep us from growing. Having a heart receptive to truth is an important part of living a life that’s productive and used by God. We may have lots of dirt in the desert … and our hearts … but where God’s living water is, there is always an orchard ready to grow.

Dear Lord, thank You for making a way for even the hardest heart to soften. Help me see the areas of my heart that are hard like dirt. Please replace those places with healthy soil so that Your truth can produce a harvest in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:i am not, but i know I AM by Louie Giglio

Visit Glynnis’s blog for more encouragement.

6 Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer

Glynnis is the senior editor of our P31 Woman magazine. Start your subscription today!

Application Steps:Read Matthew 13:1-23. Consider if you are like any of the examples given by Jesus.

Reflections:Why do some people find it easier to accept the Bible as truth, while others struggle with it?

What are some reasons God’s truth doesn’t “stick” in our hearts?

What are some ways to increase your understanding of God’s Word?

Power Verses:John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NIV)

1 John 1:8, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (NIV)

© 2010 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

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I don't need to diminish the prospects for soil. By whose help do clubs identify supreme bag of soil tricks? Furthermore, they are a great source for additional tips on growing an organic garden successfully. Sawdust as well as a few bark products are slowly broken down by bacteria. Kitchen waste such as vegetable leaves and stalks, peelings and cores can then be added but do NOT cooked vegetables or meat as these will attract vermin to your compost bin. Cover crops, also known as green manures, are crops grown in the garden specifically for the purpose of soil improvement. These are not recommended. By placing riverbed rocks beneath your garden prior to planting, this will serve as a pathway to drain the excess water. Other things that you can add include compost leaves and peat moss.Choosing The Right Plants When Hillside Landscaping Will Help Control Soil Erosion Determine The Amount Of Area To Be Used As Well As How To Use That Area A good hillside landscaping project would involve having steps running up the hillside as well as a retaining wall.

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Feb
22

County soil and water conservation district accepting orders for tree seedling, shrub program

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1329882855 69 County soil and water conservation district accepting orders for tree seedling, shrub program

The St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District is accepting orders for its annual tree seedling and shrub program now through April 6.

“Every person on this planet is affected by a tree every day of their lives. Trees contribute to our health and comfort, to wildlife, to the land that we live on and the air that we breathe,” said SLCSWCD Manager Dawn Howard.

“The products produced by trees: fruit, timber, syrup, etc., are easily given a dollar value; however, it is considerably more difficult to put a value on the unseen benefits provided by a living tree. Trees save energy by creating wind/snow breaks and cooling on summer days. They remove pollutants from the air and help with stormwater management, water quality, erosion control, and bank stabilization. There is also an aesthetic value,” Howard said.

More than two dozen types of plants and supplies are available. Prices start at 90¢ and go up to $8.50 each depending on species. Minimum order is 10 with larger numbers available. Evergreen prices decrease with quantity.

Proceeds of the sale benefit conservation projects in the county. Tree delivery date is expected to be April 27, which is also Arbor Day. They will help people match species with soil types and goals.

For an order form or more information, contact the Soil and Water Conservation District office at 1942 Old DeKalb Rd., Canton, NY 13617 or call the office at 386-3582. Order forms and information are also available at slcswcd.org.

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