If you’re a gardener, you may have heard of the common trick to plant chrysanthemums around your garden to deter pests. Marigolds work, too. This is because the flowers naturally are high […]
Where does pyrethrum come from?
Why are seeds of different sizes and shapes?
Seeds come in different sizes and shapes across plant species. They range from dust-sized seeds in orchids to double coconut Lodoicea (yes, coconuts are seeds!). Depending on geographical location and the prevailing […]
The incredible, edible seed
Think about all the animals at the zoo. Even though the elephant looks drastically different from the eagle, they each share common functions for survival. Including humans, all animals (with few exceptions) […]
Reviewing the importance of International Year of Plant Health
The United Nations (U.N.) declared 2020 the International Year of Plant Health. This sent a powerful message to the world: Plants are life. Sadly, the COVID-19 crisis changed a lot of 2020 […]
What are riparian buffer strips?
The word “riparian” refers to the place where streams meet land. This important intersection controls a lot of processes – especially with regard to water quality. Human use of land near streams […]
Crops and livestock on the same farms, the same fields – why?
Integrated agricultural systems often have both crops and livestock on the same farm. And, yes, integrated crop-livestock systems can have many benefits! Years ago, it was tradition for farmers to grow a […]
How are plants bred to be biofortified? Why is it important?
The plants in our diet are critical to our health. Food crops provide us with nutrients important to human health, growth, and metabolism. Different vegetable crops contain many types of vitamins and […]
How can I use natural materials to build soil fertility in my garden?
Not much beats the taste and nutrition of fresh vegetables that travel from your garden to your kitchen! Or the fragrance of fresh cut flowers that go straight to your vase. What […]
What should I consider before using fertilizers and pesticides at home?
Walking through the aisles of any home improvement or garden store, there is a seemingly endless array of products for your lawn and garden. Before making your selection though, there are few […]
Why are weeds so competitive with my plants?
Every summer I battle an enemy that can come back from the dead and there seems to be more of them every time I turn around! That’s right, I’m talking about zombies […]