Purple Cored Carrots

Check out this eye catching vegetable, a strikingly purple carrot going by the name of “Purple Sun”. Unlike some other varieties its purple pigment goes from skin to core meaning it’s jam packed with anthocyanins, these basically are what cause the antioxidant effect blue berries and black currents have. The pointed roots of this carrot with rounded shoulders are a great improvement on the older purple carrots, producing uniform roots with strong disease resistance, its purported to have a superb sweet flavour too. These can be harvested as baby carrots or grown onto full size.

Height:
30cm (12″)

Spread:
15cm (6″)

Sowing Months:
March to June

Position:
Full sun

Britain’s Oldest Tree

‘Britain’s oldest tree’ is discovered in a Welsh churchyard and it’s more than FIVE THOUSAND years old

A tiny village is believed to be home to Britain’s oldest tree – a yew that first took took root more than 5,000 years ago.

The majestic yew that lives in in a Welsh churchyard was 3,000 years old when Jesus Christ was born, according to tree  ageing experts.

Experts have run tests on the tree in the St Cynog’s churchyard at Defynnog near Sennybridge, Powys, including DNA and ring-dating.

There are hundreds of ancient yew trees dating back at least 600 years across Britain, but the 60-foot-wide giant at St Cynog’s is believed to be the most ancient.

Tree ageing expert Janis Fry, 64, who has studied yews for more than 40 years, said: ‘I’m convinced this is the oldest tree in Europe

‘It was planted on the north side of the ancient burial mound which is now the churchyard, probably in honour of a neolithic chieftain.

Using Agricultural Biodiversity To Improve Nutrition And Health

This volume explores the current state of knowledge on the role of agricultural biodiversity in improving diets, nutrition and food security. Using examples and case studies from around the globe, the book explores current strategies for improving nutrition and diets and identifies key research and implementation gaps that need to be addressed to successfully promote the better use of agricultural biodiversity for rural and urban populations and societies in transition.

“Currently 868 million people are undernourished and 195 million children under five years of age are stunted. At the same time, over 1 billion people are overweight and obese in both the developed and developing world. Diseases previously associated with affluence, such as cancer, diabetes and cardio-vascular disease, are on the rise. Food system-based approaches to addressing these problems that could enhance food availability and diet quality through local production and agricultural biodiversity often fall outside the traditional scope of nutrition, and have been under-researched. As a consequence, there remains insufficient evidence to support well-defined, scalable agricultural biodiversity interventions that can be linked to improvements in nutrition outcomes.

Agricultural biodiversity is important for food and nutritional security, as a safeguard against hunger, a source of nutrients for improved dietary diversity and quality, and strengthening local food systems and environmental sustainability. This book explores the current state of knowledge on the role of agricultural biodiversity in improving diets, nutrition and food security. Using examples and case studies from around the globe, the book explores current strategies for improving nutrition and diets and identifies key research and implementation gaps that need to be addressed to successfully promote the better use of agricultural biodiversity for rural and urban populations and societies in transition.”

You can download the whole book using this link: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/uploads/tx_news/Diversifying_food_and_diets_1688_01.pdf

The Dangers Of Asbestos

A blog visitor has just informed me that asbestos isn’t banned in the USA like it is here in England, UK. He attached this little graphic to show the dangers associated with asbestos exposure, please take a second to look it over and stay informed about this hidden killer.

The visitor was Brian Turner of the Toxic Substance Safety Advocate for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

The 12 Principles Of Permaculture

Thinking tools, that when used together, allow us to creatively re-design our environment and our behavior in a world of less energy and resources.

The foundations of permaculture are the ethics (centre) which guide the use of the 12 design principles, ensuring that they are used in appropriate ways.

These principles are seen as universal, although the methods used to express them will vary greatly according to the place and situation. They are applicable to our personal, economic, social and political reorganisation as illustrated in the permaculture flower.
Each principle can be thought of as a door that opens into whole systems thinking, providing a different perspective that can be understood at varying levels of depth and application.

PermacultureVoices Podcasts

This is a fantastic resource of podcasts (audio broadcasts) from Permaculture teachers talking on different Permaculture related subjects.

“A podcast for learners, eco-entrepreneuers, and anyone who wants to make a change in their life, or the world, through permaculture.

Each episode brings you into the world of sustainable agriculture, permaculture, survival Permaculture Voices Podcastpreparedness, and green living. Discover how you can implement different strategies grow healthier food, get off the grid, and become more of a producer than a consumer.

Learn how to make your life more sustainable or how to just get started from people out there actually doing it. You’ll hear from experts and people just like you who are making a go of it and learning as they go.

Each week we talk to farmers, designers, and backyard growers who are following their passion, changing the world, and in some cases making a living with permaculture.

Each episode will give you practical insights and advice that you put into action today.

Sustainable farming, water harvesting, biochar, permaculture, organic gardening, soil building, food forests, nitrogen fixation, back yard chickens, fruit trees, and more strategies to feed your stomach and your soul.

The show is hosted by Diego Footer of the Permaculture Voices Conference.”

http://www.permaculturevoices.com/blog-2/podcast-2/

The Biggest Tree On The Planet Photographed

It Took 126 Photos, But Scientists Finally Fit The Biggest Tree On The Planet Into One Amazing Image.

“The President” is the name of a giant sequoia located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in the United States.

How do we know such things? We trust in Steve Sillett from Humboldt State University, who said:
“We know that there are trees that have bigger trunks, but when you add up all of the wood beside the main trunk – all of the limbs, all of the branches, all of the bio-mass above the ground – this tree is likely the biggest.”

The Green Manure Crop With Added Bite

Caliente Mustard Seed is not just a green manure it also acts as a “biofumigant” for the soil. Biofumigants suppress various soil borne pests and diseases by releasing naturally occurring compounds when you incorporate them back into the soil.

The foliage must be crushed or finely chopped for it to release a natural gas (isothiocyanate) which effectively reduces and suppresses a range of harmful nematodes and diseases in the soil.

The combination of biofumigation plus the digging in of the green material (organic matter), increases beneficial soil microbes, which out-compete pathogen microbes helping to keep soil diseases down.

Caliente Mustard is a Brassica so if problems are present with Club-root, Caliente Mustard will succumb to the disease so use appropriately within a rotation

The benefits of use for the home gardener for most crop and soil types are:
-Improved root systems and a measurable increase in yield of following crops
-Suppression of a range of soil-borne diseases including Verticillium wilt, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium, and Sclerotinia
-Suppresses a range of harmful nematode species
Improved soil structure and fertility
-Suppresses weeds; mainly soft-seeded annuals, soon after incorporation

Caliente Mustard can be sown in spring or late summer for a quick crop, or mid-autumn for over-wintering in milder areas.

The finer the chop the better the result, running over the area with a rotary mower or strimmer to chop well before digging the chopped up foliage and roots into the top 15-20cm (6inches) of the soil within 20 mins of chopping up, otherwise 80% of the beneficial gases will escape into the air.
Rake the soil to a fine tilth and firm or roller to keep gases locked in. Water the area thoroughly.
Rest the soil for 14 days before sowing/planting new seeds/crops, then sow/grow crops as soon as possible to get the best benefits from Caliente Mustard.

Although I’m in the colder area I’m going to experiment and mix this in with my “field bean” crop for over wintering and cover with fabric, hopefully some will survive in amongst the field beans and I’ll dig the lot in come Spring 2015. I’m hoping they’ll survive in little “micro climate” pockets with the added assistance of the horticultural fabric.

How To Create A Hugelkultur Bed

This image shows the different layers that make up a Hugelkultur bed. It also shows how different methods of watering (drip or swale) penetrate the mound. I believe I’m right in saying the concept was put forth by Sepp Holzer from Austria.

I love the look of these and think I’ll have a go at one on the allotment at some point in time. It’ll be interesting to see how well the logs act as a sponge to aid with water retention. I’m also interested to see how the heat produced by the rotting wood and also the added heat captured from the sun due to the angle of the bank would affect plant growth. Be fascinatin to do a side by side with more traditional beds, see what I can do.

The Grass Is Greener…

I life the grass isn’t greener “on the other side”, it’s greener where YOU NURTURE IT!