MAX FACTS GROWING TIPS, NEWS AND TRIVIA
Battle Weeds with Boiling Water
When it comes to killing weeds, a homemade herbicide of boiling water is by far the
simplest homemade remedy to prepare, and unless you happen to spill boiling water
on yourself, is also the least harmful to both people and the planet. Simply boil the
water, and then pour it over the leaves and stems of the weeds you wish to get rid of.
Using boiling water is an effective method for killing weeds in places such as sidewalks
or driveways, or over a larger area you’d like to replant after the weeds are gone, as it
doesn’t leave any residue or have any harmful long-term effects. As with all types of
homemade herbicides, it’s important to only apply boiling water to the plants you wish to
get rid of, as it can easily kill your flowers or vegetable plants as well.
(Source: treehugger.com)
Rice Growers Reduce Carbon Footprints
Rice growers in the United States who voluntarily implement conservation
practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions can now have those
emissions quantified and sold as carbon credits into California’s
regulatory market, thanks to a recent decision by the California
Air Resources Board. Imagine a rice farmer in Arkansas
altering his water management techniques to deliver
water more efficiently and use fewer days of flooding,
allowing for more precise water and nutrient
management while maintaining consistent yields.
Now, in addition to improving water quality and
reducing water use and nutrient input costs,
that Arkansas farmer can sell carbon credits
to large, regulated emitters in California. The
conservation techniques implemented by rice
farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also
have multiple co-benefits, including more efficient
use of water, reduced off-site water-quality issues,
precise nitrogen fertilizer use, maintained yields and
protection of migratory bird habitats.
(Source: usda.gov)
Why Ladybugs are so Colorful
There are two kinds of bugs in this world—the shy types that blend into
their surroundings and the loud, bright kind. It makes sense why some
insects would camouflage themselves. It’s hard to be eaten by a
predator if you can’t be seen. But what advantage do their brightly
colored brethren have? That’s what researchers at the Universities of
Exeter and