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Powdery Mildew Could Hitch Rides on Bamboo Stakes
There is a body of anecdotal evidence that suggests it is possible to infect plants with powdery mildew transferred by bamboo stakes . Bamboo is known for disease resistance , but it is not exempt from carrying mold and mildew spores . The spores lie dormant in bamboo culms until growth is triggered by moisture , and bamboo stakes in soil are constantly exposed to moisture . Also , bamboo stakes often arrive at stores with active mildew growth from “ cargo sweat ”, the tropical damp climate created in a closed shipping container . It may be beneficial for a grower to weigh the risks of bamboo against other nonporous alternatives that might be slightly more expensive but not prone to fungus infections .
scrogger . com
Growing Opportunity for Homeless Teens
Alaska Seeds for Change is about more than just crops . The program , which is run by Anchorage Community Mental Health Services , is geared toward those who have aged out of the state foster care system and are trying to survive on their own . Aside from paid work , the youth will be connected to services in the community and time will be set aside for life skills training . Initially , 20 workers will be hired to work 10 to 15 hours a week . The youth employment project has been a longtime dream for Dr . Michael Sobocinski , who has spent his career counseling homeless kids . He predicts the young people who have known hunger and hardship will embrace the opportunity and use it to better their lives . The indoor greenhouse has the potential to grow 50 tons of fresh produce a year to be sold and donated to programs that serve those in need .
ktva . com
Urban ( Garden ) Growth Gets Scientific
Seeking sustainable solutions to urban sprawl , a team of Arizona State University researchers has been working to create an innovative , physics-based model that can predict how gardens and farms can most efficiently be integrated into cities to produce food in the face of a changing climate , cool the urban heat island , and make people happier . It ’ s a collaborative five-year national project , funded with $ 4 million from two federal agencies , that aims to evaluate huge sets of data to create a planning model that can be used by any growing metropolitan area . The model will account for variables that include air pollution , land cover , water use , and energy sources . “ This is an integrated project ; it ’ s not just about agriculture . It ’ s about food , energy , and water ,” says Alex Mahalov , a mathematics professor and the team ’ s the lead principal investigator . There ’ s a social aspect , too . “ In community gardens , people get together and enjoy growing food , maybe make some extra income ,” Mahalov says . “ And it makes them happy .”
asunow . asu . edu
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