Weekly Reading 6

Topic 1

I never realized pesticides stayed around for so long, almost like plastic.
I did not know pesticides were developed during WWII.
I did not know some pestricieds can kill enzymes. I find this very interesting, as we are just starting to learn about enzymes in Biology.

Next time we are in the garden, i will think about the pros and cons of pesticides.

Are there any naturally occuring pesticides, as opposed to synthetic?


Topic 2

I do not agree fully with this article. DDT seems like a quick fix or a short-term solution.
I think this is an issue where everyone needs to tread lightly. DDT is both helpful and dangerous.
I agree that DDT should be used, but its use needs to be monitered carefully.

Nex time we am in the garden, I will think about the organic food movement.

Where does DDT come from originally?


Topic 3

I never realised organic food brings so many differant elements to it.
Organic food is has a very large marketing side to it.
I wonder if it costs money to certify your farm as organic.

Next time I am in the supermarket, I will think more thoughtfully about the food I am eating.

Who and when first invented the concept "organic?"

Weekly Reading #5

Topic 1

I was unable to watch the video, it wouldn't play on my computer for some reason :(.


Topic 2

Wow! I never thought of looking at organic food from a business perspective.
I was always under the impression organic food was pesticide free.
Though I found this article very interesting, I also sounded very biased to me. Are they saying a McDonalds hamburger patty is on par with a $15 certified organic gourmet grain-fed free-range prime cut hamburger patty from Whole Foods?

Next time I am in the garden, I will think about the enefits of home-grown food.

Are the Canadian organic standars similar?


Topic 3

Though I believe that pasturized milk is the way to go, raw milk should still be siold, as long as it has a proper warning label.
Maybe the thing to do, is just to limit the sale of raw milk in super markets, but allow farmers to sell it.
I think the law restricting the transport over state lines is reasonable, though it sounds quite silly.

Next time we are in the garden, I will think about the repercussions of food restrictions.

Is raw goat milk legal?

Ta da! Weekly Reading Number 3

Topic 1

I did not know composting works because of bacteria.
I also did not realize how easy it is to compost your organic waste
I expected a good compost bin to have an abundance of worms, looks like this is not the case.


Next time we are in the garden, I will look for and identify some of the decomposing matter in our garden.

Are ther any environmental disadvantages to composting?




Topic 2


I have never heard of Bokashi before, I sounds like something I would like to try.
The fact there is no odor and you can do it in small bucket is very advantageous.
I never would have guessed the Bokashi mix was made of wheat bran, molasses, and liquid microbial inoculum.


Next time we are in the garden, I will keep the differant composting methods in mind, and watch for and decomposing taking place in the garden.


What is liquid microbial inoculum?


Topic 3

I never realised leaves could be beneficial to a garden, I always though it was best to just rake them up!
It almost seems the leaves become more of a paste when they leave the wire cage.
Seems like leafNext time we are in the garden, I will think about how we can incorporate leaf mold into our own garden.

Why are certain trees bad for leaf mold?
 

Topic 4
Wow! I never realized there were so many differant kinds of composting!
This has definetly given me a better appreciation of decomposing organisms.
Theres a compost hotline?!


Next time we are in the garden, I will see if I can find any worms.


How many differant kinds of worms are there?


Topic 5Thats really cool how their garden produces food for their cafeteria.
I think its really awesome how projects like this are getting alot of media attention.
I didn't know you can grow figs in BC!

Next time we are in the garden, I will think of ways we can expand our own garden.

What is persimmon?
GENERAL QUESTION: Can you combine differant types of composting in the same environment?

Weekly Reading Number Two Once Again!

Topic 1

                Part 1  

Spinich can be grown almost year round.

Strawberries can be grown in the winter.

How abundant the leafy vegatables are (lettuce, spinach, etc)

                Part 2   

Next time we are in the garden, I will think of devices we can use to cover our crops in the winter.

                Part 3  

Are there any crops that thrive in cold weather? Why do plants need heat? Or is it just that there is not much sunlight during the winter?

Topic 2

                Part 1  

I did not know there is 3 types of garlic, I always thought there was just one.

How a whole plot of soil can have a disease, almost like a functioning body.

Differant kinds of garlic respond to differant weather conditions.

                             

                Part 2  

Next time we are in the garden, I will pay close attention to the kind of garlic we are growing.

                Part 3  

How does one measure the pH of their soil?

                            

Topic 3

                Part 1  

It definetly surprised me how complicated and intricate dirt and soil are.

Soil regeneration takes over 200 years!

The part of the article about over-farming was very interesting.

                Part 2    

Next time we are in the garden, I will take a closer look at our dirt/soil.


                Part 3    

I don't think I really have any questions, that was very informative.

Topic 4

                Part 1  

I am curious as to wether the wheat board helps smaller farms. It seems like having the wheat board would level the playing field in terms of marketing budgets.

I found what Jack Wilkinson had to say at the end of the article was very interesting, and I agree whole-heartedly.

I think the government should poll the wheat farm industry in a referendum, and proceed accordingly based on results.

                Part 2   

Next time we are in the garden, I will think about how science and technology can be used to increase our garden's potential.

                Part 3  

Did other agricultural industries peviosly have the same kind of governing body? If so, how did they adjust when it was dissolved?