This is important. If you care at all about colony collapse disorder, the way science is done, and the way results are reported, go to Ian Parnell’s What’s Your Ecotype and read his long and detailed report on the latest news concerning Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, Australian bees and CCD in America. You’ll be glad you did, because you’ll be better informed than almost everyone else.
Publicity for neglected species
Our friends at the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species have scored a minor publicity coup by getting a series of posts on the University of British Columbia’s Botany Photo of the Day web site. BPOD, as aficionados know it, is a daily source of stunning images and information to match. Sometimes the featured plant is economically important, and some of those are agricultural. But this is the first time I can remember a series devoted to agricultural biodiversity.
So far BPOD has covered Emmer wheat, ((I could actually quibble and insist, again, that farro is a mixture of hulled wheat species, but I wont.)) bay laurel and maya nut. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Nibbles: Eco-tourism, peas, apples, mozzarella
- USAID promotes eco-tourism in Uganda, no mention of agriculture.
- Genetics 101 (cont). Rebsie explains all.
- Irishman finds apples in Orange.
- Hold the pizza.
Trees growing in Kenya
An ancient post on trees in Kenya has elicited some comments from Victor Mulinge, keeping us up to date on his tree planting activities. I’m promoting his latest to a post to give it the prominence it deserves.
Hi Jeremy,
A while now after new year 2008 kenya was in a dilemna following post election skirmishes but now all is well. Pawpaw trees are now 800, bananas 200 and mangos 700 and still marching on. Now am in search of groundwater for irrigation purposes through tapping rain water by a man made dam which can hold up to 100,000 litres but only for 2 weeks due to evaporation. Hoping all will be good. Keep in touch for positive enviromental upgrades through tree planting.
Thanks Victor, and do keep the information coming.
Not hip, righteous
The blah about whether the young people who are giving up city life for something more rural and productive are “hip”, “cool” or what is fun to watch, but not all that illuminating. It has, however, flushed out an interesting article from April’s Atlantic magazine, which I might never have seen. A Papaya Grows in Holyoke explains how “A crime-plagued mill town in Massachusetts has discovered the roots of urban renewal,” and those roots, you will not be surprised to learn, go deep into the ground. Of course the story may not tell the whole truth, we’ve always known that, but it is a heart-warming read.
Via cheflovesbeer, who says: “It is easier for the kids if some of the hip kids do it”.