Category: Housekeeping

Bloggers are full of fancy reasons for their habit, and we’re no exception. One we might not say out loud is that it feels good to know that other people read what we write. A few weeks ago we implemented a major piece of gee-whizzery to draw attention to a featured comment: that’s it top right in the yellow box. Our primary reason is to reward people who make interesting comments ¹ but we were obviously also hoping to attract more people to comment. Now, another excuse to solicit your input: we are, apparently, in the middle of National Delurking Week. Of course, we’re not that parochial, so let’s hear it for Global Delurking Week. And here’s all you need to know:

Shy? Don’t be!
Don’t know what to say? Just say hi!
Afraid? What of? There’s nothing to be afraid of here on [our] blog. Everyone’s welcome and safe here.
A regular commenter? Say hi so that those who aren’t won’t feel like they have to be the first.

OK, off you go …

Or at least I am. It’s going to take me a day or two to get back fully into the blogging swing of things, but, until then, check out the extra-long list of nibbles to the right, below the photo.

Oh, and Happy New Year, everyone!

So, where’s all the agrobiodiversity news? Dunno. Maybe they’ve given up? Nah. Maybe they’re on holiday? Yeah, that’ll be it. So, when d’you suppose they’ll be back? Dunno. Better keep looking. …

Not to get too cute here, but in what has become an annual tradition, the bloggers of the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog are taking a brief break. Two weeks, or thereabouts. Max.

Afore we go, though, we thought we’d share a last bit of news: Even in Christmas trees, diversity is important:

Choosing the right Christmas tree species must obviously be carefully considered prior to planting. The species must suit the site with respect to soil depth, drainage, fertility and texture. Investigate the potential market for each species that will suitably grow on the site and make decisions accordingly. Growing more than one species will permit some diversity and flexibility at market time. Remember, the first tree sales will be 7 to 10 years in the future and predictions of species preferences by consumers, e.g. Fraser fir versus Scots pine, will be important for marketing.

It must be true, I read it on the intertubes. Oh, and an afterthought: real trees are greener.

Flickr photo by Vanessa Pike-Russell, used under a Creative Commons Licence.

We’ve done a little much-needed upgrading, to the way the site works and the way it looks. A crack team of test elves swarmed all over the site, and didn’t report anything broken, but some of them are pretty slack. So if you find something that isn’t quite right, let us know.
Also, in response to a demand, we’ve put in a Category Cloud, which indicates what we write about. Personally, I find it a trifle misleading, but that’s a discussion we need to have among ourselves. Your thoughts, however, are most welcome. Thanks.

Throwing caution, and the principles of risk management, to the wind, agro.agro.biodiver.se bloggers gathered in a single location last week, and there’s the photograph to prove it. We won’t bother to name names, or to draw attention to the huge lack of diversity assembled. We will note that we all ate something different although we all drank the same stuff. And had a jolly good time.