Tourism

February 17, 2009February 18, 2009

Socializing with plants at Kew

Kew is hosting a festival of ethnobotany, highlighting research into plant-people relationships. Featured topics will likely include medicinal plants in Britain, Spain, China and southern Africa; wild foods in Britain and Africa; natural fibres and basketmaking, home gardens in Britain, spice plants in India, and many more. The emphasis is on hands-on, table-top displays with plenty of opportunity to talk to the exhibitors.

It’s on 7 March, and it sounds like fun. If you go, let us know about it. And send us photos.

February 11, 2009February 12, 2009

Chocolate destinations

Here’s an idea that could have legs: chocolate tourism.

LATER: Good thing Ivory Coast is not on that list.

February 11, 2009

Last Sunday’s outing to Cerveteri and its Etruscan necropolis included a visit to the town’s small museum. Where we saw the following terracotta figurine:

The piece wasn’t labeled, and I had to take the photograph at a weird angle through glass, so the quality is not great. But that looks like an artichoke to me, or maybe a cardoon. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find much on the internet about the Etruscans and the artichoke, but they definitely had it. And it is still a big crop in the region. But I’m just not entirely certain. What do you think?

February 11, 2009February 11, 2009

Nibbles: Bananas, Sorghum, Agave, Big vs small, Cauliflower, Wine, Chestnut, Farmers’ rights, India, Aquaculture, Medicinals, Tarpan

How they grow bananas in Fadan Karshi, Nigeria.
How they grow sorghum in Karamoja, Uganda.
How tequila is ruining small farms in Mexico. Or is it?
How small farms cannot feed Africa. Or can they? Join the debate! Via.
How the Brits plan to rebrand cauliflower. This I gotta see.
How the ancient Chinese made wine out of rice, honey, and fruit. Pass the bottle.
How Georgia is mapping where its chestnuts used to be.
How farmers’ rights are being implemented.
How Indian agriculture should move beyond wheat and rice. Ok, but what would everybody eat?
How microsatellites can be used to help catfish breeding.
How Ni Wayan Lilir is helping people learn about the traditional healing herbs of Bali.
How the Brits brought back the Konik.

February 10, 2009February 10, 2009

Nibbles: Wine, Ass, Maps, Mauka, Pest management, Photos

Mathilda on domestication of the vine and donkey.
New software for species mapping is out: Croziat.
Another day, another tuber.
Using Diversity as a Pest Management Tool. There’s a thought.
Pix of West African plants, including cultivated, with lots of assorted link goodness.

Category: Tourism

Socializing with plants at Kew

Chocolate destinations

Carciofo alla Etrusca?

Nibbles: Bananas, Sorghum, Agave, Big vs small, Cauliflower, Wine, Chestnut, Farmers’ rights, India, Aquaculture, Medicinals, Tarpan

Nibbles: Wine, Ass, Maps, Mauka, Pest management, Photos