Story Archives of 'Gardening'

Are there non-lethal ways to keep squirrels and other pests out of the garden?

By EarthTalk on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What would you recommend as a non-toxic/non-lethal way to keep squirrels, gophers and groundhogs away? -- Faye Gillette, Coarsegold, CA

Welcome to the Veggielution

By Robert Rogers on Friday, September 4, 2009.

Politically aware, environmentally conscious young people are creating their own take on the back-to-the-land movement. Robert Rogers, a high schooler in San Jose, California, joined the "Veggielution" by helping grow organic crops in a local urban park.

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Late Blight Has Come Earlier Than Ever

By Rick Ganley on Wednesday, August 19, 2009.

The word blight might make you think of the Great Irish Potato Famine of the 19th century. But it’s still with us today. And in fact it’s still causing problems for home and commercial growers alike. So called Late Blight has appeared earlier and become more widespread this season.

Cheryl Smith is the plant health specialist with the University of New Hampshire. She explains why this was the earliest appearance on record of Late Blight in New Hampshire.

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Why and how should I start a rooftop garden?

By EarthTalk on Sunday, August 9, 2009.

EarthTalkTM
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Gardens are Growing....in Number

By Mark Bevis on Thursday, July 30, 2009.

On Saturday, Governor Lynch is scheduled to announce at the Concord Farmers Market that August is Eat Local month.

It's an attempt to promote local farms and locally grown foods.

But as NHPR's Mark Bevis reports, the governor does not have to do a lot of convincing.

The state is witnessing a surge in local vegetable gardens.

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Patricia Klindienst – The Earth Knows My Name

By Monadnock Summe... on Saturday, July 25, 2009.

Patricia Klindienst talks about the ethnic gardener as a culture bearer and citizen of the land community, one who, in healing the wounds of displacement--whether by injustice, poverty, or war--brings a wealth of traditional wisdom to the task of healing the land as well. Patricia addresses where we might begin the work of remembering who and what we are. Patricia Klindienst earned a Ph. D. in Modern Thought & Literature form Stanford University in 1984 then began her career as an interdisciplinary scholar at Yale, publishing ground-breaking feminist re-interpretations of classical myths and biblical stories. An award-winning scholar and teacher, she left the academic world to write for a broader audience. Her first book, “The Earth Knows My Name”, tells the stories of ethnic Americans who transmit their cultural heritage through their gardens. She received an American Book Award for 2007.

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Gardening Behind Bars

By Virginia Prescott on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

County jails from Colorado to Florida are facing mounting deficits. Some are releasing inmates early and others are considering closing specific jails altogether. One Ohio jail is cutting costs by asking inmates to pick up a shovel, plant some seeds, and work for their food.

Prison gardens are nothing new. Inmates at the San Francisco County Jail have been gardening since 1982. Their produce goes to local farmers’ markets and community centers. But in Sandusky County, Ohio the tomatoes, green beans, and carrots don’t travel further than the jail’s kitchen. In order to help cut costs, Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer came up with the idea of converting an acre and a half of unused outdoor space into a garden.

(Photo by Shelley&Dave via Flickr/Creative Commons)

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Lawns Are Going Organic

By Virginia Prescott on Monday, April 27, 2009.

America's obsession with the flawless lawn didn't begin in suburbia, but in 1967, when the Masters Golf Tournament was first broadcast in color. Homeowners who'd been used to weedy, varied lawns suddenly wanted their own emerald carpets of grass, just like the ones on the green in Augusta, Georgia. It was even given a name, "Augusta Syndrome."

This lust for the perfect lawn has cost Americans billions in herbicide, water and gas, plus countless hours of mowing, and possibly even our health. A National Academy of Science report shows that the health of one in seven people is negatively affected by some form by lawn pesticides. Children and pets are especially at risk because of their size, development, and proximity to the ground. But going organic would be so expensive, right? Well, maybe not. Paul Tukey is the founder of SafeLawns.org and he says an organic lawn is not only better, but less expensive too.

(Photo by Jeremy Page via Flickr/Creative Commons)

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How can I make the most of limited garden space?

By EarthTalk on Sunday, March 22, 2009.

Here's What's Awesome: Robot Gardeners, Citizen Copyediting

By Brady Carlson on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

It is a time of uncertainty. Virginia is away. Avishay is at South by Southwest in Texas. But we are here, and we are charged with keeping the Word of Mouth flame burning bright. And that we will do, because we have a set of awesome links.

Robot does gardening

But what we really need is a droid who understands the binary language of moisture vaporators