Garden Culture Magazine UK 33

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Find the Organic in you

CONTENTS

THE IMPORTANCE OF

HARDENING OFF

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

13

24

Garden

52

74

Strategies to Cope with

Drought

WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

95

66

I N TH IS ISSU E O F GA R D EN C U LT U R E : 11 Foreword

56 Magic Mushrooms

12 Author Spotlight: Dr Callie Seaman

61 Best of the Blog: Beehaviours - The Waggle Dance

13 Product Spotlights

66 Seed Saving Part 4: Storing Seeds Correctly & Testing Viability

20 Frog Friendly Gardens

74 Garden Strategies To Cope With Drought

22 Hello, Houseplants!

82 Discovering The Genetic Potential Of Your Plants

24 Superfoods for Plants

86 Growing: Good For The Mind

30 Exploring Cannabis Cultivation Around The Globe

88 The Sound In The Silence

34 Ancient Farming Practices

91 Book Review: Organic Gardening for Everyone

38 Medicinal Weeds: Mugwort

95 Who’s Growing What Where

42 Feeding Cities with Urban Farms

100 Seed Soak Tea

52 The Importance of Hardening Off

104 5 Cool Ways Plants Are Used For Textiles

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

7

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

T

he reason we write this magazine is to share with you something you might not already know. From new techniques to others practised for ages, we are

happy to offer information you can take back to your garden and test to become better growers.

The world is watching as devastating bushfires continue to burn across Australia. The loss of human lives and thousands of homes is tragic. With millions of hectares of scorched land and more than a billion animals dead, the environmental impact of the fires has been disastrous. Also, drought conditions have gardeners and farmers desperate to keep food crops alive. A resident of Australia, Garden Culture’s Anne Gibson offers valuable advice in Garden Strategies to Cope with Drought.

Climate change is a serious threat to how we grow food for the world, and a significant overhaul has to happen to accommodate a growing population. In Ancient Farming Techniques the Way of the Future, Catherine Sherriffs tells us about what a groundbreaking study has found in some of the world’s most fer tile soils. And in Feeding Cities with Urban Farms, Alber t Mondor introduces us to incredible rooftop garden initiatives bringing nutritious food closer to people.

Healthy plants need good food too; in Superfood for Plants, Florian Henrich gives us a glimpse at some of the best substances we can add to our gardens. The real winners are the hobby home growers, who have access to incredible products.

I travel all over the world in the search for answers to questions that most growers have asked. The massive global competition in the legal cannabis industry has pushed researchers around the world to help unleash the plant’s full potential in terms of health,

CREDITS SPECI A L TH A N KS TO: Albert Mondor, Anne Gibson, Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Cosmic Knot, Dr Callie Seaman, Florian Henrich, Martyna Krol, Nico Hill, and Rich Hamilton.

PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 E XCU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062 ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com PUBLISHER 325 Media INC 44 Hyde Rd., Mille-Isles QC, Canada J0R 1A0 GardenCultureMagazine.com ISSN 2562-3540 (Print) ISSN 2562-3559 (Online) Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

yield, phytochemicals, cannabinoid, terpenes, and flavonoid content.

In the oppor tunity of a lifetime, our Tom Forrest also travelled the world to learn about the various practices in cannabis cultivation.

@GardenCulture

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

@Garden_Culture

I encourage you to watch The Findings of a Churchill Fellowship: A Global Overview of Cannabis Agronomy on YouTube. There is so much we can learn about this incredible plant.

Happy growing, Eric 3

D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • Maxigrow • HydroGarden • The Growers Wholesale • Highlight Horticultur e

© 325 Media

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from 325 Media Inc.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

My real passion is patient advocacy and helping break down stigmas associated with cannabis.

Author Spotlight

G

Dr Callie Seaman

arden Culture is proud to boast such an eclectic group of writers. From lighting specialists and cannabis industry experts to environmentalists

and master gardeners, our contributors cover a wide range of topics in informative and entertaining ways. Allow us to introduce you to this issue’s featured author, Dr Callie Seaman, Formulation Chemist at AquaLabs.

What is your favourite plant to grow?

PI prefer growing mushrooms; they are so fascinating! But, plant-wise, cacti are up there and cannabis, as most of my research is around it.

What is your preferred activity outside of the lab?

Going for walks in the forest hunting for mushrooms and wildlife. I also enjoy cooking and can make a mean chilli. But my real passion is patient advocacy and helping break down stigmas associated with cannabis.

What is on your playlist right now?

• Goldie - Drum & Bass life (album) • Talking Heads - Once in a lifetime • Jamie T - Sticks and Stones • Orbital - Halcyon • Siouxie and the Banshees - Spellbound • 21 Pilots - Car radio • NIN - Closure • Fred V & Grafix - Major happy • The Specials - Ruddy • Blur -13 • Underworld - Born slippy • Cypress Hill - Black Sunday

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Where in the world would you like to travel to next?

Prague. Yet to get there, and I love old architecture. Morocco and California, as well (hoping for this next year).

What is your favourite animal/insect?

I love spiders! Amazing little creatures, making webs from their bums and eating their mate after they have finished with them! But I am also currently going somewhat gooey over sausage dogs. We have two cats. They are so moody, but I love them! 3

Are you interested in writing for Garden Culture Magazine? We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email introducing yourself with a sample of your work. editor@gardenculturemagazine.com

GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

Use Anywhere You Want to Control the Environment Soon to be available in North America, this little device has been on the market in the UK for a couple of years. I recently received a few to try and fell in love — what a fantastic tool. Don’t let its size or price (less than 20 quid) fool you; this little guy is powerful and straightforward to use. I hung four in the garden; one just above the canopy, one inside the canopy and two on the opposite sides of the room. I downloaded the app, named the monitors, and just like that, I had a graphical representation of the Temperature and Humidity in my room, in four different areas. It is always working, recording data points at intervals that are yours to control.

The data is only accessible when you are within 10 metres from the devices. At the press of a button, it syncs with your device, and the up-to-date graphs are ready to analyse. The app only stores 100 days of data, so don’t forget to take pictures of the charts to compare one crop to the next, seasons, lighting changes, plant number changes, whatever!

For the price, there is no reason why every grower should not have an AirComfort. And it is also great for monitoring rooms in your home as well!

Growroom - Drying - Curing - Storage Bedroom - Bathroom - Baby room - Garage • • • • • • • •

1-year battery life 10 metres free-field detection range Temperature sensor Humidity sensor Stores up to 100 days of data or 4032 sets Data gathered are shown in graphical views using an app Adjust data measurement fetching within every 5-40 mins Sync device wirelessly both on IOS and Android

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS Terra Aquatica TriPart Nutrient® New Branding for GHE’s Tried and True Flora-Series® After the organic line, which transitioned to the new brand Terra Aquatica® in March 2019, GHE’s fertilisers and mineral additives will be available starting in January 2020 with new labels featuring the T.A. emblem, as well as new names that more clearly evoke their uses.

This is an essential step in the transition that GHE has been working on for several months.

Flora-Series®, the brand’s bestseller since its creation in 1995, will now be called T.A.TriPart Nutrient® (Grow/Micro/Bloom), a more precise name for this professional-quality and tripartite fertiliser.

The formulas, as well as the product sources, will remain the same.

To stay on top of the latest news, visit TerraAquatica.com and check out T.A.’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Dimlux Expert Series OPTIMAL CONTROL, MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE

The Dimlux Expert Series is the most advanced complete lighting system on the market, combining the best of two worlds.

The Alpha Optics 98 Reflector in combination with the Xtreme ballast is a fixture with the highest level of reflector efficiency and light output. If you want to make maximum use of the Dimlux, use it along with the Maxi Controller.

For more information about the entire range, please visit Dimlux.nl.

Maxibright Lotus 600W ballast High-quality magnetic power-pack technology may not be quite as sexy and exciting as all the new developments in plant lighting currently hitting the shelves. Still, they do offer something that this new breed has yet to prove: consistent reliability. Practically bomb-proof, these tried and tested ballasts will last, rarely leaving a section of your room without light from a fixture having failed. Metal-Cased, vented ballasts that ensure consistently cool operation, the Lotus 600w ballast will power any 600W 240V HPS or MH lamp that will not let you down in the process.

Contact your local store for more details.

A Genuine Quality Powerpack from Maxibright – Visit GenuineQuality.co.uk

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GROWING PRODUCTS

Super Lumen 600W KIT Everything you need to get the biggest yields and flowers possible!

The kit contains a SuperLumens 600W Ballast, a reflector, and a Superlumen 600W HPS Lamp.

The high-quality Super Lumen 600W Ballast is very efficient and affordable, giving excellent value for money with outstanding performance and reliability.The ballast has the option of four different output levels that can be switched (250W, 400W, 600W and SUPER LUMEN) with a dimming selector illuminating your grow.The fanless ballast helps prevent any dust or moisture from entering the housing.

Visit TheGrowersWholesaleLtd.co.uk for more great products.

Revolution Avici Growing under LED lighting is fast becoming the go-to tech for growers, not surprising when the efficiencies, intensities and spectrums produced are now swiftly over-taking their HPS and CMH rivals.The Avici LED from Revolution Micro not only has high-efficiency and intensity but is the first LED allowing growers full control of their lighting spectrum. As well as the customised pre-settings for cloning, vegging, flowering or finishing, with the Avici you can tweak and change the spectrum throughout a grow cycle to tailor the light recipe to the exact needs of your plants.

A ‘Revolution’ (pun intended) to the scope of indoor lighting, the Avici is 1150W’s of intense plant lighting with a fully-customisable spectrum, something no self-respecting indoor grower should be without.

Now in stock at Maxigrow. Call for details, visit Maxigrow.com or follow @maxigrowhorticultural

Gorilla Humidifier Maintain Proper Grow Room Humidity Everything you could want from a reliable humidifier. The Gorilla Humidifier helps lift relative humidity (RH), reduces static electricity, and purifies the air.The adjustable output-volume allows for greater control of the humidity level in a grow room, one of the key factors for a plant’s success.

Use it in grow rooms, offices, restaurants, greenhouses, grow tents, or in any area that requires extra humidity.

Follow @highlighthorticultureltd for the newest products hitting UK shelves.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS Maxibright Apollo 600W ballast If you are after a ‘no-frills’ power pack for your grow room, one that offers peace of mind in terms of longevity and builds quality, then look no further than the Apollo 600w resin set power pack from Maxibright. Precision wound coils ensure that consistent and exact amounts of electricity are used to drive whichever 600W HPS lamp you choose to drive – you get the most from whichever light you want.

Affordable, high-quality and exceptionally reliable, if you are after a no-nonsense power pack to grow high-grade fruits, check out the 600W Apollo today.

Contact your local store for more info.

A Genuine Quality Powerpack from Maxibright – Visit GenuineQuality.co.uk

APOLLO

Grow-Genius 40% Mono-silicic

20 years ahead If you haven’t heard, there is a new silicon in town. Mono-silicic acid and it is becoming one of the most talked-about additives or additive ingredient in the world.

Grow Genius 40% Mono-silicic Acid concentration is stabilized in a proprietary blend of ethanol derivatives that delivers a highly concentrated 3ml per 100L dilution rate.

Mixes with any nutrient regime and can also be applied with a foliar feed.

Indoors or out, plants grown with silicon are bigger, stronger, and yield more.They will also fight disease and stress better than without.

Not all silicon sources are equal. For a limited time, ask your local grow store for a sample.

Visit Grow-Genius.com to learn more about the amazing results of agricultural studies using Grow Genius Mono-silicic acid.

Orca

Liquid Mycorrhiza and Bacteria From the same company that brought you Great White premium mycorrhizae, this 100% liquid version contains a diverse blend of endo mycorrhiza and bacteria. No need to buy a separate bacteria blend for your plants. This concentrated and diverse mix of mycorrhiza and beneficial bacteria is designed to be watered in or run through hydroponic or irrigation systems. Mycorrhizae are fundamental in helping supply the water and nutrients needed for enhancing plant vigour. Fantastic for both commercial and retail applications. Available from 100 mL to 5 gallons.

For more information, visit PlantRevolution.com and follow @greatwhitemyco and #orcamycorrhizae for inspiration.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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Creating healthy plants with excellent tasting crops!

100% organic fertilizers • www.gk-organics.nl

distributed by:

GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS SHOGUN Start A delicate nutrient formulated to maximise plant establishment and root development; contains balanced micro and macronutrients alongside the SmartZen maximiser ingredient. SHOGUN Start gives your young plants full strength trace elements while maintaining a low overall strength.

Encourages auxins to move from the leaf tissue to the stem for rapid rooting and fast establishment of all of the structures that the plant needs later on for maximised yields and performance. This product works brilliantly with SHOGUN Katana Roots for superior root and plant establishment.

More information can be found at ShogunFertilisers.com or by visiting your local SHOGUN stockist.

DAYLIGHT iPac 600W ballast for use with the 600W CMH Poised to take the indoor lighting world by storm, the DAYLIGHT iPac 600W magnetic ballast has been tuned and tweaked to power the new 600W Ceramic Metal Halide lamp at the highest level possible. The combination of these two products brings the full spectrum growing abilities of CMH lamps into the realms of traditional 600w type fixtures. No more scratching your head if you’re thinking about the transition between lighting technologies. Just switch out your old HPS lamp to the incredible DAYLIGHT 600W CMH lamps and power packs to give a massive boost to the overall quality and quantity of your final yield.

Contact Maxigrow today for more details, visit Maxigrow.com or follow @maxigrowhorticultural

Second Generation Q-Series from SANlight The new Q-Series from SANlight extends the module system of the first generation, with the latest chip technology from OSRAM and some other functional features.

All models in the 2nd generation are ready-to-dim. With an additional plug, which is plugged directly into the lamp, you can choose between several dimming options.This means that plants can be supplied with the optimal amount of light over their entire life cycle.

ECO or EXPERT, SANlight offers an energy-saving, beginner-friendly ECO setup for standard tent sizes, as well as a yield-maximising EXPERT setup for gardeners with more experience.You decide what is important to you.

Follow @sanlight_led for some great videos and check out SANlight.com for all the technical details.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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FROGS

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

FROG-FRIENDLY GARDENS

W

hat has four legs, can jump, swim, and is essential to the health of your backyard? If you guessed a frog, you got it right! While they might star tle you when they jump out of the dir t, amphibians taking up residence in your garden is an excellent sign!

Frogs and toads are all-natural pest control for your plants. They love to snack on mosquitoes, beetles, and slugs and will eat thousands of them throughout the growing season

Frogs and toads are all-natural pest control for your plants.

They love to snack on mosquitoes, beetles, and slugs and will eat thousands of them throughout the growing season.

However, much like our pollinator populations, frogs are disappearing at an alarming rate.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature says 1 in 3 of all amphibians is on the endangered list. FrogWatch USA and the National Wildlife Federation say pesticides, pollution, invasive species, increased UV radiation and climate change are destroying their natural habitats. We can all do more to help them not only survive, but thrive.

•

Frogs and toads love water.

Consider adding a fishless, shallow and sloping pond to your property.

They prefer still water, so forget the pumps and waterfalls.

• Creating cover is essential.

Plants such as native ferns, veronica, and swamp milkweed will do the trick!

• Ditch the toxic chemicals and reap the rewards. Remember; frogs are a natural pesticide!

• Add a cute little toad house to the garden. It looks whimsical and shelters them from the sun and potential predators. Make sure you leave the dirt exposed; these guys love to burrow.

Once they have a safe and healthy environment, your amphibian friends will return year after year to help you and your crops dodge the bugs. Ribbit! 3

Sources: Garden Media Group, Garden Trends Report, Seeing 20/20

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CREDIT: CaliKim29 Garden & Home DIY,

SANlight Q-Series Generation 2 • latest OSRAM 2mm² LED chips • ready-to-dim • protective and light guiding secundary optics distributor for the UK:

www.sanlight.com - support@sanlight.com - +43 (0) 5552 93080

HOUSEPLANTS

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

HELLO, HOUSEPLANTS! O ur obsession with houseplants continues! According to Garden Media Group’s repor t, Seeing

20/20, plant babies are one of the hottest gardening trends this year. The most popular variety?

Succulents, because they’re easy to grow and personalise. One of the fairest of them all is echeveria,

which happens to be this issue’s star of indoor growing.

Name: Echeveria (Crassulaceae family)

Waxy, water-storing leaves make caring for them super easy!

Why we love it: These pretty rose-shaped succulents come in a variety of pastel colours and produce beautiful flowers. Waxy, water-storing leaves make caring for them super easy!

Growing conditions: Native to Mexico and the semi-desert regions of Central America, this houseplant is extremely drought tolerant. Never overwater; echeveria does very well through brief periods of neglect without moisture and nutrients. Place it in full sun and let the soil dry completely before watering again.

The facts: There are more than a hundred different varieties of this succulent. It’s relatively slow-growing and generally won’t get bigger than about 12 inches in height and diameter. Baby plants often appear next to the mother rosette; separate and start a new plant!

credit: World of Succulents

Common pests: If kept on the dry side, problems and pests are rare. However, be on the lookout for mealybug, which appears as tiny white spots on the foliage. If these pests show themselves, isolate the echeveria and wipe its leaves down with a cloth. In extreme cases, dispose of the plant. 3

Sources:

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• • •

Gardening Know How: bit.ly/2rXw7IE Succulents Box: bit.ly/2MYyzpN Gardener’s World: bit.ly/2sPJCdO

See the most recent Product Spotlights right from your phone or tablet.

visit: GCmag.co/Product-Spotlight

BY FLORIAN HENRICH

I know what you’re thinking; superfood for plants?

Should I be mixing goji berries into my substrate?

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SUPERFOOD

T

he term ‘superfood’ has been around for quite some time. In the last decade, marketing agencies began using it to promote certain foods as particularly beneficial for health and well-being. Superfood by no means describes foods with an unusually high content of macronutrients, such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates,

because that would make low-fat curd cheese, palm oil and sugar superfoods par excellence. Instead, the term refers to foods that contain many substances that otherwise occur only in small amounts, and which are said to have a healthpromoting effect, such as omega-3 fatty acids.

They are substances that are not necessarily rich in macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and yet have a significant influence on plant growth.

How can this concept be transferred to your garden?

Like the above definition, I refer to such substances as a superfood for plants, whose effect goes beyond the provision of nutrients and has a positive impact on their vitality.

They are, therefore, substances that are not necessarily rich in macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and yet have a significant influence on plant growth.

When alfalfa and

Ascophyllum are used, plants react to the increased availability of

The brown Knotentang supports the plant on multiple levels. Although it provides little nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it is a reliable partner in organic farming.

phytohormones like an athlete to steroids: with

Alfalfa

Snail clover, better known as lucerne or alfalfa, owes its name to its fruiting bodies, whose shape is reminiscent of a snail shell and is cultivated mainly as a fodder plant. An important but hardly noticed feature of this plant is its high content of the phytohormone triacontanol. This phytohormone accelerates cell division and leads to stronger growth of roots, shoots, and flowers.

When used as a foliar spray, it increases the concentration of carbohydrates and enzymes in the plant. Lucerne is an excellent source of nitrogen, micronutrients, and trace elements. When alfalfa and Ascophyllum are used, plants react to the increased availability of phytohormones like an athlete to steroids: with more power!

more power

Similar approaches are largely ignored in conventional agriculture, where nutrient salts are poured over the root ball of the plant to increase yields. For example, stinging nettle manure is denied any effect because it contains hardly any nutrients. However, it is rich in silicates, enzymes, and bacteria, and thus, promotes an active soil life, a robust plant and improved nutrient uptake.

Let’s take a look at the various plant superfoods:

Ascophyllum nodosum Brown knotweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) is a brown alga common in the North Atlantic. Along with trace elements, it is rich in cytokinin, a phytohormone that stimulates the cell division (cytokinesis) of plants and regulates the ageing process. The name alone indicates that this phytohormone activates the metabolism of the plant and leads to improved yield. In 2011, it was shown that an increased cytokinin level leads to an abundance of large flowers and fruits.

The mechanism behind this is related to the control of the ageing process: cytokinin delays the development of plant stem cells into flower cells. As a result, they simply continue to grow before differentiating into flower cells. With more flower attachments, more flowers are eventually formed.

Ascophyllum is an excellent supplier of alginic acid. Alginic acid gels with calcium to form calcium alginate, which increases the water retention capacity of the soil and promotes root formation.

For this reason, alfalfa has been used in American agriculture for many years with numerous products available for purchase.

Bentonite (silicates) Bentonite is a valuable tool in organic farming. It consists of at least 60% montmorillonite, a silicate that has a surface area of 400-600m2 /gram and expands in water. Due to its high ion exchange capacity, bentonite easily forms the valuable clayhumus complexes, increases the water retention capacity of the soil, and promotes a healthy soil life.

Clay-humus complexes are formed by the binding of clay and humus particles to nutrient particles. The electrical charge of the nutrients is balanced, and thus, the ion pressure on the root membranes of the plant is reduced. Also, the crumbly structure of the clay-humus complexes permanently improves the soil.

25

The secret of earthworm humus begins in the digestive tract of earthworms.

Earthworm humus Leonardite

superfood

Animal meal

for plants

Bentonite alfalfa

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Ascophyllum nodosum

SUPERFOOD

Due to its high ion exchange capacity, bentonite easily forms the valuable clay-humus complexes, increases the water retention capacity of the soil, and promotes a healthy soil life

Bentonite is also an excellent supplier of silicates. Although silicate compounds are among the most frequently occurring groups of substances on our planet, they are not always available to plants at the same time. Sand, for example, consists mainly of silicates, but hardly dissolves in water and is ultimately not available to plants.

Soil microorganisms easily convert bentonite silicates into orthosilicic acid, which is rapidly taken up by plant life.

Pl ant s love ear thworm humus!

Even a few t ablesp o ons of the s tuf f c an work wonders

Silicates play a vital role in the growth of plants because they are built into the cell walls, increasing the resistance to sucking insects and harmful fungal and bacterial infections.

The increased availability of silicates improves the absorption of nutrients, increases the plant’s stress tolerance to various environmental factors like heat and drought, and also increases the dry weight of the crop.

Earthworm humus Plants love earthworm humus! Even a few tablespoons of the stuff can work wonders. Earthworm humus, like vermicompost, has become increasingly popular in recent years, and not without reason. It is the highest quality compost of all and more fertile than all other humus species. It surpasses garden compost, bokashi, and terra preta by far - not to mention commercially produced humus. It is straightforward to make with the help of a worm farm and is an excellent way to recycle organic waste.

The secret of earthworm humus begins in the digestive tract of earthworms. The worms eat the organic substance decomposed by fungi and bacteria, grind it in their intestines, and excrete it again. Vermicompost contains useful fungi and bacteria and is enriched with enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulase. These enzymes help plants release nutrients from the soil and break down cellulose into carbohydrates.

The most significant advantage of earthworm humus over other humus species is its richness in clay-humus complexes. In the intestines of earthworms, there are particularly favourable conditions for their development. In clay-humus complexes, the electrical charge of the nutrient particles is balanced by binding them to a humus particle (e.g., leonardite) and one

clay particle (e.g., bentonite). This prevents the soil from becoming salty or over-fertilised with vermicompost!

Also, the crumbly structure of the clay-humus complexes loosens the soil and improves its water retention.

If you ask yourself now what happens when you feed your earthworms with superfood, then it’s high time for your worm farm.

Leonardite Virtually every fertiliser manufacturer has a leonardite product in the form of humic and fulvic acids in its range.

The use of leonardite intensifies plant and root growth by promoting the metabolism of plants and accelerating cell division. Leonardite also helps improve photosynthesis by stimulating chlorophyll production.

Leonardite is produced when organic matter is decomposed and then exposed to high pressure under exclusion of air for millions of years. The expert describes these processes as humification and charring. In the narrower sense, leonardite is high-oxidised soft lignite, which is a by-product of lignite mining. Leonardite is often processed into water-soluble potassium or sodium humate.

The fields of application of these humate salts are almost inexhaustible. As permanent humus, they improve soils or substrates sustainably, can be used for wastewater treatment, are used as additives in animal feed, strengthen the immune system, promote intestinal health, are used for the treatment of liquid manure, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as methane. The biggest advantage of using leonardite for hor ticulture is its richness in carbon, as well as humic and fulvic acids. These substances promote plant growth and soil fer tility. Humic and fulvic acids are socalled chelates; they can balance the charge of nutrients by cation exchange (cf. clay-humus complexes). This ensures the availability of nutrients and trace elements over a more extended period without the danger of over fer tilising plants. Humic substances also increase the water retention capacity of the soil and act as a pH buffer. They improve the germination rate of seeds, increase the vitamin and mineral content of plants, lead to thicker cell walls, and thus, to greater resistance to pests and higher har vest weight.

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SUPERFOOD

The superfood concept for plants can be the beginning of a new way of thinking about fertilisers

Animal meal Good thing plants don’t have a nose, because some of these soil amendments can smell horrible. Horn shavings, along with fish, bone, and blood meal are guarantees of success among solid organic fertilisers. Plants love these raw materials because they provide readily available nitrogen, phosphates, calcium, micronutrients, trace elements and amino acids. The result is robust root, leaf and flower growth, as well as an outstanding aroma of the end product.

Perhaps one day, the principle can be transferred from allotments to agriculture, and we will all cultivate our fields naturally and sustainably, in harmony with nature

Also, the excellent availability of nutrients, especially nitrogen, stimulates the plant’s hormonal balance. More auxins are formed in the shoot tips, and more gibberellins are released.

Both substances are phytohormones, whose effect on plants is comparable to that of hormones on the human organism.

The high concentration of auxins in the shoot tips not only improves the vitality of plants in general, but it also enhances the rooting of cuttings. Gibberellins are known in research as steroid hormones, so they rapidly boost plant growth.

They have long been used in conventional agriculture in a synthetic form with auxins as growth stimulators, doubling the yield performance of some crops. The production of phytohormones stimulated by animal meal cannot keep pace with the results of synthetic auxins and gibberellins.

However, there are significant improvements in vitality and yield.

Blood meal has hardly been used as an organic fertiliser since the BSE crisis, and the use of fish and bone meal is often viewed with suspicion. Blood and bone meal mostly come from poultry and pig farms, while the horn shavings, which are considered harmless and much more widespread, come from cattle. The processing of animal by-products is subject to

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strict regulations, and a veterinarian regularly inspects the processing companies. The costly approval of a company to process animal byproducts has also contributed to the fact that they are hardly used as organic fertilisers. The use of animal by-products in the form of organic fertilisers is a good way of recycling them and a sensible alternative to the incineration of these substances.

Conclusion

You don’t need to enrich your substrate with chia seeds, nor do you need to soak your seeds in pomegranate juice for germination. Simply pay attention to what is in the fertilisers you buy. If you keep your eyes open, you will surely find a product with the inputs mentioned in this article.

The superfood concept for plants can be the beginning of a new way of thinking about fertilisers. Perhaps one day, the principle can be transferred from allotments to agriculture, and we will all cultivate our fields naturally and sustainably, in harmony with nature. 3

Bio

Florian Henrich is the founder and owner of Florian’s Living Organics and is an expert in organic fertilizers for home and allotment gardens. He has many years of experience in the production and application of organic fertilizers and is active in their import and export; he’s also well-versed in animal proteins and organic raw materials. Florian regularly publishes blog entries at: www.florganics.de www.facebook.com/florians.living.organics

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

EXPLORING CANNABIS C U LT I VAT I O N A R O U N D

THE GLOBE

The legalisation of cannabis is taking place in many par ts of the world but to var ying degrees.

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CANNABIS CULTIVATION GardenCultureMagazine.com

W

hat does cannabis cultivation look like around the world? The practices in this industry are remarkably different from one par t of the globe to the next. But one underlying theme translates across all borders: the need for

more research and practical policies.

A Golden Opportunity The legalisation of cannabis is taking place in many parts of the world but to varying degrees.

One of Garden Culture’s contributors set out to learn more about the international cannabis community. In the opportunity of a lifetime, Tom Forrest was awarded the first-ever Churchill Fellowship for cannabis agronomy.

With his passpor t in hand, the research grant helped Tom travel to eight dif ferent countries where he got to explore 50 cannabis farms

With his passport in hand, the research grant helped Tom travel to eight different countries where he got to explore 50 cannabis farms and learn about their methods of cultivation and the challenges they face.

If you’ve got 17 minutes, take a look at Tom’s great work. Our Garden Culture team is super proud of him. youtu.be/XJoRfRTqX1Q

best of

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There’s also the issue of cultivating commercial quantities of cannabis and harvesting at regular intervals without any contamination.

And just because it’s home to the world’s biggest and most technology-savvy cannabis plant doesn’t mean that everything is perfect in Canada’s market.

While in Vancouver, Tom also attended a massive 4/20 rally in which 120,000 people gathered to protest the country’s current approach to cannabis legalisation.

His interview with Jodie Emery, co-founder of Cannabis Culture, highlights how many feel Canada is amid “fake legalisation.”

Emery explains how the law forces people to buy from specific producers while forcing others to go out of business or go to jail.

Emery also points out that cannabis is being treated as a new industry when it isn’t at all.

Vancouver Tom’s first destination was Vancouver, Canada, where recreational cannabis has been legal for over a year.

She says Canada has failed to recognise the cannabis pioneers; the people who brought the plant to the frontlines at a great deal of risk to themselves.

In this leg of his journey, Tom had the chance to go into Aurora Sky, the world’s most technologically advanced cannabis facility.

With 600,000 square feet of canopy space devoted to medical cannabis, the automation level in this building is something out of the future! Three hundred employees also help keep workflow operating at maximum efficiency.

Tom Forrest

Preventing contamination from the outside world is essential to crop health. Much like a hospital’s operating room, anyone who enters the facility ‘scrubs in’. Fancy caps, masks, gowns, and shoe covers are mandatory. Don’t forget the grow room glasses!

The massive greenhouse is a hybrid, meaning it has a glass ceiling for natural light but uses grow lights to accommodate for cloudy or rainy days.

Beneficial insects and organic sprays are used for pest prevention, and Aurora employees scout the plants regularly to see first if anything is affecting them before building their pest control program.

Nothing’s Perfect Does such a sophisticated facility have many challenges? Of course! Growing cannabis in an urban setting requires tight security and surveillance around the clock.

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In Slovenia, an innovative spirit exists within the blossoming cannabis sector.

GardenCultureMagazine.com

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That same restrictive, secretive at titude is seen ever y where in the cannabis industr y Italy

Israel

Frustrations over a lackadaisical entry into the legal market are common around the world. In Italy, for example, Tom learns about the few resources available to those in the industry from world-renown geneticist Gianpaolo Grassi.

Israel is unique in the way that it is at the forefront of medical cannabinoid research. The country’s cannabis sector has been able to get the government onside due to the plant’s medicinal potential.

At the Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Grassi has just a handful of people working with him, including only two people to manage 62 hectares of plants.

Tom tours a lab of 200 scientists working on various projects at the Volcani Institute of Plant Science; only none of what he sees can be shared due to the ‘top-secret’ nature of the industry.

Grassi speaks about how little he’s able to accomplish with regards to the production of cannabis hemp with the few resources available to him.

He expresses frustration over the approval of law without any thought into how it would be applied.

Slovenia In Slovenia, an innovative spirit exists within the blossoming cannabis sector.

Also faced with a lack of resources, the mini-doc introduces us to farmers who have created a harvester partially built with old machines from WWII. Others have made an extractor that separates the resin from the flowers without the use of any solvents.

Tom also meets a brilliant scientist who has developed a way to make CBD water-soluble; a world first!

Code Of Silence That same restrictive, secretive attitude is seen everywhere in the cannabis industry, no matter where you are in the world, thus hindering further growth and development.

Problematic legislation and impractical policies have led to a lack of research and knowledge. Without it, unlocking the full potential of cannabis is challenging.

What does the future hold? Only time will tell. But your future should include watching Tom’s educational video. youtu.be/XJoRfRTqX1Q 3

Learn more: • www.churchilltrust.com.au/ • www.auroramj.com/

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BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

ANCIENT FARMING TECHNIQUES The Way Of The Future

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ANCIENT FARMING

T

o treat somebody or something like dirt is defined as behaving unfairly, rudely, or with very little respect. It’s a common saying in the English language; one that is quite fitting, considering how we treat dirt.

A recent study has European researchers recommending ancient farming techniques to improve soil health, produce abundant and nutritious crops, and absorb greenhouse gases Erosion and deforestation have taken their toll over the years, washing away onethird of the world’s topsoil. Conventional agriculture grows crops for yield over quality, pumping artificial toxic chemicals into the ground along the way.

Living soil is being destroyed, stripped of all its nutrients, every single day. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements says intensive farming costs us 30 soccer fields of soil every minute.

“If soil degradation continues, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)

Ancient Farming Techniques A recent study has European researchers recommending ancient farming techniques to improve soil health, produce abundant and nutritious crops, and absorb greenhouse gases.

says all of the

Led by Dr Peter Leinweber of the University of Rostock in Germany, the planet’s topsoil team looked at the dark, nutrient-rich will be gone by 2050 soil in 12 locations across Northern Europe, including plots of land in Germany, Norway, and Denmark.

If soil degradation continues, the UN’s The earth studied contains incredibly high concentrations of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says all of the planet’s phosphorus, essential for healthy plant growth. But why is the topsoil will be gone by 2050. That’s right; gone. soil so fertile in those specific spots?

We depend on soil for life. It’s a resource that we use to grow Using synchrotron light from the Canadian Light Source (CLS) 95% of our food supply. Damaged soils have also been found to to analyse the soil samples, the researchers determined the release CO2, further contributing to climate change. So why do richness and fertility have everything to do with the organic we treat dirt so poorly? matter ancient farmers had worked into the ground long ago.

It hasn’t always been this way. According to Garden Media The testing found inputs of charred material, but other sources Group’s 2020 Trends Report, Seeing 20/20, the soil was healthy of organic matter were also present. The technology at the and organically dense before the 20th century. Food was rich in CLS helped the research team find applications of peat, animal vitamins and minerals, unlike much of what we find in grocery manure, compost and human waste. stores today.

In 2004, a landmark study by the University of Texas was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

After comparing the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional data for 43 vegetables from 1950 and 1999, researchers discovered declines in protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B2 and vitamin C. The study’s author, Donald Davis, and his team blame declining nutritional content on modern agriculture’s obsession with size, growth rate, and pest resistance.

Humans are creatures of habit. But we need to get back to how we did things a long time ago to solve the current soil crisis. By a long time, I mean thousands of years.

“In one case, soils from the island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea region showed evidence of biochar and animal manure,” says Leinweber. “Most likely cattle excrements, which is strongly supported by archaeological findings of lots of cattle bones in this region.”

The team used carbon dating of the organic materials to determine that the sequence of soil formation took place between the Nordic Bronze Age and the Roman Iron Age in the Baltic Sea region. As for the Norwegian soil samples, the long-lasting tender loving care happened sometime between the Roman Iron Age and the Viking Age.

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ANCIENT FARMING

Leinweber says archaeological literature indicates we have members of a Nordic Early Neolithic farming culture to thank for the ultra-rich soil in these areas. These are people who date back 6,200-4,800 years!

The testing found inputs of charred material, but other sources of organic matter

“Those individuals were responsible for the formation of these humus-rich soils in the Baltic Sea region,” he says. “The Scandinavian inhabitants were mostly fishers and hunters, and later may have adopted those agronomic techniques that led to the humus-rich soils in Norway.”

were also present.

The technology at the CLS helped the research team find applications of peat, animal

Published in the journal Soil Systems, these manure, compost and findings are proof that sustainable, organic human waste farming practices can ensure high soil fertility for many generations to come and help feed a hungry world nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Rodale says we can capture 100% of the current global carbon emissions with a widespread switch to organic farming practices.

Abandoning chemicals and replacing them with compost and techniques such as pasture cropping, crop rotation, and no-till farming can help bring us back to our roots and solve so many problems we face today. Whether a large scale farmer or a backyard gardener, we are all critical pieces of this puzzle.

What are we waiting for? The studies are backing it up; the evidence is there. It’s time we see our ancestors for what they were: visionaries. We inherited soil from them that has been able to remain fertile for thousands of years. Let’s do the same for future generations to come. 3

“We recommend adopting these old-culture techniques for the conservation, and even increase, of soil health and fertility,” Leinweber says.

Soil and the Climate Beyond feeding an increasing population, healthy soils can help reverse the damage caused by global warming. Soils absorb carbon and filter water; a shift from conventional farming practices to more regenerative ones could remove one tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere for every acre, according to the agricultural think tank, Rodale Institute.

Beyond feeding an increasing population, healthy soils can help reverse the damage caused by global warming.

Sources: • • • •

•

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements: ifoam.bio Scientific American - Dirt Poor: Have Fruits and Vegetables Become Less Nutritious?: bit.ly/36CBfkx Garden Media Group, Garden Trends Report, Seeing 20/20: bit.ly/37LG2Ao Canadian Light Source - Ancient Farming Practices Can Improve Crop Production and Offset Climate Change: bit.ly/37NOmQ5 Rodale Institute: rodaleinstitute.org

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BY CAROLINE RIVARD

A Magical and Medicinal Weed

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GARDEN WEEDS

T

all and robust with dark green lobes for leaves, mugwort, or Artemisia Vulgaris, is a weed that has many wonderful virtues.

This perennial plant grows just about anywhere; find it along roadsides, railroads and riverbanks to waste places and fields. It is so common that many of us will walk by it without giving it a second glance.

Mugwort, however, has long been used in medicine, around the house, and even by those who believe in magic!

The botanical name Artemisia vulgaris honours the Greek goddess, Artemis. Like its namesake, the plant is associated with the moon, cycles, women’s health and childbirth.

Mugwort has been used to help women through all the stages of their lives, from regulating the menstrual cycle and easing its symptoms, to facilitating childbirth and helping to make menopause more bearable. However, this plant stimulates the uterus and menses; pregnant women should never use this plant, as it can cause miscarriage or premature labour.

Aching muscle infused oil recipe Once correctly identifying the weed, harvest the tops of the fresh plant material. It is essential to pick plants from a clean environment, far away from busy roads and polluted areas.

• •

•

•

Mugwort for sore and achy muscles This generous weed has a high magnesium content, which is very nourishing. Combine that with the presence of the active component, borneol, and mugwort is excellent for alleviating muscle aches and pains.

Mugwort is used in traditional Chinese medicine as moxa. The aged, dried herb is lit and used above the surface of the skin to create gentle warmth that helps improve circulation and increase blood and lymph flow to areas of the body, reducing pain and inflammation. You can also enjoy the benefits of mugwort by making a herbal oil infusion.

Mugwor t has been used to help women through all the stages of their lives, from regulating the menstrual cycle and easing its symptoms, to facilitating childbir th and helping to make menopause more bearable

•

•

Allow the mugwort to wilt for half a day and chop the plant into tiny pieces.

Put in a glass jar and fill to the top with olive oil. Be sure to remove any air bubbles by moving the mixture around with a chopstick.

Add more oil to cover the plant material and cap with cheesecloth or dishcloth and secure with a rubber band.

The humidity must evaporate, so avoid using an airtight lid.

Place the jar in a sunny window for five to six weeks. Stir occasionally, but it is imperative to make sure all of the plant material is covered with oil so that mould doesn’t form.

After five or six weeks, filter the oil, throwing the plant into the compost bin. The infused oil will have a deep green colour. The darker the green, the more potent the medicine. Store in a cool, dark place. It will keep for three to six months.

Rub and massage the oil into sore muscles or restless legs and enjoy the soothing benefits of mugwort!

In the kitchen and around the house In Asia, mugwort flavours tea and rice dishes; in western cultures, it is often used as a culinary herb for poultry and pork.

Before the rise of hops in the beer-making process, mugwort was added to flavour the ale.

The herb stimulates gastric juice and bile secretion, promoting digestion, especially after eating fatty foods. The plant also eases gas and bloating, improves the absorption of nutrients, and strengthens the entire digestive system.

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s ’ o Whowing Gr

t a WhWhere

in the UK and & Irel

See all the urban growers, backyard gardeners, and inspiring communities featured in Who’s Growing What Where over the years.

visit: GCmag.co/WGWW

GARDEN WEEDS

In witchcraf t traditions, it has long been used to induce lucid dreaming, for astral projection, and to enhance psychic powers

In the garden

Possible side effects

Mugwort has been historically used in a powdered form to repel moths. Some natural gardeners also use it by laying branches between rows of onions and carrots to discourage the insect and other pests.

Mugwort is as a powerful medicinal herb that can do a lot for our well-being. However, some of its active components, such as thujone, can be toxic in excessive doses, causing liver damage, nausea, and convulsions.

A mystical and magical weed Mugwort grows around the world, and so many cultures have different uses for it. The Aztecs considered mugwort a sacred plant and used it for incense. In witchcraft traditions, it has long been used to induce lucid dreaming, for astral projection, and to enhance psychic powers. When placed in a pouch under a pillow, the dried flowering tops of the plant are said to promote vivid dreams. Native Americans also burned mugwort to purify the spiritual and physical environment around them. In ancient China, Japan, and Europe, people would use the weed to ward off evil spirits.

Mugwort belongs to the daisy family, which can cause some people to develop a skin rash upon contact. One of the most common triggers for hayfever is mugwort pollen, so allergic reactions to drinking the herbal tea or consuming a tincture are not uncommon. If you are an allergy sufferer, do not use this plant. Always do your research and consult a physician before taking any herbal medicine. 3

Sources: International Archives of Allergy and Immunology: The Spectrum of Allergens in Ragween and Mugwort Pollen bit.ly/37Yu8TG

A therapist and healer for over 15 years, Caroline’s passion for medicinal plants only began after leaving the city for the quiet country life in Quebec, Canada. Eager to learn, she’s never looked back, using forests and wildflower fields as her classroom ever since. In a time where reconnecting with plants and nature is badly needed, she spreads her love for herbalism by holding teaching workshops about the powers of medicinal herbs and natural remedies.

Bio

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BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

feeding

cities

Urban farms 42

URBAN FARMS

W

e are currently witnessing one of the greatest migrations of all time as an imposing mass of people leaves rural

areas believing that they can improve their life by living in cities.

Currently, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and, according to the United Nations, this propor tion will reach 68% in 2050.

For example, the population of Mexico City has grown by more than 10 million inhabitants in only 40 years! In North America, more than 80% of the population lives in cities, while in Europe, it is estimated that around 75% of the population live in urban areas.

Unfortunately, with unrestrained urban sprawl, the food used to feed city dwellers has to be produced farther and farther away, hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from where it is eaten.

Food has to be transported to cities by plane, train or truck, generating vast quantities of pollutants and greenhouse gases. According to the Worldwatch Institute, the food that makes up a typical American plate must be transported an average of 2,400 kilometres before being eaten.

Also, the FAO estimates that 45% of all fruit and vegetables produced on the globe are lost or thrown away before they can be eaten, in part due to transportation, handling and storage.

Adding to this their fear of GMOs and pesticides, young city dwellers have decided to grow their own food. They have developed unique ways to produce healthy fruits and vegetables, locally, in the heart of cities.

Urban farms on rooftops Available land is increasingly scarce, and there is a lack of space in cities. It is, therefore, necessary to be particularly creative to practice farming in urban settings, like growing edible plants on rooftops, for example.

The Brooklyn Grange Farm, located in New York, was one of the first suspended urban farms in the United States.

The roofs of two buildings in Brooklyn and Queens, with a total area of ​​more than one hectare, support one of the largest urban farms in the world. Nearly 25,000 kilos of vegetables are produced there every year!

Currently, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and, according to the United Nations, this proportion will reach 68% in 2050 Detroit has more than 1,400 urban farms, many of which are located on rooftops, and in Chicago, nearly 400 green roofs are dedicated to the cultivation of edibles. The Chicago Botanical Garden has also set up an urban agriculture training program called Windy City Harvest. Students have the privilege of perfecting their practical learning by growing fruits and vegetables in a garden with an area of nearly ​​ 2,000 square metres located on the roof of McCormick Place, the largest congress centre of North America.

In France, there have been more than 200 urban farm startups in recent years. In the city of Nantes, an urban farm called the Agronaute was inaugurated, while in Paris, the largest urban farm in Europe will soon be built on the roofs of the Parc des Expositions located in the 15th borough. Covering an area of 14,000 ​​ square metres, this farm will host 20 market gardeners who will produce up to 1,000 kilos of produce per day during summer!

A pioneer in urban agriculture in Canada and North America, the province of Quebec has about 50 commercial urban farms on roofs totalling nearly 300 hectares in cultivation.

Du toit à la table, founded three years ago by François SaintPierre, began by growing vegetables at the top of an office building in Quebec City. During the summer of 2019, its fruits and vegetables also grew on the roof of a second building located near Old Quebec. In association with the Dallaire Group, the Du toit à la table team is currently working on the design of the largest roof farm in the world. Construction of this seven-hectare urban farm will be completed in 2022 in the new Chauveau Innovation Space in Loretteville, a neighbourhood in Quebec City. It is estimated that up to 30 tonnes of food per hectare could be harvested in this project.

Lufa Farms is undoubtedly the most well-known Quebec example of an urban farm on a roof. In this case, however, the cultivation of vegetables is done under greenhouses, installed at the top of three buildings in the greater Montreal area. The heat generated by these buildings is reused for the greenhouses. A fourth commercial rooftop greenhouse is opening this spring, covering 15,000 square metres, the equivalent of two soccer fields.

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URBAN FARMS

According t o t he W orl dwat ch Ins t i t u t e, t he f ood t h at m a k e s up a t y p ic a l A meric a n p l at e mu s t be t r a nsp or t ed a n av er age of 2, 4 00 k il ome t re s bef ore being e at en

Rather than growing fruits and vegetables in fields, some urban farmers have developed various ingenious growing techniques to cultivate edible plants inside buildings.

In recent years, several indoor urban farm projects have launched in North America and Europe.

The initiators of these urban agriculture projects are renovating old buildings, inside which fruits and vegetables are grown without soil and under artificial lighting.

This is particularly the case for Infarm, based in Berlin, Germany, Farm.One, located in the TriBeCa district in the heart of Manhattan, and AeroFarms, based in Newark, New Jersey. About $30 million has been invested in AeroFarms to transform a former steel mill into a stateof-the-art urban farm.

Du toit à la table, Quebec

Du toit à la table, Quebec

The owners of these companies claim that their farming methods use 90 to 95% less water than conventional open-field farming with significantly higher yields! However, although they’re free of pesticides and GMOs, plants grown without soil and microorganisms cannot be certified organic.

Another very original way of growing edible plants in an urban environment, without soil, has been developed recently in North America: growing fruits and vegetables in old shipping containers.

GrowUp Urban Farms, London

Credit: GrowUp Urban Farms,

Indoor urban farms

The majority of indoor urban farms grow edible plants without soil, in stacked shelves lit by LED lamps and watered by an aeroponic or hydroponic system. Infarm has developed a flexible modular cultivation system designed to be installed almost anywhere, which has enabled the establishment of around fifty farms located in warehouses, supermarkets and restaurant kitchens.

Some other companies, such as Plenty based in California, use a vertical aeroponic system that requires very little space.

Freight Farms, Boston

Credit: Freight Farms

Another urban farming company called Gotham Greens is growing vegetables in nearly 16,000 square metres of greenhouses on the roofs of four buildings in Chicago and New York.

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URBAN FARMS

Monaco rooftop gardens

T he roof s of t w o buil ding s in Brook ly n a nd Queens, w i t h a t o ta l a re a of ​​ mor e t h a n one hec ta re, s up p or t one of t he l a rge s t urb a n fa r ms in t he w or l d. Ne a rly 25,000 k il o s of v ege ta bl e s a re p roduced t here e v ery y e a r!

Creating an urban farm on a rooftop

In addition to growing edible plants, GrowUp Urban Farms also practices aquaponics, that is, raising tilapia inside shipping containers. The water from the tanks where the tilapia is raised flows through the columns in which the edible plants are grown so fish droppings can fertilise plants. The fish and vegetables produced are sold to restaurants in the region.

• • • • •

Kimbal Musk’s Square Roots farm

Credit: Food Tank

Kimbal Musk, brother of Tesla founder Elon Musk, started a business called Square Roots. The company’s goal is to produce vegetables, GMO-free and pesticide-free, on indoor farms installed in shipping containers in New York. The harvested crops are delivered directly to offices or drop-off points, where members can pick them up. In addition to supplying New Yorkers with healthy food, Square Roots also aims to train people who want to start their business in urban agriculture. Other companies, such as Corner Stalk Farm and Freight Farms, both based in Boston, as well as Agricool, located in Paris, and GrowUp Urban Farms, from London, also produce food in freight containers.

Several buildings with a flat roof can be entirely covered with soil and edible plants. However, the design and construction of an intensive green roof require patience, since in some cases, the supporting structure needs to be strengthened. It is, therefore, preferable to entrust its planning and implementation to specialists.

In addition to the supporting structure, which must be renovated or designed by an engineer, an intensive green roof - entirely covered with soil - generally consists of the following components: Insulation Waterproofing membrane Drainage system Growing substrate Plants

Extruded polystyrene sheets are used to reduce heat loss from inside the house. The waterproofing membrane can be placed over the insulation material or directly on the supporting structure below. The most common membranes are made of elastomer. It is best to entrust the installation of the waterproofing membrane to experts.

If this membrane is not covered with an insulating material, such as polystyrene sheets, protect it from possible perforations by covering it with a geotextile membrane.

On flat roofs, it is essential to install a drainage system to prevent water from stagnating and affecting the survival of plants. The drainage system can simply consist of a layer of coarse gravel. However, to reduce the weight of the installation, one can instead opt for a drainage system made of honeycomb panels specially designed for this purpose.

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environment is everything

+44(0) 1423 506 669 info@budbox growtents.com www.budbox growtents.com

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credit: world economic forum

URBAN FARMS

This system directs rainwater to the roof drain or the gutters. The drainage system must be covered with a geotextile membrane to retain the fine particles of the planting substrate while allowing the water to drip. This membrane also prevents plant roots from entering the drainage system and reducing its efficiency.

The substrate in which the plants grow must be light and resistant to compaction while having a good water retention capacity. Earth similar to that used for container culture can be used. To build an intensive green roof for vegetables and fruit shrubs, you need a substrate thickness varying from 20 to 50 cm.

Covering a roof with soil to grow veggies is undoubtedly complicated and expensive. It is much simpler and cheaper to grow edible plants in containers. This reduces the weight that the roof structure has to bear and avoids having to reinforce it at a high cost. Despite this, it is often necessary to have a certified engineer check the maximum load of pots and substrate that can be supported by a roof.

It is preferable to use light and easy-to-transport containers such as those made of textile, like the famous Smart Pots, which are partly made of recycled material.

Plastic pots can also be an attractive choice since they are light and affordable. On the other hand, their manufacturing requires petroleum and contributes to global warming.

It is essential not to place the containers in direct contact with the waterproofing membrane of the roof to avoid damaging it or, worse, puncturing it. It is best to place the

pots on saucers, recycled rubber pads (usually used to cover stairs during the winter) or even reclaimed wooden pallets. There must be easy access to the roof on which you grow edible plants for easy maintenance.

Opt for large pots, especially for growing tropical vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers. On a roof, small containers must be watered every day, sometimes even twice in the same day during a heatwave. Make sure there is a drainage hole at the bottom of each container. Avoid putting gravel at the bottom of the pots; this takes up valuable soil space for plants and dramatically increases the weight of containers.

Use light and rich growing mix with excellent water and nutrient retention capacity. A substrate made of equal part of compost, peat moss and perlite usually gives outstanding results. For an abundant harvest, add mycorrhizae to the substrate and give it to most demanding plants, such as eggplants, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. Also provide a few handfuls (approximately 100 ml per plant) of a natural slow-release granular fertiliser, rich in nitrogen and potassium when planting.

Finally, a drip irrigation system is suitable for most edible plants grown in containers. This economic system includes small drippers which supply water very close to the plant roots, avoiding losses by evaporation. These drippers, which can provide 2 to 9 litres of water per hour, are attached to small diameter pipes connected to a central pipe and an outside tap. The whole system can be equipped with an electronic timer. You can also find irrigation pipes perforated with drippers that have copper plates to keep roots and soil from entering. This type of hose is ideal for watering long containers. 3

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor has practised his craft for over 30 years and created numerous gardens in North America. In addition to teaching courses and lecturing at conferences across Canada, his weekly gardening column has appeared in the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec since 1999.

In April 2018, Albert Mondor published Le nouveau potager, his tenth horticultural book. He is a regular guest and contributor to radio and television programmes and his hosting The Trendy Gardener spots broadcasted on Météo Média and online. You can also read his blog called Extreme Horticulture at albertmondor.com. Follow Albert on Facebook: fb.com/albert.mondor

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BY NICO HILL

The Importance of

Hardening Off

Rather than having to spend months reviving half-dead plants, the best solution is to start from your mother stock or seedlings

52

HARDENING OFF

T

aking cuttings and germinating seeds can be a stressful time for plants and growers alike. Find out how to alleviate most of the anxiety and make sure your plants are ready to take off when they hit the main grow room.

In the beginning Star ting a grow can be a daunting prospect. You may have been focusing all your energy on getting everything ready for the main flower room, making sure the expensive equipment is installed correctly, and the whole thing is hermetically sealed.

As the last piece of the hor ticultural puzzle falls into place, it dawns on you that you have neglected the very first bit of a plant’s life and have no choice but to obtain some cuttings swiftly.

Being late in the afternoon, you whip your phone out and dial a friend’s number to try and get something sor ted before the day is out. After a long period of ringing, the phone is answered.

Humid pr opagator c onditions result in ‘weak’ foliage.

Therefore, har dening pl ant s of f c orre c tly is a cr ucial par t of pr opagating a cut ting , and when done c orre c tly, will se t them of f on a path to a highly suc c es s f ul har ves t .

*Muff led noises and groans.

“Hello?” you ask. *Muff les turn to a hacking cough, as if someone were attempting to cough out their lungs.

“Errrr…. hello?” you apprehensively try for a second time. *Clunking noises and unnecessary expletives, a raspy and out of breath voice f inally materialises from the speaker.

“Y’alright, man. Sorry, bro; I’ve just woke up.”

“Early bird gets the worm, eh? Well, I was hoping you still had some cuts available.”

“Say no more fam; I got you, cuz.”

“Because of what?”

“Never mind newms; I’ll drop me round later. Safe.”

In general, plants are frickin’ tough

ies and child-like enthusiasm to star t your nursery. However, don’t be too hasty; with all this equipment and total control at your finger tips, it can sometimes be tempting to give your plants too much of the ‘kid glove’ treatment.

Plants are tough SOB’s

In general, plants are frickin’ tough. As an example, you can take a cutting of your favourite fast-flowering annual, put it in a glass of water on a window-sill, and it will happily root after 10 to 14 days, ready to be planted and grow quite rapidly. No need for the propagators, rooting hormones, nursery plugs or environmental control gear you just spent a small for tune on; they only require a small top-up of water every few days.

Although, with proper use, these other tools can reap huge benefits.

The keywords in that last sentence were ‘proper use’. Propagators and the like are great when it comes to increasing the timeframe and success of rooting clones, but while giving your young plants optimal conditions to produce new roots, it may not be so ideal when it comes to producing its new shoots. Humid propagator conditions result in ‘weak’ foliage.

Therefore, hardening plants off correctly is a crucial par t of propagating a cutting, and when done correctly, will set them off on a path to a highly successful harvest.

Upon hanging-up, you immediately regret having made the call in the first place. When the cuttings arrive, they confirm all your paranoid suspicions. Lack-lustre, gangly-looking plants half bereft of life, also spor ting some suspect white specks on the leaves. Also, he decided to travel with an entourage of rudely inquisitive friends.

There is another way Rather than having to spend months reviving half-dead plants, the best solution is to star t from your mother stock or seedlings.

After a quick trip to the local hydro store, you whizz back home with all the high-tech necessar-

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HARDENING OFF

All leaves are not created equal

A good propagation Once your first roots start popping through, the Precisely what is meant by ‘weak’ foliage, routine and nurser y first thing to do is to begin increasing the airflow. though? Well, it all boils down to the numFortunately, this is pretty simple in most cases. environment are ber of stomata each leaf possesses. The Just open the vents on your prop lid at increasing one of a grower’s more stomata a leaf has, the higher its amounts over a few days. Once fully open for a most valuable tools day or two, leave the entire cover askew slightly capacity for transpiration, therefore, the higher its capacity to cool itself. In a nutwhile also being one from the base so air can gently start to flow from shell, the more stomata a leaf produces, the bottom to the top of the propagator. After of the most underthe better. The problem from a propaanother few days, take the lid off completely. rated ones.” gation point of view is that as each new leaf set is born or produced, it is spawned with a fixed number of stomata and does not provide more Next up, light and temperature as the leaf grows. The amount the leaf produces is relevant So, at this point, the leaves have conditioned themselves to lower to the environment. If those conditions are cool and humid, humidity by producing more stomata. Your attention should now it doesn’t need many stomata – and won’t produce very be on getting them used to higher temperatures and light levels, ulmany on that leaf. timately aiming to match the environment of your main grow room.

Over the course of the next week or so, your goal is to increase light So, this creates a problem when you move the plant into a intensity and air temperatures to get those younglings really pumping. room with more light and more air movement. The leaves Fortunately, light and heat usually go hand in hand, so it is relatively born in luxury the propagator provided are no longer going easy to get both birds stoned at once. to cut the mustard under the new intense light, lower huMost of the time, depending on your choice of lights, it will merely midity and higher temperatures. It will probably take your involve lowering your fixture a couple of inches every other day or so plants several weeks to settle in, negating all the time you until you reach the natural physical limitations of that fixture. Ideally, saved yourself with the rapid rooting at the beginning. end with a good few days (more, depending on circumstance) of switching from your prop lights to a typical HID light or roughly 6080% intensity of the main grow room. As an example, moving from Treat them mean, but keep them keen an array of T5’s to a 400W metal halide fixture before going under, From the moment you star t seeing your very first root poke say, a 600W HPS light fixture for full flowering. out through the jiffy plug, you need to star t toughening the little blighters up. Do not leave it until they have a thick mass of roots and are already showing significant signs of Ready to Rock foliage growth – by then it can be a little too late. Over the At this point, your plants will be able to deal with the environmental next week or two, the goal is to remove the need for the intensities of a main grow room like a pro and will not result in a lack propagator lid. of growth and yellowing/dying leaves for a tragic few weeks at the start. An excellent beginning builds the foundations for a substantial yield down the line, and who doesn’t want that? Also, you don’t have to deal with some third-party chump that could compromise everything you have worked for by unwittingly gifting unwanted Once your pests, diseases, genetics or hassle in the process. first roots star t popping through, the first thing to do is to begin increasing the air flow

A good propagation routine and nursery environment are one of a grower’s most valuable tools while also being one of the most under-rated ones. It may not directly produce the instantly gratifying fruits in the way a flowering room would do, but it does provide longterm quality. Make sure you aren’t selling yourself or your plants short. 3

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BY RICH HAMILTON

The

m u i l e c y

m twork ne

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MAGIC MUSHROOMS

the first appearance on land 1,300 million years ago. Interestingly enough, the largest living organism in the world today is a honey fungus that measures 2.4 miles (3.8 km) in the Blue Mountains of Oregon.

Fungi exist almost everywhere that moisture is present. They can be found as single-celled organisms that are invisible to the naked eye or as multiple-celled organisms, such as mushrooms.

Interestingly enough, the largest living organism in the world today is a honey fungus that measures 2.4 miles (3.8 km) in the Blue Mountains of Oregon

Fungi do not reproduce through sexual reproduction, seed, or photosynthesis, but rather through spores. These spores germinate to produce a dense network of interweaved, single-cell structures known as hyphae, which collectively assemble with incredible precision into much more complex structures called mycelium. The word “mycelium” is derived from New Latin and Greek origins and means “more than one”. The growth of mycelium is rapid; they release enzymes that help break down matter into a more digestible form, which they take in as energy.

Fungi belong to a group of decomposers that includes bacteria, nematodes, snails, beetles, and earthworms. They help break down dead plant and animal matter into more soluble forms of simple sugars, nitrates, and phosphates that are used by other decomposers or for food by plants. Fungi are so numerous that they make up a large proportion of the biomass in all ecosystems.

How are they so widespread? Why are fungi and the mycelium so essential to life as we know it?

The ecosystem and plants do not exist without fungi. Nutrients are rarely found in a soluble enough form for a plant’s roots to take up. Nitrogen, for example, the nutrient needed in the most significant amounts by plants, is usually trapped within proteins that cannot be easily accessed. That’s where fungi come in, metabolising proteins and transforming them into more soluble nitrates.

A group of complex fungi exists that can form symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationships with plants. Mycorrhizal fungi facilitate the transfer of nutrients from the soil into the plant roots, and in return, receive carbon from the plant.

These symbiotic relationships begin when mycorrhizal fungus colonise a plant’s root zone and then spread out densely into the medium, forming a massive web that increases the surface area of the roots and the capacity for absorption. This web hyphae or “mycelium” can increase root mass by 300-8000 times the original size. Hyphae are so small they can squeeze and push

their way around rocks and other obstructions, making collecting nutrients for the plants an easy task.

Imagine the mycelium as if it is a giant sponge that is attached to plant roots, soaking up large amounts of water and nutrients. The plants, as a result, receive a much improved and increased take-up of all the essential nutrient elements, but especially elemental phosphorus (P) zinc ( Zn) manganese (Mn) copper (Cu) and water.

The mycelium of a single mycorrhiza can extend and connect multiple plants of different species. They form a hybrid underground system called a “common mycorrhizal network”. This network allows plants to communicate as they transport sugar supplies to one another when they are needed.

Networks can be extraordinarily vast or widespread. Mycelium can be hundreds or even thousands of miles long, all compacted into a tiny area. It is estimated that there can be at least 200km of hyphae in every kilogram of soil!

Beyond plants, humans have also been successfully harnessing the incredible powers of fungi for thousands of years. For example, yeast, which is widely used for fermentation, produces countless products that we use every day. Medical science successfully applied the process of liquid fermentation to their research. In 1978, the first biosynthetic insulin using E. coli as a single-celled manufacturing plant was created and became one of the most compelling discoveries in the past 100 years.

CREDIT: EarthSky

P

lants have been around for a long time; 700 million years to be exact. But fungi have been on Ear th longer, making

Hone y fungus In the Blue Mountains of Oregon

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®

®

MAGIC MUSHROOMS

ungi. f t u o t with gh form s i x e t do no luble enou s t n a so pl a d n n i a p d m n y s t e a r e ly f o u t s t o t a k e u s o c e T he re r ant’s roo a s t n e l Nutri for a p

Science has concentrated on learning about, cultivating, and manipulating fungi such as yeast, bacteria, and algae to its advantage. Fungi can be used in lifesaving drugs, bio-based fuels such as corn ethanol, fragrances, and other useful, small biological molecules.

Environmental conditions have to be just right for a mushroom to grow.

This explains why some species of mushrooms are so rare, sought after, and highly valued

Mycelium has the potential to grow into much larger structures, also known as mushrooms. The mushrooms that we eat are just a small, visible part of the fungi organism. Like flowers, mushrooms bloom during certain times of the year when the conditions are just right; they are the fruit of these reproducing fungi. In nature, the chances of mushroom spores germinating and then producing a mushroom are quite slim. Environmental conditions have to be just right for a mushroom to grow. This explains why some species of mushrooms are so rare, sought after, and highly valued.

Mycologists can cultivate a specific species of mushroom as it forms in an environment where conditions are optimal. Under lab conditions, the mycelium can be persuaded to build a particular structure through the control of the variables of temperature, CO2, humidity, and airflow. The growth of mycelium fibres present as a visible speck after just a few hours. Within one week, it can transform into an 18”x12” sheet, 2” thick and weighing several pounds.

Much effort is put into recreating and manipulating the growth of mushroom fibres because they offer so many benefits to our lives. When used as a controlled technology, mycelium can help reduce the use of plastics. Mycelium is also used to produce materials for a wide range of items, including packaging, clothing, food, and construction materials.

Mycelium is also a valid meat alternative; think plant-based steak. Eating more vegetarian foods has been found to have

a minimal environmental footprint by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and harmful effects on agricultural land commonly associated with raising cattle.

The production of mycelium-based, self-repairing structures, where you add water and watch them grow is a fantastic development that shows the possible potential of using fungi in new and exciting ways. There are also mycelium cultivation projects in development by DARPA, which see mycelium automatically produce antidotes when exposed to specific toxins.

DARPA is an agency of the United States Department of Defense, responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.

Self-assembling organisms maintain natural ecosystems. Fungi, its mycelium, and subsequent mushroom fruit play an integral role in sustaining all plant life and natural processes. With natural and raw resources being overused and wasted, it makes perfect sense that we should use anything we can to steer and repair our stressed environment.

Biological technology is a powerful and untapped resource. With appropriate research and development, we can put it to good use.

Previously put into the same culinary box as vegetables and herbs, mushrooms and fungi have a much higher worth than what they were originally thought to possess. We are only now starting to unlock their true potential and special magic! 3

Bio

An industry veteran with over 20 years experience in a variety of roles, Rich Hamilton is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor. The author of Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening, as well as being an independent industry consultant working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide.

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BY MARTYNA KROL, PHOTOS: STOCK, MARTYNA KROL

Bees do it, so why not try the waggle dance at your next Friday night par ty?

Nature has many fascinating ways of communicating, and this is one of them!

Learn more about the bees and how we can help them at GCMag.co.

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BEEHAVIOURS GardenCultureMagazine.com

BEEHAVIOURS best of

THE WAGGLE DANCE the blog

L

ast summer, we put our apiar y through some major changes. We broke some “traditional” beekeeping rules and tested some new ideas. One of the chances we took was moving a colony from one hive to another, but only two metres away from the original one.

An old saying teaches beekeepers to move the hive less than three feet (one metre) or more than three miles (10 kilometres), and if true, our bees were doomed to die for the sake of that extra metre travelled.

Luckily, thanks to their amazing ability to re-orient better than my car’s GPS on a roundabout, they survived! However, upon the grand opening of their new hive, a number of them greeted us with a funky ‘butt dance.’

What we can’t see with the naked eye is that they are exposing their Nasonov gland, located just at the tip of their abdomen. It creates and releases a strong pheromone, which sends a “this is home” message to any other bees which might have been locked out of the hive for the last couple of days. Nobody said it was a smooth move!

The same activity happens when worker bees of a newly formed swarm find a hive.

They indicate its location by wafting the pheromone towards the swarm. Once the scent reaches the remaining bees, they know in which direction to fly and immediately move into the new home.

Upon the grand opening of their new hive, a number of them greeted us with a funk y ‘but t dance’

Long before Miley Cyrus popularised twerking on stage, similar behaviour was observed in the natural world. In birds, this could be a romantic dance; in dogs, it could indicate the presence of parasites. But in bees, this can mean several things. Let’s have a look at some of the messages passed on in the ‘waggle dance.’

Hey, homie!

Check out this new restaurant!

The most common use of the waggle dance is for a worker bee to inform the bees in the hive about a food or water source nearby. They change the circular moves slightly, depending on the distance between the colony and the flower.

In our case, a few guard bees perched just outside the entrance, lifting their backsides and shaking them vigorously, while also fanning their wings.

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BEEHAVIOURS

An old saying teaches beekeepers to move the hive less than three feet (one metre) or more than three miles (10 kilometres), and if true, our bees were doomed to die for the sake of that ex tra metre travelled

There are three different movements of the bee’s abdomen. One is for when the destination is within ten metres of the hive.

Another signals up to 40 metres away and a third for when the distance is even greater.

GardenCultureMagazine.com

best of

the blog

The most common use of the waggle dance is for a worker bee to inform the bees in the hive about a food or water source nearby.

The positioning of the sun is crucial, as it’s often used as an indicator of the direction of the food source. However, what I find fascinating is that usually, the waggle dance occurs in complete darkness.

Commercial beehives are often very dark, especially when full of honeycomb. Wild bees, which nest in rock crevices or fallen tree trunks in the woods, have had to develop a system of communication that functions even in the dark, using gravity as an orienteering tool.

Past the church, the third tree on the right, over the houses and down that valley; you can’t miss it!

The dance is not just about the twerking movement itself; it is, in fact, a complicated series of moves. While letting others know about a food source, the bee’s body points toward the honeycomb at the same angle as the sun is to the food. All the while, the gentle buzzing of the bee indicates the profitability of the food source.

Mindblowing, isn’t it? 3

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Seed Saving

Part 4

Storing Seeds Correctly & Testing Viability

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SEED SAVING

S

eeds, like all living things, have a lifespan. How long they last depends on factors including the seed variety and conditions during growth and

processing. However, the way seeds are stored has an enormous impact on their vigour and longevity.

Correctly preserving them will ensure your efforts to

Inside every seed is a plant embryo surviving on a store of nutrients for the developing plant

save seeds reaps long term rewards.

Alive but Asleep!

Inside every seed is a plant embryo surviving on a store of nutrients for the developing plant. Once the stored food is used up, the seed dies and won’t germinate. Jude Fanton, the author of The Seed Saver’s Handbook, explains: “In open-air conditions, the seeds will absorb moisture and the nutriment stored inside the seeds will start to react with the oxygen. With a little temperature rise, the seeds will release carbon dioxide and generate more heat. Soon, their respiration rate will rise to an unacceptable level for safe storage.”

When seeds are stored properly, they are effectively ‘sleeping’ or in a dormant state.

They breathe or respirate very slowly but are still alive

So, to extend the life of a seed, the rate at which the embryo uses its food needs to be slowed down, similar to pressing the pause button! When seeds are stored properly, they are effectively ‘sleeping’ or in a dormant state.

They breathe or respirate very slowly but are still alive. It’s a balancing act between keeping the seeds inactive until you are ready to ‘wake’ them up and sow them. Do this by keeping the seeds dry in a consistently cool, dark place away from microbes, insects and rodents.

Storing seeds in clear glass jars on a welllit shelf in a warm room will significantly reduce their life and vigour! After years of saving seeds and learning from my mistakes, I’ve realised careful planning is needed to optimise seed storage.

How to Prepare Seeds for Storage

1. Remove Moisture Humidity or high moisture content is the enemy of seeds in storage. It’s vital to ensure the seeds themselves are very dry, and the container they are stored in has as much humidity removed as possible.

Seeds can cope with temperature fluctuations much better with low moisture levels. For this reason, the majority of vegetable seeds should be stored at under 10% humidity and ideally at 5%.

Moisture in the seed: Seeds that haven’t been dried before storage may attract fungi and bacteria. These microorganisms can cause mould or mildew to grow and eventual decomposition, destroying the seed and turning it into compost. Excess moisture in the seed can also start the germination process if the conditions are right.

Vapour in the storage container: If there is excessive moisture inside a sealed container, the seeds may start to sweat and mould. Depending on the thickness of the seed coat and how quickly the seed absorbs moisture, they may begin to utilise their food store, risking germination. If using glass jars, one way to avoid surplus humidity is to minimise the air space between the seeds and the lid.

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It’s vital to ensure the seeds themselves are very dry and the container they are stored in has as much humidity removed as possible

2. Keep Seeds Dry One of the simplest ways to absorb any residual surplus moisture from dried seeds is by using silica gel. This is an absorbent granular compound that soaks up moisture from the air and gradually changes colour to indicate when it is saturated. Silica gel comes in crystals or sachets that enclose the granules and can be used for seed saving purposes in two ways. i. Final Seed Drying: Add equal quantities by weight of dry silica gel granules and seeds in a tightly sealed jar (e.g., 50gms of seeds to 50gms of silica crystals). The jar should be just big enough to fit the seeds and crystals with the minimum air space possible. Check the gel colour daily for 2-3 days to see if it has changed colour (e.g., from orange (dry) to green when saturated with water). If you have adequately dried your seeds already, you shouldn’t notice too much change. If the gel rapidly changes colour, there is high moisture content. You may need to leave the seeds longer (up to a week). Avoid leaving them too long or the seeds can die. However, if the gel only changes slightly by the second or third day, the seeds are likely dry. Quickly remove them and store in their permanent container and location. ii. In the Storage Container: I use the silica gel in dark or opaque storage containers when I pack my seeds. I add one or two silica gel sachets to each container. If you have the gel crystals, pour about 1cm/0.4” into the bottom of the jar or container and add a layer of cotton wool, then the seeds. This will keep moisture levels stable inside the container.

Silica sachets

Silica gel is also reusable. After it absorbs moisture surrounding the seeds, it changes colour as it becomes saturated. The crystals can be dried out again and reactivated by heating the granules in a flat tray or baking dish in the oven at 115°C/240°F to 125°C/260°F. When the granules return to their original colour, allow them to cool and store in a sealed container until you are ready to use again.

The granules are available from chemists and online. The silica gel sachets can be repurposed from tablet bottles or new shoeboxes for small quantities of seeds. I reuse both the tablet bottles for storage and the sachets to keep my seeds dry. I’ve successfully stored my dried seeds with silica gel in the fridge, and they’ve retained good viability for years.

If you don’t have access to the silica gel, try using very dry rice or grain. Bake some rice in the oven till it is bone dry and allow to cool in the oven. Then use in place of the crystals in the bottom of a jar or container. Alternately, powdered milk will do the job.

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SEED SAVING

Leaving the seeds out at room temperature, particularly in high humidity, while I sorted them or decided what to sow, was potentially causing the sleeping embryos inside the seeds to begin growing and then stop

3. Minimise Light Because many seeds require light to germinate, they should be stored in a dark container or envelope inside a sealed container.

Small cheap coloured envelopes suitable for seed saving are readily available and can be used in conjunction with self-seal zip lock bags.

How to Label your Seeds Know what you sow! Label the seeds you collect and re-label as you change containers. Basic information to include on the label is the variety name, original source and the date collected. Record any information you noticed about the crop while it was growing (e.g., days to maturity; plant height and habit; fruit size, colour and shape; flavour; yields (kgs); disease resistance or problems; and storage qualities). I note down any special observations such as ‘slow-to-bolt’, ‘drought-hardy’ or ‘sweet flavour’ because it helps me remember why I saved those particular seeds.

Labelling seeds from the garden with handwritten notes

4. Keep Seeds Cool Warmth helps seeds germinate, so storing them in a cool place allows them to maintain dormancy. For most vegetable seeds, 5°C/40°F is an ideal temperature. If possible, for longer-term storage, a fridge is a perfect location.

If you haven’t got space in a fridge or freezer, then don’t automatically choose your garden shed! Our homes and outdoor structures fluctuate from hot to cold throughout the seasons. So it’s vital to choose a spot where the temperature will likely be consistent all year. That may be a garage, basement, insulated polystyrene box or other space on the coolest side of your house.

5. Prevent Insect Damage Seeds are a food source for insects, especially weevils! I’m used to seeing tiny insects in most seed heads when collecting and processing, so assume they are there. Even if you can’t see them, insect eggs may be present and will hatch when the temperature is favourable.

There are three ways to prevent insects from destroying your seeds.

1. Freezing: By adding seeds to a sealed container or zip lock bag and freezing for two days, most insects and their eggs will be killed. Some weevils are pretty tough and may even survive the freeze, so you need a backup plan!

2. Desiccation: Food grade Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.), or natural amorphous silica, is a sedimentary rock made up of aquatic single-cell animal skeletons called diatoms. In a powdered form, D.E. can be used in small quantities to ensure no insects eat the seeds while in storage. It works by causing insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the insect’s exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive and accelerate the process. It’s economical, easy and safe to use. Add a teaspoon of D.E. to a bowl with your seeds and stir until they are lightly coated in the fine powder.

They are then ready to store.

Seed Containers and Storage Location Make sure you pack your seeds on a dry day or at least in a cool indoor environment. A teaspoon and funnel make it easy to measure quantities and slide seeds easily into zip lock bags and narrow containers.

I place small quantities and tiny seeds in little self-seal plastic bags with a silica gel sachet in each. As the bags are clear, they are then put into dark seed envelopes and labelled. These are then put in a box or larger zip lock bag.

For larger quantities and bigger seeds like peas, corn, and beans, I use tablet containers and recycled screw-top jars with tightfitting lids that are put inside a box to keep them in darkness.

Metal boxes with sealed lids and airtight plastic containers are also suitable for seed storage.

Use whatever you have easy access to and that will fit in your fridge, freezer or cool location. Take into consideration if rodents are a likely threat and choose your container accordingly. You may need to protect your seeds in thick plastic, glass or metal containers.

Paper envelopes are ideal for storing selfseal bags inside to keep them in the dark

3. Sealed Storage: Glass, metal and plastic airtight containers are the final way to prevent insect damage.

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@greatwhitemyco

SEED SAVING

If stored correctly in cool, dry, dark conditions, most vegetable and flower seeds will last for three to five years

If you keep your seed in the fridge or freezer, try to minimise how frequently you remove them to avoid temperature fluctuations reducing their longevity. When removing them, allow the containers to reach room temperature before opening to prevent condensation from forming inside them. Then get them back into storage as quickly as you can.

Consistency is Key Author of Seed Sowing and Saving, Carole B Turner stresses the importance of maintaining consistent storage conditions. This was only something I discovered after years of storing seeds. I had failed to understand that even though I was storing my seeds in a cool, dark location in an insect and rodent safe container (in my fridge), I had not taken into consideration the impact that fluctuations in temperature and moisture had when I took seeds out to sow each season. Leaving the seeds out at room temperature, particularly in high humidity, while I sorted them or decided what to plant, was potentially causing the sleeping embryos inside the seeds to begin growing and then stop.

Each disturbance initiated wake up signals which were suppressed again when I returned the seeds to the fridge. It was like flicking the switch on to grow and then turning it off again. So basically, the seeds began using up food that was meant to be saved for the germination process. I was accidentally weakening the seeds every time they came out of the fridge and sat around at room temperature for a few hours.

Labelled seeds in self-seal zip lock bags ready for storage

How Long will Seeds Last in Storage?

If stored correctly in cool, dry, dark conditions, most vegetable and flower seeds will last for three to five years. Some will stay viable for much longer. Generally, these include beans and peas because the seed coat is thick and the seeds themselves are larger. Smaller seeds tend to have a shorter life span.

Not all seeds have a long life, even if stored in perfect conditions.

Seeds from the Umbelliferae (carrot) and Allium (onion) families are relatively short-lived. These include parsnip, celery, parsley, dill, coriander, and fennel along with leeks, chives, onions and shallots. These varieties may only have good germination and vigour for a year or two. It is especially important to keep shortlived seeds very cool and dry.

Seeds may start to germinate at 20% moisture. In a humid climate like mine, that doesn’t take long to happen. Variations in hot or cold temperatures and light or darkness can also initiate germination. So to avoid this happening, I now keep a list of my seeds and organise them in the box in alphabetical order.

When I am ready to sow, I can quickly grab what I need without potentially reducing the viability of the sleeping seeds.

What if you decide not to store in a fridge? It doesn’t matter.

The same principle applies. Decide on the best location for them and keep dormant seeds at that temperature consistently – for their entire lifetime. If you start storing them in a wooden box in a drawer in your garage, keep them there! Avoid getting seeds out when conditions are hotter, colder or more humid and when you do, be quick about it! Remove as infrequently as possible.

Germination Tests for Seed Viability No matter how well you store your seeds, the big question is: Are they still capable of germinating and growing into strong, healthy plants? There’s an easy way to test for vigour and seed quality and find out. Take a random sample of at least ten seeds or up to a hundred if you want greater accuracy. Lay a paper towel on a flat surface and spray with water until it is thoroughly damp but not dripping wet. Place seeds in rows (you may need several paper towels for larger numbers). Cover firmly with a second moistened paper towel, sandwiching the seeds in between and roll-up. Store in a sealed plastic bag or container in a warm spot. Mark with the date.

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Sky High Marketing

Sky high marketing There’s high, and there’s high, and to get really high - I mean so high that you can walk on the water, that high-that’s where I’m going.

- George Harrison NPK MEDIA | Changing The View

SEED SAVING

With rising seed prices and food security at stake, why not give seed saving a try?

By collecting seeds from your best plants, you can preserve heirloom varieties, save money and breed resilient plants that best meet your needs and climate conditions Leave for a few days or as needed for the germination period for that seed variety. Remove the paper towel and unwrap the seeds gently, so the delicate shoots and roots are preserved.

To work out the viability rate, count the seeds that successfully germinated (a healthy root and shoot). Multiply this number by a hundred to calculate the percentage. If nine out of ten seeds germinated, they have 90% viability. If the rate is less than 50%, it’s advisable to sow those seeds soon and regrow a new batch of healthy viable seeds to save.

Rotating seeds in your seed bank, especially those with a short lifespan is an essential aspect of seed saving. It’s also good practice not to sow all your seed at once. Hold some back in reserve in case of a failed crop.

What Seeds Should You Star t Saving First?

Materials List for Seed Storage • Dark, airtight containers; clean jars with lids; tablet containers; dark coloured plastic or metal tins; self-seal bags and opaque envelopes for seed storage.

• Labels and pens to record seed data.

• Rodent-free box for long-term storage.

• Silica gel crystals or sachets; dried rice or grain; powdered milk to absorb moisture.

• Funnels for adding seeds to seed packets.

• Teaspoons (for measuring into self-seal bags).

Seed Saving Books and Resources • Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties. Carol Deppe. 2000.

Chelsea Green.

• Seed To Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners. Suzanne Ashworth. 2002. Seed Savers Exchange.

• The Seed Savers’ Handbook. Michel & Jude Fanton. 2008.

The Seed Savers Network.

• The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds. Robert E. Gough & Cheryl Moore-Gough. 2011. Storey Publishing • Seed Saver’s Exchange (SSE) - A network of people committed to collecting, conserving, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.

• Seed Swaps - Gathering of gardeners and seed savers where seeds are freely exchanged.

Eager to get started? Try easy ones like beans, peas, dill, basil, coriander, parsley, chives, leeks, lettuce, tatsoi, mustard, capsicum, chillis, tomatoes and rocket.

With rising seed prices and food security at stake, why not give seed saving a try? By collecting seeds from your best plants, you can preserve heirloom varieties, save money and breed resilient plants that best meet your needs and climate conditions. 3

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BY ANNE GIBSON

Garden Strategies to Cope with

Drought

How do you grow crops when rain doesn’t come?

Not just seasonally, but for months and years on end?

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DROUGHT

A

ustralia. It’s hot, bone dry, smokey, and windy across much of this country. Drought and fires have devastated communities with no respite on the horizon. It’s not that these conditions are unexpected, but when all these harsh weather factors occur at once or in succession, the stress and impacts are

catastrophic. The prolonged drought conditions have impacted farmers and gardeners on so many levels.

How do you grow crops when rain doesn’t come? Not just seasonally, but for months and years on end?

It’s tough on the environment, growers and gardeners, animals and ecosystems, and local economies.

The emotional toll and impact on mental health in our communities are substantial. Connecting with several farmers recently in different states, I heard the same story. “We can’t supply our customers. We are waiting for rain. The dam is nearly empty. Even the trees are dying.

I’m trying to be brave for the kids.”

Heartbreaking reality.

It’s not that these conditions are unexpected, but when all these harsh weather factors occur at once or in succession, the stress and impacts are catastrophic

Much of the food bowl of Australia is in dire straits. Recent fires are destroying millions of hectares of bushland, properties, human lives, insects including pollinators, and animals large and small. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes with massive evacuations. It didn’t take long for food and water to run out. Given most cities rely on essential resources being trucked in, rather than being supplied locally, we’re starting to see the harsh impacts of a non-sustainable food system. Roads blocked due to fires slowed supplies arriving until it was safe. Little comfort if you’re sleeping in a car with your children and pets.

Grow Your Own This crisis reaffirmed my conviction; growing at least some of our own food needs in a home garden or community space, supplemented by locally grown produce, is vital to maintain food security. For the majority, we may not ever be genuinely self-sufficient, but learning to be self-reliant with sustainable food gardens can make a big difference. There are many ways we can grow a resilient garden that provides food, medicine, and a sanctuary, even in harsh climatic conditions.

For those lucky enough to have access to town water, this precious resource may have been taken for granted. Turning on the tap and having a reliable watering system for the garden has been easy for some. With drought conditions escalating and water restrictions in place in more cities and towns, this is changing rapidly. Many are reliant on rain to fill tanks or have to buy water. Every precious drop counts. It’s understandable why people give up trying to grow crops or a garden on any scale when the priority is household and animal water needs.

While waiting for the rain to break the drought and relieve these extreme conditions, we can still be proactive by applying a few simple, sustainable habits. So when rain does fall, we’ll be in the best possible position to maximise this precious resource.

“Devastating” doesn’t even begin to describe what is happening in Australia. Months of extreme temperatures and drought have fuelled massive bushfires across the country. Dozens of people have died and thousands of homes have been lost. It is estimated that 10 million hectares of land has burned, and over one billion animals have been killed. This is a global crisis that affects us all, no matter where we live in the world.

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It makes sense to harvest rainwater and store it in the soil and above ground, so you can manage it wisely and spread the load over time

Rethink Water Management Practices 1. Practice thoughtful observation.

Watch where and how water flows on your property.

Start at the top or highest point of entry and take note as water moves downhill. Does it trickle or rush? Is it blocked at some points or move quickly next door? The goal is to slow water down, spread, and sink it into your soil for maximum benefit.

Kitchen water from scrubbing potatoes used on leafy greens

Even if you’re on a relatively flat block, get outdoors during rain and observe the entry and exit points.

These are opportunities for passive water harvesting and keeping the valuable moisture on your property to maximise plant growth and collection.

2. Save every drop.

Even in the driest climates, it still rains. We often get too little or too much at once, which is not ideal for growing crops. It makes sense to harvest rainwater and store it in the soil and above ground, so you can manage it wisely and spread the load over time.

Outdoor opportunities:

Passive rainwater harvesting with a barrel collection system

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•

Locate swales, berms, or raised gardens on contours to soak up and passively harvest water flowing towards them. Plant roots absorb the moisture and slow it down. I’ve used this strategy very effectively in my kitchen garden with three food forest raised garden beds containing numerous fruit trees, perennials, root crops, herbs, and support species.

•

Install rainwater tanks to harvest and store roof water so you can redirect it to where it will provide the most benefit. Capture rain in large bins and buckets.

•

Use a small container under any air conditioning units to catch drips from condensation that would otherwise be wasted.

•

Connect hoses and sprinklers to greywater systems that redirect wastewater from inside the house for use in the garden.

A multifunctional greenhouse to grow food and collect water

CRDIT: BEST CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

DROUGHT

For the majority, we may not ever be genuinely self-sufficient, but learning to be self-reliant with sustainable food gardens can make a big difference Indoor opportunities: •

When showering, use a bucket to capture and reuse wastewater on your plants.

•

Add a layer of mulch after rain to lock in the moisture and maintain cooler, consistent soil temperature.

•

In our subtropical climate, we use a dehumidifier in summer, which collects six litres (1.5 gallons) of water from humid air in a matter of hours! Even better, there’s no fluoride or chlorine found in tap water that can burn leaf tips on some plants, so it’s much safer to use.

•

Add organic matter and compost to your soil. This acts as a sponge, releasing moisture gradually to plants over time. The higher the humus content of your soil, the more water it holds.

• •

In the kitchen, I fill a large bowl daily with water from cooking veggies, running the tap for various functions, and add cold tea or coffee dregs from cups. There’s often nutrients in this concoction that my plants love!

•

When cleaning out dog bowls, flower vases, and fish tanks, tip this nutrient-rich water into gardens for a boost.

Grow shade traps and windbreaks to protect and filter hot sun and winds from plants. This helps reduce heat stress and transpiration. For example, I’ve found by growing sun-loving fruit trees like citrus on our hot western side of garden beds (southern hemisphere), they create shady microclimates for shade-loving edibles like ginger and turmeric, which I position on the eastern side of the beds. I’ve noticed at least a 5°C (41°F) cooler temperature difference between the beds in the shade!

3. Conserve the moisture you’ve got.

Once you’ve captured rainwater, these strategies can help minimise transpiration from plants or evaporation from soil surfaces:

We may be living with climate extremes for some time to come, so utilising strategies like these may help your garden survive and even thrive.

•

There are other ways we can protect our gardens and help them survive through periods of limited rainfall and hot temperatures while providing us with food.

Grow ground covers or living mulch such as perennial native grasses and low-water needs plants to cover and shade the soil.

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ALL PHASE Craft Powder Base Nutrient & Additives VEG+BLOOM features 3 revolutionary one-part base powder nutrients and 2 additives in the UK. Catering to soft or hard water EC’s. We’ve also extensively researched in-house which mediums work best with our formulas. Our ingredients are locally sourced, refined and always batch tested for quality assurance to ensure consistency.

Our all-phase one-part base powder formula was fabricated so that you could simply use your local water source as long as it fell between 0.0-0.7 EC. No other company offers this as they always recommend using RO water, which can be costly.

Base Nutrients: RO/SOFT is our most universal and popular one-part base nutrient. A hybrid of synthetics and organics; a pH stable formula for those who have small or large containers and a start water of 0.0-0.3 EC. It is completely soluble in RO water and built for coco, rockwool, or soil.

TAP/HARD is a revolutionary pH stable formula for farms that have hard water 0.3-0.7 EC. No other company offers this as “water chemistry” is difficult to educate. With TAP/HARD you can potentially skip the costly RO water filter system and also save on the cost of water. Due to a higher pH in hard tap water, this formula is buffered appropriately so the use of large amounts of pH down can be avoided. Best used in coco and rockwool.

DIRTY is a comprehensive formula for those who have a start water of 0.0-0.7 EC and are growing in soil or peat based mediums indoor or outdoor. Enhanced with humics, fulvics, crab meal extract and compost tea powder, this base was intended to provide the benefits of both synethetic and organic additives giving you extra bag appeal.

Craft Powder Base Nutrient & Additives

VEG+BLOOM encourages growers to spend less on extra additives and less time on the mixing and measuring (less human error) and more time on the plants, resulting in exceptional and consistent harvests. Save water, shipping costs, shelf space and minimize human error. Are you ready to reduce your variables?

Additives: PUSH is our foliar spray additive used during vegetative growth that includes bio available calcium, silica, plant stimulants and kelp. The plant hormones allow for cells to divide faster, reducing your overall veg cycle, while increasing cell wall strength and vigor.

SHINE is our best product, a flowering bloom additive formulated with phosphites and organics such as compost tea powder for enhanced terpene and resin production. SHINE can be used not only in conjunction with our full nutrient line but can also be used with other base nutrient lines.

Distributed in the UK by:

hydroponic-research.com

DROUGHT

Baby leaf vegetables and herbs can be eaten as nutrient-dense microgreens in a fraction of the space and time taken to grow mature plants

Garden beds can be mulched heavily to feed soil minimise weeds and retain moisture until it rains

Design and utilise microclimates

Choose plants wisely

For the last ten years, I’ve experimented with creating beneficial microclimates and used the ones already onsite to help mitigate moisture loss and protect plants from harsh weather. In hot, dry, and windy conditions, plants tend to lose moisture faster, so designing in more shade and wind protection can help save your garden. Crop covers, shade from buildings and vertical structures can all make a positive difference. Assess the opportunities and threats around your home and note down any places you could improve your design or make changes.

Plants anchor and protect topsoil from erosion and being lost in dust storms. Careful plant selection and timing can minimise losses to drought and heat.

•

Food producing edibles tend to have higher water needs than water-wise native plants. This is especially the case for fruiting crops like eggplant, cucumber, melons, and fruit trees. Ideally, locate these in the areas that collect the most moisture or in self-watering container gardens. There’s no point growing them unless they produce fruit! For example, I planted bananas at the lowest end in my kitchen garden on the boundary where water flows down and pools in times of heavy rain. They soak up any available moisture and continue producing fruit even during drought.

•

Grow robust, drought-hardy herbs and perennials that produce a good harvest with little water.

These include rosemary, oregano, aloe vera, thyme, marjoram, lemongrass, savoury, chillis, pineapples, and garlic chives.

•

Save your water for edibles with higher water needs like leafy greens, mints, and fruiting crops.

Many can be grown in self-watering pots, mulched well, and continue producing a harvest.

•

Choose heat-tolerant, dwarf and low-waterneeds edible varieties. Many compact cultivars are available that need less space, moisture, and time to mature. For example, I grow tiny Cucamelons (Melothria scabra) instead of large cucumbers. The vine produces bite-sized fruits in a fraction of the time it takes to grow bigger varieties. Lebanese eggplants, banana capsicums, and cherry tomatoes also use less water and produce fruit faster than other cultivars.

For example: •

Group plants together to increase humidity and reduce transpiration. Use large-leafed, tall plants to help naturally shade small, short ones.

•

Cluster drought-hardy plants together to avoid wasting water on mixed plantings. Group thirsty plants in a large pot or zone and water more frequently.

Cucamelons (Melothria scabra)

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DROUGHT

My banana and paw paw circle growth after 1 year watering with greywater

Multiple bananas (4 bunches) with paw paws after 2 years utilising greywater

Group drought-hardy plants like succulents together for infrequent watering

We may be living with climate extremes for some time to come, so utilising strategies like these may help your garden survive and even thrive

Downscale your Garden to Pots It may be necessary during drought conditions to grow less but still, enjoy a harvest from at least some plants. I save seeds and take cuttings from my favourite edibles, so I have a backup plan to regrow when conditions improve. I leave many of my garden beds to tough it out while carefully selecting other crops to grow in containers close to the house, where they’re easy to maintain.

These are a few strategies you can use to scale back but still grow fresh ingredients:

1. Put low-value garden zones into ‘maintenance mode’ by covering with mulch or a living ground cover. Instead of growing seasonal crops in garden beds, you can still build your soil and prevent weeds until it rains or more favourable conditions return.

2. Prioritise the most valuable and often needed herbs, Drought hardy herbs like rosemary oregano garlic chives aloe vera grouped together

salad greens, and edibles you buy regularly. It makes sense to keep these alive if you have to choose between food and ornamentals!

3. Save seeds and grow seasonally appropriate herbs and leafy greens indoors as microgreens or sprouts.

With minimal time, water, and space required, these are highly nutritious fresh ingredients that can be grown year-round in any climate in just 7-21 days.

4. Fast-growing water-wise root crops such as round radishes, compact carrot varieties like ‘Paris Market’, and bulbing spring onions add flavour and colour to meals and are perfect for pots.

We may not be able to control the weather conditions, but we can still make wise choices about how and what we grow and still enjoy a fruitful harvest. 3 GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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BY DR CALLIE SEAMAN

Di s c o v er ing T he Gene t ic Potential Of Your Plants

mol ecul a r Plant Biol ogy

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MOLECULAR PLANT BIOLOGY

B

ack when I was doing my undergraduate degree, molecular biology would fry my brain. I would dread the three-hour lectures every Thursday morning. I didn’t realise how useful that course was until recently.

Molecular biology is described as the activities and interactions that occur between biomolecules such as DNA, RNA

and proteins within cells and within the whole organism. The synthesis and metabolism of these biomolecules have a lot to do with plant genetics. Please refer to the glossary at the end of this article to help with some of the terminologies.

Studying this branch of biology tells us a lot about the plants we are growing. It helps determine the chemotype (the chemicals and secondary metabolites it will produce), disease susceptibility, drought resistances, phenotype (physical characteristics which are determined by genetics, including plant size, leaf shape, etc.,), sex, heritage or lineage, and diseases present. With recent advances, molecular biology has also been able to quantify microbial contamination such as Aspergillus and Fusarium within a sample.

How Is This Possible?

How Does It Work?

We have all watched CSI Miami or NCIS on TV; I hate to burst your bubble, but labs are NOT moodlit with blue LEDs, and the analysis does not take ten minutes

credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction

We have all watched CSI Miami or NCIS on TV; I hate to burst your bubble, but labs are NOT mood-lit with blue LEDs, and the analysis does not take ten minutes. So much more preparation goes into determining who killed Col. Mustard in the library! One of the critical tools in the chest of a molecular biologist is the polymerase chain reaction, also known as PCR. This technique amplifies a specific section of DNA, replicating it many times so we can more easily identify it.

PCR involves several steps and heating cycles; first, there’s the extraction of the DNA before splitting it open (Denaturation). Then, specific primers are attached to the known segments of DNA (primer annealing). Finally, the amplification of the target DNA (polymerisation) takes place. There is always the risk of contamination with the samples, and false-positive or negatives are possible. There are lovely kits called thermocyclers that are pre-programmed with the cycles of heating and cooling and make life a little easier during this process.

When examining genetics, the DNA must be first extracted from the cells using a mixture of ionic salts (sodium chloride) and buffering salts (Tri HCl) which are subjected to a heating cycle.

This process breaks open the cells, releasing the DNA. After this, the annealing process begins with specific oligonucleotide primers attached to the target DNA at a lower temperature. The temperature is increased again to optimise the polymerisation process and amplify the DNA. An indicator solution is then used to provide a positive or negative result.

PCR: polymerase chain reaction

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MOLECULAR PLANT BIOLOGY

Glossary •

[P CR ] c a n s av e t ime by iden t if y ing t he se x of a p l a n t w i t hin a w eek of ger min at ion, w hich in t ur n hel p s t o reduce c o s t s on p ow er, space, a nd t ime How Do We Apply This To Real Life?

If, for example, we are looking to see if the plant is infected with botrytis, the genes which are expressed by the plant are particular and would stick to the matching primer we add. This Pritt-Sticked piece of DNA is then replicated many times during a final heating cycle. We now have a soup of one particular strand of DNA, which allows for straightforward detection. If these are not present, then the DNA will not be replicated, and an indicator solution would not react. Further quantification can be done of the sample using qPCR, which utilises a fluorescent probe/marker that varies in intensity with increased concentration of the DNA of interest and is measured by a qPCR instrument. Real-time PCR (RTPCR), on the other hand, tells us if the gene of interest is present or not.

Why use this qPCR technique over traditional microbiology culture plating methods? This is a relatively simple technique to perform in comparison to practices such as microarray or culture plating. When it comes to the genetics of the microbes such as e.coli, salmonella, or powdery mildew, specific species can be identified rather than generalised identification. PCR is fast, accurate, and is also more compatible with a variety of different matrices (the sample you are testing). It gives the grower an advantage, almost allowing them to look into the future and see what the plant’s genetic potential is. It can save time by identifying the sex of a plant within a week of germination, which in turn helps to reduce costs on power, space, and time. It also allows a grower to adapt their growing techniques to help prevent disease outbreaks, for example, by applying extra silicon products to the feed regime if the sample yielded a positive result for botrytis.

PCR is not just for microbial identification; it has a wide application, including genetic modification. It is a method with a tremendous amount of potential that is helping growers around the world. 3

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What

•

• •

•

•

•

Bases – The most basic building blocks of DNA made up of Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine and Thymine/Uracil, pairing respectively (G-C and A-T) Nucleotides – This is what forms when the bases fuse with sugar to form the most basic structure of DNA formed by the building blocks.

Oligonucleotide – a small number of nucleotides joined together.

DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid and is the chemical code that determines our characteristics from previous generations. It is made up of base pairs, Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine and Thymine/Uracil (G-C and A-T).

Gene – a gene is made up of sequences of DNA and can vary from a few hundred strands of DNA to well into the millions.

These are what we inherit from our parents.

Primer – This provides the starting point for DNA replication to take place and is used in analytical techniques to help replicate DNA. Chromosome – is a molecule of DNA that contains all or part of the genetic info of the organism. They also contain proteins that aid with the structure, and the integrity of the molecule.

These contain genes and are specific to each organism. Chromosomes dictate sex.

References • •

•

•

Charlesworth, D. Plant sex determination and sex chromosomes. Heredity 88, 94–101 (2002) doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800016 Leister, Dario, Agim Ballvora, Francesco Salamini, and Christiane Gebhardt. “A PCR–based approach for isolating pathogen resistance genes from potato with potential for wide application in plants.” Nature genetics 14, no. 4 (1996): 421.

Ingham, David J., Sandra Beer, Stephanie Money, and Geneviève Hansen. “Quantitative real-time PCR assay for determining transgene copy number in transformed plants.” Biotechniques 31, no. 1 (2001): 132-140.

Turner, Phil, Alexander McLennan, Andy Bates, and Michael White. BIOS Instant Notes in Molecular Biology. Taylor & Francis, 2007.

BIO Dr Callie Seaman is a plant obsessed Formulation Chem-

ist at AquaLabs – the company behind SHOGUN Fertilisers and the Silver Bullet plant health range. She has been in the hydro industry for 15 years in research development and manufacturing and had previously worked on the VitaLink range. She has a PhD in fertiliser chemistry and a BSc (HONS) in Biomedical sciences and loves nothing more than applying this knowledge to pushing the boundaries of nutrient performance.

BY RICH HAMILTON

Growing:

Whether raising a couple of house plants or a whole crop of veggies, all forms of horticulture force you to stop and focus on being present in what you are doing, even if only for a few minutes

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GROWING & MIND

T

he ar t of growing plants can help improve mental health by uplifting our spirits and gently silencing our worries. Like most hobbies, gardening can take us away from harsh realities for a shor t while as we focus on one par ticular activity.

Researchers have been promoting the benefits of hor ticulture for years, as studies have repeatedly shown that the act of tending to plants can relieve stress and have an overall calming effect. Gardening is so good for the brain; it may even lower the risk of dementia!

Special Connection

Raising plant babies

Raising Plant Babies

Plants are an excellent way to step Indoor gardening provides a sense of can help battle feelings back from the stresses of work and accomplishment and pride for being the technology that comes with it. able to grow something, care for it, and of inadequacy, low They provide a connection to Mother keep it alive! Raising plant babies can self-esteem, and poor Nature that many of us so desperately help battle feelings of inadequacy, low crave. Whether raising a couple of self-esteem, and poor motivation. The motivation house plants or a whole crop of social prescribing movement is taking veggies, all forms of horticulture force off around the world in which doctors you to stop and focus on being present in what you are doing, are suggesting mental health patients participate in activities such even if only for a few minutes. Consider it a kind of mindfulness. as gardening rather than take medications.

One recent study asked a sample of people in their twenties to participate in a computer-based exercise before tending to an indoor garden. Researchers found the group experienced a considerable drop in blood pressure and other stress symptoms while focusing on the plants!

Sprawling gardens aren’t necessary; a handful of low-maintenance houseplants in your home or work environment can make all the difference. Office workers are more productive and happy when surrounded by indoor plants, especially in the winter when symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD) begin to make themselves known.

Mood-Boosting Scents

As research continues, we will inevitably learn more about the importance and benefits of growing plants indoors. For now, it is clear our bodies and minds are most at peace when surrounded by nature. Any plant that brings you joy and calms your soul is worth growing, so pick the varieties that appeal to you most.

They may help you more than you think. 3

Beyond the actual act of gardening, the toxin-absorbing, airpurifying capabilities of many plants also benefit our bodies.

Indoor plants can remove toxins and carbon dioxide from the air, release oxygen, and increase humidity, making the air healthier and better for our skin and sinuses. In hospitals, plants have been found to help speed up recovery by lowering blood pressure, pain, and fatigue.

Chamomile contains the antioxidant apigenin, which binds to receptors in the brain and may help reduce insomnia. Drinking it as a tea or smelling its scent has also been known to alleviate symptoms of depression and help with insomnia. Smelling jasmine and lavender can lower anxiety and stress and promote wellbeing. Iris also has a distinctive perfume that is soothing and proven to help with relaxation.

Colour Therapy The colour green promotes emotional stability, and likewise, brightly coloured flowers can serve as instant mood boosters!

Bright red flowers, such as ruby Ranunculus, are associated with improved concentration and attention to detail, while blue stems, such as anemone or Lisianthus, can encourage creativity and free-thinking.

Gardening is so good for the brain; it may even lower the risk of dementia!

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88 credit: heynadine.com

NATURE

BY TOM WALL, COSMIC KNOT

P

lants are fascinating, to say the least. They are living, breathing columns of water, elements, and gasses, and they are responsible for conver ting the sun’s energy into a usable form. Their function is one of the most primary known to the existence of life. We regard them as vital to our survival, but do you ever take the time to

wonder if they are conscious?

In the past, plants were at the forefront of medicine. Through various wild herbs, roots and beyond, cures were discovered for many ailments.

Founded in Italy, the people of Damanhur believe plants, like people and animals, are conscious, living, breathing entities and they can learn

Here we are, in the 21st century. Technology is everywhere, and science is moving toward things that, years ago, would have seemed esoteric. We are working toward finding new dimensions and how the deepest realms of space work, yet we’re not even sure what is in the deepest par ts of the ocean. We can’t discern how to per fect the mind and body of man or animal, and we sure don’t know the inner workings of the forest as we should. Why go so far out, when we need to go in? It’s all one in the grand scheme of the cosmos, and if we tap into that energy, we might open doors to a new world of information.

There are places around the globe that look beyond the veil and see life in all its subtle forms. These communities know the impor tance of the winds, the rains, and the energetic ether’s that permeate all around us. One such place is Damanhur. Founded in Italy, the people of Damanhur believe plants, like people and animals, are conscious, living, breathing entities and they can learn. Most would scoff at this idea and render it absurd, but not so fast.

Based on the idea that plants are conscious, people have administered anaesthesia to plants and put them into an actual state of sleep. People have also developed machines that can allow plants to make music.

The plant music machine consists of two electrodes and a conver ter box. One wire is attached to the leaf, and the other near the base of the roots. Once connected, the plants begin to emit sound through the machine. The gadget measures the electronic impulses of the plant and conver ts them into a midi signal. The effect can be quite different from plant to plant and can be quite beautiful, as the music flows in patterns humans aren’t used to hearing.

Fur thermore, when music is played to the connected plant, it adapts to the patterns and begins to play along. If the plant is disturbed too much, it will stop playing music. Once it’s comfor table again, the tunes restar t.

Based on the idea that plants are conscious, people have administered anaesthesia to plants and put them into an actual state of sleep. People have also developed machines that can allow plants to make music.

It seems there is a world of life existing beyond our level of perception. To move for ward into a harmonious future, it is fundamental that we get a grasp of what is going on in nature and what makes life work. If we overlook this, how can we ever expect to rise above our current living situation?

We are pushing deeper into space and far ther into technology, yet right here, all around us, there is something lurking that could shake the scientific community to its core. It’s time to open our eyes, ears, and minds, so we can begin to understand that much like us, the plant kingdom is conscious. 3

BIO Tom Wall: Professional Musician, Writer and Gardening Consultant. Cosmic Knot/Therapeutic Horticulture Consultations Growing up on a deer farm located on 79 acres of land along the banks of one of Lake Michigan’s tributaries, Tom grew a love for nature and all the beauties it could hold. Through that passion Tom has channeled his influences into educating the community on sustainable agriculture, becoming an activist, writing for magazines and creating music tuned to nature in his band Cosmic Knot.

Follow Tom and all of his passions: www.facebook.com/tom.wall.946 www.instagram.com/cosmicknotmusic/ artistecard.com/cosmicknot

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BOOK REVIEW

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

ORGANIC GARDENING FOR EVERYONE

O

BOOK REVIEW

rganic gardening is not only a fast-growing trend; it’s essential for our pollinators, the soil, food crops, and our planet as a whole. If you haven’t already made the switch to all-natural growing, and even if you have, Organic Gardening for Everyone: Homegrown Vegetables Made Easy (No Experience

Required) is a fantastic read!

Author CaliKim has an exciting story to After successfully growing an organic veggie patch tell. In 2012, the California mom started in the harsh California climate, her channel grew an organic vegetable garden, and like in any new venture, she had loads of in popularity. CaliKim Garden & Home DIY now has questions. She found the answers nearly 250,000 subscribers from around the world! by launching a YouTube channel; her viewers and subscribers supplied her with advice throughout her planting experience. After successfully growing an organic veggie patch in the harsh California climate, her channel grew in popularity. CaliKim Garden & Home DIY now has nearly 250,000 subscribers from around the world!

She promises growing nutritious vegetables for your family is easy, no matter how hectic your lifestyle. Everyone can enjoy the taste of truly fresh food and the feeling of knowing exactly how it was grown.

Her book has chapters on indoor seed starting and gardening on a budget, garden placement, planting, watering methods, and how to naturally handle the pests and diseases that will inevitably pop up along the way. Beyond that, learn how to select the best plant varieties and how to harvest like a pro.

Don’t panic; it’s organic! And CaliKim says is she can do it, so can you.

CREDIT: CaliKim29 Garden & Home DIY,

Available online and in major bookstores. 3

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FULL SPECTRUM

Introducing the new

The first full spectrum, 600W lamp.

DAYLIGHT 600W CMH Agro 3K •

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The E40 fitting allows use with any standard 600W MAGNETIC ballast.

This lamp is a game changer.

90 CRI (Sunlight = 100 CRI) High Efficiency 1.6 umol s-1 W-1

Significantly increases plant mass compared to HPS

Significantly higher yield per watt compared to HPS

Only for use with 600W magnetic ballasts

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WHAT’S GROWING ON

s ’ o h W Growing

t a h W Wh

ere

1.

in the U Kreland & I

Whitchurch-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire

Soul Food

Credit: Tolhurst Organic

Some farmers just seem to get it right, but it doesn’t happen by accident.

Years of hard work and dedication to nurturing the land leads to tremendous results, as is the case with Tolhurst Organic in rural England. The farm produces 140 tonnes of fresh vegetables on its 17 acres every year, all of which are distributed locally in seasonal veg boxes and at their farm gate shop. The world’s first registered with the Vegan Organic Network (VON), Tolhurst Organic adheres to strict stock-free organic standards, meaning it grows without the use of any animal by-products. The method presents fewer pathways for dangerous pathogens in the food. Pests are controlled through a biodiversity program that attracts wildlife to the farm and provides a natural habitat for them to live. Annual energy usage is also quite low, and so the farm has a carbon footprint about the same as an average household in the UK. Local and the way nature intended.

Learn more: tolhurstorganic.co.uk

2.

Clapham, London

Ever wonder what’s going on deep down under the streets? Well, in Clapham, your next salad is being harvested! Growing Underground is the world’s first underground farm, producing salad leaves and microgreens 33 metres below the city. The idea sprouted when childhood friends Richard and Steven set out to find a way to provide food to a growing population. Their operation uses forgotten WWII air rade tunnels for its garden space and the latest LED technology and hydroponic systems, which saves water and keeps all nutrients in a closed-loop system to avoid any risk of agricultural run-off. The controlled environment means crops such as pea and broccoli shoots, fennel, mustard leaves, and more can grow year-round without the help of pesticides or other chemicals. Growing Underground is all about local, and its prime location means its products can make it from farm to fork in about four hours. How’s that for fresh? Educational tours of this unique establishment are also offered to those who dare go down the rabbit hole.

An agricultural revolution. Learn more: growing-underground.com

Credit: Growing Underground

Down The Rabbit Hole

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CANNA Nutrients We pride ourselves on our quality products, in depth knowledge and expertise; and results that prove themselves. With years of research and development that continues to this day, CANNA has created and reďŹ ned a range of high quality nutrient lines to suit all growers and offer quality results, putting the grower at the heart of our work.

www.canna-uk.com

WHAT’S GROWING ON

s ’ o h W Growing

t a h W Wh

3.

ere

Braehead, Scotland

in the UK

Community Growth

a nd rel I &

Braehead Community Garden offers people a sense of connection and the opportunity to learn throughout the growing season. Residents are welcome to browse the greenspace and observe the various stages of development in the gardens amongst their neighbours and friends. For an additional fee, they can hire a raised bed to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. The beds are in a polytunnel, giving gardeners the option to grow crops such as peppers, chillies, tomatoes, and more. Pollination of the plants on the property is helped along with a small community apiary run by volunteer beekeepers. Anyone interested in the art of beekeeping is invited to learn the ropes in a beginners course and eventually gain experience out on the field.

While the bees are primarily there to help pollinate the nearby crops, a small amount of honey is available for sale to members late in the summer.

A true sense of community.

Learn more: braehead.org

County Cork, Ireland

Local Blooms

Credit: Between the Briars

4.

As a lifelong gardener, Taylor Nelsen has had a longstanding love of growing flowers. In 2017, he happened upon a sustainable floristry course, so from a passionate hobby, he is now growing flowers on his small farm in picturesque Glanmire. Between the Briars is a sustainable flower farm tucked in amongst rolling hills and hedgerows. A variety of seasonal blooms and foliages call the property home, including snapdragons, cosmos, calendulas, sweet peas, bells of Ireland, and more. Homemade nettle and seaweed tea are used as fertilisers along with compost from plant trimmings. No chemical sprays or pesticides are used on the farm either. Nelsen is trying to move away from the negative impact the flower industry has on the global environment and in addition to his eco-friendly growing practices, is a huge proponent of locally grown flowers.

He’s trying to share the message that no air miles and a low carbon footprint make local bouquets fresher, more vibrant, and all the more meaningful.

Saving the planet one bloom at a time.

Learn more: betweenthebriars.com 3

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HELLIQ,N DE 600-7.50W HPS At 600W setting PPFD = 1200 -1225 umol At 750W setting PPFD = 1500 -1550 umol

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S: UPERIO.R DE T:ECHNO.LO.GY FREEDO.M T:O.. MO.VE THAT: WO.NT: CO.O:K YO.UR PLANT:S! ,· -··

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,· -·-

The Hellions can sit comfortably just 45cm above your plant canopy, maximum light penetration without the burn!

REDUCED HEAT:

Super Spreaders are designed to disperse radiant heat, not to block light.

They ensure that all plants feel nice and warm, not just the ones directly beneath the lamp.

INCREDIBLE LIGHT: SPREAD M_EANS BIGGER YIELDS!

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Adjust-A-Wings reflectors are purposefully lightweight.

Air movement in the grow room will gently sway the reflector, lighting areas that static fixtures cannot.

T:WO..- SYST:EMS IN .-O. NE -

Set your system up to suit your growing area.

A fixture style combination unit or a remote ballast unit.

-:UNBEATABLE QUALIT:Y AND PERFQ:RMANCE

The Adjust-A-Wings Reflector. Hellion ballast and Hellion DE lamp are all crafted from materials of the highest quality.

The Hellions produce perfect. even light distribution across your crop.

These three components combine in harmony to create the Hellion Defender.

No hot spots or cold corners, just beautiful, even and prolific growth.

A lighting system of unparalleled power and performance.

ABSQlUT:E LIGHTiNG CQ:NTRQl The Hellions have:-

3 power settings - 450w, 600w and 750w 5 reflector width settings 5 lamp height settings

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BY NICO HILL

options f o d ia r y m growers a s r e f ique and f n o u y a ll g a n ic li n b rga ena fair bit of Farming o t regime, a n r ie e r t t f u a n bly their up (proba s to tweak d n e t a ific plants h t c e e p g s a r k u c o a y tailored p erfect for p ) r o r r e d trial an

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SEED SOAK TEA

Want a nice and easy way to give your favourite plants a quick fix of organic loveliness? Look no further than a seed soak tea: taking all the vim and vigour from your young sprouts and capturing it for your own organic plant booster.

E

veryone loves to tinker about in their garden. If you are anything like me, it is almost impossible to stop yourself from adding something into the mix or tweaking something. It’s a bit like trying to avoid the temptation of opening pandora’s box and probably half the reason why additive sales are so high in the industry. Farming

organically offers growers a myriad of options to tweak their nutrient regime, enabling a unique and tailored package that ends up (probably after a fair bit of trial and error) perfect for your specific plants. Seed soak teas are one-such option to get a quick organic boost for your little green friends.

What’s it all about then?

AIn the beginning, seedlings are packed with energy and nutrition to ensure a successful start. We aim is to capture all that spritely energy and make use of it to enhance another, more mature, plant’s production.

Each seed is rich in its own unique array of enzymes, proteins, amino acids and other such compounds that can provide a boost to a growing plant

You can follow the same process and use distinctly different species of seeds to capture various properties.

Examples of commonly used seeds are alfalfa, barley, wheatgrass or rye.

Each seed is rich in its own unique array of enzymes, proteins, amino acids and other such compounds that can provide a boost to a growing plant. Wheatgrass is already well-known in juicing bars and health club circles for its nutritionally-dense and amino-rich properties, as well as for having an almost complete vitamin B spectrum. Unsurprisingly, these things are perfect for plants as well, so let’s have a look at how we can make that possible.

Sprout that seed You will need: • Your chosen seeds.

• Some water (Ideally, RO).

• A container.

• Colander or sieve.

• Optional germination aids (soluble kelp).

First, you need to choose and measure your seeds and get them to sprout. Once you have selected your seeds, grab a container big enough to put them in. Eighty to a hundred grams of seed is usually a good starting point to make a decent-sized batch of tea. Soak the seeds in the container full

of water overnight, or for about 12 hours. Typically, the seeds will almost double their weight during this period from all the water uptake. They should drop to the bottom of the container, and any remaining husk can be scooped from the surface.

After the soaking period, they need to be drained and rinsed in a colander or sieve, then placed in a suitable container (jar, cloth pot, sprouting tray) and left to sprout.

Creating a thick layer of seeds will help keep them moist, but you do need to rinse them at least twice a day to make sure they don’t dry out too much. Other than that, it is now just a waiting game. After roughly three days (depending on seed type), little white sprouts will have grown a centimetre or so from all of your seeds and the next phase can begin.

Unfortunately, the time has now come for you to kill all of these young little sprouts. Before doing that, you need to decide if you are applying the tea immediately, or whether you want to go for a storable fermented option. The latter does involve a bit more effort, but the extra fermentation process aids with compounds becoming more plant available and also provides the welcome opportunity of a storable concentrate.

If using immediately The rest of the process from here is pretty simple. All you need is a standard kitchen blender. Fill it up with the sprouts, add a bit of water, and blend evenly. Once you have something resembling a dodgy-looking milkshake, you are done. All that is left is to avoid any urges of drinking the concoction before adding it to 10-20 litres of water and pouring it over your eager plants.

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SEED SOAK TEA

Unfortunately, the time has now come for you to kill all of these young little sprouts. Before doing that, you need to decide if you are applying the tea immediately, or whether you want to go for a storable fermented option If making a storable option Let’s face it, most of us don’t have the time to do this every week, so being able to make a fermented storable concentrate is likely to be a welcome option for most organic gardeners’ toolboxes. From this point onwards, you are mostly following the standard fermentation process used in Korean Natural Farming (check out some of the past issues on making ferments for more details).

You will need: • An equal weight of natural brown sugar (plus a bit more) to the seedlings.

• A large enough container (Ideally a mason jar).

• Optional LAB. • A sieve.

Rather than blend the seedlings, at this point, you need to roughly chop them all up, then weigh out an equal weight of sugar and mix it together. If you are cool enough to have made your own LAB, then you can combine an appropriate amount for the volume at this point (1ml per litre).

Once all mixed evenly, pack it into your mason jar and put a 2cm layer of sugar on the top like a cap. Then, use some cloth to cover the top so the mixture can breathe. Leave in a warm area for seven days.

After about a week, you will be left with a syrup-like juice that you need to separate from the solid material with your trusty sieve. Once separated, it can be transferred to a breathable container for storing and is usually good to keep for six months.

Get using it You are ready to rock! Although you may feel a tad guilty about sacrificing the souls of young seedlings’ lives for mere selfish greed, it really can provide a beneficial boost to your plants and is fun to make. It barely costs anything and is extremely rewarding, so seriously, go get sprouting some seeds now! 3

Let’s face it, most of us don’t have the time to do this every week, so being able to make a fermented storable concentrate is likely to be a welcome option for most organic gardeners’ toolboxes.

Nico Hill - Hydro Nerd at InfiniteMonkey.com Nico has been a keen gardener for many moons. Bitten by the hydroponic bug back in 1998, and hasn’t looked back since! After many years as a hobby, Nico’s career in Hydroponics had its start working for Aquaculture in Sheffield, the UK’s largest and most forward-thinking grow shops of the time. He was then hired by Hydromag, responsible for the hydroponic content. From there, he has worked with CANNA, as editor of CANNAtalk, author of the research articles, and delivering seminars throughout the UK to grow shops on the finer details of cultivating in a hydroponic environment. Nico is now writing for companies in the hydroponic industry.

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GREEN ADVICE

cool

ways

P LANT S AR E U SE D FO R T E XT I LE S

It’s no secret the textile industry is terrible for the environment, linked to high energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. According to numbers by Waste Reduction Week in Canada, the global textile industry uses one trillion kilowatt-hours every year; 10% of the world’s total carbon impact. It takes 2,650 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt, and dying and treating textiles contribute up to 20% of total industrial water pollution.

Brilliant minds are coming up with ways to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. Here’s our list of the 5 cool ways plants are being used for textiles.

1

Vegetable Cashmere It looks like cashmere; it feels like cashmere; only, it has nothing to do with goats. Vegetable cashmere is an all-natural fabric created from the soybean plant. The 100% biodegradable alternative to animal fibre is made with soy protein spun from the pulp in tofu production; that’s it, that’s all. Soft, silky, and stretchy, the fabric is full of plant proteins that nourish the skin and is currently being used to make yoga, active, and loungewear. Design brand KD New York claims that much like animal-based cashmere, this one keeps you warm in the winter and comfortable in the heat.

Learn more about Vegetable Cashmere: bit.ly/347UiBd

2

SeaCell

Seaweed has long held a reputation as being a superfood; now, the marine plant is breaking into the fashion and textile industry.

Producing SeaCell is eco-friendly. Also known as the Lyocell process, it takes place in a closed loop with no chemicals released as waste. Seaweed is pressed into a natural cellulose fibre, preserving all of its beneficial properties along the way. Essential vitamins, amino acids and minerals transfer between the fibre and the skin, helping activate cell regeneration and protect from free radicals.

Made exclusively for smartfiber AG, the fabric is described as silky smooth and comfortable, perfect for athletic and loungewear, undergarments, and home textiles.

Learn more about SeaCell: smartfiber.de

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NEW

GREEN ADVICE

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ways

PLA N T S ARE USED FO R T EXTILES

3

Piñ atex

Love the luxurious look and feel of leather but want to spare animals and the planet? Piñatex is the perfect guiltfree alternative! Dr Carmen Hijosa, a leather goods expert, developed the product and founded Ananas Anam after witnessing the environmental destruction associated with leather production. Piñtex is made with the fibre from the leaves of the pineapple plant, which are discarded after harvest, anyway. Once the leaves are stripped of their fibre, the leftover biomass is turned into nutrient-rich fertiliser or biofuel. How’s that for zero-waste? The pineapple fibres undergo a process to become a non-woven mesh that is soft, flexible, durable, and looks just like leather. The product has so far been used in footwear, fashion accessories, clothing, furniture, and car upholstery. Learn more about Piñatex: ananas-anam.com

4

Flo ra Fur

Inspired by nature for nature, flora fur is the world’s first garden-grown fur combing milkweed and linen to create warm and water-resistant garments.The brainchild of a team of students at NewYork’s F.I.T., the soft yarn is 100% biodegradable and looks and feels just like real fur but without the cruelty. Beyond saving the lives of animals and eliminating the microplastics faux fur sheds into the environment, this alternative is doing a world of good for the depleting population of monarch butterflies.The caterpillars only eat milkweed, and flora fur is encouraging its growth on sustainable farms.The monarchs call the farms home during the spring and summer, and by the time it’s time to harvest the milkweed pods, the butterflies are migrating south.Win-win!

Learn more about flora fur: florafur.com

5

Hemp

Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention hemp in our list of sustainable textiles! It’s used for everything from clothing and fashion accessories to home and hardware products; hemp is even considered a viable and eco-friendly alternative to wood and other building materials.The products made with the plant are soft like linen, are naturally resistant to bacteria, and are 100% biodegradable. Hemp crops grow quickly and without the use of any pesticides or chemicals; its roots stretch deep into the soil and protect it from erosion while also continuing to build and preserve it. From environmental protection to food and textiles, hemp has so many bases covered.

Learn more about hemp: hemptrade.ca

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