Pest Control US 37 by Garden Culture Magazine

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CONTENTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

HOW PLANTS PRODUCE THEIR OWN

PEST CONTROL

THE GREAT DIVIDE 36

THE ABOMINABLE

SNOWMAN

BY JESSE SINGER

POWDERY MILDEW

LOCAL GROWERS

HISTORY OF PEST C

3000 BC CATS

Critters Be Gone!

In Egypt, they used cats to control rodent pests in grain stores.

2500 BC Chemical Pesticides The first use of chemical pesticides dates back to 2500 BC when the Sumerians used sulphur compounds to control insects and mites.

The History of

I N T H IS ISSU E O F GA R D EN C U LT U R E :

Pest Control

Around this time, we see the first documentation of cultural control methods, such as the Chinese manipulating planting dates to control pests.

A pest is defined as “a destructive insect or another animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc.” Agriculture and pest control go hand-in-hand and always have. However, the mechanisms of critter control have changed over time as various cultural, biological and chemical methods have been employed. Be warned that newer isn’t always better, and sometimes, it has taken years to recognise

1200 BC Botanical Insecticides The Chinese use botanical insecticides as a fungicide and to treat seeds.

what effects specific techniques are having on us and our environment. Take a walk through this

52 Garden Trends: Table Gardening Is So Hip!

9 Foreword

timeline and see where we have come from and where we are today in this battle to control pests.

10 Author Spotlight

56 Reset This!

11 Product Spotlights

64 The Identification And Prevention Of Blight

18 Critters Be Gone! The History of Pest Control 26 The Continued Organic Certification of Hydroponics 30 Pests and Diseases: The Interconnectedness of Plant Health

950 BC

Burning Another cultural control method, burning, is noted by Homer as a way to control locusts.

73 Why IPM is the Secret Solution to Your Gardening Success 76 Fighting Pests, Diseases, and Improving Soil Health with Vermicast 85 The Great Divide

36 How Plants Produce Their Own Pest Control

89 Local Growers

40 Science Corner - The Abominable Snowman: Powdery Mildew

92 Fashion Forward “Leather”

44 Agricultural Threefolding & Building a Cooperative Grocery Store in a Food Desert

1500 BC Planting

94 SOS! Preventing and Controlling Whitefly Infestations 98 Medicinal Wild Mushrooms 102 5 Cool Ways 7

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

Welcome to another great edition of Garden Culture!

t doesn’t matter if this is your first outdoor vegetable garden, indoor grow, or if you manage a giant commercial facility; bugs and plant diseases can be equally devastating

and challenging to treat.

This edition is packed with articles to help you stay bug and diseasefree. In Why IPM is the Secret Solution to Your Gardening Success, Colin Bell explains what integrated pest management is and why he thinks it is so crucial. I couldn’t agree more with him, and I believe it is the future in agricultural and home pest control. In How Plants Produce Their Own Pest Control, Dr. Callie Seaman exposes the tip of the iceberg as we learn more about how plants defend themselves. Of course, plants can only be healthy if we take care of them and their environment. There are several unpredictable factors outdoors. However, we have far more control indoors. A healthy garden is your first defense. Soil amenders like worm castings can have a considerable impact on your plants. In Fighting Pests, Diseases, and Improving Soil Health with Vermicast, Anne Gibson digs deep into the subject. The year 2020 brought so many issues facing our planet to light. So much has changed in such a short time. What will happen when things have truly “re-opened”? Everest Fernandez gives us a lot to think about as he questions freedom and the sincerity of billionaires

CREDITS Special thanks to: Albert Mondor, Anne Gibson, Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Colin Bell, Cosmic Knot, Dr. Callie Seaman, Evan Folds, Everest Fernandez, Jesse Singer, Joanna Berg, Kyle L. Ladenburger, Philip McIntosh, Rich Hamilton, and Stephen Brookes. PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 E XECU 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

in Reset This!

ISSN 2562-3567 (Print) · ISSN 2562-3575 (Online)

One thing is for sure: gardening is a source of immense pleasure,

Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

especially when you can avoid bugs and disease!

Eric 3

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

I love the idea of standing back and letting nature do what it does naturally. We don’t always need to butt-in

Author Spotlight

Jesse Singer

ave you met Jesse Singer? He’s another one of Garden Culture Magazine’s awesome contributors, and we’re happy to have him

on board. Over the span of his writing career, Jesse has covered a broad range of topics, but he’s digging into the world of growing for us most recently. We did a little digging ourselves to get to know him better.

Is your ultimate ‘dream’ garden indoors or outdoors, and what’s growing in it? Definitely outdoors, and it’s filled with fruits and vegetables. I love the idea of being able to walk out to the garden and harvest some, or all, of my dinner. I would even love to have a few chickens and grab a couple of fresh eggs every morning.

What is on your playlist right now? Like my love of food, my love of music is quite varied as well. Looking at my playlist over the past few days, I’ve been spending some quality time in the 60s and 70s with Bob Dylan, The Band, CSN, and Elton John. I spent the 90s and early 2000s with Missy Elliot, Common and Oasis.

You’ve covered many different topics for Garden Culture in the magazine and on the blog. What’s been your favorite so far? I think it’s probably the concept of the “no work” garden, and not just because I can be a little lazy at times. But I love the idea of standing back and letting nature do what it does naturally. We don’t always need to butt-in. Sometimes less really is more! (You can f ind that blog and others by Jesse at GCMag.co)

Where in the world would you like to travel to next? I love Europe. Some of my favorite cities in the world include Ljubljana, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome. But I would probably star t with a few new ones, including Vienna, Barcelona and Dublin. A road trip adventure through Eastern Canada has been on my travel bucket list for years as well. 3

What is your favorite food? I love food, so picking a favorite doesn’t feel fair to all the amazing food out there. But a bowl of fresh, homemade pasta is pure joy, as is a serving of beautiful, fresh tar tar and sushi. 10

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

MARKETPLACE

MARKETpLACE Editor’s Pick

If you suffer from bugs and have a hard time getting rid of them naturally, this is for you.

Koppert Predatory bugs are one of the main puzzle pieces in IPM (Integrated Pest Management). This pest management ideology uses natural techniques to help the plant and fight pests. Pesticides, even natural ones, are the last resort.

Adalia bipunctata

It’s taken me 20 years to figure this out, but systematic dispersal of particular predators can completely eradicate certain garden pests. I must thank my friend, Kevin, over at Koppert Canada. I had never used predatory insects, but I was super interested as I read more about IPM. He guaranteed that when used properly, they are the superior solution.

Aphidoletes aphidimyza

THRIPEX: N. cucumeris

Amblyseius limonicus (predates thrips and whie fly)

Spidex: P. persimilis

They have several products for every nasty bug you can imagine. I used Swirski Ultramite and Thripor 1. I am now a true believer. I strategized timed releases of my bug armies, and the war began. Within no time, the bad bugs were nowhere to be seen. They were not completely gone on the first treatment, but I was officially bug-free by the second. It has been a year since the first bugs arrived, and for the past 11 months, my garden has been 100% bug-free.

A HUGE thank you to Kevin and Koppert Canada. Be sure to check out Koppert.com to see how bugs can help you control pests and diseases.

The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook In The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, you’ll find simple, straightforward resources and tools to identify common pests of edible gardens and manage them without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides. Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, author and garden pro, Susan Mulvihill, shows you how to handle pest issues by growing healthier plants, correctly identifying the culprit, and nurturing the overall ecosystem of the garden. With easy-to-use charts, you’ll learn how to identify common vegetable garden pests based on both the damage they cause and their physical appearance. Available at the end of April. 11

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BY JESSE SINGER

Critters Be Gone! The History of

Pest Control A pest is defined as “a destructive insect or another animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc.” Agriculture and pest control go hand-in-hand and always have. However, the mechanisms of critter control have changed over time as various cultural, biological and chemical methods have been employed. Be warned that newer isn’t always better, and sometimes, it has taken years to recognize what effects specific techniques are having on us and our environment. Take a walk through this timeline and see where we have come from and where we are today in this battle to control pests.

HISTORY OF PEST CONTROL

3000 BC CATS In Egypt, they used cats to control rodent pests in grain stores.

2500 BC Chemical Pesticides The first use of chemical pesticides dates back to 2500 BC when the Sumerians used sulphur compounds to control insects and mites.

Around this time, we see the first documentation of cultural control methods, such as the Chinese manipulating planting dates to control pests.

1500 BC Planting Dates

1200 BC Botanical Insecticides The Chinese use botanical insecticides as a fungicide and to treat seeds.

950 BC

Burning Another cultural control method, burning, is noted by Homer as a way to control locusts. 19

Amurca

470 BC

Democritus controls a blight outbreak by sprinkling amurca on plants (the liquid waste left over from olive oil production).

304 BC

Biological Controls

Although the term “biological control” wasn’t coined until the 1900s, China recorded the first use of such methods in 304 BC. Chinese farmers introduced colonies of predatory ants into their citrus groves to control pests such as caterpillars and beetles.

Marcus Pollio Roman architect Marcus Pollio constructs the first rat-proof granary.

400 AD

Ko Hung To control pests, Chinese alchemist Ko Hung recommends applying arsenic to rice paddies’ roots when transplanting them.

13 BC Ferrets In Europe, they domesticate ferrets and use them to catch mice.

500 AD Kitāb al-filā-hah

Kitāb al-filā-ḥah is a classic agriculture book written by the agriculturalist Ibn Al-Awam. The book covers hundreds of plants and trees, discussions on soils and manure, and provides lots of information on managing pests.

1100-1200

Cutworms Excommunicated 1476 20

After the Roman Empire’s fall, European pest control methods started to rely less on any actual science and more on religion and superstition. For example, in 1476 in Bern, Switzerland, cutworms were taken to court. They were found guilty, excommunicated by the archbishop and banished.

HISTORY OF PEST CONTROL

The 1800s Pest Control Books

Spray It 1880

In the early 1800s, we started to see the first books devoted entirely to the subject of pest control.

The year 1880 saw the production of the first commercial pesticide spraying machine.

1919 Harry Scott Smith Harry Scott Smith was an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside. Smith coined the term “biological control” in a 1919 article he wrote for the Journal of Economic Entomology, “On some phases of insect control by the biological method.”

1929

Crop Dusting 1921

Medfly Eradication in Florida

The first instance of aerial crop dusting occurred In Ohio on August 3rd, 1921. Lt. John A. Macready, in a modified Curtiss JN-6 “Super Jenny”, spread lead arsenate dust over catalpa trees to kill sphinx moth larvae.

After a nursery inspector near Orlando discovered Mediterranean Fruit Fly maggots and larvae, a full-scale eradication effort was initiated. This massive program involved the destruction of host plants, quarantines, and even checkpoints along Florida highways. The program cost about $7.5 million, and in 1930, the Mediterranean Fruit Fly was declared gone, marking the first-ever area-wide eradication of an insect pest. The state remained free of medflies for the next 25 years.

1939 Paul Hermann Müller DDT was first synthesized in 1874. However, in 1939, Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller discovered the chemical compound’s insecticidal properties.

Nobel Prize 1948 In 1948, Paul Hermann Müller was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for his discovery of the high efficiency of DDT as a contact poison against several arthropods.”

credit: University of Cambridge

1952 “Integrated Control” A.E. Michelbacher and O. G. Bacon at UC Berkeley use the term “integrated control” in their paper to describe the integration of insecticides and biological control in California walnut orchards.

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T: 702-338-0373

HISTORY OF PEST CONTROL

1955 Malaria

The World Health Organization begins a program designed to eliminate malaria in many countries using DDT to control the mosquito population. The results are initially quite positive. However, they failed to sustain the program, leading to an increased mosquito tolerance to DDT and a resurgence of the disease in many locations. They even saw an increase in transmission rates in some areas. In the end, the program only succeeded in areas of “high socio-economic status, well-organized healthcare systems, and relatively less intensive or seasonal malaria transmission”.

The Integrated Control Concept Four California entomologists, V.M. Stern, R.F. Smith, R. van den Bosch and K.S. Hagen published a paper outlining the Integrated Control Concept, which is the foundation of today’s Integrated Pest Management. In their article, ICC was defined as “Applied pest control that combines and integrates biological and chemical control. Chemical control is used as necessary and in a manner that is least disruptive to biological control.”

1959

1962 Silent Spring Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist, conservationist and author. Her book Silent Spring is considered a significant catalyst in helping to launch the environmental movement. The book came out in opposition to DDT and led to an enormous public outcry about its use.

Integrated Pest Management The 1970s

The concept of Integrated Pest Management in agriculture picks up steam in the 1970s as more information emerges as to the negative side-effects of the overuse of pesticides. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines Integrated Pest Management as, “the careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.”

1972 IPM in the USA IPM is formed into a National policy in the United States. In February of 1972, President Nixon told all federal agencies to do what was needed to advance IPM in all relevant sectors.

DDT Ban in the USA DDT Is finally banned for agricultural use in the United States. In no small part, the ban is due to the public outcry that came with the release of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, ten years earlier.

More Countries 1986 Adopt IPM Germany, Indonesia and the Philippines all adopt Integrated Pest Management as official policy. 23

HISTORY OF PEST CONTROL

Food Quality Protection Act

Passed in the United States in 1996, the FQPA announced specific guidelines for how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would manage the use of pesticides. It demanded a health-based standard for their use in foods, especially those consumed by children and infants. Among other things, it also incentivized the creation of safer pesticides.

1996

1997 World Food Prize

Dr. Perry L. Adkisson and Dr Ray F. Smith are awarded the World Food Prize. Adkisson and Smith “were among the first to note the harmful environmental and economic effects of indiscriminate synthetic chemical pesticide use. Dedicated to finding practical alternative approaches to pest control, they worked both independently and in tandem to demonstrate and popularize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.”

To push Integrated Pest Management, scientists put out a challenge to 950 farmers in Vietnam. The farmers each grew rice on two plots. They did as they always did on one plot, using fertilizer and spraying pesticides as much and as often as they wanted. On the other field, they used fewer seeds, less fertilizer and were not allowed to use pesticides until 40 days after planting. The results were significant, with yields from the IPM plot being as good or better than the traditional one. And with the costs being lower, it meant 8-10% more income for the farmers. The success of this experiment led to the creation of the “Three Reductions, Three Gains” campaign.” Posters and TV Commercials all pushed the idea that cutting the use of seed, fertilizer, and pesticide would boost yield, quality and income.

2001 “Three Reductions, Three Gains”

Worldwide DDT Ban 2004 2013 Sterilization

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was a global treaty that articulated a worldwide ban on the agricultural use of DDT. The treaty was signed and ratified in 2001 and went into effect in 2004.

New York tests sterilization traps in three subway stations and the terminal at Grand Central. Rather than kill the rats, the bait causes reproductive difficulties in the rodents (the females lose eggs and the males have testicular issues). The bait isn’t poison and causes no harm to humans or the environment. The study found that about half the rats took the bait, and after the three month test period, the rat population in those areas had been reduced by 43%.

To protect the bee population, the European Union agrees to ban neonicotinoid insecticides’ outdoor use (clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam). However, there is a clause in the EU ban that allows countries to grant short-term permission to use the insecticides for “emergency use.” In the years since the ban was put in place, many countries in the union have been granting “emergency use” without any real evidence of an “emergency.”

2018 EU Tries to Protect Bees

Sources: • The History of Integrated Pest Management: bit.ly/3agjdsC • NSP - Integrated Pest Management (FAO): bit.ly/2Z8zqKa • The History of Pest Management: bit.ly/3tQuOGB • The History of Pest Control: A Basic Timeline (Western Exterminator Company): bit.ly/3tVLDjl • Rachel Carson (Wikipedia): bit.ly/3rIuXda • Ibn al-ʿAwwām Biography (Britannica): bit.ly/3jKCQfA • History of Pest Control (Omaha Pest Control): bit.ly/3pacQLG • Do You “IPM”? (Quality and Assurance & Food Safety): bit.ly/3qi5yXt • The Industry’s History (National Agricultural Aviation Association): agaviation.org/industryhistory • Aerial Application (Wikipedia): bit.ly/2LNPa28 • DDT (Wikipedia): bit.ly/3tUNvsE • Persistent organic pollutants: Stockholm Convention: bit.ly/2ZdWgjn

• • • • • • • • •

Walnut Insect and Spider-Mite Control in Northern California (A. E. Michelbacher, O. G. Bacon, Journal of Economic Entomology): bit.ly/3rONRzq Fifty years of the integrated control concept: moving the model and implementation forward in Arizona (NCBI) bit.ly/3jH8v1z Food Quality Protection Act (USDA): bit.ly/3aVt1r8 Food Quality Protection Act (Wikipedia): bit.ly/3rFQUtA 1997: Adkisson and Smith (World Food Prize Foundation): bit.ly/3acVxoW The Saga of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Part I: 1929-1950 (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services): bit.ly/3af4tdJ CTA To Put Rats on Birth Control (The Chicago Tribune) bit.ly/3aSVDRG Loophole keeps bee-killing pesticides in widespread use, two years after EU ban (Unearthed): bit.ly/2MZXIDE History of IPM (Museum Pests) museumpests.net/history-of-ipm

BIO

Jesse grew up obsessed with movies and so it only makes sense that he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Political Science. He then put that degree to good use with a job at a video store. After that, he spent months backpacking around Europe - a continent that he has been back to visit many times since. Jesse is super curious and loves to learn and explore new subjects. For the last 15+ years, he has been writing online for a number of different sites and publications covering everything from film and television to website reviews, dating and culture, history, news, and sports. He’s worn many hats - which is ironic because he actually loves wearing hats and he has many different ones.

n t i o n c u e e h

BY PHILIP MCINTOSH

Organic Certification c i ydropon

How Legal Compliance is driving new Technology 26

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION OF HYDROPONICS

Ever since the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 established the National Organic Program (NOP) in the U.S., there has been trouble brewing. Two kinds of passionate growers have been pitted against one another on whether or not hydroponically-grown

produce, and more generally, container-grown produce, qualifies as organic under the standards established by the NOP. Organic farming certainly has its roots in the soil, and supporters of the soil-only approach have been active in trying to overturn the regulations that allow hydroponic, aeroponic, and other container-grown crops to be certified organic. Organic growers are opposed for both economic and environmental reasons.

In early 2019, the CFS filed a petition asking the USDA to revisit the rules and disallow organic certification of any method that did not involve soil as the growing medium

It looked like the organic faction might get some traction when in 2017, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a volunteer advisory committee to the USDA, voted 14-0 with one abstention in favor of barring certification of aeroponic systems. The board voted to continue allowing hydroponics certification, although it was close, with an 8-7 vote. To the chagrin of soil-based organic growers, the USDA chose to maintain certification of both hydroponic and aeroponic production systems if they met the NOP requirements. That wasn’t the end of it as far as the Center for Food Safety (CFS) was concerned.

In early 2019, the CFS filed a petition asking the USDA to revisit the rules and disallow organic certification of any method that did not involve soil as the growing medium. The USDA reiterated its stand on the matter and denied the petitioner’s request. So, in March of 2020, the CFS, with a group of organic farmers as co-plaintiffs, took its case to the Northern District of California, asking the court to force the USDA to take up once again the issues brought up in the petition of 2019, and to overturn the decision to allow organic hydroponics. Feeling they had a pretty good case wherein the basic facts were not in dispute, the plaintiffs requested a court’s summary judgment. This meant that a judge would hear what the lawyers had to say, consider the facts, think about it for a while, and render a decision. The summary judgment hearing took place on January 21, 2021, with Judge Richard Seeborg presiding.

done to established organic growers who have to compete against hydroponic producers. The USDA attorney claimed that crops grown hydroponically do not use soil, so any references to soil-based agriculture in the regulations do not apply. Judge Seeborg stated he saw no reason to interpret the 1990 OFPA in such a way as to exclude any process simply because it does not involve soil. Judge Seeborg ended the proceedings after about an hour to take the matter under consideration.

Organic farming certainly has its roots in the soil, and supporters of the soilonly approach have been active in trying to overturn the regulations that allow hydroponic, aeroponic, and other containergrown crops to be certified organic

The plaintiffs based their arguments on technical matters involving the denial of their petition by the USDA, the requirement for soil to be a part of organic agriculture according to the regulations, and the economic harm

Organic Certification o

In cases like this, judges take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months before issuing a written ruling. Judge Seeborg did not come across as being very sympathetic to the views of the CFS and co-plaintiffs. It looked promising for supporters of organic hydroponic, aeroponic, and container-grown agriculture. Fifty-seven days after the summary hearing, Judge Seeborg issued his ruling in favor of the USDA’s defense of its procedures and interpretations of the OFPA. Seeborg, in his opinion, admitted that some of the claims made by the CFS concerning the wording of the regulations regarding “soil” possessed a certain logic, but it wasn’t enough to sway him. What it boiled down to was that the USDA was not in error in the way it reviewed and denied the CFS petition to revisit organic certification of hydroponics; that the regulations as they apply to soil, soil conservation, and manuring do not apply when soil is not being used; and, that the law makes no mention of prohibiting soilless culture. One might think that would finally put an end to it. Not surprisingly, the CFS disagrees with Judge Seeborg’s interpretation of the law. On January 12, 2021, the CFS filed a new action, demanding that the USDA prohibit hydroponic operations from using the organic label. It seems like asking for a re-do is the only way forward for proponents of the ban. 3

ydr o ponic

Not surprisingly, the CFS disagrees with Judge Seeborg’s interpretation of the law

continue he

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION EDIBLE LANDSCAPE OF HYDROPONICS MOVEMENT

What it boiled down to was that the USDA was not in error in the way it reviewed and denied the CFS petition to revisit organic certification of hydroponics

References •

Judge Unlikely to Ban Hydroponic Crops From Organic Label. Courthouse News Service. courthousenews.com/judge-unlikely-to-ban-hydroponic-crops-from-organic-label. Web. Accessed 28 January, 2021.

•

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT; DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ CROSS MOTION, AND DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO COMPLETE THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD. coalitionforsustainableorganics.org/ wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CSA-Decision-3-19-21.pdf. Web. Accessed 23 February, 2021.

•

CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY FILES LEGAL ACTION TO PROHIBIT HYDROPONICS FROM ORGANIC. centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/5501/center-for-food-safety-fileslegal-action-to-prohibit-hydroponics-from-organic. Web. Accessed 23 February, 2021.

BIO Philip McIntosh holds a B.Sc. in Botany and Chemistry

from Texas State University and an MA in Biological Science from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been publishing professionally for over 30 years in magazines, journals, and on the web on topics relating to botany, mycology, general biology, and technology. As a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educator, Phil enjoys working with students to help them advance their knowledge and skills in relevant fields of learning.

BY JOANNA BERG

Pest &Disease The Interconnectedness of Plant Health

PEST & DISEASE

In my experience, I have observed that we tend to focus on pest eradication in agriculture, horticulture, and hobby gardening disproportionately

see a lot of sick plants. I have been professionally practicing cultivation and crop management for over 15 years. I have always loved gardening, which is probably one of the driving factors to why I got a degree in soil science. This year marks the ninth year that my crop management firm has

been operating in the heart of the Emerald Triangle. My business journey has revealed a lot about the relationships that people have with their plants, and I have been bestowed with a firsthand peek into the practices, trends, and problems in the cannabis cultivation community.

Specializing in IPM

I would also argue that pests are A cultivator truly My business started at the beginning usually not the inherent problem but needs to develop of 2012. It grew directly in response a symptom of more significant issues to the lack of access our cannabis a cultivator may not see or readily and harness critical cultivators had to science-based observe. A cultivator truly needs to thinking to move information about plants, soil, and develop and harness critical thinking beyond an acute pest the complexities of a growing system. to move beyond an acute pest issue Most of their information was coming and get to the core of their production issue and get to through retail garden stores, internet problems. the core of their forums, and product sales reps. production problems Although there are knowledgeable folks in all these arenas, there is also Why Pests Take Over a lot of incomplete, out-of-context, and wrong information. Pests happen largely because the plant is stressed out. The plant communicates this susceptibility through its There is no official standard or criteria applied to a spectral signature or other chemical signals that instinctively “master cultivator” other than the grower’s perception draw in pests that have co-evolved to capitalize on plant of their plant prowess in underground culture. Adding to vulnerability. Whether a weak phenotype causes this stress, this disinformation is a sore lack of peer-reviewed work disease, drought, overwatering, nutrient imbalance, or a regarding cannabis. However, there are researched and lack of diversity - diversity in organisms AND farm practices robust methods from organic agriculture and crop science – there is always an issue, aside from the pests, at the core to readily apply to the knowledge gap in the cannabis of production problems. Killing the pest will not inherently cultivation sphere. This is how I ended up specializing in solve that core problem, but when you have an acute pest the diagnosis and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for infestation, managing that pest issue becomes a top priority, cannabis. often neglecting the core issue. In my experience, I have observed that we tend to focus on pest eradication in agriculture, horticulture, and hobby gardening disproportionately. Maybe this is a reflection of modern culture, which tends to be mired in reductionist thinking. Perhaps it is simply that we are evolutionarily rigged to depend heavily on our eyeballs to observe risks in our environment, and pests are much easier to detect than a virus or micro-fungi. In all likelihood, it is a blend of multiple elements. Perhaps this is a perfect example of how life more often exists in a This-AND-That paradigm rather than a This-OR-That paradigm, despite our brains’ achievements to reduce and dissect reality into consumable tolerable bits.

Field Experience Last year, a cultivator contacted me because of failing plant health. It was late-July in Cali, so our Mediterraneanclimate leaves us dry and hot - a recipe for pest and disease susceptibility. This is when my phone rings off the hook, and my office becomes a revolving door of crop problems. This cultivator had just transplanted their nursery stock and was growing a specific strain that had been problematic all season. I feel justified in saying this was a problematic strain because, at this time, 70-plus percent of our firm’s pest and disease samples were this one strain. 31

#FERTILZERFORTHEFUTURE

Killing the pest will not inherently solve that core problem, but when you have an acute pest infestation, managing that pest issue becomes a top priority, often neglecting the core issue Unfortunately, these problematic strain health issues are usually seen in popular varieties fetching great market prices, so there is a genetic grab for these strains. Whether this grab results in a healthy phenotype often does not influence the growth of the cloner or the breeder. The cannabis culture has deep conditioning around its desire to find the “next best thing” – the next OG, gorilla glue, girl scout cookies, etc. This is in sharp contrast to almost all other plant breeding, which focuses heavily on disease and pest resistance. I point this difference out not to judge or condemn the cannabis industry but to highlight the weight of our cultural approach to growing our weed and consuming it. The cannabis culture heavily influences our cannabis products in a way that our standard modern agricultural crops are not.

Inspecting the Crop So, back to my panicked client with that popular sickly strain they had procured from a licensed professional nursery. I went to the site immediately to scout their crop and screen for pests and diseases. The canopy of the transplants was drooping, wilted, yellowing, and failing to thrive. I carefully dug out a very sick specimen and shook off the dirt, revealing an inferior root color and development. All these signs were telling me a pathology was playing a role but was there more? As I did a lateral cut up the stem of this plant and laid it open, I saw a typical systemic fungal infection rotting the circulatory tissue inside the plant’s stem. This brown rot ran up the stem a few inches – pathology – check. So, as I dissect this plant, I am asking about their cultivation practices. They reported preferring organic but minimal fertilizer inputs, they did not apply fertilizers based on soil testing data. Still, they spent lots of money on organic pesticides and did all kinds of preventative spraying. No biologicals. No pest/disease monitoring. No soil-building strategies.

PEST & DISEASE

Bulb mite faeces and eggs

Bulb mite, magnified x10 with old school scouting loop

Bulb mites love stem rot!

Lateral dissection showing stem rot and bulb mite

This cultivator had just transplanted their nursery stock and was growing a specific strain that had been problematic all season. I feel justified in saying this was a problematic strain because, at this time, 70-plus percent of our firm’s pest and disease samples were this one strain

Close-up of a mass of Red spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on a Tomato Leaf

But Wait, There’s More Next, I examined the stem under a low-powered 20-4080 x dissection microscope. This is one of my favorite pest screening tools – magnified enough to spot most pests effectively but low enough to scan the entire leaf surface efficiently. I immediately saw an infestation of bulb mites up inside the stem of the plant. Bulb mites are detritivores – meaning they eat dead organic matter. They are not sapsuckers like russet mites or aphids, and therefore, bulb mites aren’t really considered a huge agricultural pest risk unless they have taken over garlic or flower bulbs. So essentially, I am looking at what isn’t a pest inside the very rotted stem of a cannabis plant. Since bulb mites are not sapsuckers, I felt safe to assume they were there for the buffet of rot that the pathology was producing as this disease infiltrated and killed off the roots and inner stem of this plant. 33

PEST & DISEASE

Dissection specimen

A Combination Effect What we were witnessing was an exacerbated co-effect between two organisms. The more the bulb mites chewed at the roots eating the dead tissue, the more the disease was able to proliferate until the bulb mites could eat their way clear up into the stem of the plant.

Root rot magnified

So what caused this? Was it the Phenotype? Was it the bug? Was it the disease? All of these? For me, this is where the word “wholistic” stops being some woo concept, blasé from rolling about in the zeitgeist and starts to be meaningful in real life. Every sick plant is a layered mystery to unravel, and every concerned grower asks identical questions when faced with a crop health issue. What is it? How do I fix it? I share this story because it fits a standard that most crop health issues fall within-- it’s not just a bug that’s your problem, ever. Each case we solve is a unique result of personal belief, farm practices, genetics, and industry culture. In helping our clients unravel the web of personal paradigm, soil bio-diversity, strong genetics, and integrated farm practices, we have learned to go beyond providing just basics for plant life – food, water, light – and develop strategies for thriving. 3

Bio

Joanna Berg is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist specializing in pest and disease diagnosis and integrated crop management solutions through her firm in Northern California, Dirty Business Soil, LLC.

Evidence of root rot 34

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PEST CONTROL

BY DR. CALLIE SEAMAN

lants are robust and adaptable organisms capable of producing a chemical arsenal of compounds to defend themselves, all the more impressive when considering the limited supply of chemicals they have to work with. Stress is the application of pressure on a system that prevents it from running at an optimal

level, upsetting its balance and cellular homeostasis. Plant stress is divided into abiotic stress, resulting from non-living factors, and biotic stress, exer ted by living organisms - commonly called pests. In this ar ticle, we’ll be examining the latter, especially the role that terpenes play in a plant’s battle to balance its resources in the shor t time it has to mature and fruit. Of course, it’s not a fight plants always win. We’ll also look at the role terpenes play in the essential practical applications for humanity.

Pests Stress Plants Plant stress is divided into abiotic stress, resulting from non-living factors, and biotic stress, exerted by living organisms commonly called pests

Some insects, including thrip, whitefly, and spider mites will feed on the sugar-rich sap in the leaf, destroying it from the inside out. At infestation levels, they can be devastating to a crop. This damage also opens the door to further infection from microbes; the main culprits are pathogenic fungi and viruses, nematodes, bacteria, protozoa, and arthropods. Stress exerted by any of these sources can result in irreversible damage to plant cells.

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentali, (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Terpenes are the largest group of secondary metabolites.

Chemical Warfare

Secondary metabolites are compounds within an organism that do not directly play a role in its normal growth, development, or reproduction. Instead, they enhance the chances of survival. Plants produce them in response to stress as well as to aid in symbiotic relationships with neighboring organisms. Secondary metabolites form a large category of compounds, with the hundreds of thousands identified to date likely representing a fraction of those in existence. Phytoalexins are a type of secondary metabolite, a large group of broad-spectrum antibiotics with low-molecular weight. These include terpenoids and flavonoids, along with other compounds such as stilbenes. This important form of pest control relies on releasing chemicals being triggered by an elicitor (cells from the pathogen) binding to the plant’s cell wall. It prompts a cascade of signals, which eventually stimulate the transcription of genes to synthesize the appropriate phytoalexins or other defense molecules.

CREDIT: PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Humans, cattle, and grazing herbivores are all pests from a plant’s perspective, and plants have evolved to protect themselves in several resourceful ways. Anyone who has been stung by a nettle understands the plant’s defense mechanism, while cattle will be familiar with the repellent flavor of many of the things they eat. But, of course, any gardener knows that insects and microbial life pose a far greater threat to plants.

PEST CONTROL

Terpenes Terpenes are the largest group of secondary metabolites. These volatile compounds produce the distinctive aroma of many plants, including pine trees, lavender, and rosemary. While their smell is often pleasant from a human perspective and to many pollinators, they also serve as an antimicrobial and anti-herbivory defense mechanism.

The multifunctional solutions plants utilize from the relatively small pool of chemicals they have to work is nothing short of genius – they’re currently far better chemists than we are!

Glandular trichomes, the small hairs on the surface of plants, are the primary delivery system for terpenes. When plants are attacked or wounded, the glandular trichomes are broken and release their contents. In heavy rain, trichomes are also washed from the leaves into the ground, where they suppress the growth of competing plants. While a plant’s ability to produce so many compounds is impressive, the fact that these compounds can interact with one another to produce entirely independent outcomes is all the more so. What they can do in the human body is equally exceptional.

Human Application Humans have utilized plants for their scents and flavors for time untold, but modern science has opened the door to their vast potential for medical applications. Where once lavender kept your clothes smelling fresh and rosemary masked the taste of high meat, today, plant extracts – more specifically terpenes – are being used in the treatment of severe epilepsy. With the ending of the prohibition of cannabis, not only has a vast amount of research been undertaken into the pharmaceutical applications of terpenes and other secondary metabolites within cannabis, but their use in treatment already shows incredibly positive outcomes for seriously debilitating conditions.

necessary to ramp up their natural defenses. Growing them alongside companion plants and using biological control methods, like predatory insects such as ladybirds, replaces man-made pesticides. Similarly, plants’ fascinating defense mechanisms have financial benefits; controlled exposure to pests increases the production of secondary metabolites, skewing the received wisdom that a profitable crop is one vast monoculture free of pests or any other ‘contaminants’. The multifunctional solutions plants utilize from the relatively small pool of chemicals they have to work is nothing short of genius – they’re currently far better chemists than we are! Learning from them gives us a shortcut through the millennia of evolution that brought them to where they are today, better equipping humanity to face that very same battle for survival. 3

Finding Balance In scientific terms, it’s only recently that modern methods have allowed us to view plants from a detailed microscopic perspective. As a result, our perception of what qualifies as a pest is changing rapidly, especially as we learn more about the deep complexity of the interdependent relationships between plants and the organisms that survive alongside them. For example, microbes are by no means entirely harmful, with research on symbiotic microbes showing a positive effect on plant size when applied to the roots. Endophytes, microbes that are more commonly fungus or bacteria, live between plants’ cells and have been proven to modulate and mimic secondary metabolites produced by the host plant. These discoveries’ practical applications are already changing the way we operate, with the human use of pesticides proving far more damaging than we ever envisaged. By understanding the defensive mechanisms plants use, we can better facilitate their own ability to fight off pests. This can be as simple as ensuring they have all the nutrients and optimal environmental factors

Dr. Callie Seaman is a leading expert of the UK hydroponic industry and became passionate about medicinal cannabis when she was diagnosed with epilepsy over 20 years ago. After obtaining a Biomedical Sciences degree at Sheffield Hallam University, she completed a PhD titled “Investigating Nutrient Solutions for Hydroponic Growth of Plants”. During her PhD, she became a founding director of Aqua Laboratories Ltd – a formulator and producer of specialist hydroponic nutrients. In October 2018, Callie became a non-executive director of a home office licenced medicinal cannabis facility within the UK. She consults with a wide range of other licensed producers worldwide as they look to set up their facilities.With numerous scientific articles, book chapters and peer-reviewed papers to her name, Callie is an experienced professional in the field of medicinal cannabis, cultivation and fertilizer science. Instagram: @dr.callieseaman Facebook: @DrCallieSeaman Twitter: @dr_CallieSeaman LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-callieseaman/ Website: aqualabs-uk.com and cbdhempire.co.uk

BY STEPHEN BROOKES, NPK

Powdery Mildew 40

POWDERY MILDEW

Science Corner

This article of Science Corner looks at the plague of the abominable snowman, or more specifically, the all too common curse of powdery mildew. What is it, and why do plants get this disease? Why is it so challenging to eradicate, and what are the steps growers need to take once it develops? Let’s have a look.

What is Powdery Mildew? Powdery mildew is a biotrophic fungus that uses living plant cells as a food source. It travels through the air as spores, which germinate on the leaf surface and produce tubes.These tubes expand over the leaf cell and feed on its nutrients.They pierce the epidermal layer of the cells using small structures called haustoria.

If you spot powdery mildew, do not start any significant plant-handling work For the most part, powdery mildew remains on the plant surface; the visible part of the disease infects other plants. As the fungus extracts nutrients from the leaf, it forms structures called conidiophores, which produce conidia. Conidia travel and infect the other plants in the garden.

The spread can be due to plants being too close together or the gardener touching infected leaves and then working on healthy plants

Now you know the scientific names for this pain-in-the-bum problem, but unfortunately, it won’t help you get rid of it any quicker.

The Spread The conidia move through air movement and touch when indoors. The spread can be due to plants being too close together or the gardener touching infected leaves and then working on healthy plants. Common indoor grower knowledge is that high humidity and low air movement are the conditions that allow for powdery mildew. However, there are some nuances to this commonly held belief. Powdery mildew is not resistant to water, so outdoors, the rain does a good job keeping the disease at bay. The spores pop when they are in contact with water for a few hours. The conidia don’t need water or nutrients to germinate, but rather, stable temperatures of 20-24°C.

Another possible cause of spread? If a grower takes cuttings from an infected plant with no visible symptoms, the cuttings will still have the powdery mildew mold. Of course, young cuttings need low air movement with high humidity to do well, and therefore, the plant battles the disease from day one.

Why Plants Develop Powdery Mildew Powdery mildew isn’t something the grower creates; it’s something that is allowed to happen. The same is true for most fungal and bacterial infections. Bacteria, viruses, and diseases are everywhere at all times. They are merely waiting for the perfect environment to flourish. When minimal to no air movement and high relative humidity present themselves, powdery mildew has the ideal conditions to germinate. As it grows, most people will notice white speckling on the leaves, similar in appearance to a dusting of white flour. The grower often touches the leaves and then inspects other plants, and is usually where the spread happens.

Low air movement, high humidity, and the aforementioned ideal temperatures cause powdery mildew. However, while high humidity increases the germination rate, it also inhibits spore production, so moisture may not have as big an impact as you might think. It is critical to be careful of the constant and continuous handling of infected and healthy plants. If you spot powdery mildew, do not start any significant planthandling work. 41

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Science Corner

In a worst-case scenario where powdery mildew covers more than 50% of a leaf, strip it from the plant and immediately dispose of it

Preventing and Eradicating Powdery Mildew Avoid the ideal conditions for germination! Swings in temperature can lead to moisture build-up, and plants will hit the dew point during lights-off. Try to keep plants wellspaced so the air movement can wick away excess moisture, making it more challenging for powdery mildew to spread.

UV lights are probably the best method of killing powdery mildew and preventing repeat infections of any diseases

Do not excessively foliar feed during the lights-off period. Be sure to do so before lights-off or an hour before lights-on. Adding extra fans will help keep the air well-circulated in the grow room. A silica supplement will strengthen the plant’s cell walls, which will also help prevent powdery mildew. Be sure to also have adequate calcium in the feed solution, which also helps build plant cell strength. Do not add extra nitrogen; it can promote the production rate of powdery mildew. The use of ultraviolet lights makes it impossible for mold and viruses to take hold. The high radiation destroys the mold cells and ensures anything left cannot replicate. UV lights are probably the best method of killing powdery mildew and preventing repeat infections of any diseases. They are also an excellent option for organic growers who don’t want to use chemical solutions.

Life Goes On

It’s not the end of the world if powdery mildew makes an appearance in the garden, as you can efficiently resolve the issue. The best advice I can offer is always to keep your environment in check; prevention is still easier than a cure. In a worst-case scenario where powdery mildew covers more than 50% of a leaf, strip it from the plant and immediately dispose of it. Take special care not to transmit this powder to other plants and keep movement to a minimum. 3

BIO Stephen Brookes is a hydroponics aficionado and loves to apply the scientific method to his articles. He has been the manager of NPK Technology for 10 years, and produces and hosts the world’s number one hydroponics podcast, NPK Live. Stephen is also owner of NPK Media, a 360 media content production agency. He likes to read and enjoys mountaineering in his spare time. Motto: The more you learn, the less you know.

BY EVAN FOLDS

AGRICULTURAL THREEFOLDING

Our mission is to ensure food security by ending the food desert, generate resilience in our neighborhoods, and enhance the local economy through equity and ownership

n a big broad stroke, we live in a world defined by culture, rights, and economy. These domains of social activity generate the landscape for our humanity.The conscious dynamic between these realms, combined with the relative autonomy and authority that they hold, leads to the potential for a healthy society and world.

Agricultural Threefolding Rudolf Steiner first developed the concept of social threefolding in 1915 in response to the first World War. It represents a profound and straightforward way to apply systems-thinking to our social order that we can trace throughout our lived experience. For instance, when church (culture) is not separated from state (rights), society gets sick. Same with the collusion of corporations (economy) with the government (rights) seen in corporatism.

For instance, when church (culture) is not separated from state (rights), society gets sick. Same with the collusion of corporations (economy) with the government (rights) seen in corporatism

The threefolding phenomenon is also alive in agriculture. Suppose we define agriculture as more than just growing crops and as a symbiotic relationship between food, farming, and human health. In that case, we open up the unlimited potential to fix the significant challenges that we face - hunger, poverty, climate change, health care, and beyond.

The Northside Food Co-op

A Community-Based Approach A cooperative business, or co-op, is, effectively, a for-profit organization with a non-profit mentality. This means that it is essentially a breakeven enterprise, where all of the profits generated are returned to owners as dividends or invested back into the community. It also means that, rather than corporate interests, community members plan and operate all business aspects.

Food co-ops bring massive residual benefit to the community. Primary among them is that cooperative business is democracy and equity in action, which inspires the type of community activism required to bring attention to forgotten communities in ways that a typical grocery chain cannot. In other words, cooperative business challenges and flexes the exact muscle we need to strengthen in society to produce meaningful change - people showing up for ourselves in shared values to solve common problems.

Seeking resonance in the spheres of food, farming, and human health is the basis for my work as a consultant. A focus on agricultural threefolding has drawn me to all sorts of impactful projects. One of the more interesting ones is an engagement as the Project Manager for the Northside Food Co-op (NorthsideFoodCoop.com). The Northside Food Co-op is a community-owned cooperative grocery store being planned for a generational food desert in the historically underserved and minority-based Northside community in downtown Wilmington, NC. Our mission is to ensure food security by ending the food desert, generate resilience in our neighborhoods, and enhance the local economy through equity and ownership. The project strikes the heart of the interface between what we eat, how we grow food, and public health. The cooperative business component overlays a spirit and expectation of personal agency or the concept that our ideas impact the world, which is a very effective tool for organizing an underserved community. 45

AGRICULTURAL THREEFOLDING

A cooperative business, or co-op, is, effectively, a for-profit organization with a non-profit mentality

The Benefits of Food Co-ops Food co-ops deliver benefits over and above those of traditional entrepreneurial-based grocery stores. The study, Healthy Foods Healthy Communities: The Social and Economic Impacts of Food Co-ops, commissioned by National Co+op Grocers (NCG), quantifies these benefits: •

•

• •

On November 10th, 1898, the Northside community was the site of the only successful coup d’état in the history of the United States

For every dollar spent at a food co-op, $0.38 is reinvested in the local economy compared to $0.24 at conventional grocers. Traditional grocers work with an average of 65 local farmers and food producers; food co-ops work with an average of 157. Locally-sourced products make up an average of 20% of co-op sales compared to 6% at traditional stores. For every $1,000 a shopper spends at their local food coop, $1,604 in economic activity is generated in their local economy—$239 more than if they had spent that same $1,000 at a conventional grocer.

The Challenges Localized ownership results in significant socioeconomic benefit and begins to lay a real and psychological pathway towards community wealth. But when it comes to the grocery business and the society and economy that we live in, food co-ops also present some serious challenges. For instance, hardly anyone knows what a cooperative business is, to begin with, so a serious effort to educate the public is required before the grocery store can be built. On top of that, because the project lacks the typical entrepreneurial profit incentive, it takes a massive coordinated effort to activate the community and come together to ensure the business’s success. Once the store is in operation, grocery margins are famously low, so the community’s connection remains a critical factor over time.

Then, of course, there is the challenge of fundraising. Ownership sales fund the beginning stages of the project. Our model offers a one-time payment of $100 to be an owner of a patron share, which under North Carolina law can only be sold to North Carolina residents. We also have a Pay-ItForward sponsorship program where people can donate $90 to help support $10 ownerships for Northside residents who may need financial assistance. Longer-term fundraising is accomplished by a combination of banks and community capital campaigns. A cooperative business is an exercise in the literal expression of democracy. The organization is run by the premise of “one person, one share, one vote”, which means that no single person can own more of the business than any other person. In other words, the business is owned by and benefits the people who use it – the community members.

The Northside Food Co-op is much more than a grocery store project. It is an effort to elevate a disenfranchised community through food. It is a powerful community-catalyst and a place we can call our own. Not only is a grocery co-op one of the more potent ways to engage the realm of agricultural threefolding, but the Northside community has stories to tell.

A Sad History The Northside was the epicenter of one of the most egregious racism displays ever recorded in human history. On November 10th, 1898, the Northside community was the site of the only successful coup d’état in the history of the United States. The insurrection was racially motivated and began with targeting a black-owned newspaper run by a man named Alexander Manly and culminated in the obliteration of a thriving interracial community in Wilmington that included numerous minority politicians and black-owned businesses.

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AGRICULTURAL THREEFOLDING

Our city carries the wounds of these events to this day. The book Wilmington’s Lie and the documentary Wilmington on Fire chronicle the sad history. The coup resulted in deep-seated racial disparity that can only be healed by conscious and focused atonement, and it is in this spirit that the Northside Food Co-op was born.

Agriculture has always brought us together. By focusing on food, farming, and human health, we can bring solutions that bridge the growing gaps in society

The railroad employers dominated the Northside economy until they left the area in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, the last grocery store left the downtown area leaving the Northside a shell of its thriving past signaled by empty storefronts and rundown buildings. The Northside residents who remain comprise over 70% minorities, with more than 65% of residents African American. The annual income of Northside residents is close to 50% below our county’s median yearly income, and almost 20% of households do not have access to a vehicle. Unfortunately, this is the story of inner-city USA. For 30+ years, the Northside community has asked for a grocery store. In 1996, a citizen group pooled money from Northside residents to build a grocery store but ultimately failed to do so. Later, in 2003, the City of Wilmington set the goal that a grocery store be built on the Northside by 2005. This effort also never materialized, and today a food desert remains.

Defining Food Deserts The USDA defines a food desert as “urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.” Instead of supermarkets and grocery stores,

food desert communities have very little fresh food access. They are typically served by fast-food restaurants and convenience stores that offer few healthy, affordable food options.

Quality food is the foundation for healthy communities. Ultimately, a communities resilience and ability to thrive begins with nourishment, and on this front, we have a lot of work to do. More than 70% of the average diet is processed in America, and only 10% of Americans eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. In food deserts, these numbers are even worse. We experience the reality of our compromised diets in the epidemic of chronic disease that threatens the foundations of our civilization.

The success of the Northside Food Co-op will be a direct metric of community support. It is a massive effort, but we must bring our will into action and muster the courage to seek new ways of doing things if we are to find real solutions to our problems. Agriculture has always brought us together. By focusing on food, farming, and human health, we can bring solutions that bridge the growing gaps in society. We need coopetition, not competition. Compassion and action, not cynicism. People power, not profit at all costs. If we are to reach our human potential, we must challenge ourselves to show up for ourselves. We can do all of this with a food co-op. 3

Bio

Evan Folds is a regenerative agricultural consultant with a background across every facet of the farming and gardening spectrum. He has founded and operated many businesses over the years - including a retail hydroponics store he operated for over 14 years, a wholesale company that formulated beyond organic products and vortex-style compost tea brewers, an organic lawn care company, and a commercial organic wheatgrass growing operation. He now works as a consultant in his new project Be Agriculture where he helps new and seasoned growers take their agronomy to the next level.What we think, we grow! Contact Evan at www.BeAgriculture.com or on Facebook and Instagram @beagriculture 49

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GARDEN TRENDS:

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be creative when growing plants and vegetables. Urban gardeners often have to grow in pots and containers, on walls, roofs and sometimes even on tables!

A new horticultural trend called table gardening allows the cultivation of plants in urban settings when it is impossible to do so in the ground. Table gardening also allows gardeners with disabilities who use wheelchairs or those who cannot bend or kneel to enjoy the pleasure of gardening and harvesting fresh herbs and vegetables. Table gardening has the virtue of making urban agriculture more accessible to a large number of people.

Urban gardeners often have to grow in pots and containers, on walls, roofs and

credit: Albert Mondor

sometimes even on tables!

When growing edible plants, tables with deep bins are necessary. A table garden can consist of potted plants you want to show off.

Beyond the purely practical aspect of table gardening, it is also possible to create a small tabletop arrangement just for its beauty (beauty has a purpose, too). This summer, you can give new life to an old table by transforming it into a garden. Use the table sitting in the garage or the one you found on the street and transform it into a work of art! When placed near the entrance to your house, a table garden serves as a welcome sign. It can also be a focal point in the corner of your garden. You can use only potted plants and hide the containers with moss or stones, or you can ditch the pots and install ledges on the borders of the table to retain the soil. You can plant anything on a table: annuals, long-flowering perennials, aromatic herbs, vegetables, cacti and succulents, tropical plants, or bonsai. The sky’s the limit! Personalize your table garden by incorporating decorative elements such as lanterns, seashells, conifer cones, stones, travel souvenirs, a birdhouse or a bug hotel.

Placement and Design If you want to harvest an abundance of vegetables, place your table in a sunny location, far from mature trees. Although some edible plants such as Swiss chard, carrot, spinach, mint and parsley tolerate some shade, most veggies require at least six hours of sunlight per day for good growth and high yields. When building a new gardening table, use a durable, rot-resistant material such as composite wood, stone or steel plates. Tables made of straw bales, woven tree branches, old concrete blocks, or reclaimed steel will undoubtedly give a lot of charm and originality to your vegetable garden while significantly reducing its construction costs. 53

TABLE GARDENING

Use the table sitting in the garage or the one you found on the street and transform it into a work of art!

Penjings lend themselves wonderfully to the creation of table gardens.

There aren’t any precise rules as to the dimensions that a garden table should have. However, for vegetables to root deeply and have maximum production, you need a table with walls at least 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 inches) high. As for its width, it should not be more than 90 cm (3 ft). Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to access the table’s center for weeding, watering and harvesting.

Deep, Rich Soil Although wood is very available, inexpensive, and is easy to work with, the fact remains that it rots quickly when in contact with soil. If you still want to use this material to build your table, opt for eastern or western cedar (Thuya). Farmers have long used this species of wood to make fence posts. Be sure to cover the inner part walls and bottom with extruded polystyrene or a thick geotextile membrane. Torrefied wood is also a good choice since it has a reputation for being rot-resistant. You can even burn the wood surface with a torch. This ancestral Japanese technique called Shou sugi ban prevents the degradation of wood through microorganisms.

When you grow plants directly on a table (not in pots placed on a table), it is essential to plant them in a rich, light potting soil with excellent water and nutrient retention capacity. A potting mix made up of equal parts compost, sphagnum peat moss and perlite - such as organic Pro-Mix for vegetable gardens and herbs - gives excellent results. Make sure that you drill a few holes at the bottom of your table to allow the soil to drain. If you are growing vegetables, give your eggplant, cucumber, pepper and tomato plants (about 100 ml per plant) a granular fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium - formulation 5-3-8 - when planting them. 3

credit: Albert Mondor

Furniture other than tables can be used to make very original above-ground arrangements.

It’s tea time! Alice and the Mad Hatter will arrive soon!

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor has practiced 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 programs 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

BY EVEREST FERNANDEZ

My freedom is strictly my business, not yours

RESET THIS

Everest wades in on “The Great Reset”

“The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear”

Are you serious about freedom? “Sure, I’m serious,” you might respond, “I don’t take it for granted!” You may even asser t with an earnest but deeply misguided patriotism that you’re lucky enough to live in a “free countr y” and, by that same token, imply that your “freedom” has been state-issued or accredited to you by way of some official

A u n g Sa n Su u K y i

document, statute or treaty. But I sincerely hope not.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt pointed out once, true freedom doesn’t come under the category of “grantable things”.

I would like you to pry your mind open to the genuine possibility that you don’t yet know what true freedom is

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.”

Fra n k l i n D . R oo seve lt

So, be very suspicious, indeed, whenever anybody tries to assure you that freedom is just around the corner or that they have an amazing “freedom-gaining plan” for you. My freedom is strictly my business, not yours.

“Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything we do.”

Imagine you shook hands with a new acquaintance in the foyer of some random hotel (back in 2019), and he or she pointed out, without being prompted to do so, that they pride themselves on being an honest, straight-shooter in all their business dealings. If you’re anything like me, you’d immediately smell a rat. Why bother stating that which should be tacitly plain and obvious? The above quote has been taken from the World Economic Forum’s online mission statement. I would like you to pry your mind open to the genuine possibility that you don’t yet know what true freedom is. Alas, I am unable to spell it out. If you’ve tasted mango, you know its flavor. If you haven’t, too bad. I can mumble something about it being somewhere between a peach and an orange, but my words are no substitute for the reality of warm mango juice running down your chin. A more achievable goal here is for me to underline that which freedom is not, so at least you can recognize the ersatz, Gucci Belt, bullshit “McFreedom” when you’re offered it, and you don’t unwittingly buy into any counterfeit concepts. (Hey, what would you do without me?)

RESET THIS

“You will own nothing. And you will be happy.”

The world’s wealthiest people are now suddenly concerned with “saving the planet” and “working collectively” to make a better and braver new world for us all

This is another Davos statement that should be viewed through the most sceptical of lenses. This is the publicly stated vision of the future—the year 2030 to be precise— issued by members of the World Economic Forum—an unelected cabal of business leaders and politicians—who want to prepare us for a “Great Reset”.

Well, look at that! The world’s wealthiest people are now suddenly concerned with “saving the planet” and “working collectively” to make a better and braver new world for us all. Funny how the idea of “collective ownership” has come to the fore only after a tiny fraction of the population have successfully claimed everything on the Monopoly board! “Right, that was fun, time to pack that game away!”

At the time of writing, search for the words “Great Reset” on YouTube and, despite the wide-ranging discussions on the topic (and no matter which country I set my VPN to), the first four results appear to have been curated from the same source: The World Economic Forum. The top result, “What is the Great Reset? | Davos Agenda 2021”, attempts to lay it out for us. It’s time to reset the global economy for the good of the planet. “The pandemic has changed the world! (…) but now we have a collective oppor tunity to rebuild the economy (...) Now Mother Nature needs a bail-out!”

They want to abolish that icky sticky, debtbased “cash money” and replace it with alldigital, state-backed cryptocurrency so every transaction can be monitored, forever

Dig a little deeper, and the true extent of the Davos agenda begins to emerge. The billionaires are pushing for all-encompassing technological control over society. They want to abolish that icky sticky, debt-based “cash money” and replace it with all-digital, state-backed cryptocurrency (Central Bank Digital Currencies or CBDCs) so every transaction can be monitored, forever. They want everyone issued with digital “health passports” so that we can all “travel safely” again—providing we submit to experimental gene-manipulating treatments. Otherwise, you’ll be barred from airports, museums and shopping centers. 59

RESET THIS

If you have no land, what choice do you have but to eat whatever food is made available via those who control all means of food production? You are not free; you are a laboratory guinea pig Of course, we’ll all need international personal identification numbers, so we’re told, to enable easy peer-to-peer transactions underpinned by a global 5G network. We will all own nothing and be happy—everything we need, from proper ty and transpor t to clothes and furniture, will be rentable and delivered by drone. There’s a massive problem with all of this, however. Owning nothing may sound right on in a yoga-instructor sor t of way, but it puts us all in a highly precarious political situation. “Collective ownership” is a dangerous and destructive myth. Somebody, or some entity, always owns your home and the land, greenhouse or ver tical farm where your food is grown. Somebody owns the water treatment plant and the pipes that carry it to your faucet. What happens if you say or do something disagreeable to that cer tain someone or something? You own nothing. You have no power. You have no say.

Ironic, as it may sound, our consciousness of freedom begins when we realize just how much we’re missing it. Now please, get down to your gardens and dig as if your life depends on it. 3

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

While these big ideas are being presented in terms of kindness, ecology, and working towards the “greater good”, history tells us that it is far more probable that we are not moving towards a kinder, fairer and more inclusive planet. Instead, we are sleepwalking into a totalitarian, global surveillance superstate. If you are dependent on a greater power for everything, then you are cer tainly not free. You are a serf. If your ability to buy and sell is dependent on carrying a unique digital identifier and using a centrally-controlled digital currency, you are not free; you’re an economic slave. If you have no land, what choice do you have but to eat whatever food is made available via those who control all means of food production? You are not free; you are a laboratory guinea pig. The path to freedom? The good news is that you’re already stood both at the point of origin and the destination of this journey. We are free when we stop asking to be free. We are free when we realize that the future is ours to write, when we stop manifesting inferiority in our reactions and responses, and when we stop playing the victim. We are free when we laugh in the face of a bald, fat billionaire presuming to tell us how things will be, what we will own and how we will feel about it. We are free when we face our mor tality and embrace the miracle of our existence—both individually and collectively.

N e l so n Ma ndela

Bio

Everest Fernandez is a well-respected industry educator, veteran hydroponic grower and grow light enthusiast, based in France. He works primarily as a marketing and cultivation consultant and was the founding editor of Urban Garden Magazine in the UK, US and Canada. He also writes and researches for the popular hobby horticulturalist YouTube channel, Just4Growers. 61

Gold Label Hydrocorn

• The only RHP and KIWA certified clay pebble • Guaranteed low in heavy metals

www.goldlabel.nl

Introducing the Gold Label Dry Soluble Fertilizers

Biuret (Max.) ................................................................................................ 0.05 %

WARNING: This product is to be used only on crops which respond to molybdenum. Crops high in molybdenum are toxic to grazing animals (ruminants).

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

Or:

In association with: GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl.

8 719699 492912

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN DERIVED FROM: Monoammonium Phosphate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate, and Soy Protein Hydrolysate. Total Nitrogen (N)......................................................................................... 3.00 % 2.00 % Ammoniacal Nitrogen 1.00 % Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen Available Phosphate (P2O5) ....................................................................... 42.00 % Soluble Potash (K2O) ..................................................................................27.00 % Sulfur (S) .......................................................................................................2.10 %

ULTRA PK GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability: Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

650

5.75

3.4

2.5

6.2

flush

6.2 maturation

6 final

Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

These Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State California, excluding its conflicts of laws and rules, and many not amended by any oral or written agreement. To the extent permitted by law, neither Manufacturer nor Seller shall be liable for any incidental, consequential or special damages resulting from the use or handling of this product. THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE BUYER OR OR USER, AND THE EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY OF MANUFACTURER AND SELLER, FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES, INJURIES OR DAMAGES (INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED ON BREACH OF WARRANTY, CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE) RESULTING FROM THE USE OR HANDLIUNG OF THIS PRODUCT, SHALL BE THE RETURN OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT, OR, AT THE ELECTION OF MANUFACTURER OR SELLER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCT.

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

Soil A

For chemical spills, leaks fire or exposure, Call CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300. 0.8

5.8

veg

416 3.5 1.6

650

5.25 2.5 6

transition

832

624

5.25

3.2

2.4

6.2 flowering

flush

Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not eat drink or smoke using this product.

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

flush flush

6.2 maturation

6 final

Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl. Application Soil B dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems.

Harmful if swallowed.

WARNING

Or: GOLD LABEL SOIL B can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Store away from incompatible materials. Dispose of contents/ container in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations.

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FIRST AID

For chemical spills, leaks fire or exposure, Call CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

DERIVED FROM: Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate, Calcium Chloride, Iron In association with: EDTA, Manganese EDTA and Zinc EDTA. GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

Iron shall (Fe). be ...................................................................................................... 0.50 % These Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability 0.50% Chelated Iron interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State California, excluding its conflicts of laws and rules, and many not amended by any oralManganese or written (Mn) .......................................................................................... 0.30 % 0.30% Chelated Manganese agreement. Zinc (Zn) ...................................................................................................... 0.20 % 0.20% Chelated Zinc

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not eat drink or smoke using this product.

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

5-6-15

IF SWALLOWED: Call a poison center/doctor if you feel unwell. Rinse mouth.

Soil B

Harmful if swallowed.

WARNING

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

WARNING: This product is to be used only on crops which respond to molybdenum. Crops high in molybdenum are toxic to grazing animals.(ruminants). WARNING: This product contains Boron. Do not use on crops that may be susceptible to Boron. DERIVED FROM: Urea, Monopotassium, Phosphate, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Nitrate, Boric Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganese EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Zinc EDTA and Sodium Molybdate.

Total Nitrogen (N) .............................................................................................. 5.00 % 4.40% Nitrate Nitrogen 0.10% Urea Nitrogen 0.50% Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen Available Phosphate (P2O5) .............................................................................. 6.00 % Soluble Potash (K2O) ...................................................................................... 15.00 % Magnesium (Mg) ............................................................................................... 5.20 % Sulfur (S)............................................................................................................3.80 % Boron (B) ........................................................................................................... 0.20 % Copper (Cu) ....................................................................................................... 0.75 % Manganese (Mn) ............................................................................................... 0.90 % 0.90% Chelated Manganese Molybdenum (Mo) ........................................................................................... 0.014 % Zinc (Zn) ............................................................................................................ 0.45 % 0.45% Chelated Zinc

SOIL B GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

IF SWALLOWED:Call a poison center/doctor if you feel unwell. Rinse mouth.

FIRST AID 208

In association with: GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands

Store away from incompatible materials. Dispose of contents / container in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations.

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

11-0-5

To the extent permitted by law, neither Manufacturer nor Seller shall be liable for any incidental, consequential or special damages resulting from the use or handling of this product. THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE BUYER OR OR USER, AND THE EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY OF MANUFACTURER AND A GUARANTEED ANALYSIS SELLER, FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES, INJURIES SOIL OR DAMAGES Total Nitrogen (N)........................................................................................11.00 % (INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED ON BREACH OF WARRANTY, CONTRACT, 10.50% Nitrate Nitrogen NEGLIGENCE, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE) RESULTING FROM 0.50% Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen THE USE OR HANDLIUNG OF THIS PRODUCT, SHALL BE THE RETURN Soluble Potash OF (K2O) ................................................................................... 5.00 % OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT, OR, AT THE ELECTION MANUFACTURER OR SELLER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCT. Calcium (Ca) .............................................................................................. 18.00 % Seller warrants that this product confirms to the chemical description on the label. EXCEPT FOR THIS WARRANTY, THE PRODUCT IS FURNISHED “AS-IS.” AND NEITHER SELLER NOR MANUFACTURER MAKES ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE SELECTION, PURCHASE OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT; SELLER AND MANUFACTURER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Buyer and User accept all risks arising from any use of this product, including without limitation us contrary to label instructions, under abnormal conditions, or under conditions not reasonably foreseeable to (or beyond the control of) Seller or Manufacturer. The Directions of Use of the product should be followed carefully. It is impossible to eliminate all risks inherently associated with the use of this product. Crop injury, ineffectiveness, or other unintended consequences may result because of many different factors including, without limitation, manner of use application, weather, combination with other products, or crop conditions. All such risks shall be assumed by Buyer and User, and User agree to hold Manufacturer and seller harmless from any claims relating to such factors. NOTICE: Read the entire Directions for use and Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability before buying or using this product. If the terms are not acceptable return the product at once, unopened, and the purchase price will be refunded.

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability: Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

PRECAUTION

ULTRA MG GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warrantyand Liability:

884

7.75

flowering

GOLD LABEL SOIL A can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

These Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State California, excluding its conflicts of laws and rules, and many not amended by any oral or written agreement. NOTICE: Read the entire Directions for use and Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability before buying or using this product. If the terms are not acceptable return the product at once, unopened, and the purchase price will be refunded.

Or:

Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

Total Nitrogen (N)....................................................................................... 10.00 % 7.0% Nitrate Nitrogen 2.0% Urea Nitrogen 1.0% Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen Magnesium (Mg) .......................................................................................... 7.90 % 0.30 % Chelated Magnesium Sulfur (S) ...................................................................................................... 2.30 % Boron (B) ..................................................................................................... 0.06 % Iron (Fe) ....................................................................................................... 0.20 % Copper (Cu) .................................................................................................0.15 % Manganese (Mn) ...........................................................................................0.15 % Molybdenum (Mo) ........................................................................................ 0.02 % Zinc (Zn) .......................................................................................................0.15 %

2.5

AVAILABLE NOW!

ULTRA

The Directions of Use of the product should be followed carefully. It is impossible to eliminate all risks inherently associated with the use of this product. Crop injury, ineffectiveness, or other unintended consequences may result because of many different factors including, without limitation, manner of use application, weather, combination with other products, or crop conditions. All such risks shall be assumed by Buyer and User, and User agree to hold Manufacturer and seller harmless from any claims relating to such factors.

In association with: GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands The Directions of Use of the product should be followed carefully. It is impossible to eliminate all risks inherently associated with the use of this product. Crop injury, ineffectiveness, or other unintended consequences may result because of many different factors including, without limitation, manner of use application, weather, combination with other products, or crop conditions. All such risks shall be assumed by Buyer and User, and User agree to hold Manufacturer and seller harmless from any claims relating to such factors.

650

5.75

transition

Application Soil A dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems.

10-0-0

ULTRA

8 719699 492899

• Easy soluble • Highly Concentrated • Chelated trace elements

Do not ingest. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Avoid breathing dust, vapor or mist.

8 719699 492899

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

flush

Prevention: Observe good industrial hygiene practices. Response: Wash hands after handling.

flush

624

Additional information is given in the Safety Data Sheet. This product is not known to be a “Hazardous Chemical” as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200. All components are listed on or exempted from the U.S. EPA TSCA Inventory List.

2.4 5.25

For chemical spills, leaks fire or exposure, Call CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300.

final

6.2

832

FIRST AID

6.2

maturation

3.2

650

In all cases, call a poison center or doctor for further treatment advice.

flowering

2.5 5.25

IF SWALLOWED, call a poison center or doctor immediately. Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told by a poison control center or doctor. Do not give anything to an unconscious person. IF ON SKIN, take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. IF INHALED, move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration. IF IN EYES, hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing.

transition

1.6 3.5

416

veg

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

DERIVED FROM: Urea, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Boric Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Molybdate, Zinc Sulfate, and Soy Protein Hydrolysate.

208

Biuret (Max.) ................................................................................................ 0.05 %

1.7 veg

0.8 1.75

WARNING: This product contains Boron. Do not use on crops that may be susceptible to Boron.

5.8

lb/1000 Gal. water gr./1000 L water

WARNING: This product is to be used only on crops which respond to molybdenum. Crops high in molybdenum are toxic to grazing animals (ruminants).

442

3.75

1.8

5.8

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

Soil A

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

325

1.25

veg/start

Soil B

Dosage: 0.25 – 0.75 gram / gallon water • 0.45 – 1.25 lb on 1000 gallon water. Gradually increase dosages.

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

gr./1000 L water lb/1000 Gal. water

gr./1 Gal. water

Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl.

8 719699 492905

8 719699 492882

Application Soil B dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems.

3-42-27

Application Ultra PK dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems.

Do not contaminate water, food or feed by storage, disposal or cleaning of equipment. Store in a safe manner. Store in original package only and keep tightly sealed when not in use. Dispose of unused product and empty package in accordance with federal, state and local regulations.

GOLD LABEL SOIL B can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

GOLD LABEL ULTRA PK can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

In association with: GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

gr./1 Gal. water

ULTRA

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

Store away from incompatible materials. Dispose of contents/ container in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations.

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

5-6-15

IF SWALLOWED: Call a poison center/doctor if you feel unwell. Rinse mouth.

Or:

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

FIRST AID

In all cases, call a poison center or doctor for further treatment advice. IF SWALLOWED, call a poison center or doctor immediately. Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told by a poison control center or doctor. Do not give anything to an unconscious person. IF ON SKIN, take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. IF INHALED, move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration. IF IN EYES, hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing. Do not contaminate water, food or feed by storage, disposal or cleaning of equipment. Store in a safe manner. Store in original package only and keep tightly sealed when not in use. Dispose of unused product and empty package in accordance with federal, state and local regulations.

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not eat drink or smoke using this product. For chemical spills, leaks fire or exposure, Call CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300.

FIRST AID

GOLD LABEL ULTRA PK can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

Harmful if swallowed.

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

For chemical spills, leaks fire or exposure, Call CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300.

In association with: GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands

WARNING

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

8 719699 492882

1.75

flush

veg/start

flush

Soil B

flush

2.5 650

Soil B

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

final

6.2 5.75

884

lb/1000 Gal. water

6.2

maturation

3.4 7.75

650

gr./1000 L water

flowering

2.5 5.75

gr./1 Gal. water

transition

1.7 442

veg

3.75

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

Prevention: Observe good industrial hygiene practices. Response: Wash hands after handling.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

1.8 325

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

GOLD LABEL ULTRA MG can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality. Or: Application Ultra MG dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems. Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl. Dosage: 0,5 g/ gallon – 1.0 lb/ 1000 gal

PRECAUTION

5.8 1.25

gr./1000 L water

Do not ingest. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Avoid breathing dust, vapor or mist.

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

Do not ingest. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Avoid breathing dust, vapor or mist.

pH lb/1000 Gal. water

10-0-0

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

veg/start

Soil A gr./1 Gal. water

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

3-42-27

WARNING: This product is to be used only on crops which respond to molybdenum. Crops high in molybdenum are toxic to grazing animals.(ruminants).

NOTICE: Read the entire Directions for use and Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability before buying or using this product. If the terms are not acceptable return the product at once, unopened, and the purchase price will be refunded. The Directions of Use of the product should be followed carefully. It is impossible to eliminate all risks inherently associated with the use of this product. Crop injury, ineffectiveness, or other unintended consequences may result because of many different factors including, without limitation, manner of use application, weather, combination with other products, or crop conditions. All such risks shall be assumed by Buyer and User, and User agree to hold Manufacturer and seller harmless from any claims relating to such factors.

Or:

WARNING: This product contains Boron. Do not use on crops that may be susceptible to Boron.

PRECAUTION

Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability:

Application Ultra PK dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems.

DERIVED FROM: Urea, Monopotassium, Phosphate, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Nitrate, Boric Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganese EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Zinc EDTA and Sodium Molybdate.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

In association with: GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The Netherlands

Prevention: Observe good industrial hygiene practices. Response: Wash hands after handling.

GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl.

DERIVED FROM: Monoammonium Phosphate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate, and Soy Protein Hydrolysate.

Manufactured for and guaranteed by: GOLD LABEL US INC.

Application Soil A dry soluble is your complete mix for concentrated solutions applicable for computerized irrigation management systems.

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

ULTRA PK GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Total Nitrogen (N)......................................................................................... 3.00 % 2.00 % Ammoniacal Nitrogen 1.00 % Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen Available Phosphate (P2O5) ....................................................................... 42.00 % Soluble Potash (K2O) ..................................................................................27.00 % Sulfur (S) .......................................................................................................2.10 %

Or:

Consult your area Gold Label representative for specific recommendations at info@goldlabel.nl.

11-0-5

GOLD LABEL SOIL A can be used as part of a comprehensive nutrition program for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

FIRST AID

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

FIRST AID

In all cases, call a poison center or doctor for further treatment advice.

Store away from incompatible materials. Dispose of contents / container in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations.

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability:

Dosage: 0.25 – 0.75 gram / gallon water • 0.45 – 1.25 lb on 1000 gallon water. Gradually increase dosages.

Concentrated Plant-Fertilizer

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

Distributed by: GOLD LABEL US INC 90 Jarvis Circle Sacramento, CA 95834

IF SWALLOWED:Call a poison center/doctor if you feel unwell. Rinse mouth.

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

FIRST AID

Do not ingest. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Avoid breathing dust, vapor or mist. Prevention: Observe good industrial hygiene practices. Response: Wash hands after handling.

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

For chemical spills, leaks fire or exposure, Call CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300.

PRECAUTION

To the extent permitted by law, neither Manufacturer nor Seller shall be liable for any incidental, consequential or special damages resulting from the use or handling of this product. THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE BUYER OR OR USER, AND THE EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY OF MANUFACTURER AND B GUARANTEED ANALYSIS SELLER, FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES, INJURIES SOIL OR DAMAGES (INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED ON BREACH OF WARRANTY, CONTRACT, Total Nitrogen (N) .............................................................................................. 5.00 % NEGLIGENCE, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE) RESULTING FROM 4.40% Nitrate Nitrogen THE USE OR HANDLIUNG OF THIS PRODUCT, SHALL BE THE RETURN 0.10% Urea Nitrogen OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT, OR, AT THE 0.50% ELECTION OtherOF Water-Soluble Nitrogen MANUFACTURER OR SELLER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCT. Available Phosphate (P2O5) .............................................................................. 6.00 % Soluble These Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability shallPotash be (K2O) ...................................................................................... 15.00 % Magnesium (Mg) ............................................................................................... 5.20 % interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State California, excluding its conflicts of laws and rules, and many not amended by any oralSulfur or written (S)............................................................................................................3.80 % agreement. Boron (B) ........................................................................................................... 0.20 % Copper (Cu) ....................................................................................................... 0.75 % Manufactured for and guaranteed by: Manganese (Mn) ............................................................................................... 0.90 % GOLD LABEL US INC. 0.90% Chelated Manganese In association with: Molybdenum (Mo) ........................................................................................... 0.014 % GOLD LABEL / SPECIAL MIX B.V. Oosteinderweg 303A 1432AW – Aalsmeer – The NetherlandsZinc (Zn) ............................................................................................................ 0.45 % 0.45% Chelated Zinc Distributed by:

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

Soil A

Harmful if swallowed.

PRECAUTIONAIRY STATEMENTS

Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not eat drink or smoke using this product.

WARNING

WARNING: This product contains Boron. Do not use on crops that may be susceptible to Boron.

ULTRA

DERIVED FROM: Urea, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Boric Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Molybdate, Zinc Sulfate, and Soy Protein Hydrolysate.

8 719699 492905

Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warrantyand Liability:

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

www.goldlabel.nl Net weight: 25 pounds (11.34kg)

DERIVED FROM: Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate, Calcium Chloride, Iron EDTA, Manganese EDTA and Zinc EDTA.

ULTRA MG GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability:

SOIL A GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Total Nitrogen (N)........................................................................................11.00 % 10.50% Nitrate Nitrogen 0.50% Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen Soluble Potash (K2O) ................................................................................... 5.00 % Calcium (Ca) .............................................................................................. 18.00 % Iron (Fe). ...................................................................................................... 0.50 % 0.50% Chelated Iron Manganese (Mn) .......................................................................................... 0.30 % 0.30% Chelated Manganese Zinc (Zn) ...................................................................................................... 0.20 % 0.20% Chelated Zinc

Seller warrants that this product confirms to the chemical description on the label. EXCEPT FOR THIS WARRANTY, THE PRODUCT IS FURNISHED “AS-IS.” AND NEITHER SELLER NOR MANUFACTURER MAKES ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE SELECTION, PURCHASE OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT; SELLER AND MANUFACTURER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Buyer and User accept all risks arising from any use of this product, including without limitation us contrary to label instructions, under abnormal conditions, or under conditions not reasonably foreseeable to (or beyond the control of) Seller or Manufacturer. The Directions of Use of the product should be followed carefully. It is impossible to eliminate all risks inherently associated with the use of this product. Crop injury, ineffectiveness, or other unintended consequences may result because of many different factors including, without limitation, manner of use application, weather, combination with other products, or crop conditions. All such risks shall be assumed by Buyer and User, and User agree to hold Manufacturer and seller harmless from any claims relating to such factors. NOTICE: Read the entire Directions for use and Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability before buying or using this product. If the terms are not acceptable return the product at once, unopened, and the purchase price will be refunded.

Conditions of Sale and Limitation of Warranty and Liability: Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

Tricks Of The Trade

Identifying And Preventing

Tomato Blight

BLIGHT

t the end of every growing season, I like to review my garden to determine what was successful and what needs improvement the next time around. No stone is left unturned, from plant spacing and placement to which cultivars performed the best or how well specific growing techniques worked.

This year, while taking notes on their gardens, several friends of mine expressed frustration after struggling with the dreaded tomato blight. After having the same issues years ago, it occurred to me that many hobby gardeners are not only unfamiliar with what tomato blight is, but they are also unaware of how easily we can avoid it.

What Is Blight? Blight is a fungal disease that primarily affects tomatoes and other plants in the nightshade family, such as eggplant and potatoes. Blight is not caused by one single fungus, but instead, three main types can strike at different times in the season.

Blight is not caused by one single fungus, but instead, three main types can strike at different times in the season

The severity of infection from blight-causing fungi can range from an annoying nuisance to complete plant failure. However, all can be avoided, or at least mitigated, by adopting specific gardening techniques and practices. All types of blight infection spread the same as any other fungal disease: by the movement of spores through air and moisture.

Leaf Spot Blight Three main fungal strains cause common tomato blight, and they range in severity. The most common blight and also least likely to ruin fruit production is called Septoria, also referred to as leaf spot blight. This strain is caused by the spores of the fungus Septoria lycopersici, and as the common name suggests, is typically identified by the spots it creates on the leaves of the plant. Small, uniform, circular spots that are generally dark around the edges and grey in the center begin to form on lower leaves first, and then travel through moisture up to the rest of the plant. In most cases, the infection spreads so relentlessly on a leaf that it will destroy cellular function and lead to its death. The good news, however, is that Septoria blight rarely causes much harm to fruit and flower production, so yields and fruit quality remain relatively unaffected.

All types of blight infection spread the same as any other fungal disease: by the movement of spores through air and moisture

Septoria lycopersici spots on tomato leaf Once Septoria blight is visible on an infected leaf, it is imperative to remove and destroy it by either burning it or placing it in the trash to prevent the spores from spreading to other parts of the plant. Do not compost the cut leaf stalk or leave it on the garden floor. Septoria, as well as the other common blight species, can overwinter in composts and soils, and under the right conditions, can quickly come back to infect other plants in future growing seasons. Septoria thrives in periods of high relative humidity and semiwarm weather ranging from 60°F-80°F (15.5°C-26.6°C). Septoria usually occurs earlier in the season when wet weather offers the ideal environment for its development and subsequent spread.

BLIGHT

In most cases, the infection spreads so relentlessly on a leaf that it will destroy cellular function and lead to its death

Early Blight

Late Blight

Early blight is another relatively common and potentially destructive form of blight caused by the fungus Alternaria solani. This form generally affects older plants and tends to strike around the first and second fruit sets. In many regions, early blight is most prevalent around mid-season, when temperatures average between 80°F-90°F (26°C-32°C) and humidity levels are high. This fungal infection thrives in the warm and moist weather of summer and can spread through a plant quickly.

The final form of tomato blight to discuss is by far the most destructive, but thankfully, the least common to occur. Late blight is caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. This is the same infection that caused the infamous Irish Potato Famine in 1845 when blight destroyed more than half the potato harvests, and one million people died of starvation and disease. This type of blight is a real crop killer, and once it is detected on a plant, it almost always results in the plant’s demise.

Similar to Septoria, early blight typically first infects the lower branches and leaves where contact with the wet soil is more common. The disease appears as dark, non-uniform spots that spread over the leaf. As the infection progresses, the leaves will turn yellow and eventually die as the condition makes its way up the stem to the ripening fruits. Once the infection reaches the fruit, there is not much hope of saving them. Early blight will appear as black spots that resemble bruising and then transforms into a rotten spot as it progresses. Eventually, it will damage the fruits so severely that they fall from the plant and are inedible.

Just like the other forms, late blight usually infects the lower branches and leaves first. Brownish-grey water-soaked spots begin to form and widen, turning black and destroying the entire leaf in just a few days. The infection rapidly spreads vertically through the plant, and once it reaches the fruits, it’s game over. The fruits will develop large black spots that rot so fast the plant doesn’t even have a chance.

credit: WisContext

credit: NC State Extension Publications NC State University

The spores from early blight can also live on plant debris and in the soil for at least a year, so remove any infected parts and burn or place them in the trash. Again, do not compost them! Keeping the ground free of weeds and debris will also minimize the spread of disease.

Once late blight is spotted, remove the entire plant right away; not just the individually affected leaves and stems. Even though it may appear to be localized in a branch or two, the odds are it has already spread. As with the other forms of blight, infected plant matter should be burned or placed in the trash.

BLIGHT

The infection rapidly spreads vertically through the plant, and once it reaches the fruits, it’s game over

Plants that are well-fed and healthy will have a lot more vigor and natural resistance to disease As the name implies, late blight occurs later in the season when temperatures average between 65°F-75°F (18°C-23°C) with frequent rainy weather and colder nights. Late blight hits so hard and late in the season, which is why it can be so devastating to a harvest when there is no chance for replanting.

The timing of watering is also essential. When possible, avoid doing so in the evening, so if the plants do get wet, they have time to dry before the sun goes down. Do not enter the garden to work until it has completely dried, because our bodies can help spread the spores if we come into contact with them.

Treating Blight

Keep the garden space as clean and as open as possible. Removing any weeds and discarded plant debris will limit the number of places fungal spores can inhabit. Space plants well enough apart to allow for adequate airflow, so moisture doesn’t have time to fester and cause issues. Proper spacing also helps prevent powdery mildew from forming. If your garden has had problems with blight for a season or more, it is a good idea to do preventative sprays of a fungicide.

There are treatments available on the market to help battle all forms of blight, but they are tough to control and nearly impossible to eradicate. Once a plant is infected, it will remain so in some capacity for the remainder of the season and can infect other plants nearby. Blight-centric fungicides are sold in garden centers, and they range from non-organic chemicals to those approved for organic crop production. The most effective products are the ones that contain zinc or copper, both of which have anti-fungal properties. You can make a homemade treatment with baking soda, water, and dish soap. This brew isn’t strong enough to kill a massive blight infection, but it can slow it down enough so there is still some fruit to harvest.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure Many of us are familiar with this adage, and it couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to the topic of blight, which is much easier to avoid than it is to fight. An excellent first step is to select plants that are more resistant to blight. Since blight-causing fungal spores travel primarily through moisture and water droplets, one of the most critical aspects of prevention is adapting proper watering techniques. Blight arrives in the soil first, so during watering, focus attention on not letting the water splash up from the earth onto the lower branches. Using dripline irrigation or a soaker hose is a great way to eliminate upward splashing.

A well-rounded fertility program is critical to preventing blight. Plants that are well-fed and healthy will have a lot more vigor and natural resistance to disease. When a plant is underfertilized, it is a sitting duck that is much more susceptible to insects and infections. Ensuring that plants are in top-notch condition helps even the playing field and gives them a much better chance of fighting unwanted intruders. When you are mindful and tactical with every aspect of the garden, you can avoid so many common problems. It just takes some time, effort, and thoughtfulness. In the upcoming gardening season, be careful and be deliberate with your garden; together, we can say goodnight to blight. 3

BIO

Kyle L. Ladenburger is a freelance garden writer who has worked in the gardening/hydroponics industry for over a decade. As an avid indoor and outdoor gardener, he is well-versed in nearly all types of growing methods, with an overall focus on sustainability and maintaining healthy soils. He holds a strong conviction that growing one’s own food is a powerful way to change our lives and our world for the better.

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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

WHY IPM IS THE SECRET SOLUTION TO YOUR GARDENING SUCCESS

BY COLIN BELL PhD.

Instead of using one product with limited results, IPM practices rotate multiple products with different modes of action across the plant lifecycle

hat if someone told you that the more you use most insecticides – the less they work to eliminate plant pests? Unfor tunately, this is an inconvenient truth for all cultivators. Have you ever seen mites on your plants, found the strongest chemical insecticide you could

buy behind the shelf, used it with some early success – only to find that the mites ultimately come back stronger than EVER? Over time, no matter how often you spray your plants, the mites will become resistant to that insecticide, and they will not die! What can you do? Well, there is a solution. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a practice that allows cultivators to keep pests away from plants reliably and consistently.

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? IPM is a practice that encourages the use of several different plant protection products in a rotation schedule, which will successfully KEEP PESTS OFF YOUR PLANTS FROM SEEDLING THROUGH HARVEST. A good IPM strategy focuses on a variety of methods throughout your plants’ life cycles: • Planting: Choosing a disease-resistant strain of your crop can help right from the start. • Preemptive Forecasting: whether you are growing indoors or outdoors, monitor the climate conditions to determine if a pest outbreak might occur. For example, humidity levels are strongly correlated with mold and mildew outbreaks. • Mechanical/Physical Controls: These controls include using the right environment, humidity, temperature, nutrition, and irrigation. • Cleaning Controls: Quarantining new plants or clones, using clean tools and correct irrigation strategies and/or crosscontaminating your garden with outside influences. • Biological Controls: Introducing natural predators for your pests. • Chemical Controls: Good IPM strategies can use chemical solutions along with natural solutions. The best plans are balanced approaches that use chemical controls only as needed and rely on more naturally-based products that reduce any regulatory risk posed using synthetic chemical products. • Monitoring: Always Be Checking your plants for pest presence signs; the simple ABC’s for IPM success!

Over time, no matter how often you spray your plants, the mites will become resistant to that insecticide, and they will not die!

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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

IPM

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The fundamental concept in IPM strategy is preventing pests from building up tolerances or immunities to any one single product

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Mechanical/Physical controls

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Monitoring

A good IPM strategy focuses on a variety of methods throughout your plants’ life cycles

Why implement an IPM strategy?

How to get IPM to Work for You

• • •

Every IPM strategy is unique. Commercial cultivation facility success is dependent on a strong IPM strategy. To make an IPM plan, here are a few easy steps:

•

Short answer: IPM works. IPM helps with consistent long-term pest prevention. Implementing and using a strong IPM strategy by rotating plant protection solutions can eliminate pest pressure. Instead of using one product with limited results, IPM practices rotate multiple products with different modes of action across the plant lifecycle. IPM is a sure way to eliminate pests because they cannot build up a resistance to any one product.

•

Know your pest. Be sure you know what you are up against. Keep an eye out for most common problems in your area (disease or insect).

•

Monitor your plants. Always Be Checking your plants. Be sure to keep a record of what you observe. Set a threshold.

•

Have a plan. IPM is a preventative strategy. Knowing what you may need before you need it and proactively putting a plan in place is essential in creating a strong IPM strategy. The key to your system is to be sure you rotate different modes of action.

•

Act! If pests start appearing, take immediate action! Use your IPM rotation as planned. You will rid pests while avoiding risking their return!

What is a Mode of Action? • • • • •

•

A mode of action is the way a particular product works to prevent and/or kill pests. For example, one mode of action could be trapping an insect using a sticky trap. Another mode of action could repel pests using certain fragrances or chemical signaling to drive pests away. Additionally, a mode of action could inhibit insect respiration (breathing) or cell wall structures to kill insects altogether. Cultivators should use different products in their rotation with varying modes of action, affecting different insect and pest biological systems. This is the key to a successful IPM strategy. The fundamental concept in IPM strategy is preventing pests from building up tolerances or immunities to any one single product.

BIO

IPM; a safer, more effective method to handle your pest problems. Keep reading to learn more about how easy and effective a good IPM strategy can be for your operation. 3

Colin Bell is the co-founder, co-inventor and Chief Growth Officer at Mammoth Microbes. Colin is passionate about science, and received his PhD. in Biological Sciences, specializing in soil microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions. He left his academic position at Colorado State University in March 2015 to launch Mammoth Microbes. When he’s not traveling the world interacting with and learning from cultivators, there is nothing Colin enjoys more than teaching and working with the team at Mammoth Microbes. You can find Colin on Instagram: @colinwbell 74

BY ANNE GIBSON

Fighting Pests, Diseases, and Improving Soil Health with

Vermicast

VERMICAST

Of all animals, few have contributed so much to the development of the world, as we know it, as earthworms.

-Charles Darwin

ver a decade ago, I studied sustainable agriculture practices and discovered a vital puzzle piece for building healthy soils. I learned what every gardener and farmer should aim for – the holy grail of achieving optimum soil health is the presence of 25 worms or more per square shovelful of soil. This equates to 30kg of

earthworm castings per square meter each year. That’s a massive quantity of free fertilizer! Since that eye-opening discovery, I’ve nurtured worms and my invisible soil workforce to grow a healthy, sustainable garden teeming with bio-life. Both composting and earthworm species have an unrivalled ability to turn green ‘waste’ into valuable products, sequester carbon in their humus-rich castings, significantly improve soil quality, plant health and yields. As far back as 1881, Charles Darwin recognized their value: “Of all animals, few have contributed so much to the development of the world, as we know it, as earthworms.”

Vermicast vs Vermicompost ‘Vermicomposting’ is the process of worms converting biodegradable organic matter and inorganic soil materials into ‘vermicast,’ worm manure or worm castings. ‘Vermicompost’ is the term for live worm castings containing worm eggs and a percentage of undigested worm food. ‘Vermicast’ is pure worm excreta, so all food has been consumed and converted into nutrient-rich humus.

your soil. The worm castings have a neutral pH with a moisture content between 32% and 66%. If you want to speed up humus levels in your soil, earthworms decompose and produce humus four times faster than conventional composting methods. This is one of the reasons I employ multiple worm farms in my garden rather than compost bins. No heavy lifting!

Advantages of Vermicast Nutrient availability In his book, Harnessing the Earthworm, Dr Thomas J. Barrett defines earthworm manure as “humus, a crumbly, finely-conditioned topsoil, richly endowed with all the elements of plant nutrition in water-soluble form” and the key to building fertility with structurally stable soil aggregates. Nutrients that would otherwise be locked up and remain unavailable are released, so they are accessible to plants via the castings. The humic acid component of worm castings provides binding sites for elements such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and sulphur so they can be released on demand when required by plants (Holcombe and Longfellow, 1995).

Aristotle insightfully once said, “Earthworms are the intestines of the soil.” He must have known a thing or two because worms indeed convert unavailable minerals into bioavailable nutrient minerals as the organic matter and soil particles travel through their intestines. The result is a flood of fertility immediately available to plants. I’ve seen the difference this can make. The container gardens and beds where I have worm farms have the healthiest, pest-resistant and most productive plants in my garden.

Fertilizer Factories Worms have a gizzard where they grind food to a fine consistency with the aid of enzymes and microbes in their gut, producing fine mucus-coated granular aggregates or castings. Earthworms are small, weighing on average 0.5g – 0.6g. They can eat the equivalent of their body weight and turn around 40-60% of their organic material diet into worm manure every day. Castings contain millions of soil microorganisms from the worm’s gut and help to inoculate these unique species in 77

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VERMICAST

the holy grail of achieving optimum soil health is the presence of 25 worms or more per square shovelful of soil

Humic acid stimulates root growth, aids plant resilience to stress and assists with the uptake of fertilizers in the soil. As vermicast is water-soluble, plants can quickly and easily absorb essential macronutrients and trace elements without any risk of burning delicate plants. David Murphy, author of Organic Gardening with Worms, explains that “trace elements are attracted to vermicast and readily bond to it in the same way that opposite poles of a magnet attract each other. Plants have a stronger pull than the vermicast and can therefore draw the trace elements away from the vermicast and into their roots.”

Worm castings function as timerelease nutrient capsules

Worm castings function as time-release nutrient capsules. Analyses found they contain seven times more phosphorus, ten times more potassium, five times more nitrogen, three times more exchangeable magnesium and 1.5 times more calcium than surrounding soil (de Vleeschauwer and Lal, 1981; Brady and Weil, 1999; Delahaut and Koval, 2002). They are also rich in iron and sulphur. Importantly, worm castings act as a pH buffer for plants growing in acidic or alkaline soils where nutrients would otherwise be locked up, making these elements more accessible and minimizing potential nutrient deficiencies.

Free fertilizers Worms produce two perfectly balanced fertilizers that condition the soil and feed plants: Vermicast, the solid fertilizer and nature’s soil builder; and. Vermi-leachate or aqueous vermicompost extract is the liquid also known as “worm tea.”

Dr. Norman Aroncon, PhD, University of Hawaii-Hilo, describes worm castings as “stabilized organic matter that is produced by the interaction of worms and microorganisms under controlled conditions.” Earthworms truck minerals through an underground highway of tunnels deep in the soil and deliver them to the root zone, where plants pick up this load and absorb the soluble nutrients for healthy growth. These burrow roadways are lined with mucus that stimulates soil biota. This network of channels creates an underground reservoir of nutrients and moisture. Earthworms also deposit calcium carbonate via their castings, effectively liming the soil. They fertilize in the root zone so plants can self-serve nutrients as needed. Studies, including Arancon, (2004), found that maximum benefit from vermicompost is obtained when it constitutes between 10 and 40% of the growing medium. Higher levels have no further advantage and may decrease plant growth or yields. You can have too much of a good thing! Research studies confirm the application of diluted worm tea can both enhance plant growth and aid disease suppression. A May 2006 study, ‘Effects of vermicompost teas on plant growth and disease’ found teas produced by standing one liter of vermicompost in four liters of oxygenated water for 24 hours are “much more stable and effective” than non-aerated teas. Aerated vermicompost tea (ACT) dilutions (0.5% - 10%) significantly increased tomato plant germination and growth compared with controls. All ACT dilutions (4-40%) applied to tomato plants infected with Verticillium wilt resulted in significant disease suppression.

Make worm tea by adding vermicompost to water in a ratio of solids to water ranging from 1:3 to 1:200. Apply the tea as a liquid fertilizer to the soil, compost activator or foliar spray.

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If you want to speed up humus levels in your soil, earthworms decompose and produce humus four times faster than conventional composting methods

VERMICAST

Healthier plants and higher yields Extensive testing performed by Ohio State, Cornell University, UC Davis found solid worm castings contribute to improved flower size, bloom quality, biomass quantity of flowers, and color. Test results on fruits and vegetables resulted in 57%-200% improved yields and enhanced taste and appearance. Various studies confirm vermicast plays a beneficial role in stimulating seed germination, shoot and root development, and vegetative growth. Seedlings have increased leaf area and root branching, so definitely worth using when seed raising.

Beneficial microbes Vermicast inoculates the soil with beneficial bacteria that act as a gateway between the soil and plant roots. Compared to parent soil, worm castings contain up to 1,000 times more beneficial bacteria after passing through the worm’s gut. Earthworms use microorganisms in their digestive system in conjunction with enzymes to process food before excreting it as a microbially-rich fertilizer. In this way, worms turn dead dirt into living soil. Pathogenic bacteria die in the worm’s gut, helping protect plants from pathogens. So, the more worms in your soil, the greater the beneficial microbe populations that have a symbiotic relationship feeding and protecting your plants.

Plant growth hormones Microbial flora in worm castings plays a critical role in releasing plant growth regulators like gibberellins, cytokinins and auxins (Tomati et al., 1983). Studies have shown seedlings grown with vermicast in the potting media exhibited faster growth and higher nitrogen availability. What’s particularly interesting for all growers is that many research studies have found vermicast stimulates ongoing plant growth even when the plants are already getting optimal nutrition.

Harvesting vermicast from my worm farm

Plant protection from pests and diseases When liquid vermicast leachate is applied as a foliar spray, it provides natural resistance to certain plant diseases without the need for chemical alternatives. Vermicast was applied to various fruits and vegetables and fruits being attacked by common diseases in field trials. Researchers found the disease-causing microorganisms were significantly suppressed by the large populations of beneficial microbes in the vermicast that function as biocontrol agents through their competitive and antagonistic activities. They helped protect the plants and repel fungal infection by outcompeting the pathogens for available resources and blocked their access to plant roots by occupying all the general sites. Castings also boost pest-resistant enzyme production in plants, increasing resistance to insect attack and help fight soil-borne plant diseases like root rot. A 2004 study (Edwards and Arancon) trialling the addition of 20% and 40% vermicompost to growing media for a variety of vegetables reported statistically significant reductions in arthropod (aphid, mealybug, spider mite) numbers and subsequent decreases in plant damage compared to the control. In field trials, researchers also observed statistically significant suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes and drastic reduction of spider mites and aphids with the application of worm tea. These results are especially encouraging for home gardeners.

Pathogenic bacteria die in the worm’s gut, helping protect plants from pathogens

VERMICAST

Container garden with inbuilt worm farm in the center with healthy edibles in my garden

Castings also boost pest-resistant enzyme production in plants, increasing resistance to insect attack and help fight soil-borne plant diseases like root rot Soil stability and structure Worm castings improve soil crumb structure, boost oxygen availability and reduce compaction and erosion. Worms aerate the soil through their burrowing and tunneling activities, creating pathways for oxygen to enter and air pockets for plant roots to access. They provide an oxygenated environment for microorganism populations to live while insulating plant roots from temperature extremes. Vermicast stabilizes soil moisture levels, helping minimize plant stress from drought by increasing water infiltration and water-holding capacity. Castings retain two to three times more water than their weight in soil. Wormpopulated soil can hold over six times more water than similar soil without worms, without getting waterlogged. A money-saving benefit, particularly in dry climates. Whether you use above-ground worm farms or in-ground systems, encouraging earthworms as productive plowers and harnessing their products is likely one of the most valuable and economical ways to create healthy soil and plants. 3

Above: worm farm products liquid leachate and castings

BIO

Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener, is an author, speaker and urban garden community educator on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Anne is passionate about inspiring people to improve health and wellbeing, by growing nutrient-dense food gardens in creative containers and small spaces. Anne regularly presents workshops, speaks at sustainable living events, coaches private clients and teaches community education classes about organic gardening and ways to live sustainably. She has authored several eBooks and gardening guides. Anne shares organic gardening tips and tutorials to save time, money and energy on her popular website - TheMicroGardener.com.

Sources: • Agricultural Sciences Vol.3 No.7, 2012, Article ID:24396. Vermicompost, the story of organic gold: A review • Journal of Applied Horticulture, 16(2): 112-116, 2014. Effect of storage on some physical and chemical characteristics of vermicast. • Journal of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology. 13. 36-43, 2015. Nutrient Analysis of Three Earthworm CastTypes collected from Ikenne, Ogun State • Davley Organics. Vermicast explained, beyond a simple element analysis •hilo.hawaii.edu/faculty/arancon/

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THE GREAT DIVIDE

BY COSMIC KNOT

The Great T

here is an ever-increasing separation between Mother Nature and where many of us focus our minds. In this technocratic world, we seem to rely on the internet to fulfil daily needs

and tasks. From news and education to social interaction, we have it all at the click of a button. The void of the electronic abyss is growing larger ever y day. There is much to be gained with the new technologies of the day, but at what cost?

As the last of the ancient forests lose their battles against humankind, there is an urgent need to refocus on what is real. As a species, we are smar t; we don’t have to rely on ar tificial intelligence. And yet, we have lost touch with our roots. It is time to turn back to nature and focus on reality.

As a species, we are smart; we don’t have to rely on artificial intelligence. And yet, we have lost touch with our roots

A better understanding of Mother Nature will only bring positive revelations and lead to a brighter future. Now, more than ever, the news is flooded with a never-ending stream of mellow dramas that have no actual effect on our lives. Social media has imploded into a pit of a non-factual divide that creates tension in an otherwise peaceful place. Content can be changed and rearranged, and our news feeds are so catered to our direct interests that no one can distinguish what is real anymore. This could be a reason for grief or a surge of motivation to stand up, turn off, and dig into creating a garden to connect with nature. oak tree has thousands of acorns, and if nature takes its natural course, Just as technology grows every day, we can also help those thousands of acorns will become Mother Nature grow. From a single potted houseplant millions as they too grow into acornto a lush forest, the impact that can be made by every producing trees. one of us is untold. Most think a seed only produces a single plant, but in reality, a seed is a blueprint for Nature is designed to be self-sustainable the future. A seed is a building block for the endless and regenerative. Technology is designed to possibilities abound throughout nature and is more be a never-ending void that needs continuous powerful than anything else we know. How many attention. It’s no wonder many have fallen into oak trees can a single acorn produce? There is no the trap and the constant pull technology can have limit until acted upon by an alternate source. One on humanity. Where does Mother Nature fit in? 85

THE GREAT DIVIDE

The Great From a single potted houseplant to a lush forest, the impact that can be made by every one of us is untold

In the last few centuries, we have wiped out over half of the Ear th’s species, and technology is par tly to blame. In the origins of human society, we were given the world in perfect working form. As humankind lost the ability to reason, we began to destroy the very thing that gave us life in the first place. We did this all in the name of progress and continue to do it every day. How has that affected the natural workings of our planet and our ability to function as normal individuals? If a car was driving down the highway and people riding in the vehicle began to pull it apar t without knowing how it works or regard for the outcome, it is safe to assume it wouldn’t end well. This is what we are doing to our planet. We need to realize this and change our ways to begin the healing process for Mother Ear th. Only when we change our minds can we create change in this world. Change begins with a single seed, whether a seed of an idea or an actual seed. Every time we choose to turn off from vir tual reality and go back to the Ear th with love and kindness in our hear ts, it strengthens our bond. There could never be a better time, for all we have is this moment. We can replant the forests and abolish hunger. We can do it with ease if we open our Change begins with a eyes to the never-ending single seed, whether a possibilities abound in seed of an idea or an nature. We need to get out of the web and back onto actual seed the ground to plant our gardens. If this year has taught us anything, it’s that Mother Nature is in charge. Sustainability is the only sensible approach to our future. We can achieve a sustainable future by understanding our relationship with nature and how big of an impact we truly have as individuals. Technology gives us the illusion that it connects us all, yet we are all extremely interconnected in the macrocosm of Mother Nature. Let’s turn back to her and get back to the garden! 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: facebook.com/tom.wall.946 instagram.com/cosmicknotmusic/ artistecard.com/cosmicknot

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GROWING PROJECTS

Local

USA

Growers WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE Byron Center, MI

Flowers evoke feelings of peace, happiness, and calm for those lucky enough to be surrounded by them. Lori and John Hernandez want everyone to experience the many joys flowers bring and open Three Acre Farm to the general public every growing season. The farm is a labor of love; the couple starts the flowers from seed in their home’s basement every spring, moving the seedlings out only once it warms up. Between raising her young family and tending to the flower fields, Lori’s days are full, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She is a former art teacher and uses her experience to help people find their inner florist. A few times a week, the U-Pick Flower Garden is open to visitors. Customers are invited to come equipped with clean vases and clippers and are guided on cutting stems and arranging them into something breathtaking. With more than 100 different types of flowers and foliage growing on the farm, there is something to please anybody’s taste. A self-serve farm stand runs from July through October, where customers obey the honor system and select beautiful pre-made bouquets or single stems. The farm also hosts courses for those wishing to learn about harvesting flowers and how to help them last longer in a vase. Online classes are also available for anyone looking to create their own cut-flower backyard paradise. But above all else, the Hernandez family wants you to fall in love with flowers and enjoy everything they offer.

Three Acre Farm

Credit: Three Acre Farm

& Canad a

Flower power. Learn more: threeacrefarm.net Facebook: facebook.com/threeacrefarm.mi Instagram: three.acre.farm

New Hamburg, ON

Pfenning’s Organic Farms grows a variety of vegetables, grains, and legumes on close to 700 acres of land. Operating in New Hamburg for nearly 40 years, respecting the environment and nurturing the soil is at the heart of everything the farm does. Pfenning’s philosophy on farming is “healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy people.” Their dedication to soil-building results in delicious, nutrient-dense produce available across Ontario (and beyond) through grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, juice companies, and more. Pfenning’s takes a community-based approach to farming and partners with many other local organic growers to pack their food and get it to market. While their focus is local first, Pfenning’s also runs an international import program to provide crops that are not available locally or out of season. The farm is a busy hive of activity, even when the fields are sleeping. Affectionately referred to as “Pfamily,” the team at Pfenning’s consists of a core group of full-time locals and seasonal teams made up of locals, students, and Jamaican migrant workers. Pfenning’s goals are simple: to produce the healthiest and safest food they can while also considering the impacts of their actions on future generations and the environment.

Credit: Pfenning’s Organic Farm

Pfenning’s Organic Farms

Respecting people and the environment. Learn more: pfenningsfarms.ca facebook.com/pfenningsfarm @PfOrganicFarms pfenningsfarm @pfenningsfarm linkedin.com/company/pfenningsfarms 89

GROWING PROJECTS

Local

USA

Growers

& Canada

WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

Millerton, NY

Rock Steady Farm & Flowers

Rock Steady Farm & Flowers is one of those places you come across that has it all right. LGBTQAI+ owned and operated, the farm believes everyone has the right to nutritious food; food access and social justice are at the heart of its business model. We all belong on this planet, and Rock Steady offers a safe space for people of all races, genders, and sexual preferences to thrive. The farm acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis and grows its food and flowers on 12 acres of land following sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices. The produce is distributed through a 450-member sliding-scale CSA, which includes free and subsidized shares thanks to a Food Access Fund. The program ensures that people of all income levels can access flavorful, nutritious food that is harvested fresh daily and doesn’t come with many food miles. Rock Steady Farm & Flowers also works closely with other community organizations striving for equality and practising environmentally-sound agriculture. Grown and harvested with love. Learn more: rocksteadyfarm.com facebook.com/RockSteadyFarmandFlowers rocksteadyfarm

Montreal, QC Credit: BunkerGreens

Credit: Rock Steady Farm & Flowers

BunkerGreens When COVID-19 hit North America last spring, Jon Cleveland lost his work as a lighting designer in the theatre and dance industries. To keep busy, he decided to grow his own food, including sunflower, speckled pea, Oregon giant pea, red radish, and more. Noticing a shortage in the supply of locally-grown greens, and after taking a consulting course from a fellow Canadian microgreens grower, Cleveland started BunkerGreens. The name suits him perfectly, considering he grows his produce under lights in a corner store’s basement, and his family’s farm in New Brunswick is called Bunker Hill Farm. Cleveland takes care of it all; he builds the growing racks himself and hauls the soil down the stairs. After soaking the seeds, planting and nurturing them, he harvests fresh salad mixes daily and delivers them directly to subscribed customers and markets in the Montreal area. Having worked as a chef for several years, his website also features recipes for delicious dishes such as microgreen BLTs, a micro salad with pan-fried chicken legs, and breakfast burritos with, you guessed it, plenty of greens. While Cleveland certainly is a go-getter, he admits BunkerGreens wouldn’t be possible without the support of his friends, family, and local Montreal businesses. An example of what local food production should be. Learn more: BunkerGreens.com facebook.com/bunkergreens bunkergreens

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Fashion-Forward “Leather” Made With Cactus

rom purses, wallets, and jackets to furniture and car interiors, the global leather industry kills over a billion animals every year. The environmental impact is significant; beyond the enormous amount of water it takes to raise the animals killed for their skins, the chemicals used to create leather products are harmful and also

cause the final product to be non-biodegradable. More of a fan of vegan leather products? While they aren’t made with animal hides, they contain plastic, which doesn’t help Mother Nature’s plight. Two entrepreneurs are looking to give the industry an eco-friendly overhaul. Adrián López Velarde and Mar te Cázarez are at the helm of Adriano Di Mar ti, a company that has created a faux leather fabric using cactus leaves. credit: DESSERTO

Cactus is hard, thick, and pointy, which doesn’t exactly scream comfor t. But when processed, the plant’s leaves end up feeling like leather. This new material offers many perks, including the fact that cactus grows in the deser t with very little water! The company uses natural dyes in the fabrication process, and the final product has a lifespan of up to ten years while also being par tially biodegradable. At the same price as real leather products, Adriano Di Mar ti has created cactus bags, shoes, clothing, and car seats.

credit: www.mexicanochingon.com/

Sources: • India Times: Two Guys Create “Leather” From Cactus, Will Save 1 Billion Animals Killed For Fashion bit.ly/3hHNpPA

Adrián López Velarde and Mar te Cázarez

BY RICH HAMILTON

Preventing and Controlling Whitefly Infestations

A typical garden pest, whitefly reproduce rapidly and are incredibly destructive if left untreated 94

WHITEFLY INFESTATIONS

hether growing indoors or outdoors, likely, you’ve already encountered the whitefly. A typical garden pest, whitefly reproduce rapidly and are incredibly destructive if left untreated. However, with the following tips and tricks, a whitefly infestation can be quickly controlled, and perhaps even avoided altogether!

Consistency and routine are critical! What are Whiteflies? Whiteflies are moth-like bugs. Around 2mm in size and oval in shape, whiteflies are coated in a powdery wax, which protects them and gives them their color. The pest can fly, giving it easy access to plants and a variety of growing environments.

The female adult whitefly will lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, mainly on the underside of leaves—the eggs hatch between seven and ten days later

Whiteflies aren’t picky and are found on many different plants in the house and greenhouse. They survive by sucking the sap from the leaves and begin doing so from the moment the larvae hatch. Unfortunately, whiteflies can cause a lot of damage before you even realize you have a problem.

Lifecycle and Reproduction The female adult whitefly will lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, mainly on the underside of leaves—the eggs hatch between seven and ten days later. Eggs are deposited in a circular pattern and are pale yellow at first, turning brown just before they hatch. Whitefly larvae mature in two to four weeks, and adults live for up to six weeks after that. The reproduction rate depends on temperature, with the ultimate conditions being between 80-90°F (27-33°C).

Signs of Infestation Whiteflies and their eggs may appear on the plant as clusters of tiny white specks, and while they like the underside of leaves, they can be found anywhere on the plant. The garden pest prefers to suck the sap from new growth, so check newly sprouted leaves regularly in addition to the stem and more mature leaves. Whiteflies produce honeydew, a sticky residue that will appear on infested plants. An infestation will cause leaves to appear mottled, spotty, limp, and lifeless. In time, leaves will turn pale or yellow and fall off, and the plant may eventually die. Whiteflies are easily disturbed, so if you gently shake the plant, they will fly away and then settle once again.

Plant Impact As whiteflies suck the sap, the plant’s health and vitality will suffer. The sticky residue the pest secretes often leads to fungal diseases such as sooty molds. Whiteflies are also known to carry and spread a variety of viral infections, leading to the plants’ demise even after eradicating the bugs themselves. That’s why it is is so critical to act fast when you spot an infestation.

How To Cure An Infestation Insecticidal sprays are useful but will only kill the eggs and nymphs. Use this first and then use another method to kill the adults. Make homemade insecticidal soap or buy a premixed organic one. For a homemade solution, mix one teaspoon of mild liquid soap with one liter of water and spray onto the plant, concentrating on the underside of the leaves.

Cabbage Whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella) and green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) 95

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WHITEFLY INFESTATIONS

favor warmer conditions for Killing adult whiteflies is much Whiteflies are also known to flies reproduction. It’s also an excelmore difficult, as they fly lent idea to introduce beneficial around and lay eggs on othcarry and spread a variety insects into the growing environer plants. For this reason, glue of viral infections, leading ment. Whitefly predators include boards are a useful tool. The ladybugs, spiders, and dragonflies, sticky, yellow pads can be hung to the plants’ demise even amongst others. in close vicinity to the plant to after eradicating the bugs catch and monitor pest levels. Neem oil can be applied to the The board’s yellow hue gives themselves plant’s leaves, acting as a protecthe appearance of new plant fotive barrier between pest and liage to attract whiteflies, who plant leaf. The oil prevents the whitefly from penetrating eventually become stuck in the glue, unable to move. the leaf surface and sucking the sap, while also coating their soft bodies and killing them before laying eggs. Another tip is to shake the plant to dislodge the flies and One is for Biofloral Canadian Distributor with cannabis suck them out of the air with a vacuum hose. This method the other for Highlight Wholesale Cannabis The best advice for dealing with whiteflies, or any pest for canUK dramatically reduce numbers, no making it easier to deal some otherwith similar image that’s not weed. that matter, is to be persistent with prevention and control the remaining population. measures until you are 100% sure that all traces of the critters are gone. Consistency and routine are critical! 3

How To Prevent An Infestation

Reduce the risk of bringing whiteflies into your growing environment by inspecting all new plants. Ideally, isolate and monitor new additions for a few days. Afterwards, check all plants regularly for any signs of infestation. If growing in an indoor environment, use a filtering sheet over any intake filters. This trick prevents garden pests from hitching a ride through the ventilation system. Keep the grow room temperature under 80°F (27°C), as white-

BIO

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

BY CAROLINE RIVARD

Nature’s Treasure Chest of

Wild

l a n i c i d e M s m o o r Mush

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

ycophobia is defined as a fear of mushrooms. For many people, the idea of harvesting wild mushrooms can create feelings of anxiety.

With so much unknown about the wild fungus, it’s easy to assume that all mushrooms are poisonous and dangerous, but that is certainly not the case.

Over the last several years, enthusiastic mycologists have been spreading the good word about wild mushrooms. Incredible books and documentaries have been released, and wild mushrooms are now widely marketed as tasty delicacies suitable for sophisticated palettes.

Research is Crucial Of course, the world of mycology can be very intimidating, especially considering so many mushrooms are similar in appearance. How can you tell the difference between one that is edible and one that is toxic? We cannot consume any mushroom we have not correctly identified; doing so can be the difference between ending up in the hospital and enjoying an excellent meal or powerful medicine. For this reason, it is always recommended to do a lot of research before eating wild mushrooms. My advice is to go out on mushroom identification walks with passionate and experienced foragers who know what they are doing.

Over the last several years, enthusiastic mycologists have been spreading the good word about wild mushrooms

Reishi, Ganoderma tsugae Ganoderma tsugae is a reishi that hails from North America. This kidney-shaped conk is easy to recognize with its vibrant, glossy colors of red, orange-yellow, and white. It grows almost exclusively on dead or dying Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) trees. Also called the hemlock varnish shelf mushroom, it shares the same medicinal properties as its cousin from Asia, Ganoderma lucidum, the mushroom of immortality. Highly valued in folk medicine, these mushrooms have been consumed for thousands of years for their many health benefits. They are packed with minerals such as phosphorus, silica, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and are also said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. It will help heal wounds and is a powerful antioxidant. Reishi is not worthy of your dinner plate with its tough exterior, but take advantage of its medicinal values in its powder form in a slightly bitter tea or an alcoholbased tincture.

I Spy Thankfully, some mushrooms are unique and impossible to be mistaken for something toxic. The best part? A majority of these are medicinal mushrooms! Wild mushrooms that grow on trees (dead or alive) are often easier to identify. With their specific shapes, textures, and colors, they are distinct and easy to spot. To get you started on your foraging journey, here are some of my favorites.

Chaga, Inonotus obliquus Found almost exclusively on birch trees (Betula spp), chaga is easy to identify as it produces very hard textured, charcoal-black conks. The inner part of the mushroom ranges from dark to golden-brown. The entire Chaga mushroom is used as a medicine, but it is too hard to be eaten. They can be steeped as a delicious-tasting tea. Some people make chaga chai tea with a combination of spices, honey, and almond milk.

Chaga, Inonotus obliquus Ganoderma tsugae

Chaga has been used in folk medicine in Russia for centuries and is recognized for its healing capabilities. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, chaga is widely known to be anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic. It also helps lower cholesterol and is even able to fight off tumors. A high oxalate content means chaga should not be taken by anyone prone to kidney stones or kidney disease. This marvelous mushroom takes years to reach maturity in the wild, so please forage responsibly. 99

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

We cannot consume any mushroom we have not properly identified; doing so can be the difference between ending up in the hospital and enjoying an excellent meal or powerful medicine Turkey Tail mushroom, Trametes versicolor If you’ve ever seen a fantail of wild turkey feathers, then you’ll understand how this small polypore mushroom got its name. Trametes versicolor is a common mushroom and very easy to find growing in colonies on decaying wood and stumps. Turkey Tail mushrooms have long been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine to treat pulmonary diseases and cancer. These mushrooms contain polysaccharopeptide (PSP) and polysaccharide-K (PSK) compounds, which have been used as chemoimmunotherapy agents in cancer treatments in Asia for over 30 years. Turkey Tail mushrooms contain antibiotic, antifungal, antioxidant, and antiviral properties; they also have prebiotic capabilities, regulating the balance of bacteria in the gut microbiome. After harvesting, they are dried and used as a decoction or medicinal tincture.

Bear’s head tooth mushroom, Hericium americanum Finally, something you can eat! This impressive mushroom belongs to the tooth fungus group, which also boasts the lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) as a member. Native to North America, Europe, and Asia, bear’s head is easily identified through its long, white spines (it turns brown when past its prime). You can find this mushroom growing on rotting or living hardwoods, such as beech, birch, and oak trees.

The fruit bodies can be harvested and used as food when fresh and must be cooked before being consumed. They have a mild, sweet, and fragrant seafood-like taste similar to crab. You can often buy these mushrooms at a farmer’s market and some grocery stores, so foraging is not your only option if you aren’t comfortable with the identification process. On top of being delicious, bear’s head tooth mushrooms Turkey Tail contain vitamin D, fiber, iron, several mushrooms have antioxidants, and protein.

long been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine to treat pulmonary diseases and cancer

North American tribes used the dried and powdered bear’s head mushroom to stop bleeding wounds and cuts. Some research shows that Hericium americanum has anti-tumor and immune-modulating properties, is antidiabetic, helps lower cholesterol, and protect nerves from damage. Bears tooth is also known to be anti-microbial, antioxidant, and antiaging.

Disclaimer: Mushrooms are great allies and additions to your health regiment. However, like any medicinal plant, you must be 100% certain of what you are foraging and consuming. Do your research, speak to a mycologist, and ask your health practitioner if wild mushrooms are safe for you to use. Happy foraging! 3

Sources: Foraging Wild Teas: Eastern Hemlock (joshfecteau.com) bit.ly/2NfFRs3

Bear’s head tooth mushroom, Hericium americanum

Turkey Tail mushroom, Trametes versicolor

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

101

GREEN ADVICE

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

TO KEEP PESTS OUT OF THE GARDEN This issue is packed with information about common and not-so-common garden pests along with some useful tips on how to avoid or control them. Our in-depth articles will help you zero in on specific bugs and eradication methods, but we want you to be fully-armed this growing season. Here’s our list of 5 Cool Ways To Keep Pest Out of the Garden without the use of any chemical pesticides! For more tips on creating a thriving organic garden, be sure to check out Practical Organic Gardening:The No-Nonsense Guide to Growing Naturally, by Mark Highland.

Sacrificial Plants

Trap cropping is an excellent way to use what nature has given us to protect the garden. Beyond deterring pests and predators of all sizes, planting sacrificial rows along the garden’s edges also looks nice and attracts essential pollinators! The idea here is to distract natural predators from the crops you want to enjoy yourself. For example, planting marigolds will keep slugs away from lettuce crops. Marigolds also repel aphids and whiteflies and deter bigger pests such as rabbits and deer. Dill attracts wasps and hoverflies, who both enjoy eating aphids. Nasturtiums work overtime by looking gorgeous and inhibiting slugs, snails, and aphids. Grapevine distracts Japanese beetles from your more beloved plants. The list is endless! Consider the plants you are growing; a little bit of research will pair them with other plants to keep them safe.

Beneficial Bugs

You’ll come across some critters in the garden that should be left to do their work; just back away slowly and be grateful they’re present. Green lacewings and soldier beetles, for example, will eat most soft-bodied insects, including mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Lady beetles lay their eggs in colonies of aphids; babies get to work as soon as they hatch. Pirate bugs will eat small caterpillars, insect eggs, and more. Plant flowers and herbs that will attract these beneficial bugs to your growing space. For example, cosmos and coreopsis will lure the lady beetles into your veggie patch. Growing in a greenhouse environment? No problem. Boxes of various beneficial insects can also easily be purchased for release into an indoor garden.

102

Lady beetle

Soldier beetle

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GREEN ADVICE

TO KEEP PESTS OUT OF THE GARDEN

Netting

Got a blueberry or raspberry bush growing that never seems to produce fruit? Maybe it does, only the birds get to it before you do. Netting is another excellent way to make sure the fruits of your labor end up in your belly and not the stomach of an unwanted critter. Extremely lightweight and almost invisible, netting comes in many different mesh sizes, so be sure to select one that will best protect the plant and its fruit. Of course, a sturdier net is also perfect for any gardener who has an issue with deer in their yards. Be sure to choose a “fence” that is at least 8-feet tall; the deer won’t be able to jump it and hate the element of surprise. Simply bouncing their noses off the net will be enough to send them running in the opposite direction.

Collars

credit: Hobby Farms

If you’ve ever seen the damage a cutworm can do to a precious garden plant, then you know you need a way to keep them far away from your crops. The Farmer’s Almanac says cutworms can kill a plant in almost no time at all by feeding on the roots and their foliage. Aptly named, cutworms will eat the stem of a plant and cut it from the roots below the soil. How can one control such a beastly bug? Very inexpensively. Take an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll and fit it around the base of a young plant. Bury the very bottom of the collar; only about 2 or 3 inches are needed above ground to prevent cutworms from ruining your life (Er... we mean, your plant’s life).

Yellow Sticky Traps

Infestations of insects like aphids and whiteflies can happen fast; really fast.The experts agree; the best kind of pest control is prevention. Hanging yellow sticky traps from the tops of your plants or throughout the garden and greenhouse will let you know as soon as you have a problem. Inexpensive to buy and found just about everywhere, these sticky pads will help trap many flying plant insects, including thrips, fungus gnats, leaf miners, and more, which are attracted to the yellow color. As soon as you see you’ve got a pest issue, you can get to work and control them before the problem spirals out of control. 3

Sources: 104

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Practical Organic Gardening:The No-Nonsense Guide to Growing Naturally, by Mark Highland (Cool Springs Press). The Old Farmer’s Almanac: How To Identify And Get Rid Of Cutworms almanac.com/pest/cutworms

Pioneering References

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