Garden Culture Magazine US 30 by Garden Culture Magazine

USA-CANADA EDITION · ISSUE 30 · 2019

How

Bright

are your

Lights?

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CONTENTS

THE 7 DEADLY SINS OF GARDENING

The

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

PPFD Trap 44

88 WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

BURDOCK SECRET LIFE OF PLANT NUTRIENTS

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

7 Foreword

53 Who’s Growing What Where

8 Author Spotlight

56 Silicon and the Green Revolution

9 Product Spotlights

62 What is Food?

12 Flushing Out the Facts

68 Secret Life of Plant Nutrients

18 Chlorine and Plants

72 Clean the Air with Plants

22 Emerald Mountain Legacy

78 Illinois Valley Hemp Part 3

28 Understanding Nutrient Uptake

84 Medicinal Weeds: Burdock

32 California vs Trump:An Environmental War

88 The 7 Deadly Sins of Gardening

36 Seed Saving Part 3

93 Mycorrhizae and Plants - The Positive Co-Evolution

44 The PPFD Trap

96 5 Cool Ways to Give The Gift of Plants 5

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

n the ever-evolving world of indoor growing, the quest for perfection is the ultimate goal. There are so many factors to consider. Assume you have already selected

your genetics, and it’s a variety you are familiar with and have had success with before. Genetics is the most challenging thing to control or even understand. The environment, on the other hand, is quite simple. There are pre-determined parameters that have, for the most par t, been agreed upon by the world’s best growers. With the proper HVAC system, your environment should be easy to dial in.

CREDITS Special thanks to: Albert Mondor, Andrew Abramson, Anne Gibson, Caroline Rivard, Dr Callie Seaman, Eric Coulombe, Evan Folds, Everest Fernandez, Geneviève Bessette, Kyle L. Ladenburger, Nico Hill, Rich Gellert, Rich Hamilton, and Ryan Martinage. PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 E XCU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com

Lights, however, can be confusing. Not that lighting is all that difficult to understand, but the contradictory information from manufactures can make it so. Is it about efficiency, proximity to the plants, IR pros and cons, spectrum, or a combination of all? In the ar ticle The PPFD Trap, Everest Fernandez takes a fresh look at how we determine which lights are best for you and how light meters are not telling the whole story.

The

PPFD Trap

In the age of commercial production and global competition, being “the best” has never been more critical. What about all the “new” nutrient/supplement products continuously hitting the market? If you are happy with your nutrients, I usually would not recommend changing brands. But now and then, there is something new; something created in a lab that works. After hearing some extravagant claims about a new kind of silicon (mono silicic acid), I decided to star t digging. It’s not that new, but it is fascinating and has the potential to change the game. Learn more in Silicon and the Green Revolution.

DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062 ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com PUBLISHER 325 Media INC 44 Hyde Rd, Mille-Isles QC, Canada J0R 1A0 GardenCultureMagazine.com ISSN 2562-3567 (Print) · ISSN 2562-3575 (Online) Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

@Garden_Culture

Beware of exaggerated claims, but don’t disregard them. Some might be true.

D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • Hydrofarm • Stellar Wholesale • pHive.8 • Autopot USA • Biofloral USA • Eddi’s • Biofloral

Happy Gardening,

Eric 3

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

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Author Spotlight

arden Culture wouldn’t be the magazine it is without our talented and knowledgeable contributors. From lighting specialists and

cannabis industry experts to environmentalists and master gardeners, we’ve got a stellar line-up of writers. Allow us to introduce you to this issue’s featured author, Evan Folds, of Be Agriculture. What is your favorite plant to grow? Peppers! Do you prefer to grow indoors or outdoors, and why? Outdoors. There is no replacement for being outside in the elements and getting your hands dir ty. What is on your playlist right now? Radiohead, Gregory Alan Isakov, Rebelution, Death Cab, Nick Mulvey. Are you currently working on any cool projects? Yes. I am Campaign Manager for a local mayoral campaign, and I am working with Farmers Footprint and JustOne Organics. Farmers Footprint is developing a regenerative farming model and marketing it to the masses through a docuseries on their website www.farmersfootprint.us. JustOne Organics gently dries different crops into nutritional food powders, and they have a model to “hire farmers” based on the volume of drying capacity at their gentle drying centers (GDC). What is your favorite animal/insect? Praying mantis. They make eye contact! I think they are little aliens. 3 8

Evan Folds

There is no replacement for being outside in the elements and getting your hands dirty 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

GARDEN PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS AZOS Red Liquid by Xtreme Gardening A living product with millions of colonies of Azospirillum brasilense.AZOS Red Liquid is used in conjunction with other fertilizers and biostimulants and is compatible with all waterborne applications and fertigation systems. Best for middle to large-scale growers looking to increase the efficiency of their clones and nursery plants as well as boosting vegetative growth. Nitrogen is a major component of every protein molecule, and yet soils are often deficient in this element. Although the atmosphere is comprised of around 80% nitrogen, it is in a form that is not readily available to plants. AZOS Red Liquid can facilitate this conversion, increase the accessibility of nitrogen in the soil, and catalyze a natural growth hormone within plants that help promote more root and vegetative growth. Cultured and packaged to order, AZOS Red Liquid is one of the freshest and biologically active microbial products on the market, packaged to maintain the viability of the bacteria.To ensure the best results, purchase enough product for a single crop cycle. Best when stored in a refrigerator. Check out Xtreme-Gardening.com for tips and tricks on beneficial bacteria.

Royal Gold Basement Mix A Humboldt County Original With so many developments in cultivation technology, the giant fancy greenhouses, and the indoor facilities, it’s easy to forget where it all began: in basements, attics, closets, and garages. Simple methods in simple spaces and success was measured in quality alone. Those methods and the quality product they bring are regaining a foothold in the modern world of elaborate and expensive infrastructure. Basement Mix, Royal Gold’s flagship, simple coco-based, moderately amended potting mix allows that simplicity to thrive. Whether 1 pot or 1000, Basement Mix is the foundation for your success. Check out RoyalGoldCoco.com or follow @RoyalGoldSoil to learn more about their story.

iLW 40w LED

Finally: A Light Specifically Designed for Clones

When growing clones, balancing light is essential. Plants are sensitive in the early stages, and as they grow, proper lighting strength is crucial for them to thrive. Clones need a particular type of light, and ILUMINAR Lighting’s created a fixture specifically designed for growing clones.The low-profile design of the 40-watt, 47” iLW wide-bar LED fits nicely in tiered growing environments or baker’s racks and covers a 2’x4’ area. The iLW is an excellent alternative to T5 for growing clones and hardening them off for veg.

* PPF: 100 μmol/s * Efficacy: 2.5 μmol/j * Uniformity higher than 90% * IP65 certified for Damp/Wet Conditions * 50,000+ Operational hours Visit iluminarlighting.com for more great lighting solutions.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS Mini ARCS The Mini Automatic Reclaimed Condensate System is the next step towards zero-waste! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let money and resources flow down the drain; reclaim and purify up to 720 gallons a day of HVAC runoff with the Mini ARCS. Nothing but ultra-pure, pathogen-free, pH-balanced water goes back into your irrigation system. Small in size, huge on savings. Visit HydrologicSystems.com to find a solution that is right for your garden.

Terminate Pests and Protect your Grow Environment Green Cleaner protects crops by killing spider mites and their eggs, predatory mites, aphids, whiteflies, broad mites, and russet mites on contact and washes powdery mildew right off the plant. Green Cleaner can be used as a solution to dip tender new cuttings into and can also help prevent garden contamination when outsourcing plant starts. Use it from beginning through harvest as a treatment. Check out CentralCoastGarden.com for great tips for getting rid of unwanted pests in your garden.

New from Grozone Control Smart Light Switcher sLS24 Control up to 24 1000W 240V HID lights and protect your grow environment from high temperatures. The sLS24 is equipped with smart high-temperature shut-off and automatic light rotation to prevent dark spots when a high-temperature condition is met. All Grozone Control products are proudly manufactured and engineered in Canada. Visit GrozoneControl.com for more great products.

JOULE-Series by Dutch Lighting Innovations Developed and manufactured by a company specializing in supplemental lighting systems, the JOULE-Series delivers what growers need for optimal performance, yields, and quality.The DLI reflectors are made to have the highest possible total reflectance. Composed of an electrochemically-brightened, high-purity aluminum on top of an anodized base coat and overlaid with a dual-layer oxide system, the DLI reflector is tuned for maximum visible reflection. The new JOULE-Series 1000W fixture is designed for the DLI Horticulture Plus 1000W DE Lamp. Visit pHive8.com to find a store near you.

GARDEN PRODUCTS

BY RYAN MARTINAGE

The Truth About Mineral Retention in Plants

FLUSHING

ithin the realm of indoor gardening, there are many practices held as canon and for a good reason. Growers around the world have the proper temperature ranges, humidity levels, canopy lighting coverage, and fertilizer distribution down to a science. The practice of flushing plants, however, seems

to exhibit a curious behavior of evolving; there are several ways of doing it. Many growers believe the act of flushing leads to a superior end product. Where does fact diverge from fiction, though? Does flushing matter at all?

Many growers believe the act of flushing leads to a superior end product. Where does fact diverge from fiction, though? Does flushing matter at all? A mineral or element is considered Soil-derived micronutrients consist to be essential for plant growth of eight minerals including boron Soil-derived if it is removed, and a noticeable (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron micronutrients consist of deficiency appears as a result. (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum Though there is evidence of many (Mo), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Z). Soileight minerals including lesser-known, non-essential trace derived micronutrients numerically boron (B), chlorine minerals being utilized in enzyme represent the most diverse out of (Cl), copper (Cu), iron creation and by plant tissues, the the three categories of required (Fe), manganese (Mn), amounts are not adequate to nutrients for plant growth. The molybdenum (Mo), nickel determine the consumable quality importance of these nutrients of produce. For this reason, the cannot be understated. Boron (Ni), and zinc (Z) academically accepted 17 elements is directly responsible for sugar for plant growth will be considered transfer between plant cells; chlorine in identifying potential excess. is responsible in the functioning of Essential elements may be divided into three categories: the stomata; copper is essential to many enzymatic reactions; environment-derived macronutrient elements from water, iron is needed for chlorophyll production; manganese air, or both, soil-derived macronutrients, and soil-derived facilitates photolysis of water (splits into components H and micronutrients. O); molybdenum is essential for the synthesis of ammonia to make amino acids; nickel is required to make urease to use Environment-derived macronutrients are obtained primarily said ammonia; and finally, zinc is crucial for the regulation through the utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water of growth hormones. Overall, soil-derived micronutrients (H2O) in photosynthetic processes. These elements are enable many crucial plant functions. The amounts of these carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen(O). As plants collect nutrients in plant tissue average an incredibly small amount. environment-derived macronutrients, it allows for the Consider the following table published by the University of production of numerous base structures crucial to plant Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: life such as carbohydrates and proteins, as well as the base structures for the creation of complex compounds. One might recognise the pivotal role these nutrients play in base Essential Nutrient Plant Content Plant Content PPM Average PPM Range structure and consider carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen content as front runners for factors affecting finished products. There Boron (B) 20 2-100 is a gaping hole in this hypothesis, however, in that the primary Chlorine (Cl) 100 80-10,000 sources for these elements are obtained through the air and Copper (Cu) 6 2-20 would largely not be subject to decreasing levels within the Iron (Fe) 100 50-1000 plant from flushing practices. With additional water at the Manganese (Mn) 50 20-200 roots, one might even say the conditions would be favorable Molybdenum (Mo) 0.1 0.05-10 for the intake of (C) and (O). For this answer, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explore Nickel (Ni) <0.0001 ? the realms of soil-derived macro and micronutrients. Zinc (Zn) 20 10-100 13

Nitrogen is crucial to chlorophyll production, and without it, photosynthesis would not be possible

FLUSHING

Soil-derived macronutrients are perhaps the most prevalent nutrients to be brought up in discussion and measured in the field. Their contained amounts are on the label of every fertilizer in the format of N-P-K. Though numerically superior The University of Idaho’s published versus other categories of required data provides the above information I n t h e m atu r at i o n nutrients, it can be seen that, on on the average and potential s t a g e, m a ny f r u it i n g average, the totality of the soilpercentage nutrient makeup derived micronutrients averages just of dry plant tissue. Considering a n d f lowe r i n g p l a nt s ~296 ppm in healthy plant tissue the soil-derived micronutrient re q u i re le s s n it ro g e n samples. The potential maximum categorization flew only in the ppm su p p le m e nt at i o n for chlorine is very high, but at this range, the percentage of the total t h a n t h ey d o i n t h e point, signs of chlorine toxicity would dry weight of each soil-derived g row t h s t a g e s be prevalent on foliage, leaving a macronutrient being measured in scorched appearance. With the single-digit percentages is a large sum of the average soil-derived jump. With these numbers, three micronutrients at similar levels as glaring suspects emerge. Nitrogen, tap water, is this really the turning point in identifying the potassium, and calcium all have higher than average content smoking gun on crop quality in relation to flushing practices? in dried plant tissue and also the highest potential. All three Let’s have a look at the nutrients many growers are very nutrients have an observed maximum of 5% of dry weight, familiar with, the more famous soil-derived macronutrients. but which ones would be most likely to lower the quality of finished products? Soil-derived macronutrients are perhaps the most prevalent nutrients to be brought up in discussion and measured in Calcium (Ca) is the least likely to affect the finished quality the field. Their contained amounts are on the label of every of plants. Calcium and silica are the primary components of fertilizer in the format of N-P-K. Soil-derived macronutrient the plant cell wall and lend to providing firm, crisp, and heavy elements are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium attributes to harvested products. Furthermore, calcium (K), but also include the lesser-known sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), toxicity is nearly impossible to induce. For a plant to shed and magnesium (Mg). Within this subset of macronutrient calcium means the plant would have to shed its internal elements, exists the nutrient basis for plant growth. structure. This would be disadvantageous to a final harvest Nitrogen is crucial to chlorophyll production, and without or the maintaining of its reproductive structures, including it, photosynthesis would not be possible. It is essential to fruits, seeds, and flowers. In extreme amounts, calcium amino acid structures, a component of energy-transfer can inhibit the intake of other macronutrients, and those compounds like ATP along with phosphorus, and is even deficiencies would be visible along with an empty bottle or a component of the plant’s DNA. Potassium regulates the bag of calcium (Ca) supplement. stomata’s function, controlling the CO2 intake responsible for utilizing the environment-derived macronutrients. Sulfur Along with calcium, nitrogen, and potassium make up the is a crucial element to plant proteins, calcium is essential to highest potential percentages of dry weight in plants. At the plant structure, and magnesium is the central atom of the stage of maturity, potassium is used continuously to regulate chlorophyll molecule making plant growth possible. The the plant’s CO2 intake, activate enzymes, produce primary magnitude of these base functions is important to understand, energy-transfer compounds, regulate water intake, activate and these elements are required in much greater amounts growth-related enzymes, and is also utilized in starch and than soil-derived micronutrients. Our answer to the flushing protein synthesis. This laundry list of duties is maxed out conundrum seems to be around the corner. in the maturing stages of fruiting and flowering plants, as they burn their reserves to produce end products. In short, potassium is expended and metabolized much more in PLANT CONTENT (DRY WEIGHT) flowering than nitrogen (N) is. Essential Nutrient

Average %

Range %

Nitrogen (N) 1.5 0.5-5.0 Phosphorus (P) 0.2 0.1-0.5 Potassium (K) 1.0 0.5-5.0 Sulfur (S) 0.1 0.05-0.5 Calcium (Ca) 0.5 0.5-5.0 Magnesium (Mg) 0.2 0.1-1.0

I n ex t re m e a m o u nt s , c a lci u m c a n i n h i b it t h e i nt a ke of ot h e r m a cro n ut r i e nt s , a n d t h os e d ef i ci e n ci e s wo uld b e v i s i b le a lo n g w it h a n e m pt y b ot t le o r b a g of c a lci u m (C a ) su p p le m e nt . 15

FLUSHING

Have you fed the plants the exact nitrogen amounts without creating a deficiency or inhibiting fruit and flower development? Nitrogen accounts for the single So, as growers reach the end of greatest nutrient by weight in their har vest, the question is ofFlushing is not dry plant tissue. In addition, ten whether or not a f lush is renecessary, but how well the nutrient spikes into higher quired. Have you measured plant numbers more consistently, often sap (N) levels across your crop? do you think you did reaching into the ~3%+ of total Have you fed the plants the exact keeping everything in dry weight. In the maturation nitrogen amounts without creatthe perfect balance? stage, many fruiting and flowering ing a def iciency or inhibiting fruit Well enough to forgo plants require less nitrogen and f lower development? In addia simple process to supplementation than they do in tion to consuming lef tover nitrothe growth stages. That’s because gen, the remaining soil-derived accentuate the flavors they are no longer producing more macro and micronutrients presyou’ve cultivated for leaves and expanding chlorophyll ent are reduced in concentration. months? production in heightened When feeding ceases, the end photosynthetic activity. Waterproduct is accentuated by comsoluble nitrates are a significant plex f lavors, terpenes, and comcomponent in modern fer tilizers, pounds. Flushing is not necessar y, and if continuously added in excess, can lead to higher but how well do you think you did keeping ever y thing above ground nitrogen content in plants. in the per fect balance? Well enough to forgo a simple process to accentuate the f lavors you’ve cultivated for months? I’ll let you be the judge of that. This author, however, will continue to err on the side of caution and Why the absence of phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), do a f lush. 3 and magnesium (Mg)? Phosphorus is a primary element used in fer tilizers, but it makes up only a small percentage of a plant’s dry weight (just 0.5%). Although magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) Ryan Martinage is the US Sales Director for are essential soil-derived macronutrients, they Aptus Plant Tech USA, the exclusive importer are not needed in large amounts. In the age of of Aptus products in the United States and has modern fer tilizers, manufacturers strive to balance been active within the indoor gardening community since 2010. Since completing his education in environmental scithe elements the plant can use for excellent ence, Ryan has been participating in ongoing agricultural results while also keeping their costs down and research involving trace mineral fertilization and has been maximising their profit. With these products, awarded utility & design patents for co-developing the growers get what they need without any leftovers GrowPCS Cultivation System. He continues to consult on matters of regulation and compliance in agriculture. that can cause toxicity of either element.

Bio

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BY RICH GELLERT

Chlorine has been used as a disinfectant in city drinking water since the turn of the century, initially in the American city of New Jersey. 18

CHLORINE AND PLANTS

Once excess chlorine is introduced though city tap water, the vascular tissue of plants will accumulate the compound, which can result in “chlorine toxicity”

hlorine has been used as a disinfectant in city drinking water since the turn of the century, initially in the American city of New Jersey. As cities expanded and needed a longer-lasting disinfectant that would reach even the far thest tap, chloramines were introduced for their superior longevity. While chlorine continues

to be used in many places, chloramines (made by combining chlorine with ammonia) are gaining in popularity as they are a better investment to keep waterlines free of biological contaminants. Water companies evaluate each water supply system individually and then decide which compound, and how much, will be used.

One of the things we know about both compounds is that they are relatively safe for human consumption, regulated at 4 PPM, or par ts per million. However, this is NOT the case for other organisms. Chlorinating your aquarium is pretty much a death sentence for anything living in it. When it comes to thriving crops, any grower wanting consistent, healthy yields needs to know the basics, star ting with water chemistry.

Chlorinating your aquarium is pretty much a death sentence for anything living in it

A small amount of chlorine (in the form of chloride) is good for plants. Naturally occurring chloride is essential for photosynthesis, the uptake of carbon dioxide, and limiting water loss. However, once excess chlorine is introduced though city tap water, the vascular tissue of plants will accumulate the compound, which can result in “chlorine toxicity”. This condition manifests in what looks like the burning/yellowing of leaves, drop off, and ultimately, the death of the plant.

“Chlorine toxicity” manifests in what looks like the burning/ yellowing of leaves, drop off, and ultimately, the death of the plant.

For those who grow hydroponically, chlorine and chloramines can be detrimental to root health. Helpful microorganisms such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mycorrhizae, and Trichoderma, all must have chlorine and chloramine-free water to suppor t a root health ecosystem. These organisms protect roots, increase nutrient uptake, and can affect crop quality.

CHLORINE AND PLANTS

For those who grow hydroponically, chlorine and chloramines can be detrimental to root health

Reverse osmosis

As water issues continue to become a global problem and the quality of tap water declines, it is not likely that chlorine and chloramines will be removed from the largest sources of public water. Cities even switch between using chlorine and chloramines throughout the year, making water quality unpredictable. As bacterial/organic contamination becomes more of a threat, so will the use of multiple antibacterial measures to help ensure municipal water is safe for consumption.

For growers with clean and stable city water quality, carbon filtration is still needed to remove chlorine and chloramines. Twice as much carbon media is necessary to remove chloramines as compared to chlorine. KDF or activated carbon are recommended for the most effective chloramine removal. However, the only way to make sure any water source is consistent and safe to use as a base for nutrient formulas is to use a reverse osmosis filter; especially in areas where water chemistry changes in response to fluctuating or seasonal contamination hazards. 3

Richard Gellert is an adventure-seeker; he loves wilderness, biking, and hitting the slopes - the steeper, the better.Also an avid gardener, Rich has created extensive gardens to grow fruits and vegetables for his family year-round. He is the president of Hydrologic Purification Systems, a company delivering top-shelf hydroponic water filtration systems to consumers. Speaking five languages, and with as many advanced degrees, Rich has become the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading expert in water quality, facility discharge, reclamation systems, and regulation compliance. His articles have appeared in Max Yield, HydroLife, Garden Culture, and Urban Garden.

Bio 20

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BY NICO HILL PHOTOS: EMERALDMOUNTAINLEGACY

BREEDERS LIVES:

EMERALD MOUNTAIN LEGACY

The significant change in laws is morphing the landscape of the entire cannabis scene. Mostly in the US, of course, but also globally

EMERALD MOUNTAIN LEGACY

Herein lies a series of features focusing on some of the best and brightest in the cannabis breeding world. With hard-hitting questions on a variety of topics, we hope to provide you with some insight into these most elusive creatures.

he unsung heroes behind some of the finest genetics on the planet, Emerald Mountain has had arguably one of the most significant positive impacts on the cannabis scene over the years. Whether you are talking genetics, growing methods, or overall impact on the scene and its

direction, you need not look any further for a shining example of genuinely ethical business practices, excellent breeding methods, and a steadfast moral compass.

In a series of questions with Ben Anderson, we are pleased to share a little snapshot into their world over a variety of topics. The significant change in laws is morphing the landscape of the entire cannabis scene. Mostly in the US, of course, but also globally. These are turbulent times for our dearest plant, so getting the perspective from someone with decades of experience to draw upon could not be more beneficial for everyone concerned, in my opinion. Here, Emerald Mountain talks about its legacy, the future, its growing habits, as well as its take on the legal climate, and, of course, breeding principles.

“The best cannabis in the world comes from a healthy soil food web, the sun, and good clean water, exactly as Mother Nature intended. Full stop. You simply cannot replace millions of years of evolutionary biology with bottled chemical fertilizers and HID lamps

Background on Emerald Mountain If you aren’t approaching this article from the position of being a complete fanboy, like myself, I thought it would be a sensible decision to begin by focusing on the background of Emerald Mountain and where they are likely headed in the near future. So, after an hour of in front of my bedroom mirror rehearsing (un)funny jokes and cool facts to impress my new best friend Ben with, we got down to it without any hint of apprehension on Ben’s part whatsoever. Seriously, we are the best of chums now.

GC: So, Ben, I think a good place to start is with the heritage of Emerald Mountain. Could you share a bit about who is involved in the crew? BA: #teamemeraldmountain, as we like to call ourselves, consists of myself (Ben Anderson), my wife Christine, my younger brother Bogie, and his fiancé, Ashkim. Bogie and I are Mandelbrot’s/Ras Truth’s (given name: Mack Anderson) younger brothers. We were

born in San Francisco, but we were raised mostly in Missoula, Montana. When Mack turned 18, he moved back to California, and I followed him back here shortly thereafter. We have been growing and breeding cannabis in the hills of Humboldt and Mendocino counties ever since. After several minutes of awkward silence due to me internally monologuing and imagining how cool this must have been, I realized Ben’s gaze kept drifting towards the exit, rather than his focus remaining entirely on my fantastic set of questions. So, I quickly snapped myself out of it.

GC: Where do you see the company heading over the next few years? BA: Well, since our brother passed away in 2015, Bogie and I have been hard at work both preserving Mack’s genetics legacy and trying to breathe new life into the seed business. Not to mention, learning to operate a compliant cannabis business in California, which is no small feat! The way he taught us to breed cannabis really takes a long time, and so it has taken a good while to recover/revive and test all of his most coveted cultivars. We are nearing completion of that work, and our next objective is to get his story and his seeds out there for the world to see. We also intend to continue to breed new cultivars with the building blocks our brother left for us. With a bit of luck, we will also be opening a retail nursery in California in the near future. If you haven’t heard of Mack Anderson (Mandlebrot / Ras Truth), then you should do yourself a favor and get googling. He was a key figure within the cannabis scene and has left a lasting impression on how Emerald Mountain conducts business.

Ben Anderson

cred it: Wo nde rlan d Nur sery

also wrote about soil and cannabis breeding at a time when there were very few resources available to growers. Those things really had a huge impact on the development of the California cannabis movement. That’s what he is known for. Beyond his activism, he also wanted to teach people to grow quality cannabis organically with sustainable methods and to foster land stewardship through an enhanced appreciation for the soil food web via his growing and breeding philosophies.

GC: Mack’s passing is a sad loss for the cannabis scene. What sort of key principles do you think shaped his (and your) outlook on life? BA: Our brother was a cannabis pioneer and a visionary. We are grateful for this opportunity to share his story. Mack was very passionate and talented in anything he set his mind to. He had a really strong work ethic and took pride in everything he did. Our parents are political activists, and we were raised to question authority and to fight injustice any way we knew how. I think that was a big part of our attraction to cannabis. We knew from experience that it was good medicine and not the ‘boogieman’ it was portrayed to be in the culture of the time and our legal system. Having been raised in a very liberal city (San Francisco) and then relocating to a very conservative and rural part of the country where access to cannabis was very limited, we couldn’t help but fight against what we felt like was political oppression and discrimination. We were basically the only liberal hippy types in our community, and we weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms there. We were harassed by law enforcement and treated differently than the other kids in school. This left a lasting impression on all of us. Mack especially thought of himself as a sort of cannabis freedom fighter. He wanted to make cannabis accessible to anyone and everyone and took great legal risks to do exactly that. GC: Where do you think readers may recognize his efforts most from, or rather, how did his activism impact the cannabis world?

The writings Ben describes are called “The Low down on Dirt” and “The Spice of Life,” authored by Ras Truth (Mack). The first being almost a walkthrough of how to grow using their methods; the latter is more focused on the breeding practices of Mandlebrot. Still standing the test of time as being excellent sources of information and inspiration, I wholeheartedly recommend any reader to search them out and give them a read.

Getting down to growing Garden Culture being a magazine mostly about plants, I figured it would probably be a reasonably appropriate route of questioning to go down. Also (somewhat disappointingly), he didn’t want to answer any of my ‘sexual preferences’ questions, so I had to fill the gap with something. GC: So Ben, what is your preferred method of growing? BA: Full sun outdoor in organic living soil. GC: Short and to the point! Why? BA: The best cannabis in the world comes from a healthy soil food web, the sun, and good clean water, exactly as Mother Nature intended. Full stop. You simply cannot replace millions of years of evolutionary biology with bottled chemical fertilizers and HID lamps. Beyond that, there is no negative environmental impact whatsoever from conscious organic outdoor cannabis cultivation. My outdoor cannabis looks and tastes better than any indoor I’ve ever seen or smoked. It’s all about methodology and terroir. GC: As ideological as this sounds, people’s first concerns are always maintaining the supply to accommodate a growing population’s demand. Do you think this approach is genuinely scalable to meet demand? BA: Yes, I do.

BA: He’s known for providing clones and seeds to the California underground cannabis industry at a time when few others were willing to take the risk. Some have even said that he was the catalyst for the NorCal cannabis industry to blossom the way it did. He

GC: How would you convince a salty-slab-using, warehousegrowing corporate chad-type that this approach will be better than the control and consistency he currently gets with minerals?

EMERALD MOUNTAIN LEGACY

Keep it simple. Feed the soil, not the plants. Maintain healthy microbial populations, and Mother Nature will do the rest

EMERALD MOUNTAIN LEGACY

BA: It’s hard to appeal to someone who doesn’t already see the benefits of regenerative agriculture as compared to chemical industrial agriculture. I think it’s willful ignorance in most cases. For people who really just don’t care about their carbon footprint or the chemical and pesticide-laden product they are pushing or the impact that may have on their customers’ health or on the planet, I would point to the savings in input material costs. The cost of organic soil amendments is a tiny fraction of chemical fertilizers, and you never need to replace your soil or growing medium. Organic soil gets better over time and produces better quality, safer products at a lower cost. GC: Do you think technology may be at the point where Big Ag will never move to a more organic approach, or am I just pessimistic? BA: You’re definitely pessimistic, but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong. If conventional agriculture is any indication of where we’re headed, it’s likely that 80% of cannabis will be grown with chemical/ industrial methods, and only 20% or so will be produced organically. It will likely take time for consumers to realize the difference in the quality of organic cannabis and to be willing to pay more for that as they do for organic produce and other food. GC: What practical tips on growing could you share that people could actually take home and apply? BA: Keep it simple. Feed the soil, not the plants. Maintain healthy microbial populations, and Mother Nature will do the rest. I take a lot of time and care to maintain soil vitality, and I don’t ever have to feed my plants. I amend the soil in the spring and just give them plain water and compost tea throughout the growing season. I get stellar yields, the quality can’t be beat, and I don’t ever have to replace my soil. GC: Are there any aspects of organic farming practices you would recommend that would be useful for someone to adopt as part of a more typical hydro regime? BA: You can grow sustainably and organically indoors. Indoor growers who care about their carbon footprint should advocate for green energy programs like solar, hydro, and wind power. They should use organic living soil just like I would outdoors. There’s really no reason you can’t do the same thing indoors than we do outdoors in California. We just need to create a system that promotes green

power and sustainable organic gardening practices. There is a lot of political corruption and misinformation out there, and that’s what is preventing this from unfolding in a more ecologically-minded way. Staunch proponents of organic and ethical growing practices, Ben&Co are surefooted in their approach to cultivation, and rightly so. The results speak for themselves; a quick google will no doubt re-affirm this to you. Unfortunately, this is as far as our word count will allow us to delve into Ben’s private life, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled in future issues where I probe much deeper. And no, not physically; after a quick struggle, it was clear that was never going to happen. 3

Ben needs your help. He’s par t of a group raising funds to help pay for a close friend’s surgery to remove his gallbladder. Nick Risden was bitten by a tick and is suffering badly as a result. He is in extreme pain and is barely able to function from day to day. The cost of the surgery is pegged at about US$39,000; they’re about $10,000 shor t of that goal. If you can help, please donate to Nick’s GoFundMe page at: gofundme.com/f/nick-risden-surgery-expenses

Bio

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

BY RICH HAMILTON

r u o Y Do s t n a P la v e A H

Unders tanding nu trient Up take 28

UNDERSTANDING UPTAKE

common misconception when feeding plants is that they consume everything we give them at once. Standard plant feeds are a mix of nutrient and additive concentrates, diluted to the required strength. The measurement of strength is referred to as EC (electric conductivity) or PPM (par ts per million) and indicates the total

amount of nutrient and additive salts contained in the solution. The higher the reading, the stronger the feed; the lower the reading, the weaker it is. It is essential to note that EC and PPM readers cannot read the strength levels of individual nutrient components; only the total amount contained within the solution.

EC and PPM’s are crucial because different crops require various strengths of nutrient solution to thrive. By taking regular readings with an EC reader, growers can fine-tune the strength of the feed and ensure that it remains within the optimum range for each plant. For example, an EC of three or above could pose considerable danger to crops and induce the onset of nutrient burn or nutrient lock. If EC levels are too low, a nutrient deficiency is likely, and your plants will starve. General EC ranges are as follows: • Herbs: 0.5-1.5 EC • Veg: 1.4-2.4 EC • Tomatoes: 2.2-2.8 EC

The measurement of strength is referred to as EC (electric conductivity) or PPM (parts per million) and indicates the total amount of nutrient and additive salts contained in the solution

Next, check the pH level, as it may have changed. If the pH is too high or too low (the perfect range is generally between 5.5-6.5, depending on what you are growing), certain nutrient and additive elements won’t be absorbed. The plant will likely take up more of the water content of the feeding solution. A pH that is too high can cause nitrogen lockout; a pH that is too low can cause magnesium lockout.

For example, an EC of three or above could pose considerable danger to crops and induce the onset of nutrient burn or nutrient lock. If EC levels a re t oo l ow, a nu t rien t d e f i c i e n c y i s l i k e ly, a n d y o u r pl an t s wil l s tarve

Each crop has its own preferred EC, which fluctuates throughout its life cycle. Always be sure to follow the crop’s feeding schedule as carefully as possible.

Understanding Uptake Let’s use the example of a single herb plant in a DWC (Deep Water Culture) system. The plant spends its entire lifecycle in a reservoir where the roots are suspended in water; no medium is involved. For this example, the herb plant is sitting in 10 liters of the fresh feed solution, and at the time of mixing, the pH is perfect, and the EC is at one. Let’s say that 24 hours after feeding the water level has dropped 50%, and the EC has risen to two. What has happened? The plant appears to have drunk half of the feed solution, but the EC has doubled. The first thing to do in a case like this is to check the growing environment. If the room is too warm, the plant may have been transpiring at a faster rate and is now demanding more water. As a result, the plant essentially un-mixes the feed formula, taking up only the water and leaving the nutrients behind. This process increases the EC strength in the reservoir.

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UNDERSTANDING UPTAKE

r u o Y o D A e v a H s t n a l P

l aw s e h t t espec gains t t hem r s r e garden l ant s, not a l u f s ucces i t h t heir p s t s o T he m nd work w How pH affects Plant Nutrient Uptake re a u t a n of

What Not To Do Once the problem has been discovered, it’s time to correct it. Do not make a top-up feed with more EC; this will put the plant at risk of nutrient burn or nutrient lock.

Once the problem has been discovered, it’s time to correct it. Do not make a topup feed with more EC; this will put the plant at risk of nutrient burn or nutrient lock

Nutrient burn happens when the roots consume more nutrients than they can use. This causes issues with water flow in the plant and triggers brown or yellow “burns” on the tips of the leaves. A nutrient lock is when a plant halts further uptake of a feed after realizing how strong the solution is. The plant will likely drink an excess of water to rehydrate itself and dilute the high number of nutrients and additives in its system.

Adding more water to the remaining food solution isn’t the answer, either. Unfortunately, EC and PPM readers only give the overall strength of the nutrient solution. They can’t break down what levels of each particular nutrient are present. Therefore, it’s essential to consider that the plant may have taken up excessive amounts of some nutrients, while others may have been partially or entirely locked out. Due to this ambiguity, it’s not clear what the individual nutrient and additive levels are in the solution left in the reservoir.

The Fix The only course of action, in this case, is to discard the remaining feed in the reservoir and make a fresh batch that has an EC of 1. Afterwards, check the environmental controls to ensure that temperatures and pH levels are where they need to be. Many nutrient brands are pH safe and self-regulate to an ideal pH range. This is an excellent precaution to take when struggling with managing the pH.

Plants should take up nutrients and water in balanced amounts. Measure the EC the day after replacing the feed and checking the environmental controls. If it remains consistent (in this case, 1), then the balance has been achieved. Plants are very selective and will not consume everything they are given. The most successful gardeners respect the laws of nature and work with their plants, not against them. 3

Bio

An industry veteran with over 20 years experience in a variety of roles, Rich Hamilton is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor. The author of Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening, as well as being an independent industry consultant working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide. 31

BY ANDREW ABRAMSON

California vs Trump

An Environmental War 32

CALIFORNIA VS TRUMP

or decades, the Republican Par ty has purpor ted to defend states’ rights. Its leaders push back against federal government intervention, arguing that states should be able to govern themselves according to their own ideals.

California won’t go down without a fight, spearheading a lawsuit along with 22 other states to regain its right to set its own pollution limits on cars and light trucks It’s a sham. When Republicans control the federal government, they love to force their corporate-driven agenda on blue states. Since Donald Trump took office, they’ve taken their powers to another level, curtailing states’ abilities to regulate their own environmental policies.

California also has a long history of smog and pollution issues that threatens a state with 840 miles of pristine coastline

It was stunning, but not all that surprising, in September when the Trump Administration announced it would end a 51-year old waiver that allowed the state of California to set higher emissions standards for cars than the federal government. This waiver had survived five Republican administrations, including conservative stalwart Ronald Reagan. Trump has spent nearly three years in office waging war against the environment. He pulled the United States out of the Paris Accord. He directed the once-proud Environmental Protection Agency to stop fining some of the country’s worst corporate pollution violators. He’s completely ignored and mocked the climate crisis. Californians thought they had some autonomy. But now, the Trump Administration is chipping away at the laws that protect California’s 40 million residents and is the model for many other state’s regulations. California won’t go down without a fight, spearheading a lawsuit along with 22 other states to regain its right to set its own pollution limits on cars and light trucks. The 1963 Clean Air Act was a monumental bill. For the first time in American history, federal regulations were enacted to control air pollution. While the law prevented states from setting its own standards stricter than federal standards,

California was granted a waiver. California is the most populous state in the U.S. and has the world’s fifth-largest economy – greater than every country in the world aside from the U.S., China, Japan, and Germany. California also has a long history of smog and pollution issues that threatens a state with 840 miles of pristine coastline.

Since 1968, 12 other states have adopted California’s emission standards. Carmakers have followed California’s standards, so they wouldn’t have to create vehicles with different regulations in different states. In response, cars and trucks have become more fuel-efficient, and carmakers have been moving toward electric vehicles. California’s standard of 51 miles per gallon by 2026 has been applauded in the climate crisis fight. It was a much more ambitious standard than the EPA’s 37 miles per gallon standard. In July, California regulators quietly negotiated a deal that ensured carmakers follow California’s standards and not the much weaker federal standards. These negotiations came as the Trump Administration was planning to roll back car pollution standards put in place by the Obama Administration. The car industry was preparing for California’s standard when a livid Trump Administration ended a half-century of precedent by revoking the waiver. As usual, Trump used half-truths and outright lies to justify the move. He claimed the waiver’s revocation would make cars less expensive and safer. “Automakers should seize this opportunity because, without this alternative to California, you will be out of business,” Trump threatened in a tweet.

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CALIFORNIA VS TRUMP

But Trump’s hollow words haven’t stopped a flurry of lawsuits that seek to give California back its autonomy. Ford, Honda, BMW, and Volkswagen are standing by California, saying they will continue to abide by the higher emission standards. But Trump’s power play is swaying other companies, including Mercedes Benz, which was planning to strike a deal until the waiver was revoked.

Trump isn’t waiting for the courts to weigh in. Instead, he’s doubling down. A week after the tit for tat, the EPA threatened to cut California’s federal transportation funding. Ironically, the EPA accused California of not doing enough to improve its air quality, claiming the state has gone decades without submitting plans to the federal government to reduce smog. The EPA claimed its threats had nothing to do with the battle over car standards.

This fight will have a significant impact on the climate crisis. More than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from cars and light-duty trucks. The difference between 51 miles per gallon and 37 miles per gallon is substantial.

The EPA accused California of having “the worst air quality in the United States,” while failing to mention that the state has spent the last 40 years going beyond federal standards to improve its air quality.

“It’s a move that could have devastating consequences for our kids’ health and the air we breathe if California were to roll over,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “We will fight this latest attempt and defend our clean car standards.”

Days later, the EPA again attacked California, threatening to cut off more federal funding if the state didn’t tackle its “growing homelessness crisis” and improve the way it deals with human waste, lead, and arsenic in water. It’s not the first time Trump has tried to sway public opinion by portraying California as a homeless wasteland.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra took it a step further. “We’re ready to fight for a future that you seem unable to comprehend,” Becerra said in a statement directed at Trump. “We’ll see you in court if you stand in our way. While the White House clings to the past, automakers and American families embrace cleaner cars.”

As usual, Trump used half-truths and outright lies to justify the move. He claimed the waiver’s revocation would make cars less expensive and safer

Judith Enck, a former EPA administrator under Obama, told the New York Times that the environment accusations against California are “ridiculous” and that Republican-controlled states like Texas and Louisiana have far more problems with levels of lead and arsenic in water. “I’m not going to say that enforcement isn’t a problem, but there are other states that are far worse than California,” Enck said. “This is an obvious attempt at political intimidation.” It’s the Trump way. War with California was assured when the state negotiated its own deal with U.S. carmakers. Trump will continue using the EPA to bully and intimidate the nation’s largest state. And Republicans lawmakers, the so-called defenders of state rights, will do nothing to protect California from a federal government hellbent on taking down blue states and worsening the climate crisis. 3 Follow Andrew Abramson on Twitter @AbramsonFL

BY ANNE GIBSON

Seed Saving

Part 3

Harvesting and Processing Seeds

SEED SAVING

aving seeds starts with growing and nurturing healthy plants, so the seeds are ripe and mature.The next steps are to harvest, dry, clean, and process the

seeds, ready for storage until you’re ready to plant.

Har vesting Guidelines

Collect seeds only from the best quality plants you have identified for saving. Stop picking leaves or flowers from these plants. You’re growing them for seed only

It’s common to

Timing Your Seed

Collect seeds only from the best Har vesting harvest some dry quality plants you have identified for This is a balancing act. You want the seeds seed heads before saving. Stop picking leaves or flowers as mature as possible, so they are fully from these plants. You’re growing developed. However, you may decide to all their seed them for seed only. harvest earlier due to wet weather, hungry is sufficiently 2. Cover seed heads with organza, animals, or losing seed if mature seed dry and mature. paper bags, or old stockings. Tie pods shatter or the wind blows airborne tightly to the stalk with string, so seed heads away. It’s common to harvest These will need seeds are protected from wind and some dry seed heads before all their seed extra time to predators. is sufficiently dry and mature. These will 3. Identify each seed variety with plant need extra time to ‘cure’ before they are ‘cure’ before they labels as you collect and change ready for processing. are ready for containers. Many seeds look similar, processing. and it’s easy to forget or get confused. Rain or overhead watering may also 4. Seeds must be fully ripe before damage seed quality after seeds start to collection. This involves cutting off seed heads or the whole dry on the plant. You may need to wait until seed heads have plant when nearly ripe and drying undercover, or leaving to dried thoroughly after rain. However, there is a risk they may thoroughly dry on the plant before harvesting. over-ripen by this time. 5. Seeds harvested before their prime will often grow if you The seed must be dry and hard enough to withstand processing, plant them right away. However, those seeds with the and the plant material it’s attached to must be brittle enough maximum time to store more nutrients last longest in to shatter and break away from the seed easily. You need to storage. observe what stage your plants are at to get your timing right as 6. Harvest seeds or fruit containing seeds around 10 a.m., best you can. after the dew has evaporated when they are driest. 7. Those seed heads that need drying before the seed If you can’t manage multiple seed harvests, strike a balance extraction treatment should be thoroughly dried after between waiting for later maturing seed to ripen and picking collection to prevent mold or premature germination. earlier maturing seed before too much falls off the plant or becomes too brittle, shattering at harvest. As a general guide, collect when 60-80% of your seeds are ripe. Drying Brassica seeds in the field between rows 1.

All vegetable and herb crops have their unique clues as to when the fruit or seeds are ready to harvest. There are both ‘dry seeded’ and ‘wet seeded’ crops. It takes a little practice and experience to identify the traits of each plant so you can get your timing right for harvesting, but there are some basic guidelines. Saving chilli seed varieties by scraping out and drying

Dry ladyfinger okra pod with seeds ready to collect 37

SEED SAVING

Lettuce and dill are examples of plants where seeds mature at different times on the same plant Materials List for Seed Saving • • • • • • • • •

Sharp secateurs for collecting seed. Buckets, trays, and containers for collecting and winnowing. Tarps or geotextile drop cloths for drying seed heads, catching seed, or winnowing onto. Sieves or fine mesh strainers of different sizes to separate the chaff and drain water from wet seeds. Pastry brush, rolling pin, and cloth bags for seed cleaning. Box fan if there is no consistent wind for winnowing. Jars or small containers for fermenting and processing wet seed. Paper bags and string, trays, plates, or glass for drying seed. Marker pens and labels to record seed varieties when collecting and processing.

How do you know if dry seeded crops are ready for harvest? Indications include: • Color of the seed pod/capsules or seeds. As seeds mature and ripen, the color may change from white or green to yellow, light brown, or darken to shades of brown or black. • How dry the pod or seed feels. Open to check if there is still some ‘give’ in the seed pod or whether it is crispy and dry. If you wait too long, the pods may shatter and release the seeds before you harvest. • How easily the seed or seedpod is removed from the stalk. If you rub the seed head vigorously with crops like beets, coriander, and Swiss chard, the seed should come away effortlessly when ready. Seeds may ripen and mature unevenly within the pods, so you may need to individually harvest each plant when the timing is right. As your plants near harvesting, it’s best to check daily. Lettuce and dill are examples of plants where seeds mature at different times on the same plant. You can pull up the whole plant and hang bags tied on the seed heads upside down to allow them to dry and fully mature without losing seeds.

Wet Seeded Crops

Mature ripe brown allium seed head ready to collect Leek seed head ready for seed saving as husks are open just before shattering

Dr y Seeded Crops These are crops where the seeds are contained in dried pods, husks, or the seed-bearing portion of the plant. Some seeds can be harvested before they are entirely brown and dry if weather conditions, birds, insects, or rodents are likely to damage them (e.g., Beans, peas, basil, broccoli, lettuce, onions, corn, okra, turnips, and sunflowers). However, plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae) family won’t continue ripening after harvesting. So ideally, leave these seeds on the plant until fully mature and dry if possible (e.g., broccoli, kale, and cabbage). Finally, plants with seedpods that shatter, like lettuce and members of the onion and carrot families need, to be picked progressively as they ripen, especially in windy or wet weather, which can ruin or distribute the seeds (e.g., spring onions, chives, parsley, and dill). Dry processing techniques are used to extract the seeds from all ‘dry seeded’ crops.

These seeds mature inside fleshy fruit and are from the Solanaceae plant family (including tomatoes, capsicums, chilies, and eggplants) and the Cucurbitaceae family (including melons, squashes, and cucumbers). A variety of wet seed processing techniques can be used to remove and dry these seeds. Again, there are clues to help you identify when to pick your fruit to extract the mature seeds. • Fruiting crops that contain seeds inside their pulp, like tomatoes and eggplant, are best picked when the fruit is over-ripe, turning soft and just past being edible. • Cucumber, zucchini, okra, and sweetcorn are often picked young to eat but need to reach full mature size and then be left on the plant for another three weeks before seeds will be fully developed. • Pumpkin and capsicum are harvested when they are ready for eating and fully mature. The seeds for these crops are scraped out of the cavity inside after picking. • Generally, after the fruit first becomes edible, the seeds will continue increasing in size and quality for several days, weeks, or even 2-3 months for pumpkin and squash varieties. Full seed maturity increases the germination rate. It’s sometimes necessary to pick the fruit to protect against disease or damage and allow it to ripen in storage before processing seeds.

Wet seed processing Ripe cucumber: scrape seeds out with spoon and rinse in water disgarding any unviable seeds that float 39

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SEED SAVING

How to Process Dr y Seeds

Using a sieve to separate seeds from chaff

Collecting dr y seeds This is easy and fun. For small scale seed collection, use scissors or secateurs to snip seed heads off each plant. Alternatively, cut the whole plant off at ground level and hang upside down to dry or collect seeds in a bag tied over it. Keep only the part of the plant with the seed head needed for seed saving. Calico bags, paper bags and buckets are useful for collection along with a string for tying bags or bunches for drying. Geotextile fabric drop cloths can also be laid in rows, layering bulk plants on top, making it easier to collect seed in the field. Face the top of the plant towards the center with roots outside the outer edge of the fabric. This makes seed catching effective while avoiding soil contamination from the roots. Geofabric material allows water from rain or dew to pass through, wicking moisture away from the plant material. Plants should be turned repeatedly for even drying in the pile.

Processing seeds for saving A table in a dry, protected undercover environment away from wind and high humidity is ideal to use as a working area. Hang any immature seeds in bags undercover where they are safe from rodents and can continue to mature and ripen before processing. Small quantities of seeds can be spread on a plate in a cool, shaded, and well-ventilated spot to dry out. Mature seed heads with dried seeds can be processed immediately. Fruit containing seeds will need to be processed separately. Seed cleaning techniques are dependent on whether the fruits and seeds are ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ when mature.

Seed cleaning methods. When your plant seed heads are dry enough, the seeds must be separated from the non-seed material they’re mixed with. This may include pods or husks (known as ‘chaff’), leaves, stems, soil, stones, insects, and weed seeds. It’s quite common for small insects to feed on seeds while they are drying. The aim is to achieve ‘clean seed’ with no chaff ready for packaging and long term storage. Some seeds are quick and easy to clean, while others take some work! Cleaning is accomplished using one or more techniques depending on the seed type: • ‘Winnowing’ separates seeds from plant material based on weight. This entails blowing air to disperse the heavier seeds as they fall from the lighter chaff. One method is to lay small quantities of seed material on a shallow tray then carefully blow the chaff away with your breath. Ideally, do this over a tablecloth or newspaper to catch any seeds blown out and then hand-clean. To winnow larger quantities, slowly drop the seed and chaff mixture from a few feet above a bucket or onto a tarp in front of a fan or cool hair dryer on low speed. Seeds should fall into the bucket while chaff blows away. A gentle wind can also achieve the same effect. • ‘Screening’ using sieves, strainers, or screens of different sizes over a tray or plate helps separate seeds based on size. Seeds fall through to the tray while the chaff is collected on the screen or sieve above. Use two screens – one with mesh just smaller than the seeds and the other a little larger. Shake and rub the seed over the first screen to filter any plant material smaller than the seeds, allowing it to fall through. The second screen lets the seeds through but prevents anything bigger. This may need to be repeated to achieve clean seed with no chaff. A pastry brush is also useful for quickly removing fine chaff and insects from trays. • ‘Threshing’ isolates larger seeds by releasing them from pods or plant material. Seeds are added to a sealed calico or plastic bag. Then, techniques like using a rolling pin, stomping with flat-soled shoes, hand rubbing, or whacking separates the seeds into the bag. Quite a therapeutic way to relieve stress! The separated seeds and chaff are then screened or winnowed for final cleaning. Sieves with different sized mesh are ideal for seed saving

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SEED SAVING

Wet seeds need to be separated from the surrounding pulp or flesh, then washed and dried.

•

How to Process Wet Seeds Seed cleaning methods. Wet seeds need to be separated from the surrounding pulp or flesh, then washed and dried. For most seeds, this is pretty straight forward and involves scraping them out, rinsing, and drying. Other techniques may be required. • •

Fermenting tomato and cucumber seeds imitate the natural ripening cycle and process of fermentation that happens when these ripe fruits fall and rot or are eaten by animals. Fermentation is necessary to clean tomato seeds and remove the germination-inhibiting gel encapsulating each seed. Squash family and eggplant seeds may also benefit as fermenting can kill molds, mildews, and other diseases that may be present, but it’s not necessary.

To ferment, scoop wet seeds and any pulp into a jar and cover with hot water. Shake or stir well several times a day. Wait one or more days until the seeds start to drop to the bottom of the jar and become separated from the flesh. You may notice bubbling, scum, or mold on the surface of the water. After a day or so, remove a few seeds to see if the pulpy coating has been separated. Rinse to test. If the seed is clean, you can rinse the whole batch in a sieve and dry on a plate. Don’t leave the seeds fermenting any longer than necessary to clean the seed, or they may germinate. If seeds start sprouting, they have fermented too long.

•

Soaking helps make seed cleaning easier by loosening any pulpy residue clinging to the seed (e.g., pumpkin and melons). Place seeds and pulp in a container full of water and soak no longer than 8-12 hours to prevent germination. Rinse and dry. Decanting separates pulp and quality heavy seed from lightweight, less viable seed. First, rinse or crush the pulpy seed mixture to break up large, lumpy material. Add seeds and pulp to a container or large jar with at least ten times the volume of the pulp mixture. Add 4 parts water to 1 part pulp mixture. Shake well and stir until pulp separates. Allow the viable heavy seed to settle on the bottom. Pour off the top layer of floating pulp and less viable seeds. Repeat this process until the water is clear, and heavy seed goes to the bottom. Rinsing cleans the seed ready for drying and involves a colander, strainer or screen, pressurized water, and rubbing with your hands. Add wet seeds to a strainer. Under running water, rub away the pulp with your fingers while spraying the water to ease the pulp out of the strainer or colander. Strain it off until the seeds are cleaned and no pulp remains. Alternatively, rinsing over screens allows the seeds to fall through to a bowl while keeping the pulp on top. Drying. The seeds need to be extremely dry before storing. After cleaning, drain seeds fully in a strainer. Absorb any additional moisture by patting the base of the strainer with a paper towel. Next, spread seeds over any shiny surface (e.g. a tray, ceramic plate, or sheet of glass). Seeds stick to any kind of paper. Leave in a cool, shady, dry location for several days or longer as needed. Once fully dry, the seeds should slide easily off the shiny surface, ready for testing and storage.

Final Drying All seeds should be dried as quickly as possible by optimizing airflow. Air conditioning, a food dehydrator set below 95°F (35°C), or a fan on low speed may assist. On a flat, non-stick surface such as glass, plastic tray, ceramic plate or wood, spread seeds out in a thin layer. Avoid materials that seeds stick to like paper towels or cardboard. Rotate seeds as necessary to encourage drying. Seeds will be compromised in temperatures >95°F (35°C).

Testing to see if Seeds are Sufficiently Dry 1. Tomato seeds are added to water and allowed to ferment for a few days and rinsed after scum appears

Wet fleshy fruits like passionfruit with pulp are fermented to separate seeds

Bend or Hammer Test: Try bending thin seeds like pumpkin or small, oblong seeds like lettuce. If they snap instead of bending, they are ‘very dry’. For large seeds (e.g., peas, beans, or corn), place on a solid surface and hit with a hammer. They should shatter if they are ‘very dry.’ If not dry enough, they will smash or mush instead. Paper Test: Add a piece of dry paper inside your container overnight and keep a control piece away from the seeds. The next morning, compare both to decide if the paper is still crisp or soft from moisture in the seeds. Al dente Test: When you bite a seed, it should feel very hard. It needs more drying time if you can make tooth marks on it.

Once your seeds are dried, they are ready for long-term storage. 3 43

BY EVEREST FERNANDEZ, JUST4GROWERS

The

PPFD Trap 44

THE PPFD TRAP

Everest Fernandez introduces the all-important quality of light known as “radiant intensity” — something our precious PAR meters and PPFD charts don’t see.

s recently as a decade or so ago, indoor growers changed the language they used to describe light intensity. Lux (lumens per square meter) was out; PPFD (micromoles per square meter per second) was in. Accordingly, you may have heard folks say stuff like:

“ Lu m en s a r e fo r h u mans !”

“ L ux sucks!”

And if you’ve ever looked into why, you’ll know that lumens are based on the standard luminosity function of the human eye’s sensitivity to light. This sensitivity peaks in the green zone of the visual range at around 555 nanometers. However, as beneficial as our human evolutionar y capacity to see plant foliage is, it has nothing to do with photosynthesis or light intensity from a plant’s perspective.

Perhaps sensing the shortcomings plants. Maybe it’s the slightly esoteric Perhaps sensing of lumens and lux, growers began looking “µ” symbol in “µmol” or the the shortcomings to attach themselves to the concept tiny exponential values in superscript of PAR (photosynthetically active that imbues us with that fuzzy, of lumens and lux, radiation). They started measuring freshly-laundered lab coat feeling. Still, growers began to PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux before we start swaggering around attach themselves to density) in micromoles per meter industry tradeshows waving our PAR the concept of PAR squared per second (µmol m-2 s-1) meters around, we might want to (photosynthetically using handy devices known as PAR allow ourselves a moment of sober active radiation) meters (aka Quantum meters). These reflection, so we don’t become too devices use a tiny silicon photodiode confident about these new metrics. (think “reversed LED” as it takes light as its input energy and transforms this into electrical current) Okay, okay, I’ll cut to the chase. It seems many of us are mistaking encased within a translucent, acrylic cap to estimate the our PAR meters for “photosynthesis prediction devices”. These aggregate light intensity over a square meter. The more light days, indoor growers in the market for a new grow light are that hits the sensor, the greater the electrical current, and the bombarded with various, colorful “PPFD maps” showing light higher the PPFD shown on the screen. The acrylic cap diffuses intensity distributed across a two-dimension flat plane. Great incoming light, although light arriving from directly above most if you’re growing a plate of algae—but not so much for a 3’ stimulates the sensor. tall three-dimensional, light-loving plant! These PPFD maps are usually presented as illustrative evidence of the output and In one sense, growers have moved from an energetic paradigm uniformity of a given lighting fixture. Some lighting manufacturers (lumens are based on the Candela, the base unit of luminous go further and compare the efficiency of disparate light sources intensity, which is defined using watts) to a quantitative using “µmol per Joule”. In other words, how many photons does approach where photons are counted as quantifiable elements. my light source produce for each Joule of input electrical energy? PPFD, then, refers to how many photons are arriving on a The result is a bunch of very convincing pseudo-science leading hypothetical flat square meter surface during one second. Each to the inevitable comparative and competitive glances over the photon (in the PAR range—between 400 and 700 nanometers) urinal: is counted as equal rather than weighted according to the standard human eye, luminosity function, or anything else. Grower 1: “My new generation 315W CMH produces 1.93 µmol per Joule!” So, where does that leave us? Well, it’s easy to believe that we’ve Grower 2: “Not bad … but my 1000W DE-HPS achieves just automatically upgraded our level of scientific rigour by moving over 2 µmol per Joule!” from plain vanilla “Lux” to the far more exotic and technical Grower 1: “Yeah—but my CMH has more blue…” sounding “µmol m-2 s-1”. (Ooooh! Aaaaah!) You might even Grower 3: “Both of you shut up! My DIY Quantum Board with believe that PAR, PPF (total output), and PPFD represent the Samsung [insert long, obtuse SKU] diodes is pushing 3 µmol per apex of precision when it comes to describing light intensity for Joule! Therefore, I am the victor! Kneel before me, Edison globe luddites!” 45

The

PPFD Trap Not all plants use the sun in the same way

Still, before we start swaggering around industry tradeshows waving our PAR meters around, we might want to allow ourselves a moment of sober reflection, so we don’t become too confident about these new metrics.

There are countless variants of this conversation on every growers’ forum out there showing, among other things, how easy it is to get drawn into the polemic, with growers arguing from the camp of their favored lighting technology in an endless battle of contradictory anecdotes. However, these exchanges are a distraction from a far more fundamental logical fallacy that undermines and invalidates the whole conversation. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what I call the “PPFD trap”. First, the fallacy: Premise 1 (TRUE): IF my PAR meter measures photons traveling between 400 and 700 nanometers and… Premise 2 (TRUE): IF my PLANTS use photons traveling between 400 and 700 nanometers for photosynthesis then... Conclusion (FALSE): My PAR meter predicts the rate of photosynthesis for my PLANTS.

Tempting, isn’t it? While both premises may be factually correct, the devilish detail lies in how we sleepwalk to the false conclusion. (The fallacy at hand, by the way, is known as “affirming the consequent”.) So, where does this deceptively simple-sounding logic fall, exactly? For one thing, you probably already know that photosynthesis is dependent on several other key variables, including leaf temperature, air temperature, cellular moisture content, atmospheric carbon dioxide, spectral quality, and relative humidity. But even when we consciously disregard these additional factors, there remains a huge elephant loitering in our grow rooms. To start patting down this elephant’s trunk (you keep telling yourself it’s a trunk), we need to step away from our PAR meters, just for a moment, and reconsider the fundamental, 46

Different plant species evolve specific adaptions enabling them to exploit all that’s on offer within their natural environment— that’s why it’s so important to consider the native habitat of your chosen species

core reality of plants, light, and photosynthesis. The two most important things to consider are, 1) the photosynthetic characteristics of our chosen plant species, and, 2) the energy source they have evolved over millions of years to exploit: the sun. Not all plants use the sun in the same way. Some species have evolved to brave the intensely lit and atmospherically harsh conditions of elevated, sub-tropical, mountainous terrains. Others are happier on the barely illuminated (but more forgiving) floors of temperate rain forests. Different plant species evolve specific adaptions enabling them to exploit all that’s on offer within their natural environment—that’s why it’s so important to consider the native habitat of your chosen species. Getting back to the light, we perceive the sun as a single, intensely bright yellowish-white blob in the sky, 93 million miles away from the Earth. As such, the vast majority of photons that reach our planet travel in a similar direction, along a similar path. Of course, some photons bounce off clouds, refract through water vapor, or bounce from leaf to leaf within a dense forest canopy to create a measure of diffusion. As an analogy for direct light, think of a garden hose emitting a powerful “soaker” style jet of water and think of diffuse light as the same hose with the nozzle set to the “mister” setting. For argument’s sake, the volume of water in both cases is the same. And yes, both will get you wet! But the fact remains, light-loving plants have evolved to exploit the “soaker” (direct light) not the “mister” (diffuse light). Unfortunately, your PAR meter, by design, does not “see” the difference. Science has only recently started to explore the difference between direct and diffuse light on plants. Craig Brodersen, assistant professor at Yale’s school of forestry and environmental studies, performed experiments on leaves using both direct and diffuse light and his results showed that direct light penetrates deeper into the leaf tissue—especially green light.

THE PPFD TRAP

As an analogy for direct light, think of a garden hose emitting a powerful “soaker” style jet of water and think of diffuse light as the same hose with the nozzle set to the “mister” setting

example, perched several thousand feet above sea level in places like Nepal, India or Afghanistan, needs to withstand both very high levels of PAR and increased ultraviolet radiation. From a plant’s perspective, the sun rises every day in the east, moves up towards its apex in the sky, and then heads west for sunset. Throughout the day, the sun sends its intense, angular rays towards the plant. As such, the whole plant benefits from being “soaker hosed” with light, drenching it from the side, the top, and then the other side. The incident sunlight has very high radiant intensity capable of penetrating deep into the plant, striking some leaves directly and passing between others, depending on the angle or time of day. The fascinating characteristic of light-loving plants, however, is found at the microscopic level. Here, deep inside the chloroplast, you will find tall “stacks” of light-harvesting compartments called “thylakoids”. These thylakoids are ubiquitous throughout the world of higher plants (as well as algae and bacteria) as the site of photosynthesis itself. But it’s worth noting that shadeloving species (e.g., ferns) develop short, stubby little stacks of thylakoids because the light they receive is low intensity and diffuse. The light that ferns capture doesn’t have much “punch” and neither does it need to as exploiting low light is encoded into the fern plant’s DNA, and therefore, reflected in its physiology.

The images on the left show the penetration of the light into the leaf surface from direct light sources — the pictures on the right are from diffuse light sources. It’s important to note that both the direct and diffuse light sources gave the same reading on a PAR meter—but here we can see clear evidence that leaves do not process direct and diffuse light in the same way. (We also see how green light penetrates deepest, but that’s a subject for another time!) If you choose to grow a plant which has evolved to cope with very high levels of solar intensity, then you must first acknowledge the fact that it must have developed specific mechanisms to deal with (and thrive in) this environment. A plant species native to elevated, subtropical habitats, for

The tall stacks of thylakoids characteristic of light-loving plant species (as well as a double-palisade layer) on the other hand are arguably a means of squeezing every last joule of incident energy from the intense solar beams they’ve evolved to exploit. Often, the stacks of thylakoids (known as “grana”) are positioned so that the top of the stack is closest to the adaxial plane of the leaf. To understand why you need to appreciate that there’s a finite limit to how much photosynthetic yield a single thylakoid can generate. So, if a thylakoid at the top of the stack, nearest to the leaf’s adaxial surface, is “maxed out” with incoming photons, these otherwise “surplus” photons can transmit through and be processed further down the stack. Tall stacks of thylakoids are light-loving plants’ evolutionary mechanism for dealing with lots of direct, intense sunlight. That’s what they do better than other lesser adapted plant species, and that’s why they exist in the first place. 47

The

THE PPFD TRAP

PPFD Trap The phenomena of “positive phototropism” (where a light-loving plant dynamically orientates its leaves, so they receive as much direct light as possible) shows us the lengths plants will go to grab their essential energy payload.

Remember, light-loving plants have evolved to exploit the ultimate soaker hose—the sun! If you’re not giving them the quality of light they crave, they won’t express their genetic potential to the full, as this can only be “unlocked” with the quality of light they want.

In an indoor growing environment where our plants are reliant on grow lights for every photon, it’s essential to give our plants not just the measured quantity but also the character of light they want. The first thing most growers think of when considering light quality is spectrum / spectral distribution, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make here. 700+ µmol measured 18 - 24 inches beneath a 630W DE-CMH lamp in an open, double-parabolic reflector is qualitatively very different from 700+ µmol measured 15 - 20 inches beneath a 600W multiarray LED, or four or six feet below a bunch of 1000W DE-HPS lamps in greenhouse style, deep-dish reflectors in a compound lighting plan. The key difference is found in the paths those photons travel along relative to each other to reach the leaf. Multi-array un-lensed LED grow lights spread their photons out across hundreds of diodes—each diode representing just a fraction of the overall intensity of the lighting fixture, hence the total output is predominantly diffuse. A bunch of 1000W DE-HPS lamps bolted to a warehouse ceiling may well overlap footprints in a compound lighting plan but, once again, the incident photons measured at any given point have arrived from many different sources, and the resulting light is more diffuse).

So, while the PPFD readings on our PAR meters can give us useful data in terms of grow light positioning, they tell us nothing about the angular quality of the light we’re measuring. A flat photodiode sensor in a consumer-grade PAR meter behaves in a very different way to a three-dimension leaf or a three-dimensional plant. As such, it doesn’t “care” whether the 700+ µmol were extrapolated from a highly collimated, beam-like light source or a diffuse light arriving from multiple fixtures at various angles. Going back to our garden hose analogy, PPFD tells us nothing about whether the incident “water” has been delivered as a fine mist distributed from many different tiny nozzles or a girthy firemen’s hose emitting a powerful soaking stream!

The “radiant intensity” of a light source (the correct radiometric term we use to describe these angular qualities) has a significant bearing on a fixture’s ability to penetrate plants at both a micro and macro level. As already described, at the micro level, high radiant intensity “soaker hose light” will cause thylakoids deeper inside the plant to photosynthesize. More diffuse light lacks this penetrative power. At the macro level, high radiant intensity delivers many photons along narrow-angle ranges to penetrate past the canopy. This is the power needed to stimulate second and third-tier flower sites beneath the canopy, leading to more homogenous crop quality.

Radiant intensity is concerned with photons emanating from a light source within a specific angular range. As radiant intensity is a three-dimension phenomenon, it needs to be defined in terms of solid angles—the Steradian. From the light source’s point of view, radiant intensity is about limiting our count to photons traveling at certain angles from the light source. From a plant’s perspective, the ability of light to penetrate (at both the micro and macro levels described) is dependent on the range of incident angles in its photonic diet. In other words, are the photons arriving from a wide range of angles at any given moment, or do they conform to a tighter angular range, like the sun?

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THE PPFD TRAP

The

PPFD Trap Many growers and lighting manufacturers appear to be oversimplifying the complex relationship between plants and their light source into PPFD—as measured by a PAR meter— and spectrum—as measured by a spectroradiometer

Many growers and lighting manufacturers appear to be over-simplifying the complex relationship between plants and their light source into PPFD— as measured by a PAR meter— and spectrum—as measured by a spectroradiometer. Even given the exact same spectra, 700+ µmol of photons arriving from many different spatial origins (i.e. LED diodes or several greenhouse-style DE-HPS fixtures bolted to a warehouse ceiling) is very different to 700+ µmol measured underneath a single HID arc-tube positioned at close proximity. While your PAR meter may read the same value in either situation, your plants will experience and react to the two different light sources very differently.

In conclusion, light with high radiant intensity has penetration power. It can penetrate the canopy itself and also into the leaves and flowers themselves. Light with high radiant intensity can be achieved with HID lighting (HPS, DE-HPS, MH, CMH, DE-MH, DE-CMH) in a well-designed reflector (i.e a reflector that facilitates close placement to the canopy rather than one that runs too hot to be under four feet away from the canopy.) It can also be realised with high power LED fixtures equipped with secondary lensing or a COB style unit when many diodes are packed into a single hemispherical lens. Note how this discussion isn’t centerd around one lighting technology being “better” than the other. It’s about identifying and understanding the characteristics of your light source that matter and growing the right kind of plants in a style that suits it! Conversely, you could choose the right light source for growing your historically favored plants! 3

For more information and explanation, please check out my videos below over at Just4Growers on YouTube.

Video references: • •

youtube.com/watch?v=rXo1cf_n5fE youtube.com/watch?v=CqOvasvZ8-E

Journal reference: A new paradigm in leaf-level photosynthesis: direct and diffuse lights are not equal Plant, Cell and Environment IF:4.666(2008) Craig R. Brodersen, Thomas C. Vogelmann, William E. Williams & Holly L. Gorton

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.

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GROWING PROJECTS

s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; o Whowing at h Gr W Where USA

& Canada

Wakefield, QC

Healthy Communities

Credit: Juniper Farm

Juniper Farm operates with the health of the greater community in mind; it wants people to eat real food -- the kind our great grandparents used to have. The 200-acre property was purchased in 2010 by Juniper Turgeon and Alex Mackay-Smith, and since then, they have devoted themselves to growing food with integrity from an organic and biodynamic perspective. They never take without renewing the vitality of the earth. Their 200-acre property features annual and perennial vegetable beds along with an animal pasture, beehives, forests, meadows, and streams. Beyond their many seasonal crops, Juniper and Alex also sell organic meat, eggs, and homemade ferments at their farm store year-round. The farm aims to educate the community on sustainability and ethical growing practices through various events, dinners, workshops, and festivals. But most of all, they want people to enjoy real, farm-fresh food. A farm with values. Learn more: juniperfarm.ca

Vancouver, BC

Gardening is often associated with those who have a lot of outdoor space, but city dwellers are just as capable of growing food to feed their families. Since 1978, City Farmer has been working to deliver that message. Whether in small yards, on balconies, community gardens, or flat roofs, any space can be transformed into a productive plot. The organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Demonstration Garden sits on a quarter of an acre in Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitsilano neighborhood. What was once a vacant lot now serves as a green teaching space unique in the city. There are five garden areas on site: a water-saving native plant garden, a climate change adaptation garden, an organic food garden, an outdoor classroom, and a biodiversity garden. The public is welcome to visit the City Farmer six days a week and learn about all garden subjects, including the ins and outs of composting, from one of the many experienced staff members. Delivering an important message for over four decades. Learn more: cityfarmer.eco/garden

Credit: City Farmer

Urban Oasis

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Pick Your Own Hemp

A farm in Maine is offering people a unique opportunity; a chance to pick their own hemp from the fields to make their own CBD medicine. It’s a slight diversion from the more typical establishments that allow customers to choose their own strawberries, for example. And while Sheepscot General Store and Farm does that too (and sells fresh bread, maple syrup, mixed veggies, and apples), it’s breaking the mold with its fields of hemp. The new venture wouldn’t be possible without the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from its original Schedule 1 class drug status. Sheepscot is devoting three acres to growing high CBD hemp organically. The crop is free of chemicals and contains under 0.3% THC, meaning the medicine (or smoothies, juices, and teas) made with this type of cannabis plant comes without the high. Folks who are interested can make ‘u-pick’ appointments for guided tours throughout September and October. They can also attend workshops teaching the basics of making hemp tinctures and salves.

Credit: Blue Horse Photography

A brand new crop. Learn more: sheepscotgeneral.com

Detroit, MI

Credit: Charles R. Drew Transition Center

A Future In Horticulture The Charles R. Drew Transition Center is a one-of-a-kind post-secondary facility that offers people with special needs the opportunity to develop various skill-sets in the world of horticulture. The center serves students with moderate to severe cognitive impairments, autism, as well as those with visual, hearing, and physical impairments. Programs teach students how to plant and maintain a garden, as well as how to sell fresh fruits and vegetables post-harvest. Work-study placements help those who attend the school gain functional independence and become productive community members. In addition to using hydroponic, aeroponic, and zip grow technology, the school also grows fresh produce in standard beds in hoop houses. Students and their families have the opportunity to enjoy the nutritious food they grow, and a lot of it is also given to food banks or sold at fine Detroit dining establishments. Gardening for all. Learn more: detroitk12.org/drew 3

BY ERIC COULOMBE

Silicon and the

Green Revolution Plants raised without silicon are missing a part of their makeup. When the missing piece of the puzzle is put into place, the entire picture improves

SILICON

ilicon is defined in many different ways. Some describe it as microchips, and others believe it’s the product you put around the shower. In the hydro industry, silicon is said to be a new panacea: a product that enhances the entire growing experience. The hype surrounding silicon is real, but it has nothing to do with a product. It’s all about biology.

Silicon is not essential for growth [4]. Still, it is used by plants in higher volumes than any other nutrient except for nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus - as much as 10% of dry weight depending on the species [1]. Plants raised without silicon are missing a part of their makeup. When the missing piece of the puzzle is put into place, the entire picture improves.

In it s pure form, silic on is a shiny, me t allic-looking semi-c onduc ting me t alloid: It is neither a miner al nor a me t al

Many growers don’t use silicon and still have very productive plants. In the early 2000s, however, farmers were surprised to learn of research that had uncovered a worrying decline in bioavailable silicon levels in soil caused by the death of natural silicon processing microorganisms. And yet, their crops were successful. As a result, new silicon technology had to be marketed as a product leading to yield increases, and not what it is. This product is a way to restore plant-available silicon to pre-industrial levels, bringing crop health and yield to optimal levels once considered normal.

What Is Silicon? Dubbed initially “Silicium” by Sir Humprey Davy in 1808, it is hard to find any information relating to silicon (Si) that

Silic on physic ally s treng thens c ell wall s and s tomat a , allowing f or f as ter gr ow th and b e t ter c ontr ol of water los s.

doesn’t describe it as the “second most abundant element both on the surface of the Earth’s crust and in soils.” In its pure form, silicon is a shiny, metallic-looking semi-conducting metalloid: It is neither a mineral nor a metal. When combined with hydrogen and oxygen, it forms an acid, and when that comes into contact with metal, it creates a salt, such as potassium silicate (K 2O3 Si). When combined with two oxygen molecules, silicon forms a dioxide known as white quar tz, everybody’s favorite beach sand ingredient. The only arrangement of silicon that plants can naturally take up is the least stable: mono-silicic acid (MSA). This uptake limit is imposed by the sheer size of silicon atoms and the difficulty of getting more than one at a time through cell walls. Besides nanotechnology, which shor t circuits natural uptake pathways, MSA is the only form of silicon that is naturally bioavailable. MSA is comprised of single silicon atoms surrounded by hydrogen and oxygen. It is formed by complex chemical reactions in seawater and on land by the liberation of individual silicon atoms from compounds by root or microbe chemistry.

Molecular structure of mono-silicic acid (MSA)

Pure silicon is a shiny metalloid 57

SILICON

What Does Silicon Do For Plants? Silicon physically strengthens cell walls and stomata, allowing for faster growth and better control of water loss. It increases root mass, and therefore, indirectly increases nutrient uptake [3] . Phosphorus availability and absorption are also improved. All of these systemic benefits increase leaf size, growth rate, brix content, and yield, as any systemic component would. But silicon’s role doesn’t stop there.

Silicon physically streng thens cell walls and stomata, allowing for faster grow th and bet ter control of water loss. It increases root mass, and therefore, indirectly increases nutrient uptake

Silicon deposed in or between cell walls (phytoliths, or ‘plant opals’) doesn’t just work as scaffolding. It also provides direct protection against predation and fungal attack. Adequate silicon levels in xylem help heal wounds and eliminate transplant stress. When present in the waxy cuticle on leaves, mono-silicic acid polymerizes to form a gel-like structure that physically repels penetration by mold spores and wears out the mouthpar ts of insect predators. Finally, bioavailable silicon also dramatically improves plant resistance to abiotic stress.

Not all plants take up silicon in the same way, and some use it to varying extents. Monocotyledons, for example, actively take silicon in through their roots, while dicots rely on passive transpor t and have lower silicon levels in their tissues. All plants are classed as either silicon accumulators, rejectors, or intermediates. But even silicon rejectors (plants requiring less than 0.1% SI dry weight), use silicon when it is available. They are weaker and less able to resist stress without it.

What Types of Silicon are Available for Gardeners? For any form of silicon to be useful internally, it must first be transformed into MSA. The only shor tcut available is nanotechnology, which essentially powders silicon so finely that it can fall through cellular defenses. The following are excellent options for gardeners:

Silicate CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Phytoliths, or ‘plant opals’

Silicon deposed in or between cell walls doesn’t just work as scaf folding. It also provides direct protection against predation and fungal at tack.

Silicates are the traditional approach to getting silicon into plants. They are cheap by weight and are commonly available and effective when applied to roots after being transformed into MSA. When used as a foliar spray, they do not provide the suite of plant health benefits discussed previously. Still, they do provide a degree of protection against many pests and fungal infections in several crop species [6] . Silicates include industrial compounds like calcium and potassium silicate and organic sources such as rice hulls. The cons to using silicates include the time needed for transformation into active MSA, the limitations of the effectiveness against some pathogens, the aggressive acidity of some compounds, the lack of plant metabolism-boosting effects from a foliar application, and the volume of product needed to achieve given levels of bioavailable silicon.

Nano-silicates As the name suggests, nano-silicates star t as common raw materials and then undergo proprietary processes to create tiny par ticles that can pass through tissue. Nanotech represents enormous oppor tunities for the future because it provides a shor tcut past natural uptake pathways. But it also brings potential dangers. Nano is too expensive, and research suggests that much of “nano” silicate’s effect may come from the transformation into MSA, anyway [5] .

MUSHROOMS AND BEES

POLICY INFLUENCERS SILICON

When present in the wax y cuticle on leaves, mono-silicic acid polymerises to form a gel-like structure that physically repels penetration by mold spores and wears out the mouthpar ts of insect predators.

Nano-silicates, when properly manufactured, can be very useful, but there are also cases where root-applied basic silicate is found to be just as effective [7] . While it may well be the future, for the moment, nano’s time has not yet come.

Stabilized Mono-silicic Acids

Major growers of previously vulnerable crops such as soft fruits and berries are finding they can ditch fungicide and the many pesticides they used formerly to control mold and biting pests

Originally introduced to the commercial agricultural market in the early 2000s, stabilized mono-silicic acid directly addresses the problem with the instability of naturally bioavailable silicon. By linking mono-silicic acid with a carrier, initially Peg or a similar innocuous compound in a liquid solution, manufacturers were able to provide immediately bioavailable silicon in the form that plants use. Applying a stabilized mono-silicic delivers all the results that silicon promises without the waiting time associated with silicates. Research has also shown additional benefits. For example, foliar application of stabilized MSA delivers superior protection to foliar silicate application. It also offers the benefits of increased root mass and plant growth associated with silicate application via the roots [8] . The cons to this product include high pricing, the lack of an organic option, and the problem of breaking down concentrations above 4% MSA. However, given the tiny amounts required compared to traditional silicates and their increased effectiveness, they have quickly taken off in commercial agriculture. Since the mid-2000s, mono-silicic stabilization technology has moved forward again by addressing the 4% limit on aqueous solutions, bringing us the current market-leading products now using ethanols for stabilization. With their help, a 40% MSA concentration is achieved.

This latest generation of monos is effective at less than 0.03 ml/L. It allows the delivery of targeted silicon levels in crops with thousands of times less product needing to be applied. With these next-generation mono-silicics, it is now possible to see the effects of silicon just hours after application. Even more significantly, major growers of previously vulnerable crops such as soft fruits and berries are finding they can ditch fungicide and the many pesticides they used formerly to control mold and biting pests. 3

Sources: 1) Epstein E. The anomaly of silicon in plant biology. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1994;91:11–17. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.1.11. 2) R.C. Ropp, in Encyclopedia of the Alkaline Earth Compounds, 2013 3) E. Epstein, “Silicon,” Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, vol. 50, pp. 641–664, 1999. 4) Mechanisms of silicon-mediated alleviation of abiotic stresses in higher plants: A review, Authors: Yongchao Liang, Wanchun Sun, Yong-Guan Zhub, Peter Christie 5) The Effects of Foliar Sprays with Different Silicon Compounds, ReXil Agro BV, Demmersweg 92a, 7556 BN Hengelo (OV), The Netherlands; 6) Rezende D.C., Rodrigues F.A., Carré-Missio V., Schurt D.A., Kawamura I.K., Korndörfer G.H. Effect of root and foliar applications of silicon on brown spot development in rice. Australas. Plant Pathol. 2009;38:67–73. doi: 10.1071/AP08080. / Rodrigues F.A., Duarte H.S.S., Domiciano G.P., Souza C.A., Korndörfer G.H., Zambolim L. Foliar application of potassium silicate reduces the intensity of soybean rust. Australas. Plant Pathol. 2009;38:366–372. doi: 10.1071/AP09010. 7) Suriyaprabha R., Karunakaran G., Yuvakkumar R., Rajendran V., Kannan N. Foliar application of silica nanoparticles on the phytochemical responses of Maize (Zea mays L.) and its toxicological behavior. J. Synth. React. Inorg. Metal-Org. Nano-Met. Chem. 2014;44:1128–1131. doi: 10.1080/15533174.2013.799197. 8) Liang Y.C., Sun W.C., Zhu Y.G., Christie P. Mechanisms of silicon-mediated alleviation of abiotic stresses in higher plants: A review. Environ. Pollut. 2007;147:422–428. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.06.008. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] / Deshmukh R.K., Ma J.F., Bélanger R.R. Editorial: Role of silicon in plants. Front. Plant Sci. 2017;8:1858. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01858. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] / Fauteux F., Rémus-Borel W., Menzies J.G., Bélanger R.R. Silicon and plant disease resistance against pathogenic fungi. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2005;249:1–6. doi: 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.06.034. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

BY EVAN FOLDS

There is a reason the root of “humility” is humble

FOOD

ometimes, the most familiar things are the most foreign. We have never seen the hydrogen bonds in a water molecule, we do not know the generative origin of electricity or magnetism, and most people know what soil is. Still, there are so many organisms in the ground that we will never get to know all of

them. There is a reason the root of “humility” is humble. The same mystery is at play with what we eat. When it comes to food, we do a fantastic job of fooling ourselves. Food has become what is cheap and what tastes good, rather than what nourishes and regenerates. For sure, without discernment, we are eating dangerously.

Food has become what is cheap and what tastes good, rather than what nourishes and regenerates. For sure, without discernment, we are eating dangerously

The majority of what we eat is not natural. Food science and food marketing are at the heart of this phenomenon. According to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), “food science is the study of the physical, biological, and chemical makeup of food; and the concepts underlying food processing. Food technology is the application of food science to the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of safe food.”

What this means is that there is an enormous amount of money and energy being invested in making things that are safe to eat, but are not real food. No longer can we distinguish between foods that are fake or real with our senses alone. For instance, 70% of the average American diet is processed. More than 50% of what we eat is “ultra-processed,” meaning it is highly manipulated and contains additives. To make the reality of our food system appealing, we are inundated with advertisements from all angles. Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action, often against their own will and interests. Nowhere is the power of advertising more prominent than it is with food. But the persuasion goes beyond marketing to the realm of incentive. The federal government spends more than $20 billion a year on subsidies for farm businesses. About 39% of the nation’s 2.1 million farms receive grants, with the majority of the payouts going to commodity crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice, and not food crops like fruits and vegetables. In short, we are encouraging the wrong things. But it goes beyond that to the lobbyists hired by global food and agriculture corporations to manipulate the government into allowing the current posture of conventional agriculture. And round and round we go.

The result of this cronyism, lobbying, and deal-making is a sort of twilight zone where “natural” does not mean “natural,” and the billions of dollars being spent by global food and agriculture corporations in advertising is intended to confuse, not inform. The effectiveness of this type of food manipulation has allowed us to reach a terrifying crescendo of toxicity from artificial ingredients and pesticides used in conventional agriculture that has consumed the modern food system.

The toxicity is alarming. A recent FDA report tells us that traces of pesticides were found in 84% of domestic samples of fruits, and 53% of vegetables, as well as 42% of grains. And these chemicals were less prevalent in food imported from other countries. There are 72 pesticides banned in the EU still allowed for use in the US. Then there are those chemicals that we are adding to what we eat on purpose. Artificial additives allow cheap food to avoid spoilage, look pretty, taste good, and also force the savvy food shopper to inspect labels and play detective. And for a good reason. The average diet in the modern world is not nourishing us; it is making us sick. Over 45% of people in the US have at least one chronic disease. More than half of all people alive will get cancer. Autism is now being found in 1 in 38 children. All of these numbers are way up and getting worse. Our health is in a full-on crisis. The most potent tool that we have to fight this crisis is how we eat. Food is one place that you can make a direct impact, not only in our health but on the agricultural landscape itself. But, as anyone that has undertaken a diet can attest, what we eat may also be one of the most challenging places for a change. One challenge is that we have never been busier, and food options have never been more convenient. At any one time in the modern world, you can pull off the highway and choose from dozens of food establishments with food preserved for purchase, many ready to serve you a hot meal 24/7. Cheap food aims to seduce.

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FOOD

Nowhere is the power of advertising more prominent than it is with food.

How we eat has a tremendous impact on the world around us

The convenience of cheap food, when combined with a compromise in the quality and compounded by toxicity, results in a perfect storm for public health. We have to face this reality one way or another. As a first step, we would be well served to follow the “precautionary principle”, or the idea that the introduction of a new product or process whose ultimate effects are disputed or unknown should be resisted.

The toxicity is alarming. A recent FDA report tells us that traces of pesticides were found in 84% of domestic samples of fruits, and 53% of vegetables, as well as 42% of grains

It seems almost evident that healthy food should not contain ar tificial chemicals, yet there is no collective established understanding of this simple idea. So what is food? The concept of food is clear; we eat it every day. We know all about food, but do we understand the nature of food itself ? Are pesticides food? How about GMO’s? Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are engineered in a lab by having their DNA altered to express traits that allow them to withstand herbicide treatments and even act as pesticides themselves in the case of GMO Bt crops. The FDA calls GMO’s “essentially the same,” yet the global agricultural corporations who bioengineer the plants are allowed to patent the genes and market them for profit. Everything eats food in some form. Food webs are formed globally in what is called “trophic levels,” or life levels. Think big fish eating the little fish. In the same way, ecosystems are shaped in the realm of animals; we hold the same impact over the human food web. How we eat has a tremendous effect on the world around us.

Food is not the same for all people. The modern human diet varies considerably from vegans who eat only plant-based food to carnivores who consider eating their vegetables to be a plate of french fries.

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut can eat 68 hot dogs in ten minutes. He can also eat 141 hardboiled eggs in only eight minutes. People like Joey have taken the human diet to an extreme. Food can be a competition. Food is not what it used to be. As little as a century ago, food was local and wholesome by default because it spoiled if it traveled too far. There were limited technologies and no preservatives available that could keep foodstuff viable long enough to make food distribution a possibility. Before the onset of the modern global industrial food system, people had limited options that were more clearly defined by seasonal availability, market access, and income level. Fast food wasn’t invented until the early 1920s, and food processing didn’t star t to become the norm until the 1940s. One of the best sources of data for how our diets have changed us is Weston Price’s book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration (1939), where he chronicles the impact of the modern diet on aboriginal people. The influence of an empty diet of sugar and white bread is seen in the images and data that he collected in his world travels. Food can also be a form of enter tainment. Or a place of comfor t and trauma. Food can be different things to different people for various reasons, but without a proper definition of food, how do we hold ourselves accountable for eating it properly?

A HEALTHY SOCIETY

Our food choices matter; the way we eat encourages the type of food that is grown. If we put our intentions to it, we can change the world for the better one bite at a time

Even the literal definition leaves much to be desired. Merriam-Webster Dictionary calls food “material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy.”

Before the onset of the modern global industrial food system, people had limited options that were more clearly defined by seasonal availability, market access, and income level

How many who are reading this get hungry for chicken feet, tongue, huitlacoche (look it up), or, taken to an extreme, cannibalism. Does something become food merely when it is edible? In some cases, due to cultural differences, what one calls disgusting another calls a delicacy.

In the end, food is what you make it. It is a choice. We can choose to ignore the impact our diets have on our health and the world, or we can choose to view food as something more meaningful and vital to our potential as people. Let’s grow our own where possible, and eat our ideals by using our buying power to purchase clean, local foods. Wendell Berry said, “Eating is an agricultural act.” Our food choices matter; the way we eat encourages the type of food that is grown. If we put our intentions to it, we can change the world for the better one bite at a time. 3

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.

Bio

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 66

Creating a New Standard in LED Grow Lighting.

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BY DR. CALLIE SEAMAN

T he S e cr e t L if e of

Plant Nutrients

C The

Big Boys

pa r t

P l a n t s need h y drogen (H), ca rbon ( C ), a nd ox ygen ( O ) in high concen t r at ions. 68

PLANT NUTRIENTS

ealthy, productive plants require several essential nutrients to function. In their most basic form, they are elements found in the periodic table and have properties that control their interactions, bioavailability, and state. Much like us, these nutrients each have individual personalities and behaviors. In this new Garden Culture series, we will reveal the

secret life of each element that plants consume. Our first edition focuses on the primary macro-elements, also known as the ‘big boys.’ Plants need hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and oxygen (O) in high concentrations.

Hydrogen With only one electron in its outer shell, hydrogen (H) is highly reactive and positively charged. It is comparable to a hyperactive child that never sits still and annoys you to death. With the lowest molecular weight of all the elements, hydrogen is extremely light when it isn’t attached to another element. There are three naturally occurring isotopes, two of which are stable; the third has a halflife of 12 years, dying long before its time! 1H is the only element not to have any neutrons in its nucleus, making it prone to causing trouble. It has a very low boil point of -252 C, close to absolute zero where all life ceases to exist! In its purest form, hydrogen is often found as a gas.

Carbon Carbon is the basis of all life, and something can only be described as ‘organic’ if it contains carbon. Being the fifteenth most abundant element in the earth’s crust, it is considered one of the premier league elements. In the atmosphere, it is found in its gaseous form and combines with two oxygens to form carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon helps build everything within the plant, gathering up the hyperactive hydrogens and forcing them to work together. It is the life and soul of the positive charges. With a relative molecular mass of 12, carbon is fast-moving. Being supplied via the leaves in the form of CO2 through the stomata, it can also be taken up by the roots. A powerhouse, carbon is involved in respiration, transpiration, and is transformed into carbohydrate, proteins, and many other hydrocarbons such as terpenes and enzymes. Within the average plant, the dry mass concentration of carbon is around 40,000 mmol kg-1, which makes up a large proportion.

Hydrogen is essential for life and is the most abundant element in the universe. It clings to its parents, oxygen and carbon, forming what is known as covalent bonds, which are very difficult to break

What is an Isotope? An isotope is an atom that has a different number of neutrons in the nucleus, increasing or decreasing the RMM of the atom. However, the proton number remains the same. The stability of each of these differs along with the abundancy. Over time, they decay and turn into another element. This is referred to as the half-life, the time it takes to break down to half the original amount of the isotope.

Carbon is a non-metal and contains three naturally occurring isotopes, including 12C,13C and 14C. Only two are stable, but there are 15 known isotopes, ranging from 8C to 22C.

Hydrogen is essential for life and is the most abundant element in the universe. It clings to its parents, oxygen, and carbon, forming what is known as covalent bonds, which are very difficult to break. The increased number of free H+ ions decreases the pH in solutions, which is vital to some chemical reactions. Many plants receive their hydrogen from water through photosynthesis, typically at a concentration of 60,000 mmol kg-1 dry weight of plant material. Hydrogen can travel everywhere throughout the plant. This, along with its abundance and positive charges, allows it to open channels within membranes and change the pH and osmotic potential of a cell. Hydrogen is essential to photosynthesis and carbohydrate production and is also responsible for the turgor pressure in the cells and the exchange of many cations, including calcium and potassium. 69

MINDERAL SALTS

C The

Big Boys

S ome w h at of a f r ee-l oa der , ox ygen hi t che s a r ide w i t h a n y t hing p o s sibl e t o ge t w her e i t is needed a nd is v ery uns ta bl e, at tack ing t hing s t hrough ox idat ion Oxygen Oxygen is the only negatively charged element discussed in this article. It comes in concentrations of about 30,000 mmol kg-1 and is acquired by the plant through CO2, H2O, and O2 . Somewhat of a free-loader, oxygen hitches a ride with anything possible to get where it is needed and is very unstable, attacking things through oxidation. Clinging to cations such as phosphorus and calcium helps calm it down and prevent it from causing damage. Oxygen, in its purest form, is toxic in high concentrations, yet is essential to life. I like to think of oxygen as that negative ex-partner, always being nasty, but the reality is you need them to help raise your kids! Oxygen is found in most organic compounds within plants and is involved in the uptake of other anions from the media through the roots. It is also engaged in aerobic respiration, binding to the H+ ions produced during this process, and is the gas released from the plant during respiration, which we all need to stay alive. With a molecular mass of 16, it is the heaviest of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;big boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; elements. However, it can be problematic when produced in excess in the plant in its free radical form, resulting in oxidative stress in the cells, damage, and then necrosis (or cell death). Look out for our next article in this series, where we explore the mineral elements. 3

What is an Atom? An atom is the smallest possible thing that exists, consisting of a nucleus with tightly packed neutrons and protons and orbiting shells of electrons. The protons are positively charged, the electrons negatively charged, and the neutrons are neutral. The number of protons dictates to the atomic number of the element and differs for each one. The combination of neutrons and protons in the nucleus gives rise to the relative molecular mass (RMM) of the element. If the number of electrons in the clouds circling the nucleus is equal to that of the protons, the element is neutral and does not have a charge. If the number of electrons is higher, it is negatively charged; lesser, and it is positively charged. These are referred to as ions; the things plants uptake from the soil and nutrient solution. Their charges give them their properties and help them react to and form molecules.

BIO Dr. Callie Seaman is a plant obsessed Formulation Chem-

ist at AquaLabs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the company behind SHOGUN Fertilizers and the Silver Bullet plant health range. She has been in the hydro industry for 15 years in research development and manufacturing and had previously worked on the VitaLink range. She has a PhD in fertilizer chemistry and a BSc (HONS) in Biomedical sciences and loves nothing more than applying this knowledge to pushing the boundaries of nutrient performance.

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BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

credit: Wallemi Living Walls

clean the air

with plants

A living wall is an efficient ‘green machine’ that can clean the air inside buildings. 72

AIR CLEANING PLANTS

he atmosphere of buildings – especially new ones – where we live and work might be full of several chemical compounds that are

harmful to our health. In some places, there can be up to 60 different toxic gaseous substances. For tunately, plants can help purify the air of ill-ventilated buildings.

Several gaseous chemical substances circulate freely in our homes and offices. Some of them, including the infamous volatile organic compounds (VOC), are especially harmful to humans

Volatile Organic Compounds Several gaseous chemical substances circulate freely in our homes and offices. Some of them, including the infamous volatile organic compounds (VOC), are especially harmful to humans. For example, formaldehyde is a VOC commonly found in interior environments. It is mainly given off by medium density fiberboards (MDF), plywood panels, and wood particle boards, as well as by the adhesives used to fix counters and carpeting. In addition to causing eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation, this gas causes headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Furthermore, formaldehyde is now recognized as being carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Other VOCs, such as acetone, benzene, and toluene, are also present inside some homes and offices. Those pollutants can be given off by various construction materials such as adhesives, insulating foams, paints, varnishes, and carpeting, sometimes for several months or years. They are also given off by some cleaning sprays and various products required to operate photocopiers. In addition to severely irritating mucous membranes, these substances induce unpleasant effects such as drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. All of those products can also cause more severe health problems through sustained exposure.

During his tests, Dr. Wolverton placed various plants usually grown indoors in a hermetic climatic chamber. Then, he injected polluting substances similar to those found in the Skylab 3 space station – several of which are often found in our homes and office buildings – at comparable concentration levels. After 24 hours, under constant lighting, several plants, such as the golden pothos, English ivy, and peace lily, had accomplished remarkable work by reducing the VOC concentrations by up to 90%! Towards the end of the 1980s, other experiments on the capacities of air-purifying plants were conducted by NASA scientists in an airtight building called “Biohome,” made with materials giving off high VOC concentrations. The air inside was so polluted that it caused respiratory problems as well as eye and respiratory tract irritation in all who would come into contact with it. Potted house plants were installed around the house to verify their capacity to eliminate the pollutants contained in the air. The results were astonishing. After a few days, the VOCs had almost completely disappeared. One student even lived in the house for a few weeks without feeling any effects.

Scientific Studies In the early 1970s, NASA asked Dr. B C. Wolverton to find a way to eliminate the volatile organic compounds present in the air of the Skylab 3 space station. The inner atmosphere of the space station was contaminated with over a hundred volatile organic compounds given off by the materials it was made with. To everyone’s surprise, the studies conducted by Dr. Wolverton showed that most houseplants could clean the air of the chemical substances it contains.

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AIR CLEANING PLANTS

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This green wall located at the Biosphere in Montreal is planted with highly effective air-cleaning plants.

T o e v eryone’s s urp rise, t he s t udie s c onduc t ed by Dr. W olv er t on show ed t h at mo s t hou sep l a n t s c oul d cl e a n t he a ir of t he chemic a l sub s ta nce s i t c on ta ins Microorganisms In his most recent book entitled “Plants, why you can’t live without them”, Dr. Wolverton states that the microorganisms surrounding plant roots also can eliminate air pollutants. In fact, according to him, the microorganisms associated with roots (this association is called “rhizosphere”) can eliminate up to 65% of the VOCs. The plant leaves absorb and metabolize the remaining quantity of air pollutants. Research recently conducted in Canada, Australia, and France confirm Dr. Wolverton’s claims. According to those studies, it seems that the microorganisms contained in soil and water also act as air cleaning agents, sometimes more efficiently than plant leaves. As a high percentage of the air purifying work is done in the rhizosphere by the microorganisms associated with plant roots, Dr. Wolverton does not recommend growing house plants in soil. Instead, he suggests placing them in containers filled with expanded clay pebbles, which allow for proper oxygenation

of the roots and microorganisms. Also, the pebbles at the bottom of the containers soak in water, ensuring a constant supply of liquid and nutrients to plants. This growing method allows air cleaning efficiency to increase from 30% to 50%. However, the use of light, high-porosity soil that is rich in compost and sphagnum peat moss is a better environment to host a high number of microorganisms that associate with plant roots.

Ventilation The plants and the microorganisms associated with their roots have low air-purifying capacities in well-ventilated homes and buildings. This means plants have a maximum efficiency in cities where the atmosphere is highly polluted and in hermetic office buildings where a high proportion of the ventilated air is recycled – sometimes more than 90% – for energy-saving purposes. In most of the homes located in cities with less pollution, the use of non-polluting materials for construction or renovation works as well as a sound ventilation system (ideally including an air exchange system) to maintain acceptable air quality levels. 3 75

AIR CLEANING PLANTS

Areca palm tree

Five Effective Air-Cleaning Plants • • • • •

Rubber fig

Areca palm tree (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) Rubber fig (Ficus elastica) English ivy (Hedera helix) Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

A f t er 2 4 hour s, under c on s ta n t l igh t ing, se v er a l p l a n t s, s uch a s t he g ol den p o t ho s, Engl ish i v y, a nd p e a ce l ily, h a d a c c omp l ished r em a r k a bl e w or k by r educing t he V O C c oncen t r at ion s by up t o 90%!

Golden pothos

English ivy

Peace lily

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 programmes and his hosting The Trendy Gardener spots broadcasted on Météo Média and online. You can also read his blog called Extreme Horticulture at albertmondor.com. Follow Albert on Facebook: fb.com/albert.mondor

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

The indica and sativa cultivars (hemp is of the sativa variet y) are shor t-day plants and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t star t flowering until af ter the summer solstice when the nights are longer

pa r t

ILLINOIS VALLEY HEMP

he previous installment of the Illinois Valley Hemp series left you in mid-August when our plants were developing flowers. As the days passed by, the skies became darker earlier. Cannabis, including hemp varieties, is traditionally a short day (long night) plant, meaning it requires long periods of

darkness to initiate the flowering cycle. There is a variety called Ruderalis that is day-neutral and flowers after it hits a certain point of development. Plants containing genetics from the Ruderalis strain are often referred to as “auto-flowering” cannabis. This variety is not large and is rarely grown commercially outdoors due to its relatively low yield at harvest time. The indica and sativa cultivars (hemp is of the sativa variety) are shortday plants and don’t start flowering until after the summer solstice when the nights are longer. Aggressive vegetative growth happens before they begin to flower. As a result, it isn’t uncommon to see outdoor plants grow five-feet tall and higher.

The Mood Throughout the rest of August and into midSeptember, we were blessed with perfect weather. Daytime temperatures remained steady in the mid-’80s with the occasional rainfall occurring every 10-14 days. There was a calm feeling at the farm with overtones of increasing anticipation as we watched the flowers develop. Though we were all feeling more relaxed compared to the hectic months at the beginning of our experience, there was still plenty of work to be done, and we couldn’t be lazy before harvest.

Though we were all feeling more rela xed compared to the hectic months at the beginning of our experience, there was still plent y of work to be done, and we couldn’t be laz y before har vest.

Autumn’s Arrival In early September, we were reminded of the impending arrival of autumn as the cicadas graced us with their presence. The work done during this time was accompanied by the constant clicking of the cicada’s song, which was oddly soothing. The plants continued to receive a bi-weekly feeding of Age Old Nutrients, but the higher nitrogen Age Old Grow was replaced with Age Old Bloom, which has a higher concentration of phosphorus. When a plant is in the vegetative growth cycle, it requires higher levels of nitrogen to maintain the development of stems, branches, and leaves. A plant’s vegetative growth directly correlates to the number of flowers it can produce. So the more, the merrier!

can also force a cannabis plant to create male flowers, thus turning it into a hermaphrodite. The plant would then, in turn, pollinate itself and start creating seeds, which is undesirable for our crop since it is destined for CBD flowers and extracts.

As the flowers developed, we continued to regularly walk the fields to closely monitor the plants, making sure that none of them had turned male on us and that the bugs and other pests weren’t harming them. Our hard work had paid off, and the growing environment was pleasant, so we didn’t find a single plant that had developed male flowers. Sometimes, high-stress levels can force female cannabis plants to start growing male reproductive parts during the flowering cycle. When this happens, there is no choice but to extract the entire plant from the field before it can pollinate others.

Once the crop flowers, the plants require less nitrogen and more phosphorus. Switching to a higher phosphorus fertilizer blend in this stage encourages more flowering spots and better flower development. Too much nitrogen in the flowering stage

ILLINOIS VALLEY HEMP

part

Late season rain can of ten result in significant problems for outdoor cannabis.

in Northern Illinois, fall brings along more Too much wind than we usually get in the summer. I was surprised at how lucky we were when nitrogen in the The winds help dry the plants off faster it came to bug and other pests infestations flowering stage after rain, limiting the ability of a fungal because they were few and far between. infestation to take hold. can also force a There was nothing that wasn’t easy to handle with natural and organic methods. cannabis plant Despite our good fortune, I hesitate to to create male Test Time use the word ‘luck’. We implemented a As the flowers continued to mature, we flowers, thus rather comprehensive integrated pest started doing regular testing of both THC management (IPM) strategy throughout turning it into a and CBD cannabinoids. By law, any hemp the season, and it helped us avoid significant hermaphrodite plants testing over 0.3% THC are considered pest problems. We applied liquid organic illicit and must be destroyed. However, we pesticides weekly and rotated between wanted the CBD percentage to reach its maximum potential, four products to keep the bugs from building up a tolerance so regular testing from a third-party lab was crucial. The CBD/ to any single one. In the flowering stage, we added a BT THC levels do not rise at a pre-determined gradual rate. Instead, (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray in a two-week rotation to they increase slowly at the beginning, and then, when the bud is combat caterpillars, which are troublesome to cannabis reaching full maturity, the levels spike quickly, and the threshold flower production. The moths lay their eggs on the flower of 0.3% can easily be surpassed if one is not careful. We were buds, then the emerging caterpillar consumes the flower and pleased to have our last lab results come back between 15-18% its excrement causes bud rot. A bacteria strain that coats CBD and around 0.2% THC. At this point, we felt it was a safe the leaves, when a caterpillar eats BT, its digestive system time to harvest, so we began doing so on October 9th. As I write is affected, causing it to stop eating and eventually die. The this article, we are about two-thirds of the way through clearing product is effective, reasonably priced and approved for the fields. organic crop production.

Pest Management

The autumnal equinox graced us with its presence on September 23rd, and along with it came our regular fall rainy season. Late season rain can often result in significant problems for outdoor cannabis. Various fungal infections such as powdery mildew, black mold, and late-season blight thrive in the cool, wet conditions of early fall. The parts of the plant closest to the ground are most at risk, and these infections can cause significant loss to a portion of the crop. Once again, we were fortunate and didn’t have any major fungal issues. One factor that was on our side is the fact that

From a potential profit standpoint, it made sense for us to dry the crop ourselves instead of paying someone else to do it for us. We ended up renting a large pole barn shed that we modified for better climate control. When drying cannabis, it is essential to have accurate control of temperature, humidity, and airflow. As the plants dry, we continue to explore possible avenues of distribution and to determine whether or not the crop will be trimmed into smokeable CBD flowers, or processed through oil extraction. At this point, it’s looking like it will be a mixture of both.

ILLINOIS VALLEY HEMP

part

Finally, I discovered that outdoor cannabis grows exceptionally well in Nor th Central Illinois, even if the crop goes into the ground later than desired

By law, any hemp plants testing over 0.3% THC are considered illicit and must be destroyed Final Thoughts Before wrapping this series up, I want to share some of the things I’ve learned over the season. First of all, farming is arduous work and the more acres involved, the harder it becomes. Especially when everyone involved already has a full-time job. All forms of agriculture require a considerable amount of hard work. Still, farming hemp cannabis on a large scale is even more labor-intensive since, for the most part, farming implements and machinery have not been designed or modified for this particular crop. Another take away is that farming is stressful and filled with many ups and downs. From the sheer magnitude of the tasks to be done to the fact that the weather is entirely out of your control, raising a large crop is not for the faint of heart or for those who think the workday ends after eight hours. You work until the job is done or until it’s too dark to see anymore. Finally, I discovered that outdoor cannabis grows exceptionally well in North Central Illinois, even if the crop goes into the ground later than desired. Great soil, combined with consistent weather patterns makes this region perfect for cannabis production. I expect to see many more fields growing next year. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the Illinois Valley Hemp series as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. I will never forget this experience, and I look forward to doing it even better the next time around. If anyone needs me next season, I’ll be in the fields. 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.

BY CAROLINE RIVARD

Medicinal Weeds The Mighty

A Cornucopia of Vir tues 84

GARDEN WEEDS

While burdock burrs can be annoying, they were the inspiration behind the 1941 patent of the velcro material

any people are already familiar with burdock. It’s tall and robust, but what makes it stand out the most is its pesky burrs that cling to our clothing

after a walk on the roadside, in fields or pastures. It certainly takes some patience to untangle one of the burrs from the dog’s thick coat. While burdock burrs can be annoying, they were the inspiration behind the 1941 patent of the velcro material by Swiss engineer, George de Mestral. In North America, many view burdock (the two principal varieties are Arctium lappa or Arctium minus) as a useless weed. Wellestablished in the northern hemisphere, the biennial plant tends to be quite invasive in the garden. With elephant-ear leaves, a single plant can fruit 15,000 seeds and is challenging to uproot.

Research has shown the roasting process increases the beneficial antioxidant components in burdock roots. The plant is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as protein, iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, tannins, and fibers.

Burdock in the Kitchen

One of the superpowers of this weed is the inulin content in the root. Inulin is prebiotic, which means it can nourish the healthy bacteria in our intestines. Inulin can also assist with weight loss and the regulation of blood sugar levels. Enjoy all of the benefits of inulin by eating the burdock root or drinking it as a tea.

However, it is worth successfully uprooting. In Asia and Europe, burdock has been praised for centuries for its medicinal values and its dense-nutriment properties. In Japanese cuisine, burdock is known as Gobo root. In several Asian countries, the young burdock taproots are as standard in the marketplace as potatoes are in the west. The chewy, crunchy root has a high potassium content and is often sliced thinly, fried, and served as a chip-like snack. In Korea, a popular burdock root dish called Jorim is lightly braised in a sweetened soy sauce and a touch of honey.

Burdock Root

Burdock root has a mild, sweet, and earthy taste, similar to Jerusalem artichoke, parsnip, or carrot. But the root may also have a slightly astringent or pungent flavor, making it a perfect substitute for coffee!

How to Make Burdock Root Coffee: • •

•

• • •

•

In the fall, find a young burdock plant, dig up the root, wash it thoroughly, and chop it into small pieces. On a cookie sheet, bake the root pieces at 250°F for 45 minutes or until they are crispy and have turned a dark brown color. Finish the roasting on a low-broil setting for a couple of minutes. Be sure to remove the root pieces from the oven before they burn! Cool, then ground the small pieces in a coffee grinder. Store in an airtight container. Brew the burdock coffee the same way as regular coffee. Be warned that burdock root has a strong taste, so consider making the coffee weaker than usual. For a tasty herbal coffee recipe, add dandelion and chicory roots to the mixture.

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GARDEN WEEDS

The plant is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as protein, iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, tannins, and fibers Burdock and Medicine On top of being super nutritious, burdock has many medicinal virtues. Burdock can help bring balance to the cleansing systems of the body. In addition to supporting the kidneys, liver, the lymphatic system, and gastrointestinal tract, burdock root medicine promotes a healthy metabolism and is very beneficial to the skin. It can help soothe many conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, and acne. A strong infusion of the root can be used as a facial wash to rejuvenate the skin. In Europe, infused oil made with burdock root extract is sold as a scalp treatment to improve hair strength, shine and volume, as well as to help combat hair loss. Burdockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-inflammatory properties help treat gout, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Scientific studies also suggest the components of burdock roots have anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties. Antimicrobial and antiviral, the plant also enhances the functions of the immune system. The secret to unlocking all of the benefits of burdock is to use it frequently. The nourishing herb is slow and gentle and will work to its full potential if used for several weeks or months. Burdock is invaluable; if it invites itself into your garden, grab a shovel and harvest its benefits! 3

Disclaimer As safe as the burdock plant is, it is essential to identify it correctly before foraging in the wild. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking any herbal allies. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take burdock. If taking insulin or oral medications to lower blood sugar, burdock may increase the potency of the medicine. The plant also has a high potassium concentration, so people on a potassium-restricted diet should check with a doctor before using burdock.

A therapist and healer for over 15 years, Carolineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for medicinal plants only began after leaving the city for the quiet country life in Quebec, Canada. Eager to learn, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

BY RICH HAMILTON

GROWING ADVICE

any of us are familiar with the seven deadly sins. First outlined by Pope Gregory the Great in the sixth century, they are vices or negative character qualities that, if left unchecked, will result in a host of other sins and eventually kill a person’s soul.

Remain humble, listen to different opinions, and, never think you are above seeking out advice Heavy stuff, isn’t it? But it recently struck me that these guiding principles apply to many things in life beyond one’s behavior, such as gardening, for instance. What do the sins have to do with gardening? By doing the polar opposite of these mortal sins, you could very well find yourself becoming a superstar grower with improved results.

By doing the polar opposite of these mortal sins, you could very well find yourself becoming a superstar grower

Pride: Don’t Think You Know It All

with improved results

As you learn more and become more passionate about a hobby, you gain more confidence, which is a good thing. However, it is also possible to become a little too confident, referred to as the Dunning-Kruger effect. It is a common cognitive bias that makes it difficult to ask for help or one to even acknowledge that they might need it.

Those who reach the pinnacle of success within their respective fields, be that growing, mathematics, or sports, are the people who strive to learn more by continuing to ask questions and search for new ways to do things. If you attempt to be the best, do not let pride get in the way. Remain humble, listen to different opinions, and never think you are above seeking out advice.

Envy: Don’t Compete With Others While it is always nice to swap tips and take advice from fellow growers, be wary of those who are perhaps showing off and exaggerating. It can be challenging, especially for novice growers, to not feel pressured to meet other people’s expectations or results. Veteran growers will likely have better yields. Focus on the tasks at hand and do not feel disheartened or jealous of what others have achieved. Doing so will zap your motivation; there is no substitute for hard work and effort.

Gluttony: Don’t Overfeed Plants When growing indoors, it is common for people to cut corners or manipulate things to get the results that they want, especially when it comes to feeding. Plants are reliant on you for their nutritional needs, and so if you decide to increase the strength of feed, they will accept it. As a result, plants may experience an improvement in size, fullness, or aroma. Keep in mind, however, that too much feed is a bad thing. As animals, we intuitively think that food equals growth, but overeating doesn’t do you or your plant any good.

Non-organic liquid fertilizer for indoor growing comes in a soluble, concentrated form for the plants to take up immediately. Using too much causes the plant to overfeed and “burn” itself, which could result in a loss of yields or crop wipeout! Signs of nutrient burn include yellow or brown tips on the leaves, and when untreated, the problem can spread inward, causing leaves to become crunchy and curled.

Lust: Don’t Harvest Early The average plant species takes at least a few months to complete a full cycle when growing indoors. It is possible to become a little impatient, especially when growing produce and you are eager to try it out. But harvesting too early is a travesty that will prevent a plant from meeting its full potential. Edible crops harvested before their peak will be smaller in size, less vibrant in color, and fall short on flavor and aroma. Seek guidance on the exact periods a particular crop needs to reach full maturity and try to resist the urge to indulge too early.

GROWING ADVICE

Anger:

Greed:

Don’t Give Up

Don’t Endanger Anyone For Personal Gain

There is nothing more frustrating than putting a tremendous The desire for material wealth or higher yields can cause people amount of effort into something only for the inexplicable to to take risks with their own and other people’s health. When happen and cause a disaster. These experiences, unfortunately, growing fresh fruit, vegetables, or herbs strive to produce the come with the territory when growing indoors. Juggling so many best quality food possible. There are many products available variables while trying to mimic what Mother that improve the flavor or size of the plant Nature does naturally is challenging! Power but may also contain concerning levels of Avoiding certain failure in the grow room? Water leaks? Pest toxic chemicals. infestation? Everyone has a horror story (or obstacles and two) to share. The use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is controversial, as although these adverse situations Problems are inevitable. The difference is in compounds can help encourage healthier can help make us how we deal with them. You could shout growth and increase resistance to fungus, profanities at an inanimate object and there are unproven claims that they could more productive take up golf instead. Or, you can approach also put consumers at risk of liver damage, the problem philosophically. Accept that cancer, and infertility. Further investigation in everything mistakes will happen and look at the issues into the use of these products is needed. we do, gardening as a troubleshooting exercise where you can learn to be more efficient in the future. Similarly, inexpensive nutrients often included! contain low-quality minerals and high trace levels of heavy metals, which, again, are a Sloth: significant health concern. Use only fertilizers and other products Don’t Become Complacent that you would not worry about consuming yourself. Being sloppy in the grow room can cause an array of problems. Think mold, rot, pest infestations, deficiencies, toxicities, and It’s funny to think that although they were initially intended dehydration, to name but a few! One must be sure to feed on to warn us mortal souls against eternal damnation, the seven time, measure accurately, and monitor things such as the room’s deadly sins can be applied even in the grow room. Avoiding humidity levels, temperature, pH, and EC. Even just a hint of certain obstacles and adverse situations can help make us more laziness where hygiene is concerned can be disastrous. productive in everything we do, gardening included! 3 Make a checklist, write a weekly planner, set the alarm, and get a routine going. Follow it, and there is not much else that can go wrong.

Accept that mistakes will happen and look at the issues as a troubleshooting exercise where you can learn to be more efficient in the future.

Problems are inevitable. The difference is in how we deal with them 91

#FERTILZERFORTHEFUTURE

BY GENEVIÈVE BESSETTE

All living organisms need nutrients to survive, and sometimes, they work together to get what they need. It’s a win-win situation

ustainable intensification hor ticulture uses beneficial soil microorganisms to reduce the need for fer tilizers and

pesticides. Microorganisms are fascinating because they have extraordinary abilities. I like to compare the plant root system to a digestive system. We know that our intestinal flora balance has an impact on our health and our capacity to digest and absorb the nutrients from food. All living organisms need nutrients to survive, and sometimes, they work together to get what they need. It’s a win-win situation.

MYCORRHIZAE

credit: groworganic.com

Mycorrhizae and Plants

The Positive Co-Evolution The symbiotic relationship between photosynthetic plants and fungi is positive. The word “mycorrhizae” means “fungus-root”. In 1998, a famous ar ticle in Nature magazine explained the role played by mycorrhizal fungus and gave the example of how trees communicate with each other by exchanging nutrients, water, and defense signals. Mycorrhizae colonised the roots of nearly all plants and helped them evolve. Some families, like the Brassicaceae and Chenopodiaceae, are exceptions, however, and dissociated themselves from plants. Mycorrhizal spores germinate and produce hyphae that penetrate root cells and star t the formation of an intra-radical and extra-radical network. This connection allows faster water and nutrient uptake for the plants. In exchange, the plant helps the fungus access carbohydrates. Plant roots are always growing and exploring the soil, but the contact sur face offered by root hairs is limited. The mycorrhizal filaments are smaller in diameter than the

tiniest root hair and cover every soil par ticle, providing higher absorption capacity. There are hundreds of kilometers of mycelium under a single footstep! Often, especially in clay soil, nutrients are present but unavailable; this is mainly the case with phosphorus. But the connection created by mycorrhizae improves nutrient cycling. Agricultural farms can no longer use high-phosphorus content fer tilizer due to the contamination of aquatic environments. So mycorrhiza is now widely used to tap into phosphorus-saturated soil and make it available to crops. What a Savior! Over the last ten years, numerous studies have shown that mycorrhizae lead to better nutrient use and healthy rhizosphere. The fungus helps breakdown organic matter, keeping the rhizosphere aerated and healthy. Mycorrhizae is like a mother and acts as bodyguard, pharmacist, and life-coach without asking for much in return. It helps growers achieve increased yields along with protected, healthy, and happy crops. 3 93

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Trendy Houseplants

Dracena marginata

aby, it’s cold outside! Caring for houseplants throughout the cooler months is excellent for keeping the winter blues at bay. Beyond being mood boosters, air-purifiers, and pleasing to the eye, houseplants provide a connection to Mother Nature that people seem to crave these days. Why not try adding this beauty to

your reper toire?

Name: Dracena marginata Appearance: A member of the dragon plant family, Dracena marginata has multiple twisted canes and long, thin, red-edged leaves. How It Grows: This houseplant is very lowmaintenance and durable. Let it grow in a warm spot (65-75°F) that gets bright, indirect sunlight. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Dracena marginata becomes quite tall, so keep it in a large pot on the floor and cut off the top of the plant to control its height. Other Facts: Good news, bad news; while Dracena marginata makes NASA’s list of airpurifying plants, it is also believed to be poisonous to cats and dogs.

Sources: Living Decor: Plants, Potting and DIY projects, by Maria Colletti Houseplant411.com: bit.ly/2WazzdP SFGATE: bit.ly/2N91gQ1

GREEN ADVICE

TO GIVE THE GIFT OF PLANTS

cool

ways 1

Homemade Seed Packets

This gift takes some planning, but gardeners who think of doing it at the end of the growing season will undoubtedly spread some joy come the holidays. Who wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love receiving packets of seeds saved from your garden? Select seeds from a variety of plants that attract different pollinators to the yard. Purchase some inexpensive envelopes, decorate them, label them with fun facts and growing instructions, and if you want, bundle them up in a pretty pot or basket! The effor t and thought that goes into this budgetfriendly and eco-conscious gift will go a long way.

Indoor Herb Garden

Anyone who enjoys cooking incorporates fresh herbs into their culinary creations. There are many countertop herb garden kits available for purchase, but you can also make one yourself with something as simple as a few mason jars. A quick online search will guide you through the basics of this DIY project; all youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need is the jars, some rocks, pebbles, or marbles for drainage, organic potting mix, herb plants, and some labels. Make the garden standout with beautifully-decorated tags or with mason jars in various colors. An indoor herb garden is a gift that is sure to impress chefs of any level of expertise!

PIONEER

Grow Books “Two indispensable books” GARDEN CULTURE MAMAPUBLISHING.COM

NEW

GREEN ADVICE

cool

ways

TO GI V E THE GIFT O F PLANT S

B lack Gold

When thinking of an appropriate gift to give to somebody over the holidays, worm poo isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. But vermicompost is so darn valuable that any gardener in your life will appreciate the opportunity to add it to their houseplants and outdoor beds. A little goes a long way; worm castings contain five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus, and 11 times more potassium than other kinds of compost. If you have a home worm compost bin up and running, collecting batches of castings and sealing them in a paper bag or cute little container with a lid will be budget-friendly and easy to accomplish. Vermicompost is also available for purchase at many greenhouses. You can also buy gift cards at various vermicompost companies that can help the recipient of your gift start up a worm composting center of their own.

Ho usepl ants

People are spending more time indoors than ever before; help them connect with Mother Nature with the gift of a beautiful houseplant. Houseplants add pops of green and other vibrant colors to spaces of all sizes. Beyond being significant mood boosters, many varieties are also found to purify the air we breathe, such as the Snake Plant, Peace Lily, and Spider Plant. Think past Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus; when it comes to selection, the possibilities are endless. Choose colors, shapes, sizes, and varieties the gift recipient will appreciate and enjoy for a long time to come.

Good Gardening Reads

The holidays are for taking the time to do things you don’t usually have the time to do, and for many of us, that means curling up with a good book. There are so many well-written and beautifully-photographed gardening books available that are not only educational but look fantastic on a coffee table too! Do you have a friend interested in the world of organic gardening? There’s a book for that. How about growing heirloom flowers, houseplants, herbal medicines, and thriving urban gardens? There are books for that too. The possibilities are endless. And while most of the above information is online, we believe there’s nothing sweeter than flipping the pages of something tangible (like this magazine!). 98

WE CHOOSE NATURE