...for discerning weeders August, 2013
An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
AWARD WINNERS! Inside this issue:
Pink Flamingo
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Award President’s
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Message Holy Basil
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Naturalist’s
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Delight Walk on the
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Wildside Weed of the
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July 10th featured the yearly award ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of the previous year. A dedicated group arrived the previous day to set up the auditorium and the patriotic ‘theme’ made a terrific backdrop for the festivities. Many thanks to those who helped with set up and provided great decorations!! As always, there was plenty of great food to satisfy all who attended. We had special guests of Dr. Pete Vergot,, III, Northwest District Extension Director, and his
Month Out and About
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News and Notes
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Fig Recipe
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‘Orchid-i-tudes’
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Events
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Book Review
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Last Word
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DON’T FORGET TO LOG YOUR HOURS ONTO THE VMS SYSTEM! Click here to enter
lovely wife; Commissioner Dave Parisot and his wife; and Brian Hughes, Crestview News Bulletin. Just some of the many deserving awardees: Master Gardener of the Year: John B. Outstanding Telephone Communicator: Laurie M. Outstanding Service to Youth: Linda M. Outstanding Educator: Marg S. 15 Years: John H., Karen K., Lee L., Sandie O., John P., and Ed S. 10 Years: Pat C. and Linda M. 1
2000 Hours: Jenny G. and Marg S. 1000 Hours: Honey J. 500 Hours: Charlie R., Amy Jo R., and Joyce W. Pink Flamingo: Stacey T. Rubber Chicken: Marg S. 2012 Board: Marg S., President; John B., President-Elect; Linda M., Secretary; and Joe M., Treasurer. Special Award for Best Dressed and Most Well Behaved: Malia W. (Lynn and Ed’s niece) The Master Gardeners provide the equivalent of three (3) full time employees. Other awards include: Award of Excellence, Call on Me, Service to 4-H and Youth, and Community Education. Larry Williams gets the information for these awards directly from the VMS system...make sure you put in your hours! It has to be mentioned that it isn’t just for the awards, the hours logged into the VMS system directly impact the Extension and UF/IFAS Master Gardener Program as a whole. Congratulations to all our award winners! To view more pictures go to http://jalbum.net/ a/1382377 .
THE FLAMINGO’S TALE Some folks may be wondering just what is the Pink Flamingo Award and how it got started. This award originated with the 3rd Master Gardener Training class. Karen W. organized a Pink Flamingo reception for Larry Williams at the graduation party for the training class of 1997. Larry was greeted with a yard full of plastic pink flamingos. This honor was bestowed on our deserving leader due to the emphasis he placed on what not to display in a Master Gardener landscape...one item in particular being pink flamingos. John P., a class member, came up with the idea of bestowing this honor each year to the Master Gardener who committed the most grievous error in judgment concerning appropriate Master Gardener Practices. Terry A. was the 1st recipient of this prestigious award. Terry, thirsting for knowledge, registered and drove to his first Master Gardener Conference on the UF campus in Gainesville. Unfortunately, he arrived a week early. Barbara S. deservingly received the 2nd Pink Flamingo award. The Okaloosa Extension facility on Old Bethel Road had just installed a new landscape. Barbara, a new Master Gardener, anxious to log her volunteer hours, was weeding her heart out. She did an excellent job. Unfortunately, she pulled up and disposed of all of the native rosemary that had just been planted. Sandie O. was the 3rd award winner. Sandie was among many Master Gardeners who attended the State Conference in Gainesville. While strolling the paths in a botanical garden and enjoying the local color, a garden art alligator was spotted near a pond. Wanting to preserve memories of the occasion, Sandie agreed to pose for a picture with one foot on the stone alligator. This would have worked well had the alligator, in fact, not been alive at the time. Lockey B. was presented with the 4th award. As president, she felt that a more appropriate Pink Flamingo should be developed to represent this prestigious award. Randy D., a Master Gardener and metal designer, was asked to build an appropriate garden art sculpture made of gardening tools. Fill Flamingo and an appropriate Award Proclamation were presented at the 2006 master Gardener picnic at Turkey Creek Park and were to be given each year in perpetuity. Lockey received the recognition because she thought up the whole darned thing. Pete G. deservingly received the 5th award. County Displays/ Exhibits is one category for the State Master Gardener Awards. Pete volunteered to transport our entry to the State Convention in Ocala. Pete’s truck was full of metal panels, signs and many plants. On his trek to central Florida and in his eagerness to arrive, there was a determination that Pete has exceeded the speed limit (that’s what the patrolman said.) While writing a ticket, the young officer noted the plants and to his untrained eyes, the schefflera looks suspicious. Whereupon, Pete had to unload the truck, backup was called, and it was determined that indeed schefflera is not marijuana. $300 dollars later and having to reload the truck solo, Pete arrived at the conference. (Ed
Phyl Phylmingo, Advisor Emeritus Note: We did win for our exhibit) In 2007 Sandie O. won the honor of receiving her 2nd Pink Flamingo award. While gardening one day, she tripped and fell, injuring one foot. Having considerable pain and swelling greatly impeded her mobility At this time, Sandie was already registered for the State Conference. Recognizing that her injury would prevent her from participating in convention activities, she cancelled her convention registration. Sandie was given the award for having cancelled her registration for the Convention two years in a row. Mike C. was the 2011 winner. Mike set up and staffed the Master Gardener educational booth on “Save Water Save $” at many events around the county. At the end of the year, it was discovered that two of the signs had misspelled words. Mike was given the award for displaying the booth with misspelled posters. However, it must be noted that it was later realized that Bob and Lockey B. had made the signs. Lockey did apologize. The most recent recipient is Stacey T. in 2012 Stacey was responsible for planning and conducting field trips for OCMGA. Master Gardener Dave G. graciously invited us to organized a field trip to his property in North Walton County while the native azaleas were blooming. On the given day, the participants met in Crestview and filled 5-6 vehicles. Stacey, our tour guide, who knew the way to the location in questions, was in the lead vehicle. After traversing Darlington and traveling north several miles, we were brought to a halt, asked to reverse our course. We did. Why? Traveling south we read a sign that said, “Welcome to Florida.” Stacey had taken us to Alabama. Phyl Phylmingo has been placed in the Extension landscape and will soon boast the name of the most recent award winner. So keep gardening! You never know who the next ‘winner’ will be!
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By John B.
I was disappointed recently to learn that two more area plant nurseries have closed in the last few weeks. The Destin Palms facility is just completing liquidation proceedings and, more troubling, the nursery at the Okaloosa Applied Technology Center (VoTech) in FWB, closed its doors a few weeks ago. While the struggles of the non “big-box” commercial plant establishments will continue, as long as consumers place price over service as their most compelling purchase criteria, it is more unsettling that the VoTech educational nursery has shuttered its doors. As we continue to pursue our mission of educating the people of Okaloosa County, relative to their horticultural concerns, it is ever more important that we remain committed to enhancing our collective knowledge as Master Gardeners. Pursuant to that goal, our current undertaking to develop more subject matter experts (SME’s), through our Study Group initiative, is both timely and critical. Currently, we have the potential to develop almost 80 SME’s in almost a dozen fields of horticultural discipline. I realize that “life happens”, and that there will be times when you cannot always attend your scheduled meetings due to inevitable conflicts. Please don’t use that as a reason to drop out. Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint, and it will certainly return us many dividends for the time and effort we invest in it. I commend all of you who have indicated your interest in the Study Groups, and I urge you to both remain committed to this endeavor for the long-term, and to have fun with it!
TRY A DIFFERENT HERB! There are two varieties of Thai holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum, red holy basil (in the Thai language, bai gaprao dang, dang meaning red) and O. sanctum, white holy basil (bai gaprao khao, khao meaning white). They have similar flavors. The first impression when tasting Thai holy basil is that you are eating very strong peppermint. Indeed, the flavor of each of the Thai holy basils is one of peppermint with a strong spiciness similar to chili pepper. It also has a hot, spicy smell. It is best to use fresh, new leaves since they have a more concentrated flavor. Red holy basil has a reddish-purplish pigment to the leaf and stem and has by far the strongest flavor of the two varieties. White holy basil does not have the red pigment and there is also a hybrid between the two varieties. The branches and leaves of each variety is covered by fine hairs. Flower spikes form on plants around the middle of summer. The flowers are very fragrant and the tiny black seeds which follow are used in Thailand to make a strong flavored tapioca-like pudding. If the flowers are allowed to go to seed, the plant will cease to make new foliage so the flower spikes should be plucked as soon as they form. Bees and butterflies are drawn to the blooms of the holy basil. There appears to be no real pests to the plant. Even slugs do not eat it! Thai holy basil leaves are used as flavoring in stews and soups and are a major ingredient in basil chicken, a favorite among the Thai people. A few leaves added to spaghetti sauce adds a real pizzazz. Minced, it gives a salad a zing when added. Plants of each of the varieties were available in the DIY stores in early 2013. Seeds are usually available in most oriental stores and especially Thai markets year round. Since basil is a tropical plant, it can only be raised and harvested in north Florida in late spring, summer and early fall. Start
By Lee V. seeds in very early spring in a greenhouse or in your house and transplant the seedlings or purchased plants to a pot or to the ground when the nighttime temperatures reach a sustained 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be incorporated into your annual beds as an accent. The red variety is especially attractive and can be used in a medium height annual planting. Leaves may be harvested while young and dried either in a dehydrator or simply by spreading them on a metal sheet and placing them into an oven set a 250 degrees Fahrenheit until crispy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several months. Leaves may also be picked fresh and frozen in a plastic bag in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator. They will turn black when frozen but the taste is not affected. By late fall, the plants begin to decline and die. Let a few go to seed and retain the seeds for planting next spring. Pull and compost the plants. This is a relatively new addition to the American herb market. Enjoy using this new and exciting flavor.
Red Thai Holy Basil.
White Thai Holy Basil.
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A NATURALIST’S DELIGHT
By Carol R.
Columbus, DeSoto, and Ponce de Leon have nothing on me! Last month I too “discovered” something that had been there all along—a national treasure that is very close to home. Wakulla Springs State Park, just south of Tallahassee, is a naturalist’s delight, a reminder of a simpler time, and a step back into “old Florida.” Two friends and I booked 2 nights at the Wakulla Springs Lodge, which has been nicely preserved since its construction in the late 1930s. It wouldn’t be ranked as a 5-star, but the accommodations are quite adequate and the lovely restaurant does a great job with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In keeping with the feel of the place, there are no TVs in the rooms, and the big lobby has several tables with checkerboards. The Lodge looks out on Wakulla Springs and a very nice swimming area that includes lifeguards. The Springs are a year-round 69 degrees, a fact not lost on the builder of the Lodge who designed the airconditioning system to use the waters of the Springs to cool the facility. The grounds of the Lodge have been left in their natural state, a fact that I really appreciated. One of my friends remarked that the place had so much potential, and they should “keep up the grass and plant some flower beds.” But for me, part of the charm is that no one is fussing over the grounds, using pesticides and fertilizers and trying to make the place look like every other resort. The beautiful, native trees are dripping with moss, and one afternoon we watched a turtle digging and depositing
her eggs right out on the back lawn (which has lots of natural, bare spots). The Lodge is also adjacent to a 6-mile nature trail that has the first mile marked to identify the native tree species, an earlier Eagle Scout project that was quite informative. Just south of Wakulla Springs is the St. Marks Lighthouse that is accessed by driving through the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Another close place of interest is the San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park. We enjoyed visiting both places and made it back to the Lodge in time for the late afternoon riverboat cruise on the Wakulla River. While on this 45-minute cruise, we saw manatees, alligators, turtles and a host of birds and fish. Unfortunately, the aggressive and invasive hydrilla grass plagues the river, a problem they are actively trying to control. If you are interested in retreating to a quiet place surrounded by natural beauty and history, I highly recommend a trip back in time via Wakulla Springs State Park and Lodge! http://www.wakullaspringslodge.com
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Courtesy Linda M.
August is hot and sticky...but our local critters don’t seem to mind a bit. If you venture out there are some great things to see! Birds: The first flocks of blue-winged and green-winged teal arrive to winter on Florida lakes and wetlands. The yellow warbler migration begins. Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering in communal night roosts before migrating. Purple martins and tree swallows begin to gather to migrate south for winter. Mammals: Two-year old black bear cubs will wean from their mothers. Short-tailed shrews will begin a second round of breeding for the year. Retiles/Amphibians: Young sea turtles are hatching so avoid marked sea turtle nests and watch where you walk on the beach! Also turn off lights to reduce light pollution (see note below) Gopher tortoise and turtle eggs are hatching. Indigo snake and other snake eggs are hatching. Insects: Great southern white butterflies are migrating through coastal areas. Light Pollution: Many of us use artificial lights to accent our gardens and find our way at night. But the same lights that help us can lead to light pollution that adversely affects wildlife. 4
Light pollution threatens wildlife by disrupting biological rhythms and otherwise interfering with the behavior of nocturnal animals. Animals that navigate using the moon or stars can be disoriented and drawn to bright artificial lights, including baby sea turtle sand certain migratory birds. Artificial light can also affect the feeding and calling behaviors of amphibians like salamanders and frogs. To help prevent lighting from harming animals, use as few lights as possible in your landscape. Opt for fixtures that have shade that shield light and direct it down toward the ground. (Article from: “Gardening in a Minute” University of Florida Extension) www.wec.ufl.edu/extension www.snre.ufl.edu/pubsevents/wild.htm
WEED OF THE MONTH Partridge Pea, Cassia fasciculata Do you have this weed growing in your garden? This is Partridge Pea, Cassia fasciculata (also known as Chamaecrista fasciculata). It’s a sun-loving annual that grows in poor, sandy or gravelly soil. From July through September, the flowers create a yellow blanket across rural roadsides, disturbed places and old pastures, sprouting every year from seed to bloom with its bright yellow flowers of summer. Partridge Pea , also known as prairie senna or golden cassia, is well-established throughout the entire eastern half of the US, where it is frequently included in forage mixtures. This reseeding annual is found in disturbed sandy soils throughout Florida. Partridge Pea is sometimes known as “Sleeping Pea,” which refers to the leaves, which fold shut at night. The blue-green pinnate leaves are “sensitive” and even fold if you touch them! The roots are fine, almost hair like when young, which makes them hard to just pull out. If you let the plants get big enough, they produce showy, brightyellow flowers with a small reddish orange blotch at the base and dark red anthers. Flowers grow in the leaf axils all along a 2 foot sprawling stem and provide sweet nectar for bees and butterflies. Partridge Pea can grow to a possible 6 feet tall, if you let it! But typical heights are closer to 3 feet. In the past, partridge pea was planted as a wildlife food for game birds, hence its name. This annual plant can quickly establish itself on disturbed ground, where it provides shelter for quail and other small ground-dwelling birds. Sulphur butterflies are drawn to Partridge Pea as a larval source for its caterpillars, and the flowers also provide a good nectar supply for butterflies, ants and honeybees. Long-tongued bees are responsible for pollination of the flow-
By Jenny G. ers, and include such visitors as honeybees, bumblebees, Miner bees, and large Leaf-Cutting bees. They are attracted to the food pollen of the purple anthers, and are then dusted by the reproductive pollen of the yellow anthers. Like all legumes, Partridge Pea is a nitrogen-fixer and over time can improve the fertility of the soil when allowed to grow. It’s frequently planted for honey, butterfly habitat, nitrogenfixing, and quail food sources. This native is an adventurous sort, colonizing newly disturbed ground and then subsiding as other species take over. If you have meadowlands, Partridge Pea can be a useful addition to the mix of grasses, herbs and plants there. Sounds great, right? Well, you might not really want a rapid colonizer in your flowerbeds! You might find this weed in every nook and cranny! The key to controlling the spread of Partridge Pea is to remove the plants before they go to flower. Late summer to fall brings the growth of long thin pea pods filled with miniature black lima beans. These beans are poisonous to livestock if consumed in large quantities, but birds relish them, hence the name, Partridge Pea. You’ll find that it produces seeds like crazy and the seeds seem to remain viable in the soil for ages. Annual use of a pre-emergent herbicide at the proper time is usually effective. Because these are annual weeds, eventually you’ll get the upper hand if you are religious about removing young plants and you maintain a timely program of pre-emergent control. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fw006 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in483 http://nababutterfly.com/partridge_pea.html http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ part_peax.htm http://thepapershell.com/summer-weeds-partridge-pea/
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OUT AND ABOUT Even though summer tends to be a bit slow, our Master Gardeners have been busy!
Intern David S. assisting Marine Agent Brooke Saari Photo courtesy of Scott B.
Landscape work day. Weeding, planting, and sprucing! Photos by Marg S.
Photos by Ed H. courtesy of Dick H. Red-headed woodpecker and osprey
Do you have photos? Plants in your yard? Unique things you’ve seen? Send them in!
Dove with her baby. Photo by Dick H.
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NEWS AND NOTES
Helpful links, news, and views by our Master Gardeners!
Over the course of the month, we get loads of links, information New York Times Article and Slideshow and just plain great stuff from our members. It’s hard to pick and Time lapse photograph of plants growing. choose from all the submissions! Thank you this month to: http://gizmodo.com/watching-a-timelapse-of-plants-growing-is Stacey T., John H., Ed S.,, and Shari F. for this month’s tidbits! -grossly-alien-876239312 Take the guesswork out of seed germinating by using these Build an outdoor fireplace with these easy instructions. handy charts: http://tinyurl.com/leq3zrr http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html Can plants adapt to the novelty of climate change? Researchers seeing to answer this question have discovered plants have learned to glow in the dark. Full story at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-atnasa/2013/06may_arabidopsis/ Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50LgSJhHCy4
MIT’s 7.00x Intro to Biology/The Secret of Life www.edX.org Some of you may remember our past article on the American Chestnut. For an update on the progress go to:
FIG RECIPE
‘ORCHID-I-TUDES’
By Lee V.
By Scott B.
Blessed are they who are not overwatered for they shall live
Ingredients:
abundantly.
1 cup of black raisins (white would probably work, too) 1 cup water 1 cup sugar 4 cups figs cut into eighths (diced) 2 tbsp. lemon juice plus 2 slices of fresh lemon 1/16th tsp. of each powdered cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and ground ginger
Blessed are they who get light from the south for they will thrive the best.
Blessed are they who are repotted at least every two years for they shall inherit new earth.
Blessed are they who are completely dry before getting water for they will not rot.
Combine raisins, water and sugar in a nonreactive pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and reduce 1/2. Add figs, lemon slices, lemon juice and spices and return to high heat. When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook until reduced 2/3, about 40 minutes. Discard lemon slices. Cool mixture and serve as a condiment. Spices may be adjusted or omitted to your taste. I like the enhanced flavor of the figs and raisins brought about by the spices - you can't taste the spices themselves. It should be delicious over vanilla ice cream, on pancakes - I have been eating it like a dessert...
Blessed are they who feel a 10 degree temperature change for they shall bloom.
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The 2013 Seed Workshop Saving Seed, Saving Farms, Enabling Sustainability Sunday, August 11, 2013 11am to 6pm (EDT) FAMU Viticulture & Small Fruit Research Center 6505 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, FL 32308 $25.00 To register http://theseedworkshop2013.eventbrite.com/
General Membership Meeting August 7th 9:00am Shalimar Baptist Church 17 Fourth Avenue Shalimar, FL 32579
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BOOK REVIEW
By Marg S. This month’s book review comes thanks to Laurie M. She recently read this book and gives it top marks. Nature’s Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature by Mark R. Tercek and Jonathan S. Adams. Proceeds from sale of this book goes to The Nature Conservancy. The description is taken from Amazon:
“What is nature worth? The answer to this question—which traditionally has been framed in environmental terms—is revolutionizing the way we do business. In Nature’s Fortune, Mark Tercek, CEO of The Nature Conservancy and former investment banker, and science writer Jonathan Adams argue that nature is not only the foundation of human well-being, but also the smartest commercial investment any business or government can make. The forests, floodplains,
and oyster reefs often seen simply as raw materials or as obstacles to be cleared in the name of progress are, in fact as important to our future prosperity as technology or law or business innovation. Who invests in nature, and why? What rates of return can it produce? When is protecting nature a good investment? With stories from the South Pacific to the California coast, from the Andes to the Gulf of Mexico and even to New York City, Nature’s Fortune shows how viewing nature as green infrastructure allows for breakthroughs not only in conservation—protecting water supplies; enhancing the health of fisheries; making cities more sustainable, livable and safe; and dealing with unavoidable climate change—but in economic progress, as well. Organizations obviously depend on the environment for key resources— water, trees, and land. But they can also reap substantial commercial benefits in the form of risk mitigation, cost reduction, new investment opportunities, and the protection of assets. Once leaders learn how to account for nature in financial terms, they can incorporate that value into the organization’s decisions and activities, just as habitually as they consider cost, revenue, and ROI. A must-read for business leaders, CEOs, investors, and environmentalists alike, Nature’s Fortune offers an essential guide to the world’s economic—and environmental—well-being.”
Bill B. Susan C. Charlotte D. Jim E. Daisy P. Joyce W. Photo provided by Ed S.
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Marg S.—Editor Shari F., Karen H. and Linda M.—Co-Editors
Have pictures or an idea for an article? Send it in! Articles and pictures are always welcome.
Your member site: www.ocmgamembers.org
The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....An equal opportunity institution.
LAST WORD Sitting at the computer, I came across a video on making butter. This process utilized a mason jar and heavy cream. Since I was in a mood anyway, I figured I would try it. Once I got the shake part down...although it’s less like shaking maracas and more like trying to get the mayonnaise to the end of a squeeze bottle...viola! Butter. Have to admit that it tasted pretty good and I have been using it for cooking. Doubt that I’ll be starting my own dairy any time soon but it’s nice to know I can do it. The really surprising part was the buttermilk. The gentleman in the video said that this stuff was totally different than what we are used to...you could actually drink it. Okay, sure...I decided to try it. Took a deep breath and then took a sip. Wow! I’m sure there are folks out there who know what this tastes like. Nothing like our modern buttermilk. This got me to thinking. I collect old cookbooks. Some of them are from the 1800’s. Reading those recipes, at times, requires a strong stomach. Some of the ingredients, especially in the ‘health’ sections are scary...turpentine anyone? I’ve also ‘fixed’ a few recipes by trying to figure out ingredients that we use today in order to replace such things as lye, alum, and others. We’ve come a long way. Especially when it comes to the science of horticulture (and cooking). We no longer have to spend hours upon hours of hand-tilling the soil. Water comes from a hose at the twist of a knob instead of hauled in buckets. We are able to purchase plants that are ready to go in the ground. Sure we can plant seeds, but we no longer have to collect them ourselves. Instead, we’re able to order them online or pick up a packet at the local store. 10
By Marg S. Don’t get me wrong, most of these modern conveniences are a good thing. We are able to get better production out of our gardens and IF we follow the science based information, we help keep the environment healthy as well. There are times, however, that I look in my shed (and my kitchen cabinets) and marvel at how much ’stuff’ has been accumulated in order to have these modern conveniences. I’m the first one to admit that grinding wheat by hand is not something I care to do on a regular basis. Likewise, spending hours in the garden doing hard labor isn’t my idea of a good time either. So I utilize the science of modern day living—happily. But, I also make an effort to do things the old fashioned way. I pick off tomato hornworms by hand and I weed by hand. There are other ’modern’ alternatives but we need to remember that some of the old fashioned methods are supported by science just as much as the modern ones are. We as Master Gardeners are tasked with the job of getting the scientific based information out there to the homeowners. It behooves us to remember that sometimes, it doesn’t take a chemical or a fancy tool. Start with the basic solution first before we jump to the rest. As long as it’s good sound science, hand picking may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s a lot easier on the pocketbook and on the environment. So, enjoy the modern conveniences in all their technological glory. We live in amazing times and there are still more things we have yet to discover. Science will continue to improve our lives and our world. But don’t forget some of the old ways. Pass the butter.