Although I’m an advocate of compost as a “complete feed” for most lawn and garden settings, some situations require the application of additional natural fertilizers. Earth-wise use of any fertilizer requires more information than the so-many-pounds-per-100-square-feet recommendation on the label. We need to know (1) the existing level of fertility in our soil and (2) […]
Earth Talk
Posted inArts & Culture
Prairie Notes 5-20-04
Funny how we sometimes see the value of things. I’ve never heard of someone shopping around for the cheapest doctor or the cheapest hospital — after all, when it comes to our health we want the very best, and hang the cost. But when we go to the supermarket, we want cheap! Most people would […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth Talk 5-20-04
Dear Earth Talk: Which are better for the environment, disposable or cloth diapers? — Barbara Fritts, White Lake, Mich. The “disposable versus cloth” debate has raged among environmentalists for years. Non-degradable disposable diapers can sit for decades, even centuries, in landfills and require thousands of tons of plastic and hundreds of thousands of trees to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth Talk 5-13-04
Dear Earth Talk: What are some ways to maintain a “green” swimming pool? — Jim Humphey, North Andover, Mass. The primary health and environmental drawbacks to swimming pools are water waste, energy waste, and overuse of chlorine. Chlorine is very irritating to the eyes and skin, and can trigger breathing difficulties by also “stinging” the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Prairie Notes 5-13-04
Our restored prairie is finally coming to life out here at Prairierth Farm. Golden Alexander appeared after a few good spring showers, and the foxglove beardtongue is about ready to show off its little white bell-shaped flowers. Native Americans discovered that plant had medicinal value for “weak heart,” and modern science still uses its essence […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth talk 5-6-04
Dear Earth Talk: I want to garden this spring without using chemicals. Are there any safe, non-toxic garden herbicides? — D. Muller, Jackson, Miss. There are now several natural herbicides on the market. One of the most effective natural ingredients is corn gluten meal, a yellow powder that is a waste product of the corn […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Prairie Notes 5-6-04
One of the best things about warm weather is setting up the grill and watching the kids play in the yard. Naturally, we want our lawns to look good and be safe places to roll around in — especially if you happen to be young enough to do that without . . . aftereffects. Lawns […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth Talk
Dear Earth Talk: Are there toothpastes on the market that don’t contain chemicals or artificial sweeteners? — Jeffrey Moss, Westport, Conn. Most conventional toothpastes use saccharin as a sweetener. Although it has not been proven that saccharin causes cancer in humans, many studies have linked it to cancer in laboratory animals, and some experts, including […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A beautiful day in the neighborhood
Last Saturday was a good day. In the morning I shopped it up at a neighborhood yard sale. I came home with a chinchilla stole ($4) to wear on Halloween, a vintage handmade felt Christmas stocking decorated profusely with sequins ($2), a yellow twig dogwood shrub ($5), and a handful of trinkets. I even found […]
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Still making the case for ethanol
For years ethanol has been touted as a homegrown solution to satisfy America’s unquenchable thirst for oil. It’s made from renewable sources–any substance with sufficient amounts of sugar, or material that can be converted into sugar, like the starch in corn. When burned, ethanol creates less pollution than gas. Every year nearly 2 billion gallons […]
