A variety of vegetables can grow well in county

Cynthia Wall

Rankin Ledger Correspondent

Houston Therrell squats by one tomato plant, twisting one almost ripe piece of fruit in his hand.
His brow furrows. He frowns as he pulls one tomato closer, a small hole gnawed in its side. "I think a squirrel got to this one," he tells visitors, scorn, disappointment and a little disbelief in his voice. Disappointment that the produce isn't perfect. Disbelief that anything would touch this prize patch he planted to demonstrate what different tomato plants could produce. Pity that squirrel should he catch it. Read more>

Program cultivates self-esteem along with produce

By SARA EDMONDS
SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- What started out as a simple survey of what would make life better for residents of La Casa San Jose apartments, turned into a youth program focusing on education and gardening. "Parents said they wanted a safe place where their kids could get help with their homework and have some recreational opportunities," said Leah VanderStoep, resident services coordinator for the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, which operates the 50-unit property for farm workers and their families. VanderStoep's survey led to a summer program that has blossomed - and with it a half-acre vegetable garden tended by the adult residents and their children, all of whom are Latino. Not only are the children gaining knowledge in gardening, the vegetables they plant are picked and taken home to be eaten. Read more>

Heroes and Villains

Prolific plants can be boon -- or bane
By Erle Nickel
Contra Costa Times correspondent

When gardeners hear the word "weed," whether used as a noun or a verb, they're not likely to think "Oh, boy!" Weeding can be time-consuming and backbreaking, and then there's the fact that weeding is all too often a recurring activity. But hold on. Could it be true what that wise philosopher once said, that a weed is only a weed when you don't want it growing in your garden? The tipping point it seems is whether the phrase "self seeds" on a plant sign is greeted with enthusiasm or horror. Read more>

Floating farm is the wave of the future

The first time I heard the term "urban farming," I thought it was one of those humorous oxymorons, like "military intelligence" or "jumbo shrimp." I grew up in rural America, the grandson of farmers, and the idea of fields of corn growing through concrete sidewalks, next to huge skyscrapers, seemed wacky. Turns out it's not. There are for-profit organizations out there creating urban farms on 10,000-square-foot New York City parcels - without soil. Supporters say growing food in water, called hydroponics, is the future and can provide healthier diets for city dwellers without having to truck food long distances. Read more>

Honolulu Board of Water Supply Open House and Plant Sale

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) and the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden will host the 21st annual open house and unthirsty plant sale at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden on Saturday August 1st from 9:00am to 3:00pm. This annual community event includes a full day of free, familiy-friendly and fun activities geared at teaching Oahu residents how they can conserve our precious resource in their yards. Read more>

Local doctors, plant scientists create program to fight hunger

By Catherine Wolf
St. Louis doctors and plant scientists have started a new program to prevent hunger in Africa. The Global Harvest Alliance combines an existing project to feed children with efforts to grow genetically engineered, vitamin-rich plants. Project leader Dr. Mark Manary says the goal is to give kids a food supplement long enough to get them healthy, and to develop the plants as a future food source to prevent malnutrition. "We will be able to say, gosh if you can add X amount to that peanut, we can virtually eliminate vitamin A deficiency in this population consuming peanuts as a staple in West Africa. "Manary said malnutrition causes about half of all child deaths. Collaborators are the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.© Copyright 2009, KWMU
-->Source: KWMU

Photos of Senna

Pictures of Senna from Google Images>