Archive for the ‘Agriculture’ Category

Apr30

Grow vegetable gardens instead of lawns!

vegetable garden

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For years, I lived in a densely wooded neighborhood in suburban North Carolina. Anyone who wanted to grow vegetables needed to plant them in the front yard, where there was much more sunlight. Fortunately, the neighbors were very tolerant of street-side gardens. (more…)

Apr24

The rise of the superbug

Raw chicken

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A lot of our protein—especially chicken and pork—is now grown in Confined Animal Feeding Operations, known as CAFOs. Here a huge number of animals are kept under controlled conditions and fed special diets to fatten them up quickly.  To combat the inevitable diseases that spread among animals kept at high density, the animals are often fed antibiotic-rich feed, even if they aren’t sick. (more…)

Apr19

Share your yard with wildlife

Wild Turkeys

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Using satellite images, scientists have determined that the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. is turfgrass. This is astounding, especially when considering the recurring droughts we have suffered. Some cities and states have begun to limit lawn watering during drought periods. And many homeowners have been searching for sustainable alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. (more…)

Mar21

From sap to syrup

Maple Sugaring

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Several sugar maples on my property are currently outfitted with taps and buckets. Their sap is destined to sweeten future breakfasts. Maple sugaring, which dates back to the indigenous peoples of North America, is an elegant mix of biology, physics, and patience. (more…)

Feb26

Food waste: A global problem

Food Waste

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Some 30-50% of food produced globally is never eaten. So reports a recent study by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, an independent UK-based engineering society with a focus on energy and environment. (more…)

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