Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is one of the tough urushiol-laden vines native to North America, hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. The leaves, stems and roots all contain urushiol, an oil that causes a severe...
It is a Texas state park that features desert and more mesic vegetation. Eons ago, igneous rock was thrust though the surrounding limestone rock and weathering created the hills and basins seen now.
Researchers from the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois are evaluating the biomass potential of woody crops and taking a closer look at the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ), as it's shown a higher yield and a faster harvest...
If your fall wasn't quite as well organized as you would have liked, you may be facing a different situation with your lawn mower. Ethanol in gas tends to evaporate, and what is left can really gum up fuel lines and the carburetor.
Ever wonder what happens to the food waste that gets washed down your sink? SFGreasecycle was developed in response to the damage that used cooking grease was doing to the city's sewers.
Tune in to An Organic Conversation , a radio show hosted by musician and organic-foods activist Helge Hellberg Saturdays at 10 a.m. PST on San Francisco's Green 960 AM station. Use this radio-program guide to fuel your fire for sustainable living.
Uzzi and Tank and I can't sleep because the screaming katydids are keeping us awake. Ours are called True Katydids. Another thing to know about katydids: if you handle them roughly—they bite! « More Mondays with Martok »
Hold the magnet up and swipe off the nails so they fall into a bucket. The Chain Saw I use a chain saw with a 14-inch bar to cut the pallets, but the longer the bar, the longer the chain will be, and that means you can go longer between sharpenings.
Nonprofit food-system-advocacy organization Food Tank and nonprofit culinary-arts organization James Beard Foundation think so, too, and they are asking for your help in compiling the annual Good Food Org Guide.
Once your terrarium is set up, it will require very little care to maintain.Clean the aquarium with all-purpose household cleaner and a scrub pad. Some good choices are begonia, baby tears, cacti and miniature African violets.Use a spray bottle filled...
I recently bought a digital tire gauge, in part because pen-type gauge readings are increasingly inaccurate the lower the tire psi. Too much air can be a problem, too. You can find that in your manual and on a sticker on the driver's side door.
I believe it can, but first we need to learn how to effectively meet the needs of consumers in new and exciting ways. What can we learn from each other? What I've learned is that wanting to support small-scale farmers isn't enough.
Farming with draft horses is an almost inherently attractive idea. That's why we've compiled a beginner's guide to draft horses for anyone who is interested, but may not know where to start.
Uzzi and Tank and I were licking our lips this morning, thinking of eating our yummy breakfast, when we heard a terrible scream. “There was a spider in the goats' feed can, a spider, a huge spider,” she cried.
The same principle extends to full-size utility tractors as well; tasks such as plowing fields and baling hay might require as much power as the engine can generate. This strategy had a couple of interesting effects.
And when you consider the price-point of most human-powered tools compared with mechanized ones, they are a more economical option, as well. However, it still packs a great environmental punch, eliminating the need for gasoline and helping to preserve...
In fact, all of that fish poop and those uneaten food particles can do your plants a world of good. Read on to learn more about watering indoor or outdoor plants with aquarium water.“Dirty” fish tank water isn't healthy for fish, but it's rich in...
Wheat farmers in eastern Oregon and Washington who use no-till production systems can substantially stem soil erosion and enhance efforts to protect water quality, according to research performed by USDA scientists.
Always have a clear path to move away from the tree as soon as it begins to fall. If you cross the logs at the end, you can create a good, solid end for the pile, though some people use steel fence posts to hold the ends.
Educate others about the dangers of pesticides and chemicals to our pollinators. If you've done your due diligence, you've read a few books, brushed up on bee behavior and even attended a course on keeping bees—whether it lasted a day or several weeks.
Hose supports or reels prevent sagging and kinking. If properly cared for good tools will last (almost) forever. A little time spent in the fall prepping your tools will ensure a fast start to the 2012 gardening season in the spring.
Last night me ‘n' Uzzi Googled beetles (Tank watched; he's computer-illiterate, poor guy). That's what Mom calls the month of July. Males fly in zigzag fashion waist-high (or goat-nose-high, eeyeck!) seeking females all day long.
The start of a new season is a good time to reassess your farm safety plan , and now there's a new regulation farmers will have to follow. The spill-prevention plan should include information such as how petroleum products are stored, the location of...
The grounds are also the home of the official First Division Museum, and the lawn in front of the museum building is used to display over a dozen armored tanks from WWI and later periods.
Tammel suggests adding a fuel conditioner to keep components in both gas and diesel fuels stable and in solution. Unlike coolant, internal oil leaks will usually show up first as blue smoke in the exhaust or as reduced power.
By taking a little time in the fall before storing it away for the winter you'll be ready to go in the spring.A brief explanation of some basic termalogy before we begin. Replace if necessaryClean off caked on soil.
Fully drain the tank, fuel lines and carburetor.Draining can be problematic because it's challenging to get every bit of gas out of the system, and any that remains can potentially cause considerable trouble.
