Chlorophyll - Health Benefits and Natural Food Sources

Chlorophyll is the  green pigment that gives plants  and algae their green color.   Chlorophyll is an antioxidant  nutrient and also an essential  component in photosynthesis,  the process which allows plants  to obtain energy from the sun.  Plants use chlorophyll to trap  light that's needed for  photosynthesis.  Although the natural chlorophyll found in green plants and algae is fat-soluble, most chlorophyll found in health food stores is water-soluble.  In order for chlorophyll to be water-soluble, the natural fat-soluble chlorophyll must be altered chemically. Natural chlorophyll from green plants and algae is the most nutritious source of chlorophyll.  It offers some advantages over the chemically altered water-soluble chlorophyll.  One of the most important advantages of natural chlorophyll is that it can stimulate hemoglobin and red blood cell production , while water-soluble chlorophyll cannot.  The chlorophyll molecule is very similar to the heme portion of the hemoglobin molecule of red blood cells.  Chlorophyll is a natural blood purifier and is often called "the blood of plant life".  It provides management of bacterial growth, it removes unwanted residues, and it activate enzymes.  Chlorophyll is nutrient dense and it's an anti-inflammatory.  Due to it's alkalizing qualities, chlorophyll also helps the body to be pH balanced.  Maintaining pH balance increases the body's resistance to disease.  Since water-soluble chlorophyll is not absorbed by the digestive system, its use is limited to soothing the gastrointestinal tract and reducing fecal odor. 

Natural Food Sources of ChlorophyllCereal Grasses (wheat grass juice and barley grass juice) - Cereal grasses are a nutrient dense, high chlorophyll food.  Although wheatgrass and barley grass have similar nutritional qualities, barley grass is milder and more bitter than the slightly sweet wheatgrass.  People who are allergic to wheat or gluten are usually not allergic to wheat in it's grass stage.  Barley grass is a great alternative for individuals who can't tolerate wheatgrass.  Cereal grasses are an excellent source of many nutrients and enzymes.  Wheatgrass juice is especially known for the following health benefits:  it cleanses the lymph system, it restores balance in the body, it removes toxic metals from the cells, and it restores vitality.   Barley grass juice is well known for the following health benefits: it improves stamina and increases energy, it provides clarity of thought, and it improves the texture of the skin.    
Microalgae (Spirulina, Chlorella, and Wild Blue-Green Algae) - These three types of microalgae contain more chlorophyll than any other food on the planet.  In addition to chlorophyll they're also a great source of complete protein, beta carotene, and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA).  Of the three types of microalgae, spirulina is an especially rich source of protein, beta-caroteine, and the beneficial fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).  Unlike the other two microalgae, spirulina also contains a pigment called phycocyanin.  Phycocyanin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  The cell wall of spirulina contains mucopolysaccharides (MPs), which are composed of amino acids, sugars, and protein.  The nutrients in MPs are completely digestible unlike the nutrients within the cell walls of other microalgae.  
Although chlorella has a similar nutrient composition to spirulina, chlorella contains a little less protein, much less beta-carotene, and much more chlorophyll and nucleic acids than spirulina.  Chlorella has more chlorophyll than any other food, and it contains a higher amount of fatty acids when compared to other microalgae.  Another health benefits of chlorella is that it has a tough outer cell wall that binds with heavy metals, pesticides, and other carcinogens.  It then carries the toxins safely out of the body.  
Wild blue-green algae offers similar nutritional benefits as spirulina and chlorella.   Although wild blue-green algae is highly nutritious, during the growing period it can transform into a very toxic plant.  For this reason, it's crucial that any purchases made for wild blue-green microalgae are from well known, reputable sources.     
Green Leafy Vegetables - Aside from cereal grasses, green leafy vegetables are the most nutrient dense of all vegetables.  Not only are they a rich source of chlorophyll, they're also an excellent source of many other nutrients including vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium, and fiber.   The amount of each nutrient varies with each green leafy vegetable.  There are several varieties of green leafy vegetables available in most grocery stores and farmer's market stands including collard greens, mustard greens, kale, spinach, bok choy, kolrabi, and swiss chard.   They all contain their own unique  composition of nutrients.

Sources:

Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia

Murray , Michael N.D. The Encyclopedia Of Healing Foods. New York: Atria Books, 2005.

Bowden, Jonny, Ph.D., C.N.S. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Fairwinds Press, 2007

Linus Pauling Institue http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/chlorophylls/

Everynutrient http://www.everynutrient.com

Fruit Facial Mask

Cosmetic company are now using fruit acids (AHAI’s), vitamins (antioxidants) and enzymes in many beauty products but also include a large amount of synthetics which can actually be injurious to the skin. In organic beauty, only fresh ingredients are used and therefore a highly active and most effective cure can be given. You will be amazed at how something as simple as dabbing some fresh lemon juice on your face every morning can make an vast difference in how soft your skin feels.

Try any of the following fruit acids, but always take care to avoid your eyes.

→ Lemon juice
→ Strawberries
→ Grapes
→ Malic acid (apples, vinegar, applesauce, cider)
→ Lactic acid (buttermilk, yogurt, powdered skim milk, sour cream, blackberries, tomatoes)
→ Tartaric acid (grapes, grape juice, wine, cream of tartar)
→ Citric acid (citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, grapefruit, and orange)
→ Glycolic acid (sugar cane)

We all are aware of the fact that fresh fruits are good for health and the core vitamin and the mineral lies in the pulp and the skin of any fruit. And just as they are useful to the body, these nutrients can provide excellent rejuvenating factor for our skin too. If you know the properties of each fruit, you can pamper yourself with an all-natural fruit mask, without spending too much time or money. Here are few fruits that can keep your skin smooth and healthy.

Apple & Avacado facial mask

Apple Facial mask

Ingredients:

• 1 cored apple cut into quarters
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• ½ teaspoon of sage

Procedure:

Chop up the apple quarters in a food processor. Add the honey and sage and then refrigerate for about 10 minutes. Lightly pat the mixture onto the face until the honey feels tacky. Leave it on the skin for 30 minutes and then rinse the face mask off with cool water.

Avocado Facial mask

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 1 tablespoon honey

Procedure:

Mash the Avocado with a fork. Dissolve the honey into the water and mix well with fruits. Apply on your face smoothly. Let it sit on the skin for 10 minutes. Wash your face. It makes your skin soft and clean.

Source:Fruitsinfo

Five steps to get your garden started

It’s that time of year again, the time you start daydreaming of canning homemade salsas and tabling fresh salads made completely from ingredients pulled from your home garden. Only, er, maybe you haven’t gardened before and don’t know where to start. If so, here is a five-point plan to get your garden on this year.

1. Do your homework: If your thumb isn’t yet remotely green, start with some research. “So before you even break soil, pick up some books from the library or the Internet to get a plan in place of what you’d like,” said Michael Van Dongen of Van Dongen’s Landscaping and Nurseries Ltd. in Hornby, Ont. That way you can determine what kind of plot you have, and what sorts of vegetables and flowers might do well there. Stuck for research?

Van Dongen also suggests planning small at first. “That way you can let that small area expand from there, because if you try and do too much at once, it can be overwhelming,” he said. “And when you start small, you can decide whether you like it or not because not everyone’s got a green thumb and enjoys it.”

2. Plan your plot: After picking the sunniest spot in your yard or balcony, minimizing the changes of mold and mildew getting at your plants, you can pick from plants that are practically bulletproof. “Snapdragons are prolific flowers to grow. I sometimes let mine sit and they reseed themselves and they come up the following year,” Van Dongen said. “Geraniums and marigolds are also tougher, so if we get a cold snap, it won’t harm them too much.” As for a vegetable bounty, Van Dongen recommends root crops such as carrots, beets and onions, which are all tougher plants and can better sustain weather changes.

3. Prep your plot: Once the weather is warm enough, you can cut out a garden plot by digging down about four to six inches and then build it up another four inches of mixed soil and compost, said Van Dongen, who also recommends working that soil a bit. “You can get compost from your local garden centre or municipality to enrich the soil. So lay it down and work it in with a fork or cultivator.”

4. Pick your packs: Once the threat of morning frost is gone, you can start transferring starter packs of plants to the outdoors. While you can still plant some things such as carrots, from seeds, starter plants or flowers will practically guarantee you have some outdoor growth this year. “Buying starter plants might cost you say $1.40 for a 4 pack of plants,” said Van Dongen. “It’s a minimal investment for something that you can probably benefit greatly from.”

When you are planting, Van Dongen recommends using a light touch — don’t plant too many seeds or packs. “You have to be careful with how much you plant because if it’s a good year, you don’t know how much you can yield and you feel bad wasting it,” he said. 

5. Maintain your growth: From here on in, it’s maintenance, maintenance, maintenance — that includes monitoring the growth, keeping track of watering your plants, weeding, watching for pests, fertilizing regularly and more. And then come August, you can proudly pick and can that salsa. “That’s what I like about gardening — that sense of accomplishment,” Van Dongen said. “And there’s nothing like going out to your garden and picking a cherry tomato off and eating it. You’re putting your own food on the table.”
Source: Chatelaine 

Biotechnology: Cotton Production Set to Increase

BY ORTON KIISHWEKO, 28 APRIL 2013

RECENTLY, the Ministry of State in the Vice-President's Office (Environment) convened a meeting for stakeholders in the science community to deliberate on how crop genetic engineering can be used in the interest of agriculture and the local people in general.

At the meeting some stakeholders had concerns on whether there is conclusive research findings that show genetically engineered crops have no harm on human beings.

The same week, a renowned Harvard University scholar, Prof Calestous Juma visited East Africa and said biotechnology and genetic engineering have the potential to do for agriculture, what mobile technology has done for the communications sector in Africa.

Prof Juma advocated for the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), saying they would boost food and income security. He, however, cautioned that it would be detrimental to adopt GMOs without clear, flexible and supportive biotechnology regulations. Prof Juma has authored several books on Africa's development, including The New Harvest, which is arguably today's most authoritative scholarly work on agriculture in Africa.

In his book, he argued that African agriculture is currently at a crossroads, at which persistent food shortages are compounded by threats from climate change. But, as the book argues, Africa faces three major opportunities that can transform its agriculture into a force for economic growth: advances in science and technology; the creation of regional markets and the emergence of a new crop of entrepreneurial leaders dedicated to the continent's economic improvement.

Filled with case studies from within Africa and success stories from developing nations around the world, The New Harvest outlines the policies and institutional changes necessary to promote agricultural innovation across the African continent. Incorporating research from academia, government, civil society and private sector, the book suggests multiple ways that individual African countries can work with others at the regional level to develop local knowledge and resources, harness technological innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, increase agricultural output, create markets and improve infrastructure.

He emphasised the role of technology in transforming livelihoods, insisting that if Africa didn't embrace GMOs in agriculture, the problems like climate change, pests and diseases that have dogged the sector over the years would devour production to shocking levels. He decried the phenomenon of resisting new technologies, saying it won't help Africa to develop. On the safety of GMOs, he compared the current debate to the rumours that were circulated during the early days of mobile technology that the phones would cause brain cancer.

He said instead of focusing on rumours that discredit GMOs, it is prudent for governments to empower institutions to effectively check the safety standards of each product introduced on the market. He said biotechnology had caused a 24 per cent increase in cotton yield per acre and a 50 per cent growth in cotton profit among US smallholder farmers between 2006 and 2008. It raised consumption expenditure by 18% during the period.

He cited another report which said GMO crops that are pest-resistant had suppressed pests even beyond gardens where they were planted to assist farmers who don't grow GMOs. "Biotechnology and in particular GMOs are not per se more risky than conventional plant breeding," he asserted, and explained that genetic engineering would make agriculture more attractive and reduce the number of youth running away from rural areas.

The scholar's position brought into focus the importance of genetic engineering perhaps starting with non-food crops in Tanzania, including cotton. Locally, stakeholders have urged that the government should institute a policy that allows agricultural scientists to conduct research and trials on GMOs in different research centres. The Environmental Management Act does not allow the application of such research and that it should therefore be amended. For example, one of the crops whose future has elicited so much debate is cotton.

Questions have been asked as to whether Bt Cotton can address the challenges in the cotton sector. The Tanzanian cotton sector has undergone dramatic changes since liberalisation in 1994. Stimulated by high producer prices, it has held either its position as either the most or second most important export crop in Tanzania in recent years. An estimated 40 per cent of the entire Tanzanian population is believed to derive their livelihood either directly or indirectly from cotton, grown by as many as half a million of mostly smallholder farmers.

A recent World Bank publication remarks that the sector is unique in that it is marked with too much competition amongst buyers - resulting in higher producer prices yet lower qualities - compared to the other sub Saharan cotton economies. This increased competition- as a trade-off-also resulted in comparatively lower yields, as credit based input provisioning is challenging in an environment where an overcapacity in ginning fuels side-selling.

The earlier South African case is illustrative in that the Tanzanian supply chain put into place via contract farming could serve a similar fate of struggling with recovering the debt and providing subsidized inputs, although measures are developed by the TCB to combat these issues. In addition to low yields obtained in a rain-fed environment, farmers in the sector struggle with lack of access to credit and extension service.

Research in the cotton sector also has been limited with poor seed quality, although the new UK M08 variety - developed at the Ukiriguru Cotton Institute - is planned for release as early as 2013/14. Furthermore, the intense competition has resulted in a comparatively lower cotton quality, as buyers are more focused on securing their quantities for their orders. While the quality is improved by half the ginneries operating roller gins and the entire harvest being hand-picked, the sector continues to suffer from the collapse of the textile industry after liberalization.

On average, only around 20 percent of the ginned cotton is consumed by domestic textile industries. The other 80 per cent are exported, thus revealing a potential source of domestic value addition as an estimated 90 per cent of the profits are obtained abroad (TCB 2010). These challenges were recognised by the Tanzanian Cotton Board as outlined in its Cotton Board Strategy of 2011-2013.

Outside of its domestic domain, the cotton sector is plagued by a range of global structural issues. These include competition from synthetic fibres and a long term decline in terms-of-trade for agricultural commodities (that was reversed in the short-term during the commodity booms in the last few years).

Courtesy: All Africa

HOW TO GET YOUR GARDEN STARTED: PUTTING THE THEORIES TO WORK

Asad Manzoor
Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi (asad@gardener.com)

Most of your garden scheduling has been theoretical. You've given idea to the vegetables you want to grow, what you're going to do with them, and how much you need to cultivate. You've got a plan of how the climate in your spot will influence your final choice of vegetables.

You're starting to understand your microclimate how growing circumstances in your own back garden may differ from the general climate of your region/district or city. Now you're ready to start getting your plans on paper, but as soon as you open the seed catalog, confusion strikes again. You want to grow your own corn, tomatoes, lettuce and carrots…..

Remember, too, that you don't all the time have to play by the rules; you can plant more than one variety of a vegetable and decide for yourself who one is best suited to your palate and your garden. You can also broaden your harvest by planting varieties that mature at diverse times. Experimenting is a good part of the fun of growing a vegetable garden. Selecting the varieties you're going to grow gives you some solid information with which to work .You now know when to plant your vegetables.

With careful scheduling you may also be capable to save garden space and get two or more harvests from the same spot by succession or sequencing planting. After early-maturing crops or Vegetables are harvested, you clear a portion of the garden and replant it with a new crop or vegetable. Plant so that cool-season crops or vegetables grow in the cooler part of the season, and warm-season crops or vegetables can take advantage of warmer weather.

Companion (we can also say friendly plants) planting is another way to twice upon plantings pace. This you do by planting short-term crops or Vegetables between plants that will take a longer time to mature. The short-term crops or Vegetables are harvested by the time the longer-season crops or Vegetables need the extra room. A good example of this is to plant radishes between rows of tomatoes; by the time the tomatoes need the space, the radishes will be gone.

Weeds Control in Upcoming Era

Asad Manzoor
Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Management University of Karachi
asad@gardener.com

In the upcoming era, weed control methods currently being intensively researched will allow prolonged weed control options away from herbicides and mechanical methods in agricultural, horticultural and nonagricultural weed management. Biological control by insects and plant disease producing micro organisms, foretelling modeling of weed/crop relations, and the use of herbicide antidotes, more viable crops, allelopathy, and genetic engineering/modify will become more widespread as their consistency is enhanced.

The generally purpose of additional approaches is to find out innovative, more environmentally suitable and friendly weed management methods/techniques that not only control weeds successfully, but advance our understanding and knowledge of weed ecology/biology and permit us more sustainable management of the agro ecosystem. Biological control of weeds by insects and plant disease organisms has had significant achievement in several weed management situations, and current research will direct to supplementary uses of natural agents. Significant biological research involves the potential introduction of natural control species commencing an invasive weed species site of origin (Watson, 1993). The use of herbicide antidotes (Hatzios and Wu, 1996) to defend crop plants has been doing well for some herbicides in some crops—for example, chloroacteamide herbicides in corn and sorghum. One of the supreme recent changes in weed control has occurred through the genetic transformation of crops with herbicide-resistant genes and the incorporation of herbicide resistance through conventional breeding. In 1999 and 2000, more than 50% of the U.S. soybean acreage and more than 30% of the corn acreage was planted to cultivars resistant to one of several herbicides. Genetic engineering offers marvelous potential in all areas of weed science for enhanced understanding of plants and of weed control. Genetic engineering, along with current advances in sequencing the genome of Arabidopsis (and in the future, other plants), will allow a clear understanding of specific gene function.

Such knowledge will authorize gene manipulation and modification in our agricultural activities, such as the finding of genes that add to weediness, competitiveness, allelopathy, dormancy, or a plant’s being a perennial, with functions (Weller et al., 2001; Gressel, 2000). Genes of interest in weed control methods once revealed may then be engineered into crops or used to manipulate weeds to achieve a wanted effect in crop productivity and reduced weed influences. One area in especially where genetic engineering may play a role is allelopathy. Allelopathy (Rizvi and Rizvi, 1992) results from any direct or indirect inhibitory or stimulatory effect by one plant (including microorganisms) on another through the production and release into the surroundings of a chemical compound. Although no marketable breakthroughs have yet occurred in engineering plants to produce higher concentration/amount of allelochemicals, rather a few such genes have been recognized in Arabidopsis. Genetic engineering of crop plants or cover crops with genes for allelochemicals could allow key strides in rising plants helpful in weed management. The future for weed control is thrilling, as there are many opportunities for challenging fundamental and applied approaches for weed management in our environment (Hall et al., 2000).

References:

Gressel, J. 2000. Molecular biology of weed control. Transgenic Res. 9:355–382.
Hall, J. C., L. L. van Eerd, S. D. Miller, M. D. K. Owen, T. S. Prather, D. L. Shaner, M. Singh, K. C. Vaughn, and S. C. Weller. 2000. Future research directions for weed science. Weed Technol. 14:647–658.
Hatzios, K. K., and J. Wu. 1996. Herbicide safeners: Tools for improving the efficacy and selectivity of herbicides. J. Envir. Sci. Health. B31:545–553.
Rizvi, S. J. H., and V. Rizvi. 1992. Allelopathy: Basic and Applied Aspects. Chapman and Hall, London.
Watson, A. K., ed. 1993. Biological Control of Weeds Handbook. WSSA Monograph Ser. #7.WSSA, Lawrence, KS.
Weller, S. C., R. A. Bressan, P. B. Goldsbrough, T. B. Fredenburg, and P. M. Hasegawa. 2001.The impact of genomics on weed management in the 21st century. Weed Sci. 49:282–289.

5 Tips for Growing Early Spring Greens

By Shannon Cowan

Although the arrival of spring in some parts of the country brings welcome gardening weather, other regions are still waiting for those warmer temperatures to begin. Wherever you live, growing greens in in your garden or greenhouse can help you get a jumpstart on the season and enjoy delicious salads that haven’t travelled miles to your table.

Unlike many vegetables which require warmer temperatures to germinate, most greens are “cold hardy”, meaning that you can plant them long before the last frost. But just planting your greens doesn’t ensure a healthy crop. Here are a few tips to help you achieve success when cultivating early spring greens in your garden.

1. Ensure your soil is ready

The seeds of most greens will germinate at temperatures as low as 40 degrees F, which means you can begin planting as soon as the soil has thawed and is dry enough to rake smoothly. Overly wet soils may rot your seed, so if you live in an area with a high water table or copious rainfall, be sure you aren’t rushing the season. A good way to test your soil for readiness is to squeeze a fist full in your hand. If the soil forms a ball that separates easily or crumbles through your fingers, it’s dry enough to begin planting. If the soil forms a ball that doesn’t separate when jiggled, wait a few more days and try again.

If your soil is too wet, consider installing raised beds to improve early-season growing conditions. Raising your beds 12-24” above the ground is often all you need to improve soil conditions and ensure adequate drainage. You can also install sub-drainage or ditches if your space is large enough to warrant the cost.

Lastly, if your soil is too wet because of a high clay content, consider improving soil quality by adding some sand and organic matter such as compost and rotted manure. The ideal soil type for growing vegetables is sandy-loam.

2. Provide adequate nutrients for healthy growth

Like all plants, lettuces and other salad greens require nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to grow. However, in salad greens the bulk of the plant’s energy is used up making green leaves. For this reason, these plants rely most heavily on nitrogen for healthy production. Fertilizing your soil with finished compost or rotted animal manure before planting is one way to deliver nitrogen to your plants’ roots. We also top dress with compost after the seeds have emerged (if planting in rows) or water with diluted fish fertilizer or compost tea. Other sources of nitrogen include organic alfalfa or kelp meal worked into the soil before planting.

3. Keep soil evenly moist

One of the mistakes many gardeners make when growing early greens is overwatering. Although the soil is warming up along with the air, those cold spring temperatures mean less evaporation. While some experts advocate misting your greens, particularly before germination, we’ve found a light watering twice per week is enough to quench our plants’ thirst and ensure strong, healthy development. Frequency will depend on your soil (whether it is sand, clay, or loam), the temperatures in your region, and whether your crop is outside or in a greenhouse.

4. Provide primary and secondary cover

To get a head start on the season, you can plant greens in a greenhouse or hoop tunnel a full month before their outdoor planting dates. You can also go one step further: although seeds grown in a greenhouse already benefit from warmer-than-average temperatures, an extra layer of protection can speed growth and improve germination. In The Winter Harvest Handbook, Eliot Coleman describes how floating row covers (a thin layer of light-permeable cloth) can substantially increase the temperature and relative humidity of a growing area inside a greenhouse. This “double coverage” modifies the climate enough to spur on growth and protect plants from unexpected dips in temperature. Lightweight, floating row covers are now widely available at most garden suppliers. After starting a selection of early greens in our greenhouse, we cover our seeds for the first few weeks after planting to speed germination and maintain an even soil moisture early in the season.

5. Choose cold-hardy varieties

Although most greens are tolerant of the cold, some are more likely to germinate and thrive in unpredictable, swinging temperatures than others. Arugula, spinach, kale, cress, mustard greens, and corn salad are all good choices for an early spring sowing. In most locations, lettuces will germinate in a greenhouse in early spring. Though they may grow more slowly than other greens at the beginning of the season and they require protection from hard frosts, lettuces add bulk and sweetness to the mix. Keep in mind that most lettuces require light to germinate, so a thin covering of soil is all they need to get started. See our list below of favorite cold-hardy greens below for more details.

Favorite Cold-Hardy Greens

The following greens will germinate and thrive in cool temperatures. We start a variety in our greenhouse in early spring to use in salad mixes, making sure to select for texture, colour, and nutrients. We also sow directly into the garden in consecutive plantings spaced 2-3 weeks apart to ensure a continuous harvest.

Arugula

(Also known as “rocket”) is an easy-to-grow early spring green that will germinate in the coldest spring soil, earlier in a greenhouse. Sow in rows or broadcast the seed evenly, but thin to 4-6” (10-15 cm) apart after emergence or the plants will bolt prematurely. When the plants do produce flowers, you can prolong production by pinching them off.

Beet Greens

Are great for color. The bright red-and-green combination adds brilliance to salads and tastes delicious when harvested at the baby-green stage (less than 4” or 10cm). Like other early greens, beets can be sown in a greenhouse as soon as the soil can be worked. Cool temperatures will intensify the colour in some varieties.

Claytonia

Or “Miner’s Lettuce”, has long been considered a weed in North America, but its succulent texture and tolerance for cold temperatures has made inroads with gardeners and upscale restaurants over the last few decades. Its small, white flowers are equally edible and add interest to salad mixes.

Corn Salad

(Also known as mȃche) is a favorite cool-weather crop with a mild, nutty flavour. Harvest the outer leaves or cut the entire inner rosette and watch it regrow. Although corn salad takes as long as lettuce to mature (about 50 days), it germinates faster and earlier, making it a great addition to early salads.

Edible Chrysanthemum

(Or shungiku) is an early green with Asian origins. Harvest the leaves or the edible flowers for a mildly bitter addition to salads and stir fries.

Kale

Is a year-round staple at our house, but one of our favorite ways to eat this calcium-rich plant is as a baby green in a mixed salad. If planted in spring, kale will germinate at soil temperatures at 40° F or higher. In a greenhouse, kale will produce quickly and flesh out salads with its vast array of colours and textures. We prefer Red Russian for our salad mix—its purple veins and frilly edges add a touch of fancy to any meal. Harvest the outer leaves of each plant when they are no more than 4” (10cm) long and sow more thickly than you would for mature plants.

Lettuce

Is a staple in any salad, but the vast array of varieties available today mean choices in colour, texture, and flavour. One thing to keep in mind if growing lettuce in a greenhouse is that some varieties will hold better than others into the heat of summer, ensuring a longer harvest and a steady supply. If you would like to keep your plants going after the weather warms up (or while waiting for those outdoor plantings to begin producing), choose a bolt-resistant variety (one that will not go to seed quickly). Oak leaf lettuces such as Salad Bowl have performed incredibly well in our greenhouses over the years. Other favorites include Red Sails and Lovelock.

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens, such as Mizuna, Giant Red, and Tah Tsai add spice to salads and can also be cooked in stir fries or soups. All belong to the Brassica family (the same family as broccoli, cabbages, and arugula), which means they share some of the same pests. Unlike broccoli and cabbages, however, mustards grow quickly and then go to seed. Although you can plant them outside your greenhouse in the coolest of temperatures, greenhouse growing ensures an earlier, more even harvest.

Pea Greens

Pea greens include the top 3-4” (7.5-10 cm) of any edible pea plant. I first encountered pea greens while working on an organic greens farm where workers harvested the leafy, vining tops rather than waiting for the pods to develop. Pea greens are only tender enough if you harvest them when plants are young. Cut the entire plant top once or twice before trellising and allowing to mature for your pea crop.

Sorrel

Sorrel stands out as a must-have in our garden. As one of the few perennial greens available today, sorrel produces first in the spring when most other greens are just going into the ground as seeds. Sorrel’s large and delicious leaves have a distinct, lemon flavor. They make a great edition to any salad or sandwich.

Spinach

Spinach is another early staple that fleshes out salad mixes and adds vital nutrients to meals. We harvest our greenhouse spinach at the baby-green stage, taking the outer leaves and allowing plants to regrow. Spinach does best in fertile soil that is well-drained and warmer than 35° F. Sow early, but remember that spinach will go to seed in a greenhouse as soon as the weather warms up. Although you can sow outside almost as soon as the soil can be worked, we’ve found a greenhouse crop of spinach out-produces its outdoor cousins by up to 4 weeks, making both plantings worthwhile.

Favorite Spring Mixes:

If space is limited, consider growing a selection of greens to suit your palate. Here are some of our favorite blends organized by taste:

Mild:

Looseleaf lettuce (e.g. Salad Bowl or Red Salad Bowl), Butterhead lettuce (Buttercrunch), Romaine lettuce (Freckles or Conquistador), spinach, claytonia, beet greens, pea shoots.

Spicy:

Looseleaf lettuce (choose one red and one green variety), Romaine lettuce, arugula, tah tsai, mizuna, edible chrysanthemum (shungiku).

Tangy:

Looseleaf lettuce, Romaine lettuce, arugula, claytonia, kale, corn salad, beet greens, sorrel.

A Final Word

Growing spring greens for salad mixes is a satisfying way to get started in the garden before long days and warmer soil temperatures arrive in full force. It’s also one way to save money and improve the quality of your salads with just a little bit of effort.

About Shannon
Shannon Cowan is a writer and editor whose novels and articles are published in the United States and Canada. She and her family are currently building a green home and converting six acres of semi-rural brush into a working farm. She blogs about their adventures at www.agreenhearth.com.

Source: EarthEasy

5 Easy to Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants

Before reaching for the chemical sprays, try planting these easy-to-grow plants which have natural mosquito-repelling properties…

As the outdoor season approaches, many homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts look for ways to control mosquitoes. With all the publicity about the West Nile virus, mosquito repelling products are gaining in popularity. But many commercial insect repellents contain from 5% to 25% DEET. There are concerns about the potential toxic effects of DEET, especially when used by children. Children who absorb high amounts of DEET through insect repellents have developed seizures, slurred speech, hypotension and bradycardia.

There are new DEET-free mosquito repellents on the market today which offer some relief to those venturing outdoors in mosquito season. But there are also certain plants which are easy to grow and will have some effect in repelling mosquitoes from areas of your home and garden.

Here are five of the most effective mosquito repelling plants which are easy to grow in most regions of the US:

1. Citronella

Citronella is the most common natural ingredient used in formulating mosquito repellents. The distinctive citronella aroma is a strong smell which masks other attractants to mosquitoes, making it harder for them to find you. Although citronella is used in many forms, such as scented candles, torches and citronella ‘scented’ plants, the living plant is more effective because it has a stronger smell.

Citronella is a perennial ‘clumping’ grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. It can be grown directly in the ground in climate zones where frost does not occur. If grown in the garden or near the patio, it should be planted in the ‘background’, behind small decorative flowers and shrubs. In northern climate zones citronella can be grown in a large pot or planter, ideally with casters, so it can be rolled indoors during winter.

Gardening centers usually sell citronella as small plants in pots, ready to transplant to a larger pot or into raised garden beds on the ground. Once established, new plants can be propagated in early spring by splitting large clumps into smaller sections and replanting the new ‘starts’ in pots or other areas of the garden. Citronella plants are considered low maintenance, like most grasses, and they do best in full sun and well-drained locations. Periodic applications of nitrogen-rich fertilizers will ensure vigorous growth, but this treatment only needs to be applied once a year, preferably in early spring.

When purchasing citronella, look for the true varieties, Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus. Other plants may be sold as ‘citronella scented’, but these do not have the mosquito repelling qualities of true citronella.

2. Horsemint

Also known as Beebalm, Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. It gives off a strong incense-like odor which confuses mosquitoes by masking the smell of its usual hosts.

Horsemint is a fast growing, shade-tolerant and drought-resistant plant which reaches a height and width of 2 – 3 feet. It does well in dry, sandy soil and can tolerate salty conditions, which is why it is often found in coastal and beach areas. Horsemint seeds can be sown indoors in trays for later transplanting, or sown directly into the ground in late summer in colder climate zones. Midwest and Eastern growing zones are favoured for growing horsemint.

Mature horsemint plants can be divided in spring and fall by dividing into small sections and transplanting into permanent locations. Horsemint can also be planted in pots for moving indoors in cold climate zones.

Horsemint leaves can be dried and used to make herbal tea. Its flowers will also attract bees and butterflies to your garden.

3. Marigolds

Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some gardeners, find particularly offensive. Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, a compound used in many insect repellents.

Marigolds prefer full sunlight and reasonably fertile soil. Although marigolds can be planted from seed, starter plants are inexpensive and readily available at most garden centers. Although an annual, marigold will often reseed itself in favourable conditions, or the gardener can easily collect seeds for future germination. Established plants will need to be thinned, and flowers should be dead-headed to promote additional blooms.

Potted marigolds can be positioned near entrances to your home and any common mosquito entry points, such as open windows. The smell may deter mosquitoes from going past this barrier. While marigolds can be used as border plants around the patio, we do not advise putting marigolds on the patio table since the bright blooms may attract wasps.

Besides repelling mosquitoes, marigolds repel insects which prey on tomato plants, so you may want to plant a few marigolds in your tomato bed for added protection.

4. Ageratum

Also known as Flossflowers, Ageratum emits a smell which mosquitos find particularly offensive. Ageratum secretes coumarin, which is widely used in commercial mosquito repellents.

Ageratum is a low-lying annual ornamental plant which reaches heights of 8 – 18”, and is easily recognized by its blue flowers, although there are varieties with pink, white and violet blooms. This plant will thrive in full or partial sun and does not require rich soil. It is often displayed in rock gardens where low-lying plants are favoured.

Although the leaves of Ageratum can be crushed to increase the emitted odor, it is not advisable to rub the crushed leaves directly on the skin.

5. Catnip

Catnip is a natural mosquito repellent. In August 2010, entomologists at Iowa State University reported to the American Chemical Society that catnip is ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical found in most commercial insect repellents. According to Iowa State researcher Chris Peterson, the reason for its effectiveness is still unknown. “It might simply be acting as an irritant or they don’t like the smell. But nobody really knows why insect repellents work.”

In the laboratory, Peterson put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone, a biologically active characteristic constituent of catnip. After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent – about four mosquitoes – remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose (1.0%) of the oil. In the low dose test (0.1%) an average of 25% – five mosquitoes – stayed on the treated side. When the same tests were conducted using DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide), approximately 40 to 45% – eight to nine mosquitoes – remained on the treated side. A ten-fold higher concentration of DEET was required to obtain results similar to those of the Catnip.

Catnip, Nepeta cateria, is very easy to grow. This perennial herb is related to mint, and grows readily both as a weed and a commercially cultivated plant in most areas of the US.

While catnip will repel mosquitoes in close proximity to the plant, some people apply crushed catnip leaves or catnip oil for more robust protection. Bear in mind, however, that cats will respond to you similarly as they would respond to the plant itself. Cat owners may want to choose an alternative plant for repelling mosquitoes.

While the plants mentioned in this article have been shown to have mosquito-repelling properties, there are environmental variables that can mitigate their effectiveness. A breeze may direct odors in the opposite direction if advancing mosquitoes, reducing the plant’s effectiveness. New formulations of non-toxic mosquito repellents are commercially available, and are advised for people who want to enjoy the outdoors without the annoyance of persistent mosquitoes.

Source: EarthEasy

Ban imposed on release of inland subsidy on sugar export

MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

Caretaker Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry, Maqbool H H Rehmatoola has reportedly imposed a ban on release of inland subsidy on export of sugar as well as the subsidy under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2009-12 and 2012-15, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, under the three-week long leadership of former Finance Minister, Saleem Mandviwalla, approved billions of rupees of financial incentives for politically influential sugar industry under the guise of inland subsidy on a summary moved by the Commerce Ministry.

However, the decision, considered questionable could not be implemented; several decisions taken by Saleem Mandviwalla are currently being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. "Commerce Minister believes that the amount of inland subsidy can be used in elections, which is why he imposed a ban on the release of the amount under this head," the sources added.

Likewise, processing of cases of release of subsidy to exporters as announced in STFP is to be discontinued by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The Minister feels that TDAP should not release any amount under that head as it would be considered against the directives of Election Commission of Pakistan. The officials in TDAP and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), who intended to expedite cases of sugar mill owners and exporters for release of subsides were likely to be disappointed with that decision, said an official on condition of anonymity.

The sources said ECC in its meeting on March 6, had approved inland subsidy of Rs 1.75 per kg on 1.2 million tons of sugar. Earlier, the ECC meeting presided over by former finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had approved Rs 8 billion incentives on export of 1.2 million tons of sugar on summaries prepared by the Commerce Ministry and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

However, SRO issued by the FBR favoured only sugar mills of Sindh zone. According to sources, Punjab produces 60 percent and KP 10 percent of overall sugar output in the country. The exclusion of both provinces has been strongly lamented by the industry as the SRO only favours one province. This SRO is being challenged in the court as discriminatory in nature and the major quantum of growers'' payments relates to Punjab. If KP and Punjab mills try to export through Karachi Port for destinations other than Afghanistan and CIS, it costs over 20 dollars in terms of haulage and it is practically impossible to export. According to sources, Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood has decided that the issue of release of inland subsidy should be left to the new elected government.

^{Source Business Recorder}