Everett Arthur

Not yet. I think they found that there was a lot of missing data, esp for non-eurasian species, so they're taking the time to grow and gather data. Might be a bit. :(

found it on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/permiememes/

I'm well aware of the damage that antibiotic medication can cause to the microbiome, but what of the antimicrobial compounds that many plants and fungi have in the context of a healthy microbiome? What kind of biochemical black magic goes on in the gut when we eat those compounds or take them medicinally? And specifically, why the difference in healthfulness between broad-spectrum, concentrated antibiotics (often derived from natural sources) and eating a broad spectrum of antibiotic compounds in plant medicine-foods? If we see the gut as an ecosystem is it the difference between frequent, small-scale disturbances vs. catastrophic disturbances? When are biocides not all that bad?

Thanks!

Thanks Eric and Tyler. I ask this question partially because I took an ecology course that explained that conifers fix more carbon, at least in cold climates, partially because of the longer period they have to photosynthesize relative to broadleaves. My father-in-law is a forester up here and explained to me that most conifers (with exceptions, notably Larix spp.) drop about 30% of their needles/scales, which leaves them with weeks more than angiosperms to photosynthesize in the shoulder seasons.

So Eric, the conclusion in favor of planting deciduous trees in high latitudes because it increases albedo relative to conifers and reflects more solar radiation thereby decreasing temperature locally (or regionally)?

Hey Eric,

A guy I talked with a few years ago was working on his PhD in forestry. He mentioned that in French Canada (and likely in New England I would guess) there has been a trend since colonization toward replanting/favoring broadleaf trees over conifers. Around here a maple forest for syrup production is seen as a status symbol, which may be part of why conifers aren't favored.

My question for the professional plant geek (self-proclaimed, no malice here) is, what is the difference in the rate of carbon sequestration of conifers on average vs. angiosperm trees? And would this broadleaf favoritism make a significant difference in the northern forests' ability to sequester carbon?

Cheers

Thanks Christine! Great info. A lot of farmers around here use various plastics, black or transparent agricultural plastic to heat the ground. I'm not a fan of plastic, and if the annual part of the system grows dependent on plastics, then you're on sketchy ground.

I've never heard of using gas. That's wild. Maybe for smaller gardens we could collect old thick glass panels and lay them out (potentially this might lead to compaction issues). Have you played around with using buried stones that catch the sun above the soil surface and conduct the heat down into the soil? Rob Avis used something similar to create a microclimate in Calgary where tomatoes will ripen outside.

I live in a short season cold climate, and a local horticultural fella suggested that soil temperature affected (impeded) the growth of a lot of cucurbits early in the season, even if the last spring frost had passed. Is this unique to cucurbits, or is optimal root development dependent on certain temperature ranges for a number of species?

Great video of a Japanese building style with interesting shots of thatch roof replacement. Keep your eye out for the guy with the giant wooden needle. Anyone have a guess as to what's going on with the big hammers?

Cory Allan wrote:I dunno, I've heard lint makes an excellent growing medium :)

I'll bet lint increases water holding capacity :) The quality of the lint would depend on the fibers (synthetic or natural) of the original fabric, and the dyes used, though. :) When I'm in a pinch I still put appleseeds in my pockets when I'm done eating.

R Ranson wrote:I tried the samurai style folding with a square of waxed cloth, and it makes a great way to carry dry snacks.

I hadn't even thought of that! Great idea!

I've made seed packets out of old napkins in my glovebox before, but never waxed cloth. I'll bet the stiffness makes it scale better than paper.

Thanks Dan, I fixed that bit. I'm glad that you were able to move to the next level of papercraftery.