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The beautiful tricks of flowers - Jonathan Drori

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The Botany of Desire - Full Length High Definition

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The Botany of Desire, a free PBS documentary on the evolutionary relationship between humans and plants.

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Leaf to flower evolution

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LibGuides: Year 10 Science : Evolution: Flowering plants

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LibGuides: Year 10 Science : Evolution: Flowering plants

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Botany A Blooming History 1of3 A Confusion of Names

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Science Communication & Visualisation - somersault18:24

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"You could ask my dad Stephen Hawking any question." What it was like to grow up as the daughter of the famous scientist.

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Post by somersault1824.

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4 Medicinal Plants that Are Incredibly Good for You

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Salal berry benefits - University of Victoria

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UVic plant biologist Peter Constabel has found that that salal--a wild berry common to coastal areas of western North America--is an antioxidant superstar, packed with higher levels of health-promoting plant chemicals than most other berries out there.

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What would you spend it on?

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" SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/CutSubscribe Don't forget to subscribe and follow us! Official Site: https://www.cut.com/ Facebook: http://cut.com/facebook Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cut Instagram: http://cut.com/instagram Snapchat: @watchcut Cut Swag: http://cut.com/shop About Cut: Small questions have powerful effects when they go viral. Cut spreads stories for fun, for serious, and for real- bringing the internet together one awkward moment at a time.

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Are GMOs Good or Bad? Genetic Engineering & Our Food

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Are GMOs bad for your health? Or is this fear unfounded?

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Prozac may not be the only way to get rid of your serious blues. Soil microbes have been found to have similar effects on the brain and are without side effects and chemical dependency potential. Learn how to harness the natural antidepressant in soil and make yourself happier and healthier. Read on to see how dirt makes you happy.

Natural remedies have been around for untold centuries. These natural remedies included cures for almost any physical ailment as well as mental and emotional afflictions. Ancient healers may not have known why something worked but simply that it did. Modern scientists have unraveled the why of many medicinal plants and practices but only recently are they finding remedies that were previously unknown and yet, still a part of the natural life cycle. Soil microbes and human health now have a positive link which has been studied and found to be verifiable.

Soil Microbes and Human Health

Did you know that there's a natural antidepressant in soil? It's true. Mycobacterium vaccae is the substance under study and has indeed been found to mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium is found in soil and may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. Studies were conducted on cancer patients and they reported a better quality of life and less stress.

Lack of serotonin has been linked to depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar problems. The bacterium appears to be a natural antidepressant in soil and has no adverse health effects. These antidepressant microbes in soil may be as easy to use as just playing in the dirt.

Most avid gardeners will tell you that their landscape is their "happy place" and the actual physical act of gardening is a stress reducer and mood lifter. The fact that there is some science behind it adds additional credibility to these garden addicts' claims. The presence of a soil bacteria antidepressant is not a surprise to many of us who have experienced the phenomenon ourselves. Backing it up with science is fascinating, but not shocking, to the happy gardener.

Mycobacterium antidepressant microbes in soil are also being investigated for improving cognitive function, Crohn's disease and even rheumatoid arthritis.

How Dirt Makes You Happy

Antidepressant microbes in soil cause cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin. The bacterium was tested both by injection and ingestion on rats, and the results were increased cognitive ability, lower stress and better concentration on tasks than a control group.

Gardeners inhale the bacteria, have topical contact with it and get it into their bloodstreams when there is a cut or other pathway for infection. The natural effects of the soil bacteria antidepressant can be felt for up to 3 weeks if the experiments with rats are any indication. So get out and play in the dirt and improve your mood and your life.

Watch this video about how gardening makes you happy:

Resources:
"Identification of an Immune-Responsive Mesolimbocortical Serotonergic System: Potential Role in Regulation of Emotional Behavior," by Christopher Lowry et al., published online on March 28, 2007 in Neuroscience.
http://www.sage.edu/newsevents/news/?story_id=240785
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/sites/default/files/images/gg607.pdf (pg 12)
Mind & Brain/Depression and Happiness - Raw Data "Is Dirt the New Prozac?" by Josie Glausiusz, Discover Magazine, July 2007 Issue. http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/raw-data-is-dirt-the-new-prozac

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Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy

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Prozac may not be the only way to get rid of your serious blues. Soil microbes have been found to have similar effects on the brain and are without side effects and chemical dependency potential. Learn how to harness the natural antidepressant in soil and make yourself happier and healthier.

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Potato: COntrol starts at 1:

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The Botany of Desire - Full Length High Definition

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The Botany of Desire, a free PBS documentary on the evolutionary relationship between humans and plants.

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Discussion FEb 26

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Companies owning genetic material in seeds pros and cons

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What are the economic, social, and environmental impacts of growing food? How can we feed everyone sustainably? How are food and nature related?

How does a tree die?

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As a vegetable crop (as opposed to a grain crop), the potato is the world's most important foodstuff, so there are many interesting facts about potatoes. The starchy tubers of the potato plant are exceptionally nutritious and so rich in carbohydrates that potato fields can yield 2- 4 times as many calories per acre than can grains. Potatoes can be grown, with little effort, in a variety of soils, and under tremendously diverse growing conditions. As we shall see, it is no wonder that potatoes have come to represent such a large proportion of the world's food crops.

The first potatoes appear to have been harvested as long as 10,000 years ago on a chain of islands off the coast of Peru. According to the DNA record, the plant we know today (technically it is S. tuberosum ssp. tuberosum) was domesticated somewhere between 3000 and 2000 BC, again, in Peru. Since that time as many as 5,000 varieties of potatoes have been grown for food, the bulk of which occur only in the Andes Mountains at high elevation.

The potato was introduced to Europe, in 1534 by Francisco Pizarro upon his return from Peru. It then traveled from port to port, as it was well suited for storage on boats. Spanish fishermen brought the potato to the western shores of Ireland, for instance, as this was a routine port of call where cod could be dried. In 1580, Francis Drake returned to England after circumnavigating the globe, and presented the potato to the court of Elizabeth I as part of his booty. By 1601 potatoes were being grown as far south as Italy, where they were produced food for both people and livestock. By the early 17th century, potatoes had also made their way as far east as the Philippines and China. One hundred years later, potatoes were being grown as a major crop in northern India.

In times of famine, the potato repeatedly proved that it could sustain a population. Potatoes, being grown underground, were an inconspicuous crop, and were not plundered as frequently by invading armies, as were grains. It was just a very sensible crop to fall back on in hard times, and virtually anyone with access to a plot of land could grow some. Friedrich Engels declared that the potato played a "revolutionary role" in history.

Of course, in 1845, the dependence on potatoes by peasant populations proved disastrous in Ireland. Although nearly all poor Irish families relied on potatoes for sustenance, very few varieties were grown and this left the crop susceptible to a kind of fungus known as late blight. This fungus ( Phytophthora infestans) swept through Western Ireland and caused mass famine, killing a million or more people, and led to mass emigration to Britain and North America.

It is estimated that the average person eats around 33kg (73 lbs) of potatoes each year. In some Eastern European countries, per capita consumption is much higher - the average Belorussian eats 338kg of potatoes in a year, or about 2 lbs per day. Today, China and India produce about a third of the world's potatoes.

Potato plants are perennial members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and close cousins to tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tobacco. This is evidenced most obviously by the structure of the flowers on each plant - though potatoes themselves may have pink, white, blue, or even red flowers. All Solanum flowers have yellow stamens.

Many potato varieties produce fruits after flowering. These are small and green, and look a bit like cherry tomatoes, but they are naturally occurring and do not represent cross-pollination (as is sometimes thought) with tomato plants. The fruits, which contain high levels of the toxic alkaloid solanine, should not be eaten. They contain true seeds that can be grown out into new potato plants, but this is a slow process and less efficient than simple vegetative reproduction by using the tubers themselves. Such tubers are called seed potatoes.

Potato varieties are surprisingly abundant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recognizes 173 different registered varieties in Canada alone, but there are as many as 4,000 different types grown around the world. They are broadly divided into baking vs. boiling types, based on starch content, but some references break them down into similarity by colour as well: Whites, yellows, russets, reds, and purples. Baking potatoes (also called floury or mealy potatoes) contain more of the starches amylose and amylopectin than boiling, or "waxy" potatoes.

Potatoes are incredibly versatile in the kitchen, and can be boiled, roasted, baked, scalloped, hashed, mashed, or fried. It is recommended to use potatoes with the skin intact, regardless of how you like to prepare them, as the layer just beneath the skin contains the highest proportion of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Much of this is lost when the vegetables are peeled. Unpeeled, a medium-sized potato offers 27mg of vitamin C, 620mg of potassium, 0.2mg of vitamin B6, as well as trace amounts of folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. This same quantity of unpeeled potato contains as much dietary fibre as a similar amount of whole-grain bread, plus 2g of protein and 26g of carbohydrates.

Potato festivals are popular across North America, as towns celebrate their financially important harvests. In Alliston, a small town northwest of Toronto, they have been enjoying the Alliston Potato festival for close to 40 years running. By hosting a parade, a midway, live music, a battle of the bands, and masses of potato-themed food, the town raises money for improvements to local sports and youth centres, and civic projects. Head to Alliston for the second weekend in August for your annual dose of potato fun.
How to Grow Potatoes

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As a vegetable crop (as opposed to a grain crop), the potato is the world's most important foodstuff, so there are many interesting facts about potatoes. The starchy tubers of the potato plant are exceptionally nutritious and so rich in carbohydrates that potato fields can yield 2- 4 times as many calories per acre than can grains.

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Allotment Diary : Planting / Growing Container Potatoes

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Allotment Diary : Planting / Growing Container Potatoes and chitting. These potatoes will be grown early in 10 litre pots of compost with 2 seed potatoes in each. Kept warm until they start to emerge from the soil and then put into the greenhouse with frost protection.

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Potatoes are important to the self-sufficient gardener and the gourmet gardener. Easy to grow, highly nutritious and there is a variety for every use in the kitchen. Kids of all ages love to grow potatoes. Some are for baking, some are for salads, some for French fries. You should try them all! Follow along with this handy How to Grow Potatoes Guide and grow food.!

Latin
Solanum tuberosum
Family: Solanaceae

Difficulty
Easy

We Recommend: Sieglinde "German Butter" Potato (PT610). This heirloom variety is so loved for its delicate flavour that many growers don't bother with the other varieties. Potatoes are usually selected by type (russet, red-skin, waxy, etc...), so it's hard to recommend one of the others. Try Sieglinde if you haven't grown it before, and we're confident you'll grow it every year.
For Urban Gardeners: Reusable Potato Grow Bags (HG402) allow you to grow potatoes pretty much anywhere other than full shade. Grow some on your balcony or in your driveway!

Season & Zone
Season: Warm season
Exposure: Full-sun
Zone: 4 and up

Timing
Potatoes are tolerant of cool soils and moderate frosts. Minimum soil temperature at planting time should be 6°C (43°F). Plants will emerge about 2-3 weeks after planting.

Starting
Set tubers approximately 7-10cm (3-4″) deep, and 30cm (12″) apart in prepared trenches spaced 60cm (24″) apart.

For Growers:
Approximate Seed Potatoes Needed by Area
Potato Spacing Chart

Growing
Ideal pH: 5.5-6.5. Well-drained, loamy soil rich in organic matter is preferred, but potatoes are not overly fussy. If heavy clay or clay/loam soils are used, double-digging and improving organic matter content by growing cover crops or adding compost or manure can correct drainage problems. Do not lime areas planned for potatoes. When the above-ground portion of the plant is 30cm (12″) tall, "hill up" soil 15cm (6″) around the plants. It's okay to cover green leaves. Straw or grass mulch also works well. This process can be repeated up two or three times. It is recommended that no irrigation take place between planting and sprout emergence in order to avoid disease. It is important, though, not to let the soil become too dry, and to irrigate while plants are flowering.

Harvest
"New" potatoes can be harvested about 7-8 weeks after planting. Potatoes grown for late summer and fall "fresh" use can be dug when tubers are full size or when foliage begins to die. For potatoes grown for storage and winter use, harvest should take place after vines have died back, alternatively, the plants may have to be cut or mown. After killing and removing the plants, tubers should stay in the ground for another 2 weeks to allow firming of their skins for storage. Optimum storage conditions are a dark location 4-7º C (40-45ºF) and 90% relative humidity. Paper sacks stored in a garage will suffice. Check them often though to remove any that are starting to go soft.

Diseases & Pests
Late blight ( Phytopthera infestans) is problematic, especially on the Coast. Symptoms appear as water-soaked gray spots on tips and margins of leaves, leaf axils, and on stems. Even if nothing shows on the leaves, late blight makes black spots under the skin of the tuber. Left unchecked, it will destroy the plant. Copper spray is effective if applied regularly through the growing season, including drenching the soil. The most important step to avoiding disease is to establish a vigorous and healthy crop; this can be accomplished by using disease free seed, planting in rich soil, avoiding pre-emergence irrigation and watering carefully once the crop emerges.

The most common pests to bother your potatoes on the coast are wireworms (especially in gardens recently taken out of grass).

Wireworms are the larvae form of a very slender black beetle known as the Click Beetle because if you turn one over, when it goes to right itself, it makes a "Click!" sound. The beetle lays its eggs in grass, and the larvae eat in our gardens. They burrow into the roots, seeds, and underground stems of tomatoes, corn, potatoes, peppers, and squash. The damage is worse on land that has been recently been converted from lawn to garden. The larvae themselves are crisp, golden, up to 1cm long and can live for up to 7 years in the soil.

If your seeds don't appear to sprout, or the plants wilt and die suddenly, your soil may have wireworms. An irregular pattern of plants dying in a field is typical of wireworm damage. To find out if you have wireworms before you start planting, create bait made of carrot and potato pieces. Bury the bait in 10cm of soil, and mark it with a stick. Dig it up in 3 or 4 days. If there are more than 1 or 2 wireworms per bait, you have a problem. They are difficult to control but regular cultivation of the top 10cm of the soil, as well as trapping them on pieces of potato, and crop rotation will slow the damage. Digging in an overwintered Cole crop can also be effective. Predatory nematodes work also.

Companion Planting
Bush beans, Brassicas, carrots, celery, corn, garlic, marigolds, onions, and peas all do well planted near potatoes. Avoid planting potatoes near asparagus, cucumber, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, rutabaga, squash, sunflower, and turnips.

More on Companion Planting.
How to Grow Potatoes in a Grow Bag - Infographic How to Grow Potatoes in the Ground - Infographic

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Potatoes are important to the self-sufficient gardener and the gourmet gardener. Easy to grow, highly nutritious and there is a variety for every use in the kitchen. Kids of all ages love to grow potatoes. Some are for baking, some are for salads, some for French fries. You should try them all!

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These delicious edible spoons are proof that we can create a p... | These delicious edible spoons are proof that we can create a plastic-free world | By Zinc | Facebook

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These delicious edible spoons are proof that we can create a plastic-free world

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Extensive drought has Californians thinking twice about running the tap while brushing their teeth or taking that 20-minute shower. But what some people don't realize is that a huge portion of our water footprint is "hidden," meaning it's used for the things we eat or wear, and for the energy we use. Globally, agricultural production accounts for 92 percent of our water footprint. In the United States, meat consumption alone accounts for a whopping 30 percent of our water footprint.

So exactly how much water do the foods you eat require? Which food would win in a water use showdown? We've got the answers below, along with some helpful hints about reducing the water footprint of your diet.

All data come from Water Footprint Network's website and reports on the global average water footprint of different foods. All winners are based on the gallons of water needed to produce a pound of each item or a gallon of each drink.

Winner: Tea is the winner at 108 gallons of water per gallon of brewed tea. Coffee requires almost 10 times as much water, using 1,056 gallons of water per gallon of brewed coffee.

Winner: Beer at 296 gallons of water per gallon of beer. It takes 872 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of wine. But if you look at standard servings of each, the race gets closer with about 28 gallons of water needed for 12 fluid ounces of beer and 34 gallons of water needed for 5 fluid ounces of wine.

Winner: Chicken at 518 gallons of water per pound. Beef requires the most water, at 1,847 gal./lb., followed by sheep at 1,248 gal./lb. and pork at 718 gal./lb. If you're going to eat meat, go with chicken. Better yet try eggs, which take 395 gal./lb., or plant based protein. For dairy products, cheese and butter take more than milk at 381 gal./lb. and 665 gal./lb. respectively. Milk by itself uses only 122 gallons of water per pound.

Winner: Tofu at 302 gal./lb. It takes 704 gallons of water to produce one pound of lentils. Chickpeas require less than lentils at 501 gal./lb., and soybeans require less than the more processed tofu, at 257 gal./lb. All of these options are better than eating beef, sheep or pork.

Some will argue that the measurement of gallons per pound isn't fair -- we should consider water consumed per gram of protein. In this case, pulses (including beans, lentils, peas, etc.) win out at 5 gallons per gram of protein, followed by eggs at 7.7 gal./gram, milk at 8.2 gal./gram, and chicken at 9 gal./gram. The numbers only go up from there, with beef topping the scale, requiring 29.6 gallons of water per gram of protein.

Winner: Pasta at 222 gal./lb. But rice isn't too far away, requiring 299 gallons of water per pound of processed rice. Bread (made from wheat) takes 193 gal./lb. and barley consumes 237 gal./lb.

Winner: Unprocessed potatoes at 34 gal./lb. It takes 290 gallons of water to produce one pound of rolled or flaked oats. Sweet potatoes also take less water, using 46 gal./lb., while unprocessed corn requires 146 gal./lb.
Hazelnuts and Walnuts vs. Almonds and Cashews
Winner: Hazelnuts and walnuts at 1,260 gal./lb. and 1,112 gal./lb. respectively. That's still a lot of water! But almonds and cashews take more, averaging 1,929 gal./lb. and 1,704 gal./lb. It takes 1,362 gallons of water to produce one pound of pistachios.
Figs vs. Raisins and Dates
Winner: Raisins and dates at 292 gal./lb. and 273 gal./lb. respectively, though all three of these take more water than most fruits. Figs require the most -- producing one pound of figs requires 401 gallons of water.

Winner: Citrus, at 67 gal./lb. for oranges, 61 gal./lb. for grapefruit and 77 gal./lb. for lemons. Plums require 261 gal./lb., apricots 154 gal./lb. and peaches 109 gal./lb. Avocados are also higher on the list at 141 gal./lb., while apples, bananas, grapes, and kiwis all take less than 100 gal./lb. Strawberries, pineapple, and watermelon require less than 50 gallons of water per pound of fruit.

Winner: Broccoli at a scant 34 gal./lb., along with cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Asparagus is the water hog of the veggies, requiring 258 gallons of water per pound.

Winner: Garlic at 71 gal./lb. Olives require 361 gal./lb.

Winner: Tomato at 26 gal./lb. Eggplant requires a still quite low 43 gal./lb. Artichokes cucumbers, and lettuce require 98 gal./lb., 42 gal./lb. and 28 gal./lb., respectively.

Though we've shown them here to illustrate how much water vegetable farming uses, there really are few losers when it comes to veggies. In general, they consume far less water than animal products, nuts and grains.
Olive Oil vs. Corn, Sunflower and Soybean Oil
Winner: Everything beats olive oil, which requires 1,729 of water per pound to produce. That's more then all oils except castor oil. Corn oil takes 309 gal./lb., sunflower 814 gal./lb. and soybean 502 gal./lb. If you're a fan of coconut oil you're in luck, as it is also relatively low on the scale. One pound requires 538 gallons of water.

Winner: Chocolate at 2,061 gal./lb., but this sadly still takes more water to produce than beef. Though we doubt you'll be eating a pound of chocolate any time soon. Cocoa powder takes 1,874 gal./lb. Vanilla beans top the charts at 15,159 gal./lb., though they are usually used in very small quantities.

Winner: Peppermint wins, taking only 35 gallons of water to produce one pound. One pound of cinnamon requires 1,860 gallons. Ginger requires 199 gal./lb.

Remember, what's important here is recognizing that our food makes up a big part of our water footprint. In fact, general trends are more illustrative than knowing exactly which foods have the lowest numbers. Eating fewer animal products and more plant products will reduce your water footprint, as will eating less-processed foods. For example, potato chips have more than three times the water footprint of potatoes, and ketchup takes twice as much as tomatoes. The same is also true of grains and dairy products -- milk is far less water intense than cheese and butter.

Of course, these measurements are by pound, and we think it's unlikely you would consume the same weight in ketchup as you would whole tomatoes. The Water Footprint Network also suggests choosing high water intensity products that are grown or produced in areas that do not have water scarcity problems, if making changes to your diet proves difficult.

Curious about foods we didn't cover? Click here to view the full reports on crops and animal products.
Note: All units were converted from liters per kilogram to U.S gallons per pound. CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said avocados take 237 gallons of water per pound produced. That number is actually 141 gallons/pound.

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Which Of Your Favorite Foods Are Hiding A Massive Water Footprint?

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Extensive drought has Californians thinking twice about running the tap while brushing their teeth or taking that 20-minute shower. But what some people don't realize is that a huge portion of our water footprint is "hidden," meaning it's used for the things we eat or wear, and for the energy we use.

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COWSPIRACY - The Sustainability Secret in about 15 minutes (Short Version)

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Agriculture: The Basics of Our Industrial Food System in 5 minutes

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The surprising, and often shocking truths about what we eat, how it's produced, and the effect it has on our health and our communities. This essential information summarizes the world's industrial food system brought about by the 'green revolution'.

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Sustainable Solutions to Food Production

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Is this the smartest man in the USA, or just a farmer with common sense? Please check out the documentary film "Food Inc.", and read Fast Food Nation. You deserve to know what you're eating. Note: for those who may be squeamish, please realise that the chicken you eat is no longer alive.