This Valentine’s Day, millions of pounds worth of chocolate will be exchanged as gifts, but climate change and biodiversity loss imperil future global supplies of this treat. A new research study demonstrates that sustainable agricultural practices that both protect pollinator populations and mitigate climate risks could help secure — and even improve — global cocoa yields.
This Valentine’s Day, millions of pounds worth of chocolate will be exchanged as gifts, but climate change and biodiversity loss imperil future global supplies of this treat. A new research study demonstrates that sustainable agricultural practices that both protect pollinator populations and mitigate climate risks could help secure — and even improve — global cocoa yields.
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Valentine’s Day Snow Read More »
I am re-sharing this post that I did 15 years ago. This is a good one for Valentine’s Day, especially if you are snowed in like we are!
All you need to make them are these 4 ingredients:
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-4 cups sifted confectioners sugar (If you prefer them less sweet, use 3 cups)
Line a baking sheet with wax paper (you may need two depending on the size).
In a stand mixer, mix all the ingredients until the mixture is creamy. (You can also do this with your hands).
Hint: I use a small ice-cream scooper to make uniform balls.
In a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water, melt the following (stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat):
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
(You may find that you will need more chocolate. If so, just add more chocolate chips and shortening accordingly).
Remove balls from refrigerator, insert a wooden toothpick into a ball, and dip into melted chocolate. Leave part of the ball uncovered for the buckeye effect. Return to wax paper, chocolate side down, and remove toothpick. The toothpick will leave a hole, use your finger to lightly smooth it over. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set. They can also be frozen.
The urgency of the hunger crisis has prompted 150 Nobel and World Food Prize laureates to call for “moonshot” technological and agricultural innovations to boost food production, meaning monumental and lofty efforts. However, they largely ignored hunger’s root causes — and the need to confront powerful entities and make courageous political choices.
The post Only Political Will Can End World Hunger: Food Isn’t Scarce, but Many People Can’t Access It appeared first on Regeneration International.
I was at the wheel when I spied something out of the corner of my eye (on a side street), that I didn’t think could possibly be real. A quick glance in the rearview mirror to make sure nobody was behind us and I stopped, put the car in reverse, and turned. Wowsa. Yep, that’s what I thought I saw.
I parked and walked back to snap a couple photos. This was the far end, the border with the neighbor.
I almost feel sorry for them. They neighbors, and the agaves, of course.
What’s one of the messiest trees you could have growing above a thicket of agaves? A pepper tree, Schinus molle…
I wonder how many agaves they started with?
I wonder how long they’ve been growing like this?
I wonder how many small animals are living under there?
Another day, another garden. I spied this grouping of pots in an alley after I’d parked the car and was going to meet Andrew at a bookstore.
At first the mix of different containers looked like a temporary installation, but the longer I looked I realized that wasn’t the case. These have been here awhile.
Chicken wire protects them from… animals? Thieves?
Walking up the sidewalk (same property) I spied this through the fence…
These hanging fern boxes (along with lattice) topped the fence.
Maybe Nephrolepis cordifolia?
I was curious about the space so did some Google Maps detective work. I got zero answers, but did get to see the space before the lattice was up, March of 2022.
And before there was even a fence, or a coat of white paint, May 2019.
A pair of drive-by gardens in San Diego; Agave / LOVE Read More »
Echeveria ‘Casio’, also sold as Echeveria agavoides ‘Casio’, is a small succulent that forms a gorgeous, typically solitary rosette of …
The post Echeveria ‘Casio’ appeared first on World of Succulents.
Please click “Continue Reading” for a more detailed description, scientific and common names, scientific classification, origin and habitat, care tips, and photos!
Indoor Ag-Con and Sollum Technologies have announced the recipients of the inaugural Sollum Student Scholarship to Indoor Ag-Con: Erica Hernandez and Brandan Shur. These two outstanding PhD students, both conducting research in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), will receive an all-expense-paid…
First recipients of Sollum Student Scholarship announced Read More »
The demand for Canadian organic lettuce has increased significantly over the past week. “Sales are rising very rapidly due to the U.S. tariff situation. Canadian consumers are definitely paying attention to us putting the Canadian flag on our product–we started doing that early last week,” says Ian…
Canadian demand for domestic lettuce jumps Read More »
