Three decades of field experience have enabled Hope Leeson to develop an intimate knowledge of Rhode Island’s plant communities. ECORI.ORG – Thanks to lessons taught by her grandparents, Hope Leeson has always been drawn to plants. Some of her oldest memories are of trees, especially their different shapes. “I’ve always had this haunting sense of awareness of their forms,” said Leeson, a botanist, plant conservationist, and botanical educator from South Kingstown who has walked much of Rhode Island in search of wetlands and rare plants. “I was always interested by their shapes, and by other ..read more

FB.ORG – Nearly 40 years ago as I started my career in agriculture communications, the week leading up to Thanksgiving celebrated those who live on the land and care for critters (livestock), while recognizing the important partnership farmers have with consumers. Farm-City Week celebrated the harvest and the abundance of affordable and nutritious food available to American families and for export around the world. With that in mind, now is a good time to remember our blessings and celebrate what we have in common. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, shop and find entertainment ..read more

METRO.NEWS – THERE is growing evidence that being in natural spaces — whether while gardening or listening to bird song — has a positive effect on mental health. Being in nature is also linked to improved cognitive function, greater relaxation, coping with trauma and alleviating certain attention deficit disorder symptoms in children. However, most of these studies have specifically looked at the effect of public green spaces, rather than private gardens. During a time when many people are at home due to Covid-19 restrictions, private garden spaces have been the most accessible green spaces f ..read more

WMICENTRAL.COM – This has become a rallying cry by gardeners, natural landscape enthusiasts and ecologists. To let fallen leaves stay where they land in yards across America is becoming a popular trend. Not because homeowners and gardeners are lazy (so we claim), but because the leaves provide a protective habitat and ecosystem for the insects, critters and microbes that survive under a blanket of nutrients and protection that leaves furnish over the winter. The latest natural science recommendation is to simply let the leaves fall where they may which allows insects, amphibians, worms, be ..read more

VCG  NEWS.CGTN.COM – China’s rural development still faces many contradictions and problems, such as the decline of farmers’ enthusiasm for growing grain, the increasing difficulty of farmers’ continuous income increase, and the aging of rural areas increasingly serious, the recently released “2020 China Agricultural and Rural Development Report” shows. Many experts believe the construction of “unmanned farms” can solve this kind of problem by helping reduce labor intensity and improving agricultural production efficiency, while with the rapid development of agricultural science technol ..read more

On November, 30th people all over are celebrating National Mason Jar Day!  This day celebrates the invention of the mason jar and its usability in homes everywhere. Since hipsters and homesteaders alike are making mason jars a staple, let’s drop some facts about mason jars and their fascinating past! “The origins of the mason jar started with John Landis Mason’s patent #22186 in 1858, which issued a safer design for the screw neck bottles used to store food.” – Days Of The Year “Even though Mason jars can be purchased at just about any store these days and have a multitude of uses, their ..read more

JESSICA GRIFFIN / INQUIRER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER INQUIRER.COM – The Life Do Grow Farm on North 11th and Dauphin Streets in North Philadelphia was carved out of the poorest part of the poorest big city in America. Once an illegal dump, set beside a SEPTA Regional Rail line, the two-acre plot is studded by trees — some in planters made of painted tires — and lined with beds normally thick with flowers and vegetables in the growing season. Run by a grassroots nonprofit called Urban Creators, it yields needed food in a supermarket desert where hunger proliferated long before the pandemic. The ..read more

NORTHCOUNTRYOUTLOOK.COM – Here are a few of my thoughts on things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving… Battery-powered tools –  Many of you may know that I love my leaf blower for all the work it can do in places where it is difficult to rake without removing all the gravel or mulch. Over the years I have probably owned just about every incarnation of a gasoline-powered yard care tool ever manufactured. While they were fast and efficient, they also came with noise and air pollution challenges. This year I have upgraded most of these tools to battery-powered units that are clean and quie ..read more

Nearly 30 families received plots of land this summer to grow their own organic fruits and vegetables. [photos by Chet Williams] NEWS.LLU.EDU – Families in San Bernardino will enjoy a Thanksgiving bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables they grew themselves thanks to Loma Linda University Health’s donation of a one-acre parcel to establish an organic community garden and outdoor activity center — aiming to improve nutrition and mental well-being among the underserved. The city of San Bernardino is one of Southern California’s food deserts — areas where people have limited access to affordable ..read more

GOODNEWSNETWORK.ORG – From an ag-tech startup named Plenty, a two-acre indoor vertical farm produces yields that would normally require a 720-acre ‘flat farm’—and it can be done with 95% less water. Saving water is critical in an agricultural state like arid California, where Plenty is set to supply fresh produce for 430 Albertsons grocery stores. The vision is truly one out of Star Trek, with Plenty’s use of robotics and artificial intelligence to ensure perfect plants year-round. The reasons to support indoor vertical farming are varied, ranging from climate-related benefits to removing cum ..read more