Fun Plant Facts

Support the Sierra Club...Protect Our Wild Places

2007-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm helping to raise money for the Sierra Club to help preserve and protect endangered wilderness places and the diversity of wildlife that inhabits them. I'm doing this because the future of our environment is important to me...and if you're reading this I'm guessing it's important to you too.

So I'd like to ask you to support the Sierra Club with a modest donation that will go toward their many environmental conservation and protection projects. By joining the Club's 1.3 million members you'll be taking a powerful stand against the destruction of our natural resources, native wildlife habitats, and endangered ecosystems. Please join me in supporting the Sierra Club today - you can do so with this easy online membership form.

(Oh, and did I mention you get a free backpack and subscription to Sierra Magazine when you join? :-)

Someone Grafted Your Groceries

2007-04-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

These days, if we hear about two different plants being combined, the first thing we think of is modern biotechnology. But the low-technology process of grafting remains an extremely important form of genetic engineering in agriculture.

Grafting still holds an important place even in an age of high-tech agriculture. Many kinds of plants are grown not from seeds but from pieces cut from existing plants. Farmers cut branches or buds, young growths, from one plant and place them on a related kind of plant.

The branch or bud that is grafted is called a scion [pronounced SY-uhn]. The plant that accepts the graft is called the root stock.

Over time, the parts from the two plants grow together. The grafted plant begins to produce the leaves and fruit of the scion, not the root stock.

A graft can be cut in several ways. A cleft graft, for example, requires a scion with several buds on it. The bottom of the scion is cut in the shape of the letter V. A place is cut in the root stock to accept the scion.

The scion is then securely placed into the cut on the root stock. Material called a growth medium is put on the joint to keep it wet and help the growth.

Grafting can join scions with desirable qualities to root stock that is strong and resists disease and insects. Smaller trees can be grafted with older scions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says producing stronger plants by grafting can reduce the need to use pesticides.

Agriculture could not exist as we know it without grafting. Many fruits and nuts have been improved through this method. Some common fruit trees such as sweet cherries and McIntosh apples have to be grafted.

Bing cherries, for example, are one of the most popular kinds of cherries. But a Bing cherry tree is not grown from seed. Branches that produce Bing cherries must be grafted onto root stock. All sweet cherries on the market are grown this way.

And then there are seedless fruits like navel oranges and seedless watermelons. Have you ever wondered how farmers grow them? Through grafting.

The grapefruit tree is another plant that depends on grafting to reproduce. Grapes, apples, pears and also flowers can be improved through grafting.

In an age of high-technology agriculture, grafting still holds an important place.

Source:
VOA News Service

Invasive Insect Damages US Ash Trees

2007-04-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

A beetle invasion in the United States has killed at least twenty million ash trees. The invasion of the emerald ash borer was first discovered near Detroit, Michigan, in 2002. Experts believe the small green insects arrived in the 1990s in shipments of goods from China.

The emerald ash borer has destroyed trees in the Midwest and as far east in the United States as Maryland. The insects have also spread as far north as Ontario, Canada. Emerald ash borers are attacking tree farms and can also spread when logs and firewood are transported.

Ash trees are popular. They grow well in heavy clay soils, and they can survive ice storms well. They produce many leaves, so they provide shade protection from the sun. And in the fall the leaves turn a beautiful gold and purple.

Ash trees can resist many diseases. But they cannot resist the emerald ash borer. It lays eggs on the bark. Then the young larvae drill into and feed on the inner bark. This harms the ability of the tree to transport water and nutrients.

The United States Department of Agriculture is working to save the ash tree. So are agriculture departments and university extensions in a number of states.

In some places, farmers are using "detection trees." These have an area where bark has been cut away. The area circles the tree and is called a girdle. The girdling process weakens the trees. It makes them easier targets for borers, and shows if the insects are nearby.

Efforts to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer include cutting down affected trees. A tree farmer in Maryland, for example, recently faced the loss of hundreds of trees.

There are worries that the ash tree might disappear unless the invasion is controlled. To prepare for such a possibility, a government laboratory is collecting seeds from ash trees.

David Burgdorf works in East Lansing, Michigan, for the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the service is part of the United States Department of Agriculture. He is asking people to send in ash seeds. The laboratory examines and x-rays the seeds to make sure there are no living borer embryos.

The best seeds are then sent for storage in a seed bank in Fort Collins, Colorado. There, they are dried and frozen at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation. Should the seeds ever be needed, the hope is that scientists might someday develop an ash tree that could resist the little green attackers.

Source:
VOA News Service

United Nations Study Finds Improvements in the World's Forests

2007-04-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

The Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently presented its biannual report on the State of the World's Forests, which found that most countries in Europe and North America have reversed centuries of deforestation.

In its March 2007 report, the FAO noted that economic prosperity and careful forest stewardship have had positive effects on the world's forests, with many forests showing a net increase in forest area.

But forests in poorer nations, and those embroiled in wars and internal conflicts, still face substantial threats. Around 13 million hectares of forest are still lost annually to other land uses. However, the net deforestation over the last five years has been reduced from nine to seven million hectares. This is mainly due to reforestation and preservation of existing forests.

Africa is one region that faces huge losses. The continent accounts for about 16 percent of the global forests. Between 1990 and 2005, Africa lost over nine percent of its trees.

On the positive side, forest area increased in Asia between 2000 and 2005. While severe deforestation continues in South-East Asia, especially Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, there were tremendous increases in forested areas in China, Vietnam and a number of smaller countries.

One of the principal causes of deforestation is the conversion of land for farming or livestock. Forests currently cover about 30 percent of the world's land area. According to the FAO the world lost three percent of its forests between 1995 and 2000.

Source:
VOA News

Americans Face Higher Food Prices as More Corn is Used for Ethanol Production

2007-04-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

The United States Department of Agriculture says high demand for ethanol fuel made from corn will mean higher meat prices. In its monthly crop report on March ninth, 2007, the department said feed costs are rising for cows, pigs and poultry birds. Corn, or maize, is their main feed.

Corn has been selling at more than three dollars a bushel in early 2007. In 2006, the average was two dollars.

The government says ethanol is using twenty percent of the American corn crop from last year. With this year's harvests, the amount is expected to reach twenty-five percent.

The National Chicken Council has objected to Congress about the situation. The council is a trade organization that represents the industry. It says the feed cost of the chicken industry alone has risen by forty percent.

In January, Tyson Foods, the world's biggest meat processor, reported its first profitable three-month period in a year. But the head of the Arkansas company warned that sharply higher corn prices have become a "major issue" for the food industry. Richard Bond says people will have to pay more for food because companies will be forced to pass along rising costs.

But Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner says demand for corn will probably get farmers to plant more corn. A University of Missouri Extension official says ethanol could bring the biggest change in American agriculture since farmers began planting soybeans.

Some economists have suggested that land from the Conservation Reserve Program should be used for additional corn production. But the Agriculture Department says only a limited area of land will be released for use over the next four years. The program supports the planting of things like native grasses or trees to reduce the loss of soil from croplands.

The department has appointed a committee to study the needs of biofuel producers. These are fuels like ethanol that are made from renewable resources.

On March ninth, the United States and Brazil signed a cooperation agreement on biofuels technology. The signing took place in Sao Paulo during the first stop on a trip by President Bush to Latin America. Seventy percent of the world's ethanol supply comes from the United States and Brazil. But while most American ethanol is made from corn, most Brazilian ethanol comes from sugar cane.

Source:
VOA News

Benefits of Mulching

2007-04-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Mulch is important to farmers. Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil. It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep the remains of maize or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage. This is called conservation tillage.

Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. Mulch not only protects the soil against wind and water damage. It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from growing.

Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants. It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful organisms in the soil.

The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer. Mulched areas usually warm up more slowly in the spring and cool down slowly in autumn. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil.

Mulch used to help moderate the effects of winter weather can be added late in autumn. The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to live.

The United States Department of Agriculture says it is easy to find organic mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from newspapers works well in controlling weeds.

Source:
VOA News

Bilberry

2007-03-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

This fact sheet provides basic information about bilberry--common names, uses, and potential side effects. Bilberry is a relative of the blueberry, and its fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams. Bilberry grows in North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

Common Names: European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry

Latin Names: Vaccinium myrtillus

What It Is Used For

Bilberry has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine.

Historically, bilberry fruit was used to treat diarrhea, scurvy, and other conditions.

Today, the fruit is used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems, varicose veins, venous insufficiency (poor blood flow to the heart), and other circulatory problems.

Bilberry leaf is used for entirely different conditions, including diabetes.

How It Is Used

The fruit of the bilberry plant can be eaten or made into extracts. Similarly, the leaves of the bilberry plant can be made into extracts or used to make teas.

Scientific Research

Some claim that bilberry fruit improves night vision, but clinical studies have not shown this to be true.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of bilberry fruit or leaf for any other health conditions.

Side Effects and Cautions

Bilberry fruit is considered safe. However, high doses of bilberry leaf or leaf extract are considered unsafe; animal studies have shown high doses to be toxic.

Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including bilberry. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

St. John's Wort, or Hypericum

2007-03-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb St. John's wort--common names, uses, and potential side effects. St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers.

Common Names: St. John's wort, hypericum, Klamath weed, goat weed

Latin Name: Hypericum perforatum

What It Is Used For

St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders and nerve pain.

In ancient times, herbalists wrote about its use as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites.

Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

How It Is Used

The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas and tablets containing concentrated extracts.

Scientific Research

There is some scientific evidence that St. John's wort is useful for treating mild to moderate depression. However, two large studies, one sponsored by NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), showed that the herb was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity.

NCCAM is studying the use of St. John's wort in a wider spectrum of mood disorders, including minor depression.

Side Effects and Cautions

St. John's wort may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. Other side effects can include anxiety, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, or sexual dysfunction.

Research shows that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs. The herb affects the way the body processes or breaks down many drugs; in some cases, it may speed or slow a drug's breakdown. Drugs that can be affected include:

o Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection
o Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer
o Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs
o Digoxin, which strengthens heart muscle contractions
o Warfarin and related anticoagulants
o Birth control pills
o Antidepressants

When combined with certain antidepressants, St. John's wort may increase side effects such as nausea, anxiety, headache, and confusion.

St. John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe. Anyone who may have depression should see a health care provider. There are effective proven therapies available.

It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including St. John's wort. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

Aloe Vera

2007-03-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

This fact sheet provides basic information about aloe vera--common names, uses, and potential side effects. Aloe vera's use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egyptian civilization, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs.

Common Names: aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant's gall

Latin Names: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis

Uses of Aloe Vera

Traditionally, aloe was used topically to heal wounds and for various skin conditions, and orally as a laxative.

Today, in addition to traditional uses, people take aloe orally to treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis. People use aloe topically for osteoarthritis, burns, and sunburns.

Aloe vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions and sunblocks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aloe vera as a natural food flavoring.

How It Is Used

Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment.

The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel can be used to produce a juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is taken by mouth.

Scientific Research on Aloe Vera

Aloe latex contains strong laxative compounds. Products made with various components of aloe (aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin) were at one time regulated by the FDA as oral over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives. In 2002, the FDA required that all OTC aloe laxative products be removed from the U.S. market or reformulated because the companies that manufactured them did not provide the necessary safety data.

Early studies show that topical aloe gel may help heal burns and abrasions. One study, however, showed that aloe gel inhibits healing of deep surgical wounds. Aloe gel does not prevent burns from radiation therapy.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support aloe vera for any of its other uses.

Side Effects and Cautions

Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects.

Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera.

Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of many drugs.

People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.

Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

New Report Encourages Research on Native African Vegetables

2006-11-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

A panel of scientists says African hunger, malnutrition, and rural poverty could be lessened if researchers could improve native vegetables well suited to difficult growing conditions. Africa is home to hundreds of crops tilled in villages, but neglected by scientists.

The U.S. National Research Council, an advisory body to the government, says powerful tools for tackling many of sub-Saharan Africa's basic problems could spring from the ground.

A panel of experts appointed by the council says the region is home to hundreds of indigenous vegetables that have fed Africans for tens of thousands of years. Most of these plants are resilient enough to thrive in poor soil and well suited to the small plots and limited resources of village families. But panel member Calestous Juma of Harvard University says most of these species receive little or no attention from researchers.

"A part of the focus on African agriculture has been on traditional staples like rice, wheat, and others that generally originate from outside the continent,” he said. “Not enough technical attention had been given to crops that originate from the continent itself. That's why we thought the best way to broaden Africa's food base is to focus on identifying crops that originate in Africa."

The National Research Council report entitled "The Lost Crops of Africa" says greater effort to explore the potential of such half-forgotten edibles could lead to enhanced agricultural productivity, more-stable food supplies, and higher incomes in rural areas across the continent.

Juma, a native of Kenya, says the better-known imported crops like rice or corn do not grow well in many areas of Africa, making plants acclimated to the region important.

"And secondly, you have people in many areas of Africa who can't afford to import rice or wheat,” he added. “Therefore, enhancing the productivity of traditional crops will give them the sufficiency in food production that they need."

The report examines the promise of 18 African vegetables, saying they can help feed the continent's growing, often malnourished population and spur development. They were selected from hundreds of ancestral plants to be the most promising. These native vegetables - including amaranth, cowpea, and egusi - are still cherished in many parts of Africa.

But the National Research Council study says that because these local plants are ignored by scientists and policy makers, information about them is often outdated and difficult to find. Despite this neglect, the report emphasizes that the vegetables have merit.

Amaranth, for example, is rich in protein and other nutrients, and grows so fast that the first harvest can sometimes be gathered only three weeks after planting. The bambara bean can grow in very hot, dry climates and produces seeds so nutritionally balanced that the report says some consumers claim they could live on them alone.

This is the second National Research Council report on native African crops. The first in 1996 examined grains. Calestous Juma says it brought significant attention to native African sorghum and millets, which science has improved and which are now exported.

"That report had a significant impact on raising the profile of African crops and demonstrating that the continent had a biological resource base that could be used to expand not just Africans' food base, but also contribute to the global food basket," he noted.

Juma says this is important not only to rural African nutrition and income, but also to the world's ability to endure potential global warming.

"One of the reasons why I think this is significant is because of the recognition of significant ecological change, some of it arising from climate change, that is going to demand that we diversify our food base to be able to provide global security,” he said. “This is where I think Africa could make some contributions."

A third report on native African crops will focus on fruits in a few months.

Source:
VOA News Service
Author: David McAlary
First published: November 1, 2006

America's Cranberry Craving

2006-10-31T15:54:00.000-08:00

The cranberry harvest is wrapping up in North America. The ruby red berries are a fixture of holiday feasts in the U.S.A., from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas. Seven years ago, cranberry growers were pushed to the brink by a crash in wholesale prices.

But now cranberries are again a hot commodity, and here's a safe prediction: diners who sit down for an American Thanksgiving meal will have a tart side dish. Nine out of 10 Thanksgiving dinners include cranberry sauce, according to market researchers.

The cranberry is one of the few fruits that's native to North America. It grows in wet lowlands called bogs. Today, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and the Pacific Northwest are the main cranberry producing regions, and practically all of this year's crop has now been harvested by farmers like Bob Quinby. He says he's enjoyed working the land since he was kid. "It's a lifestyle. You're your own boss. You're outdoors. You get to do different things in the spring, a different job in the summer. Harvest is different than the rest."

Quinby is a second-generation cranberry grower. He farms near Grayland, on the Washington State coast. Earlier this month [October], you'd have found him walking behind a harvester machine, a straw hat shading his face. The picker-pruner contraption separates the cranberries from the low-lying vines and funnels them into burlap bags.

Quinby says he picks his fruit when the bog is dry so that it keeps better for the fresh market. "We get a premium for the fresh fruit berry. But they need to be dry harvested and we're set up for dry harvesting." Berries destined to become juice or sauce tend to be skimmed off a flooded bog. That's considered more efficient.

Quinby survived a shakeout in his industry in the late 1990's. Cranberry prices crashed seven years ago, losing 80 percent of their value. The primary culprit, he says: over-supply.

"Because the price had been high for quite a while, there was some over-planting that got ahead of sales. A lot of the independents outside of Ocean Spray planted more than what they could sell and then they started dropping the price of concentrate in order to sell more." He recalls having to cash in his retirement savings and sell a life as golf caddies at a nearby luxury resort.

Wholesale prices have steadily rebounded. A big investment by the world's dominant processor, Ocean Spray Cranberries, signals even better times ahead.

The sounds and smells of construction replace the sweet aroma of cooked cranberries in a wing of the Ocean Spray plant near Aberdeen, Washington. Plant manager Rick Hole says the cooperative is spending tens of millions of dollars to expand and renovate this factory and sister plants in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. "Since 1999, this the brightest future I think we've seen for a long time," he says. "We're definitely tickled about the huge investment."

Most of the new spending is to add packing lines for sweetened, dried cranberries. Surging demand for these so-called "craisins" has been a major factor in boosting profits. Hole explains, "These craisins are sold as an ingredient. They're appearing in over 1,000 different food types like yogurt, energy bars. A lot of people use them on their salads, and cereals, muffins."

The tasty topping is also said to be especially good for your insides, according to a string of medical studies that Rick Hole eagerly touts. "We've done a lot of work on the healthy aspect of the cranberry. I think that's been important." Medical researchers found that cranberries suppress "bad" bacteria in the digestive tract. They help the body ward off urinary tract infections, stomach ulcers and gum disease. Not something you want to think about at the dinner table perhaps, but the kind of news a grower calls "cran-tastic."

Source:
VOA News Service
Author: Tom Banse
First published: October 30, 2006

Eating Vegetables May Help Slow Memory Loss in the Elderly

2006-10-31T15:51:00.000-08:00

New research from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago indicates your mother was right: eating vegetables is good for you. Epidemiologist Martha Clare Morris found that eating vegetables every day seems to slow mental decline and the development of Alzheimer's disease in old age.

Morris has been looking at the eating habits of thousands of elderly Chicago residents for more than a decade. "Every 3 years we go into their homes and ask them all sorts of questions about their health and lifestyle," she explains. "But also, we administer tests that measure their thinking ability. So that we can look at changes in their thinking ability over time."

Morris had people record the kinds of fruits and vegetables they ate and how often. She found that people who ate more servings of vegetables per day had memories that deteriorated more slowly than those who didn't eat vegetables. "People who consumed two to three vegetable servings per day had a 40 percent reduction in the rate of their decline in their thinking ability, compared to people who consumed around one or no servings of vegetables a day." Eating fruits didn't do as much to preserve thinking ability as eating vegetables.

Morris found that some kinds of vegetables are better than others at preventing memory loss. She asked study participants about green leafy vegetables, yellow vegetables, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and legumes, or beans. "The more green leafy vegetables they consumed, the slower their rate of decline in thinking ability," she reports. "We also found evidence of association with the other types of vegetables, except for legumes. But the relation was not as strong as for green leafy
vegetables." Morris believes the benefit was derived from those vegetables with especially high levels of vitamin E.

Source:
VOA News Service
Author: Rose Hoban
First published: October 30, 2006

World Bank Proposes Carbon Trading to Save Rainforests

2006-10-31T15:49:00.000-08:00

The World Bank says rapidly diminishing tropical forests could be saved if farmers and loggers were paid not to cut the trees. It proposes to extend the current international system of carbon trading for this purpose because it says the trees are worth much more to the world standing.

Rainforests are thought to hold more than half of the world's plant and animal species and store an immense amount of the planet's carbon. But the World Bank says these woodlands are disappearing at a rate of five percent per decade at the hands of farmers, loggers, and others seeking to use the land and its lush growth for profit - or mere survival. That is an area the size of Portugal lost every year.

A new World Bank report says burning and rotting wood after deforestation releases one-fifth of Earth's annual emissions of carbon dioxide, twice the amount from all motor vehicles.

"So It's a major contributor to global warming, a major threat to global biodiversity, and there are a host of local environmental damages - health threatening smog, stream polluting sediment, and the like," says Kenneth Chomitz, who wrote the World Bank report, a series of recommendations to slow deforestation. "There is now a chance on the policy horizon to mobilize new incentives to conserve forests, to keep forests standing."

The World Bank's main recommendation is to use the world's carbon market to reduce rain forest loss. At present, the market operates to reduce carbon emissions from industry and other sources. Nations and companies that emit more carbon than a predetermined limit buy credits from projects that reduce emissions.

The International Emissions Trading Association says the global carbon market has grown very rapidly and is worth $22 billion, twice its 2005 value.

But the concept is not yet used to preserve forests, as World Bank chief economist Francois Bourguignon points out.

"Today, it is possible to obtain carbon funds for forestation," he said. "Now, the paradox is that when you cut the forests, you are not penalized for doing that and you are not getting any money when you keep the trees standing."

The World Bank proposes to change that to benefit the 800 million people who depend on tropical forests for their livelihood. Kenneth Chomitz says it makes no sense for a farmer to cut a hectare of rainforest to create a pasture worth $300 when the cleared trees release $7,500 worth of carbon based on an approximate current market value of $1,500 a ton.

If tropical forest preservation were included in the carbon trading scheme, the farmer could receive the $7,500 from polluters and earn 25 times the agricultural value of the pasture.

"Wouldn't it be great if we could get the farmer and the industrialist or utility owner sitting at the same table, figuring out how they can split the difference and make themselves both better off," said Chomitz.

But Chomitz says a carbon financing system could set off a disruptive race for property rights, a race that would favor the wealthy. So his report recommends that developing nations assign ownership and land use rights equitably in a manner that can be monitored publicly.

At the Ford Foundation, a U.S. philanthropy, environment and development official David Kaimowitz praises the World Bank report, but says it ignores some strategies that would improve the livelihoods of forest dwellers.

These include the need for governments to make rainforest safer by reasserting their domain and clearing them of bandits and drug dealers. Kaimowitz also says the bank should devote more attention to helping those who depend on or near forests develop small businesses.

"One of the three main pillars of the 2004 World Bank forestry strategy is precisely to harness forest resources to reduce rural poverty," he said."But if we look at the bank's current portfolio, the reality is there is a surprisingly few number of projects that are, in fact, focused on using forest resources to reduce rural poverty."

But Kaimowitz calls the World Bank's carbon trading scheme and other forest-saving proposals useful and says he hopes they actually guide its strategies.

Source:
VOA News Service
Author: David McAlary
First published: October 30, 2006

Valerian

2006-10-31T15:10:00.000-08:00

Valeriana officinalis

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb valerian: common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Valerian is a plant native to Europe and Asia; it is also found in North America.

Common Names: valerian, all-heal, garden heliotrope

Latin Names: Valeriana officinalis

Uses:

Valerian has long been used for sleep disorders and anxiety.
Valerian has also been used for other conditions, such as headaches, depression, irregular heartbeat, and trembling.

The roots and rhizomes (underground stems) of valerian are typically used to make supplements, including capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts, as well as teas.

Scientific Research

Research suggests that valerian may be helpful for insomnia, but there is not enough evidence from well-designed studies to confirm this.

There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether valerian works for anxiety or for other conditions, such as depression and headaches.

Side Effects and Cautions

Studies suggest that valerian is generally safe to use for short periods of time (for example, 4 to 6 weeks).
No information is available about the long-term safety of valerian.
Valerian can cause mild side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, and tiredness the morning after its use.
Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including valerian. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
U.S. National Institutes of Health

Eating Your Vegetables Helps Fight Stress

2006-10-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Eating vegetables on a regular basis for two weeks helped volunteers in a nutrition study reduce levels of stress-related molecules and boost their blood levels of vitamin C (Journal of Nutrition, volume 134, pages 3021-3025).

Twelve healthy men and women participated in this collaborative study. In addition to other foods, each volunteer ate two daily servings of gazpacho--a chilled soup made with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, garlic and olive oil. By the seventh day of the two-week-long study, volunteers' blood levels of vitamin C had increased by at least 20 percent and remained elevated for the rest of the study.

Levels of four stress molecules decreased significantly. For instance, by the halfway point in the study, uric acid was reduced by 8 to 18 percent. High levels of uric acid can cause gout, a form of arthritis, and may increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

How Many Fruits & Vegetables Should You Eat?

2006-10-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Now it's easy to find out with the online fruit and vegetable serving calculator at 5ADay.gov. Just enter your age, gender, and level of physical activity and it'll provide you a suggested number of servings per day.

A growing body of research shows that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health. To get the amount that's recommended, most people need to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they currently eat every day.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

Fruits and veggies come in terrific colors and flavors, but their real beauty lies in what’s inside. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases.

To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, or white onions. For more variety, try new fruits and vegetables regularly.

Learn more about the specific nutrients provided by fruits and vegetables with this Nutrient Guide.

Source:
5ADay.gov

Wildflower & Native Plant FAQ

2006-10-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

What is a native plant, anyway?

A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived in North America as the species native to the eastern United States. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.

Are native plants a better choice for your garden?

The answer lies, in part, in your own judgement. Native woodland wildflowers will never give your shady garden the riots of color that can be had with impatiens and caladiums, but if you like to garden with elegant and underused plants, they are great. If you want to create a garden that emulates nature, they are essential. As with any plant that you want to grow, however, the right plant must be matched with the right spot. There are a myriad of native plants that thrive in every type of habitat imaginable. It's your job to do some research to find the best species for your hot, dry slope, that wet swale in the back, or the dry shade under your oak tree.

Does digging wildflowers from the wild hurt the environment?

Absolutely! Removing wildflowers from the wild is harmful for three reasons. First, you diminish the natural population and consequently reduce the diversity within that population. With less diversity, a plant population may be less capable of responding to environmental changes; it may perish if suddenly stressed by disease, insects, or sudden extremes in weather. Second, nature is likely to fill the vacuum you create when you dig up a wildflower with a plant of a different species, often an invasive weed. Finally, wild collected plants often perform poorly in the garden. Plants propagated in a nursery or grown from wild collected seed or cuttings, are much more likely to survive transplanting.

Should I fertilize my wildflowers?

Many native plants are well adapted to soils with meager nutrients. Most native woodland perennials do well with the nutrients that are released slowly by the decomposition of leaves. Prairie plants may have a greater need for lime than for fertilizer in areas where the soil is naturally very acidic. We fertilize our plants very little, and rely on organic mulches such as shredded leaves to supply nutrients. When we do fertilize, organic sources of nutrients are applied in the fall every three years; a small amount of fertilizer is applied only to the plant species that require the extra nutrients.

What is the best mulch to use on my woodland wildflower garden?

Woodland wildflowers flourish when mulched with slightly decomposed leaves. Shred or compost leaves that do not break down quickly, such as those from oak and beech trees, before applying them to beds of wildflowers.

Where can I get native plants?

Buy plants from a reputable nursery or grow them from seed yourself. You may be surprised to learn that some wildflowers are still taken from the wild to be sold at commercial nurseries, particularly the slow growing trilliums, orchids, and lilies. This practice has a negative impact on biodiversity and often the plants don't survive. When buying native plants make sure that the nursery propagates what it sells or buys from wholesalers who propagate plants from nursery grown stock plants. Fortunately, conservation-minded native plant nurseries that specialize in propagating and selling native plants have sprung up all over the country; your local native plant society may be able to recommend one to you.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a great resource for all kinds of native plant and wildflower information. The Center's web site at www.wildflower.org lists state wildflower and native plant societies.

Source:
United States National Arboretum

Related topics:
Preserving our native plants
Benefits of landscaping with native plants

Orange Oil: Cholesterol Fighter?

2006-10-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Oil from orange peels contains compounds that lower blood levels of the "bad" LDL and VLDL cholesterols, studies with laboratory hamsters have revealed.

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Canada's KGK Synergize found the cholesterol-fighting effect in tests of peel-based natural chemicals called polymethoxylated flavones, or PMFs.

Hamster feed containing one percent PMFs lowered the animals' blood LDL and VLDL levels by 30 to 40 percent, the scientists report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (volume 52, pages 2879 to 2886). Followup studies will determine whether PMFs have the same effect in humans and, if so, may lead to a profitable new use of juice-processing leftovers.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Fighting Cancer with Broccoli Seeds

2006-10-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

Broccoli seeds may become an economical source of a cancer-fighting compound known as glucoraphanin. Extracting glucoraphanin from the seed for pharmaceutical purposes would be easier, and less expensive, than using broccoli heads.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, S.C., intend to breed broccoli plants that are prolific producers of seed rich in the compound (HortScience, volume 40, pages 50 to 53).

Already, the researchers have produced relatively high-glucoraphanin broccoli plants, some of which form seed without the help of insect pollinators.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Eating Whole Grains Linked to Lower Rates of Heart Disease

2006-10-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Older adults who ate nearly three servings of whole-grain foods daily were significantly less likely to die from heart disease than those who ate fewer servings.

That's according to a study conducted by researchers at the ARS Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Mass., and their colleagues, and published in the January 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (volume 83, pages 124 to 131).

They based their findings on their 1981-1984 analysis of three-day food records and blood tests from 535 healthy male and female participants older than 60, and their 12- to 15-year follow-up to assess the causes of death among participants during those years.

When sorted into groups according to the amount of whole-grain foods they ate, those who ate the most—an average of about 2.9 servings a day—had significantly less risk of dying from heart disease than those in the group with the lowest intake. (Whether the participants changed their preference for whole grains during the follow-up period is not known.)

The scientists concluded that adults of all ages should increase the amount of whole grains they eat to three servings a day—the recommended level—or even more.

Today, most Americans eat less than one daily serving of a whole-grain food.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Vegetables Can Help Girls Avoid Obesity

2006-10-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Eating veggies — low in calories and an excellent source of fiber — may help preteen girls maintain a healthy weight. That’s indicated in a study by Children’s Nutrition Research Center scientists at Houston, Texas, and their colleagues.

Analysis of food records completed by 114 African-American girls aged 8 to 10 showed that those who reported eating more vegetables had healthier BMI (Body Mass Index) scores (Obesity Research, volume 12 (Suppl.), pages 53S to 63S).

Preteen African-American girls have potentially higher-than-normal obesity rates and may be at a greater risk of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and stroke when they grow up.

Parents can help their daughters by serving veggies at meals and keeping a variety of low-calorie veggie snacks handy in the refrigerator.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Planting Bamboo Helps Slow Deforestation

2006-09-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

Scientists may have found a way to slow deforestation. Fast growing bamboo can help quickly replenish a forest stripped of timber.

Forests are shrinking globally as people in developing nations seek wood for fuel and more land for farming. The Worldwatch Institute in Washington says Earth has lost one percent of its woodlands in the past five years, an area about the size of Germany.

Ecologists say the environmental damage is alarming. Overlogging and failure to replant cause widespread soil erosion and loss of wildlife habitat.

Deforestation also affects global climate. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Burning trees and rotting wood left by loggers are thought to add to global warming by emitting more of the gas into the atmosphere, where it traps the sun's heat.

Experts say the loss of forests will continue unless alternatives to wood are found.

"Most of the forested areas have gone down by 70 to 90 percent, so we need a sustainable form of farming timber," said water specialist, Chin Ong, at the International Center for Research in Agroforestry in Nairobi, Kenya.

He says one promising substitute for wood is bamboo, a grass with a tree-like appearance. Some varieties grow more than 25 meters tall and 20 centimeters thick.

Ong points out that bamboo can be grown all over the world and has advantages over timber. One is its speedy growth.

"You can harvest after three or four years and then every year after that because it is a grass," he explained. "So when you cut a bamboo down, it will produce another shoot and it is ready for harvest in one or two years. Whereas if you grow a eucalyptus tree, you need five to 10 years before you can harvest again. Another reason is that bamboo has a very high water use efficiency, which is double that of any tree species."

Ong says the plants can be an additional cash crop in areas where sugar cane and coffee are already established. He estimates that in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as many as 150 million people can benefit economically.

Plant biologist David Midmore of the Central Queensland University in Australia says bamboo also has environmental benefits.

"In Taiwan, bamboo is grown on the hillsides along the edge of the mountains and it is sustainably harvested for its shoots and for its timber, and it is an environmentally friendly species because it is also preventing any erosion," he noted.

Midmore says bamboo shoots are also an important source of nutrition and can withstand harsh climates.

"It is one of the few species that will produce during typhoons, whereas most vegetable species will get blown away or washed away or rot," he added. "Bamboo shoots continue to thrive in hot and wet conditions."

In addition to providing lumber and food, bamboo plants can clean the environment. Chin Ong is studying how bamboo groves could remove toxins from dirty waters.

"We have been analyzing what are the heavy metals that can be removed by bamboo species," he explained. "The bamboo species behave very similarly to papyrus, with natural vegetation to wetlands in this region. So they take up all these heavy metals and they can clean the water."

Ong says there is an unfulfilled potential for bamboo to protect forests and improve agriculture.

Source:
VOA News Service
Author: Frank Ling
First published: August 29, 2006

Treeflights Website Offers Plan to Plant Trees to Help Reduce Global Warming

2006-09-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

A new international website is offering environmentally conscious airplane passengers a chance to plant a tree to offset the carbon dioxide damage from flying.

Fuel burned during an airplane's flight produces carbon dioxide (CO2), which scientists say contributes to global warming. Trees absorb carbon dioxide using the sun's energy.

The website, www.treeflights.com, whose slogan is "You fly - we plant," will plant one tree in a forest in Wales for each flight taken for a fee of about $19.

Treeflights founder, Ru Hartwell, says it is a simple idea that gives something back to the planet.

"Flying is a little bit hard on the planet, but planting a tree is an ecologically positive thing to kind of make amends for some of the damage that you are causing," said Hartwell.

Hartwell says because trees take a long time to mature, planting a tree does not make your flight carbon-neutral or immediately cancel out the CO2 emitted from your flight.

"We are very, very keen to stress when you plant a tree, it is not something you do for yourself. It is a long-term thing," he continued. "It is definitely not a quick fix. As humans, we are so used to thinking about this week or about next week or maybe next year. Really, to get on top of this problem, we have got to be thinking about 50 or 100 years into the future and that is what tree planting is all about. It is something you do for future generations."

Passengers can select from a variety of tree species such as birch, oak, poplar, and willow. Although Treeflights is based in Wales where Hartwell lives, he says people from around the world request to have trees planted.

"The thing to understand is that we all share the same atmosphere so it does not really matter where you are flying or where the tree is planted," noted Hartwell. "The destructive effect of the flight is the same, irrespective of where you are flying and the beneficial effect of the tree planting is the same irrespective of where the tree is planted."

Treeflights gives passengers the option of adopting a tree. Hartwell says people can visit one of the three planting sites in Wales where their tree, identified with a serial number, is planted.

Treeflights customer, Francesca Attala, says while planting a tree does not entirely negate the effects of air travel, it is better than doing nothing.

"With my work, I travel a lot. I actually use planes and trains and automobiles quite a lot and I think it is a small way of giving something back," said Attala. "I know that it is not going to make a difference tomorrow, but it will make a difference for the future generations. It is a very slow, very patient way of giving something back to the planet, but I still think it is worth it."

The United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports U.S. airlines carried 746 million passengers on 11 million flights in 2005 and the number of passengers is only expected to increase.

Hartwell eventually hopes to forge partnerships with the airline industry to encourage more passengers to make theirs a treeflight.

Source:
VOA News Service
Authors: Barbara Schoetzau & Amanda Cassandra
First published: September 25, 2006

Blackberry Compound May Inhibit Tumor Growth

2006-09-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

A patent-pending compound isolated from fresh blackberries may inhibit the expression of genes that are associated with cancer-promoting agents. The purified compound, cyanidin-3- glucoside (C3G), inhibited tumors from growing and spreading when used in animal test models.

C3G may one day become a key natural ingredient in new products formulated for their anti- cancer properties. Cell biologist Min Ding, with NIOSH in Morgantown, W. Va., and plant physiologist Shiow Wang, with the ARS Fruit Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., conducted the research with colleagues at West Virginia University-Morgantown. The study appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

C3G is among a series of plant chemicals that are a subclass of flavonoids: water-soluble plant pigments known for their antioxidative and antimicrobial effects.

For the study, the researchers tested mice that had skin tumors. In one group, they found a significant reduction in the number and size of skin tumors among the mice that had been supplemented with C3G, when compared to those that had not been supplemented.

In another experimental model with immune-system-suppressed mice, the researchers studied lung cancer cells because of their relatively high tendency to spread to other organs. They found that the purified blackberry compound not only significantly reduced the amount of cancer cell growth in the mice, but also inhibited the spread of the cancer cells to other organs.

C3G exhibited anti-cancer activity in this animal model, according to the researchers. The preventive effect of the extract may be due to the compound’s ability to control free radicals known as reactive oxygen species, which activate molecular signals involved in initiating, promoting and progressing cancer.

The findings indicate a promising direction for understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of plant chemicals on human health.

Source:
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Author: Rosalie Marion Bliss
First published: September 20, 2006

Tips for Growing Carrots

2006-09-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

Carrots are grown on farms and in family gardens throughout the world. Carrots are easy to raise and easy to harvest. They taste good. And they contain a lot of carotene, which the body changes into vitamin A.

When people think of carrots, they usually picture in their mind a vegetable that is long, thin and orange in color. But carrots come in many different sizes and shapes. And not all carrots are orange.

For example, Paris Market carrots are about five centimeters around. Imperator carrots are thin and about twenty-five centimeters long. And Belgian White carrots are, as their name suggests, white.

For the best results, carrots should be grown in sandy soil that does not hold water for a long time. The soil also should have no rocks.

To prepare your carrot garden, dig up the soil, loosen it and turn it over. Then, mix in some plant material or animal fertilizer.

Weather, soil conditions and age will affect the way carrots taste. Experts say warm days, cool nights and a medium soil temperature are the best conditions for growing carrots that taste great.

Carrots need time to develop their full sugar content. This gives them their taste. If they are harvested too early, they will not have enough sugar. But carrots lose their sweetness if you wait too long to remove them from the ground.

The best way to judge if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its color. Usually, the brighter the color, the better the taste.

Most people do not know that carrots can be grown during the winter months. If the winter is not cold enough to freeze the ground, you can grow and harvest carrots the same way as during the summer months.

If the ground does freeze in your part of the world, simply cover your carrot garden with a thick layer of leaves or straw. This will prevent the ground from freezing. You can remove the ground cover and harvest the carrots as they are needed.

Carrots are prepared and eaten many different ways. They are cut in thin pieces and added to other vegetables. They are cooked by themselves or added to stews. Or, once they are washed, they are eaten just as they come out of the ground.

Source:
VOA News Service
First published: July 17, 2006