The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is investigating how genetically modified (gm) seeds of sweet corn was knowingly cleared to enter New Zealand in October 2006.
The two consignments totaling 1,800 kilogram of gm sweetcorn originating from the United States was cleared by the quarantine service run by MAF. Each consignment had a certificate that showed that the seeds had not been gm but there was documentation available that showed that the two consignments had a presence of gm. Jeanette Fitzsimons, spokesperson for genetic engineering and the leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, said: “I am absolutely shocked and angered that 1.8 tonnes of sweet corn seeds crossed our border, even though the accompanying testing documentation showed that it was contaminated with GE.” Read the rest of this entry »
Weeds are unwanted plants which reduce nutrients and growing space needed by your garden. Before starting your garden plot, it is a good practice to begin weed removal and control 4 weeks before you are ready to plant.
Start by turning the soil with a shovel so that the roots of the old plant growth are exposed. This will disrupt root systems and encourage faster decomposition.
Compost is one of the best things that you can add to your garden. It allows you to use organic materials that would normally go to landfills. Organic materials make up approximately 24 percent of items send to landfills. It’s very inexpensive and much better than spending money on commercial fertilizers. It helps with soil texture and structure. It also adds nutrients to your garden. The best time to start your compost is in the spring. Read the rest of this entry »
Indoor hydroponic gardening involves careful management of complex biological systems. When you garden indoors, you are essentially taking over the roll of mother nature. You provide the sun, the food, and the air that your plants need to flourish. The idea is to optimize each of these systems so that you are doing a better job than nature can. This involves a delicate balancing act that can be difficult to maintain at times. When things start to go wrong, it can be difficult for a beginner to diagnose the exact cause and decide on a course of action.
To understand the mechanics of nutrient lockout and how to prevent it from occurring, you must first have a basic understanding of how plants take in nutrients. (WARNING! Science content!) Most of a plants sustenance is taken in through the roots through a process called osmosis. Osmosis is the physical process by which a solution of low concentration translocates through a semi-permeable membrane to a solution of higher concentration on the other side of the membrane. This process is what allows roots to absorb water from the surrounding soil. As osmosis occurs, energy is released and used to fuel plant growth. Now enter nutrient lockout.