Sustainable Gardening News - February 15, 2008

In the News

• This weekend - Feb 15-18 - is the Great Backyard Bird Count, brought to us by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  
• These 10 Rules of Eco-Gardening are great, including the very English "Thou leave a messy bit."  Both the language AND the content are distinctly different from similiar advice in the U.S.
• Simon Burch reports in London's Financial Times that the English are paving over their front yards.
• Pesticides are STILL on our apples, according to this in the Seattle PI.
• There's a report on California's Sustainable Agriculture Conferfence on Grist. From the same source, check out "Buzz Kill," a beekeeper's take on Colony Collapse Disorder.
• Leafblowers - not a climate problem? is certainly a provocative question, also on Grist.
  
• The European Union may ban all outdoor patio heaters,  because of complaints about their inefficiency.  And remember open fires are big polluters, so IS there a good alternative?
• The Green Gardener Certification Program is off and running - in California, at least.

On the Blogs

• A two-fer review of The Truth About Organic Gardening - first by Elizabeth and then by me. Then author Jeff Gillman answers our questions.
  
• The Soil-Food Web is explored, dissected, argued about. No matter where you stand on compost tea, Jeff Lowenfels is an amazing promoter for the cause of soil health.
• Jane Berger's review of Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses by William Cullina makes me lust for both the book and the plants.  Frightening projections of changing cold-hardiness zones are included.
  
• "Substitutes" explores the many ways that gardeners compensate during the winter months.  Great discussion in the comments, too.
• Kathy Purdy reviews a great-looking book called Fallscaping by Nan Ondra and Stephanie Cohen.
• Pat, the Commonweeder, reviews Weeds of the Northeast.
• Our Commonweeder friend also reports having great success with the unintimidating rosa Rugosa.
• Pam Penick shows us what a green roof looks like in Texas.
• Here's my rant against Arbor Day and Earth Day
  being in the spring.  People, fall is for planting.

What's New on Sustainable-Gardening

• Pruning: Try it. You'll Like it! directs readers to the best sources for learning to prune.
  
• My Standard Disclaimer about Lawn Removal
  defends the honor of turfgrass, as long as it's grown organically.
• Digital Cameras have limitless capacity to enhance our enjoyment of our gardens and improve their design at the same time - if the technie stuff doesn't drive us to drink first.
• Yeah, it's been a slow month on the site.  Other web projects have interfered, but they're done now (see below).
  

My So-Called Second Career

• I launched another joint venture this month - the Regional Garden Gurus.  Here's the first announcement, followed soon by this update to announce another guru. And DO  send us your regional links for inclusion on the site.

In My (Neighbor's) Garden

• Gardenblogger Bloom Day in February?  Fuggedaboudit. But I love the winter decay on display in my neighbor's garden.

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