- WSU Snohomish County Extension Sustainable Community StewardsNonprofit Organization
- Washington Mountain Rescue AssociationNonprofit Organization
Good evening, fruit growers! Any 'natural' wine makers out there? It turns out that plaster than includes biochar is just the thing for optimal humidity and control of those pesky mold spores!
Biochar is being used for building materials. Biochar plaster started out for use in wine cellars and has expanded for use in many places including new home bas...ements. Biochar also sequesters carbon.
''Thanks to its huge surface and porosity, the biochar in the clay plaster helps to adsorb contaminants, spores and mycotoxins as well as helping to bind the gases produced during vinification. The latter aspect means that the moulds and other bacteria lose their feeding grounds. Optimal humidity and the binding of toxins are perfect for promoting healthy microbial flora in the cellar, protecting the wine against sensory deficits. The experience gained in the first winter season in the Valais test cellar shows that the humidity levels have remained constant at 65 – 75%.
The biochar-clay plaster technology developed by the Delinat Institute to refurbish wine cellars can also be used for other enclosed spaces, such as food stores, animal housing, warehouses or even houses and offices. Optimal humidity levels have a major influence on the well-being and health of the inhabitants of houses and offices. A humidity level below 40% can lead to dry mucous membranes, in turn increasing the risk of colds, asthma and allergies. Similarly, a humidity level above 70% in closed living spaces results in increased exposure to mould spores. Applying just a 2 cm layer of biochar-clay plaster can noticeably improve a room’s climate. Two Valais houses have already been restored using biochar plaster. First experiences with indoor use have proved to be extremely promising.'
For my final share tonight, this is an infographic that I made with Layla Katiraee - Biochica for Biology Fortified, Inc. (I helped with the research and Layla ...did the hard part with the graphic design and formatting) to describe how genetically engineered virus resistance works. We also collaborated on two blog posts to explain this topic, one abbreviated (https://goo.gl/h2FDBT) and one that goes into more details (https://goo.gl/JvbWek). It really was a pleasure to collaborate with Layla and Biology Fortified on this project and it turned out nicely.
I'm going to sign off now, but I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Caruso Farm's photo.
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Jason Padvorac's post.
This looks like it might be interesting.
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Crown Bees's photo.
The inside of a mason bee's nest! They're called mason bees because they use clayey mud to build their nest walls.
Anyone got a tiny hard hat and trowel?
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Ag Is America's post.
Food preserves are easy to prepare and make a great gift. Read OSU Extension Service Food Preservation's tips on how to do this DIY project at home: http://bit.ly/2pW8azJ
Good evening, fruit growers! I don't know if it's because I grow apples, or because I love Colonial decorating, but this wreath is the prettiest one I've seen for a while. I think I'm going to have to repaint my door.
Good afternoon fruit growers! Time for plant orders.
Don't forget to ponder your plant order for 2018! The Plant Sale pre-orders will close on Monday, January 29th so you have ONE MONTH!
Good morning, fruit growers! One of our presenters was doing research on biodegradable film mulches. He wasn't really hopeful that the mulch he was testing would work as intended. It looks like this one, at least, met the grade.
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Crown Bees's post.
I'll be teaching this class about how to raise gentle hole-nesting mason bees. Each female mason bee is her own queen and she does all the work to raise her bab...ies. She gathers pollen and nectar, lays eggs, and protects each chamber with mud. Learn how to care for these bees and keep them healthy and thriving in your fruit orchard and berry patch! Class is held in West Seattle.
http://www.seattlefarmschool.com/classes-detail/mason-bees
Good morning, fruit growers! Here's a round up of the years' highlights.
A little delayed this year, cherry season can't come soon enough as far as we're concerned! While we wait, why not watch this clip of a Stemilt cherry grower? #wagrown #WASpecialtyCrops Washington Grown
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Guy Ellis's post.
Good afternoon fruit growers. Guy has a great idea; take pics of your shadows today, so you know where the shade will fall and can plan your garden accordingly.
Happy Winter Solstice 2017 everyone! Today is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and the longest in southern. Go out into your yard today a...nd take some pictures of where the shadows are at (say) 8, 10, 12, 2, 4. This will give you a good record to refer to when you are planting trees in the future. (You'll need to do the same exercise on the 21st June.)
See MoreSnohomish County Fruit Society shared Guy Ellis's post.
Interesting.
I created this rickety structure over my subtropicals to allow me to frost protect in the winter and shade in the summer.
In my head I'm designing a new structu...re and would like your ideas and input.
The roof of the structure stands at around 7 feet. Imagine each of those horizontal planks being an 18 inch walkway with rails at a height of 3 to 4 feet. (i.e. extending the true ceiling to around 10 to 11 feet) Of course there would be a corresponding structure below it to make it rock solid that would be very different from the 2" poles you see supporting them now.
What that would give me is: (1) The ability to walk among the canopy of my trees and pick high fruit easily. (2) Also allow for maintenance and top down spraying of trees (3) a cool place to walk above the trees (4) an aesthetic "arbor" if done well (5) another 3 to 4 feet of growth on each tree and still allow for frost/sun protection. (6) an easier way to add remote frost/sun protection. On the downside I would need more frost and shade cloth because the structure would be taller.
I'm thinking that this structure could be created out of various lengths of 2x4s making the materials not too expensive. If designed well each square around the tree would be like a lego piece that could be added to for the tree next to it so that it could slowly be built and extended over time.
In my mind I see a pair of parallel 2x4s forming the supports for the walkways. On the ground I envision another pair of 2x4s that mirror the ones above so each side (on the ground and walkway) would have a pair of 2x4s around 18 inches apart on each side - like a double wall but with nothing inside. The joining of the 4 walls together and their weight would mean that it could safely "float" on the surface and I wouldn't need to dig holes to fix it into the ground. If bolted together instead of nails it would also mean that it could be disassembled if it needed to be moved or taken down for maintenance (e.g. oil the wood for protection.
Piling mulch at the bottom would make a smooth surface to move equipment over the 2x4s that are on their sides on the ground.
Although this article is not about fruit per se, there is no doubt in my mind that the technologies and issues discussed here are coming our way. Regardless of how you feel about GMO's, gene editing, or current regulations, this article offers a good view into the future of plant breeding.
Snohomish County Fruit Society shared Crown Bees's event.
Take the kids, take the in-laws, take the out-laws! Family class at the lovely Bellevue Botanical Garden to learn about our native bees.
