-Pam Scott- The importance of pollinating and beneficial insects in our world cannot be over stressed. The production of 3⁄4 of our major food crops depends on insect pollinators. Most of the crops we grow and eat (tomatoes, cucumbers, almonds, eggplants, fruits and berries, to name just a few) need pollinators to produce fruit. Unfortunately, the population of both native and managed pollinators is in decline due to destruction of habitat and the use of broad-spectrum pesticides. Perversely, … [Read more...] about Nectar-Producing Plants and Host Plants: Superheroes of the Garden
Honey Bees
High Five the Hop Farms
Cave-dwellers may be in the dark, but the knowledge of Asheville's supremacy as Beer City USA (except for this year's tie with Grand Rapids) is worldwide. Breweries are becoming as prevalent as pasture grass. The only negative for Asheville in this beer boom is the hop shortage that occurred nationally several years ago. Fortunately, several local farms rose to the occasion and to the challenge (full growth potential takes several years). Although Asheville is still behind on total hops, … [Read more...] about High Five the Hop Farms
A Warm and Fuzzy Insecticide Piece Part 1
A microscopic soap opera happens every day with trillions of different scenarios. Lives are created and then vanquished. Treasures taken and babies stolen. Colonies come together to defeat an indomitable titan only to lose their village moments later from a grander giant's foot. As our world turns, so does the insect universe. The size of the species (theoretically ranging from 900,000 different kinds to 30 million), rabbit reproduction rates, mammoth lack of care for fellow insects, and … [Read more...] about A Warm and Fuzzy Insecticide Piece Part 1
