MAX FACTS
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
California Strawberries Threatened by Cold Snap
California Central Coast strawberry growers have
been sprinkling their crops at night to try to
prevent the flowers and fruit from being frozen
and destroyed during a cold snap.
Crop damage is expected and farmers fear
competition from growers further south in the
state where the weather is much milder
and stocks remain undamaged.
Approximately 9,630 of California’s
37,336 acres of strawberry fields
have been affected by this year’s
unusually cold weather.
(Source: ksby.com)
Edible Schoolyard NYC
‘Cookie Wheat’ Tests Confirmed
USDA Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Soft
Wheat Quality Research Unit have confirmed that two inexpensive, readily available and relatively simple tests are reliable tools
for indicating how good promising new wheat varieties might
prove to be as future sources of whole-grain cookie flour. Americans eat a lot of cookies—and not nearly enough whole grains,
which is the impetus behind the ongoing study.
The scientists used 14 different commercial varieties of soft
wheat for this research in a thorough examination of the tests'
reliability as an early screen for a new soft-wheat flour's performance in whole-grain cookie doughs.
(Source: sciencedaily.com)
24
Maximum Yield USA | March 2012
The Edible Schoolyard New York City movement—an initiative
that helps teach elementary school children about healthy eating
through the establishment of schoolyard organic gardens—has
only been operating since October 2010 and their pilot garden in
Brooklyn is already producing tomatoes, eggplant, Asian pears,
summer squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, kale, sweet potatoes,
onions, broccoli, corn, figs, grapes, watermelon, lemon sorrel, red
okra, collards, chard, sweet and hot peppers, radishes, asparagus
and blueberries.
Edible Schoolyard NYC worked with Columbia Teacher’s College
to create a curriculum that meets New York City and New York State
education standards. Classes often end with tastings and for many
students it’s the first time they’ve ever eaten a salad or an
organic vegetable.
The initiative’s long-term goal is to have 25 school gardens in the
city, at least one in each borough, to bring healthy change to the
school food systems and integrate gardening and nutritious eating
into children’s education.
(Source: reneesgarden.com)