Behind a women’s prison facility in Atlanta, there’s a garden about a quarter of an acre in size. Despite its small area, it produces plenty of blackberries, tomatoes, peppers and more—enough to…
Tag: Plants
Goodyear Wants to Make Tires From Dandelions
Dandelions are much more than just pesky weeds. They lend their greens to salads and can be transformed into wines and other botanical beverages. Now, the yellow-flowered plant has become the key…
How More Than a Century of Antarctic Agriculture Is Helping Scientists Grow Food in Space
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Figuring out how to feed people in space is a major part of a larger effort to demonstrate the…
Scientists Grow Plants in Moon Soil for the First Time
Growing greens just went lunar. For the first time, scientists have successfully grown plants using lunar soil—known as lunar regolith— collected from past moon expeditions. Scientists at the University of Florida conducted…
They’ve Come a Long Way, But Gene Banks Still Lack Protections for Certain Crops
Gene banks, conservatory preserves where crop seeds are collected and archived for future uses, have been integral to keeping crop diversity alive for centuries. The crop varieties stored within them are important…
A Botanist-Bartender’s Ode to the Dandelion
The idea of a spring tonic is one that spans many cultures throughout time. This phenomenon was partially born out of necessity, since, historically, people needed something nutritious—be it food, drink or…
USDA Renews People’s Garden with New Locations
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack officially reopened the first People’s Garden on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Situated centrally, the garden benefits from foot traffic from people heading to the…
How to Graft a Tree Using the ‘Whip and Tongue’ Method
Spring has sprung and that’s good news for gardeners who’ve been eager to dig into the soil once again. If you’re one of the few who’s added fruit trees to your crop…
The Surprising Home of Arbor Day Celebrates 150 Years of Planting Trees
Nebraska City, population 7,273, sits right on the border with Iowa, in the southern part of Nebraska. Less than an hour south of Omaha, the city is flanked by the Missouri River…
It’s Time to Celebrate Our Gardening Failures
There’s a particular feeling—a mixture of astonishment and smug satisfaction—that pops up the first time you successfully grow something. Whether it’s plucking a perfectly red tomato from your very own vine or…