I went to a workshop sponsored by the Regional Farm and Food Project out of Hudson, NY. It was awesome, the first of six, and better yet, I did not have to buy any books! Altho’ he had some I would love to get. Daniel Kittredge is from the Real Food Campaign, and was very knowledgeable. “Nutrient-Dense is a production system based on Biological Agriculture to create an optimum environment for crops to grow at their maximum potential, and thus yield foods and feeds with reliably superior nutritional content.” He talked about the chemistry involved in plant growth, synthesizing protein and other nutrients and how the soil mineralization needs to be balanced. Also discussed amending soil and potting soils, what to use when making own. We then went to the greenhouse for inoculating seeds, and talked little more about potting soils. Altho’ the day was long, it was full of information, and am looking forward to attending the remaining workshops, since he is a “hands-on” type of instructor.

It is only the first week of January and already the temps are going down, down and too far down for beast or man or woman!!! What is a gardener to do? I like to cut back my indoor plants, let them dry out little longer than usual to let them go into their resting times, yet make sure they get enough natural light as possible. Dormancy is rest time for all plants, and it helps when the cycle is able to complete for healthier plants. If you see new growth, you are probably watering too much! Using a spray bottle to mist them is a good way to keep them from drying out too much with the dry air from indoor heating. Also, be sure to turn plants often to keep them straight.