Unique Tree Could Nourish Soils and Life in Africa

On Monday, 24 August 2009, in Nairobi, Kenya at the 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry, scientists reported that a type of acacia tree with an unusual growth habit, unlike virtually all other trees, holds particular promise for farmers in Africa as a free source of nitrogen for their soils that could last generations. (more…)

RoboTrees Can Rid CO2 From The Winds of Earth

This is a long one kids but full of information you need to know. So, grab a cup of coffee, tea, or what ever, sit back and enjoy.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is primarily the result of the actions of two forces, nature and human. Natural actions such as volcanic eruptions, naturally occurring forest fires (i.e. lightening), and even methane hydrate released from melting permafrost. Human actions includes power generation, industrial production, transportation (cars, trucks, ships, trains and aircraft), agricultural burning, and deforestation (land clearing). Just one tank full of gasoline produces approximately 300 lbs. of CO2. (more…)

Deep Pool Floating Raft

Sounds like a higher consciousness, martial arts film — but no, Grasshopper — it is the technical name of one of the methods for the commercial growing of hydroponic crops like lettuce.

Starting in the Germination Zone, lettuce seeds (previously coated in clay which holds in moisture to nourish the seed then breaks apart easily to let the seed sprout), are poured into a steel tray connected to a vacuum hose. The tray has 276 holes, the vacuum sucks a seed into each hole. Next they take a foam block, called “an oasis”, which has corresponding holes, (each in the center of a break-away section), positioning it upside down on top of the tray so that a quick flip deposits a seed into each hole of the oasis. The oasis is set on a conveyor belt where the seeds get their first watering on the way to the pool.

The oasis is set afloat in a pool of water (more…)

California would become the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use under a bill introduced Monday by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco. Ammiano said taxes and other fees associated with regulation could put more than a billion dollars a year into state coffers at a time when revenues continue to decline. The proposal would regulate marijuana like alcohol, with people over 21 years old allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess cannabis.

More marijuana is grown in California than any other state. As of 2006, there were over 21 million marijuana plants harvested, so it’s already the state’s biggest cash crop – it’s just not legal. NORML estimates that a legal market for marijuana could yield the state $1.5 – $2.5 billion.

California would save over $150 million in law enforcement costs for arrests, prosecutions and prison. Additional benefits would accrue from sales taxes and spin off industries. Total retail sales of marijuana would be on the order of $3-$5 billion, with total economic impact of $8-$13 billion including spin off industries such as coffeehouses, tourism, and industrial hemp. (more…)

ORGANITECH, an Israeli company which has developed automated, self-contained, hydroponic systems for nurseries that can produce commercial quantities of clean crops. Planting, harvesting and packaging are performed entirely by intelligent robots, monitored by an advanced control center, eliminating the need for manpower. Plants are grown in plastic-foam (styro-foam) trays that float and rotated in nutrient rich water. In the closed, monitored environment there is no need for harmful insecticides and pesticides. Suitable for many types of leafy vegetables including numerous lettuce varieties and other leafy vegetables.

The brainchild of Dr. Dickson Despommier is a 21 storey skyscraper farms that could potentially be as productive as 588 acres of land and grow up to 12 million lettuces a year. (See Forced Green post 9/25/2008 – An Idea I really Like).With the world’s population expected to increase to 3 billion by 2050 and almost 80% of farming land in use, the idea has never been more relevant.

But what if instead of waiting until 2050 (more…)

Phrases like “real food” and “farm-to-table” may sound like elitist jargon tossed around at upscale restaurants. But the country’s top chefs, several of whom traveled to Washington for Obama’s inauguration this week, hope that Obama’s flair for good food will encourage people to expand their horizons when it comes to what they eat.

These chefs tout locally grown, environmentally friendly and — most importantly — nutritious food. They urge diners, even those who may never be able to afford to eat at their restaurants, to grow their own vegetables, shop at farmer’s markets and pay attention to where their food comes from. (more…)