TOP TIPS

Potato cleaner: Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.


COBS
When boiling corn on the cob, some people add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. Do not feel that you have to do this but definitely don’t put salt in the water. This will dull the sweetness. If you accidentally over-salt any dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant “fix me up.”

Household.

SETTING YOUR FINGERPRINT

OIL PIPELINE

Ian
There is an issue burning at the moment about the oil pipelines off of the West coast. Protestors are bravely taking on the multinationals and are hopefully making people realise that there are alternatives. There is a theory about how large decisions can easily be made that are not in the best interests of the public such as the onshore pipeline. It is about how you can go in to a board of directors of a multinational company and get approval for building something immense such as a multi-million or even billion euro pipeline, or anything that is on a large scale, but if you want to build a shed in the garden you will be tangled up in endless discussions with people about what colour you can paint it. This is because an oil rig is so vast, so expensive and so complicated that people cannot grasp the complete concept, and rather than try, they fall back on the assumption that somebody else checked all the details before it gets made into a reality. A shed on the other hand can be built over a weekend. So no matter how well prepared, no matter how reasonable you are with your plans, somebody could seize the chance to show that he or she are doing their job by objecting to the colour. In Denmark this cause of action is called "setting your fingerprint". It is about personal pride and prestige. It is about being able to point somewhere and say “There, I did that!” It is a strong trait in politicians. So issues are left far too long before solutions are found and they escalate into the turmoil that is happening with the pipelines on the west coast. A couple of issues in Buncrana feel like this as well. The shore front development for one looks like an instance where assumptions have been made that the proposed development is worthwhile because of decisions made by apparent “professionals”. An old employer once told me to never assume anything and in cases such as this they are wise words.

Regards T.K. Buncrana.

Environmental.

MUSIC WHILE YOU WAIT

Photo Martin Tourish

Most of us have to wait for things at one time or another. We tend to be very patient in queues and welcome any distraction to take away the fact that our lives are ticking away. Banks have taken to putting adverts and sport on overhead televisions, which are all well and good, but they do give you a bit of a crick in the neck after a while. I have been in some waiting rooms that often put on an out of tune radio for our enjoyment. A doctors waiting room in Bristol England realised that waiting in a queue when you are not well surrounded by other unwell people isn’t much fun. It isn’t a barrel of laughs for the staff either. To counteract the problem live musicians have been employed to do turns throughout the day. The musicians play a variety of instruments ranging from the accordion to the violin. It goes down very well and the waiting public can even ask for special requests. Music therapy plays a very important part in the well-being of people who are not well, listening to soothing sounds releases vital chemicals in the body such as serotonin, which will aid recovery. The surgery has found that the patients are calmer when they go to see the doctor and one person said they even forgot why they went in, in the first place! The doctors are happier and so are the staff at the reception who whether they know it or not play a very important role in the attitudes of the patients by how they are greeted. If they are happy then everyone’s happy!

Environmental.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN-IRIS DOHERTY

This week we are in the garden of Iris Doherty from Whitecastle, Quigleys Point. Iris has been involved in gardening for a long time and trained at Greenmount college before working for Ness Nurseries and Sow and Grow at Gransha hospital. Iris now has her own nursery. Look out for the Whitecastle Nursery sign on the main road between Moville and Muff. The nursery is open from 2-6pm Tuesday –Saturday.

Irises own garden is a fantastic showcase for her own unique range of perennial plants that are for sale.

How long have you been working on the garden?
Nearly thirty years. It was never a planned garden it has just evolved over the years.

What is your favourite plant?
There are so many plants that would be my favourites. In spring the Amelanchier (Juneberry) puts on a fine display. One of my favourites at the moment is Aqualigia ‘Chocolate soldiers’ (Grannies Bonnets) I do have a liking for black flowers, but ask me next week and I will say something else!


What is your favourite feature in the garden?
I don’t have any hard features such as structures. My favourite view out of the window is of the Acer Palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’, the deep red leaves are beautiful.

What is your favourite season and why?
Spring because of the promise of things to come (I like autumn as well).

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
Weeding. I find that it gives me instant satisfaction when I stand back and look where I have been.


Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
Horsetail is the worst invasive weed. It is difficult to get rid of, but it does disappear in the winter!

What is your best gardening tool?
I have a grape fork that was given to me years ago. The prongs are only about five inches long now as they are worn out. It really needs replacing so if anyone has a well used one let me know.

Top Tip for spring?
Enjoy the garden. Look at what you have achieved not what needs doing.

Any plans for the future?
I would like to create a seating area in the sun and of course I will plan to move more plants around!

Horticultural.

CROP DIVERSITY

Photo:Rape crop in Newtowncunningham

There are a few crops that are set to alter the lanscape of Ireland over the coming years. Three favoutites are Rape, Flax and Elephant grass. All of these plants are set to make a huge impact on the land as the populartiy of alternative energy grows.

Rape (Brassica napus), is a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family). Rapeseed is very widely cultivated throughout the world for the production of animal feed, vegetable oil for human consumption, and more than ever, biodiesel. It is also grown to protect the soil in winter and as a green manure.

The start of construction for Ireland’s first large-scale biodiesel production facility, at New Ross in County Wexford took place on the12th April, which if successful will start a chain of similar projects throughout the country. Green Biofuels Ireland intends to commence production of biodiesel from oil seed rape, recovered vegetable oil and animal fats in 2008. The raw materials for the biodiesel production will be sourced principally from the company’s shareholders as well as the Wexford Farmer’s Co-op, which has 4,000 farmer shareholders.


Flax (linum). Flax is grown both for its seed and for its fibers. Various parts of the plant have been used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets and soap. The seeds produce a vegetable oil known as linseed oil or flaxseed oil. It is one of the oldest commercial oils, and solvent-processed flax seed oil has been used for centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing.

Elephant grass, (Miscanthus giganteus) or "E-grass", has been trialed as a biofuel in Europe since the early 1980s. It can grow to heights of more than 3.5 m in one growth season. Its dry weight annual yield can reach 25t/ha (10t/acre). The rapid growth, low mineral content and high biomass yield of Miscanthus make it a favorite choice as a biofuel. After harvest, it can be burned to produce heat and power turbines. The resulting CO2 emissions are equal to the amount of CO2 that the plant used up from the atmosphere during its growing phase, and thus the process is greenhouse gas neutral.

For more reading check out

http://www.irishseedsavers.ie/article.php?artid=70

http://www.gmfreeireland.org/

http://www.betterenergy.ie/transport.html

http://www.farrington-oils.co.uk/

Horticultural,environmental.

TAKING CUTTINGS

Photo: Phlomis fruticosa.

Propagation by stem cuttings is the most common way to increase your woody ornamental plants and herbs. Most common shrub cuttings root easily.

A greenhouse isn’t necessary to propagate stem cuttings but keeping the humidity high is important. If only a few cuttings are required then a plant pot covered with polythene (figure1) or an old plastic bottle with the base cut off would do the trick. For more cuttings, seed trays with a plastic lid would be ideal.(figure2)



TYPES OF STEM CUTTINGS
The four main types of stem cuttings are herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood.

Herbaceous cuttings
These are made from non-woody, herbaceous plants such as chrysanthemums and dahlia. A 3-5 inch (7-10cm) piece of stem is cut from the parent plant. The leaves on the lower one third to one half are removed. A high percentage of the cuttings should root easily.

Softwood cuttings
These are prepared from soft, succulent, new growth of woody plants (rose or woodbine) just as it begins to harden (mature). The soft shoots are quite tender and should not be allowed to dry out. The time to get this new growth is around May and June.

Semi-hardwood cuttings
These cuttings are obtained in mid July to autumn. They will have partially mature wood on the current seasons growth. The wood is quite firm and the leaves are full sized. Many broadleaf evergreen shrubs are propagated this way.

Hardwood cuttings
These are taken from dormant, mature stems in autumn, winter and spring. The wood is firm and does not bend easily. Hardwood cuttings can be used for many evergreen plants as well as deciduous plants

TAKING CUTTINGS
Take cuttings in the early morning if possible, because the plant is fully turgid (full of water) the cuttings can be between 4-6 inches long (8-12cm) cutting just below a node on the stem. The lower third of the leaves can be removed. Large leaves on the cuttings could be cut in half to prevent too much water loss. Some people recommend a rooting hormone powder to increase the chances of the cuttings rooting. I have found very little evidence to prove the powder works except on Potentillas where it does seem to improve the chances of the cuttings taken. Use sterile potting compost that is low in nutrients, this helps the roots form faster as they search for food. One part peat compost to one part sand is a good mix. Push the cuttings in a third to half the length making sure they are the right way up. Water in and cover with plastic, being sure to avoid direct sunlight.
The newly rooted plants can be transplanted into pots to establish outdoors before they are put into their final position in the garden.

Horticultural.