As more people learn about their benefits, urban gardens have increased in number across the United States. However, there are several issues surrounding food production in urban areas, like soil contamination, that are thought to pose risks to human health. In a recent breakthrough, a team of researchers from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) in Spain conducted a probabilistic risk assessment … Continue reading How safe are urban gardening crops?
10 Best herbs to plant on your kitchen windowsill
Despite its health and economical benefits, gardening might be neither practical nor doable for most people in cities and urban neighborhoods. These places just offer little to no space for green gardens – or so people think. Lack of outdoor space shouldn’t rule out a garden, at least not in the traditional sense. Old plant … Continue reading 10 Best herbs to plant on your kitchen windowsill
Trees talk to each other – science explains how
It turns out, “talking trees” exist beyond science fiction, says actual science. The idea of trees talking – and humans understanding them – is a hot topic in environmental science. But for Suzanne Simard, a biologist and a pioneer of inter-plant communication research from the University of British Columbia, the idea that trees talk isn’t up for debate. In her 1997 doctoral … Continue reading Trees talk to each other – science explains how
Marigolds possess a natural repellent against devastating pests
Do you worry about your plants being infested by pests? Try planting marigolds near them. Gardeners have practiced “companion planting” where marigolds are planted around tomato plants for protection against insects. This practice isn’t new, but its effectiveness is now backed by science. In a recent study, researchers from Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences in the U.K. … Continue reading Marigolds possess a natural repellent against devastating pests
What are some of the best herbs and spices for regulating blood pressure?
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a health condition that leads to atherosclerosis or the narrowing of the arteries. Hypertension also increases a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke. While modern medicine prescribes conventional treatments for hypertension in the form of anti-hypertensive drugs, research suggests that natural remedies which could reduce blood pressure can be … Continue reading What are some of the best herbs and spices for regulating blood pressure?
An Unlikely Savior: Vinegar Might Epigenetically Protect Plants From Drought
Climate change is undoubtedly one of the greatest threats facing both plants and animals alike. With rising temperatures and irregular weather patterns, droughts have become a far too normal occurrence worldwide. These harsh conditions have proven to be difficult on the survival of agriculture, and scientists all over the world have been searching for a … Continue reading An Unlikely Savior: Vinegar Might Epigenetically Protect Plants From Drought
Former Mosanto bioengineer comes clean, says GMO potatoes absorb MORE toxins – including those that aren’t even in regular potatoes
A bioengineer who worked for Monsanto in the past revealed that all kinds of deadly substances accumulated in the GMO potatoes he helped create. Even toxins not found in the food crop appeared in the genetically modified versions. After discovering disease-resistant genes in wild plants and succeeding in transferring them into domestic strains, genetic engineer Dr. Caius … Continue reading Former Mosanto bioengineer comes clean, says GMO potatoes absorb MORE toxins – including those that aren’t even in regular potatoes
“Conservative” police state run amok: South Carolina Attorney General stupidly declares cannabis “most dangerous drug” in America
The Palmetto State, more popularly known as South Carolina, seems to want to forever own the title of being the most ignorant and uneducated state in the Union. Its Attorney General, Alan Wilson, reiterated this embarrassing fact during a recent press conference over a proposed medical cannabis bill, where he non-ironically declared cannabis to be the … Continue reading “Conservative” police state run amok: South Carolina Attorney General stupidly declares cannabis “most dangerous drug” in America
Mexican marigold essential oil holds potential as powerful natural herbicide
The Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta) is a beautiful flowering plant from Central America. It has been used as an ornament, edible food, a source of dye, and herbal medicine for many centuries. Thai researchers reported that its essential oils are a natural herbicide for some of the most common weeds that plague farms. Cockspur grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is one … Continue reading Mexican marigold essential oil holds potential as powerful natural herbicide
Soils treated with organic fertilizer are healthier; produce stronger plants
Come to any local gardening center and you may see rows and rows of plant- and animal-based fertilizers that boast of faster growth, beautiful blooms, or abundant produce from your plants. But which type of fertilizer can actually deliver these promises? A study published in the journal Biological Agriculture & Horticulture assessed the effect of plant- and animal-based soil amendments in the … Continue reading Soils treated with organic fertilizer are healthier; produce stronger plants
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 