5/29 Open Thread: Rescue clover, help bees, soil, and water; boycott Scott's and more
This is largely based on a newsletter from Beyond Pesticides which may be found here: https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2019/04/planting-clover-this-earth-day/
It, in turn relies upon and cites the following item: https://beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/CloverCited.pdf
Neither seems readily susceptible to good qualify fair use abstraction, and neither is too long, so I highly recommend reading both, and definitely the first one. I will try to hit some major points.
Lawns weren't really a thing here until the 1860s and after. When they were promoted into being something they generally contained an admixture of white clover seed, and grew not as a pure green carpet, but speckled with white clover. This made sense, clover fixes nitrogen reducing or eliminating the need for fertilizers.
(That, of course, doesn't make sense if you wish to sell fertilizers, which is another story.)
Bees love clover. It feeds them. It also improves the soil and feeds other plants without using externally applied nitrogen. That should usually reduce nitrogen runoff which impairs water quality, creates hypoxia and dead zones and the like. But, clover is under attack and is being demonized.
We developed the herbicide 2,4,D during WWII to use as a weapon, but decided not to. It was then further developed and marketed for agriculture, killing "weeds" but not grains (grasses). The next step was to market it to homeowners, first as a stand along product, then as part of Scott's "Feed and Weed" fetilizer plus herbicide combo, and then as part of Scott's Turf Builder and similar products. Because it kills a vast spectrum of braodleaf plants, 2,4,D kills clover too. No problem. Even though it was once touted as a boon and even necessary to a good laws, a huge propaganda campaign was launched to decry, and classify it as a weed, using all the tricks available to top notch marketers and propagandists. So, we have traded a beneficial natural source of nitrogen, which also provides food for bees for poison, topical fertilizer with concommitant runoff, and profits for those peddling these types of products.
Plant clover. White clover, once hugely common, is far less so now. My local neighborhood hardware stores had none, but I found a one pound shaker-container at the nearest Home Depot for very little money. I immediately broadcast some in selected areas just before we went away at the end of April. I also found a packet of seeds of Crimson Clover at the local hardware store, which I plan on planting in a good location as soon as I figure out where. Meantime, I have to make sure to eschew all lawn and turf food products, especially Scott's so as not to kill any that comes up. (No problem for me, we don't use such and have no real lawn area anyway). I really think we need to figure out how to start a boycott of any and all Scott's products until they stoop selling 2,4,D to homeowners in any form and stop their war on clover.
The first article suggests sources for clover seeds, poppies and clover as a cover crop and grass-microclover seed mixes for those who for some reason feel compelled to have lawns.
Comments
We have clover in our yard. My husband used to wait to
cut the grass to allow the bunnies to eat the clover. I have mostly seen bumblebees this year, but I was sure I saw a honeybee last week. I don’t know where her sisters were.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Good morning LOL. Thanks for reading. Good to hear about your
clover and bees. Our bumblers seem to come out earlier than the honeybees, so maybe that is a thing.
Have a great one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I just bought some local honey from the u-pick farm
up the road, so our honeybees have been busy. My husband and I picked some blueberries (they’re early) and blackberries, too. Strawberries are nearly done. A high pressure system continues to give us hot, dry weather while the mid-west and north-east suffer severe storms. July weather is here now.
Our wildlife and weather are showing signs of stress. Wild honeybees seem pretty thin on the ground. Lightning bugs are scarce when seen at all. I can’t help but notice all this.
I’m glad we kept the clover and quit poisoning our yard. At least we can be a small haven for wildlife. I appreciated the piece on the benefits of clover, el! It’s nice to know we’re doing something right.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Red rover
We also have clover, but use no fertilizers. Good idea about over seeding. Remember my grandmother walking along and plucking a 4 leaf clover out of the grass. Elfin magic.
Cheers.
Good morning QMS. Good to hear that you too have clover.
We don't use fertilizer or herbicides, but still have none, and never have. I suspect that the whole neighborhood was so thoroughly nuked at the beginning that there isn't any locally to serve as a reservoir for it to spread from. I think some of mine is coming up, but it will be a while before I know.
Have a great one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Book review
This story appeared on Global Research about The Bilderberg Group. It is a book review by the author Daniel Estulin reviewed by Stephen Lendman.
Teaser...
Starts tomorrow in a country near you...
https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-true-story-of-the-bilderberg-group-and...
Per Wiki...
Oops. Yikes!
Wow. Thanks for the information on that.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
We have a nice stand...
...I often see turkey and deer browsing it. In my part of the world crimson clover is a winter crop sowed in the fall and blooms in spring. Crimson clover is an annual and must be planted yearly (20 LB/ acre). White clover is a perennial, and though the seed is more expensive, the recommended rate is 3 LB/ acre.
Another advantage of white clover in pastures is that it has stolons which allow it to spread as a result of grazing.
In yards the common Dutch White clover works best. In pastures it's larger cousins like Ladino provide more grazing.
The clovers form a partnership with Rhizobium bacteria in order to fix N. Some seed come pre-inoculated others should be inoculated with the peat based carrier.
https://aggieclover.tamu.edu/seed_plant/
Lawns in general are relatively new in the SE. Growing up I remember many yards sweep clean of all vegetation with a "yard" broom...
https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/08/us/in-georgia-s-swept-yards-a-dying-t...
Well lots to do today. Seems the more I do the more I need to do. Refitted the well yesterday, new pump, tank, filter and plumbing. Now all I have to do is complete the well house around it (it is framed in but that's all). Then there's mowing to get going now that the spring bloom has set seed for next year.
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Have a good one!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning Lookout. Thanks for all of the information on
clover. Thanks especially for that intriguing article on the swept yard - quite a concept and an interesting approach to things. Have a great one and say hi to Alice.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Bookmarked
to read later. Thanks for this. I have some clover seed that I have been wanting to broadcast but have not decided where to put it yet.
We planted a small butterfly garden earlier this spring and I am very pleased with it now. It's adorably cute. I rarely plant flowers (except sunflowers and marigolds) so I have been surprised at myself with how enjoyable I find it. Unfortunately the birds have been making a meal of the caterpillars there, so next year I will put up a temporary netting around it, hopefully we will grow some butterflies then. The bees though seem to have found good stuff in the yard, and we did have a profusion of butterflies as well, but I think not home grown. There is quite a bit of thistle in the back, and every pollinator seems to enjoy those.
I too am feeling like that Alice mentioned above, so off to the races for me.
Good morning randtntx. Thanks for reading. Enjoy
your garden and your chores and have a great day.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Off-topic
Did anyone watch Mueller's special address?
I couldn't force myself to.
More kabuki I'm sure.
Thanks for the OT, EL! Looking forward to a thorough read and picking up some bee-friendly tips.
Good morning Eagles.
I must confess that I saw no point in wasting any time on that.
Have a good day.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Scott's Miracle-Gro Bonnie's Plants
https://northinletgroup.com/news/scottsmiracle-gro-completes-minority-in...
So Scott's owns Miracle-Gro and is a part owner of Bonnie's Plants. That's about all you can buy around here are Bonnie's plants. I am trying to start everything from seed this year but did break down and buy some bell pepper plants. I have a hard time starting peppers from seed. Their plants are mostly all hybrids and there is not much variety.
We have clover! My daughter likes collecting 4 leaf clovers and pressing them in books.
I put a link to this movie in a comment once, but here it is again. Uncle Nino. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327210/
It's sort of a B movie, but is cool how this elderly uncle turns his nephew's lawn into a garden.
Yes. Boycott Scotts and Miracle-Gro. Bonnie's Plants?
Going to read the articles now. Thanks!!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Good morning Marilyn, thanks for reading, and for gardening.
Have a good one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Hit the reply button by mistake . . .
So I guess I will post a garden picture.
This spring I read or watched a gardening video that said tomatoes are not pollinated by bees but by the wind. So shake your tomatoes! I have been doing that and am seeing clumps of fruit like this. Way more that I ever have. I also tie them up and trim up the bottom leaves, that that is about it. Never ever before have I seen this many tomatoes.
Do you think that is the secret?
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Hmmmm, has the makings of a good song --
C'mon and shake your
moneymakermaters, oh yeah. Thanks for the tip, I will have to make that part of the garden routine, though we only have one planted so far.That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
@mhagle That's interesting about
That's interesting about the pollination. We grow lots of tomatoes in a greenhouse. I'm pretty sure wind is not a factor in there. But we do have a lot of bees and bugs and frogs, since we are organic and we let them into the greenhouse. The good ones (predatory wasps, spiders, frogs...) eat the bad ones (aphids mostly). The tomatoes do really well.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
good morning el...
et al
For no particular reason I am happy. In spite of it being a posting day. Or maybe because. In any case, thank you for the great OT.
My question is: Is it possible to just go a-sowing clover seeds like Johnny Appleseed (the story). We, here, could certainly lobby our city council to sew more. Maybe. Worth investigating.
All I know about the Mueller thingy is that he said he would not testify. That from a friend because I could not watch it either.
Off, off into the wild blue yonder, pedaling ever faster and getting not much further, in spite of the fact that "it's" all happening faster than expected" yet again, according to Those That Keep Their Finger On The Pulse Of It. The Queen was right.
And in spite of al that I am happy today, so mode it be
Have a good one, all
Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation
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Good morning magi, be happy for sure. Sowing seeds is
maybe like seed bombing, subject to various legal challenges except at home. I know a couple of lawns I'd love to hit, but one guy would just increase his poisoning regimin. The other might work though.
Cutting through unfenced vacant lots and surreptitiously losing a few seeds might be practicable, and/or hitting public property with permission of whoever would be authorized to give it.
Stay happy.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Days looking for four-leaf clover
as a child, lucky times; carpeted yard of grandpa's was full of clover and a broad leaf grass of some kind, couldn't find the dirt kind of yard.
Didn't purchase fertilizer on the farm, rotated crops; lots of alfalfa and so on and composted manure from cows, horses and chickens. So clover must have been the secret to the lawn cause we never used manure there, only in the fields way away from the house.
Wonderful topic and info in comments; thank you, el, and all have a great day.
Good morning smiley. Thanks for reading and have a great day
yourself.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz
Great topic! The property I live on was landscaped with California's arid weather in mind, so we do not have a lawn. But clover sounds like a smart idea for those who do. If possible, we should do all we can to help our Eco and bee community.
Speaking of bees, I've learned a few things about honey recently from one of our customers who is a beekeeper. He makes honey and sells it. Well, the bees make the honey, obviously. How honey is made is quite fascinating to me. Especially the different characteristics honey can have depending on the nectar the bee collects. And did you know that the difference between raw organic honey and regular honey is that raw honey has pollen in it which is suppose to have added nutritional benefits? I didn't.
For anyone interested in learning more about honey, here's a link with a few facts that are very fascinating indeed! A Few Fascinating Facts About Honey.
Nature truly is a miraculous Eco-System.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Good noon, Anja, thanks for reading and for the buzz about
our friends of the apis persuasion.
Actually, clover isn't just for lawns. If there is a species native to your area, it can grow in open and/or bare spaces. I've tried scattering some around our yard between the various sages, bunchgrasses and weeds to see what happens. I'll let you know.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
That's good to hear
Maybe I can find a place in my garden where clover will grow!
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Alfalfa clover
I loved our alfalfa fields as a kid. So lovely and beautiful smells. It grew about 3 ft tall so we would take our blankets out and sunbathe nude in an alfalfa field. Very risque for shy farm girls.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo