Richard Heinberg on Radio Ecoshock

This week's edition of Radio Ecoshock features a short interview, and a speech by, Richard Heinberg, whose media appearances usually offer fascinating insights on the subjects of energy, economy, resource depletion, etc. (he is quite good at linking various trends into a larger intellectual framework).

Resilience.org (replacing the Energy Bulletin), a recent effort by the Post Carbon Institute (where Heinberg is a senior fellow), is promoted in the interview. This struck me as a site that I expect to return to often.

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Dr. Robert Lustig on the Diane Rehm Show

Media appearances by Dr. Robert Lustig have been quite influential in how I have come to question the use of fructose in processed food (regardless of whether it comes in the form of sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, or some other syrup). Dietary fads come and go, and I tend to lose interest quickly whenever every dietary problem is blamed on carbohydrates. However, Dr. Lustig offers an intriguing analysis that goes far beyond what I perceive as the typical anti-carbohydrate stance. I don't care for the manner in which he responded to the caller at the end of the show, but this should not distract from the larger message.

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Disturbing reminders from Democracy Now

Today's Democracy Now featured some disturbing reminders regarding Guantanamo, torture, and the official abandonment of some of the most basic principles of justice.

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Lester Brown on Science Friday

Discussing the likelihood of oncoming global food scarcity and what it will mean. An excerpt from his latest book is available on Science Friday's website.

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Winter broccoli

Growing broccoli provides a continuous amount of fresh greens for a very long time. Being quite cold tolerant, the seedlings are both among the first to go in the ground, and among the last to be pulled out. The plants continue to produce side shoots after the main head has been harvested, and keeps providing until winter. Granted, broccoli doesn't thrive in the heat of summer, but it normally gets through it without too much difficulty.

I have found that it is much easier to leave my winter planted broccoli in the ground than planting new seedlings in the fall. What fall plantings, the weather usually starts out too warm, and cold weather kicks in before the plants have begun producing. The fall window is simply too narrow for seedlings to mature. On the other hand, the already well established winter planted broccoli withstands comparatively broad temperature ranges, and provides plenty of shoots throughout the fall. In previous years, I have harvested broccoli well into November. However, this year's plants are still in the ground and I had some fresh shoots with my supper last night (see picture below). Picking broccoli after Christmas is definitely a first.

These are from the plants featured back in February and March.

So what are the downsides? It takes time to find suitable shoots. There is not much growth at this time of the year, and I am now at a point where weeks pass between the harvests. The plants have clearly suffered from the winter weather, and I don't think they will hang in much longer. While I like the idea of making the most of out of annuals, and it is nice to have some home grown fresh greens in the off season without resorting to a greenhouse or cold frames, I am not sure everyone would find it worth their while.

PS Today I bought some spinach from Elmwood Stock Farm at the Farmers' Market this morning. Apparently, this was freshly picked from the ground. Yet another reminder of how the Central Kentucky growing season can be extended into the winter.