by Expat Chef
I've been reading All New Square Foot Gardening and planning. This is my year to end the curse of the "Black Thumb." Yes, it is true, EVERY houseplant I have ever had dies. Merely crossing the threshold of my home and handing me said plant is issuing it a death sentence.
No more, I say. Tired of looking to my child's expensive private day care to put in a school garden program, I've decided that we should have a small garden at home. I've never been one to believe that kids are going to learn everything they need to know in school, anyway. Education starts at home, and this year, extends to the backyard.
I got this message from Laura Bushway of Cornell University describing some resources for gardeners who are interested in more unusual varieties of vegetables and fruits. The resources are provided as part of a citizen science program that allows gardeners everywhere to help with the Cornell research:
This is just a reminder (as you peruse those seed catalogs and start making garden plans) to stop by the Cornell Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners website: http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu
If it's been awhile since you visited, you'll find:
- More than 5,600 vegetable variety descriptions with seed sources.
- More than 3,300 reviews/ratings from nearly 2,300 registered users.
- Online tools to help you find the best varieties for your garden.
Help us grow 2 ways:
- Visit the site and rate and review your favorite varieties, as well as those that didn't do so well for you.
- Forward this email to your gardening buddies and get them to rate and review varieties they've tried.
Getting more reviewers and more reviews in the database will make the site even more valuable for you and your fellow gardeners.
When you visit the site, you'll also find a link to a new project website, Vegetable Varieties Investigation (Vvi). This intergenerational citizen science project that bridges the technology divide, helping youth connect with gardeners in their community, learn survey skills, and explore biodiversity through the whimsical world of vegetable varieties. If you work with youth or know someone who does, you'll want to check this out.
Whether you decide to help with the project, or just use the site resources, I found some great information and resources there for planning my garden. Happy Growing!
