If you’re currently tending lettuce plants, then you have something in common with the crew on board the International Space Station (ISS). They’re testing NASA’s new Vegetable Production System – affectionately known as ‘Veggie’. At 11.5 inches by 14.5 inches, Veggie is the largest plant growth chamber to have been blasted into space, and was developed by Orbital Technologies Corp.
The Current State of American Chestnut Tree Conservation
16.08.2023 - 18:37 / finegardening.com
Several times a year someone sends me a photo of a tree they believe to be an American chestnut (Castanea dentata, Zones 4–8). Frequently what they actually have sent is a photo of an Asian chestnut species or Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila, Zones 5–9), another species native to the eastern United States. From time to time, I have seen the sprouts of a true American chestnut tree in the wild. American chestnuts have three nuts per bur and canoe-shaped leaves with deeply toothed margins. Their buds are smooth, brown, pointed, and usually askew on the twig. However, the sprouts I’ve seen pale in comparison to what once dominated our eastern forests. The American chestnut once thrived throughout the forests of the eastern United States, leaving its mark on both the landscape and lives of the people who inhabited the region. This tree played a crucial role in the cultural, economic, and ecological tapestry of the South and southeastern United States, making it an integral part of our region’s history. Trees were huge, straight pillars like our native tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera, Zones 4–9)—and on a massive scale (from 50 to 100 feet tall). Learn more about the history of this magnificent species and the current state of American chestnut tree conservation efforts here.
Long before Europeans arrived on the continent, Native American tribes cherished the American chestnut for its bountiful harvest. The chestnut trees provided a valuable source of food in the form of their nuts, which were consumed fresh, roasted, or ground into flour.
With the arrival of European colonists, the importance of American chestnuts grew even more. The settlers quickly recognized the potential of American chestnut trees. They
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:59
Seeds in Space timeline: the early years
One of the nerdy things I enjoy doing in my spare time is researching the first seeds to have made it into space. This is what I have found so far:
theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:59
The First Seeds in Space
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:57
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:57
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Header image: NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio uses a video camera to photograph the Ant Forage Habitat. Image credit: NASA
theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:56
The Lotus Effect
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:55
Branson vs Bezos: as the billionaires get ready to blast into space, who’s got the better plan?
Header image: Blue Origin
theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:54
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:53
Australia and the Apollo 8 mission that sent a Christmas message from the Moon
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:53
The Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building
Just over a year ago, when we were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, I talked about the lack of diversity in space and mentioned Mary Jackson. In 2016, the movie Hidden Figures shared the stories of Mary Jackson and two other Black female mathematicians – Katherine Johnson and, Dorothy Vaughan. They worked at NASA when a ‘computer’ still meant a person carrying out mathematical calculations. The film is based on a book by Margot Lee Shetterly, which I am reading at the moment. The book offers a more detailed and accurate account of the prejudice these women (and others) had to overcome.
theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:51
Growing food in the Antarctic
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theunconventionalgardener.com
21.08.2023 / 11:50
60 years in orbit for ‘grapefruit satellite’ – the oldest human object in space
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