Ongoing research

All About Veggies...

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April is the month to start watching for caterpillars and worms and keep them in check. They can wreak havoc if left to go uncontrolled. However, care must be made to safeguard the beneficial birds and such that feed on them.

The alliteration doesn't get much better--bees buzzing on breathtaking berry blossoms. Berry blossoms are in full bloom in the UC Davis Ecological Garden of the Student Farm, part of the UC Agricultural Sustainabilty Institute.

USDA Offers Resources to Expand Meat Processing The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced late last week the launch of the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program to provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects.

I had a peaceful day tinkering in the garden today. I am usually tackling urgent work obligations and handling stressful fire drills, but I was able to set everything aside and focus on my happy place. It was a tranquil day spending time reconnecting and tending to a few garden needs.

Nice article this morning in the Wall Street Journal about the Oishii strawberry, grown indoors in New Jersey and making some waves in the retail markets out East.

UC Thelma Hansen Fund to host online discussion of food systems April 26-28 Members of the public are invited to attend a free webinar series discussing local and regional food systems on April 26-28.

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They're curious little critters. When solider beetles (family Cantharidae) go on patrol in your garden, don't kill them. They're not being deployed to harm you. They're the good guys. They eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects.