Growing food from surprising sources

I'm having trouble tracking this to the original sources.

Apples- http://www.ehow.com/how_2135774_grow-apple-seeds.html

Tomatoes- http://www.ehow.com/how_5581958_grow-tomatoes-fresh-tomato-seeds.html

Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes- http://www.gardenguides.com/117543-plant-cuttings-potatoes.html

Green Onions- http://www.17apart.com/2012/02/how-to-grow-green-onions-indefinitely.html

Leeks- same technique as green onions

Carrot Tops- http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/children-in-the-garden/grow-carrot-tops.htm

Pineapple- http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Pineapple/pineapple.htm

Romaine Lettuce- Same technique as celery

Cabbage- Same technique as celery

Celery- http://www.17apart.com/2012/02/growing-celery-indoors-never-buy-celery.html

Avocado -http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2009/09/09/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-from-an-avocado-pit/

Lentils- http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/02/19/how-to-grow-sprouts/

Pumpkin- http://pinterest.com/pin/98375573080950437/

Ginger- http://www.gardenswag.com/2011/12/5-foods-you-can-grow-from-kitchen-scraps/

Garlic- http://www.gardenswag.com/2011/12/5-foods-you-can-grow-from-kitchen-scraps/

Hampshire Master Gardener's Certification Course

A few more students are needed in order to hold the class. It's conducted by the WV University Extension Service. 

Call our Extension Agent, Steve Starcher at 304-822-5013 to get enrolled. Here are the details:

Class Title: WV Master Gardener's 
Number of Sessions: 10 (1 per week)
Day/Time: Monday, 6-9pm
Where: Old Hampshire County Courtroom (2nd floor)
Dates: February 25-April 29
Cost: $85/person

The core modules will cover Soil Science, Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Communications. After the 10 sessions students must pass an exam. Students will be issued a Certificate and Master Gardener Pin. Students must commit to 30 hours of Volunteer hours as part of program.

Another Planting Guide for Testing

The SproutBot planting guide I featured here drew skepticism, so I'll be curious to hear what others think about this one:

What to Plant Now:
Mid-Atlantic

Not sure what seeds you could be starting right now, or which transplants need to be set outside this season? Our regional planting guides take the guesswork out of garden planning! Click on the current month below to find out which garden plants need your attention right now.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Don't live in the Mid-Atlantic region? Find garden planning information for your area.
For planting times specific to your zip code, check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Vegetable Garden Planner.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/What-To-Plant-Now/Mid-Atlantic-Gardening-Region.aspx#ixzz2JK9ls6Kg

Seeing Trees

Watch, Advisory, Warning

Paraphrasing from the National Weather Service:

Watch suggests there is the potential for a significant hazard to occur, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.

Advisory announces an imminent hazards that may only merit caution, but could become dangerous if caution is not exercised.

Warning is used when a dangerous hazard is imminent or already occurring.

There is a proposed alternative system under consideration, but until this changes, forecasters choose between 14 types of watches, advisories and warnings.

Bees, flowers, bats and bugs in January

People throughout the mid-Atlantic  enjoyed some surprises this weekend.  Our bees were busy and visited me throughout the day Sunday as I planted trees wearing a yellow shirt.  While driving in the early evening, we saw more than a dozen bats (not a good thing, if they're not capturing any food).  Geraniums and Delphinium were blooming in flower pots, and the leaf buds on the Hawthorns we were planting were opening.  The moist soil was easy to work and it was a great day to plant trees.

Tree Planting in the Snow

Over 500 new trees arrived from the Clements State Tree Nursery just after the Solstice and just before the snowfall began.  We're now in our third week of snow cover.  I used MelissaData to confirm that we have a December and January average temp in Green Spring/Levels (26722) that is only 4 degrees F cooler than Arlington, VA (22201), but that makes all the difference, as there was only flurries and rain in Arlington.

Wood House Research Farm, January 2013

A new mixed-species research plot.

Nevertheless, so far we've been able to plant 100 redbuds (Cercis canadensis), 75 chestnuts (Castanea mollissima), 50 Virginia pines (Pinus virginiana),  and 25 hawthorns (Crataegus phaenopyrum) through the ice and snow.  The remaining 75 hawthorns and 100 crabapples (Malus sargentii) are part of a research plot designed with the Appalachian Coal Team experimenting with a new reforestation technology.

A future chestnut crop.

Interestingly, except for very cold hands, the snow was helpful in insulating and watering the ground below, allowing for a pretty good planting rate when the temperatures were above freezing in the afternoons.

The boathouse and stained glass studio after the first snow arrived on December 24. 

SproutRobot.com

When to plant, based on your Zip Code:  http://sproutrobot.com/