Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The subtlety of the amazing Bacillis subtilis


Hello everyone.  I hope you are well.  

Have you noticed that we are about to have the Labour Day weekend?  How did that happen?  Have you been gardening?  I have, and also doing some reading.

We gardeners who observe plants, learn about plants and soil, labour in and love our gardens sometimes begin to think we are "on top of things" or understand what is happening in that realm.

And then we run across a study like the one below, and are humbled by the complexity of the life-web that supports our gardens and us.

Researchers led by Prof. Harsh Bais, at the University of Delaware, have published a study of how the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which lives in the soil, makes a connection with plant hormones, which then signal plant leaves, stems, and petals to close stoma when there are harmful pathogens trying to enter.  This stops pathogens from entering the plant and becoming a systemic stressor (possibly killing the plant).

How cool is that, eh?!

Interesting too is that drought conditions can also start the sequence between the soil born bacterium, plant hormones and stoma closure.

The research used a modest little plant, mouse eared cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), which looks like a "weed" of the sort we'd take out of our gardens, but which is probably welcome in a healthy meadow mix of plants for animal fodder.

Of several soil bacteria tested (of the very many that there are!), the researchers determined that only the Bacillis subtilis triggered the beneficial reaction sequence that occurs in the soil plant web. 

Phys.org reports that the study underscores "both the importance of root-based processes in plant defense and the potential for bolstering plant immunity naturally through the emerging field of probiotics."  ("Probiotics" are "live microorganisms that are thought to be beneficial to the host organism."*)

In other words, do all you can to encourage healthy soil so you'll have healthy plants.

In Prof. Bais' words: "... there is increasing commercial interest in inoculating crop seeds with beneficial bacteria to reduce pathogen infection. 'Just as you can boost your immune system, plants also could be supercharged for immunity.'"

I think of the soil web as "wholistic" in the sense of there being many, many parts which are together greater than the sum of the individual parts.  I also have great respect for the abilities and detail-orientation of people in the sciences.  Balancing the "whole" and the detail is an ongoing dance.

Here, a researcher spends time separating out many factors (soil bacteria), finds only one that triggers a reaction (and admits to only knowing 5% overall of what the one does) and then wonders what place this one factor might play in treatment application for crop betterment.

Is it just our human nature to be awed by the small amazing things we can discover, and to hope that the one small thing can be applied to the larger scope difficulties we try so hard to solve?

You might want to read the study summary and have a think on these matters yourself.

Wishing you healthy soil, new discoveries, and happy gardening!

Why's Woman


Researchers show how probiotics boost plant immunity
August 27, 2012 by Tracey Bryant                 Physics News website website
The article has video and micrograph images of what happens

Adabidopsis thaliana, mouse eared cress - Wikipedia entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabidopsis_thaliana

Monday, August 13, 2012

Chief of WOW! advises kindness


Hello everyone,

I hope this note finds you well.  I've just had a serendipitous read. You know ... when you're sort of randomly looking over the newspaper online, and something, somewhy catches your attention ...

Andrew Schiestel is the Chief of WOW! Projects at tbk Creative, a London Ontario based web design & social media marketing agency that instigates and accelerates consumer action around brands.

He was spotlighted in the article Online marketing guru shows his poker face  in today's London Free Press, by Hank Daniszewski   http://www.lfpress.com/money/businessmonday/2012/08/12/20095356.html    Knowing nothing about online marketing - but enjoying the sense of humour shown by a guy whose job title is Chief of WOW! -  - I looked up his website, www.tbkcreative.com.  Reading this new world language of social media widens my mind, and gets me thinking about advertising I've seen. I browsed around his blog, too, and checking out some of the stories he had to tell was a great choice for myself, today.  I needed to be told, today right now, that I can always jump out of the jar.  I also needed the reminder that in business (and life!) when I do what is right, good things will happen; and that being kind is always the right thing.  Thanks Andrew

Even if you don't check any further than my notes here ... help your heart and be kind ... it's the right thing to do.

Best regards, as always,

Why's Woman

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Urban Leaves of India inspires!


Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well.  It's just noon here, and there is a gentle rain falling.  Please may it continue, for hours and hours! 

As so often happens, Serendipity takes me where I need to go.   

From the City Farmer website (www.cityfarmer.info)I went to a wonderful article about a rooftop vegetable garden, which was on the site for Urban Leaves of India (http://www.urbanleavesofindia.blogspot.ca/)

Urban Leaves develops urban gardens in Mumbai India.  It surely "develops community" - to use a new term for bringing people together for friendship and practical purpose.  Urban Leaves was established in 2009, and is affiliated with another interesting initiative, the Vidya Vaaridhi* Trust (1994). 

Check along the left side of the Urban Leaves blog pages for the topics covered, including a series on how to start your own kitchen garden or rooftop garden!  With lots of photos.

Please watch the video Reap what you sow, and eat what you grow which charts the development of the Mumbai Port Trust Kitchen Garden and others begun by Urban Leaves.  The video contains a detailed description of how the volunteers develop living soil organically for the gardens. The comments, values and vision of the people involved with the gardens are in common with those of gardeners everywhere, and underlain with an inner spirit.

The Vision of Urban Leaves:
We came from villages to the city and left our roots behind.
We grew fresh roots  by covering cities with urban farms,
A small haven lies right next to us that we can call our very own,
Spreading smiles from Urban Leaves to farthest ends of the globe.
               Uday Acharya, one founder of Urban Leaves

*Vidya Vaaridhi'  literally means 'the ocean of learning'. It is also the name of Ganesha, the Hindu god who represents intelligence, creativity, harmony, and problem solving.

I hope you enjoy this site and are heartened in your own efforts of growing food and friendships.

Best regards!

Why's Woman