Voting For Mr Obama

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been warned about Hurricane Sandy. It seems to me that the BBC went to inordinate length to make sure that I was safe. As I live in Oxford UK, I did not feel the need to do any of the suggest actives; like leave home or climb onto the roof. The storm came and went and much the same thing happen with the American election, which in my opionn was an open and shut case and nowhere near the cliff-hanger that it was billed to be. (I am very please that Mr Obama was re-elected) However, what does concern me is the trouble that we are facing here in the UK with Ash Trees. It appears that we are going to lose all our eight million Ash trees in the next few years. Does this matter? Of course it does. Everything hangs together; if one thing falls who knows what the outcome will be. The UK is an surrounded by water, at least it was the last time I looked. So why are we getting loads of 'nastiest' arriving on our shores? What can we do about it? Not much you might think but you are wrong. Voting for our leaders is the main thing that we can do. I am very shocked when I hear people say on the TV " I am not voting, it’s not worth it ". People have died for the right to vote (and still are). My father fought a war for five years for the right to vote. What is the matter with people, do we not realise that that the next 50 years are more then likely the most important fifty years of humankind’s history. Just look at us! We need leaders to stop the mess we are getting into. Thank God for Mr Obama and people like Malala Yousafzai, (schoolgirl shot by Taliban). Go out today and do something to change the world for the better. Grow your own veg. or do not buy strawberries imported from far afield. It is nearly mid-winter for heavens sake. We do not need strawberries now.

How to take care of your border plants

Nice sunny November day and wondering what to do in the garden? Just take a pair of secateurs to your perennials that have now gone past there best. Numerous plants with structural seed heads will by now, 0f started to fade or collapse due to rain and wind. Many of the taller shrubs may well be rocked by strong winds, which will damage the roots by allowing excessive moisture and frost to get down there. You can prevent this problem now by firming the soil around the base of the plant and reducing the height of deciduous shrubs. This is also a good time to look to your secateurs: get them sharpen and oil up. Secateurs and shears do no last forever…if you need new ones why not put them on your Christmas list; got to be better then another hand knitted woolly jumper from Auntie!

Another Reason to Eat Organic

The other day, I was watching a programme on TV about growing peppers. I know, I should get out more but it was raining at the time. The peppers were being grown in a glasshouse the size of 22 football picthes. Everything was automated and there was not a bit of soil in site. There were two guys pouring chemicals into a vast vat of water, stirring it up and piping the mixture to the plants which were being ‘grown on rockwool-type material' No wonder the peppers that I grow on well-composted soil taste better!