Do You Know Your Garden Insects

Dont get these confused 

Squash Bugs- Bad

Damsel Bugs - Good

Damsel Bugs really love to live near alfalfa fields

Colorado Potato Bug

Cucumber Beetle - 1

Cucumber Beetle -2

Mexican Bean Beetle

Beneficial Lady Bugs

Learn to associate the moths in your area 
with the caterpillar

.  You have most likely seen these moths.  Here is the association.

Cabbage Loopers

There are simply too many moths and caterpillars to show them all,  But this site has an amazing collection of images.   http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery

 

Should we kill it?

The white cocoons of the parasitic braconid wasps (Hymenoptera) hangs on the back of this tobacco hornworm. It would probably be better to let this one live in order to let the braconid wasps hatch.  I dont want to get into pest management but plant pollen and nectar producing plants attract Braconid Wasps.  So plant flowers for a beautiful garden defense.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Swallowtail caterpillar

Swallowtail caterpillars are beneficial insects; however, if you are a parsley farmer, you may have a different opinion!  Caterpillars forage heavily on their host plants, but they also serve as a food source for songbirds and other wildlife.  After their metamorphosis into butterflies, they become pollinators, which is important because one-third of the world’s cultivated crops depend upon the work of pollinators like butterfly and bees.  In addition, butterflies are beneficial to humans for their aesthetic qualities.  Many species are brightly colored and so capture the attention and marvel of many people.  Just watching the whimsical flight of butterflies is enough to lift the spirits!  - Joseph 

The Bug Guide is a good site for insect identification

The less pesticides you use, the more beneficial bugs you will see in your garden.
More flowers bring more beneficial bugs.
Malicious insects dont like healthy plants.
Use compost tea with molasses, essential micro-nutrients, and grow your soil.
Attract Soldier Beetles with goldenrod, hydrangeas, catnip or milkweed in your garden.

Soldier Beetles

UC Davis has very good information about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html

 and

IPM Images is my favorite! 

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Putting words in your mouth

Now that Ive confessed I cant cook, I have to go on to say I really cant cook pancakes.

When in the mood, Ive used a recipe handed down from my Polish grandmother -- who possibly couldnt cook pancakes either -- that calls for 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 egg. Its a heavy-duty pancake that tastes great hot or cold, and you cant go wrong making it.

But fluffy, restaurant-style pancakes? My attempts have been disastrous. Last time I tried, I ended up crying.

But try again . . .

I was thumbing through the Eat Our Words cookbook, a compilation of recipes submitted by Montana writers, and I saw "hotcakes." I also saw a possible blog entry no matter how they turned out, so I gathered the ingredients together.

All of my baking begins with Wheat Montana flour.

The recipe says to mix 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar together, then add enough sour milk (I used regular) to make a "smooth and rather stiff" batter. Put 1 teaspoon baking soda in a cup and then add about 1/4 cup hot water (I measured by guessing) and stir this into the batter. Then add more milk "until it will pour from spoon or pitcher or whatever you mix it in."

This is such a forgiving recipe that Im not surprised these were the first fluffy pancakes that made me smile while I was cooking them. Here I go . . .

pour batter onto hot pan

look for bubbles to form, then turn over to cook other side

top with butter and local honey

eat

. . . perfect!

I got so excited that I even poured batter to shape alphabet letters -- and it worked!

This recipe -- using the 1 cup of flour -- makes about 6 5-inch pancakes plus a handful of letters.

I highly recommend this cookbook not only for the pancake recipe but also for simply reading. There are excerpts from books written by the Montana authors, and even the recipes themselves are charming. The pancake recipe was recorded word-for-word from what the grandfather of the author (Maile Meloy) received from his mother after he had settled in Missoula and needed easy-to-cook meals.

The recipe for Montana Winter Casserole (submitted by Lauri Olsen) includes a description of a typical trip to town for supplies during the cold season here. Youre likely to spend quite a while in each grocery store aisle chatting with folks you know. This happens to me in any season.

Then the instructions say: "Bake for 2 hours in a 350-degree oven while youre playing gin rummy at the kitchen table with Uncle Ned, Aunt Hazel, and Carl, your neighbor who stopped in to borrow jumper cables." I think Ill make this casserole next, while its still snowing out.

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Aquaponics basic Components of a system

Aquaponics - Aquaculture Meets Hydroponic Farming 

 

There are a variety of methods used in aquaculture, but the system - by definition - is a closed system. This in itself poses a problem - the large amounts of water needed to successfully sustain a healthy colony of aquatic life. When you grow commercial amounts of fish or other aquatic species you must clean the water continuously due to the high amounts of toxins given off by the waste of the crop.
Hydroponics itself poses problems of its own, namely the constant flow of water and addition of nutrients - a costly and time-consuming effort. Water must be constantly monitored for necessary supplementing with food and other components for plant health, and the constant, open circulation of water results in large amounts of evaporation of water that must be replaced continuously.
Enter Aquaponics and its benefits. If the fish needs clean water to survive, and the plants need constant nutrients, why not give each what it needs in a compatible, symbiotic relationship that, when balanced, becomes a complete ecosystem needing just a minimal amount of maintenance? That plan was put into place, and by aquponics we have the ever-expanding research of combining the two systems for the greater good, enabling more food to be grown in less space, and less water being used to grow it.

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Urban Aquaponics Basic Components

There are three part components to the system:

Your Fish, The Plants You Grow, and The Hardware You Use To Build.

1. Fish

A variety of freshwater fish can and have been used for aquaponics systems,

including carp, goldfish, trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, and

tilapia to name a few.

2. Plants

Based upon your decision surrounding your choice of fish, and the stage of their

maturity, you will now need to give thought to your plants.

The Ultimate Aquaponics Home System is a float based system, and you can

either start your seedlings already in the floats or you can transfer the shoots

from a seedling bed attached to the system (an option for which your plans here

allow) or from a conventional seedling tray.

3. Hardware

Schedule 40 PVC, Pump, Floats, lumber, and water treatment products.

Many of the hardware items can be purchased locally.

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Beckys Berries have it your way

I run across Becky of Beckys Berries with her stacks of sparkling jars of jam and other sweet products everywhere it seems. She sells at farmers markets, the annual Made in Montana show, and the Montana Agri-Trade Exposition (shown above), among many other places. I also find her treats at local shops.

And I really like the flavor combinations she comes up with: raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and marionberries (called Traffic Jam; add jalapeno peppers and you get Road Rage Jalapeno Pepper Jelly); Strawberry Rhubarb Jam; Pineapple Jalapeno Pepper Jelly; blackberry and chipolte peppers (Black Bear Chipolte Glaze).

And while its heavenly to simply spread Beckys jams on toast or pancakes in the morning, there are many ways to enjoy them throughout the day.

The following are a few ideas I came up with. I am not a chef, and in any case I like to keep things simple, so dont expect blue-ribbon winners here. Thats why Id also like to know what offbeat uses you find for jams and jellies.

I just adore grilled cheesy toast. Often I top it with sliced tomatoes or salsa. But how about Raspberry Chipolte Glaze? This glaze is also a tasty addition to a turkey sandwich.

The chipolte glazes are a lovely blend of hot and sweet. Betty at the Cinnabar Creek shop in Big Timber suggested mixing one of them with balsamic vinegar and pouring over a spinach salad topped with blue cheese crumbles and toasted walnuts. I tried this and highly recommend it!

Another savory idea is to mix together any jam, jelly, or glaze with your choice of salsa. This could top a taco or brighten up a bag of dipping chips. I think Paul and Becky make such a sweet and spicy couple!

Stir jam, jelly, or glaze into yogurt or a smoothie. Putting jam on ice cream is nothing new, but do try one of Beckys hot and spicy blends for a bright new taste.

To be honest, when a sweet fix is needed immediately, I dont hesitate to dip a spoon straight into the jar!

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Art the aquaponics

Acquaponics system reflects the values ??and culture of art Watch this video

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Is it cheez

"We Cant Say Its Cheese" is a mouthful of a name to ask for at the store, but if you dont see this Bozeman-made Wayfare Foods product in a refrigerated case, do make an effort to find it.

This non-dairy spread is a real treat. Dont expect it to taste exactly like cheese, for of course it isnt, but it is close enough to be satisfying. And naturally, it is healthy, with ingredients like non-GMO oatmeal, pimentos, and cane juice.

There are a variety of flavors, and I can say the Hickory-Smoked Cheddar-Style Spread is, like, wow! Pictured on this blog post is the plain Cheddar-Style Spread. If you like that processed cheese spread stuff that comes in small glasses, this is similar in texture.

I bought one container, and now I wish Id really stocked up. Its a long way to the Billings co-op, but as soon as I get a chance, Ill be on my way to pick up more of this.

I tend to be a purist, so I looove it spread on crackers or bread, but you probably can think of other ways to use it. Maybe put it between Ritz crackers and make your own cheese crackers. There are recipes on the company Web site, so check that out. For example, the Cheddar Pie Crust, filled with apples, is an intriguing idea.

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Nitrification

Nitrification, the aerobic conversion of ammonia into nitrates, is one of the most important functions in an aquaponics system as it reduces the toxicity of the water for fish, and allows the resulting nitrate compounds to be removed by the plants for nourishment.[1] Ammonia is steadily released into the water through the excreta and gills of fish as a product of their metabolism, but must be filtered out of the water since higher concentrations of ammonia (commonly between 0.5 and 1 ppm)[citation needed] can kill fish. Although plants can absorb ammonia from the water to some degree, nitrates are assimilated more easily,[2] thereby efficiently reducing the toxicity of the water for fish.[1] Ammonia can be converted into other nitrogenous compounds through healthy populations of:

    Nitrosomonas: bacteria that convert ammonia into nitrites, and

    Nitrobacter: bacteria that convert nitrites into nitrates.

In an aquaponics system, the bacteria responsible for this process form a biofilm on all solid surfaces throughout the system that are in constant contact with the water. The submerged roots of the vegetables combined have a large surface area, so that many bacteria can accumulate there. Together with the saliency of ammonia and nitrites in the water, the surface area determines the speed with which nitrification takes place. Care for these bacterial colonies is important as to regulate the full assimilation of ammonia and nitrite. This is why most aquaponics systems include a biofiltering unit, which helps facilitate growth of these microorganisms. Typically, after a system has stabilized ammonia levels range from 0.25 to 2.0 ppm; nitrite levels range from 0.25 to 1 ppm, and nitrate levels range from 2 to 150 ppm.[citation needed] During system startup, spikes may occur in the levels of ammonia (up to 6.0 ppm) and nitrite (up to 15 ppm), with nitrate levels peaking later in the startup phase.[citation needed] Since the nitrification process acidifies the water, non-sodium bases such as potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide can be added for neutralizing the waters pH[1] if insufficient quantities are naturally present in the water to provide a buffer against acidification. In addition, selected minerals or nutrients such as iron can be added in addition to the fish waste that serves as the main source of nutrients to plants.[1]

A good way to deal with solids buildup in aquaponics is the use of worms, which liquefy the solid organic matter so that it can be utilized by the plants and/or animals.

Hydroponics subsystem

Plants are grown as in hydroponics systems, with their roots immersed in the nutrient-rich effluent water. This enables them to filter out the ammonia that is toxic to the aquatic animals, or its metabolites. After the water has passed through the hydroponic subsystem, it is cleaned and oxygenated, and can return to the aquaculture vessels. This cycle is continuous. Common aquaponic applications of hydroponic systems include:

    Deep-water raft aquaponics: styrofoam rafts floating in a relatively deep aquaculture basin in troughs.

    Recirculating aquaponics: solid media such as gravel or clay beads, held in a container that is flooded with water from the aquaculture. This type of aquaponics is also known as closed-loop aquaponics.

    Reciprocating aquaponics: solid media in a container that is alternately flooded and drained utilizing different types of siphon drains. This type of aquaponics is also known as flood-and-drain aquaponics or ebb-and-flow aquaponics.

    Other systems use towers that are trickle-fed from the top, nutrient film technique channels, horizontal PVC pipes with holes for the pots, plastic barrels cut in half with gravel or rafts in them. Each approach has its own benefits.[3]

Most green leaf vegetables grow well in the hydroponic subsystem, although most profitable are varieties of chinese cabbage, lettuce, basil, roses, tomatoes, okra, cantaloupe and bell peppers.[2] Other species of vegetables that grow well in an aquaponic system include beans, peas, kohlrabi, watercress, taro, radishes, strawberries, melons, onions, turnips, parsnips, sweet potato and herbs.[citation needed] Since plants at different growth stages require different amounts of minerals and nutrients, plant harvesting is staggered with seedings growing at the same time as mature plants. This ensures stable nutrient content in the water because of continuous symbiotic cleansing of toxins from the water.[4]

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Money In Your Garden

If you can relate with this image, you may want to read this article. 

Many vegetables can be expensive to purchase by growing the most expensive vegetables in your garden and buying the least inexpensive vegetables at your grocery store you can easily help drop your food budget.  This especially important for people like me with very limited space to grow everything that I consume.  [READ MORE]

Vegetable	USD Value/SF
Cilantro	$ 21.20
Arugula-Roquette	$ 20.92
Green Salad Mix	$ 17.55
Chives	$ 16.40
Dill	$ 16.40
Lettuce	$ 16.20
Tomato, Cherry, small & medium	$ 15.57
Turnip	$ 9.90
Tomato, large	$ 9.50
Squash, Winter	$ 8.40
Tomatillo	$ 8.00
Cucumber	$ 7.74
Basil	$ 6.63
Radish, Red	$ 6.22
Pumpkin	$ 6.20
Chard, Swiss	$ 6.14
Celery	$ 6.00
Squash, Summer	$ 5.96
Choi	$ 5.70
Peas, Snow	$ 4.50
Pepper, Jalapeno	$ 4.50
Squash, Summer, Zucchini	$ 4.17
Onion, Bunching	$ 4.14
Pepper, Bell	$ 3.60
Brussels Sprouts	$ 3.59
Carrots	$ 3.56
Rhubarb	$ 3.25
Squash, Winter, Butternut	$ 3.20
Kale	$ 3.07
Grass, Lemon	$ 3.00
Peas, English	$ 3.00
Onion, Bulb	$ 2.63
Radish, White	$ 2.60
Bean, Bush	$ 2.51
Peas, Edible Pod	$ 2.50
Artichoke, Globe	$ 2.40
Cabbage, Chinese Napa	$ 2.24
Squash, Winter, Delicata	$ 2.10
Spinach, Spring/Fall	$ 1.80
Leeks	$ 1.75
Potatoes	$ 1.50
Parsnips	$ 1.50
Garlic	$ 1.37
Squash, Summer, Yellow	$ 1.34
Parsley	$ 1.31
Corn	$ 1.25
Squash, Winter, Acorn	$ 1.20
Squash, Winter, Hubbard	$ 1.20
Eggplant	$ 1.10
Greens, Mustard	$ 1.10
Rutabaga	$ 1.00
Beet	$ 0.89
Cabbage, Savoy	$ 0.80
Broccoli	$ 0.80
Kohlrabi	$ 0.75
Cauliflower	$ 0.60
Broccoli, Chinese	$ 0.60
Cabbage	$ 0.50

Sources: http://www.mcgoodwin.net/pages/ppatch.html for plant yield information, http://shop.safeway.com for current produce prices

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