FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF JUNE 21, 1999:
What time of day is best for irrigating our lawn and landscape?
According to the Idaho Master Gardener Handbook, early morning watering is best because it gives plants a chance to dry off before evening. Yes, night watering uses water more efficiently because less of the spray will evaporate, but it also leaves humid air and wet plants in its wake for hours–tempting fungal diseases.
The Idaho Master Gardeners strongly discourage daytime watering, especially on hot or windy days, because too much of the water will evaporate or miss its mark.
Our kids are beginning to take an interest in the family computer. What sites do you recommend for family "visits" or for young Web-surfers?
Harriet Shaklee, University of Idaho extension family development specialist, happens to have a short list:
http://cybercamp.unl.edu, a "virtual 4-H camp" with its own campfire, cave, crafts, journal, mess hall, infirmary, pond, post office, recreation field, science center, observatory, woods and cabins.
http://www.indiana.edu/~eric_rec/fl/pcto/menu.html, the Family Literacy Center’s "Parents and Children Together Online" site, which promotes family reading, writing and general communication through printed, video and audio materials.
http://www.pbs.org/kids/, a link to all Public Broadcasting Service children’s shows, with games and activities, jokes, a guessing game and a chance to talk.
http://members.tripod.com/~fccpi/, the Children’s Playground, part of the Friendship Club Children’s Project International, which offers a funny math competition, the most stupid questions you can imagine and the "silliest games on the web."
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/, the National Geographic site for young readers, a great resource for information about the world, its people and its wildlife.
http://www.storiestogrowby.com/read/friendship.html, an on-line anthology of kid-tested folk and fairy tales from around the world, based on themes of human values; kids can enter their responses to the stories and read what other children think.
For a longer list that includes parenting education, write Shaklee at hshaklee@uidaho.edu. Also try http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites, the American Library Association’s annotated list of more than 700 English and Spanish-language sites for parents and kids.
My neighbor tells me I shouldn’t let my compost pile dry out. Is that true and why does it matter?
Your neighbor is right. Indeed, in arid regions, a dry compost pile is the most common problem that backyard composters encounter. That’s because the microorganisms that break down organic matter into compost need moisture to carry out their work. If the pile is too dry, the process slows to a parched crawl and eventually stops. Perversely, it’ll also slow down if the pile is soggy: the microorganisms need oxygen, too.
Bob Rynk, University of Idaho extension waste management engineer, says moisture in compost materials–like Baby Bear’s porridge–should be just right. While the surface of a pile will nearly always look dry, the material a few inches below should be damp. Squeeze a handful: if no water oozes out, the pile is too dry. If water drips without squeezing, the pile is too wet.
According to Rynk, a typical 3 foot-cubed pile needs at least 5 gallons of water a week–the equivalent of an inch of rainfall. "Monitor the pile moisture and adapt the amount based on experience and the weather," he says. Add water with a bucket, hose, trickle hose or sprinkler, turning the pile as you do so.
Want more information on composting? Order the University of Idaho’s 41-page booklet Composting at Home, by Bob Rynk and Michael Colt, for $3, plus shipping and sales tax (Idaho residents only), from Ag Publications at telephone (208) 885-7982, fax (208) 885-4648, email cking@uidaho.edu or web site http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, or U.S. mail at Ag Publications Building, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2240.
I’ve gotten into the habit of reading food labels to limit my fat intake and have noticed that sugar is being added to a lot of foods. Are there recommendations for the amount of sugar a person should consume?
Indeed, the USDA recommends that people limit the amount of added sugar they eat. According to Martha Raidl, University of Idaho extension nutrition specialist, the recommendations are based on how many calories you typically consume. If your daily caloric intake averages 1,600, you should limit your added sugar to 6 teaspoons daily. If you consume 2,200 calories, the recommendation is no more than 12 teaspoons; for 2,800 calories, it’s 18 teaspoons.
The molecular makeup of many foods–such as grains, fruits, vegetables and milk–includes built-in sugars. Added sugars are those applied during processing or flavoring.