#10 Tongues in Trees
May 13th 2022 - Greenland Wind and Solar, Go Small & Slow with Seeds, Cinnamon Myrtle, Spittle Bugs, Lone Survivor, Just Add Water and the Power of a Bioblitz
Welcome to Number 10! It’s great to be back at the keys typing and musing!
This week:
Remote Greenland is pioneering new technologies in an effort to end reliance on fossil fuels.
Australia’s answer to Cinnamon in the bush
Permaculture Principle 9 is Slow and Small
A Lone Survivor gives me a moment of wonder
Spittle Bugs!
Bioblitzes for Citizen Science
How to improve your backyard biodiversity
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Remote Greenland Develops Solutions for Renewable Energy Under Extreme Conditions
In the far north of Greenland, there is a community that relies on fossil fuels to power everything in the settlement. Now they are a part of a scientific research project to develop solar and wind technologies that can survive the extreme arctic conditions.
This project isn’t just about sustainable energy. The instigator is a Qanaaq local, Toku Oshima, who went to a summit to talk about the impact of climate change in her small community. While there, she was inspired to take her vision for change further by converting to renewable energy.
Greenland is already using a lot of renewable energy in the heavily populated areas, but in the remote North, the residents have faced numerous challenges including a lack of technicians to maintain and repair the infrastructure.
Mary Albert, a snow physicist from Dartmouth, aims to tackle this problem head-on by developing technologies that can be maintained and repaired by existing residents.
Qaanaaq currently runs on diesel generators and the environmental impact goes further than just the use of the fuel itself. It is also a challenge to get diesel to the remote areas, resulting in a greater impact on the environment and significant costs for the community. The community is feeling the costs with some residents unable to provide food for sled dogs.
If an alternative to the diesel generators can be developed the community will benefit economically and have greater sustainability. Other Arctic communities around the world are also keenly interested in the project, as they face similar challenges.
This is good news for us all with climate science predicting increasing extreme weather events around the world. If sustainable, renewable energy sources can be developed for extreme conditions they can potentially be utilised in any areas that find themselves subject to extreme conditions.
Read more here.
Small & Slow with Seeds
I wonder if any of you, dear readers, feel like I did when I was first introduced to permaculture. Some of the principles are almost too easy, to simple to implement. They just make sense.
The ninth principle focuses us on long term gain or putting in the least effort for the most gain. Whichever way you interpret it, it lines up with the old adage that slow and steady wins the race.
To put this principle into action, simply harvest the seeds from your existing plants. Seed saving is beneficial for the plants too. When you save their seeds, you save the modifications that they have made to thrive in the environment of your garden.
Wondering how to save your seeds, here’s some tips for some edible crops:
Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, pak choi, bok choi, etc) – Let the plant flower ( I simply harvest the outer leaves while the plant is young and then let it be), then let the seed heads dry, place a pillowcase or calico bag over the seed heads and shake the seed heads vigorously. You should end up with a “bag” full of dried seeds,
Tomatoes and Cucumbers – take a ripe fruit and squeeze or scrape the wet seeds on to a piece of paper towel, allow to dry before simply planting the paper towel in the ground to regrow your best produce.
Rocket – harvest leaves until the plant becomes bitter, abandon and allow to flower, let it self-seed. Bingo! Ongoing Rocket crop.
Over time, seed saving helps produce stronger and tastier crops if you only allow the best specimens to go to seed. Why not give it a try?
Spittle Bugs!
Ever see little balls of frothy spittle on your plants? Chances are that they are being produced by the nymphs of Spittle Bugs. Which species? Well, that depends on where you are and what plant they are feeding on. It could be any of the more than 2500 species worldwide.
Spittle bugs feed on plant sap, sucking the juices from stems and sometimes leaves. In their nymph stage, they produce a protective layer of froth or spittle to hide from potential predators.
Are they harmful to your plants?
In small numbers, these little bugs are unlikely to do much damage but in large populations, they can deform leaf growth and weaken your plants.
The adults are similar to leafhoppers with large back legs but they are rarely seen in the garden. They can survive over winter in leaf litter.
To control Spittle Bugs, they must be removed individually. Pesticides have little impact on this species as they are most active in the nymph stage which is protected by the spittle.
Most sources agree that there is little motivation to control these little bugs. They are rarely harmful and function as just another part of the ecosystem.
Bioblitz It!
Bioblitzes are becoming a popular way to gather data on particular populations in particular areas.
In the South-Eastern United States of America, a Bioblitz is currently running that catalogues invasive species of plants and animals in a number of National Parks. It’s been running since January and in that time more than 450 people have identified more than 230 species and recorded more than 1200 observations. These observations may be used to formulate a plan of action that can be targeted at specific species in specific locations. Read more here.
Science relies on data and analysis. An effectively run Bioblitz can provide excellent data to help formulate a plan of action to improve the environment. Did you know that anyone can run a Bioblitz using iNaturalist? It’s a good idea to get familiar with the platform first, but many community groups are now using it to create Citizen Science projects that get people out and about, connecting with nature!
A Lone Survivor
During the floods we were visited by lots of Graceful Tree Frogs (Litoria gracilentia). I was delighted to see them in ambiplexus (frog word for mating) in a laundry tub that we use to grow reeds. A week later I could see lots of tadpoles. A week after that there were none.
I was delighted then, to see one last week with the tiny beginnings of back legs. Next to it, I saw the reason for the demise of the rest of the population. After some thought, I scooped it out and put it in my fish tank so that it could finish metamorphosis.
The reason for the demise of the Graceful Tadpoles is also why we don’t breed mosquitoes in the “reed tub”: dragonfly larvae.
At every stage of development dragonflies are relentless hunters devouring anything they can. They are an excellent mosquito control as they enthusiastically hunt and consume the larvae and the adults. Unfortunately, they also consume tadpoles and other small aquatic creatures in their larval and nymph stages.
I’m not sure if this week’s greatest wonder was the lone survivor or the healthy predator that was stalking it. I guess ultimately, it’s the wonder that Nature forces a balance, and that even “helpless” prey can survive against all odds.
Cinnamon from the Australian Subtropics
Another of my favourite plants, Cinnamon Myrtle or Grey Myrtle is a versatile addition to a food forest. In the wild it can grow to 7 metres, but the home gardener can expect it to grow to about 3 metres if a small tree is desired. Otherwise, this plant makes a great edible hedge or screening plant.
The oils have antifungal and antimicrobial properties that manifest in a cinnamon flavour. Simply dry and crumble fresh new growth for an Australian twist to savoury and sweet dishes.
This plant will grow in full sun to dappled shade and is relatively drought tolerant once it is established. It grows in most soil and climate conditions and produces delightful star-shaped flowers in Summer.
In the past it was a popular hardwood source before it was popularised as a bush food spice.
It’s a great choice for a sensory garden or playground where brushing the leaves releases a wonderful Cinnamon aroma!
Just Add Water!
This week’s free reading link is inspired by my new home in the wettest place in Australia.
It is the first in a series of Tips for Backyard Biodiversity. Read it here.