A group of European scientists propose that we could all live in gigantic fungus buildings. An entire city, from apartments, schools and stores to the hospitals would be made of living fungus – constantly growing, dying off and regenerating itself. That's the vision laid out in a provocative new paper, reported by Dan Robitzski in Futurism since the paper has not yet been peer reviewed. The idea is in response to the prospect of catastrophic climate change. Growing our building materials from biological materials, the theory goes, would make construction less dependent on fossil fuels and environmentally destructive mining operations.
Diversion No. 1
The world's first human-composting facility is set to open in 2021, revealed Business Insider. Families could take home 'human soil' for their gardens. Washington will be the first US state to allow human composting. Seattle-based company Recompose intends to open a human-composting facility in 2021.
Packages of dahlia, canna and begonia tubers, along with lily bulbs are in full flood in garden centres and chain stores alike. In northern climes, the ground is still frozen solid, hardly a welcome for such tender. The solution is to start them off inside and so benefit from early displays when the weather ameliorates from something resembling a Norse Niflheim. Choose six-inch (15cm) plastic pots for starters. Cover the holes in the bottom with a sheet of tissue paper to prevent soil leaking through, then fill with tropical plant soil. Keep moist and mov into light when the first shoots appear. In the case of dahlias, these can be used once or twice as cuttings to increase your collections.
Diversion No. 2
A new tomato is ideal for urban gardens, roofs of skyscrapers and even outer space, scientists announce in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Genetic editing is moving tomato crops from the field to the city skyline, or even outer space. US researchers used CRISPR gene editing to optimize tomatoes for urban agriculture. The fruit ripen in bunches like grapes on compact bushes – eschewing the plant's usual long vines – and are ready for harvest in just 40 days.
Indoor plants may not remove appreciable amounts of pollutants from inside air, but they can do much for mental health, new research has shown. A study out of the University of Hyogo in Awaji, Japan, details the stress-reducing benefits to office workers that even a small plant such as a cactus situated within easy viewing can impart. The study was published in the journal HortTechnology. While it has been commonly assumed that plant life is soothing to those required regularly face stressful or mundane situations, this study scientifically verifies the degree of psychological and physiological impact induced by indoor plants.
Diversion No. 3
The 5th most borrowed non-fiction book at Wellington Libraries was 'Flourish: New Zealand Women and Their Extraordinary Gardens' by Juliet Nicholas, reported The Dominion Post.
On Valentine's Day in Japan, men don't give any gifts. Only women give gifts, they only give it to men, it's always chocolate, and they get it for all the men in their lives, including coworkers. Then there is a day on 14th March where the men reciprocate. The gifts are only from men to women at this time, and are chocolate or jewelry or nice clothes, and the amount spent is directly related to the amount of chocolate received (Bored Panda)
Diversion No. 4
"I have a dead horse in my backyard. What do I do with it?" A caller queried Wellington City Council, New Zealand, according to The Dominion Post.
The grand North American tradition of Groundhog Day continues to flourish at least east of the Rockies. But can the emerging mammal seeing his shadow or otherwise predict an early or late spring? Environment Canada's Dave Phillips suggests a mere 36% of the time. He recommends marking a pair of cards 'yes' and 'no' then placing them face down and choosing one. You will gain greater accuracy than the wretched rodent – or its promoters.
February, groundhogs notwithstanding, is liable to be the coldest month. How cold might that be?
"Colder than a lawyer's heart."
"Colder than a politician's handshake."
"Colder than a bank loan officer's look."
"So cold, politicians have their hands in their own pockets."
Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.
