by MaryM on 22 August 2012 
The other day I found myself looking through the plant patents held by the Zaiger’s Genetics team. The Zaigers, a family of plant breeders led by a UC Davis Plant Pathology graduate, have developed some very cool fruits. You may know of the pluot, and apparently they have a peach with low acid that has taken the world by storm. They have developed many plants with important and beneficial characteristics besides taste – but they taste great too. I know some people dislike patents, but I have no objection to people who have developed these novel plants having patents
by Karl Haro von Mogel on 20 June 2012 One of the most iconic and misunderstood behaviors of honeybees is the “swarm.” People fear the swarm – it conjures up thoughts of an unstoppable venomous aerial assault – and yet ironically it is the most friendly and tame way to encounter honeybees! Catching swarms is one of the most fun and exciting things about beekeeping, and is often the way that new beekeepers get started. My late grandfather started keeping bees when he caught a swarm in a cardboard box in downtown San Francisco. A swarm was how I got started as well. Until recently, I have only
by Karl Haro von Mogel on 19 June 2012 I love bees. For over a decade I have been a hobby beekeeper, tending to my hives, catching swarms, and following the news about my flying friends. There is a lot to like about bees, from their biology and behavior to the geometric beauty of their hives. And of course, the delicious boldness and subtleties of the sweet honey that they produce. I picked up the hobby from my late grandfather, who always talked about them. I love to talk about bees as well, and I’m also always willing to open up the hives and show what goes on
by Frank N. Foode™ on 15 May 2012 Hi everyone, Frank N. Foode™ here. I was hanging out, smelling some Tulips in Madison, WI, and none other than Dr. Michael Grusak stopped by from the Baylor College of Medicine to give a seminar on his nutritional research into Golden Rice. I was so excited I ended up live tweeting the whole thing on #mikegrusak! For those who aren’t big on the whole twitter thing – have no fear – I Storified it and added in some pictures and extra links, too. Now a seminar that reached dozens can now be experienced by hundreds, or thousands. (Isn’t technology wonderful?)
by Frank N. Foode™ on 7 May 2012 Happy May, everyone! Frank N. Foode™ here to announce the start of a new community contest here on the Biofortified Blog! Spring is an exciting time for a plant such as myself. Farmers and gardeners everywhere are planning and planting, tilling and drilling, and hoping for a good summer grilling! Around the hemisphere, plants are popping up from the soil – aided by our human friends. Being a domesticated plant has its benefits, but we depend on people to plant us, weed our beds, protect us from pests, and make sure we have the moisture and nutrients we need.
|
|
Springtime is for Swarms
One of the most iconic and misunderstood behaviors of honeybees is the “swarm.” People fear the swarm – it conjures up thoughts of an unstoppable venomous aerial assault – and yet ironically it is the most friendly and tame way to encounter honeybees! Catching swarms is one of the most fun and exciting things about beekeeping, and is often the way that new beekeepers get started. My late grandfather started keeping bees when he caught a swarm in a cardboard box in downtown San Francisco. A swarm was how I got started as well. Until recently, I have only
For the love of bees
I love bees. For over a decade I have been a hobby beekeeper, tending to my hives, catching swarms, and following the news about my flying friends. There is a lot to like about bees, from their biology and behavior to the geometric beauty of their hives. And of course, the delicious boldness and subtleties of the sweet honey that they produce. I picked up the hobby from my late grandfather, who always talked about them. I love to talk about bees as well, and I’m also always willing to open up the hives and show what goes on
Live Tweeting Golden Rice – Storified
Hi everyone, Frank N. Foode™ here. I was hanging out, smelling some Tulips in Madison, WI, and none other than Dr. Michael Grusak stopped by from the Baylor College of Medicine to give a seminar on his nutritional research into Golden Rice. I was so excited I ended up live tweeting the whole thing on #mikegrusak! For those who aren’t big on the whole twitter thing – have no fear – I Storified it and added in some pictures and extra links, too. Now a seminar that reached dozens can now be experienced by hundreds, or thousands. (Isn’t technology wonderful?)
Community Contest 6: Love your plants!
Happy May, everyone! Frank N. Foode™ here to announce the start of a new community contest here on the Biofortified Blog! Spring is an exciting time for a plant such as myself. Farmers and gardeners everywhere are planning and planting, tilling and drilling, and hoping for a good summer grilling! Around the hemisphere, plants are popping up from the soil – aided by our human friends. Being a domesticated plant has its benefits, but we depend on people to plant us, weed our beds, protect us from pests, and make sure we have the moisture and nutrients we need.