tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post3673128071714870673..comments2023-12-27T05:30:19.854-05:00Comments on Farming in the shade: The Fun Side of Farming Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-79147812346042211692008-07-18T16:38:00.000-04:002008-07-18T16:38:00.000-04:00You might look into trying vinegar for some things...You might look into trying vinegar for some things. It kills grass. ;)<BR/><BR/>One of my jobs as a kid was to use the sickle to cut down the thistles before they would bloom. Still have a scar to prove it. ;)Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09595494533982256179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-11811042123267806762008-07-18T16:34:00.000-04:002008-07-18T16:34:00.000-04:00I can't see them closely, but they look like Canad...I can't see them closely, but they look like Canada thistle, <I>Cirsium arvense</I>. My field guide says "Alien" and that they came from Europe.<BR/><BR/>The USDA's page has them on the Noxious Weed list of more than 30 states:<BR/>http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CIAR4Alwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200150883889857882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-88212374501468913642008-07-18T14:16:00.000-04:002008-07-18T14:16:00.000-04:00i definitely agree with your digression... even mo...i definitely agree with your digression... even more scary to me are the meat and dairy we eat that's been given hormones and god knows what else! i wonder what cumulative effect that must have... kudos to you for going organi.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-41681106908570088872008-07-17T00:20:00.000-04:002008-07-17T00:20:00.000-04:00About your digression.....I have wondered those sa...About your digression.....I have wondered those same things many times! I was very disappointed to learn that the fruit stand at our local farmer's market sells fruit shipped from out of state. The veggies are farm fresh, but the fruit is not. What is up with that? I say hooray for your old fashioned way!Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09124072321266035104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-68090280704802827912008-07-16T22:16:00.000-04:002008-07-16T22:16:00.000-04:00Kathy has a donkey you could have.........donkeys,...Kathy has a donkey you could have.........donkeys, at least Pooh's friend, eat thistles, right????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-41361001722683198522008-07-16T21:36:00.000-04:002008-07-16T21:36:00.000-04:00Hmmm...I looked at the photos and these are not th...Hmmm...I looked at the photos and these are not them thistles! So if Niger thistle is what is in birdseed, then from whence come all these thistles of the non-Niger variety?<BR/><BR/>I think I need to get me some goldfinch.<BR/><BR/>Nice to meet you, alwen. Feel free to correct my misperceptions (esp. horticultural) anytime. Lonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-2674844600613763352008-07-16T18:20:00.000-04:002008-07-16T18:20:00.000-04:00Okay, I have to speak up for us thistle-feeders an...Okay, I have to speak up for us thistle-feeders and let you know that the USDA requires Niger/Nyjer thistle seed to be heat-treated so it isn't viable.<BR/><BR/>But in any case, Niger thistle (<I>Guitzotia abyssinica</I>) is actually more closely related to sunflowers. It looks like this:<BR/>http://cropwatch.unl.edu/archives/2003/crop03-23.htm#niger_thistle<BR/><BR/>I've been feeding birds in the same spot for 17 years, and while I've grown the odd volunteer sunflower, I can honestly say I've never had one Niger thistle seed sprout.<BR/><BR/>Here's another bit of trivia: the Latin name of the American goldfinch, <I>Carduelis tristis</I>, roughly translates as "thistle eradicator".<BR/><BR/>MSU Hort. 1987, living about half an hour south of you. :)Alwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200150883889857882noreply@blogger.com