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The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack...

58,000 pounds of ground beef products have been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. “American Foods Group, LLC, doing business as Green Bay Dressed Beef, LCC, a Green Bay, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 58,281 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. Ground Beef Recall: 58K Pounds Recalled Due To Possible E. Coli Contamination https://t.co/rqUQflHnMt — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 20, 2023 “The products were produced on Aug. 14, 2023, and sent to Georgia, Michigan and Ohio wholesalers,” NBC...

New research found that replacing traditional proteins with mealworms in high-fat diets for mice could offer numerous health benefits including reduced weight gain and improved cholesterol. While there’s hesitation in Western societies about insect consumption, it’s an environmentally sustainable protein source. With the world’s population on the rise and climate change intensifying, there’s an increasing need for sustainable protein alternatives. While plant-based “meat” and “dairy” have gained popularity, they’re not the sole green alternatives to traditional meat. Research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, conducted on mice, indicates that substituting conventional protein sources with mealworms in high-fat diets could slow...

A common saying among the coastal people of Alaska is “When the tide is out, the table is set.” As a Native Alaskan who grew up eating fresh salmon, oysters, crabs and other shellfish, I have sat at that table. These subsistence and cultural resources have been important for the Aleut, Yupik, Alutiiq and Athabascan peoples who have lived near where I sit in Seldovia, Alaska.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – A truck carrying nacho cheese crashed on an Arkansas highway Tuesday afternoon, leaving a cheesy mess across the roadway. Officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation said the accident took place around midday, after a truck carrying the cans of cheese merged into the same lane as a wrecker truck hauling an 18-wheeler on Interstate 30 near Prescott. On Tuesday evening, officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation posted two pictures to social media showing the interstate covered in spilled cans of nacho cheese. “Taco Tuesday, anyone?” the department joke The crash scene was cleared...

Some names are just the wurst. Just four months after announcing that the hot dog-shaped Wienermobile was changing its name to the Frankmobile, the one-of-a-kind wiener on wheels is reverting to the original. Oscar Mayer announced Wednesday on Instagram that the Frankmobile is toast. The Wienermobile rides again. The name change announced by The Kraft Heinz Company in May was meant to pay homage to the brand's 100% beef franks and their new recipe. For fans of the original name, the change was, frankly, ridiculous. “It’s been a franktastic summer!” the Instagram post said. “But like you, we missed this...

(Last Updated On: September 12, 2023) NATIONAL PAWPAW DAY | THIRD THURSDAY IN SEPTEMBER National Pawpaw Day on the third Thursday in September provides a taste of the great (forgotten) American fruit. Take a bite out of a creamy mango-banana flavored pawpaw to celebrate! #NationalPawpawDay Despite their tropical taste and appearance, many pawpaws grow natively in the United States. With over 60 varieties of pawpaw to choose from, the fruit’s character changes slightly in each one. With a blend of banana and mango and sometimes pineapple, we shouldn’t be surprised by the names given to the pawpaw. For example, the...

In the city of Madison, pigs won't be flying anywhere after the Common Council amended the city ordinance to allow them to be kept as pets. The council voted 11-8 on the change late Tuesday night, allowing one pig per dwelling unit in the city, as long as it's under 24 inches tall at the shoulder, weighs 300 pounds, is up to date on shots and is microchipped. The vote came after roughly 30 minutes of discussion. The swine that started it all was Rudi. He lives along the Southwest Commuter Bike Path. "I think he belongs here," Karen Peterson...

(Last Updated On: September 12, 2023) NATIONAL STRING CHEESE DAY | SEPTEMBER 20 It’s time for America to stand together in support of our love for String Cheese. Join us as we celebrate National String Cheese Day on September 20. Whether you call it String Cheese, Snack Cheese or Cheese Sticks…there’s no denying that you call it delicious! #NationalStringCheeseDay Pack it for a picnic or a hike. Pass it out for a team snack. And of course, no lunch is complete without this tasty treat. You’ve got to hand it to String Cheese—it’s the fun, easy and protein-packed food that...

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack...

Before I became an editor at Madison Magazine, I managed community programs at Pasture & Plenty on Madison’s near westside for a year and a half. One of the many hats I wore in that position involved wrangling spreadsheets. In fact, it was a hat I wore almost every day as I planned the restaurant’s virtual events. We used these spreadsheets to make sure our ticket prices accurately reflected our production cost. Each virtual event came with a kit, and among the easier things to itemize were the costs for individual ingredients. It took time to decipher the invoices from...

(Last Updated On: September 7, 2023) NATIONAL DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER DAY | SEPTEMBER 15 One of America’s favorites, National Double Cheeseburger Day recognizes a food icon savored across the United States. #DoubleCheeseburgerDay Hamburger. Seasoned ground beef, grilled and placed between two slices of bread or a bun. Top with sauteed onions, peppers, pickles, sliced onions, and cheese. Add condiments such as ketchup, mustard, or mayo. Any one of these combinations would create a modern American version a hamburger. Now, double the patties and the cheese. The celebration requires it. While the day is about the double cheeseburger, that doesn’t mean you...

Insects are disappearing from UK farms. Why, and what can be done? Michael Garratt, Simon Potts, Tom Breeze | September 12, 2023 Print Friendly, PDF & Email nature bees beekeeper honey Credit: Wallpaper Flare (Public Domain) Insect populations are declining worldwide at a rate of almost 1% per year. This decline is alarming. Insects play a crucial role in pollinating crops, controlling crop pests and maintaining soil fertility. In the UK alone, pollination provided by bees and other insects adds over £600 million to crop production every year. That’s about 10% of the country’s total annual crop value. Through pollination,...

(Last Updated On: August 31, 2023) NATIONAL PEANUT DAY | SEPTEMBER 13 On September 13th National Peanut Day pays homage to mighty and tasty peanut. #NationalPeanutDay Likely originating in South America around 3,500 years ago, this legume is not a nut. They grow underground, like potatoes. Since they are an edible seed that forms in a pod, they belong to the family Leguminosae with peas and beans. When it comes to plants packing protein power, peanuts provide a whopping 8 grams per ounce, more than any other nut according to The Peanut Institute. And remember, it’s not a nut! Nuts...

Colombian cocaine output surged to a record last year, with the drug flooding into new markets and fueling violence across the planet. Satellite photos show the amount of land planted with coca, the raw material for making the drug, rose to 230,000 hectares (570,000 acres), in 2022, up 13% from the previous year. That’s enough to produce 1,700 tons of refined cocaine, the most ever, according to a report published Monday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The supply glut has led to rising purity in Europe and the US, and a surge in seizures everywhere from Africa,...

The invasive red fire ant, or Solenopsis invicta, has been found in Europe for the first time and unless quickly halted could quickly alter the continent's ecosystems, researchers reported Monday. Photo by Insects Unlocked/Wikimedia Commons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The red imported fire ant, classified as one of the worst and costliest invasive species in the world, has been spotted in Europe for the first time, researchers warned Monday. Although there have been several "interceptions" of the destructive and stinging South American ant species previously in Europe, an established, mature colony had never been found on the continent until...

A nightmare scenario for any family here: A 14-year-old student from Worcester, Massachusetts, died on Friday, officials say, and his family says his death was caused by complications from eating an extremely spicy chip that's the subject of a viral challenge. Harris Wolobah's mother confirmed to NBC10 Boston that the family believes the teenager died of complications from the One Chip Challenge, though the results of an autopsy were pending. Here's the young man in question: The "One Chip Challenge" was launched by the chip manufacturer Paqui. It comes wrapped in its own individual coffin-shaped container replete with warnings about...

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack...

Two San Benito County sentinel chickens tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The tests were done in the last week of August, according to the California Department of Health. The West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in California. At least 347 deaths have been attributed to WNV since 2003 in the state. According to the department, in 2023, no human cases have been discovered on the Central Coast. Every county surrounding the Central Coast has at least one human or animal test positive for WNV. It's been a landmark year for the disease in California. Seventy-five...

A new study reveals how we could design robots to think like bees. Honey bees excel in weighing effort against reward and risk, quickly determining which flowers can provide sustenance for their colony. A study recently published in the journal eLife illustrates how eons of evolution have fine-tuned honey bees to make swift judgments while minimizing danger. This research sheds light on the workings of insect minds, the evolution of human cognition, and offers insights for improved robot design. The paper presents a model of decision-making in bees and outlines the paths in their brains that enable fast decision-making. The...