2008 - Year of the Potato

Until I stumbled across it, I didn't know that 2008 was the UN's year of the potato. It raises awareness on just how much we depend and grow this unique tuber on a global scale. Giving statistics on growth, it shows that Europe and Asia produce a staggering amount of potatoes on a yearly basis!

The site gives detailed information on the potato plant and how it grows, nutritional facts, biodiversity, economy and pricing. All in all, a very clever way to get information about the potato out there to the world. The site is in several different languages to help break down the barriers. No doubt that their attempt to educate is really making a difference. I applaud the UN for their efforts.

The thing I find most interesting:

" Diversity conserved in trust

The International Potato Centre in Peru maintains the world’s largest bank of
potato germplasm, including some 1 500 samples of about 100 wild species
collected in eight Latin American countries, and 3 800 traditional Andean
cultivated potatoes. The collection is maintained and managed under the
terms of an agreement with the Governing Body of the International Treaty
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and, like all collections
eligible for funding from the Global Crop Diversity Trust, is available to plant
breeders worldwide upon request."

Incidentally, 2009 is International Year of Astronomy.

Wire Growing Bins

An easy way to compost is to take a length of wire for fencing and let it naturally roll up, take the ends, wire them together and then drop your leaves and compost materials in and allow it to do its thing.

But another idea for one of these bins and plant your potatoes in it. If you're going to make a wire cage compost bin why not make a couple of larger holes in the wire to insert potato seeds? It saves space, its mobile to keep pests down and you can still use the compost in the bin as a soil amendment later.

Pull the plants from the bin and either knock your bin over or dig them out. The one in the article from Hill Gardens of Maine is rather large, but if you're interested in a variety, there is no reason why several smaller bins couldn't be done instead. Just remember, the smaller, the faster they will dry out.

La la la la la, Potato in a Barrel

Planning the freezer meals was easy and the list made out, we're ready to do that thing we do tomorrow evening. Man, I'm going to be exhausted by the time the weekend is over. I'm going to end up going to work to rest from all the cooking.

I was catching up on some reading when I came across this post from Garden Desk. I look forward to doing this one next year. Potatoes grown in a 55 gallon trash bin. That solves the problem I was having. I did not want old used tires stacked up in my yard. Do not. It's bad enough my husband has a spare sitting in plain sight. It drives me nuts.

But the bins can be painted, or even buried after they get so much in them to keep them from looking like a trash bin. You can't hide a stack of used tires no matter how much paint you slap on them. It then just looks like a tire that's been painted. Yuck.


I realized as the sound was pumping out of my Altec Lansing's that I have been remiss. I have Jackie's (formerly of Clann an Drumma) Albannach posted on the right but I have nothing else. I love music to put it simply and I have a lot of it. I'm rather eclectic when it comes to my musical tastes. I have full operas like Don Giovanni and full scores and the entire Moonlight Sonata. I like Enya and Enigma. I am a huge Tool fan. I absolutely adore Seether, Saliva, Chevelle, Finger Eleven... well, I guess you can see where I'm going with this. Be prepared for music links.

Potatoes

I love potatoes. They are so versatile. Smoother fried, baked, mashed, in a soup, as the soup, with green beans, fried.. many many possibilities. The great thing is that there are several types of potatoes and each one has their own very own qualities that make them unique in the culinary capasity. The cool thing is that they are very easy to grow, too.

The easy way to grow them is to get old tires and fill them with soil and plant the seed potatoes. Once they have established themselves, put on another tire, fill with soil again. The potatoes will, of course, grow towards the light. Once they have established themselves above the current soil level, add another tire.

The thing is that the potatoes will form between the seed potato and the new growth. The more area between the seed potatoes and the green growth, the more potatoes there will be. The important thing is to make sure to buy from reputable nurseries or seed companies so that you can insure that your potatoes are disease free.

I've read that peanuts can be grown this way, too.