Archive for the ‘For the Home’ Category
Fact or Fiction – Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous?
Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Myths and rumors about the toxicity of the poinsettia plant are common when the popular red-leaved plants take center stage in holiday decorations. While the genus (Euphorbia) to which the poinsettia plant belongs does contain some highly toxic plants, the popular poinsettia itself is not toxic.
Some sources attribute the rumor about the dangers of poinsettia leaves to a case of poisoning in 1919 that led to the death of a two year-old child. At the time, the cause of the poisoning was incorrectly determined to be a poinsettia leaf.
According to the POISINDEX information source – the primary resource used by the majority of poison control centers nationwide – a child who weighed 50 lbs. would have to eat over 500 poinsettia leaves to reach an even potentially toxic dose of compounds in the poinsettia plant. Doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Poison Center conducted a review of 22,793 reported cases of poinsettia exposures, the majority (93%) of which occurred in children, and found that 92% of those exposed did not develop any symptoms at all. Ninety-six per cent of those exposed were not even treated in a health care facility. Furthermore, no deaths resulting from poinsettia ingestion have ever been documented.
Even though accidental ingestion of poinsettia leaves will not damage your body or kill you, it may lead to nausea and vomiting in some cases. Since the taste of poinsettia leaves is reportedly very unpleasant, it is unlikely that a child or animal who attempts to eat or chew the leaves will continue to do so after the first taste.
While ingestion of house plants is never a good idea (some popular plants can be extremely dangerous when eaten) parents of young children can be assured that the poinsettia plant is not a dangerous risk in the home.
-By Maggie Oldfield Thayer Nursery
Caring for Your Christmas Tree
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
Now that you have selected the perfect Christmas tree, here are some tips for keeping it fresh through the holiday season! If you follow the steps below and treat your fresh cut tree as you would a bouquet of flowers, you can enjoy its warm glow into the New Year!
With a pre-cut tree, it’s vitally important to make a fresh cut across the bottom. This is because after a tree is cut, its sap will form a seal across the base after about 3 hours. A fresh cut, at home or at the nursery, will ensure that your tree can absorb water and that its needles will stay fresh.
As soon as possible, get your tree in water! If you aren’t going to trim it right away, place it in a bucket of water until you are ready (if your tree dries out in the stand, another fresh cut will be necessary). Your tree will “drink” more in the first few days, so be sure to keep your stand topped off.
A variety of organic products are available to keep your tree fresher longer. At the nursery, we recommend spraying your tree with Wilt Stop to seal its needles and slow the drying process. Mixing Tree Life nutrient powder in with the first watering will also help to keep your tree soft and green.
Try keeping your tree away from heat sources, as these tend to speed the drying process. Lastly, check that your lights and outlets are in good working order and are designed for use with indoor trees. If you follow these steps, you will never have to miss the joy and warmth of a real Christmas tree!
Merry Christmas!
Andy Archer Thayer Nursery
“Midlife Farmer”: Presidents’ Weekend – 2/20/2011
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
Andy Pollock is a self-described “midlife farmer”, whose family bought Silverbrook Farm in 1953, when Dartmouth MA was considered “way out in the country” and agricultural. After picking up his undergraduate degree from Penn State and then his MBA from the University of Maine, Andy bought a house a few towns away, worked on the business side of medicine and eventually, became a partner in a medical services company.
After a few years, Andy sold his business, and he and his wife moved back to Silverbrook where he repaired, cleared fields, replanted orchards and brought the land back into production.
With each year, the Pollock family added greenhouses, a well, a grain silo, and a new roof for the barn, plus new and newer equipment. You get the picture. Andy watched the farm expand as he and his family rented more land and added more outlets for their products.
Andy’s commitment to his farm and his employees is but one part of his greater commitment to the larger agricultural community. Forming partnerships with other local farms is key in his business plan – by providing outlets for other farms through his many business and co-marketing endeavors, he’s hoping to bring prosperity to many farms.
We’re proud to have Andy Pollock and Silverbrook Farm at stonesoup sundays @ the farm and share with him in his commitment to continue to find ways of cooperation with other local organizations to reduce waste and improve the sustainability of our local farms.
Andy thinks that his parents would be proud of his accomplishments. And so do we.
Come sample the delights of Silverbrook Farm on Sunday from 10:30-3:30.
How to Care for Your Fresh Cut Christmas Tree
Monday, November 15th, 2010
We thought we should share these tips from the American Christmas Tree Association regarding the care and feeding of Christmas trees.
When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees:
1. Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
2. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don’t cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.
3. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don’t bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.
4. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.
5. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.
6. Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.
7. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, and direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
8. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
9. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.
10. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
11. Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying
12. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
13. Do not overload electrical circuits.
14. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.
15. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
16. Go to realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you.
17. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.
One Terrific Way to Breathe Cleaner Air Indoors
Monday, October 25th, 2010
Research has shown, actually research begun by NASA in the 1960’s, that houseplants can remove nearly 90% of the toxins in indoor air within two days!
The spider plant, with its numerous and quick-growing leaves, is one of the most powerful air cleansers.
Microscopic openings in the spider plant’s leaves filter harmful substances and absorb mold-spore allergens and traces of carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, a colorless gas emitted by some carpet materials and furniture. Removal of these gases can help with headaches, difficulty breathing or wheezing and brain fog.
In terms of care, the Spider Plant only requires water every two weeks or so. Let the soil dry out completely between watering. If the foliage begins to show black tips, or a yellow halo, it is probably getting too much water. If the foliage begins to droop, it is ready for a drink.
Spider Plants also are very easy to propagate, but we have them in the Nursery as well.
By Maggie Oldfield