 EEWW what's that green stuff all over those potatoes? The next time you walk into your supermarket, grocery store - you know, the place you buy food - take look at the potatoes. I mean a real good look. Most likely they'll have a ting of green on them. This green stuff is a bitter tasting chemical called Solanine.  Solanine is produced when potatoes are subjected to light even under flourescent lighting found in your favorite food shopping establishment. Potatoes grow under the ground. As the plant matures we pile up soil around the plant to "hill" them. This protects the tubers and enables them to develop and not poke out of the ground. Heavy irrigation and rains can wash your "hill" to uncover potatoes near the surface so cover them back up if this occurs.We don’t want to expose those spuds to the light. If consumed in large quantities Solanine is toxic. That's why it’s important to cut away any green portions of a potato before you cook and consume. Remember to store your potatoes out of exposed light to cut down on the Solanine.   Question: I have had this aloe plant for about six months, it has grown significantly. But I went to water it, and I noticed it was very wobbly. I then noticed that it had absolutely no roots, and I could pick it up out of the soil. Can it grow new roots? Or is it just going to die? Answer: Luckily for you or maybe luckily for the aloe plant, it's probably going to live. However, we're going to have to do something pretty drastic, and that would be to throw away that old soil and start off fresh or brand new. It seems to me what's happened here is that the soil has been over saturated, and all those roots have rotted out. And because aloe plants are really good for rejuvenating, you just wash off the plant, put it on the counter for a couple of days to callous over a bit, dip the end in some rooting hormone then plop it back right into the new soil. Bury it deep enough so that it doesn't fall over and you should be okay. If needed, take a branch or chopstick to prop it up until it takes root. Finally, be certain your soil is kept moist, not wet. Call Nick with your question 24/7 at 1-800-405-NICK(6425) Watch Nick on Things Green Prime at https://amazon.com/v/thingsgreen   Today's Things Green Garden Minute is going to be a little bit on the gross and disgusting side and it all happened before the Coronavirus of 2020. I have to share something with you because it's important to realize what's going on at your local grocery center and farmers market. I was recently at the market, and I saw somebody doing something pretty disgusting.  He was checking out all of the apples by touching and feeling them which doesn't seem like a problem. However, before touching each one of them, he was licking his thumb and his forefinger and then squeezing each one. I was taken back by this to say the least.  That's why there are companies that are making these fancy washes in the first place. However, if you use just a little water and some mild soap you could probably do it yourself without any extra expenses.Now imagine many people doing that to the fruits and vegetables that you're buying. It is imperative that when you bring that fruit home, before you consume it, make sure you wash it.  Dried flowers have always been popular in bouquets and there's no reason why you can't become part of the dried flower craze, too! Best part is, there are so many different ways to used dried flowers:
1. Use them as dried bouquets the year round 2. Mix with green materials for unusual effects  Teach a child urban farming and they'll never go hungry. We are on a journey teaching urban youth the magic of urban farming and gardening Project Youth Grow. In cooperation with local middle and high schools we engage students on how to properly grow a garden, harvest and process their crops in an urban environment. Our curriculum has already ushered students to continue what they have learned to higher education.
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