Lake Painting

Archive for January 31, 2012

Winter Lettuce Update

January 31, 2012 Tom No comments

Lettuce planted on January 12, 2012, From Left to right: Buttercrunch, Green Ice, Freckles, Claremont, Winter Density

 

Lettuce planted on January 17, 2012, Freckles on Left, Green Ice on right

 

I mentioned in my January post about trying to grow lettuce this late winter for our family.  On 1/12 I planted Buttercrunch(butterhead type), Green Ice(a thick leafed leaf lettuce), Freckles(an heirlooom Romaine), Claremont(I think it’s a butterhead) and Winter Density(very hardy, butterhead/Romaine hybrid).  Since the Freckles and Green Ice were old seed they didn’t seem to germinate well so on 1/17 I planted fresh Freckle and Green Ice seed in a different flat.  You can see for yourself how they look.  It looks like the plants will be large enough in about 10 days to plant them in one of our unheated greenhouses.  Of course, the lettuce will have the additional protection of being under a low tunnel that is in the greenhouse along with electric heating cables that are thermostatically controlled to go on at 35F. By the way as I write this at 8AM, the warm front is going through.  At 5:10 AM this morning I noticed the temp at Pickerel Lake was 25F but at Fremont, about 7 miles to the west the report on the TV was that it already was up to 38F!

 

Farm News, Weather

Does TMV(Tobacco Mosaic Virus) cause lung and other cancers?

January 30, 2012 Tom One comment

When I started growing tomatoes for sale, many years ago, I read quite a bit about tomato diseases.  While there are many diseases of tomatoes, the Tobacco Mosaic Virus Disease stood out in my mind because many experts mentioned that TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus), which is found in ALL tobacco products, can devastate tomato plants (and some other plants such as peppers and eggplants) and is especially damaging to young plants grown in greenhouses.  The potential for serious problems is so great that growers are cautioned to not let visitors enter their greenhouse if they smoked cigarettes, pipes or cigars recently.  This knowledge is what set my mind thinking…

Is the Common TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus) a Possible Agent that is Responsible for Some Lung, Oral and Throat Cancers?

 by

Tom Fox

 The TMV virus, which infects many tobacco plants, resists tobacco manufacturing processes to such a degree that most commercial growers will not allow those who have recently used tobacco products to enter their greenhouse if plants from the nightshade family (e.g. tomatoes and peppers) are growing.  Many growers also do not allow tobacco use in their tomato, potato, pepper and eggplant fields.  These growers know that the TMV from tobacco will devestate their crops.  While plant viruses, such as TMV, aren’t believed to be able to replicate in human cells,  Didier Raoult of the University of the Mediterranean in Marseilles, France,  believes he had found evidence in 2010 that the PMMV (Pepper Mild Mottle Virus) can cause fever, aches and itching in humans.  Raoult  doesn’t claim he discovered direct infection of human cells by the virus, but viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) accidental interfering with the human RNA.   The possibility of TMV being involved in the etiology of lung cancer has been discussed as long ago as 1960 when P.W. Bothwell (M.D. D.P.H. Univ. of Birmingham, England ) speculated in The Lancet that perhaps the combustion processes of tobacco burning might provide the media for modifying the TMV so that it could upset the normal RNA/protein mechanism in lung cells.  While this is an interesting hypothesis, it doesn’t seem to fit the likely scenario since it has been found that smokeless tobacco use, especially snuff dipping, is also associated with above normal oral cancer rates.   Alternatively, some may argue against TMV being involved in the etiology of smoking tobacco since, they argue, the high temperatures would destroy the viruses.  This is probably true.  However, the smoke that is drawn through the non-burning part of the tobacco could easily dislodge the viral particles from the tobacco and carry it to the user. In other words, the problem could be the non-burning part of the tobacco and not directly by the burning tobacco.

Research has indicated that Benzo[a]pyrene is a carcinogen and is found in tobacco smoke. Benzo[a]pyrene is also found in many foods such as overdone charcoal broiled steak and burnt toast.  Benzo[a]pyrene, found in tobacco smoke (including cigarette smoke), was shown to cause genetic damage in lung cells that was identical to the damage observed in the DNA of most malignant lung tumors.  Since DNA damage is believed to be the underlying cause of mutations leading to cancer, it follows that it is thought that benzo[a]pyrene, may be an important etiologic agent of lung cancer.  Nonetheless, the high oral cancer rate (especially cheek and gum cancers) among snuff dippers, compared to nontobacco users, implies that tobacco itself, and not just tobacco smoke, is a carcinogen.   The chemical family of nitrosomenes occurs in both tobacco smoke and tobacco itself.  In 1956, two British scientists, John Barnes and Peter Magee, reported that dimethylnitrosamine produced liver tumours in rats. Research was undertaken and approximately 90% of nitrosamine compounds were deemed to be carcinogenic.  The problem is that nitrosomenes are found in many foods and other consumables that are consumed by both tobacco and nontobacco users.  It seems logical to assume there is something unique to tobacco that is the cause of enormously high (some data suggests a 50 fold increase!) cheek and gum cancer rates in those people who are long term snuff dippers.  While some data suggests that nitrosamines may be responsible for this increase — the Swedish usually use a pasteurizing technique, (instead of heat treating it) of curing the tobacco for snuff use (they call it snus) which results in lower nitrosamines and apparently lower cancer rate.  However, it is just possible that this unique curing technique also results in damaging or even destroying the tobacco’s TMV.  The traditional heat treatment of curing tobacco does not destroy the TMV since this method uses a maximum temperature of 72C and it is known that TMV can survive at a temperature as high as 79C.  While nitrosamines, like TMV, do contact the cells of both smokers and nonsmokers, Health New Zealand concluded, in their study, that carcinogens and toxicants were present only below harmful levels in “smokeless” tobacco products.  This data seems to point to an unknown etiologic agent that is responsible for most tobacco related cancers.  Logically, this points to the need for serious studies to determine if TMV could be this unknown etiologic agent.  If it is, the risk associated with the use of tobacco products could be reduced by the removal of or destruction of the TMV before use.

I am not implying here with this discussion that TMV can replicate itself in a human cell or that it is infectious in a manner similar to the influenza virus.  In a way it might be appropriate to think of TMV as an environmental, natural occurring chemical that when in sufficient concentrations can damage human cell’s DNA.  Also possible is that the TMV can affect negatively the cell’s DNA repair enzymes.

One test of this theory is to eliminate the TMV by heating the tobacco to temperatures in excess of 81C.  Sterilization via irradiation is another option. The TMV eliminated tobacco can then be available for research trials.  Before this is done, however, the Swedish Snus should be tested for active TMV.  If there is a reduction in TMV levels this would seem to indicate an increase in probability that TMV is an important etiological agent for cancer and it would be fitting and proper to go ahead with the appropriate trials.

Health

What is the rest of winter going to be like?

January 29, 2012 Tom No comments

So far we have had a truly mild winter.  On Friday we went to the orchard and pruned.  This was the first day this winter we pruned to any extent.  Before this we only went to the farm to pick up firewood we cut last winter/spring. It was a real nice day and conditions were near perfect for pruning.  As we were leaving the orchard a thought came to mind.  It was January 27 and we pulled right into the orchard without having to plow or shovel the entrance where the County Snow Plow pushes it.  This was the first time in memory this has happened when we started pruning in mid to late January.  It was a real shock and really made one realize, without having to look at the thermometer, that the winter was mild.

Now what about the rest of winter?  Well, the meteorological winter officially ends on the last day of February, this year that’s February 29.  So, what’s up for February?  My best guess is that it will have normal temps and little snow or rain.  Since February is the driest month here this means there will likely be less than 2 inches of water equivalent precipitation.  However, one single winter storm could pop up and make this guess way off.  What I am more confident in is that the temp will average out near normal — average temp within 1F of the normal which is 27F  (34F max–21F min)

We have already planted 4200 Newaygo Newaygo Sweet Onions and about half are coming up.  We have many more other sweet onions to plant.  Next week we plan on planting our tomatoes for the high tunnel and soon after that our peppers.  Also this year we have made arrangements with Keith Swanson, who owns about 5 acres of land right in the middle of our 65 acre farm, to rent about 2 acres of land so we can plant more acres of our Mirai sweet corn.  This means we are planning on planting nearly 20 acres of sweet corn this year–the last few years we planted around 17 acres.

 

 

Farm News, Weather

High Tunnel, Plant Light Stand, Started Planting Onions

January 26, 2012 Tom No comments

One week from Ground Hog’s Day…Saturday is noteworthy since it is that day January 28, when the normal high temperature starts to go up–and it does this daily for 6 months..Friday the avg max is 30F and Saturday it is 31F– by the end of Feb it is just over 37F.

I’ve been asked, by a real nice person, about how we grow tomatoes in our unheated high tunnel.  Here is basically the way we do it.  We start our tomato plants inside in our Plant Light Stand.  We transplant them to large peat pots and then in March sometime we put them in our attached greenhouse.  If the nights are real cold we bring them in.  Then in mid to late April we plant them in rows in the high tunnel.  We use raised beds, drip tape and black or red plastic mulch.  We also sometimes put a low tunnel over the plants–especially if we plant really early.  We then use fertigation through the drip tape–Miracle Gro is good here.  We also trellis them although we have used tomato cages.  In late fall, winter or very early spring, we remove everything and make sure we do a good cleanup–no tomato plants and very few roots.  If this isn’t done you will have disease problems.

Apparently, the cold for the last part of January I talked about has basically come and gone.  Except for this weekend, it looks like the next two weeks are going to be warmer than normal and probably drier than normal too.  In fact, it looks like most of the country will be warm–especially the plains.  As I’ve mentioned before, warm northern plains in January and February usually means an early spring for us which sends the chill down my and my wife’s spines.   You see, the spring of 2010 came early and we remember how that did in the apple crop.  However, some years, apple crops are good in years with early springs.  Also, while the spring looks like it will be above normal, it might just be a tiny bit above normal which doesn’t mean much.  The good news is that early springs almost always mean early harvests of sweet corn, tomatoes and some other crops.

Yesterday, we planted 2500 Newaygo Newaygo sweet onion seeds.  I will let you know when they start coming up.

Farm News, Weather, Whatever

Ice Fishing starting on Kimbal, My plant light stand article on Make Magazine

January 20, 2012 Tom No comments

Guys  are starting to ice fish on Kimbal Lake.  However, I really don’t think it is safe yet and they are taking a big risk.  One way to determine if its OK to ice fish on Kimbal is to wait until Walt Bancroft starts ice fishing.  He has learned through many years to only go out when its safe.  The days are really lengthening now, especially in the evening.  It’s now still light at 6PM!  One thing I noticed through the years is that in late winter some of the cold arctic highs skip around to the north of the Great Lakes causing an easterly component to the wind.  This usually means clear skies and the resulting colder nights.  It is also a sign that winter is waning.  This seems to be starting this coming week although there doesn’t look much like clear skies since there will likely be low pressure areas around which sometimes means general snowstorms.  We will see.

I mentioned in my last post about a link to my Plant Light Stand article in Make Magazine.  Here it is: Plant Light Stand. 
Make Magazine is my absolutely favorite magazine.  If you are at all interested in making stuff, or in science and/or technology, you should subscribe.  The magazine comes out in a book type binding which means it not only fits on a standard bookshelf its binding means it should last a long time even if you  read it frequently and don’t treat it delicately.  The editors really work to make sure there are as few errors in the articles as possible–they do a really, really great job.  It’s one great magazine and has so much interesting and fascinating stuff in it!  Even the ads are interesting and in formative!

Farm News, Fishing, Weather, Whatever

About Tom’s Page, changing to Tom’s Blog, January thaw coming, Ordered seeds

January 18, 2012 Tom No comments

Did you notice the link to Tom’s Page on our Magicland Farms website has been made more obvious?  Please let me know if you find that annoying.  I’m thinking of making it a bit less obvious.  Also, soon I will be changing Tom’s Page to Tom’s Blog and writing with WordPress.  I can then organize my writing a bit better although it will be, at least when I start, more difficult for me.

We received about 3 inches of snow yesterday and seem to have around 5 inches on the ground.  As I mentioned in my last post, it looks like starting on Sunday we will be starting the traditional January thaw.  I mentioned this to Annemarie a few days ago and she asked basically “Thaw what?  There is nothing to thaw!”  Well now there is and the thaw looks for certain.  However, the length and depth of the thaw is still in question.  The CPC (Climate Prediction Center) is quite confident that temps will be quite a bit above normal for at least two weeks (starting Sunday)  This is the coldest time of the year with a normal daily high of 29 or 30F.  The average high starts climbing around January 26 when it is around 30 to 31F.    Average February temps rise slowly through the month but the real nice thing about February here is the sun normally returns in frequency, strength and length of day.  It’s sometimes amazing to see the paved roads shed their ice and snow in February when the sun comes out.  An interesting fact that has just recently been verified is that during the winter, on a partly cloudy day, the solar constant can exceed one.  This means it seems to produce more light and heat than it would theoretically without any clouds or even atmosphere.  What apparently happens is that the sun shining between the clouds reflects off the snow and hits the clouds, which is reflected back to the ground and it again bounces off the snow and does this until it finally peters out by being absorbed by the air.  The result is that any black surface caught in this reflection mania heats up much more than thought earlier and melts the snow and ice quicker than you would think.  This happens rarely in December since the sun is lower in the sky and it is the cloudiest month of the year.  Another nice thing about February is that the ice on the lake is normally the safest of the season.  Clear night skies (which are great for making ice) and bright sun (which seems to change the slushy snow on the ice to water) often combine to make great, safe ice.  Of course this doesn’t happen every year but it is “normal”.

By the way we have already ordered 95% of our seeds and have received some already.  Next week there is a good chance we will start planting our Newaygo Newaygo sweet onions inside.  With the next post I will provide a link to an article I wrote for Make Magazine showing how to make an indoor light stand that will hold 16 flats and take up little floor space.  We used this last year so we were able to start more plants in our basement.  After it warms up a little in February we then move the onions to our attached unheated greenhouse–when they are small onions can stand night temps a few degrees below freezing.

Farm News, Weather, Whatever

Comments about my winter forecast including the one I made in November

January 15, 2012 Tom No comments

I am a bit amazed that my winter forecast this year has worked out so well, especially since it conflicted with just about every other winter forecast out there!  In addition to implying the first half of winter would be a bit warmer than normal, I said I felt that the last two weeks of January would be quite cold.  While the next week will indeed be quite cold, it now looks like we will have a January thaw during the last week of winter.  In other words the mild winter will continue–even warmer than I wrote about back in November!  Most people liked the snow we received late last week.  It sure did make things real, real purty!  The smiles I saw were a bit unusual since most winters people usually seemed to get tired of the snow and cold around mid January.  The only bummer here is for those who like to ice fish and run their snowmobiles on the lakes.  While it’s going to get cold, the coming thaw won’t let the lake ice get safe enough until at least mid-February at the earliest.  When you realize that the strong March sun starts to erode the ice from bottom up, it looks like a very short ice fishing season this year even if March temperatures are colder than normal–no forecast here since I have seen years similar to this when the ice has gone out in mid-March!.  However, while I am forecasting a short ice fishing season–it just might be quite an active season while it lasts!

This year we are going to try and grow late winter lettuce for our family.  We already have a 11″x22″ plastic flat with 5 different varieties of lettuce coming up and when they get big enough we plan on transplanting them to a small area in one of our unheated greenhouses.  We will then put on a low tunnel covered with plastic–inside the larger greenhouse.  Low power electric heating cables will then be hooked up to a freeze control which turns on at 35F.  We will see what happens.  Wish us luck.  The primary reason I’m doing this is for my wife Annemarie since she really loves our home-grown lettuce.  I will be taking photos of it all so if things work out I can write an article on it.  I will keep you’all informed here.

Fishing, Weather

Peaches and winter

January 9, 2012 Tom No comments

 

The forecast is for winter to return late this week.  However, it doesn’t look extremely cold–just a shade below normal for the next two weeks.   Fruit wise, the worry during the winter are the peach’s flower buds.  Typically, a temperature below about -13F, will damage peach buds.  However, this temperature must occur in the peach orchard and not in a low place where the cold can settle–such as near a frozen inland lake.  Normally, growers plant peach orchards on high ground where there is good air drainage so most peach orchards come through freezes where thermometers in low spots report temperatures -15F and even below.  As you’d expect we have planted our peach orchard on our high ground.  It is pretty simple to figure a good peach location–all you need do is look around and if you have a real nice view you have found at least a fair peach site.  By the way, Pickerel Lake is at an elevation of 760 feet above sea level while our farm is from 880 to 910 feet above sea level.  It is interesting to note that under exactly the same weather conditions, that 140 feet greater elevation will cause the air temperature to be about 1F colder.  Despite this, the high points at the farm are far better for peaches than next to the lake since in the winter, when the lake is frozen the cold air sinks and builds up and causes lighter winds which again makes it colder since there is no warmer air mixing in from above.  (Because of the lighter winds it feels warmer to us but not to the peach trees because they don’t generate their own warmth like we do.) Of course, as I mentioned earlier, in the fall the lake keeps the surrounding area warmer and frosts are rare until mid to late October.  At the farm, about a mile from the Chain-O-Lakes, the average frost date is around October 1.  By the way, about 30 years ago I wrote an article on growing peaches in Michigan.  It was published in Organic Gardening.  I think it’s about time I write an updated article on peaches since I have learned a whole bunch about peaches.  One of the things I might mention in the article is the apparent climate seems to have shifted to make growing peaches more profitable in Michigan — the last hard peach bud killing winter was nearly 20 years ago.  If the trend continues, it might be profitable to plant peach orchards in certain areas of the UP might!

Farm News, Weather

The winter so far and La Nina

January 4, 2012 Tom No comments

Talking about the weather–especially the 2011-2012 winter forecast–this was the first year in memory where just everybody agreed.  The winter in the midwest especially the Great Lakes States was going to be something to remember.  It was supposed to start early and be exceptionally severe.  Most attributed this weather to the LaNina, which occurs when the equatorial Pacific ocean is colder than normal.  Well in my last Boss’s corner (see the archives) which I put out around Thanksgiving, I mentioned that since the LaNina was weak the best a forecaster could say was “No one knows for sure”.  If the LaNina was really strong I perhaps would have agreed. While I didn’t call for such a severe winter I didn’t really and truly say it was going to be warmer than normal which it sure has been.  However, apparently many readers took it this way.  What I did say was that despite the universal forecast of a severe winter, one model–the European one–seemed to break with the fold.  This model says that January was going to be really mild.  I said I didn’t believe this and I had a feeling the end of January was going to be quite cold.  I also felt that once ground hog day arrives, winter will be over. Looking at the maps and snow cover, this seems to be what is going to happen–the northern plains have little snow (the last few years they had plenty)–which means it’s going to warm up there in a hurry and the warmth will make its way east through shifts in the upper winds.caused by the persistent warmth.  Right now it looks like the temperatures are going to drop sometime in mid to late January and stay that way for 10 days to 3 weeks.  By the way, this is the first time ever that we were able to leave our market open until after Christmas.  I do remember a year when we could leave it open until just before Christmas but this year it was after Christmas–you must remember we are an open weather stand to see how strange this is.

Weather