Vegetable patches turn into vital teaching aids for kids

Vegetable patches turn into vital teaching aids for kids
AGRIPINA D. BRILLO, 61, has spent more than half of her lifetime educating children in Nueva Ecija’s public schools.
Read more on Philippine Daily Inquirer

Riverdale seeks extra income tax
MOUNT BLANCHARD — Voters in the Riverdale School District will be asked to approve an additional half-percent income tax in November.
Read more on The Findlay Courier

9,000 Chicory Flower Seeds with Free Shipping

9,000 Chicory Flower Seeds with Free Shipping

• 9,000 Chicory Flower Seeds In Each Packet
• Free Shipping On All Orders
• Easy To Grow From Seed
• 30 Day Guarantee On Everything
• Ships In 24 Hours or Less

CHICORY IS A PERENNIAL GROWN EASILY FROM SEED. THE LONG TAP ROOT IS SOMETIMES USED TO MAKE A CAFFINE FREE COFFEE SUBSTITUTE. FLOWERS ARE BLUE. CHICORY PREFERS FULL SUN IN WELL DRAINED SOIL. A LOT OF PEOPLE USE IT IN WILDLIFE FOOD PLOTS. Seeds are packaged and germination tested for current year.

# BLOOMS MAY – OCTOBER
# HEIGHT 2 – 4 FEET
# SOWING DEPTH 1/16 INCH
# GERMINATION 1 – 3 WEEKS

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

Price: $ 3.00

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No mow grass. Do they really work?

Question by Sara: No mow grass. Do they really work?
I have heard of a no mow grass that only get 4-6″ tall and grows sideways. Do you really not have to ever mow this grass? ( and it still look good) How would you go about replacing your regular grass with it? What is it called? How much does it cost?

Best answer:

Answer by Casper!
You tell me! I bet it does not look good!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

DOUBLE PLAY PRE &POST EMERGENT WEED KILLER HERBICIDE x3

Pre Emergent Weed Killer on eBay:

DOUBLE PLAY PRE &POST EMERGENT WEED KILLER HERBICIDE x3

US $89.00 End Date: Monday Jan-30-2012 5:23:03 PST Buy It Now for only: US $89.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Product Spotlight: Worx WG780 cordless mower

A look at the environmentally conscious electric cordless mower from Worx. Go to www.improvementdirect.com fortool reviews. Also check out all our videos to help you with that leaky faucet, DIY projects, installations, repairs, removals, wiring, replacements and home improvement projects. We also have videos on faucet reviews, chandelier shopping & reviews, shower installation, light reviews, pendent reviews, lavatories, ceiling fan reviews, custom showers ordering, sink reviews, and thermostat reviews.
Video Rating: 3 / 5

Antique Lamps – Blue and White Is Always Right!

Antique Lamps – Blue and White Is Always Right!

Why is blue and white so popular?  Blue & white has been popular for hundreds of years, with its fresh appeal never being out of fashion.   Itâ??s interesting, but when we speak of blue and white, we nearly always think of blue and white â??chinaâ? i.e., pottery and porcelain.  The evolution of this ever popular, blue and white, is a fascinating storyâ?¦.

The Chinese first discovered porcelain during the Tang dynasty, 618 AD – 906 AD. By the mid 14th century, during the Ming dynasty, Jingdezhen had Imperial patronage and was the most important centre for the production of porcelain in the world.  It was, in fact, the only place that could produce â??trueâ? or, hard paste porcelain.    

The â??secretâ? of blue and white is cobalt, a natural mineral ore, then confined to Persia, todayâ??s modern Iran.  Persia, or rather, Kashan, located near Tehran, held a monopoly on the valuable cobalt, mined in the low hills surrounding Kashan.

The Persians used cobalt for the decoration of white, tin glazed earthenware and, in fact, Kashan was an important centre for the manufacture and distribution of ceramics throughout the Middle East.  Here, we are speaking of a 9th and 10th century world, totally unrecognizable to us today with our instant everything and with every part of the world, just hours away!  At this time trade between countries was slow, dangerous and arduous, a trading caravan, typically taking a year for the round trip.

Trading caravans from Persia first introduced the Chinese to Persian cobalt; soon to be know in China as â??Persian Blueâ?, the cobalt ore ground to a fine dark blue to black powder.  Chinese potters were excited and thrilled with this new product and trading began in earnest with bolts of pure silk exchanged for small packets of Persian Blue.

This trade between China and Persia undoubtedly propelled the Chinese decoration of ceramics into a new direction, with the first truly blue and white porcelain made around 1290 AD.

It was at this period that ceramic decorators were experimenting, especially with the firing techniques, as the cobalt could be unstable with the effect of over or under firing which is one of the reasons that this very early class of Chinese blue and white painting is sketchy with the blue being washy and rather pale. 

The term â??hard pasteâ? porcelain really refers to the â??hard fireâ? or, high temperature, requiring kilns capable of raising temperatures up to 1250° C / 2300° F in order for the porcelain to vitrify with the hard, white, translucent result we call porcelain.

Whilst porcelain was in its infancy in China, tin glazed earthenware was being produced throughout the Middle East.  This was glazed, (a glassy coat over the surface of a ceramic body), with a lead / tin oxide mix which gave an opaque white ground, perfect as a canvas for decorating with cobalt blue.  The wares were painted in typically Islamic style with geometric patterns, stylized palms, Arabic script and flowers.  Syria was famous for its beautiful blue and white tiles and Turkey for its stunning blue and white Iznik pottery.

Turkish blue and white is known as â??Frit wareâ? and is believed to have been discovered at Kashan, in Persia.  Frit ware was a type of artificial, or â??soft pasteâ? porcelain, soft paste referring to a â??soft fireâ? or cooler temperature.  Iznik blue and white is freely painted in tones of blue with naturalistic subjects of fruiting vines, birds and animals.

Both the Turks and Persians greatly admired the blue and white porcelain imported from China and many of todayâ??s surviving examples of Frit ware are decorated in Chinese style.

By the early 17th century, blue and white Chinese porcelain was â??discoveredâ? by European traders and it was the adventurous, seafaring Portuguese trading fleet that shipped the first cargo of blue and white to Amsterdam.   The first recorded shipments were in 1602 and 1604. The Portuguese merchants were shocked to find that their cargo was sold out before they knew it and realised they could sell as much porcelain as they could ship!

This early 17th century market demand was so high that it completely rearranged the production and decoration of European pottery.  We should remember that at this time porcelain was not being made outside of China and Europe went â??porcelain crazyâ?, fascinated with this exciting new product from this exotic place that hardly anyone knew anything about. 

The standard European domestic ware of the time was earthenware, in its variety of forms.  Tin glazed earthen ware was known as Delft, from Holland, the same in France, but known as Faience and called Maiolica in Italy.  In England, tin glazed ware was also known as Delft, i.e., London Delft, Bristol Delft etc and the finest of all, Irish Delft.  These European pottery works were made up of many, very small, potteries usually involving a family, or with one or two employed potters. 

With the â??secretâ? of porcelain being discovered in Saxony in 1703, by the middle of the 18th century, many small to large European factories were producing porcelain and by the close of this century, a level of mass production had been achieved.  

In England, porcelain making began at Worcester and in Londonâ??s Chelsea from about 1748 with most of the following manufacturers producing blue and white decorated in Chinese style. This was based on the fact that the market was, by now, so conditioned to the imported Chinese blue and white that workshops soon started to feel the pressure from the imported Chinese porcelain.  This stimulated the potters to decorate their wares in the popular Chinese styles given that manufacturers simply had to produce what the buying public recognised.  Today we can admire these sometimes, very sophisticated â??Chinoiserieâ? decorations.

In 1792 -1796 government import duties were increased to reduce the volume of imported wares and this gave great stimulation to the local market.  This boost to the ceramic industry resulted in the development of new techniques to increase production. 

The English pottery industry was now centered in Staffordshire where hundreds of factories operated.  It is also at this point, toward the end of the 18th century, that we see the introduction of transfer printing in underglaze blue on earthen ware pottery and the newly introduced stoneware.

The technique of transfer printing involved an image lifted from an ink loaded, engraved, copper plate, the image being â??transferredâ? onto a tissue.  The ink wet tissue was then placed on to the white pottery surface and the image transferred.

The tissue was then carefully lifted away or alternatively, the pottery piece was fired and the tissue burned away in the kiln.

Josiah Spode is given the credit of inventing underglaze transfer printing, with his earliest trials going back to 1784.  His first trials involved printing over the glaze, but the prints began to wear away.  Eventually, Spode refined his technique by transferring the print onto the unglazed surface, firing, to fix the image, glazing and refiring!  The results were dazzling and the way was then open to one of the most successful episodes in ceramicâ??s history.

Most of the late 18th and early 19th century prints retained their earlier Chinoiserie characteristics, with Chinese river views, pagodas and Chinese landscapes.  This transitional period produced a combination of very fine prints.  Not only were these in a purely Chinese manner, but also developed into a â??Chinglishâ? style, resulting in some amusing combinations e.g. an English couple strolling through a Chinese landscape.  By about 1835, however, prints were predominantly English / European, with British views, country houses, farm scenes, birds and flowers. 

By the 1840â??s blue and white printed earthenware was a well established process and the demand for printed wares had the manufacturers working to keep pace. Vast new export markets opened to the industry in America, continental Europe and India.

As the 19th century progressed, the story of blue and white begins to change direction.  As with all forms of artistic expression, whether ceramics, art or music, the further removed from the original, the greater the changes become.

Mass production and the drive for export markets certainly reduced the quality, with production geared for fast output and less attention paid to artistic merit.  As we move through the second half of the 19th century, we see the overall decline in the quality of blue and white transfer printed ware.

One type of blue and white in particular caught the attention of the American market.  â??Flow Blueâ? was introduced around 1840 and the American market fell in love with its dark, rather hazy prints, associated with this product.

One interesting story tells of how this, dark, rather inky blue came about.  It is said to have been as the result of an accident when a chemical thinning solution was accidentally spilt over wares ready for firing.  After firing, staff were shocked to see the result, eventually, to be known as flow blue.  By the late 19th century, flow blue was on the table of nearly every American family and today, remains a great favourite of US collectors.

The beautiful printed blue and white earthenware produced throughout the 19th century, is today a subject which delights collectors all over the world.  From purely functional table ware, blue and white is found today in places that the late 18th and 19th century potters and transfer printers would never have dreamed of.

Not only is blue and white widely collected, but it now serves as a focal point in many interior design schemes and if you ever have the opportunity to see a blue and white room, you will know why!  Pieces thoughtfully placed and arranged on furniture, ideally of the period, can be a sight to behold. 

The display of blue and white is traditionally regarded as best seen against a yellow background.  Yellow not only compliments both the blue prints, but also the white of the earthenware or porcelain. These combine to produce a beautiful display.  When a blue and white antique lamp is added, the look is really dazzling!

There is one more benefit offered by blue and white.  Behavioral psychologists have studied the effects of how we perceive colour and how it can effect our moods and attitudes.  On the subject of blue and white, conclusions are that we see this colour combination as a perfect balance which is recognised as calming, relaxing and serene and is recommended for any place in which you want to be relaxed.  What more can be said?

 

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique lamps with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique lamps on line.  Lamps are shipped ready wired for the US the UK and Australia.  Ask to be included on our mailing list for updates.

For more information you are invited to visit their web site at:-: 

http://www.antiquelampshop.com

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

Related Worcester Landscaper Articles

Q&A: Planting grass?

Question by blueslvr51: Planting grass?
I live in Erie, PA.

Is it too early to plant grass on dirt or do I need to wait a little longer when the weather is better.

I guess it will rain alot this month – will all the rain wash away the seed ?

Best answer:

Answer by and Mrs D D
Now is the perfect time to plant grass. Scratch the surface with a rake to give the seed some grip. Water thoroughly, then spread your seed at the rate prescribed on the bag. Then cover with a layer of mulch. I use straw when starting a new lawn. It holds moisture well, keeps the birds from making off with your future lawn, stops runoff from rain and your sprinklers then breaks down to feed the lawn once it is established. Just be sure to get weed free straw.

Give your answer to this question below!

Deluxe Drip Irrigation Kit for Container Gardening

Deluxe Drip Irrigation Kit for Container Gardening

• Waters 30 containers
• Connects to a hose bibb (faucet, spigot): All componets included
• 1/4″ micro tubing mainline and lateral lines
• 1/4″ Flow control valve for each container
• 1/4″ mounting clips to attach to decking, posts, etc

Contains everything you will need to go from hose bibb (faucet) to your potted plants. Waters up to 30 flower pots, planter boxes, or hanging baskets. The number of containers is an estimate based on each container receiving one drip emitter. Larger containers should get two drip emitters.

Price: $ 27.50

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Developing Countries Will Execute Major Impact On The Mineral Fertilizer Market This Year

Developing Countries Will Execute Major Impact On The Mineral Fertilizer Market This Year

Emerging economies account for 45% and 66% of global ammonia output and consumption, respectively. The demand is likely to grow by 2.5% a year.

The demand for ammonia in industrially developed countries will remain stable, while capacity will continue to shrink due to the advancing exports from Asia, CEE, and South America. The ammonia production capacity will augment in Middle East, North Africa, and South America, which boast access to cheap gas.

The high demand for ammonia in Western Europe will persist.

According to recent forecasts, the world trade with ammonia and carbamide will grow. The fertilizer market is expected to remain tight due to strong demand. Low grain inventories in China and India continue to support fertiliser demand.

The ammonia market in China has better growth prospects than much of the rest of the world. Global markets are suffering from price falls as overcapacity damages the market. The Chinese market is protected to some extent by tariff barriers from price falls. In fact, China generally has the opposite problem in chemical products; its industry is not capable of keeping pace with the rapid growth in demand. Aammonia and carbamide production grew by 8% and 10% respectively. Ammonia output exceedes 30m tons.

The United States is a major ammonia importer. Sprayed ammonia solution accounts for 40% of all applied nitrogen fertilizers. The part of ammonia is used for the manufacture of diammophos (USA is a leading exporter of this fertilizer). In the USA, ammonia is also employed for technical purposes. High prices for natural gas in the United States continue to set high floor prices for ammonia and urea.

The main feature of the mineral fertilizer market in Russia is the low level of fertilizer consumption on the domestic level. Thus, the average level of fertilizer introduction into the soil is 90kg/ha in India, 130kg/ha in the USA, 300kg/ha in China, 550kg/ha in Netherlands. In Russia, this parameter does not exceed 8kg of active nutrient substances per 1 hectare. This is caused by the low purchasing ability of Russian agricultural entities. Nitrogen fertilizers account for 49% of the total fertilizer amount produced in Russia. Domestic consumption amounts for 1.3-1.5m tons of active nutrients.

World ammonia production capacity increases incrementally, by expansion of current production facilities or a few new plants coming onstream. By 2009, significant additional capacity are expected, much of which would be concentrated in the Middle East and Asia. By 2009, the International Fertilizer Industry Association estimated that world capacity would increase by about 11% and that Asia would have about 42% of the total, with about one-half of that capacity in China, about the same as in 2003. The Middle East, however, was expected to increase its share of world capacity to 11% in 2009 compared with 7% in 2003.

Ammonia serves as a feedstock for the production of nearly all nitrogen-containing substances. Ammonia is also used in large amounts in the Ostwald process for the synthesis of nitric acid; in the Solvay process it is applied for the synthesis of sodium carbonate; Ammonia is an intermediate product in the synthesis of numerous organic compounds used as dyes, drugs, and in plastics; and it is employed in various metallurgical processes.

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6 each: Ace All Season Multi Surface Push Broom (00511ACE)

6 each: Ace All Season Multi Surface Push Broom (00511ACE)

• 14″ wide
• Designed for year-round sweeping on multiple surfaces
• 3″ yellow synthetic bristles
• 48″ natural wood handle
• Hardwood block

Sold as 6 each. 14″ wide. Designed for year-round sweeping on multiple surfaces. 3″ yellow synthetic bristles. 48″ natural wood handle. Hardwood block. Heads and handles must be set up . Manufacturer number: 00511ACE. SKU #: 1010826. Country of origin: (TBA). Distributed by Quickie Mfg Corp.

Price: $ 39.66

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