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Health & Fitness

Lima beans, sweet potatoes and stolen kisses

While posting on FB, I was sidetracked by a video of a young girl growing sweet potatoes for science analytics. This visual took my mind, the amazing tool that it is, on a return trip to my grammar school coat closet. Once upon a time this space doubled for science projects. And in the closet, away from the discerning see all eyes of the teacher, it encouraged innocent flirtations like pony tail pulling suiting the likes of one Malcolm the flirty. As luck would have it, Malcolm and I were the science monitors, and he’d make a game of pulling my hair then kissing my cheek as we watered our sprouting lima beans in the old mason jars. Surely there’s an adult sequel to this somewhere but, less you think otherwise, being cheek buzzed while checking one’s limas was a biggie back in the day.

With that said, elementary school science plays an inestimable role in creativity. In Elise’s case, her curriculum project revealed solid differences between organic and conventional farming. The results concluded that a product called Bud nip, an inhibiting agent applied to sweet potatoes to prevent sprouting, also inhibited growth. The organic sweet potato Elise purchased at an organic market sprouted far more impressively than the one purchased at the grocery store with Bud nip: http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/12450-a-little-girl-s-project-shows-us-why-we-need-to-choose-organic-produce.html

So what does propagating lima beans in dark closets, childhood thrills and organic farming have to do with stormwater? It has much ado about embracing change. In 2010, the EPA issued control measures for discharging pollution into the Chesapeake Bay that watershed states must meet by 2025. The mandate charges us with the immense task of mitigating stormwater pollution and curtailing its flow to storm drains.

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The Alliance for The Chesapeake Bay, has embarked on a partnership with a Virginia faith-based non-profit to demonstrate how “traditional rain gardens can be used to direct urban water for food production.” Organic gardening within raingardens is a novel and progressive direction benefiting the planet and ourselves. Consider this unique alternative to growing veggies and let me know your thoughts: https://allianceforthebay.org/2013/12/east-end-edible-rain-garden-project/

 And while you are at it consider the rewarding work of a Watershed Steward. Info night is January 7th. For more go to :www.howardwsa.org 

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