DAVID Bowie has given Commander Chris Hadfield the thumbs up for the astronaut's zero gravity version of Space Oddity.
The five-minute video posted by NASA drew a salute from Bowie's
official Facebook page: "It's possibly the most poignant version of the
song ever created." In a high-flying, perfectly pitched first,
the Canadian astronaut on the International Space Station is bowing out
of orbit with a musical video of his own custom version of David
Bowie's 1969 classic.
It's believed to be the first music video made in space, according to NASA.
Commander
Hadfield's personalised rendition of Space Oddity was posted on YouTube
yesterday, one day before his departure from the orbiting lab. He's
wrapping up a five-month mission that began last December. His
return aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, along with American Thomas
Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko, was set for sometime within the
next 24 hours in Kazakhstan.
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
Sue lives in Madison, WI and has been shopping the Melaleuca Store, factory direct for over a year & a half. We caught her bragging about her experiences at our Hands with Seeds Wine & Wellness Gathering on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Stoughton. (and yes, I videotaped Sue sideways...like dah! But it only makes it more interesting!) Want to learn more? Call Linda @608.314.4004
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
by Tish Holt
Spring
is here and many of us are getting our homes and gardens ready for the
season. And on the to-do list is getting your winter lawn into shape
for the warmer months ahead.
When
approaching the care of your lawn it is important to remember that the
goal is not to create a weed-free, emerald green carpet but to have an
attractive, naturally sustainable environment that sets off your home.
There are natural methods for preserving and/or creating a healthy
lawn and now is a great time to begin preparing. Here are some
introductory tips to get you started.
- Early signs of life from your dormant lawn.
- Potential problem areas (areas that have fostered crabgrass, weeds, etc. in the past).
- Healthy, rich soil for new grass growth.
- Re-emergence of friendly insects (such as ladybugs, earthworms, bees, butterflies, etc.) around your yard.
- Choose
grass to plant that is best suited for your area. There are quite
a few varieties that fit a wide range of environments. Look for
grasses that resist drought, disease, needs little fertilizer or
mowing and are able to handle foot traffic.
- Lawn
Alternatives. Some climates are poorly suited for turf grass.
Other groundcover (such as native meadow grasses) could also be
considered in hard-to-maintain areas.
- When
mowing, leave the grass clippings where they are scattered. Grass
clippings provide needed nitrogen for new grass growth, reduce
water evaporation and keep the soil temperatures cooler.
- Mow
often but keep the lawn taller during the spring season (between
two to four inches depending on the kind of grass). This allows
the roots to deepen which helps the grass fight diseases,
withstand droughts and compete against weeds.
- Plant Earthworms. They are great aerators for your soil.
- Composting. This is a great aerator/soil loosener for compacted soil.
- Avoid
pesticides. They may provide short-term results but are
detrimental to the health of your lawn, your family, your pets and
other living things in your yard. Pesticide runoff also contributes to
pollution in streams and groundwater.
- Natural
Fertilizers. If you wish to use fertilizers to provide nutrients
for your grass consider using natural, slow-release products such
as grass clippings, compost, manures (dehydrated cow manure, dried
poultry manure), fish emulsion, cottonseed meal and mixed organic
fertilizers.
- Avoid
chemical and/or synthetic fertilizers. They promote compacted
soil, shallow roots, fungus growth, and are toxic to the soil in
the long-run.
- Test
your soil. Kits are available at many local garden centers and
there are services that offer to test your soil for you as well.
This only needs to be done every 3 – 5 years to check the pH
(acidity and alkalinity) and fertility needs of your soil - but if
you are a beginner to natural or chemical-free lawn maintenance,
testing is advisable.
- Do not
over-water your lawn. Your soil should be moist, but not wet.
Excessive watering encourages harmful plant fungus and if your lawn has
been improperly treated with chemicals, over-watering can
contribute to runoff of those chemicals.