COPING WITH THE COP (THE CONFERENCE OF PARTIES)

The COP is the supreme decision making body of UNFCCC (UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE). The first summit was held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro as Earth Summit. It was here that the UNFCCC non-binding frame work was set up for addressing green house gas emissions.

Through 1995, and 1997, efforts were made to make binding agreements to manage the greenhouse gas emissions, but right from the beginning, the implementation has been a challenge.

A breakthrough was achieved in 2015 Paris Agreement in COP 21 where a legally binding treaty was framed to set lobal goal of limiting temperature rise to well below 2 deg C above pre-industrial levels.

However, the climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage etc have been burning issues.

THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES

1. Ambition Gap: Many countries have not been setting the ambitious targets, and even when set, there is a large gap in goal and achievement.
2. Climate Finance: Developed countries have failed to fulfill the promise to provide $100 Billion annually to finance the move.
3. There is a growing demand for financial compensation for irreversible damage done by the developed countries to developing countries.
4. Global Conflicts
5. etc.

HOW WE AS COMMON MAN CAN HELP

• Educate yourself. Learn about the climate change, its impacts and the international goals.
• Spread Awareness. Discuss climate change with friends, family, colleagues, and debates in school/ colleges etc.
• Engage Politicians: Make your elected representatives accountable for their roles in saving the earth, and express your concerns about climate change and their action plan.
• Reduce your carbon foot print: Reduce energy consumption at home by using energy-efficient appliances, insulating your home, adopting energy-saving habits.
• Opt for public transportation, cycling or walking where possible.
• Reduce waste: minimise waste by Recycle, Reuse, reduce. Use composting.
• Support renewable energy: use renewable energy resources like wind energies, solar energies etc.
• Participate in community initiatives: Buy local, organic products.
• Be a conscious consumer: Opt for products with minimum environmental impact. Consume local produce.
• Reduce meat consumption.
• Eat what you grow.

There is only one PLANET EARTH.

If we do not save it, we are not saved.

POTTING MIX FOR ADENIUMS :

There is no fixed recipe of potting mix for adenium. In your locality which components are easily available try to use them. It can grow in various media.

Some basic key factors may be summarised as :

1. POROSITY: Adenium soil media must be porous.
2. LIGHT WEIGHT : The media should not be very heavy.
3. DRAINAGE: Drainage should be swift. Water should not stay in media for long.
4. NUTRITIOUS : It must have some nutritional value to feed the plant as it grows.
5. MOISTURE HOLDING CAPACITY: It can retain moisture but must not be soggy. It means that it must dry easily after some time of watering.

Basic needs of Adenium:
Adenium likes less water and full sunlight. Polyhouse is not mandatory to grow adenium.

Ayan ji does not suggest here to grow adenium in Coco based media. He believes that it’s good for professional growers.

Three recipes are mentioned here but remember the key factors mentioned above and make the media for your adenium as per the climate of your area. The plant will grow naturally then.

RECIPE – 1

SOIL BASED MEDIA

40% Garden Soil
30% River Coarse Sand
10% Leaf Compost
10% Vermi Compost
10% Crushed Charcoal

• Trichoderma bio-fungicide
• 100 gram Adenium Special Mixed Fertilizer (If pot size 8 inch). This is the most popular and easiest media. Listed components are easily available and less priced and hence affordable. Please keep ready this media for minimum 2 month (for best result 5-6 month) before repotting new plant.

RECIPE – 2.
SOIL LESS MEDIA :

CINDER BASED MEDIA

40% Cinder
30% River Coarse Sand
10% Leaf Compost
10% Vermi Compost
10% Rice Husk

• Trichoderma bio-fungicide
• 100 gram Adenium Special Mixed Fertilizer (If pot size 8 inch)

RECIPE – 3.

ADVANCED MEDIA

30% River Coarse Sand
15% Leaf Compost
15% Vermi Compost
30% Rice Husk
10% Crushed Charcoal

• Trichoderma bio-fungicide
• 100 gram Adenium Special Mixed Fertilizer (If pot size 8 **

Happy Gardening

How to Use Rice Water for Plants: 3 Effective Methods

What Is Rice Water?

Rice water is the starchy water left after rinsing or boiling rice. Instead of discarding this cloudy liquid, you can use it as an easy and affordable DIY plant fertilizer. Rice water contains essential nutrients that can help your plants thrive, but it’s important to use it correctly to avoid potential harm.

Benefits of Rice Water for Plants

Rice water, when used in the right amounts, can be highly beneficial to plants. It contains nutrients and beneficial microbes that promote plant growth. The key components include:

– **Starch**: Plants use starch to store energy for future growth and reproduction.

– **Nutrients**: Rice water contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which are essential for plant growth.

– **Beneficial Bacteria**: The starches in rice water support helpful bacteria such as lactobacilli and mycorrhizae fungi in the soil, enhancing plant health.

How to Make Rice Water for Plants

Rice water is simple to prepare using common kitchen items. You can use any type of plain rice, such as short-grain, long-grain, jasmine, or basmati. Here are three methods:

1. **Fermented Rice Water**

   Most Effective: Promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria through fermentation.

   – Ingredients: Cooked rice, distilled water.

   Process:

•      1. Place a few scoops of cooked rice in a glass jar and fill with distilled water.
•      2. Cover with cheese cloth and store in a dark place for 1-2 weeks.
•      3. Check every few days; discard if black, brown, or orange mold appears.
•      4. Filter the water into a clean container or spray bottle.
•      5. Dilute with plain water at a 1:2 ratio before use.

2. Boiled Rice Water

   – Simple and Effective: Releases starches and nutrients into the water through boiling.

   – Ingredients: Uncooked rice, water.

   Process:

•      1. Boil 2 cups of water (no salt) in a pot.
•      2. Add ½ cup of uncooked rice.
•      3. Boil until the water becomes cloudy, then cool.
•      4. Strain the water into a jar or bowl using a fine-mesh strainer.
•      5. Cool completely before using.

3. Rinsed Rice Water

   – Quick and Easy: Extracts starch and nutrients by rinsing rice.

   – Ingredients: Uncooked rice, water.

   Process:

•      1. Fill a pot or rice cooker with rice and water (3:1 ratio).
•      2. Soak for 20-30 minutes, or agitate grains to accelerate the process.
•      3. Strain the water into a clean container or spray bottle.
•      4. Shake well before applying.

How Rice Water Can Harm Plants

Using too much rice water can lead to problems such as:

– Harmful bacteria or mold blooms.

– Soil hardening.

– Insect infestations.

To avoid these issues, use rice water no more than once a month.

Plants That Benefit from Rice Water

Many plants can benefit from rice water, including:

– Houseplants: Succulents, spider plants, orchids, and ferns.

– Garden Plants: Peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and eggplant.

Plants to Avoid Watering with Rice Water

Rice water is not suitable for hydroponic systems, as its starch content can cause bacterial and fungal overgrowth. Use rice water only for soil-grown plants.

By following these guidelines, you can make the most of rice water’s benefits for your plants, promoting healthier and more vigorous growth.

Happy Gardening

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

THROUGH THE LENS OF MEMBERS

Gardening Jobs in August

This is the season of monsoon rains in India. Keep your late-summer garden looking fantastic with these easy tips for your August garden.

1. Divide Perennial Flowers

August is the best time to dig and divide perennial flowers in your garden, such as crinum, hostas, daylilies, ornamental plants, and canna lilies. Use a spade to lift the plant from the ground, being careful not to damage the root ball. Once the clump is out of the ground, use a large garden knife or spade to divide it into smaller pieces. Then, replant the smaller divisions as soon as possible.

2. Add Fall Color

Chrysanthemums are a great option to add fall colour to your garden. Available in a wide variety of colours, shapes, and flower forms, chrysanthemums can complement any garden decor. Their nectar-rich flowers also attract a variety of colourful pollinators, including migrating Monarch butterflies. Mix single- and double-flowering varieties with asters, pansies, and other fall bloomers.

Garden Tip: When purchasing chrysanthemums, make sure to buy garden mums that are tough enough to tolerate outdoor conditions, rather than florist mums. Protect them from excessive rain and fungal attacks by avoiding overwatering and applying fungicide regularly. They require fairly rich soil, good drainage, and regular feeding.

3. Replace Annual Flowers

By late summer, some annual flowers may start to look worn out. Consider planting balsams, vincas, cockscombs, amaranthus, gaillardia, or other suitable annuals in your pots to keep your garden from looking bare.

4. Repot Houseplants

August is the perfect time to repot your houseplants and move them to larger containers with fresh potting soil. This allows the plants to acclimate to their new environment before the cool weather arrives in the fall. If you notice roots dangling out of the drainage hole, it’s a sign that your plant has outgrown its current pot. Select a slightly larger pot for transplantation.

Garden Tip: Use a soilless potting mix instead of garden soil to ensure ideal soil structure for container culture and to avoid potential insect pests, diseases, or weeds.

5. Wage War on Weeds

If you’ve been neglecting weeding chores in your garden, August is the time to tackle them. As the growing season winds down, both annual and perennial weeds start producing seeds that will germinate in your garden next spring. It’s crucial to remove them to prevent further spread. After a Rain, when the soil is still moist, is the best time to weed. You can pull weeds by hand or use a hoe, ensuring you remove the roots. Certain weeds like crabgrass or purslane can regenerate from any root left in the soil. After removing the weeds, cover the area with a thick layer of compost, straw, leaves, or shredded bark.

Garden Tip: Keep your weeding tools sharp for effective weed removal.

6. Plant Perennials and Shrubs

Late summer is an ideal time to plant perennials and flowering shrubs in many areas. They will establish their roots during the cool, moist fall weather and be ready to bloom next spring and summer. Make sure to water the new plants regularly if the weather is hot and dry. Check and repot plants like Dracaena, crotons, creepers, philodendron, or any other tropicals in pots. This is also a good time for plant propagation through cutting, grafting, or layering.

7. Harvest Herbs

Although herbs can be harvested throughout the summer, late summer is the best time to harvest them for the most intense flavour and aroma, just before the plants flower. Herbs like peppermint, mint, and marjoram can be harvested, dried, and powdered for future use.

8. Consider Fertiliser

Northern gardeners should stop feeding roses, trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers now. Feeding your plants in late summer and fall encourages new growth that may not survive the winter. By reducing fertiliser now, your plants will toughen up before winter arrives.

9. Time to Plant Fruit Trees

August is the time to plant fruit trees such as apple, guava, lemon, pear, lime, and mango.

10. Protect Your Plants

Succulents, adeniums, cacti, and other sensitive plants should be protected from excessive rain. Ensure they are sheltered or covered to prevent damage.

Lawn

Lawn maintenance is crucial even if you haven’t treated it yet. Start by fertilising it and, if necessary, applying lime. You can also propagate various plants by taking cuttings from money plants, Acalypha, hibiscus, passion flower, gardenia, bougainvillaea, plumbago, and almost any other plant. Root these cuttings in sand, perlite, vermiculite, or coco peat.

Trim and prune overgrown hedges, creepers, and trees to allow weaker varieties to thrive. Climbers and creepers should be thinned out by removing unwanted growth and tying the remaining ones in place. Add manure and regularly break up the soil surface throughout the year.

During the monsoon season, limit the irrigation of your lawn, shrubs, roses, and potted plants to a minimum. This helps prevent waterlogging and related issues.

Transplant rose plants if needed. You can also start growing winter vegetables and annuals indoors under protection. Sow cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, and celery for early crops. Additionally, you can sow spinach, brinjals, and tomatoes. Plant gladiolus corms as well.

Prepare pots and beds for winter annuals by making them ready for planting.

By following these steps, you can ensure the proper care and maintenance of your lawn and garden throughout the year.

Happy Gardening and Take care!

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1 @gmail.com

SPREADING THE MESSAGE

CATCHING THEM YOUNG.

If we need to save the mother earth, we need to involve all stakeholders, specially those who are going to get affected the most.

Tree plantation being done at the park of Model Town East, Ghaziabad.

A REASON TO CELEBRATE

Our member Mr Ram Vilas ji has been in news for all the good work that he has been doing along with his team in Karnal.

He has been honored by Hon Sh Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat for promoting natural farming.

Ten Basic Carbon Terms You Need to Know

As climate change continues to be a critical global issue, understanding key carbon terms is essential. Here are ten fundamental concepts related to carbon emissions and climate action:

1. **Carbon Credits**:

Carbon credits are tradable certificates that represent the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) or an equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas (GHG) from the atmosphere. They are part of a system designed to incentivize organisations to reduce their carbon footprint by either reducing their emissions or purchasing credits from entities that have achieved reductions.

2. **Carbon Emissions**:

This term refers to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It can also be used more broadly to describe the emission of other GHGs when they are quantified and converted into carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). Managing carbon emissions is a crucial part of mitigating climate change.

3. **Carbon Offset**:

 A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere. This can be achieved through various projects, such as reforestation, renewable energy, or energy efficiency improvements. Offsets help balance unavoidable emissions by investing in environmental projects.

4. **Carbon Tax**:

A carbon tax is an environmental tax imposed by governments on companies that produce excessive amounts of carbon dioxide and other GHGs. The tax is designed to provide a financial incentive for organizations to reduce their carbon emissions and invest in cleaner technologies.

5. **Carbon Sink**:

   A carbon sink is a natural or engineered system that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. Forests, oceans, and soil are examples of natural carbon sinks. These resources play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by storing and sequestering carbon dioxide.

6. **Carbon Neutral**:

Achieving carbon neutrality means that an entity’s net carbon dioxide emissions are balanced by carbon offsets or removal projects. This involves reducing emissions as much as possible and offsetting the remainder through activities that capture or reduce an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

7. **Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e)**:

CO2e is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. It allows the comparison of the emissions of various GHGs based on their global warming potential relative to carbon dioxide. This metric simplifies the process of calculating total GHG emissions.

8. **Carbon Market**:

Carbon markets facilitate the trading of carbon credits and offsets. There are two main types: compliance markets, which are regulated by governments, and voluntary markets, where organisations voluntarily commit to reducing their carbon footprint. Both markets aim to reduce global emissions by creating economic incentives.

9. **Carbon Registry**:

 A carbon registry is an organisation that verifies and records the reduction, protection, and removal of carbon emissions. These registries issue carbon credits based on standardised methodologies and ensure the credibility and transparency of carbon offset projects.

10. **Carbon Accounting**:

Carbon accounting involves quantifying carbon emissions and reductions. It complements GHG accounting by providing a detailed analysis of an organisation’s carbon footprint, helping to track progress towards emission reduction targets and identify opportunities for further reductions.

Understanding these key terms is essential for anyone interested in climate action and sustainability. They provide a foundational knowledge of how carbon management works and the various tools and mechanisms in place to combat climate change.

Vegetable Gardening in August

August is a fabulous month in vegetable garden.The summer crops are giving us great production of lauki, tori, pumpkins, ladyfingers etc. But there are plenty of planting options for planting in August month. Clear out pots and spaces for August plantings.

Here is a list of few vegetables you can sow in August

Vegetables you can sow: Carrots, cauliflower, beans, chilli, turnip, beetroots. sweet corn , radishes, and spinach.

• Procedure
• Treat your seeds before sowing .
• Start your seeds indoors to save them from rain.
• Soil mix for seed sowing should be
• Cocopeat+vermiculite+perlite.
• Provide light and moisture along with warmth to germinate well.

Papaya

We can also sow seeds of Papaya. It is a good source of vitamin A and C.It is a rich source of iron, calcium , protein, carbohydrates and phosphorus.
Many varieties of Papaya are available . Tall as well as dwarf.
It requires well drained loamy soil with compost .Make a mix of garden soil and 25 to 50% compost. Suitable pH value is between 6 and 6.5
You can sterilize soil in an oven at 98 C for an hour
Wash the seeds to remove gelatinous coat before sowing
Treat them with fungicide then sow.
Sow directly in the pot /soil as papaya doesn’t like transplanting.
Apply fertilizer regularly every 15 days.Papaya needs phosphorus for proper root establishment and growth.
It grows well in full sunlight . Provide the plant 6 to 8hrs of direct sunlight.
On the terrace you can grow in a 24 in pot.
Pests and diseases
● Thrips and white flies can invade any time. Regular spray of neem oil will get rid of pests and mildew. Do not spray on fruits.
● Harvest when fruit becomes half yellow.

You can still plant fruit trees
You can also plant gladioli & saffron bulbs in the pots .
There is still time to air layer plants you want to multiply.
Happy Gardening
Rama Tyagi
tyagirama1@gmail.com.

Know Your Vegetable 

The Evolution of the Humble Carrot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Delicacy

The carrot, one of the world’s most ancient vegetables, boasts a rich cultivation history and diverse variations. The origins of this popular root vegetable can be traced back to wild carrots, typically purple with a white interior, known for their woody and bitter flavour.

Around 900 AD, these wild carrots were first tamed in Asia. This domestication led to the breeding of various carrot colours, including yellow, red, white, and black. Despite this timeline, some scholars believe that carrot cultivation predates this period, possibly originating in ancient Persia or Egypt.

The sweet and juicy orange carrot that we are familiar with today emerged in the 17th century, thanks to the ingenuity of Dutch horticulturists. By crossbreeding yellow and red carrots, they created a variety that not only tasted better than its predecessors but also became a symbol for the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange.

This transition from the bitter wild varieties to the sweet orange carrots we enjoy today highlights the incredible journey of this humble vegetable through history. From its ancient roots to becoming a royal symbol, the carrot’s evolution is a testament to human agricultural ingenuity and the enduring appeal of this versatile root vegetable.

Happy Gardening 

Rama Tyagi 

tyagirama1@gmail.com