Questions for Alan Kapuler.

[lavandulagirl]

You know, Alan, he might be the guy to answer some of my questions about using Rudbeckia hirta to control lesion and root knot nematodes. All of the trials I can find on line involve enormous areas... field after field of potatoes, or something, with rudbeckia used as a cover crop prior to crop growth. I was trying to figure out if using the R. hirta as a companion plant would do any good. I know I've seen interviews with Dr. Kapuler where he has been stressing the soil science aspects of growing, not just the breeding aspect. I wonder if he knows anything about this particular control.

Of course, it may be way outside of the way you want the interview to go. I, as usual, am semi-clueless. If that's not where you're headed maybe there's somebody here who has info.

[canadamike]

Life is a semi-clueless thing, Elizabeth, in that sense we're all breathing the same air.

But your good half knowlege just sent me somewhere on a trail...

AAAAARRGGGHH! More internet search to pursuit, and my wife can't see me on the computer anymore

[stratcat]

Got my Peace Seedlings seedlist today! ;D

After being aware of Alan since the mid-90's, I can't even think what to ask him. Would be as if I sat down next to Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, etc. Tongue tied.

[bunkie]

Kapular's work is fascinating. am reading his interview with seeds of change.

stratcat, i was chacking out Peace Seeds, and there appears to be a bunch of chinese/foreign lettering when it's loading. also the paypal account is talking about the bank of China??? is there something wrong here? how do you order from the site? there's some neat things there like the possible perennial leek!

[johno]

I hope it's not too late to give some ideas for questions. Here are a few things that I wonder about:

- What are some of the best plants (edible or non-) to grow for the purpose of making better compost, minding the needs of soil microbes?

- John Jeavons promotes a concept for self-sustainable gardens that one should grow 60% grains/compost crops, 30% high calorie root crops, and 10% vitamin rich vegetables and greens. Would you make adjustments to that, especially if you had a small growing area?

- Is it necessary to import soil microbes to poor soils, or are diverse populations already present, awaiting better conditions?

[stratcat]

Hey, Bunkie.

Last year I wrote my order out on paper along with my name and address, totaled the purchases and added shipping. I mailed cash with that and got my seeds. I didn't see the Paypal feature.

The Peace Seedlings seedlist has $4 shipping instead of $2 that the Peace Seeds website has. Dawns on me that those are two entities.

I'm looking at Frances' Choice and La Ribera Marigolds for part of my Hellstrip flower display. ;D

john

[Alan]

I was thinking too that perhaps they are two distinct but still related (obviously) entities. I'll ask Alan and see what he says.

The Peace Seeds website it ran by a friend of Alan's in china. Some great stuff there for sure and as said above you can order by mail.

-Alan

[stratcat]

OK, I'd like to know about Sugar Magnolia Snap Vine Pea. I had fun growing them last year.

Did 'shroom work with Carol Deppe on that one? How did they come about?

Last night I found my long lost Carol Deppe book and she was working on purple peas ages ago.

[bunkie]

thanks stratcat and alan for the help. just found Multistar Pea which we have been looking for all over the world for over 15 years!

[johno]

Okay, I might have another one? My coffee pot burned up so I've been drinking espresso instead this morning, and I got to thinking about Murphy's law, which led me to wonder about the second law of thermodynamics. TMI - lol... Anyway, I read in my old physics book that "...the total entropy of the molecules cast aside by organisms during the process of evolution and growth is greater than the decrease in entropy associated with the growing individual or evolving species." While I began college as a biology major, I had to change majors; which is to say, I barely understand this. In that light, the question I'm wondering about is: do the kinship maps correlate to the second law of thermodynamics, and if so, how?

[jason]

In the book 'Seeds of Change' I remember reading that he at least had some interest in the beneficial genetic engineering of foods, such as creating perennial squashes, etc. Has his ideas on this changed? and is it something he has explored in his work?

[winter unfazed]

It just so happens I'm planning to interview Dr. Kapuler soon by telephone, so I can ask him some of your questions.

I think by genetic engineering he probably meant cross-hybridisation, not recombinant GMO.

[lavandulagirl]

Jeffrey - this is a thread to brainstorm for Alan's interview of Dr. Kapuler... an interview already scheduled. I think you'll need to come up with your own questions.

[kimikat]

My question for Mr. Kapular is this...

Tell us about your work in "Nutrion" based plant breeding. What are the particular traits that you look for and what amino acids do you look for most often in your work?

(Alan, feel free to adjust this to sound more intellectual...etc)

[kimikat]

Jan 18, 2009 20:28:08 GMT -5 kimikat said:

My question for Mr. Kapular is this...

Tell us about your work in "Nutrion" based plant breeding. What are the particular traits that you look for and what amino acids do you look for most often in your work?

(Alan, feel free to adjust this to sound more intellectual...etc)

Welp...my goofy butt is a day late and a dollar short. Alan has already done the interview and posted it on the blog site. Oh well...I'm certain that I will have other opportunities to discuss food nutrition with Shroom.