Ask an Expert, Win the Book! CGP’s Green Advice Column Goes Weekly
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ChelseaGreen.com is a constantly evolving experiment. Let’s say someone in the company—doesn’t matter who—comes up with a brilliant idea: we implement it, and if it works we keep doing it. If it doesn’t, we learn from the experience and move on.
So it is with “Ask the Experts.” We dangled our collective big toe in the water, sheepishly at first, and then with increasing confidence. The water was fine: clean, refreshing, and not too cold. So now it’s time to dive in.
What’s “Ask the Experts”? From time to time, readers will send us their sustainability questions via the ChelseaGreen.com “feedback” form. Some questions we can answer. But some require a greater degree of specialized knowledge. In those situations, we punt the question over to one of our many authors, each an expert in his or her own sustainability field. The fields range from psychology to politics to grape growing to home heating to rainwater catchment to preserving vegetables. We’re lucky to have at our disposal an incredibly diverse backlist going back nearly 25 years, and a stable of generous authors more than willing to give of their time and hard-won knowledge.
That’s why I’m pleased to announce that beginning this week, “Ask the Experts” is going weekly. We want you—yes, you—to send us your question relating to a topic under the umbrella of the politics and practice of sustainable living. If your question is selected, you win that author’s book.
The purpose of this whole thing is to grow and strengthen our community of readers, authors, and Web folks. It will be a lot of fun.
Here are some past “Ask the Expert” posts to get your hamster wheels a-turning:
- Sandor Katz Gives You the Fermentation 411
- Growing Organic Grapes in Ottawa (Plus, Video)
- What can I do to fight the USDA’s ban on “mad cow” testing?
UPDATE: Please leave your question in the comments section below, or send it to us via the feedback form.
UPDATE II: Please let us know if you would like us to use your full name or a clever pseudonym of our choosing. Questions may be edited for length or readability.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
“Does composting break down genetically modified matter in a way that makes it safe for an organic garden?”
February 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Is there a way that I can successfully (without being attacked by creatures or being overwhelmed by the stench) composte in the comfort of my high-rise [no balcony] apartment?
February 19th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Angela, check out Bokashi, a solution that was evolved for your precise circumstances. I run a 50 lb + compost operation in my apartment, but it’s on the back porch along with the kitty box, so we’re fortunate to have that extra space. Bokashi, however, is for kitchens and designed to be odor-free. Several of my local friends have them and are perfectly happy with ‘em.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokashi_composting
Here’s a video for making the Bokashi bran yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96fSXccQx9Q
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
We’re hearing more and more about winter production in the Northeast through unheated hoophouses or high tunnels. Obviously the reduced temperatures or winter or spring will increase the time from planting to harvest for crops, compared to those listed in seed catalogs. Are there any planting dates guides for the various zones in New England that I could use to plan when to plant and when what I plant will be harvested, or more specifically when I plant in a given “cold” month when could I expect to harvest?
March 4th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I recently had a Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock fermented drink. Had it not been for a quick stop into a quirky food co-op, I would have never known such a drink existed. Can you (Sandor Katz) help me understand why this type of drink has not gained a foothold in the U.S.? Could it?
Thanks!
March 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I have had a central composting toilet (Sunmar) for about 8 years. I empty it into my outdoor compost bins and rotate the 3 bins each year so the toilet compost gets used after about 2.5 years. Is it safe to use on the veg garden? (I haven’t been using it on that garden as I’m worried about pathogens, etc., still being active.) I’m in southern Ontario, Canada, so no active composting takes place during the cold winter months.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I practice vermiculture using a worm condo. I’ve always hear that peanut butter was bad for the worms. Why? Also, I have been assuming that paper towels that were using to clean up using soap would be bad for the worms too? At present I put paper towels into my regular compost.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Is it possible to grow fig trees in central VT? If so, what recommendations do you have for overwintering them?