Regulars (All)

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 7/14/11

Can Organics Feed the Nation?

Not until we compost everything, including Uncle Charlie

I’ve been chastised by a Bay Weekly reader for not supporting commercial organic farming. So I’m explaining my position. I have conducted research in composting and in compost utilization for more than 30 years, so I am very familiar with the limitations of organic farming. Under the present rules and regulations for producing organically grown crops and animals, it would be impossible for American agriculture to produce the wide variety of fruits and vegetables...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 7/14/11

Accounting for Rockfish Tastes

No perch will do if spot’s around

A friend and two buddies started their rockfish expedition by catching four, rather large, (for live lining), eight- to nine-inch spot and about a dozen, perfectly sized, six-inch white perch. Cruising to the Bay Bridge and starting with the big spot, they caught four nice stripers within 45 minutes. It took the rest of a long and frustrating day to manage the last two of their six-fish limit with perch as bait.1 Fishfinder The Western Shore continues...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 7/7/11

No Trick of the Eyes

While the green flash of sunset it hard to spot, it is real

We usually focus on the darkened sky in this space, but these late summer sunsets provide a chance to glimpse a strange solar phenomenon. Simply called green flashes, these are bursts of light as the sun crosses the horizon line. Those who’ve seen it describe a green-colored, flame-like burst as the sun winks from sight. Perhaps you’ve already witnessed it and chalked it up to your eyes playing tricks. This is no trick of the eye, however, but rather sunlight...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 7/7/11

Onions Are Bulbing

Starting now, you can harvest what you’ll eat

If you planted long-day onions this spring, you will notice that they are forming bulbs. If you accidentally planted short-day onions, you will be feasting on onion tails for the rest of summer. Right now, both long-day onions such as Copra and First Edition and day-neutral onions like Candy are producing nice large bulbs. You can start harvesting them now, but since they are not mature, they won’t store well. Harvest only what you can eat. In the Garden this Week Conquer Powdery...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 7/7/11

Putting Up Twice the Fight

One perch, one rockfish and two anglers

My perch measured about nine inches, which should have been too big for live-lining, but the others swimming in our Jerry-rigged live-well were the same size, maybe bigger. I lightly hooked it just in front of the dorsal with a sharp 5/0, bright-red, live-bait hook and gently sailed it toward the bridge pilings. Fishfinder Rockfish are finally back in force in the mid-Bay. Live-lining and chumming are red-hot at most locations, including the Bay Bridge, Podickery, Love...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 6/30/11

The Sky’s Greatest Show

The stars and planets are the original fireworks

While these are the shortest nights of the year, many a fond memory is set star-gazing on warm summer evenings. And in between the bursts of flame and the clouds of smoke honoring our independence this week, Friday’s new moon provides a dark backdrop highlighting the greatest show in the heavens. One of the first lights to appear after sunset, around 8:35, is likely Arcturus almost directly overhead. The brightest star visible and fourth-brightest overall, Arcturus...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 6/30/11

The Dirt of Buying Dirt

The buyer needs to beware — and to be aware

To get the topsoil you want, you’ll have to be precise in your order. Ask a sand and gravel company to bring a load of topsoil without any more specific instruction, and you may get more, or less, than you bargained for. In the Garden this Week Pick Your Bagworms While They’re Small Bagworms have hatched, and the young are already feeding. Until early July, the bagworms will grow slowly. But by the time they’re...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 6/30/11

The Contest

Nobody’s the loser when perch is on the table

We were horribly late. The informal perch tournament had started promptly at 10am, but it was closer to 11 before our boat finally joined the fray. Easing up to the first stop on the planned search pattern, Roger Sexhauer and I made quick casts to within inches of some ancient pilings just off the rocky shoreline while Mike Ebersberger, our captain, set a small anchor. Fishfinder Rockfish are returning to the mid-Bay, and live-lining is getting red-hot from the Bay Bridge...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 6/23/11

Losing Sight of the Lights

Can you see the Milky Way?

A week after solstice, the 28th marks the latest sunset of the year, at 44 seconds past 8:35. And while a few bright lights will pierce the glare of twilight, it isn’t until nearly 10pm that the sky truly darkens and the stars start to shine. Saturn is likely to be the first object you see, high in the southwest at sunset. High above it is the amber glow of Arcturus, the brightest star visible. Trailing 15 degrees behind Saturn is Spica, a bit dimmer and blue compared...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 6/23/11

Managing Last Year’s Mums

For fall flowering, first divide, then prune

If you purchased hardy flowering chrysanthemums for your garden last fall, most likely they have survived the winter, and the clumps are producing multiple stems. What was one plant last fall is now a plant with five to 15 stems originating from the stump. Some varieties of chrysanthemums produce from the root system, while other varieties produce multiple stems from above ground. Get down on your hands and knees to examine the base of the plant. In the Garden this Week...