In today’s news, Spain provides emergency food aid to Middle Eastern and African nations. Airborne particles of microplastic waste are accelerating global warming, Moroccan company showcases digital maternal care support at health technology exhibition, South Korean scientists produce conventional fuels from carbon dioxide, UK charity rescues animal-citizens from frontline in Ukraine (Ureign), Greek vegan cheese brand honored at US culinary competition, and Canadian student with neurological disability graduates from university alongside loyal service dog companion.
Harvesting fruits and vegetables from your own garden is such a rewarding process. I have a gardening tip for you. A traditional gardening method for improving carrot harvests involves lightly pressing freshly sown seeds into the soil by walking over them, rather than covering them with soil. This helps keep the tiny seeds at an ideal depth where they can retain moisture without being buried too deeply. You’ll want to water them consistently to ensure the surface of your soil stays moist, otherwise it could get hard and develop a crust, making it difficult for carrot seedlings to grow. Even a short period of dryness can stall or stop sprouting altogether. Some gardeners mix radish seeds into the carrot row because they sprout much faster and naturally break up the soil surface. Covering the soil surface can also help retain moisture and reduce crusting. Burlap or old coffee sacks work well because they retain moisture while allowing water through. Gardeners can water directly through the fabric and remove it once the carrot seedlings begin to emerge. Regardless of the method used, the key is to keep the top layer of soil evenly moist until germination occurs.
Now it’s time to let the elixir of laughter lighten our mood with the joke of the day. It’s entitled, “Like Father, Like Son.”
After a long morning of errands, four-year-old Toby had questions about everything.
“Why is that car red? Why is that man walking fast? Why does Mom use the blinker before she turns the car?”
He sang, he pointed, and finally, his dad said:
“Toby, I’ll give you a quarter if you can stay quiet for five minutes.”
Toby took the quarter and went silent. Later, at lunch, the dad was correcting his son.
“Toby, elbows off the table. Be careful with your drink. And maybe slow down a little when eating, buddy.”
Toby reached into his pocket and slid the quarter across the table.
“Dad… can I use my quarter to buy five minutes of quiet, too?”
?!
