The American coffee craze enters the new millenium. As I sip my extra hot,
nonfat vanilla latte I realize that my Chico State University days are now just
a faded, distant memory. Seven years have passed and the late night cramming
sessions while sipping tepid mochas served by vapid-looking grungesters in Caf
Maxx are just a hazy blur. I am now entering the New Java Millenium.
Recently, I thought about my most favorite research paper I wrote in college. I
was an American Studies minor and for an American I wrote about Americas Coffee
Culture. The project still burns brightly in my caffeinated brain. Whats
happened to Americas coffee culture? I am slowly realizing that America has
entered the Millenium and the java culture has boomed without me. As we move
into the 00s, Americas coffee culture literally spills into our every day lives.
The most recent jab at the modern coffee scene was depicted in the campy,
independent mock-u-mentary film, Best in Show. A whiny, yuppie couple details
how they met at Starbucks. Actually, he frequented one Starbucks while she
clacked away on her laptop at the Starbucks across the street. The hilarious
dialogue of their soy latte whipped frappes and extra hot double capps made me
laugh. Best in Shows satirical diatribe on Starbucks accurately depicts coffee
culture influence amongst Millenium suburbanites. Not only am I a certifiable
java junkie but I make it a point of observing other java addicts in their
natural habitats: lurking in coffeehouses and other eateries where a cup of joe
is the beverage of choice. As a teenager, I thought coffee was for older
people. As I stare vacantly ahead in line at Starbucks, I watch in amazement as
Britney Spears-esque girls order double espressos and then shoot them down
without batting an eye. Didnt their parents warn them that coffee stunts their
growth? I guess not. I didnt know teenagers were drinking coffee these days.
Although, there are still many tried and true coffee drinkers that stick with
their Maxwell House and instant Folgers and steer clear of froofy drinks, as my
father affectionately coins espresso drinks. My dad would be one of the
lingering breeds of black coffee drinkers. Although, my dad has caught up with
the java elite and he now frequents Starbucks on a regular basis. Even my
father has given into the Milleniums coffee culture. The other coffee
phenomenon that is catching on quickly is the cyber caf. You can grab a latte
and then catch up with your email. The conception of the cyber caf depicts where
our fast-paced, techno-culture is taking us: where two addictions (coffee and
the Internet) are coupled together in the most sinful of relationships. The
marketing concept is brilliant and appeals to those who need to satiate both
addictions in one quick fix. The other fascinating trend that reflects our
current culture is the obsession with healthy coffee alternatives. My mother is
a prime example. She is very health-conscious and has to watch her dairy
intake. Her favorite concoction is a decaffeinated soy latte. Soy? When I was
in college, soy wasnt even invented (well, it was but I think it was used to
feed livestock). With the influx of Americas healthy habits, coffee
establishments offer milk substitutes such as soymilk. Also organic,
chemical-free coffee beans are sold and served in coffeehouses which again
reflects Americas health consciousness. As my caffeine buzz fades and I log on
to my computer, I reminisce and try to conjure up the good old days of Americas
coffee cultureah, when a mocha was a mocha and Starbucks was a new concept. It
looks like I need to wake up, grab my soy latte, and join Americas coffee
culture at the cyber cafes. Welcome to the New Java Millenium. About the
AuthorTherese Pope is a non-profiteer fundraiser by day and a freelance writer
and poet by night. Her works have been published in various e-zines and
literary anthologies. She is a yoga fiend with a penchant for writing with
latte in hand. She resides in Sacramento, Calif. - This guide is for planting
River Birch Trees in Zip Code 19625 River Birch Trees are fairly easy to
plant because they are fairly rugged and durable. Yet to plant or transplant
them you do need to follow some basic guidelines. Two of the best types or River
Birch trees are Dura Heat and Heritage River Birches. We have been growing River
Birch Trees for a number of years and offer these suggestions for planting. All
people handling Dura Heat and Heritage River Birches seedlings and small trees
need to help with the life support of your plants. Seedlings are like fish out
of water and need care which is often overlooked between the time the seedlings
are lifted and transplanted. Improper care means higher mortality. Do not try
and reinvent the wheel. You must protect seedling from moisture and temperature
extremes, as well as physical damage. Seedlings are living and should be handled
carefully. For a higher survival rate, treat trees carefully and plant them
immediately. I like to have a backup plan for planting if the weather turns bad.
I will sometimes switch from lining out the seedlings to potting them up if I
realize that the soil conditions will not be right for an extended Length of
time. If planting must be delayed a few days, keep the plants in a cold,
protected place with air circulation between the trees. Keep the Dura Heat and
Heritage River Birches trees out of the rain and wind. To check if the trees
need water, feel the media at the roots. If it isn't damp, water the trees and
allow the excess water to drain. In cool, damp weather, the biggest threat to
these trees is from mold. Try to keep out of soil seedlings moist by either
restricting water loss with a water vapor barrier or by wetting the roots at
regular intervals. While handling or planting try to reduce temperature and air
movement around the seedlings. Windy days can dry out seedlings so consider
waiting for calmer weather. Once your soil conditions are correct OUR FREE USE
PLANTERS will make planting a snap so its will be worth waiting for good
planting conditions. HOW TO PLANT Ideal planting days are cool and cloudy with
little or no wind. If possible, avoid planting on warm, windy days. The soil
should be moist not wet. Care in planting is more important than speed. Make
sure the roots are never allowed to become dry. Bare root seedlings should be
carried in a waterproof bag or bucket with plenty of moist material packed
around the roots to keep them damp. Ideally, bare root boxes should be kept
refrigerated or packed in ice or snow. Don't freeze the trees. Competition from
weeds, grass, brush or other trees is very detrimental to survival and growth of
seedlings. Choose areas free from this competition or clear at least a
three-foot square bare spot before planting. Seedlings should not be planted
under the crown of existing trees, or closer than 6 feet to existing brush.
Avoid areas near walnut trees. Brush aside loose organic material such as
leaves, grass, etc., from the planting spot to expose mineral soil. If organic
matter gets into the planting hole, it can decompose and leave air spaces. Roots
will dry out when they grow into these spaces. Open up the hole, making sure
the hole is deep enough for the roots to be fully extended. If roots are curled
or bunched up, the tree will not be able to take up water correctly, will often
weaken and die, or may blow down later due to poor root structure. Take a tree
out of your planting bag or bucket only after a hole is ready. When exposed, the
fine roots can dry out in as little as 30 seconds. Seedling shoots and roots
lose water to air, roots require more protecting.Unlike leaves ,they do not have
stomata (close-able openings on the surface of the leaves) or any waxy coatings
to help reduce water loss. If the Dura Heat and Heritage River Birches roots
feel dry they are probably dead. Now I know you are thinking,"I will place them
in a bucket of water and store them there until planting". This will not work.
Submerge plants for no longer that a couple of minutes. Placing them in water
cuts them off from oxygen. Remember to remove the container before planting a
containerized tree. A helpful hint to all those new gardeners just starting is
to remember to always plant green side up. Hold the seedling in place in the
hole, making sure the roots are straight, fully extended and that the tree is
neither too shallow or too deep in the hole. Fill hole, allowing soil to fall
in around the roots. Tamp with hands or with your heel. Don't crush the roots by
jumping up and down around the seedling like there is a snake curled up around
the seedling. It is delicate. Fill with more soil, if necessary, and tamp.
Tamping is important. If soil is not firmly packed around the roots, there will
be air pockets that can dry out the roots, and the seedlings may be weakly
anchored. It is far easier to plant the tree strait up then have the tree
leaning and have to adjust the tree later. (Addition of fertilizer and plant
vitamins at the time of planting is not generally necessary.) Take your time in
planting. Proper spacing will help you grow a more valuable crop. I have tried
to get more production from a limited area by over planting and then thinning,
but I always have had trouble in harvesting .... digging is slower and poor
quality usually results for a portion of the crop. Avoid these tree planting
errors: Tangled roots Planting too shallow Planting too deep Air pockets
Turned up roots (this is called J rooting) Planting trees that are not tolerant
of wet soils in poorly drained areas Planting over rocks, septic tanks and
leach fields, on sand mounds CARE OF TREES FOLLOWING PLANTING Check
periodically to be sure that brush, grass and other vegetation is kept under
control by mowing, mulching, spraying or a combination of these treatments.
Always obtain advice from a licensed pest control adviser before using
chemicals. You ag extension agency may offer courses in application of
chemicals. Monitoring the appearance of your trees will help you to detect signs
of insects, diseases or other problems. Appearances also help sell your product.
Look for foliage turning yellow, new foliage drooping or other signs of poor
health. It is easier to take successful corrective action if the problem is
detected early. Over watering is a common problem in irrigated plantations. You
probably won't need to water more frequently than every 7-10 days. Give your
trees a thorough, deep soak and then let the soil dry out before the next
watering. This encourages the roots to grow down in search of water. Frequent,
shallow watering encourages root growth near the surface and the trees are more
dependent on irrigation and are less windfirm. Animals can be a major cause of
damage to young trees. Porcupines, gophers, mice, rabbits, deer and cattle are
the most frequent source of damage. In many states you may have to call your
game commission and get their recommendations on legal methods to protect your
crop. In our state, you can get help from the Pa. Game Commission to kill deer
that are a threat to your seedlings or obtain a free fence to keep deer away
from your seedlings. Over the years we have lost more trees to mice than any
other animal. Put rat baits out on a regular basis. Over the years we have lost
more seedlings and plants to mice than any other culprit including deer and
rabbit ts combined. You an see more articles about the care of trees plants and
nursery stock at our web site: http://www.seedlingsrus.com and
http://www.highlandhillfarm.com About the Author Bill has been raising and
selling trees for 25 years near Doylestown Pa. and has two web sites
http://www.seedlingsrus.com and http://www.zone5trees.com
You may view the latest post at
http://www.richproject.co.cc/?p=1969
You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are
posted.
Best regards,
admin
k_malee@hotmail.com
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น