Millenium'
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. - Planting Red Oak Trees
Red Oak Trees. Whenever I think of Red Oak Trees, I remember hunting when I was
a kid and standing near trees that were giants. Now every Red Oak tree I plant,
I can invision those days in the deep woods and those grand trees and hope
someone else will have that same enjoyment. These trees will help you too in
establish a desired vision to your landscape. Beyond their size, Red Oak Trees
also fill important ecological niches. They grow across broad ranges of forest
and urban conditions, finding much of North America to their liking. Red Oak
Trees need protection from deer, disease, insects, and competing weeds and
shrubs. The better your weed control the better your trees will grow. When
seedlings are planted, it best to plant them with large spacings to allow more
light to the plant. If these trees are planted in shade, they tend to be more
open. Red Oak Trees are used around new construction because they perform in a
wide range of soil conditions. Threse trees can take wetter soils than most
trees and are many time found in native areas near creek or river banks.If you
have compacted soil from new construction, we suggest smaller trees of 3-5'
height. All people handling 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 lenght 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 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 (closeable openings on the
surface of the leaves) or any waxy coatings to help reduce water loss. If the
roots apear dry they are probably dead. Now I know you are thinking,"I will
place them in a buckect 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 advisor 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. Apperances 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 recomendations 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
rabbits combined. You an see more articles about the care of trees plants and
nursery stock at our web site http://www.seedlingsrus.com other links are:
http://seedlingsrus.com/DeerDamageControl http://seedlingsrus.com/Soils
http://seedlingsrus.com/PlantingTips.html
http://www.zone5trees.com/GrowingGrasses.html About the Author Bill Has been
planting trees on his 250 ac. tree farm for 25 years. The farm is located in
Doylestown Pa. 25 miles north of Philadelphia in Bucks County.
You may view the latest post at
http://www.richproject.co.cc/?p=1192
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