In today’s news, African Development Bank provides emergency aid to refugees in Mauritania, Canadian research team finds more than 100 million buildings at risk due to sea level rise, US and UK scientists create first-ever robot for monitoring hurricanes, in historic shift renewables surpass coal as means to generate energy, Good Samaritan in Northern Italy secretly paints over graffiti, Indian vegan food company revolutionizing vegan cheese, and rescued hawk-people’s eggs hatch and babies thrive in United States.
I have a cool gardening tip for you. Pine needles make excellent, long-lasting mulch that helps your garden thrive. As they slowly break down, they enrich the soil with organic matter and nutrients while forming a soft mat that keeps moisture in, suppresses weeds, and cools the soil. A 5- to 8-centimeter-deep layer is ideal. It’s light, easy to spread, and allows water to pass through while staying firmly in place, even on slopes or during heavy rain. Pine needle mulch is also an affordable option if you live near pine trees, and it looks clean and natural compared to wood chips, which are often dyed. Despite common belief, pine needles don’t make the soil more acidic, so they’re safe for most plants.
The following playful joke’s here to cheer you up. It’s called “Antique by Association.”
Howard vents to his longtime friend over coffee:
“You know how one can tell if they are getting old?”
“How’s that?”
“When you walk into an antiques auction, three people bid on you.”
?!
