#What Nutrients Help To Grow Taller

[cassieoz]

Here is the full story , I called it the perfect host

Computer log 22 - subject has display no signs of pregnancy but we will continue to track them  progress before run another implantation treatment on them.

Breeding unit on Deta ship a common area that many ships that held host for new lifeforms to be born. Currently The Deta ship breeding program only house 5 to 6 host all human and all been taken to become host . Doctor Ein and their team were busy keep the host under so the newborns could grow without stress the host body out . “Host number four is carrying twin make sure we give her lot of iv nutrients as to help the pregnancy “,she said to her team .

Doctor ein look some what human beside looking taller than the average human and her three fingers.  She turned to see subject 2 the newest host watch her as they struggled to get free from they bindings . Doctor Ein move town the subject and then said “sh..you safe now back to sleep you shouldn't be awake but don't fear ,my dear you in good hand “

“No, don't put me back under” ,my mind scream.  “Damn it get off of me “,my mind scream as nurses of doctor Ein held me down while I once again was put under . 

“Make sure that this subject is give another dose in an hour “,said doctor Ein as a colleague of her walk in . “What about alternative reality room . Make the house think they are experiencing something else while the baby grows that way the host can't pull themselves out of that “. 

“I could try it but I never had a subject wake up before “,said doctor Ein.  

In my mind I felt body laying on the cold table before a small movement in my stomach made me feel sick but it fade as the drug kick in again 

Doctor ein rush on night when one of the subject gave birth at night . The subject awake crying out for pain as the baby inside them move out of the host body and onto the table . The host body began to leak milk as the nurse clean the baby before letting it latch on the host.  “Move the newborn to the nursery and take the subject to the reset pods tell they are needed again . 

The nurses obey as they wheel the crying and screaming subject.  

Computer log - subject implantation failed.  Retry in a few weeks.  Going to see if host body will take implantation if they are stimulate and aroused.  Will documents if they factor help . 

As the pod of subject pregnancy grows doctor ein is worry about subject 2 as most of the other host had taken their pregnancies and role but not this one they had fought most way to be implanted . 

You body could feel the cold tools could begin to open your legs as another tool went inside you and move though the birth canal before digging itself in your  cervix where it push itself into your  egg then began to fill your cervix with a cool gel before move out of inside you. Your subconscious heard the voice said “hopefully their body accept it this time ,give them something for pain then make sure they keep comfortable “

As time pass doctor Ein confirm the pregnancy and wrote down . Computer log subject 2 is pregnancy and body seem to adjusting well will continue to monitor progress as the pregnancy is still new “

Month one notes - the host was place on both higher iv nutrition since the baby isn't gain the weight we want . Subject two also awaken again this time fron morning sickness.  

You awake as your body throw up liquid as the unhuman creature clean up up and place you back under before you can protest. 

Month two - baby weight is good . Well continue to watch.  

Your belly showing starting to swell and stretch.  

Month 3 -nothing new 

Month 4 - host belly is growing and her first milk is showing sgin of coming in . Baby heart beat is good as well their size . 

Month 5 -host awake again this time was able to are make it to a pod before being put under again .

You awake and began pull the iv out and get free of the straps before see how big your belly was then ran down the hall toward what you hope was freedom. You fought the Guards as they injected you to put under again . You kick and claw to get free before the drug take effect

Month 6 -baby is growing at a health rate and size. This baby looks it first live hybrid we have .

Month 7 -normal process nothing to document.  

Month 8 - nothing to document since the host body is near her due date. 

You awaken this time in pain as you feel wetness between your legs . You cry out in pain not sure what going on . The creature and the others rush in and said “subject two water broken , subject have small contractions so began the induction procedure by began to giving a dose of Pitocin”  once the drug to effect you felt like your belly was on fire from the pain . You whole body was screaming to get this creature out . You body sweating as labor was progress slowly . 

The creature look at you and check your cervix and said “not long now just breathe “

You let out scream as the contractions come again “get this thing out of me …ah 

..”.  

Doctor Ein said “we give you something for the pain soon but try to relax as any drug will only alow it down “ 

Couple hours later . You felt the pressure build again as what felt like a head press against you as you cry out in pain . “You are crowning ,push “

 

You follow the creature order began to push as the pressure rises once more before falling off as you feel the baby move down and out . 

Doctor Ein move to help the baby who is more aware then most baby and move up the host body toward it breast to began to simulate the milk and began to nurse .

“What a remarkable sight this is , they are the first hybrid to be this aware meaning that it seem our DNA had enhanced the human awareness “

You scream as the creature move up your chest and began nurse off of you . You then feel the red hot pain again.  

The creature look at you and said"you crowning again push my dear “

You push as another creature come out of you and it too climb you to nurse you . 

The doctor smile watch it and said to the team “take subject two to the pod room allow the babies to nurse from her and make sure she is give another another couple of dose of drug to make them immobile and keep them hook to iv tell the baby are able to be ween . 

You spend what feel like forever we both the small hybrid nursing off of you and the doctor and their staff coming in to check on you .

Doctor Ein walk in and said “both baby are still active nurse off the host and the host had them a six week ago which would be the the end of the reset time but since they cant reset I would like for us to see about testing way to boost their milk to hopefully make the babies to ween in the next few weeks so we can began to breed her again to see if she birth another hybrid with this hyper-awareness . 

You watch as the doctor began to stimulate your body to make you feel aroused as your milk began to flow out and you let out moan in pleasure as you feel your jump from nearing climax the hybrid move off your body . And began show that they ween off of you . 

Doctor Ein said “keep them aroused tell I return “. 

Doctor Ein walk to another laboratory on the ship and said “Doctor Quill, do you have any subject that I could borrow for my project .I like to test what happen if my subject mate with one of our kind . Their last two offspring were hyper aware like or our children when they are born and so I want to see if their next offspring would also “. 

“I have someone in mind but if this work we must then run test of why this human can make these rare offspring vs the other host “. 

Doctor Ein said “hurry I have her ready for mating so send your person down quick since I don't think we can keep her on the edge for long “

Back in the exam room you feel yourself going mad from the hyper arouse you feel . When you spot the creature you try to make your body move but you can't.  

The creature smile as it move on top of you and began to mount you . The creature began to thrust into your cervix each time make you letting out moan . 

“No”, you scream inside you mind as you watch the horror of being rape by these creatures . You wish for this hell to end to go back to freedom of being a normal human not some incubator for this thing .

The creature thrust against you again and again before release it seed into you and the doctors around have the creature stay inside you tell they could injected you with a dose of another drug .

You pass out from the mating and when you wake up you back to being hook up to iv and on the cold lab table lock to it with now a large group of doctor and nurse looking running tests and check every inch of you to see what make your body the perfect host . 

You are a great writer - keep writing!

[rileyh20]

do you have ponyboy and dally hcs

I don't know if you meant platonically or romantically or if you just wanted the separate characters

So I went with separate characters

Lemme know if that isn't what ya wanted tho!

Ponyboy Curtis:

A pyromantic, he loves fire (Until the church shit)

Suicidal Ponyboy go burrr- (Even if it’s accidental)

Has a fucking terrifying glare, but only actually glares at people when they wake him up (His poor brothers)

Chubby Ponyboy… (Especially after the book cuz his brothers made him eat more to gain nutrients and stuff)

Should not be left alone around a stack of books (He’ll read them all in like two hours)

A really fast reader, but he reads the book over and over again to the point he basically memorizes it

Major third wheel, doesn’t matter if the ship is Jally, or Stevepop, or something else, he’s just a third wheel at heart

Definitely reads the book before he watches the movie 

Sometimes when he wants to write he just can’t, so he does other things instead, but once he’s in the zone, he’ll write for hours without hearing anything around him (He’s just like me fr)

Sarcastic and sassy af sometimes (Because I want him to be, no other reason)

He likes grandma hobbies (You know what I’m talking about, the knitting, sewing kinds of stuff, crafting thingies)

He would be the kind of person who helps you get your locker unstuck when you are either too scared to ask a strong person, or you don’t want your locker beaten into scraps when you could just ask Ponyboy

Cooks sometimes, he ain’t the best, but he isn’t terrible at it (He especially does it if Darry looks like he had a long day)

Sometimes he’s the only person able to stop Sodapop from putting food dye into the food (Especially if Darry is the one cooking)

Sorry y’all, but autistic Ponyboy is what I got for you guys 

May or may not be gender fluid (Let me live my life)

Gets the WORST FUCKING ANXIETY when someone is driving, especially if it’s someone he doens’t trust driving like Two-Bit or Sodapop 😭✋

Okay, but you can’t argue with me on the fact he’s bi coded, and also asexual cuz I want him to be

Has made a joke about Tuesday being “Twosday” (Two-Bit), and everyone just quotes it every now and then

OH ALSO, A DIFFERENT TIME HE GIVES A TERRIFYING GLARE IS WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONS HIS GREEN EYES

Religious Ponyboy… I love you religious Ponyboy

Okay, but on a different note, I think Ponyboy is religious, at least in some way

Somehow knows everyone's full government name??? And also sometimes with use maiden names depending on how angry he is 😭✋ 

Will learn other languages so he can shit talk/swear in front of the gang

You know Ponyboy has those chubby cheeks, just squish his face

I love the HC of Ponyboy being taller than Darry when he grows up, but hear me out, Ponyboy getting a random growth spurt and just somehow being very tall when he’s like 16 or something

Also, gentle giant Ponyboy, please

Dallas "Dally" Winston:

Scared of spiders

He’s also scared of dogs

Ough, I’m thinking bi tbh

Will kick children

Has a soft spot for both Ponyboy and Johnny

Will go violent if he learns someone he cares about got hurt, both emotionally and physically

Sometimes draws, but doesn’t do it that often

Sorry for not having as many for Dally! I've been neglecting my duties to make HCs 😔

[myriadium]

Basic Biology of Vestals | Vers. 2.0.006 - Marucho

INTRODUCTION

Vestals are an extraterrestrial species with a complex and vibrant history with impressive technological developments and intricate social relations.

Vestals originated from Vestar (pDID: 4685-6684-9999), which exists in an alternate dimension (DID: P-4685-6684-9785). It is hypothesized that early quantum fractures have created access from Vestar to Vestroia only very recently. Vestar circles a weak star (sDID: P-4685-6684-9958) which plays a crucial part of life on Vestar.

It is unclear when Vestals developed into their current place in their planetary timeline due to the different way time moves in that dimension, but it is very likely that their evolutionary process occurred very quickly, leading them to take over their planet and advance technologically at an almost unprecedented speed. The current state of Vestar is quite overpopulated, creating an initiative in Vestal society to spread and occupy different worlds.

For more information on the development of Vestal society, supplemental material can be found in Marn: The Fates of Vestal Societies (translated by Ace Grit). To stay on track, this report will only detail Vestal biology.

GENERAL BIOLOGY

(pictured above is an R-Vestal)

Vestals in their natural form are quintrupedal creatures with two sets of limbs; the primary ones that are used for mobility, and secondary limbs that resemble tails, which are used for balance, as weapons, as defense, or in some groups, as communication. According to archeological finds, Vestals used to have six primary limbs, but evolutionary pressure for taller/higher reaching creatures lead to the limb developing into a vestigial stub in the chest area [1]. The added support in the back of the body allows most Vestals to be able to "stand", or rise up on three limbs to almost double their height.

Vestals range from having 1-7 secondary limbs. In most cases the more limbs a Vestal has, the weaker each individual limb is. In severe cases of hyperpolymelia, surgery may be performed to fuse the limbs and strengthen the overall structure. Mutations in the primary limbs much rarer than secondary ones, but polymelia in primary limbs almost always leads to limbs that are too weak to be used.

Most of a Vestal's important internal systems such as pulmonary, cardiovascular, and digestive track can be found in what would appear to be the "chest" or thorax of the Vestal. The head of the body is mostly empty, resembling a mouth of sorts that Vestals very rarely display publicly.

The face of the Vestal resembles a mask of sorts, and is made of a hard, tough material that does not grow and cannot heal, meaning young Vestals' heads do not grow [2]. The faces hold a combination of optical receptors and empty holes that allow sound to pass through. Vestals' optical receptors detect the UV end of the light spectrum, like bees on Earth. Additionally, sound is generated from a Vestal's thorax and intricately moved through hollow bones and through the face to create sound.

(pictured above, a full grown Vestal with their young. Young Vestals develop with wider primary limbs to help develop balance, which usually wilts and sheds as the Vestal grows.)

Most notably, Vestals have evolved to work symbiotically with fauna that grow on the top of the body (translation of the name of the fauna is currently being discussed). The fauna species depends on several factors from UV intake, nutrients, and heat; the appearance, length, and color of the fauna range wildly, but the most common ones are 6-12 inches and resemble blades of grass. Vestals with less efficient fauna usually develop certain organs or specialized limbs to allow the Vestal to obtain more energy.

VESTAL BUILDS

As mentioned before, the symbiotic fauna can develop in a myriad of ways, with varying levels of efficiency at gathering energy from UV light. This is a very crucial way of generating and obtaining energy, meaning the efficiency of fauna can drastically affect the physical build of a Vestal.

It is imperative to mention that the different builds of Vestals mentioned are very uncommon. Due to the popularity of gene editing in Vestal society, an average Vestal would display a combination of traits from different builds: Technological advancements has lead to a higher standard of living, allowing more diverse and unique builds based on an individual Vestal's aesthetic or functional preference.

(1) Tank - Certain Vestals have strong, stocky builds with unwilted wider primary limbs. These Vestals grow a tough armor around most of their bodies, giving them more protection from injuries and heat loss. These Vestals are usually found in colder environments, where the Vestals are well suited for staying warm, the wider primary limbs able to travel icy or delicate terrain. Symbiotic fauna is not as efficient due to limited access to the sun, resulting in very slow metabolism and requiring many T-Vestals to use their powerful secondary limbs to kill prey. T-Vestals with access to medics or gene editing tools usually opt for more efficient fauna implantation surgery (FIS), where spores of fauna from drier/sunnier areas are implanted into the Vestal's skin.

(2) Runner - In the parts of Vestar that are open plain, R-Vestals have developed to run from predators. They usually come with a sharper face shape and shorter neck, and the outside of their skin is smooth to avoid drag when running. The fauna of an R-Vestal is the most efficient, so much so that most R-Vestals are able to live without additional UV supplements. The primary limbs of an R-Vestal are pointed and delicate, meaning limb injuries are very common due to the amount of force concentrated into a tiny point.

(3) Hunter - In areas of high canopy cover and low light, H-Vestals have evolved to a life of running, similarly to the R-Vestal, but instead of fleeing, H-Vestals primarily get their food source from other animals. Using their serrated primarily limbs, R-Vestals are able to climb up rocks and large flora, while also using them to spear their prey. H-Vestals usually develop more than two secondary limbs, and are able to communicate with them silently during hunts. Their secondary limbs are also noticeably sharper for maximum skewering hunting. The fauna of H-Vestals are the least effective, which is why so much of the ancient H-Vestal's diet is other fauna.

(4) Sleeper - With the highest surface area of fauna on their bodies, S-Vestals were found in the tiny pockets of Vestar that enjoyed high amount of sunlight all year round. Archeological records show that this build of Vestal almost never reproduced, possibly because of a much longer than average lifespan; almost triple that of the average T-Vestal. This is thanks to the high amount of fauna found on the Vestal's body, which increases energy production. Paired with a habitat with very little predators, S-Vestals derived their name from the society of prehistoric Vestals not doing much except enjoying their days.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

[1] Although current Vestal gene editing technology allows for the removal of the vestigial limb, the influence of the existing royal families, who choose to keep the vestigial limb, has made this body part a sort of fashion statement. There are certain modifications and shapes of the limb that can go in and out of style, and this is usually affected by the appearance of royalty or, in lesser cases, celebrities. fuck Zenoheld! -D

[2] It is currently unclear how Vestals reproduce. Young Vestals are extremely rare. Interviews with Vestals show that they are confused with the idea of sexual reproduction, and it seems like they hatch from egg-like sacs produced by a single progenitor. Current hypothesis is asexual reproduction in combination with changes to genetic information brought on by natural mutation/gene editing/environmental factors/diet.

Vestals also don't believe in marriage. - Ace

[dreamy-love222]

He told me he’ll take me to galerie Lafayette to go shopping in September.

He said no limit🫣🩷

He also told me he would buy me a meal from this high end restaurant with Michelin stars too

(😭🙏 bless his kind heart) I think ill fast days before so I can enjoy my time with him! What’s wrong with eating an expensive 3 course meal once a year!

He said we would go to my fav coffee shop and get a snack from there after we go shopping. I would have said Starbucks but given their stance on the Palestine situation I would go with Columbus their muffins are to die for. So is their matcha latte and coffee in general.

We would go on walks hand in hand…. He would totally put his hand on my waist that would be tiny by the time we meet up. I’ll make sure I’ll lose some more weight.

🥹🩷 he said he would give me loads of hugs and kisses my touch starved heart melted at his words…

Also he never asked me for nudes ! Never was weird with me! Never demanded strange things like my ex used to do! Wasn’t weird about my sh scars and my abuse scars! (Some men are into those yuk! They fetishise self harm and abuse)

Didn’t ask me to sleep with him! Or demanded anything sexual.

And listen. I sent him once a Bodycheck with me wearing short shorts and a really small crop top to show him how much I was losing weight when my parents were starving me! He was like:

« Don’t send videos to your body to someone you don’t trust and love, I really care and worry about you Sarra, you’re too precious and the thought of someone taking advantage of you makes me very upset »

He also super tall! 20 cm taller than me. And he works out 5 times a week. Has a stable job! A good career. He’s quite good at his job! He’s coming to Strasbourg in September for work and he’s going to come to my city so we can have fun!!! 😭🫶

(Not as tall as my brother but my brother is an exception. That 193cm spaghetti stick is one of a kind. Nature won’t produce another one like him. I wonder how he gets the nutrients to grow that tall. It’s like all the excess energy that he gets from junkfood helped him grow vertically not horizontally 😅)

Where was he all these years. Yeah right in Japan in another continent 😭.

[justplaggin]

as expected, chuuya's nutrients aren't going to his brain nor are they helping him grow taller! and yet he's still doing well, isn't he? - HA HA HA, so you want to throw those beans at me? that ain't gonna work! // what? ya scared?

part 1 - part 2 - part 3

[painsandconfusion]

I Know is a lot to ask but....

Could you tell me something nice??? I had a terrible day and I need a bit of support

I promise i'll return it some day

For some reason, I feel called to talk about burnout right now? So I'm going to do that.

My grandpa planted this apple tree in my backyard the summer before he passed away. I first moved here last year, and it put out about a dozen apples. I was really excited since it's such a small tree and this was its first time producing. I wanted to honor him and the fact that he wanted this tree to grow and thrive and give good things to the people living here and the children next door.

But I let it get too heavy.

I didn't prune back the branches or pinch away the buds. The little tree took on so much all at once, and after a weekend away, I found several of the branches broken from the weight of it.

It healed - it did, but not nearly quickly enough. It was tired, and put everything into making those apples. It didn't have much to store for winter now, and by this spring, it was sick. It wasn't growing much, and it got some pests.

Still, it tried to put out way too many apples. They rotted and broke the branches again.

But this time, I stopped it. I pinched away most of the fruit before it was even ripe, and let the little tree keep some nutrients to itself. Let it rest and gave it some treatment for the bugs.

By fall, it was standing much taller, and is doing so well now.

Sometimes, we need a little rest. Even if we're doing exactly what we're supposed to be doing, it's okay to need a break. You'll be better in the longrun if you let yourself rest and heal from the things breaking down your body, mind, and emotions.

If something is consistently hurting you or demanding too much of your energy, it's okay to cut that thing or person off, or just take a small step back. Even if you lose some fruit along the way, you'll be better for it in the longrun.

As a small sidenote: I see you. I notice you. You always like my posts in batches and it makes me smile so much to get a little handfull of notes. You liked and reblogged a lot one day when i was having a really hard time and it helped so much for being such a small thing.

You're producing fruit in ways you don't even know. Don't sweat the rest of it.

[tomorrowsgardennc]

looking into growing sunflowers rn! so i have a question, if u dont mind! :33 what variety and/or tips would u recommend to someone who has semi limited gardening knowledge ? ive grown tomatoes and cucumbers but not especially well, and this is my first year rlly putting full energy into gardening! im a little intimidated tbh lol :p theyre just so stunning

ooooh sunflowers 😍😍 good news! they're super easy to grow! BUT... but but but... always a catch: sunflowers suck out a lot of the nutrients in the soil - or put toxins in the soil. depends on who you ask. the internet isn't really sure which one it is. the point, though, is they do NOT want to be planted alongside any other plant!! any type of sunflowrs all next to each other, don't care. happy as can be. but the second you want to put any sunflower next to anything else... anything else gonna struggle. SO! with that in mind... i would recommend the sunniest spot in the entire available area and grow a biiiig patch of them suckers! make them all nustled in to each other, 4 to 6 inches apart is just fine and that way they will hug each other and not fall down on their own. and the soil doesn't matter. around here there is clay, and they grow fine in clay too. sand is okkkk... just need a little extra watering. and sunflowers do love water - so if it hasn't rained in about 2 days then give it a good watering.

also - if you are able - start the seeds indoors. squirrels and mice and birds love sunflower seeds to eat just as much as we do, so if you direct sow them into the ground then they could be eaten! find a pot and fill it with the seeds, cover with soil about 1 inch deep, keep it moist, and once they sprout in about a week and they're about 2 inches tall, transplant outside! they don't mind getting roughed up, so don't freak out if your first time starting from seed -> transplant.

as far as varieties... to be honest whatever one looks the prettiest to you!! they all have the same needs, it's just more how they were bred to look rather than how to grow. my favorite is the mammoth sunflower, simply because they live up to their name and get taller than our one story house!! either visit a local hardware or garden store or go online and just look at sunflower varieties! if you can't choose then do what i do and close your eyes and pick 🫣👉🌼

hope that helps!! 🌼💚🌱

[toadstoolgardens]

Gardening in Raised Beds On Pavement

Growing in raised beds on top of pavement is an excellent strategy if you have limited growing space. Let's learn how to make the most of that concrete or asphalt!

Build Tall Beds

Crops need room to send roots down into the soil. Providing plenty of room to grow means your crops have a strong foundation, hold moisture longer, and can access more nutrients in the soil through deeper roots. Raised beds on pavement should be a minimum of 24 inches tall and ideally 32 inches tall! Taller is always better, especially if you live somewhere with hot and/or dry summers.

Filling Your Raised Beds

When you build raised beds on the ground, your crops have access to the soil underneath for draining excess water from above and wicking water up from below. Building on pavement takes this away, so how we fill the beds really matters!

Bottom Layer: Gravel

Fill the bottom of your raised beds with about 6 inches of gravel. This helps fight erosion, helps with drainage, and keeps your crop's roots from coming into contact with the pavement.

Middle Layer: Decomposing Wood

I highly recommend the hugelkultur method. A hugelkultur, or "mound culture" in German, is a raised bed with a base of decomposing wood. Rotting wood encourages fungal networks, holds moisture, and fills the space pretty cheaply. Get some logs, sticks, and other dead wood pieces and make a layer on top of your gravel.

Top Layers: Loose, Rich Growing Medium

There's lots of options for filling this space, but the goal is high-quality organic matter. Avoid bags of potting soil, as these aren't living soil. Living soil self-renews and keeps providing a nutrient rich environment. Potting soil will eventually dry out and lose nutrients. Instead gather things like:

Compost (homemade or purchased)

Coffee grounds (many coffee shops are happy to give out used grounds for free)

Living soil (from your yard or garden, even just a few shovels full will likely contain fungal networks and earthworms)

Grass clippings (not sprayed with anything!!)

Kitchen scraps (egg shells, fruits, veggies)

Leaf mold (leaves that have aged for two years)

Livestock manure

Shredded office paper

Worm casings

Alternate layers of whichever of these materials you're able to get and make a big raised bed lasagna. Save your compost for the top lasagna layer. Then top the whole bed off with mulch! Mulch helps hold water and keeps weeds at bay.

The Best time to Build Raised Beds is in the Fall

You can build beds any time, but building in the fall gives your bed contents time to settle and break down over the winter. Your lasagna layers need time to break down into finished soil, which crops generally prefer. Then just add some more organic matter on top in the spring before planting.

What To Plant

Here's some crop suggestions to go easy on your garden in the first year. After the first year though the sky is the limit!

Beets

Herbs

Leafy greens

Legumes

Onions

Maintaining Raised Beds on Pavement

Irrigate: Even with your fabulous organic material lasagna, your raised bed on pavement will still dry out. Prepare to water regularly, especially in the seed and seedling phase. After your crops get established a deep weekly watering should be enough unless it's extremely hot/dry.

Fertilize: During the summer, add some liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks (during your watering sesh) to push nutrients down into the soil. Some great liquid fertilizer options are comfrey tea, fish fertilizer, and worm tea.

Soil Renewal: Every fall top your beds off with some new organic matter. Over time your raised beds will decompose and sink, so fill those babies back up so they're ready for next spring! And don't forget to mulch!

Aerate: As your layers decompose you'll want to do some gentle aerating with a digging fork to keep the soil loose and crumbly.

Use Cover Crops: Cover crops help enrich the soil and keep it from drying out.

Summer cover crops: Buckwheat, cow peas, millet

Winter cover crops: Daikon radish, oats, winter rye

Happy growing!!

Source

[staycalmandhugaclone]

If you're new, this all starts with Touch Starved - Echo! You can read this little chunk as a standalone, or head back to the beginning for the full experience!

Apparently, I felt like Crosshair didn’t get quite enough whump in that first one… So sorry my beloved… Continuation to Muzzled.

Febuwhump Day 3 Ch 2

Muzzled – Crosshair

Warnings: This one's gone some proper medical procedures - gore/blood/injections. Adult language. Good bit of guilt and angst.

WC: 4,079

We were aboard The Dominator for mere minutes, just long enough to drop Rex and his men off before being ushered to the far side of the galaxy. I’d have argued – insisted on a few days med-leave for Crosshair’s jaw to heal, but we’d be traveling for nearly a week. Not accounting for some unforeseen complication, that would be ample time for the bacta to help knit the fracture closed.

Halfway through that first day of our journey, I noticed the extra meal bar in the small kitchenette. After learning of how they’d starved from insufficient rations for most of their lives, I’d begun tracking inventory more closely, both to record how much food Wrecker actually needed as well as ensure no one fell back into the habit of rationing their meals for fear of not having enough. At least to that point, there’d seemed no cause to worry over the latter, but it didn’t take much thought to understand who’d skipped their morning meal and why.

I found Crosshair dozing in one of the crash seats in the cabin. Echo and Wrecker chatted quietly nearby while the taller man used the overhead racks as pull-up bars, speech intimidatingly even despite the tempo of his movement. Treading lightly across the room, I nestled into the seat beside the resting sniper and lightly tapped my knee against his to wake him.

“Hey, I want you to drink this.” I said quietly, undeterred by how quickly his lips pulled into a frown as he turned to face me.

“No.” The simple brusqueness of his response drew a soft chuckle from me before, with a pointedly deep breath, preparing for the coming fight.

“Cross, you skipped breakfast. You can’t do that while using bacta.” His frown deepened into an unimpressed glare. “Would you rather I shove a tube down your nose to force-feed you?” I asked blankly and had to fight to ignore the stifled snickers behind us. Crosshair held my gaze a moment longer, debating how far he wanted to push me.

“What is it?” It wasn’t cooperation, but it was a start as his eyes dropped down to study the cup.

“It’s a meal replacement shake – all the calories and nutrients of a ration bar without needing to chew.” I couldn’t help the quiet laugh that bubbled past my lips at his skeptical grimace. “Don’t worry – it’s not GAR-regulation chalk flavored. I keep a few different ones on hand – let me know if you don’t care for how this one tastes.” I shifted forward in a gentle offer, smile growing as he reluctantly took it.

“Oooh, can I try one?” Wrecker asked eagerly, abandoning his workout to trot toward us, and I immediately shot him a toothy grin.

“Of course, big guy.” I answered warmly, pushing myself back to my feet. “Why don’t you come choose which one you’d like?” The brilliance of his joy was a thing I’d never weary of, unabashed glee lightening his movements as he eagerly agreed. “How about you, Echo? They’re really gentle on the stomach.” I added at that first whisper of doubt on his face.

“Sure.” He sighed with a shrug. Stealing a final glance to see Crosshair still merely studying the cup, I reached out to let my hand just brush softly over his shoulder before starting back toward the kitchenette.

He didn’t fight me when I presented him with another one that night, thoughtlessly bringing the straw up to his lips after I’d handed it to him. I tried not to show the pleased smirk. It was such a simple, little thing, but just knowing I’d managed to offer even that tiny bit of comfort made my heart dance.

“The other one was better.” He muttered before walking out, ripping a bark of laughter from me.

-

My attention kept wandering to that tall grump, mind churning over the certainty that I was overlooking something. He’d been more quiet than normal, but given the trauma of being tortured, that was hardly unexpected. It wasn’t until he leaned absently against a wall, body instantly flinching for barely a fraction of a second before shifting to stand upright that it clicked.

“Hey… Crosshair…” I called hesitantly, unbothered by the way his frown deepened, tongue shifting a toothpick across his lips as he stared me down. “Are you still having pain in your back?” Caught. That tiny flicker of tension that flashed over him told me everything. “What’s wrong? Did I not give you enough bacta?” I pressed, stepping closer to him. His arms folded across his chest stubbornly, and I didn’t try to silence the loud sigh. “Would you just show me?” I asked, words fleeing on an exasperated breath, but he didn’t move.

“You’re going to make me say it?” His cold expression remained pointedly unfazed. “You really just want to hear me say it, don’t you?” Still nothing. Movements overly exaggerated, I clasped my hands together, head tilting in a flirtatious sway, “Oh, Crosshair, it would mean so much to me if you would please take your kriffing shirt off so I can make sure whatever’s wrong with back doesn’t cause lasting tissue damage.” The sickly-sweet tone carried through each word, bringing an initial flash of confusion to his face before it fell back into that familiar snarl for the split second it took the sharp pain to shoot through his jaw and force him back into a violent glare. Brows raised expectantly, I waited mere seconds before motioning my hands impatiently toward him.

The begrudging movement of his limbs was more than enough to send tendrils of worry through my chest. He was letting me help. With so little argument, he was submitting to my request. Something was wrong. My worry overrode the whisper of appreciation I couldn’t help but feel at the reveal of that muscular torso, abs dancing beneath caramel skin in a display of raw power that I’d never get used to as he slipped the skin-tight suit over his head.

Without waiting for him to turn, I immediately moved to see his back, and that worry turned to ice in my veins. Several dark bruises still covered that gorgeous skin, but the one that I couldn’t rip my eyes away from lay just between the top ridges of his shoulder blades, skin stretched taut over a massive ball of nearly black swelling. I could see a starkly defined line of healed and unhealed damage, and I didn’t need to ask.

“Your shoulders,” I sighed, heart rending beneath the realization I should have made days ago. “They were hurt from how you’d been restrained… you couldn’t reach your back until they healed.” He purposefully avoided even glancing at the desperate regret tearing through my eyes, shifting to stare blindly through the far wall. Drawing a carefully slowed breath, I dragged my hand over my face, fingers clawing into my hair in a frenzy of guilt and frustration. If he’d just said something, anything, given me some tiny hint, he’d be almost free of pain, but now, the dark mass lying dangerous near his spine was an very real concern.

“Listen, I really need you to be honest with me right now.” I prompted, voice abandoning any teasing lilt or sarcastic drawl. His frown deepened, hesitating at the shift in my tone, but then he moved just enough to glance over his shoulder, eyes finding mine with that unsettling stillness. “Are you having any numbness or tingling in your fingers? Or have you noticed any limited mobility?” He watched me for a long moment, and I could see how carefully he thought over my question before his head dipped in a small nod. My chest sank, body deflating in a slow, tense sigh.

“Okay.” Maker, he wasn’t going to like this. My hand reached for the painful ball of swollen tissue, pausing barely an inch away as I gathered my thoughts. “Crosshair, I need to drain this. And I need to do it now.” His expression didn’t change, but I saw how the air stilled in his lungs. “I can numb it – like I did your jaw, but the longer we wait, the more likely that nerve damage becomes permanent.” The resignation that slowly settled over him was a thing I hoped never to see again, and I hated myself for the relief I felt as he nodded once more.

“Come on.” I breathed, hand automatically slipping around his arm in an instinctive need to offer some measure of reassurance. I nearly pulled back the instant I realized what I’d done, but he didn’t shy away from my touch. I didn’t know how to feel about that. Was he in so much pain that he didn’t notice? Had he decided the annoyance of my absent caresses weren’t worth fighting? Or was he so distraught over the possible disability, that even he found himself needing that tiny measure of comfort?

“Lay down on your side. Do you want me to explain what I’m going to do?” There was a gentle quiet in the hum of my voice.

“No. Just do it.” He said blankly, movements stiff as he forced himself onto the cot I usually called mine. I wasted no time in gathering my supplies, careful not to let him see. He didn’t want to know what I needed to do, and I was too eager not to tell him, not to grant him any indication of the coming hurt beyond the numbing medication. After slipping a drip cloth beneath him, I took a final breath.

“Quick burn.” I warned but didn’t wait for him to tense before resting the injector against the center of that mass. The muscles curled along his spine, back threatening to arch as he let out a nearly growled exhale, and my heart ached for him. The last whisper of that strained breath faded into a quick huff, tension fleeing him in a rush.

“Alright, a lot of pressure, then a big release.” Again, I didn’t wait before slipping the blade through skin and muscle. His breath hitched, arms wrenching back, and I had to quickly lock my hand around his shoulder to keep him still enough to slip the drainage tube in. I quickly set a catch beneath the incision as the pooled blood and fluids poured from wound and tube alike, and he let out a huff of relief through still clenched teeth.

“The kriff was the damn shot even for?!” He snarled, and I wanted to sob at the tremor in his voice.

“I know – I know; I’m sorry, but it would have been a lot worse without it.” I murmured, thumb absently sweeping over suddenly chilled skin. “The hard part’s over, though.” I offered gently, and his head fell heavily to the thin pillow, eyes clenched as his torso rocked with too-quick breaths. “I want you to try to keep still.” I instructed, reaching out to drag my blanket over his lightly shaking form. “We need to leave that in for a while – make sure it doesn’t swell back up again.” He shifted only slightly before abandoning the attempt.

“Leave… what in?” He demanded despite the weakness trying to drag his voice into a hoarse whisper. “What did you do?” Those words wanted to be a snarl, but the heaviness of his breaths robbed them of any force.

“I had to place a drainage tube. I’m going to secure it so it doesn’t fall out, and then I want you to try to rest.” The way he rolled his eyes granted me some measure of relief – that, at least, had lost none of its strength. Movements meticulous to avoid even the slightest jostle around that painful injury, I applied a few strips of adhesive, pleased to see the flow of liquid slow to only an occasional drip.

“I can give you something to help you sleep.” I offered quietly, hand returning to rest gently atop his shoulder. He answered with that signature glare. “Okay, how about some water? Either say yes, or I’m sticking an IV in you.” I threatened, and I knew how eager he was to twist that aching jaw into a scowl.

“Fine.” He relented, gaze returning to some distant point well beyond the Marauder’s walls.

“Okay. I’ll be right back – no moving.” I added before starting toward the door.

Hunter said nothing as he caught my eyes the instant I was in the hallway, arms crossed over his chest, jaw taut with concern; waiting, and that guilt struck me anew, tears balling in my throat.

“I’ll know more tomorrow.” I told him, “I should have noticed sooner-I… Maker, I’m so sorry.” I hated the way my voice broke, hated the tears that slipped down my cheeks.

“There’s not much you can do when he gets it in his head that things should go a certain way.” He sighed, and I could hear an exhaustion in his voice that spoke of a lifetime of trying to save his brother from himself in far too similar situations. “It’s not your fault, Doc.” His shoulders sank as he stepped toward me, arms falling heavily to his sides before bringing a warm hand to my shoulder. Teeth grinding behind tight lips, I shook my head.

“Of course, it’s my fault.” I nearly growled, “I saw what kind of state he was in when we found him. I knew there was still something wrong. I…” Letting out a breath that threatened to cave into a sob, I forced myself to focus. I still had a job to do. “I need to get him some water.” Without meeting Hunter’s eyes, I pushed passed him to the supply room.

“Why don’t you take a minute? I’ll stay with him.” I was shaking my head before he’d finished speaking.

“I need to monitor that drain tonight – make sure he doesn’t jostle it in his sleep.” Without waiting for him to find some other excuse or futile attempt to lessen my strife, I quickly tread around him to return to the medbay. Crosshair hadn’t moved, but I was please to see his breathing had calmed.

“Is it any better?” I barely whispered the words as I tread lightly to the front of the cot.

“Great.” The rumbled word snapped from still tight lips, but I was certain ridding him of that massive buildup of fluid had to grant some reprieve.

Crouching down slightly, I brought the straw to his mouth, with a quiet, “here,” but he immediately pulled back in disgust, arm tensing to take it himself. I quickly reached out to stop him, hand clasping firmly around his forearm.

“Don’t.” I kept my voice soft, but left no room for argument as I met the obstinate look in his eyes. “I don’t want you do to anything that’s even going to tense your shoulders right now.” Again, I watched that moment of debate war within him, but, when his eyes darted away from mine beneath that wretched flush of shame, he reluctantly shifted just enough to catch the straw between his lips. I said nothing as he drank, gaze carefully lowered to avoid even accidentally glancing at him, nor did I breathe a word of rebuttal at the amount of water still in the pouch when he pulled away.

“Are you alright with me replacing that patch,” I asked, motioning toward jaw, “and getting some bacta on the rest of your back?” I didn’t have to grant him that choice – I could have merely told him I was doing it, and he would have had no valid grounds to refuse me, but I knew he needed it – needed some whisper of autonomy to sooth how violently I’d stripped it from him already. So, I waited patiently until he gave the faintest shift of a nod. He didn’t look at me as I reached for the day-old bacta-patch, but he tilted his neck slightly for me to reach the edge easier, and I didn’t realize how much I’d needed even that tiny show of acceptance until feeling the stiffness lock around my throat.

The quiet that settled around us was a kind one. I let myself melt into it as I carefully tended his jaw before turning my attention to treating each blotch of abused skin covering his back, and I wondered if he was able to find some solace in it, too.

“I’ll check on it a couple times tonight – make sure it doesn’t shift, but I really want you to try to sleep.” My voice whispered softly into that quiet, and I watched him pointedly close his eyes without so much as looking toward me. Moving lightly, I tread to the nearby wall panel and, with a thoughtless tap, plunged the room into near darkness.

-

I spent the night curled atop a chair, legs tucked against me with my ankles crossed over the armrest, aimlessly browsing my datapad with little interest for anything beyond some distraction to keep me awake. Nearly every hour, I crept to the bed, lifting the blanket just enough to confirm everything was still in place before returning to my perch, pleased that he seemed to sleep through my inspections.

Finally, I heard the others begin to move about the ship. Crosshair was still asleep, and I let myself take full advantage as I returned to his bedside once more. Praying the earlier dose would only just be starting to wear off, I touched another injector to the skin just beside the tube, flooding the tissue with a fresh bout of the numbing agent. His shoulders tensed, but only slightly, a soft grunt catching in his throat as the sensation roused him from the light sleep.

“Sorry,” I murmured, “I was hoping it was still numb enough to dull that.” He glanced wearily back at me before letting his head rock drowsily back to the pillow.

“It’s fine.” The absent dismissal rumbled in that subtle slur of near-sleep, and I felt my lips pull into the first earnest smile I’d managed since seeing that bruising.

“Good,” I sighed, “I’m going to check for residual swelling first, but then that tube should be fine to come out – I promise: they come out much easier than they go in.” I added at the way he tensed. He left out an impatient grunt but offered no further response.

The mass was barely noticeable now beyond a lingering discoloration, tissue carrying only a fraction of that excess fluid. With gentle, sweeping palpations, I guided a bit more of that swelling toward the incision. He barely noticed; sensation almost completely dulled from the injection even as I began easing the adhesive strips away from his skin. I granted him no warning before slipping the tube free, knowing the anticipation would be far worse, and he barely flinched.

“All done.” I said with a gentle smile after easing a bacta-patch over the cut. He started to glance back, surprise just twitching over his face before catching himself. Hesitantly, his arm tensed, as though waiting to see if I’d try to stop him, but, reassured by my silence, he pressed his hand against the mattress and pushed himself up, legs swinging over the edge. I watched the tentative roll of his shoulders precede a more confident series of shifting muscles to further test the motion.

“Okay, give me your hand.” I said after granting him a moment. He looked at me with narrowed eyes but held his hand toward me without further complaint. I slowly worked over each long digit with gentle squeezes between my thumb and forefinger. “Any numbness or tingling?” He shook his head, idly watching me as I continued meticulously over his palm, careful not to miss a single inch of flesh before moving to his other hand, and the relief starting to bubble through me was palpable.

“Perfect. Now, try to match my movements.” I continued, hand raising to illustrate touching each fingertip to my thumb, but he showed no intent to follow me. Gaze shifting to his, I readily let my expression fall into the same deadpan glare he sent me. “Fingers. Moving. Now.” I ordered. He let out a loud scoff, attention shifting past me, but, albeit reluctantly, matched my motions without difficulty.

In a flood of relief, my head sank in into my hands with a loud, shuttered exhale, fingers dragging thoughtlessly though my hair as that massive weight finally began to slip away. Body slowly straightening with a deep breath, I looked up to find him watching me, expression carefully blank.

“Crosshair, I really,” Hands falling wearily into the scant distance between us, I struggled for a moment to convince my lips to work, to steady my breath long enough to remember how to speak, “Really need you to understand this: I am here for one reason. That’s it. I’m not here to judge you or report you or belittle you for getting hurt. I’m here… to help you.” His lips tightened into a thin line, but he offered no further response, pulling an exasperated huff from me, but I tried to let it go, focus shifting back to what did matter to him.

“I want to look at your back again tonight, but it should heal up fine now.” I could hear the exhaustion clear in my own voice as I stepped back for him to push himself off the cot.

“Great. Wouldn’t want our effectiveness falling on your watch.”

It would have been less painful if he’d struck me. Breath caught in my throat, I was so taken aback by the venom in those words that I could only stare at him, eyes wide, lips slightly ajar. Part of me saw the flash of regret that instantly stole over him, but I couldn’t focus on that. I thought I was used to his crass remarks. I didn’t expect one to hurt like that. Without a word, I quickly turned and walked away, gaze dropping pointedly to the metallic paneling beneath me.

I don’t know why I went to the storage room, but once there I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Not yet. My hands shook slightly as I aimlessly organized even the slightest disarray of gear, mindlessly grabbing a few packages of shakes to restock what I’d used the previous day. When the door hissed open behind me, I didn’t turn toward them; didn’t want whoever it was to see the still raw hurt in my eyes because, if they did, if they offered even a fleeting look of understanding or sympathy or apology, I knew I’d break, and I wasn’t ready for that.

After several seconds passed without them saying anything, however, curiosity finally drew my gaze back just enough to glimpse them. Crosshair. His arms were locked tightly across his chest, body leaning stiffly against the wall as a sharp glare burned into the shelving beside him. He was waiting, and my heart broke the instant I understood why. He couldn’t quite bring himself to apologize, so he forced himself, instead, to allow me whatever retribution I wanted. Letting out a shaky breath, I set the prepackaged shake mix back down and walked lightly toward him, loathing the way his brows drew even further together.

“You have never… never been just a number to me.” I didn’t shy from the desperation in my voice begging him to believe me, and, as the tension abandoned him beneath something just threatening to become remorse, I felt my chest sink with a sharp sigh.

“I know.” He still wouldn’t look at me as the quiet words breathed over his lips, eyes falling to the flooring beneath us, and hearing him say that was worth every ounce of hurt his harsh words had caused. I didn’t fight the few tears that trailed down my cheeks despite how they seemed to make the normally detached man before me squirm, fingers shifting uncomfortably about his arms as he quickly turned his gaze further away.

Without a word, I leaned forward, pressing my forehead gently to his shoulder, and he went so perfectly still even the air caught in his throat. He didn’t move either to push me away or draw me closer, merely stood there as I stole that quiet moment with him; felt the tension slowly fade from his taut frame.

Chest swelling with a deep inhale, I finally stepped back, grabbed the handful of supplies I’d gathered, and left.

Continue Reading

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[marshmallowprotection]

so I've had a thought knocking around in my head for a while. i know the twins are past the age where they'd get the most growth BUT i looked up if boys can still grow when they're a little older and the short answer is: unlikely, but possible. anyway, i keep thinking about ge saeran growing just a tiiiiiiny bit and ending up as tall as or even a cm taller than saeyoung. i want saeran to tease him and saeyoung to go full overdramatic drama queen whining and pouting like he's a tragic shakespearian hero (he's just being silly)

I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for them. As you said, it's not something that's likely but it's not completely improbable. It could happen. Saeran has always been shorter than his brother due to malnutrition. No matter how much Saeyoung tried to take care of his brother by giving him the most food and care, it just wasn't ever going to be enough to give him what he needed.

Saeyoung had the luck of being able to leave the house. He could get sunshine, extra food, and fresh air. Sure, his growth was stunted just like Saeran's, but he had a little leverage on his twin. Even if he did a lot to help Saeran's health, Saeyoung was only a kid, and as hard as it is to hear, he couldn't ensure Saeran's health every day. Saeran had to stay inside, lose out on fresh air and sunlight, and struggle with little to no nutrients.

There is a reason why GE Saeran mentions that he hates the taste of white bread. It was one of the few things he could eat every day and now it makes him feel nauseated.

Hell, I'm surprised the twins are as tall as they are. I tend to shake it off as the logic of a fictional otome setting where they want many of the characters to be taller than what they just assume is the average height of the players.

I mean, I look over at Fullmetal Alchemist and think about how Edward's growth was stunted and ultimately played a role in his health and height. Ed did get a growth spurt near the end of the series where he grew from 4'11" to 5'6". But, the difference with his story comes down to his automail. It weighed his body down for a long time... on top of the fact his body was keeping Al's alive at the portal of truth...

I think the average height around the world is 5'9" for cis men, but for South Korea specifically, I think it's 5'7"? So, that means Saeran and Saeyoung are taller than the average statistic. Their father is tall from what we're shown, but we have no point of reference for Mother Choi and her height on top of their stunted growth.

The twins do have poor health because Rika thought Saeyoung was a lot younger than he was when they met for the first time. That's just a reflection of the obvious. The boys are smaller than people their age for years. I've thought about this a lot, though. I think about this sort of thing a lot but the game doesn't really want me to.

I digress. I do think that it'd be hilarious for Saeyoung to wake up one morning and look at Saeran and pause, "Wait a minute. My baby twin is taller than me! Oh, no! Whatever will I do! How can I protect him if I have to make him slouch behind me to avoid a villain?! MC! Help me out here! What do I do? I can't make Saeran hurt his back when I have to protect him from a bad guy!"

[cassieoz]

Here a small sample of my story. Hope you enjoy.

Computer log 22 - Subject 2 has displayed no signs of pregnancy, but we will continue to track them progress before running another implantation treatment on them.

Breeding unit on Deta ship a common area that many ships that held host for new lifeforms to be born. Currently The Deta ship breeding program only house 5 to 6 host all human and all been taken to become host . Doctor Ein and their team were busy keep the host under so the newborns could grow without stress the host body out . “Host number four is carrying twin make sure we give her lot of iv nutrients as to help the pregnancy “,she said to her team .

Doctor ein look some what human beside looking taller than the average human and her three fingers. She turned to see subject 2 the newest host watch her as they struggled to get free from they bindings . Doctor Ein move towards the subject and then said “sh..you safe now back to sleep, you shouldn't be awake, but don't fear ,my dear, you are in a good hand “

“No, don't put me back under” ,your mind screams. “Damn it, get off of me “,your mind screams as nurses of doctor Ein held you down tell the took a hold of you once again

“Make sure that this subject 2 is give another dose in an hour “,said doctor Ein as a colleague of her walk in . “What about alternative reality room . Make the house think they are experiencing something else while the baby grows that way the host can't pull themselves out of that “.

“I could try it but I never had a subject wake up before “,said doctor Ein.

Doctor ein rush on night when one of the subject gave birth at night . The subject awake crying out for pain as the baby inside them move out of the host body and onto the table . The host body began to leak milk as the nurse clean the baby before letting it latch on the host. “Move the newborn to the nursery and take the subject to the reset pods tell they are needed again .

The nurses obey as they wheel the crying and screaming subject.

Computer log - subject 2 implantation failed. Retry in a few weeks. I'm going to see if the host body will take implantation if they are stimulated and aroused. Will documents if they factor help .

As the pod of subject pregnancy grows doctor ein is worry about subject 2 as most of the other host had taken their pregnancies and role but not this one they had fought most way to be implanted .

You body could feel the cold tools could begin to open your legs as another tool went inside you and move though the birth canal before digging itself in your cervix where it push itself into your egg then began to fill your cervix with a cool gel before move out of inside you. Your subconscious heard the voice said “hopefully their body accept it this time ,give them something for pain, then make sure they keep comfortable “

So good - please continue!!!

[script-a-world]

Submitted via Google Form:

I want my world to have massive trees. Trees like sequoia would be commonplace with the largest trees at least 4 times taller. There would be other trees that don't have to be that tall, maybe half the height, with multiple trunks that would be very wide, like half a kilometer. What would these trees need? What climate would they fit? Hopefully I can make adaptions for multiple climates so these trees are widespread. How about society? I suppose their culture would include trees as being the utmost important? Plenty of rituals and rules when deciding which trees to cut for use? Maybe they have 100 tree gods? How about the rest of the ecosystem, especially other plant life? Or animals? I don't plan to have any massive animals any larger than what's on earth though.

Tex: Your trees would need a lack of competition for resources, a lot of resources to grow, and quite a lot of sunlight or whatever else your world uses for starting the photosynthesis process.

Anything that big is going to be difficult to fell, and would probably need hundreds of years to attain the size of something like a sequoia. Trees that big would either need to be close together or widespread, but a lot of that depends on the other flora and fauna on your world. Any sentient species that might mimic the human degree of forming societies that contain hierarchicalism and a coordinated belief system about one’s environment is going to grow around the trees, so would become a symbiotic relationship.

(Probably they’re not cutting the trees down.)

In an ecosystem, every species interacts with and has a relationship with the other species in the local environment. What do the trees offer, in terms of mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism, to your POV species and other, potentially background, species? This is going to guide how whomever narrates your story is going to incorporate these trees into their worldview and how they navigate their environment.

Your question appears to have a conflict in terms of who - or what - you’re focusing on. Under what conditions would both your giant trees and your narrating species evolve? It would need to be identical or else very similar phenomena (read: evolutions under different geological epochs), because they’re occupying the same space.

Utuabzu: There's a couple things that could help here. Firstly, this isn't Earth, so you can cheat a little by having lower gravity, which can help you to get water and nutrients up the trunk and prevent the giant trees collapsing under their own weight. It might also require a high number of stomata to be able to absorb enough CO² to photosynthesise enough sugars to sustain itself.

These trees are going to have a massive impact on their ecosystems, just by dint of their vast size. They'll cast enormous shadows, and their root systems will be enormous. The entire ecosystem will have to exist in some form of symbiosis with the tree, because the tree is in a very real sense the landscape. Understory plants might have little choice but to either become parasites or specialise as symbionts, providing the Tree with nutrients or some other benefit in exchange for sugars, or simply breaching the bark and stealing them. Some might produce fruits or some other food source that attracts animals, providing that benefit to the Tree, others might give some protection against parasites, others might be nitrogen fixers. Yet others might evolve from parasites into symbionts, using their roots tapped into the tree to help move water and nutrients in exchange for a share of the sugars. Some might become carnivorous, and thence also form a symbiotic relationship with the Tree, exchanging nutrients from their prey for sugars. Some others might give up on photosynthesis and instead engage in some form of chemosynthesis (using a non-photosynthetic reaction to produce sugars), and some of these might also enter a symbiotic relationship, exchanging their sugars with the tree when they have a surplus in exchange for sugars when they have a shortage. This is also another route by which parasites could evolve. Yet other understory plants might evolve to tap root deeper than the Tree can manage and exchange water for sugars, while others in arid climates might evolve like cacti or baobabs to store vast quantities of water for their Tree.

There's also going to be a variety of symbiotic fungi. Much like real-world trees, these Trees are likely to have an extensive mycorrhizal biome among their roots, massively assisting in the acquisition of nutrients. Nearer the surface, other fungi will be breaking down fallen leaves and dead animals, making those resources available once more. Lichens and mosses might colonise the bark, providing benefits as extra photosynthetic surfaces, an extra layer of protection against attack and a food source for more animals.

Up in the branches, there's likely to be a wide array of orchid-like plants growing without soil. Some may be parasites or symbionts, others might rely on fallen leaves, others might be carnivorous. They are likely to be a major food source for animals. And the whole system is going to need animal assistance, especially with reproduction, because these Trees are going to have to be a long way apart. Much too far for wind pollination to be practical. They will be reliant on animals to pollinate and to disperse their seeds far enough to ensure that the new Trees aren't trying to grow in the already overcrowded space beneath their parent. They'll also need animals to disperse their symbionts to their offspring. Down on the ground, they'll want herbivores to keep parasitic plants and even the symbionts under control, carnivores to keep parasitic animals and the herbivores under control, flying animals to pollinate and disperse, and detritivores to recycle dead matter into convenient fertiliser.

These Trees are so huge that they are going to have to be territorial. They have to monopolise the soil in their immediate area just to have a root system big enough to keep them standing, and then an even more extensive one to gather the resources they would need to survive. This opens up another area for symbiosis, as smaller plants can colonise the edges of the territory and exude poisons into the soil to deter competitors, like eucalypts do, and in turn the Tree can give them sugars. Others might evolve to burn, having symbionts that accumulate flammable substances and ignite periodically to clear away any juvenile competitors or parasites, while the Tree itself has bark thick enough to withstand the flames and the understory symbionts evolve to thrive in the freshly burned environment.

The end of these Trees lives also marks a major alteration in the ecosystem, because something that massive is very unlikely to die all at once, and even when it does it could take decades or even centuries for its corpse to rot away. There's several routes by which a Tree might die. They might be struck by lightning, a serious threat given their size and likely something they have evolved some counter to - perhaps accumulating metals from the soil like Pycnandra acuminata and depositing them in tissues to act as a kind of lightning rod. They might be overtaken by a parasite like a strangler fig, and when they die the parasite simply takes their place. Or an internal parasite like a fungus might overtake them, slowly eating the Tree from the inside, until at the end it transforms into a vast fruiting body spraying spores in every direction. No matter how they die, their death wouldn't represent a sudden change to the environment but rather a shift into a different stage in the ecosystem's long cycle. Once rotted away sufficiently, a new Tree could colonise the area, perhaps assisted by pioneer species that help clean up from the detritivorous plants and animals.

The upshot here is that each Tree represents a vast interconnected web of symbiotic relationships, a vertical forest in its own right. These will be big enough that groups of them would have a noticeable impact on the local climate, creating their own weather systems much like the Amazon does. Different regions will have had their Trees evolve to suit local conditions, and to exist with different symbionts.

Wootzel: To elaborate on Utubazu’s chemosynthesis mention, what if the atmosphere on this planet has a significant atmospheric layering thing going on, and there are molecules that are common around the crowns of these trees which aren’t very prevalent lower down, and once some species of trees get tall enough, they convert some or all of their metabolic processes away from CO2-based photosynthesis and into something else? If they switch away from photosynthesis, they might even lose quite a lot of their leaves, thus benefiting shorter symbionts they’re no longer shading out. (I don’t know what kind of process this could be; you’ll probably need to make something up, but unless you’re doing hard scifi, I think readers wouldn’t think twice about something like this.)

One more quick thought that I’ll drop for you to play with if you want to: Are these massive trunks solid? If they aren't and there’s space inside… what could live in there?

[ventebleck]

INKTOBER DAY 2: SPIDER

I was born. I had all my brothers and sisters next to me, existing for the first time. I never met them, however, as my instincts took over.

Get out of here.

And so I did. I move into a random direction, as did my thousand siblings. Our mother lay there, dead from exhaustion. I would never have met her. But fortunately, before passing, she gave each and every one of us the necessarily nutrients to survive for a while.

And my only concern was to survive.

I ran through the vast forest of grass that surrounded me. I hid from the birds, those vicious animals, and others who would try to eat me. I didn't blame them, however, as I understood that in this life, it is eat or be eaten.

Once I grew up, and the nutrients provided for me were long since forgotten, I made my first web. It was clumsy, and it could barely catch anything, but it was home.

I was a fast learner, and I was able to quickly improve on my craft. I was very proud of my accomplishments, and although I sometimes felt bad about the prey I captured, I knew that if I didn't, I would not survive much longer.

Once, during the summer, I stumbled upon a gigantic construction. In there, I could see giants I had never seen before. They scared me, so I tried my best to stay out of their way. That was, until I notice it.

Every day I saw how mosquitos surrounded the family (I assumed they were, as the giants were always close to each other, as other living beings I've seen in my life). At first, I assumed they had some sort of symbiotic relationship, but i quickly realized that was not the case. The mosquitos were biting them, and in turn, annoyed, the giants would kill them.

I felt bad for those insects. I knew that the blood they needed was used to feed their younglings, but I also understood the reactions of the giants.

There and then, a plan was formed. I could help those giants. I could make a web, a big one, and I could capture the mosquitos. The giants would not be harassed by the insects, and I would not have to worry about the food that I needed.

And so I did. I created a big, beautiful web, the best web I had ever made. For a while, everything was going according to plan. I had my meals, and I was growing faster and faster; the giants seemed happier, not having as many of those buzzing insects around them.

One day, when I was in my web, sleeping, I head a scream. I woke up as I saw one of the giants, looking at me, an expression of terror across their face. I didn't have time to react, to understand what was going on, before the taller giant appear with something on their hand.

They pushed a button, and suddenly I couldn't breathe. I tried to stay on my web, but my forces were leaving me, and I fell to the ground. With my blurry vision I could see how they were destroying my web, my home, with just a fast movement, as if it were nothing.

I wanted to leave, to scape, but I was stuck to the floor, and I still couldn't breathe.

I did not understand. Why did I do wrong? Why were they hurting me? I understood killing someone because you need substance, a food to survive. I understood killing someone because they are hurting you, taking your recourses, your blood. But I was helping! Weren't they happier without other insects bothering them? I was helping!

As I laid there, I slowly gave up. That's how my life would end, on the hands of the ones I tried to help.

As the darkness and coldness surrounded me, the last thing I saw was the look of pure disgust and hatred that the one that screamed gave me. And I realized that they never saw me as anything else other than another mosquito, another pest that bother them.

[gardenreviewus]

How to Grow Potatoes in a Tower Most gardeners are on the lookout for creative ways to maximize their growing space, and growing potatoes in a tower is a fantastic solution! This method not only saves room but also makes harvesting your delicious, homegrown potatoes a breeze. In this guide, you'll discover the simple steps to create your own potato tower, ensuring you enjoy a bountiful harvest while having fun in the process. Let's dig into this exciting gardening adventure together!Getting Started with Potato Towers While you may feel daunted by the idea of growing potatoes in a tower, it's quite simple and can be a rewarding experience. All you need is some basic materials, a little planning, and a touchdown of patience. Once you get the hang of it, you will enjoy a bountiful harvest and maybe inspire others to try it as well! Choosing the Right Location Even if you have limited space, finding the perfect spot for your potato tower is vital. Look for an area that gets plenty of sunlight, ideally six to eight hours a day, and has good airflow to help prevent moisture buildup. A flat, level surface is ideal, which will allow for even watering and drainage. Selecting Your Potato Varieties Even experienced gardeners enjoy the variety of choosing different potato types to grow in their towers. You can go for classic favorites like Russet or Yukon Gold, or try colorful heirloom varieties that add flair and taste to your culinary creations. Potato varieties are plentiful, and each type offers a unique flavor and texture, so it's fun to experiment! Early-season varieties will give you a quick harvest, while late-season types can be stored longer. Consider your culinary preferences and the growing season in your area when selecting the best types for your potato tower adventure.Essential Tools and Supplies Some basic tools and supplies will make your potato tower gardening experience enjoyable and successful. To get started, you'll need a few important items to help you create the perfect environment for your potatoes to thrive. With the right materials, you'll be able to enjoy a bountiful harvest! What You Need Supplies for your potato tower include a sturdy container, such as a wooden or plastic bin, seed potatoes, soil or potting mix, and a watering can. Having a garden trowel and shovel on hand will also help you easily manage planting and maintenance. With these items, you'll be well-equipped to grow your potatoes! Setting Up Your Tower Little effort is needed to set up your potato tower! Start with your container, ensuring it has good drainage holes. Layer the bottom with soil, then add your seed potatoes spaced apart. Cover them with more soil and continue this layering process as the plants grow, adding soil to encourage vertical growth. Need some tips for the perfect setup? Choose a container that is at least two feet tall to allow your potatoes plenty of space to grow. As your plants sprout and grow taller, keep adding soil to ensure they stay covered. This method encourages more potatoes to develop along the stems, giving you a richer harvest! Don't forget to keep them watered, and soon you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious homegrown potatoes.Planting Your Potatoes There's something exciting about planting potatoes in a tower. You'll start by selecting healthy seed potatoes, ensuring they are disease-free and have at least one or two eyes. Cut larger potatoes into pieces, allowing them to dry for a day or two before planting. By utilizing a tower, you optimize space and enhance air circulation, promoting wonderfully productive plants. Preparing the Soil Clearly, preparing the soil is an important step. Start by mixing well-draining soil with organic compost, which provides nutrients your potatoes will need to thrive. Aim for a loose texture that allows for easy root expansion, and ensure the soil pH is around 5.8 to 6.5 for optimal growth. Planting Techniques Potatoes can be planted by placing the seed pieces about 4 to 6 inches apart in your tower.

Position them with the eyes facing upwards and cover them with about 4 inches of soil mixture. As the plants grow, periodically add more soil to encourage tuber development and keep the sunlight away from the growing potatoes. With a little patience, you will see your potato plants flourish. Keep monitoring moisture levels; the soil should remain consistently damp but not waterlogged. As plants mature, ensure they receive adequate sunlight, and don't forget to harvest when the foliage turns yellow and starts to wither for the best yield!Caring for Your Potato Tower After you've successfully built your potato tower, caring for it is important to ensure bountiful harvests. Keep an eye on moisture levels, support healthy growth, and maintain a watchful eye for any infestations. With a little effort and diligence, your potato plants will thrive and reward you with delicious tubers. Watering Tips If you're wondering how often to water your potato tower, aim for a consistent moisture level without over-saturating the soil. Potatoes thrive in well-drained soil but require consistent moisture to promote growth. Here are some tips to keep your tower hydrated: Check the soil moisture regularly. Water deeply but less frequently. Mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds. After each watering, ensure excess water can drain properly. Dealing with Pests and Diseases Caring for your potato tower involves staying vigilant against pests and diseases that might threaten your plants. Early detection and intervention can save your harvest. Keep an eye out for common culprits like aphids and Colorado potato beetles. Dealing with these issues promptly is key. Consider using neem oil or insecticidal soap to manage pests organically. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of disease, such as wilting or discoloration, and remove affected leaves to prevent further spread. With attention and proactive care, your potato tower can flourish without major setbacks.Harvesting Your Potatoes For the best experience when harvesting your potatoes, it's helpful to know the right timing and techniques. By keeping an eye on your plants, you can ensure you enjoy a bountiful crop that's just the right size and flavor. Plus, harvesting from a tower can be easier than traditional methods, making it not only fun but rewarding! When to Harvest If you notice the leaves starting to yellow and wilt, it's a good sign that your potatoes are ready to be dug up. This usually happens about 70 to 90 days after planting, depending on the variety. You can gently loosen some soil to peek at the potatoes and ensure they've reached your desired size before fully harvesting. How to Harvest Safely To gather your potatoes safely, you'll want to use a few handy tools and a gentle touch. Start by removing the top part of your tower, then carefully work your hands or a small trowel into the soil. Be sure to avoid using heavy tools that might damage the potatoes or the tower structure. It's important to be gentle as you dig, since potatoes can bruise easily. Slide your hands into the soil and feel around for the tubers, lifting them out carefully. If you encounter any stubborn ones, use a trowel to assist without risking any damage to the nearby potatoes. Enjoy your harvest and the satisfaction that comes from growing your own delicious potatoes!Tips for Success Keep your potato tower thriving with these simple tips: Ensure adequate drainage by using a well-ventilated structure. Water consistently, avoiding both over and under-watering. Fertilize every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer to boost growth. Regularly check for pests and disease and act promptly. The key is to stay attentive to your potatoes as they grow! Common Mistakes to Avoid The most common mistakes you might encounter include planting too early, overcrowding your tower, or neglecting pest control. Avoid these pitfalls for a bountiful harvest. Additional Resources

Some great resources can help you further enhance your potato tower gardening skills. It's beneficial to explore online gardening forums, watch tutorial videos, and read books dedicated to container gardening. Connecting with local gardening clubs also provides valuable firsthand experiences and tips tailored to your specific climate. Together, these resources can boost your confidence and ensure a prosperous potato growing season!Summing up Drawing together all the tips and techniques for growing potatoes in a tower, you'll find it to be a rewarding and space-efficient way to enjoy a delicious harvest. By selecting the right variety, ensuring proper soil conditions, and maintaining consistent watering and care, you'll be on your way to a bountiful crop. Embrace the journey, and you'll discover the joy of cultivating your own potatoes right at home, even if space is limited! https://gardenreview.us/how-to-grow-potatoes-in-a-tower/?feed_id=250&_unique_id=6731e59cb132d https://gardenreview.us/how-to-grow-potatoes-in-a-tower/?feed_id=250&_unique_id=6731e59cb132d

[developerwith1]

Growing Potatoes in Containers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Urban Gardeners

Have you ever thought about growing your own food but felt limited by space? If you live in an apartment or have a small yard, you might think that vegetable gardening isn’t for you. But what if I told you that you could easily grow delicious potatoes right on your balcony or patio? That’s right! Growing potatoes in containers is a fantastic way to bring the joys of gardening into your urban lifestyle. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of growing potatoes in containers, turning your small space into a potato-producing powerhouse!

Why Grow Potatoes in Containers?

Growing potatoes in containers is not just a space-saving solution; it’s also an opportunity to cultivate your own food while having fun! Imagine reaching into your pot and pulling out fresh, homegrown potatoes for dinner. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, container gardening is incredibly rewarding. Plus, it allows you to control the soil and conditions, leading to healthier plants.

Choosing the Right Container

When it comes to container gardening, the type of container you choose can make a significant difference. Here are some options:

Size: Aim for a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil. This gives your potatoes room to grow.

Material: You can use plastic, wood, or fabric pots. Just ensure they have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.

Height: Taller containers allow for more soil depth, which is essential for healthy root development.

Selecting the Best Potato Varieties

Not all potatoes are created equal. Here are some great varieties to consider for container gardening:

New Potatoes: These are young potatoes harvested early for a tender, delicate flavor.

Fingerlings: Small and elongated, they’re perfect for salads and gourmet dishes.

Russet Potatoes: These are great for baking and mashing and are very versatile.

When choosing a variety, consider what dishes you love to prepare. This way, you’ll grow potatoes that you’ll actually enjoy eating!

Preparing the Soil Mix

A well-draining soil mix is essential for growing healthy potatoes. Here’s a simple recipe:

1 part compost: This adds nutrients.

1 part peat moss or coconut coir: This helps with moisture retention.

1 part vermiculite or perlite: This improves drainage.

Mix these components well, and you’ll have a perfect environment for your potatoes to thrive!

Planting Your Potatoes

Now that you have your container and soil ready, it’s time to plant. Here’s how:

Cutting the Seed Potatoes: If you’re using larger seed potatoes, cut them into pieces with at least one eye (the small sprouts) on each piece.

Planting Depth: Fill your container with about 4-6 inches of soil, place the potato pieces cut side down, and cover them with another 4 inches of soil.

Spacing: Space your potatoes about 12 inches apart to allow room for growth.

Planting potatoes is like laying the foundation for a house; you want to make sure it’s done right to ensure a strong structure later!

Watering Wisely

Watering your potato plants is crucial for their development. Here are some tips:

Keep Soil Moist, Not Soggy: Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but avoid letting it become waterlogged.

Check Regularly: Use your finger to test the moisture level; if the top inch of soil feels dry, it’s time to water.

Overwatering can be as damaging as underwatering, so finding that sweet spot is essential for successful vegetable gardening.

Providing Adequate Sunlight

Potatoes love sunlight, so placing your container in a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day is crucial. If you can’t find a sunny spot, consider using reflective materials to bounce sunlight toward your plants. Think of it as giving your potatoes their daily dose of sunshine, similar to how we all feel better after some time outdoors!

Managing Pests and Diseases

Even though you’re growing potatoes in containers, pests can still be a challenge. Here are some natural ways to keep them at bay:

Inspect Regularly: Check your plants for any signs of pests or disease.

Use Companion Plants: Marigolds and nasturtiums can deter pests naturally.

Handpick Pests: For small infestations, simply pick off any visible bugs.

Think of pest management as being a vigilant protector of your potato kingdom—keeping unwanted visitors away!

Harvesting Your Potatoes

The moment you’ve been waiting for—harvesting! Here’s how to know when it’s time:

Watch for Flowering: Once your potato plants start flowering, they’re on their way to producing tubers.

Check the Size: You can dig around the edges of the container about 70-90 days after planting to check the size of the potatoes. If they’re big enough for your liking, it’s time to harvest!

When you harvest, do so gently to avoid bruising the potatoes. It’s like pulling a treasure from the earth—handle it with care!

Storing Your Harvest

After harvesting, proper storage is key to keeping your potatoes fresh:

Cure Them: Let them sit in a dark, cool place for a few days to help them develop a protective skin.

Storage Conditions: Store your cured potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry location, preferably in a breathable container like a burlap sack.

Storing potatoes correctly is akin to putting away your favorite book for safekeeping—you want to keep it in the best condition for your next read!

Tips for Continuous Potato Production

Want to enjoy fresh potatoes all season long? Consider these tips:

Stagger Plantings: Plant a new batch of potatoes every few weeks to ensure a continuous harvest.

Use Different Varieties: Experiment with various potato types to enjoy different flavors and textures throughout the season.

Think of your garden as a well-orchestrated play, with each variety performing its role to keep the show running smoothly!

Benefits of Container Gardening

Growing potatoes in containers offers numerous benefits:

Space-Saving: Perfect for urban gardeners with limited space.

Easy to Manage: Containers allow for easier control over soil and moisture conditions.

Mobility: You can move your pots around to catch the sun or avoid bad weather.

Container gardening is like having a small, portable farm right at your fingertips—wherever you go, your potatoes can go too!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use any type of potato?

You should use seed potatoes specifically meant for planting. These are disease-free and will give you the best results.

2. How long does it take for potatoes to grow?

Typically, potatoes take about 70-120 days to mature, depending on the variety.

3. What if I don’t have a sunny spot?

You can still grow potatoes in partial shade, but ensure they receive at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.

Conclusion

Growing potatoes in containers is a fantastic way to dive into vegetable gardening, even in limited spaces. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the rewarding experience of harvesting your own delicious potatoes right from your balcony or patio. So why not give it a try? With a little care and patience, you’ll soon be reaping the rewards of your own urban potato patch.

[talkingattumble]

I can not stress enough how fucking important mycorrhizal networks are. Suppressing the urge to write a six paragraph essay on this right now but it makes me so fucking mad that people ACTIVELY go out of their way to kill mycorrhizal fungi WITHOUT doing the research. Yes, in some situations it will harm the plant, and it will be necessary to stop, but they do SO much good too, and if you just rip out any kind of mycorrhizal fungus on sight then there’s a good chance that you could have just ruined an important symbiotic relationship in your garden. “It probably doesn’t affect that many plants anyways it’s not important” oh so 90% of all fucking vascular plants isn’t “that many”???! Really???? Not to mention they’re more important than ever if something harms your garden. If a large amount of your plants are harmed then it is objectively a good thing for them to have an extra source of nutrients that can tell when they’ve been harmed! Especially when so many people (especially these perfect lawn people) have no idea when their plants are in need of extra help. So to see someone rip mycorrhizae off their struggling juniper tree and then get surprised when it starts dying, is so SO maddening. AND THEY WONT LISTEN it’s all “I keep seeing slime mold on my tree I keep ripping it off” which is fucking even more infuriating because THEY DINT EVEN LOOK LIKE SLIME MOLD IN THE SLIGHTEST. And even if you think that you see C. Fruticulosa of a slime mold of similar appearance, DO YOU REALLY THINK IT WOULD GROW ON BONE DRY WOOD IN YOUR WASTELAND OF A FRONT LAWN IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER WHEN THERE HASNT BEEN RAIN IN WEEKS????? IN THE LEAST IDEAL PLACE FOR IT TO GROW??! NOT TO FUCKING MENTION. THE SLIME MOLD IS NOT FUCKING HARMING YOUR PLANTS. A LITTLE BIT OF WOLFS MILK ON YOUR MINIMALIST HELL GARDEN NEVER HIRT ANYONE. NOT ONLY THAT. IT WILL HELP BREAK DOWN THE NASTU SHIT YOU DONT LIKE! “Ew there’s so many dead leaves and plants and bark and it takes forever to get rid of them” oh nooo if only there was a natural and beautiful and extremely interesting and inexplicably intelligent solution to this problem. And it helps the damn soil, which is needed because these lawn perfectionists will never ever change their soil for some fucking reason? Okay if you’re not gonna make your soil okay for plants to grow in then let the slime mold do it for you. That’s like if I couldn’t reach something on the top shelf and a taller person was like “here let me get that for you” and then I just kicked the shit out of him. Like she is trying to help your Sahara desert soil be able to actually support plant life. Let her. And what’s worse is once these lawn people find out that slime mold can grow in lawns (due to it often being watered) they immediately rip out ANY kind of fungus they see in there without doing research. Which has its OWN problems. Because not only can fungi be beneficial to a garden/lawn, it can also be a warning sign of dead trees that need to be taken down. But do they listen?? NOOO. Because in THEIR eyes the only thing that belongs in a lawn is grass. Got a little off topic and a little too long and not specific enough with the right words but you catch my drift.

TLDR do research on the fungi you find in your lawn, do research on the relationship your plants have with the fungi in your lawn, and please for the love of god leave fungi to their work unless you’re 100% sure that it is harming the plant. Also stop being a lawn perfectionist it’s weird and you’re hurting the little world in your front lawn.

r/lawncare is an excellent demonstration of the premise underlying diet and beauty scams. Namely that if you advertise enough Products intended to do a thing—however impossible and unrealistic the thing—no force under heaven will be powerful enough to turn people away from the foolish notion that they can accomplish it.

The Products become an Industry, and the existence of the Industry becomes irrefutable evidence that the ideal is a real thing you can do.

There are many, many posts on r/lawncare that are vaguely the same: photos showing a neat lawn with a rather thin, faded appearance, with green sparsely overlying undertones of brown thatch and dust. "What's wrong with my lawn? It looked so nice a few months ago?"

It's working as intended, my friend. You got rid of all the weeds, cut the monoculture of grass 2 inches short, and nuked the environment of insect life, and now the soil is compacted, there's no nitrogen fixers, no mycorrhizal network, no tunneling, digging or decomposing being done by bugs, no earthworms, and no broad leaf vegetation, so the grass is slowly starving and suffocating to death.

No such thing as a healthy monoculture.