The Post

Everyone is welcome to attend the final sustainability meeting of the fall semester, on Dec. 4, at 2:30 p.m. in CASTL (St. Vincent’s Hall room 107).

The meeting’s agenda will include:
1) a review of NU’s greenhouse gas emissions self-assessment and PCC report;
2) a review of a proposed LEED silver policy;
3) review and possible approval of an NU sustainability calendar, which will be included on Ad Astra so university planning can take into account sustainability events and awareness;
4) review and consideration of a 2014 green logo contest to be sponsored by the sustainability committee.

The meetings are open to anyone who is interested in being involved in contributing ideas, working on special interest groups, or providing expertise related to sustainability at Niagara University. Questions and ideas can be directed to the co-chairs: Mark Gallo, mgallo@niagara.edu; or Stephanie Cole, scole@niagara.edu.

Planting Tip:
With the mild conditions for the next few days why not consider planting some garlic? It is a bit late but you could most likely still sneak it into some spot in your yard. It is a natural for the garden (flower and vegetable). It is commonly thought of as a companion plant in that it can inhibit certain pests, like aphids, and act as a natural fungicide. Deer are also not fond of it so it may help to deter them as well.

How To Plant Garlic? It’s simple – Place a clove in the ground so the top of the clove is a couple of inches below the surface. It is best to use what is known as hard-neck garlic as it does much better in the north. This can be found in most stores and is still available at farmer’s markets and local growers. (Stay away from garlic grown in California.) Garlic plants don’t like to be in extremely wet areas. You will see them pop up early in the spring like tulips and daffodils, even before the snow leaves western New York.

What to Watch For? Under ideal conditions garlic leaves resemble young corn plants. In early summer you will notice a central stalk that begins to go skyward – that is the flower head. These are called scapes and should be cut off when young. They make for a delicious addition to many recipes or fry them up to eat by themselves.

When the lower leaves start to turn brown it is time to harvest the garlic. Take a shovel and dig up the head with surrounding soil, but don’t dig too close and cut the bulbs in half. Most people then “cure” their garlic by placing in a shaded area with air movement for a few days until the remaining dirt can be brushed off. You will be rewarded with a tasty harvest that can be used to eat or plant in the early fall.