Crop

Wyrmwood is the only one there I haven't seen. Will have to fix that. I've been getting into Kiwi films a bit lately too. 'Boy', 'What We Do in the Shadows', and last night 'Hunt For the Wilderpeople'. All by the same writer/director/actor, all funny as, all worth checking out..

Rolf de Heer's 'Bad Boy Bubby'. Very weird and a bit confronting, but brilliant. Just what Australian films do best.

It was more the whole consept was a bit harsh for my sensitive ears. Ohw I hope my babies didn't hear.

I love this.

Has any one heard of Parallel Gene Transfer (or lateral or horizontal depends which book you read). The basic theory is that there is no evolutionary tree, no single origin as such. More an evolutionary web, a web driven by viruses. Viruses are not technically alive, because they don't have enough DNA to reproduce. To reproduce they must invade a host cell and steal some DNA. Because their DNA is so unstable the process of reproduction usualy tears their DNA, sometime leaving bits behind, sometime taking bits with them when they enter a new host. Over time a group of organisms (or people) living in close proximity, sharing viruses, will also share DNA, becomeing more alike. There is also many proven cases of inter species transfer, swine flu for instance contains DNA from avian, pig and human all in a single incomplete strand. The machanics of the theory is the entire foundation for the science of genetic enginering.

My favourite perennial veg is sweet leaf, Sauropus androgynus,. If you don't know it; to me it tasts like a cross between spinich and sweet pea. Can ncook it or eat it raw. Grows like a weed (but only reproduces vegetatively, so won't become one). Can grow in shade or sun. Drought hardy (but gets tough and bitter). After the first year or two needs to be cut regular or it gets tall and messy (1 of mine is about 3m now). If left to get tall it will fall over, rooting where it hits the ground. It does't like cold, should be right were you are thou.

Aren't there rules here about swearing? Profanity aside I know where your coming from. Thats why genetic diversity is so important. With over a hundred cannibinoids, many who behave differently depending which others are present, the possible combinations are endless. I'm new to cactus, so obviously know nothing, but to me Australia's southern states look like the perfect location for some serious strain development. Standard practice would be to plant very large numbers, cull heavily based on a numerical selection criteria, then open pollinate whats left. Is any one doing this yet? Personaly I'm excited for the future.

That sounds so cool!

This is only part of the story. Many great varieties have been born, which produce well in cool weather, confined spaces, that both flower quickly and all at once. However old school tropical sativa's can still hold their own when it comes to THC. Trich breeders can learn a lot from the industry. In the early days a lot of breeders where just breeding to sell seed or for the prestige of the cannabis cup. High THC was the buzz word, all the other great cannibinoids where all but ignored. Back when I was at uni I remember some of my instructors getting excited becauce several of the Pharma companies were offering big money to any one that could develop a commercial plant with high CBD. THC and CBD are proportional, high levels of one means low levels of the other. The industry had bred the CBD out of modern cannibis, despite the fact that CBD is the very substance that prevents psychosis in heavy, long term users. Breeders, in their greed, had literaly driven the industry crazy, not to mention nearly destroying a priceless resource. This time we where lucky. There are still several wild strains in places like the Himalaya. Pavarti is pretty much 50/50 with some individuals being much higher in one or the other. Sadly the wild plants are disappering. Each year you need to travel further and further up the valley to find large stands. One day they will be gone. This is what makes breeders and growers so important, that is so long as they don't forget what it is that makes these plants special in the first place.