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I've made a few comments elsewhere, but I think it is appropriate to put my 2 c's in here. Soilent_green, I've had to wrestle with the same question you've asked as I watched SSE morph into something far different than the organization I joined. Many have chosen to leave there also, rather than accept the changes. I respect their right to decide based upon their own principles, but I've decided to stay in SSE for the same reason I've decided to stay here: Not because I support the ownership, or the policies, or the website, or any of the other trivial annoyances that came with the transition... but because I value the community. I decided that withdrawing my seeds from SSE out of protest would hurt the wrong people... which is the many sincere young gardeners who joined with the expectation of learning to be better gardeners & seed savers. The situation here is no different. I doubt that Houzz will be damaged by those who choose to leave, but there are a lot of great people who would be just a little less informed in their absence. Any harm caused by leaving falls disproportionately on those who least deserve it. And just for the record, Houzz seems to be making a sincere effort to address many of the problems that have been brought up, and to make us all more comfortable with the transition. There have already been several positive changes, and there has been direct communication with many members over their concerns - self included. It would behoove us to consider that this site could have been turned over to far less responsive management. I participate in garden forums because I have a passion for gardening, and hope to inspire some of that passion in others (and to find greater inspiration myself). Sometimes change makes the conversation more difficult... but it is still a conversation worth having, even if it means tolerating situations not necessarily to our liking. A lot of sharing and preservation has happened here, and many wonderful friendships have been formed over the years. Isn't that worth something? Do we cut & run so easily, or do we put up with the inconvenience (changing what we can) and do our best to preserve what has been special about this community? I agree with those who have made the comparison to gardening in spite of weeds, insects, disease, or inclement weather. We overcome those obstacles and frustrations because in the end, what we gain from success makes it all worthwhile. So Soilent_green (and other long-time contributers) why should you stay? Because you have knowledge to contribute, and many friends here who appreciate that. Because I & others have enjoyed your sage counsel, and because if many of those who have contributed to the vibrant community that was Gardenweb choose to leave, then the site might as well have gone dark. It would be a shame to have dodged one potential tragedy - that of a total site shutdown - only to replace it with another tragedy of our own making. I don't care what color the "houzz" is outside, I care about the company inside. I hope you will choose to stay.

Greetings! I'm a Central Florida freelance writer looking to do a piece on gothic gardening to run in the fall. While I am currently researching target markets, the subject has intrigued me enough that if I don't land one in time, I will do a post on it for my personal blog in October. I'm also looking to locate a few folks who have created such a garden and wouldn't mind describing their efforts and outcomes, as well as what made them want to create such a garden in the first place, and any reactions they might have received on their project from friends and neighbors. If anyone here is or knows someone like that, they can reach me at lwinborne704@gmail.com. My professional website is http://bluetypewriter.com. Thank you!

Hi all, Apologies for the long post but I just wanted to create some discussion/awareness and information on a small Australian company, Greenpower Energy LTD (GPP) listed on their Australian Stock Exchange, intent on disrupting the $8 Billion fertilizer market by converting coal to fertiliser/biostimulant. This is no way a investment advice - please do your own research - but I wanted to ask different farmers/growers and their reactions/responses to such a possibly "disruptive technology". The company’s Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution (OHD) bio-stimulant fertiliser (biological or biologically derived fertilizer additives and similar products that are used in crop production to enhance plant growth, health and productivity) has the potential to shake up the market, supported by significant cost advantages over its competition — GPP claim they can produce fertilisers at around one-tenth of the cost of manufacturing traditional fertilisers. Very recently, Greenpower coal from the Gippsland Basin was subjected to the OHD process and the resulting bio-stimulant fertiliser liquid was applied to Bok Choy in hydroponic conditions. http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20170622/pdf/43k3ds5m4t2ss0.pdf The impact on the yield of Bok Choy utilising the OHD Bio-stimulant was evident: As can be seen in the image above, bok choy responded best to the application of liquid at a rate of five litres per hectare with a 21% increase in fresh yield compared to the untreated control plants. The result of the study suggests that a bok choy trial with the OHD liquid applied as a foliar spray in commercial hydroponic growing conditions is warranted. Management highlighted the fact that the yield uplift following the application of the OHD bio-stimulant is in addition to that provided by added fertilisers. On this note, the company made the observation that the application of the OHD bio-stimulant could improve fertiliser efficiency, as was also evident in tomato and wheat trials where the control plants were stimulated with industry accepted rates of added fertiliser. As part of the current hydroponic trials Greenpower requested Monash University to also conduct trials on rocket in a hydroponic setting to further test the understanding that the use of the OHD bio-stimulant fertilisers is not suited on varieties such as rocket and lettuce with the results as expected and mirroring studies on lettuce undertaken by Monash. Studies to date have confirmed that the OHD bio-stimulant fertiliser deliver positive yield results as studies have concluded that the OHD bio-stimulant fertiliser enhances reproductive activity in plants that produce flower and seeds. Target markets in the hydroponic sector are focussed on those plant varieties that fruit and flower with a focus on tomatoes, strawberries, greens vegetables, cucumbers and melons. In February earlier this year, the company completed OHD bio-stimulant fertiliser cereal crop trials on wheat in Victoria. The results from the trials were impressive with significantly more heads of wheat on OHD treated wheat per plant compared to the untreated control wheat. The bio-stimulant fertiliser liquid was applied to test crops at application rates of 5L/ha through to 70 L/ha in addition to control plants. The results from the trials on wheat were impressive with confirmation of OHD boosting wheat yields by around 300%, when OHD application rates of between 5L/ha and 35 L/ha were used. ( http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20170215/pdf/43g0mvr9k5pq9d.pdf ) This followed on from initial trials in October, the results of which suggested that OHD significantly increases crop yields. http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20161021/pdf/43c58rrdg5crp0.pdf Further trials with OHD bio-stimulant fertiliser to cover oil cereals will be conducted with Monash University, with a focus on canola and palm oil. There are high hopes for these trials as studies found the OHD bio-stimulant fertiliser to enhance reproductive activity in plants that produce flowers and seeds – news expected on this front in the coming weeks. On top of that, the feasibility study for the OHD project is well underway and expected to be released in the third quarter this year. The company is currently in discussions with international firms and national grower groups regarding offtake and partnering opportunities. Any long-term offtake contracts could be used as an instrument to fund the construction of an OHD plant. A brief summary of the process: Oxidative hydrothermal dissolution (OHD) is a brand new process for making good on the global slowdown of coal by turning it not into an energy source, but a fertiliser. Here’s a look at how the process works: Essentially, the OHD process works by crushing the coal to powder, slurrying it with water, feeding the slurry into a reactor, applying heat and pressure and introducing liquefied oxygen. It is a quick, cost effective process at 1/10th the cost of traditional products and is environmentally friendly. For more information: http://www.greenpowerenergy.com.au/oxidative-hydrothermal-dissolutions-ohd/ http://www.greenpowerenergy.com.au/gpp-smashing-the-costs-of-fertilizer-110th-the-cost-of-traditional-producers/