Upper South
July, 2008
Regional Report
Web Finds
Sunscreens
Does your sunscreen work? A Sunscreen Investigation by the Environmental Working Group of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreen products found that 4 out of 5 contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays. Be sure to also download the pdf of EWG's Shopper's Guide to Safer Sunscreens.
Favorite or New Plant
Pacemaker III Beet
Beets are a two-in-one vegetable as you can enjoy both the roots and leaves (the related Swiss chard is a beet with a smaller root). Beets are high in antioxidants and the B vitamin folate, and low in calories (if you leave out the butter). After experimenting with many varieties over the years, my favorite beet is 'Pacemaker III', which produces sweet 2-inch beets in 55 days, has excellent flavor and crisp texture, and is resistant to disease. A close runner-up is 'Kestrel'. There's still plenty of time to plant these this summer for harvest before frost.
