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Antojitos El Catracho 7340 McGraw St., Detroit 313-399-3135 Handicap accessible Dinners: $6-$12.49 Antojitos: $2-$5.49 Breakfast: $7-$8 Open 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Why choose a Central American restaurant over a Mexican one? (Assuming, in both cases, that youre going for the real thing rather than an Americanized version. Actually, I havent yet met an Americanized Central American restaurant. In Detroit, at least, theyre all real-deal, serve-the-neighborhood places.)

Fried plantains would be reason enough. But enormous sopas with hand-made tortillas, crisp carne asada, tamales done right, and horchata are also plenty of motivation, as is your perpetual desire to broaden your horizons.

I say this as a person whos lived in Central America for months at a time, so I admit to the taste of second home bias.

El Catracho means The Honduran. Ignore the antojitos (appetizers) part of the name; youll get giant full-course meals here. Its decorated with a mural of a campesino digging rocks out of a field, a reminder of why so many felt they needed to leave and come here.

A brief lesson on plantains, which are the 10th-most important staple food in the world: The different names in different countries for varying degrees of ripeness and preparation methods are dizzying, but at El Catracho you need remember only three. Tajadas are green plantains sliced and then fried. Tostones are fried slices, pounded thinner with a wooden tostonera, and then fried again. Neither is sweet, as the fruit has not yet ripened, and though theyre a ubiquitous side dish in Honduras, I find them tasting mostly like generic fried. Garlic cream is offered on the side, in one version. Platanos maduros, on the other hand, are super-sweet, a traditional breakfast dish, though you might use them as dessert. Served with black beans and crema, theres nothing like them.

Pupusas (typically Salvadoran) come stuffed with various combos of cheese, beans, and chicharron. We got ours with loroco (a vine flower ) but found the whole (large) thing pretty mild. Like many dishes here, its served with a big heap of shredded cabbage sometimes with a sprinkle of powdered Parmesan on top!

Better was a pastelito, the Honduran pasty, because whats not to like about crisp, fried dough encasing meat? And better still was the $2 tamal, chicken or pork the moist, square kind steamed in a plantain leaf, not the dry cylindrical kind thats more common around here. Try a tamal this way and you wont go back.

New to me was the baleada, a street food, which our waitress described as like a burrito but just folded over. Here its pretty bland and contains scrambled eggs, beans, sour cream, and cheese in a flour tortilla. Hot sauce would improve it.

Those for whom the best accolade for meat is tender should not try Central American carne asada. Probably the steers are stringy, and being cooked within an inch of its life bumps up the chewiness factor. Here its a thicker cut than Ive had in Guatemalan restaurants, with a bit of a crust, and, in my opinion, deliciously tasty. Its served with rice and beans, of course; be sure to ask for whole beans.

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Restaurant Review: Antojitos El Catracho

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Medical pot grow-ops won't get tax break in B.C.

Julia Ratcliffe, a technical consultant with The Bug Factory, a company that supplies insects for natural pest control, examines marijuana plants for pests at the MediJean medical marijuana facility in Richmond, B.C., on Friday March 21, 2014. The B.C. government says medical marijuana companies won't be able to take advantage of a property tax break that was designed for agriculture. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

image credit: Photo for: Medical pot grow-ops won't get tax break in B.C.

The province has plugged a loophole that could have let new medical marijuana producers dodge most of their property tax bills by gaining farm tax status.

They're now excluded from the list of agricultural uses that qualify for the lower agricultural tax rate.

Several Lower Mainland cities had feared they might lose property tax revenue if new cannabis producers set up on industrial land and then ask B.C. Assessment to convert them to farm tax status.

"There's a collective sigh of relief among municipalities," Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin said of the decision, which takes effect in 2015.

The provincial government is also advising municipalities not to try to ban medical marijuana operators from the Agricultural Land Reserve, cautioning that they might face a court challenge.

Several cities have passed bylaws allowing pot producers to operate only on industrial land, so the highly secure bunker-like buildings don't effectively pave over productive farmland.

While the province views medical pot as a viable ALR use, it would not qualify for farm tax status there either, joining the ranks of gravel pits, wineries and other activities allowed in the ALR but denied the reduced tax rate.

The federal government has so far issued five medical marijuana production licenses in B.C. to operators in Central Saanich, Maple Ridge, Whistler, Nanaimo and Spallumcheen.

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Medical pot farms won't get property tax break

Ladybirds versus Spraying - Natural Pest control against Aphids - Garden experiment
WEBSITE: http://heirloomseedsaving.com/

By: How to Videos Organic Gardening Beekeeping by Work With Nature

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Ladybirds versus Spraying - Natural Pest control against Aphids - Garden experiment - Video

Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.

A Port Orange man who committed burglaries while posing as a pest control worker was sentenced Tuesday to five years in a state prison, officials said.

Johnny Swanger faced up to 30 years in prison after he was convicted April 24 on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling, dealing in stolen property and practicing pest control without a valid license, according to a release from the State Attorneys Office.

For several days in January 2013, Swanger, who is ordered to pay restitution to his victims, targeted older and terminally ill individuals, according to the release. Swanger, 46, stole jewelry worth several thousands of dollars after the victims invited him into their homes, believing he was going to treat the residences for pests.

Swanger will be subject to 10 years of probation with drug offender conditions upon his release from prison, according to the release.

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Pest control worker impersonator, burglar gets 5 years' prison

Provided

AVF investigators Georg Jander and Katja Poveda have received $498,000 in USDA funding to harness potato plants natural response to environmental stress. Their findings could deliver a sustainable pest control strategy that works with invading pests to increase crop yields and reduce insect damage.

Most farmers fight a constant battle against damaging insects. In a plant science version of keep your friends close but your enemies closer, Cornell researchers are working with a common potato pest to see if they can activate the natural defenses of potato plants by managing the bugs, rather than eradicating them.

The researchers aim to harness the plants physiological responses to environmental stress such as infestation as a sustainable pest control strategy that increases yields and reduces insect damage at the same time.

With seed funding from a 2011 Academic Venture Fund (AVF) award from the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, entomologist Jennifer Thaler, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, led a multidisciplinary team that worked with farmers in the Andes to learn more about how infestation by the local scourge of tuber moths actually helped some potato plants produce up to twice the usual yield of potatoes by harvest. These plants responded to a moderate infestation by overcompensating and ramping up production above the losses caused by the insect.

A team members previous research had identified one Colombian potato variety that responds to moth damage with robust yields. The AVF fieldwork pinpointed a second variety that is an effective trap crop. By growing a decoy plant that the moths especially like to eat alongside the potato with powerful natural defenses, farmers are able to control the amount of damage to the majority of their crop enough damage to activate the extra growth, without excessively taxing the plant. This push-pull strategy could help farmers around the world get bigger harvests from each acre of existing farmland, without pesticides, say the researchers.

Now plant biologist Georg Jander, associate professor, and assistant professor of entomology Katja Poveda, collaborators on the AVF research, are launching a study of the overcompensating potato variety to determine what genetic and physiological factors kick-start the plants growth.

Once we have identified the mechanisms by which the tuber moth promotes tuber growth, Jander explained, we can apply these mechanisms to increase yield in other potato varieties. The new project recently received three-year funding of $498,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Potatoes are indigenous to the Andes and remain a staple crop in South America, where more than 3,000 varieties are grown. The AVF-funded research confirmed local farmers interest in sustainable pest control.

We learned that farmers value the health benefits from an alternative pest management strategy much more than we anticipated, Poveda said. They are aware of the health consequences of using insecticides and willing to change to alternatives if they do not compromise the productivity of the crop. In the third year of the USDA grant, the Cornell team will return to Colombia to test the potato in field trials across different altitudes, soils and climate conditions.

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Pest attacks can lead to bigger crop yields

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) June 24, 2014

The World Franchising Network has published its fifth annual list of the 50 Top Franchises for Veterans and results were featured in the June 20, 2014 issue of USA Today in the Franchising Today section. Outdoor Living Brands, World Class Franchisor is proud to announce three of their home-based franchise opportunities have been featured in this years list adding to the companys growing list of awards and accolades.

The World Franchising Network selected 50 franchisors from over 300 companies requesting evaluation for inclusion in the article. There was no cost to participate in the survey. Each participating franchisor was required to submit a completed questionnaire. The questionnaire noted both the absolute number of and the percentage of the total number of operating units owned or managed by veterans, as well as the number of veterans in senior management that earned over $80,000 per year.

We are thrilled to have Archadeck Outdoor Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and Mosquito Squad designated as three of the Top 50 Franchises for Veterans. It is a great honor and one that I am very proud of, explained Shemar Pucel, Franchise Recruitment Consultant with Outdoor Living Brands.

In 2014, Outdoor Living Brands launched their Veteran Awareness Campaign s in hopes of educating and assisting active, transitioning and retired service men and women who are interested in leading their own team and investing in franchise opportunities throughout the nation. The campaign was spearheaded by Ms. Pucel who stated; The Veteran Awareness campaign is a very important project for us here Outdoor Living Brands. There are several members of the Outdoor Living Brands family who grew up in military households in addition to our vast group of franchisees who have also served or continue to serve while operating their franchise.

As a part of the Veteran Awareness Campaign, Outdoor Living Brands continues to work with respected organizations including, Recruit Military, GI Jobs, Vetrepreneur and the IFA to spread the word and visit with veterans across the country. Outdoor Living Brands offers special discounts with the VetFran program for all of their franchise opportunities. In addition, they have recently launched a new web page specifically focused to highlight the opportunities currently available for military veterans. The page includes featured testimonials from all four branches of the armed forces.

With franchisor headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, Outdoor Living Brands is proud to have been named a World Class Franchise in 2014 for all four of its brands: Archadeck Outdoor Living; Mosquito Squad; Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and Renew Crew.

For instant answers to veterans outdoor living franchise opportunity questions, call:

Archadeck Outdoor Living at 888-382-5018 Mosquito Squad at 888-308-3018 Outdoor Lighting Perspectives at 888-308-7138 Renew Crew at 888-276-8601

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Archadeck Outdoor Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and Mosquito Squad Named Three of the Top 50 Franchises for ...

How Did The Project Lawn Look The Second Year?
My project lawn from 2013 was a huge success and many of you have learned from that as I gave you step-by-step lawn treatment instructions along the way. And so I also wanted to show you how...

By: The Lawn Care Nut

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How Did The Project Lawn Look The Second Year? - Video

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

It's heating up outside and the summer is a time where thieves are on the lookout for lawn equipment. It's a hot commodity now because many of us use it to keep our lawns manicured.

It's what you would expect to see on a warm summer day in the College Grove subdivision of Montgomery...residents like Joshua Presley mowing the yard. But what many in this neighborhood say they wouldn't expect is for thieves to be eyeing their lawn equipment.

"I keep it in a little building in the backyard, but it's not locked or anything like that," said Montgomery Joshua Presley. "So I haven't even thought about that possibility."

But just a few streets down from Presley, Lori Gemette says it's becoming a trend.

"The push mowers, the leaf blowers, the weed eaters; apparently they are looking for things that are quick access," Gemette said. "Hurry up, pick up and get out."

On Friday, Gemette says her teen daughter scared a thief in progress.

"She said well someone is on our back porch trying to steal dad's push mower and weed eater'," Gemette said.

Gemette says the fence was unlocked.

Police say you should lock your fence with a quality, heavy duty lock.

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Thieves targeting lawn equipment in the Montgomery area

Brittany Hillen

On vacation and forgot to arrange for your lawn to be mowed? Mowz has your back (depending on where you're located). The start-up has targeted the chore many of use dislike, allowing you to order lawn service from the comfort of your smartphone.

The startup, which is currently only servicing those located near Syracuse, New York, works with licensed landscapers who will be tasked with the physical job of mowing your lawn. Their services are commissioned in a way similar to how driving service Uber works.

Users download the app (available for iOS and Android) and enter their information, including a credit card for payment and the size of the lawn they want mowed. Based on the size provided and perhaps when you want it done, the service returns a quote.

The average price is $35, though it depends on the lawn's size. Once the quote is accepted, landscapers will be dispatched around the time you requested, will show up and mow your lawn, send you a picture of their work, and your card will be charged for their service.

SOURCE: Digital Trends

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Mowz startup lets you get your lawn mowed via your smartphone