A 2022 OHBA-Organic Educators Talk
In March 2022, I participated in the OHBA-Organic Educators Science Day events by giving an illustrated talk on the above subject. This is a complicated topic that could easily be a a long series of talks and interactive conversations lasting weeks or months. I was asked to talk to an audience of 110 mainly professional and amateur growers many of whom do not mainly grow food plants. The attached pdf is what I came up with.
Please leave any comments on this page.
Year Round Gardening for Metro Houston 
Comments
This is excellent – albeit deeply disturbing – information and obviously a product of deep research.
An issue with C4 plants not mentioned is that many invasive plants such as mesquite and cheat grass are C4’s. Meaning we’re going to get a lot more of what we don’t want.
Very powerful to use a human lifetime (photos of author) to track the changes predicted that have come to pass.
The specific temperature data by location translated to growing region is an outstanding resource for growers in this region. It appears quite complex but if one takes the time to track their preferred species through these tables, the chance for positive productivity outcomes could be greatly improved.
Another aspect that space/time did not permit in this presentation is the forced wildlife, insect and bird migration and phytomigration of native plants. As habitats change due to temperature and precipitation, so too the composition of all populations of those habitats. The challenge is, can they move fast enough? And what is coming to our local area that we don’t want?
Thanks Dr. Randall!
Gloria: I just got around to reading this. Thanks for the appreciation and additions. One of my ideas is that we could advocate a rethinking of planting schedules and plant lists for the whole continent. The basic research reported in part here and in more detail in Year-Round Food Gardening for Houston and Southeast Texas is broadly applicable with not too much work for any other region of the continent. I have lived in many parts and am pretty sure it will work anywhere. If it is irrelevant now in Des Moines or Tripoli it won’t be for long.