CAROLINA COUNTRY STORE
Visit Carolina Country Store at www.carolinacountry.com
“Carolina Songs”
Untreated soybeans
Soybeans treated with
Maxi-Gro
Maxi-Gro crop enhancer Maxi-Gro is a new, non-toxic, environmentally safe crop growth enhancer that works to make plants stronger, healthier and more resistant to diseases and harmful insects. It is certified as an organic additive by the Organic Crop Improvement Association according to the manufacturer, Biobased US, based near WinstonSalem. When sprayed, crops grow more rapidly and have a higher yield per acre. The sub-atomic particles of Maxi-Gro penetrate leaves to spark more efficient photosynthesis and higher brix levels (sugar in plant juices, indicating quality). This drives the plant roots deeper where they tap extra nutrients and moisture, making the plants larger and more able to give higher yield, even in drought conditions. Eight ounces per acre is typical usage and the product sells for $140 per gallon (about $9 per acre). To obtain Maxi-Gro, contact distributor Ken Bush, a Tideland Electric member, at the phone number or e-mail below.
(252) 633-6682 ken@broadcreekll.com
Musician Chris Cates’ latest CD touches on rock, blues, beach music, country, soul and jazz to create a unique sound. On “Carolina Songs,” his signature voice, guitar and piano blend with John Kell’ss saxophone, Jason Peeler’s drum and Chris Singleton’s bass guitar in songs that take the listener from the mountains to the beach. The CD’s 10 songs include “Boogie in the Mountains,” “Restless Love,” “Linville Cavern,” and “Slow Beach Music.” Cates lives in Asheville, where he tours with his band Chris Cates & the MasterPlan. Recorded at Mealtime Brown Studios in Asheville. $9.97.
chris@chriscates.net www.chriscates.com Carolina Country Store features interesting, useful products, services, travel sites, handicrafts, food, books, CDs and DVDs that relate to North Carolina. To submit an item for possible publication, e-mail editor@carolinacountry.com with a description and clear, color pictures. Or you can submit by mail: Country Store, Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27616. Those who submit must be able to handle large orders.
on the bookshelf Mountain Biking
“Eco Craft”
Ranging from the smooth, easy tracks in Greenville, to the brutal pitches and heartpounding terrain of the Pisgah National Forest, the Tar Heel State has a ride for everyone. In “Mountain Biking North Carolina,” veteran mountain biker and author Timm Muth outlines more than 60 rides, organized by region, with detailed ride descriptions, maps, elevation profiles, ratings for physical and technical difficulty, riding tips and trip preparation. Muth also includes a category ride index with titles such as Cruisers, Bruisers and Screaming Descents, with locale suggestions such as taking a dip in the lake after riding the Cane Creek trail near Charlotte. He also explains what a swoopy, grinder, bunny hop and taco mean. Muth, who says he went through six wheels, nine tires and 10 sets of cable in riding nearly 2,000 miles for research, lives in Sylva. Softcover, 276 pages, $16.95. Published by Falcon, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press of Guilford, Conn.
Offering 30 home décor projects, “Eco Craft” shows how you can recycle, use and transform everyday items to stylish new heights. Who would have imagined that you could make beautiful lampshades from plastic grocery bags? Or that melted plastic sixpack can holders could highlight a chic, Moorish-inspired tri-fold screen? Other projects deftly recycle wallpaper scraps, glass bottles and sweaters into usable art. Every project features instructions and step-by-step color photos, while icons spotlight key techniques, materials, and the estimated time to complete each project. “Eco Craft: Recycle Recraft Restyle” is written by Susan Wasinger and published by Lark Books in Asheville. Hardcover, 128 pages, $24.95.
(828) 253-0467 www.larkbooks.com
Month-By-Month Gardening What should I be doing in my garden this month? You’ll find answers to this question and more inside “Month-by-Month Gardening in the Carolinas.” The guide helps take out the guesswork through a monthly format for 10 major plant categories, including annuals and biennials, bulbs, herbs & vegetables, perennials, vines and ground covers and water gardening. Within each category, author Bob Polanski looks at topics such as planning, planting, care, pruning, watering and fertilizing, along with problems typical of the month. Tips are sprinkled throughout. Polanski is an Extension horticulturist at Clemson University in Greenville, S.C. Softcover, 304 pages, $24.99. Published by Cool Springs Press of Franklin, Tenn.
(615) 277-5555 www.coolspringspress.net
(888) 249-7586 www.falcon.com Carolina Country MAY 2009 25