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It's a contraception. (What?) But it's no joke. There is evidence that the Neem's oil, when pressed from the seed, acts as a strong spermicide. Researchers are now trying to use one of the Neem's compounds to create a male birth control pill.

We know — now you want at least 10 Neem trees to plant in your own backyard. Unfortunately, there are only two Neems in America (both of them alive and doing well in Florida). But don't worry, you'll be hearing more about this "miracle" tree. There's a lot more research going on, and field cultivation is being done in Oklahoma, southern California, and Arizona. And, of course, plenty of skeptics are keeping the Neem discussion alive. So keep your ears and your backyard open.

Baby-Boomer Gardening Flourishes

Get this: According to the Wall Street journal, gardening has become a favorite yuppie time-passer. How very E.C. (environmentally correct).

For one thing, culinary herb sales are growing like crazy. And the more exotic, the better — carrots and lettuce are out; radiccio, Bok choy, and arugula are in. The beauty of yuppie gardening is that it's no-fail — gardeners simply use bedding plants instead of seedlings. Most importantly, it's non-messy! (You really expect board members to enter into their important meetings with soil under their fingernails?)

To further alleviate potential mess, yuppie gardeners have taken to fashionable "gardening apparel." Let's see, there are sporty pants with insertable knee pads, pants with tool-holding pockets, and plastic clogs to keep tender yuppie feet dirt-free.

Leave it to those nutty baby boomers to turn gardening into an expensive, competitive hobby. But don't worry, the trend will surely pass, and yuppies will find a brand new hobby to invest all their money in...

Editor's Note: Do you have any interesting, timely, or even peculiar news items you would like to share with otherMOTHERreaders? If you do, please send your newspaper clippings, photos, and true tales to "Bits & Pieces," Mother Earth News, P.O. Box 129, Arden, NC 28794. We'd love to hear from you!

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