With a relatively small population spread across a large rural area, connecting local food and folks together can be a challenge for communities in the Adirondacks and North Country region. So I thought, what if we could use the web to bring folks and food closer together? What if we created a one-stop online community website where folks, farmers, chefs and others involved in local food across this large region could get connected and share their passions? Emailing to lists is one way to stay connected. Using Facebook only connects you to the folks who already know and follow you. After attending meetings and listening to farmers and folks talk about the need for better ways to network with others, I knew the timing was right for such an online community.
Adirondack Food Network
The Adirondack Food Network is a free community website whose mission is to “connect local food to local folks.” It is a website dedicated to promoting local food, sustainable farms, farmers, and the homesteading community that nurture’s us all in the Adirondacks and North Country region. It’s free to join and easy for everyone involved with local food and regional self-reliance to get connected. By telling your story and being active in the network – you can learn more about local needs and we can all learn from each other in sharing recipes, cooking tips, farming methods, upcoming events and more all in one place online.
After listening to farmers and folks talk about their needs, I knew the timing was right for an online community.
Plant the Seed, Help it Grow
As the network takes shape, the goal is to have as many active members as possible who share and care about local food, it’s growth and it’s future in our region. My hope is that the Adirondack Food Network becomes a trusted community resource for local folks and beyond to connect, grow and learn from each other.
And that starts with you. Won’t you join us in making the Adirondack Food Network a success?


Back to Jobs
- Location Bangkok
- Job Type Permanent
- Reference BH-740-1
- Salary THB350000 - THB500000 per month, Benefits: Allowance + Bonus
Supply Chain & Logistics
- Posted Date October 07, 2021
Lead the largest agricultural operation in the APAC region!
Your role here would be to manage the development and production of regional growing operations to support one of the largest Food businesses in the world. You would have full autonomy and decision making power for the region leading a large team.
The complex operations would include end to end supply chain, operations, innovation and continuous improvement of all Agri related processes. You should enjoy working with multiple international stakeholders in this matrix structure.
Innovation will be a key area in the next 2 years and you will play a critical role in developing and implementing the company plans for new crop growth. A key challenge would be acting as a bridge between local farmers and communities and the corporates structure. You will need to enjoy getting hands on.
Based in Thailand you will alternate between the central Bangkok office and provincial growing areas.
In order to deliver in this role you would need to have 5+ years of senior operational experience in an agricultural focused environment. Ideally exposure to a regional agricultural supply chain role is needed. This could also be a great opportunity for an MD, CEO or Commercial Head or an agriculture business to step into a larger corporate structure.
A role at this level does not come up often. If you would like to learn more feel free to apply, if you don't hvae an updated CV, don't worry! Happy to have a call first to share more 090-1199345.


Do Weeds Attract Scorpions and Spiders?
If you’ve gone into your backyard, or front yard, recently, you’ve probably noticed a few new green and pesky additions. It’s weed season, and these things grow like…
Well, like weeds!
Weeds attract all kinds of unwanted critters into your Gilbert yard, from snakes to mice, scorpions to spiders.
This is the time of year here in Gilbert that the breeze begins to blow, the flowers began to bloom, and the leaves, dust and pollen begins to drive you crazy…and the weeds take over.
You spray and spray, but the keep coming back, and with them come all types of creepy crawling pests.
Did you know that Magic Pest Control offers weed services? Why, do you think, a Gilbert pest control company would offer weed control services?
Because, if we can help you get rid of your weeds, we’re also helping you to get rid of your pests!
Why Scorpions Love Weeds
Scorpions, just like every other pest, loves shady, cool areas that are dark and full of food.
Weeds are the perfect spot, and meet all of these necessities for scorpions.
Weeds, leaves and debris that pile up near or around your home give scorpions the perfect spot for sneaking their way into your home through cracks in the foundation…tiny, minuscule cracks that you don’t even realize are there, especially if they’re covered by weeds or leaves.
Weeds are full of other critters, making them a perfect place to find food.
Weeds are also usually damp and cool, making for the perfect conditions for scorpions.
If you have weeds around your Gilbert home, you are providing basically a safe-haven for all types of pests, including scorpions.
This week, Magic Pest Control released our weed control special! This is something that you have to take full advantage of, for one main reason…
4 MONTH GUARANTEE!!
That’s right! For only $80 we’ll come out to your Gilbert home, take care of every single weed (up to 7500 Square Feet), and guarantee our weed services for an entire four months!
Yes, you can spray for weeds to keep scorpions away. You can spray, and spray, and spray again…and continue buying weed killer…
Or you can get a 4 month guarantee from Magic Pest Control and get on with your pest free life!


GRAYSLAKE – The College of Lake County’s farm market sells CLC-grown fresh produce, honey and cut flowers from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays on the front lawn of the Horticulture Building, off Lancer Lane between Brae Loch Road and Washington Street, on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St.
Proceeds help support student internships in the college’s horticulture career programs, including sustainable agriculture.
Produce available includes salad mix, arugula, spring onions, orange and purple carrots, as well as red, golden and striped beets, said Matt DeRose, the college’s local foods coordinator.
The offerings also include radishes, garlic scapes, kale and collards. Available herbs include chocolate mint, which can be used in making tea or coffee. Additionally, the market will stock fresh honey from CLC’s apiary (bee colony). Other produce that may be available includes cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, celery, beans, onions, leeks, watermelons, musk melons and potatoes (red, purple and Yukon gold).
The later-summer selection also will feature broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and eggplant. Besides vegetables, the market will sell flowers, such as stock, sunflowers and dahlias.
The garden is located on the east side of the Horticulture Building. Compost for the soil consists of recycled vegetable scraps and coffee grounds from the college’s food service vendor.
For information on the farm market, visit its Facebook page.


In this workshop held by Daniel Stocker, coordinator of different permaculture projects in the Axarquia region of Malaga (Monte Alegre, Los Rosales…), you will learn everything about the fertility of the soil and how to create it at a minimum cost. Hot compost, static compost, worm compost, fermentations and compost tee.
by cell phone:
+34 / 661 420 391
+34 / 659 10 98 09
Sunday 05.04.2020 (11:00h – 14:00h)
Optional: Tour of the Sacristy farm and lunch (14:00h – 18:00h)*
- Opening of the course
- What is the soil food web?
- How to identify the bugs?
- What are the „good guys and bad guys“?
- Practical part
- Create a hot compost
- See the worm compost and static compost
- We show you the Finca Sacristia with its elements
- We explain some elements in datalle and their interconnection in the system.
- Dry toilet
- Food Forest
- and more!
During the workshop we will serve you a very tasty organic vegan snack.
NOTE: Places are limited. Please make your reservation as soon as possible and keep yours!
INDICATIVE PRICES (all based on donations)
Tour of the Sacristy Farm: 35.-€
Lunch: Feel free to give what you can!


Down on the farm
I am fortunate to be living in the middle of farm country on Long Island, NY. Right now the farmers are getting their fields ready to grow all types of food, and I can hear the tractors and smell the soil. Pretty soon the farm stands will be open and we can start buying fresh fruit and vegetables once again. I enjoy modeling a farm in Trainz, and the Trainz Download Station (DLS) has lots of gold to help anyone make a good farm scene for their route. Because I used lots of items from the DLS in this farm scene, I will be listing the “Download gold” items in spreadsheet fashion at the end of the article. I think it will be nicer to just enjoy the farm pictures and then check out the list. Welcome to the farm!
The dairy barn and hay barn.
There’s a nice trout creek running behind the plowed field. If you listen closely you can hear the gurgle of the creek and the call of a loon. The old white truck is carrying the last milk run of the day for the local folks.
A busy day.
In the main field a John Deere tractor and harvester are busy getting the day’s work done. The writing on the old Mail Pouch Tobacco ad on the barn has faded, but it is still there.
In the greenhouse.
Protected from the weather, the family grows their vegetable crop.
Burma Shave sign.
Sheriff Johnson helps a motorist who’s car broke down on Town Road. The Burma Shave signs are still along the roadside. This series of signs says “Within this vale…of toil…and sin…your head grows bald…but not your chin…Burma Shave.”
Going for trout.
Down by the old mill, cousin Phil tries to catch some trout for supper.
The cow herd grazes.
The breeze freshens as weather starts moving in, possibly it may rain by nightfall. The cows will be in the barn by then.
Mary calls out to let everyone know that dinner is ready as Joe finishes fixing the tire swing under the old apple tree. Another day on the farm is finished!
I hope you enjoyed this little tour. Here is a listing of the items from the DLS that I used to create this scene.
Whewww! As you can see from the list, that’s quite a load of gold, but these nuggets can really help your route sparkle. I want to say thanks to all those talented people listed above who have contributed effort and time into making the creations we use to enhance our routes. Thanks folks!
I hope that you have found this edition of “Download gold” to be helpful.
Article and screen shots ©2004 John D'Angelo. All rights reserved.


How to Collect Dahlia Seeds Out Of Plants
Dahlias (Dahlia pinnata or Dahlia x hybrida) are prized because of their attractive blossoms, offered in a selection of forms and colours, and multiple possible growth habits. Though dahlias are most often propagated vegetatively by dividing the plant’s tuberous roots, as this method guarantees that the plants will offer exactly the identical desirable characteristics as the parent plant, it’s also possible to start dahlias utilizing seed. A small number of dahlia hybrids may create reliable flowers from seed and are appropriate as bedding plants; seed propagation also allows growers to experiment with dahlia breeding and attempt to produce desirable, unique specimens.
Cut the seed heads from the dalhias, leaving a few inches of stem attached to the seed go for easier treatment. Seed pods are ready for harvest once the tender, green seed pods become harder and straw-green or light tan in color but before the seeds are released from the seed pods, technically achenes.
Spread the blossom heads out on a screen or tray to dry, maintaining the screen or tray in a dry, cool location.
Rub on the dried seed pods gently between your palms to release the seeds and then separate the chaff from the seed. Hold the pods above a piece of paper or tray to catch the seeds.
Transfer the seeds into a lidded jar or envelope branded, if desired, with notes about the parent crops, seed harvest date and any other pertinent info.
Store the ends at a cool, dry place and then sow them the next growing season, if at all possible, as seeds lose their viability with time.


How to make money from picking blueberries
Most commercial blueberries are grown on bushes of cultivated blueberries that are larger then wild blueberries, and unfortunately are not as tasty as the wild the wild ones are. The wild blueberries come from two different but related plants that either grow as high bushes or as creepers growing close to the ground.
Regardless of where they grow you can make a thousand dollars or more during the season that runs from mid-July to early September, but is best in late July. The berries you pick are packed in pint or quart baskets for sale. One of the best places to sell blueberries is at a farmers market, or just from along side the road as they do in many places where these berries grow. Another potential market for your berries is through local markets.
Blueberries are the foundation of more then one fortune. Right in the author’s family a cousin became a millionaire by raising and selling cultivated blueberries in the heights of the Berkshires in Blandford, Massachusetts. He sold all his blueberries to a large bakery that specialized in baking pies.
The town of Cherryfield, Maine styles itself as the “blueberry capitol of the world” because of the number of successful growers of wild low-bush blueberry plants. These are wild blueberries that for the most part are sold to local canneries. A lot of these berries are sold fresh to supermarket chains. The growers have perfected ways to pick these berries mechanically.
To get started in this business all you need is something to put the berries in as you pick them. This is usually a small pail that is tied to the waist with a strip of cloth. The bucket hangs from the cloth band at the front. You will also need a supply of pint and quart baskets, although most blueberries are sold by the pint.
Where picking blueberries can lead! Everyone has to start small to learn the ropes of a business, picking and selling blueberries is a good place to start that can lead to a lifetime career of harvesting wild plant products.


The Local Pantry asked me to photograph one of their local Yorkshire suppliers, B. Whiteley Farm Shop and Nursery in Pudsey. I arrived dressed for the occasion in wellies and had the pleasure of been shown round the farm by Vicky. B. Whiteley have had the land for over 20 years and grow seasonal vegetables year round ranging from summer salads to winter roots and brassicas. The Local Pantry, in Pool, supply a range of B. Whiteley’s seasonal vegetables and serve specials every day in the café all prepared by the chefs in the open kitchen using the best of what’s local and in season and available to buy in the shop. Heres a snippet of the afternoon I spent photographing Vicky and her team at work on the farm.
Leeds commercial photographer JB Creatives, commercial photography for The Local Pantry.


Spray Shop Australia is a collaboration of six agricultural spraying specialist partners from across Australia.
The Spray Shop Australia partners have been carefully selected due to their long term commitment to the spray industry and their expert knowledge of spray application technology.
Due to the combined expertise and buying power of our Spray Shop Australia partners products available on our online shop are of the highest quality and recommended to suit your spraying needs.
Enquiries made through the Spray Shop Australia website, and orders placed through our online shop, will be directed to your nearest Spray Shop Australia dealer or Sales Representative.
The Spray Shop Australia specialist partners are:
Western Australia: Sprayline Spraying Equipment
South Australia: Spray Shop Adelaide
Southern NSW/Victoria: Guidolin Agrimac
Central and Northern NSW: Vantage NSW
Queensland: Toowoomba Spray Shop
Tasmania: TP Jones & Co.


AOP Côtes de Provence – Made with organic grapes
Technical sheet of XIIIE Red
This estate cuvée was created on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the acquisition of the Commanderie de Peyrassol by Philippe Austruy. The very soul of the estate, XIIIE reflects the colours of Peyrassol’s terroir. Its unique bottle and free-form label, created by the designer Pierre Yovanovitch, combine authenticity and modernity in perfect harmony with this wine which reveals the taste of fruit without any diversion.
For more than three months, an interminable period of heat and relative dryness settled over Provence. This exceptionally long episode came on top of a very low total rainfall since the beginning of the winter. Heat and drought are indeed the two main characteristics of the past year. The seasonal cycle began with a relatively harsh winter, punctuated by a few isolated storms. It was followed by a spring marked by frosts and violent hail falls which, fortunately, spared the vineyard
Château Peyrassol, officially labelled as an organic vineyard from the 2022 vintage. Our vines have resisted particularly well to this dry climate, with its sometimes overwhelming heat. With the exception of the very young vines and certain superficial terroirs, we did not observe any symptoms of water stress during the entire vegetative growth period. In bright sunshine, in very dry conditions, when even some trees were dropping and losing their leaves, our vineyard plots were bright green. Several protective factors for our vineyard came into play in this tense climatic context:
- a deep rooting of our vines,
- the proximity of the estate’s woods and garrigues, which drain the soil and favour the production of humidity,
- a decisive action of the teams in the vineyard with a parsimonious planting of cereals and leguminous plants between the rows, the subsequent covering of these plants which preserved a little humidity at the foot of the plant and, finally, a controlled leaf removal which protected the bunches of grapes from the scorching sun of the summer.
From August onwards, the ripening of the berries had its share of surprises in store for us. Sugar levels rose very quickly in the early grape varieties, with a reduction in acidity. On the contrary, the later grape varieties struggled to start their sugar load with quite unusual ripening. These surprising behaviours led us to be more vigilant, to meticulously monitor the vineyard, down to the very last vine, in order to organise a harvest that was finally very concentrated between 25 August and 28 September, so as to capture the berries at their best.
Fermentations ended with superbly aromatic white and rosé musts. The reds release beautiful colours and powerful aromas. The first tastings suggest that this will be a vintage of character.
Organic agriculture under organic conversion. Sowing of cereals in the inter-row to favour soil life, careful plot selection, manual harvesting of the oldest vines.


The heavy rainfall, hot and humid climate and well drained soils mountainous undulating and sloppy terrain of the Konkan is very much conducive for the cultivation of various fruit crops. These fruit crops give comparatively four to five more return per unit area than the traditional cereal crops. This region is famous for Alphonso mangoes, bold cashewnut, kalipatti sapota fruits and Shrivardhanee variety of areacanut. Mango, cashew nut, kokum, jackfruit are the major rainfed fruit crops while coconut, arecanut,sapota are the major irrigated fruit crops grown in the Konkan region. The Government of Maharashtra also realized the importance of fruit crops in employment generation and upliftment of poor marginal farmers and launched an ambitious Employment Guarantee Scheme Linked with Fruit Crops Cultivation in Maharashtra State from 1990-1991.
The scheme was supported by supply of genuine quality planting material of fruit crops by the four Agriculture Universities. As a result the area and production of fruit crops in Konkan increased four fold than the year 1990. In Konkan about 3 lakh hectare area has been brought under fruit crops during last decade. However still about 4.0 lakh hectare cultivable warkas land is available for plantation of fruit crops.
Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli has made significant contribution in the development of Horticulture in the Konkan region by release of improved varieties, standardization of package of practices, pest and disease control, use of growth regulators for regular and high yield, training of youth and farmers in nursery techniques, production technology and post harvest technology of fruit crops etc. It has also done research work for solving some of the vital problems in fruit cultivation and export of fruits.
The present area under fruit crops in Konkan region is as follows:


The Pennsylvania gardener by Derek Fell Download PDF EPUB FB2
The Pennsylvania Gardener is the first and only book that addresses the specific needs and concerns of gardeners in this state. It provides such information as how to use Pennsylvania's soil and climate to advantage; what not to plant in Pennsylvania; first and last frost dates, and step-by-step instruction for the cultivation of hundreds of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, fruits and /5(2).
The Pennsylvania Gardener is the first and only book that addresses the specific needs and concerns of gardeners in this state. It provides such information as how to use Pennsylvania's soil and climate to advantage; what not to plant in Pennsylvania; first and last frost dates, and step-by-step instruction for the cultivation of hundreds of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, fruits and vegetables/5(8).
Ball has authored or co-authored a multitude of books, including the Pennsylvania Gardener's Guide (also for Cool Springs Press). She writes on a large number of topics for gardeners but specializes in addressing issues that concern non-gardening homeowners who have lawns and plants to care for but a limited amount of time or interest of working in the yard (whom she calls "yardeners.")/5(6).
Pennsylvania Gardener's Guide book. Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America/5. Additional Physical Format: Online version: Fell, Derek.
Pennsylvania gardener. Philadelphia: Camino Books, (OCoLC) Document Type: Book. Ball has authored or co-authored a multitude of books, including the Pennsylvania Gardener’s Guide (also for Cool Springs Press).She writes on a large number of topics for gardeners but specializes in addressing issues that concern non-gardening homeowners who have lawns and plants to care for but a limited amount of time or interest of working in the yard (whom she calls “yardeners.”).
This glossy bi-monthly magazine is all about gardening in Pennsylvania and USDA zones 5 and 6. Cover to cover we talk about annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, herbs, fruits, insects, diseases and so much more. Select your Pennsylvania Gardener Magazine Subscription.
The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Manual is the dream of every home gardener. While this book is a training manual for the Master Gardener class, home gardeners should have it in their own library as a comprehensive, well-written, easy-to-follow reference.
The Master Gardener Manual is an byinch, hardcover, case-bound volume with more than color images. The publication is available from Penn State Extension for $75, plus shipping. Orders can be placed by calling toll free The publication number is AGRS Recommends specific varieties and provides advice on how to plant, how to grow and how to care for Pennsylvania's best plants.
Contains easy to use advice on the top landscape plant choices, more than entries for Pennsylvania. Specifications. Title. Pennsylvania Gardener's Guide. The Pennsylvania versions are the " Pennsylvania Getting Started Garden Guide " (the intricacies of gardening in Pennsylvania with a focus on the best landscape plants for Pennsylvania, written.
Pennsylvania Getting Started Garden Guide Click Here George’s “Survivor Plant List” is a page booklet detailing hundreds of the toughest and highest-performing plants. Description. This full-color publication provides information about growing vegetables--from selecting the best site for your garden to harvesting your vegetables.
Vegetables discussed include asparagus, beans, brassicas, bulb vegetables, cucurbits, leafy vegetables, peas, peppers, root peppers, sweet corn, baby corn, and pickling corn, eggplants, and tomatoes.
There are approximately 2, native plants in Pennsylvania. An introduced or non-native plant is one that has been brought into the state to become established in the wild. At the turn of the 21st century, about 1, species of non-native plants existed in Pennsylvania outside of gardens, parks, and agricultural lands.
Pennsylvania gardener's guide. [Liz Ball] Home. WorldCat Home About WorldCat Help. Search. Search for Library Items Search for Lists Search for Contacts Search for a Library.
Create Book: All Authors / Contributors: Liz Ball. Find more information about: ISBN:. David L. Culp Gardener, Author, Lecturer, Designer, & Creator of Brandywine Cottage Enter David Culp is Featured by the washington post | Read the article David L. Culp About David L. Culp David Culp is the creator of the gardens at Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
David has been lecturing about gardens nationwide for more Read moreHome. Timber Press is devoted to sharing the wonders of the natural world by publishing books from experts in gardening, horticulture, and natural history.
Gardners is an unincorporated community in Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA, and a census-designated place that includes portions of Adams and Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania, USA.
The village of Gardners is located off Pennsylvania Ro in. Location: Collection: Call # CLP - Main Library: Pennsylvania Dept. - Reference Stack Area: r SBB Location: CLP - Main Library: Collection. Book appointments on Facebook with Gardener in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
I really like this company. They are honest, hard workers. We've had so many contractors and work teams in York fail to return calls & emails, or even just show up to jobs they've been scheduled to do.
Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C. Pennsylvania Gardener's Guide Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual: Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada Minnesota Gardener's Guide (Gardener's Guides) Indiana Gardener's Guide.
Howard Gardner, (born JScranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.), American cognitive psychologist and author, best known for his theory of multiple presented in Frames of Mind () and subsequently refined and extended in Intelligence Reframed (), Gardner’s theory inspired teachers, school leaders, and special educators to embrace the notion that there are many.
Gardners is an unincorporated community in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. Gardners is located off of Pennsylvania Ro in Tyrone Township just below Idaville.
Abbottstown - Arendtsville - Bendersville - Biglerville - Bonneauville - Carroll Valley - East Berlin - Fairfield - Gettysburg - Littlestown - McSherrystown - New Oxford. This forum is for those in Pennsylvania to discuss the various aspects of gardening there. Latest; Featured; Novice gardener experiencing tomato BER - please help.
Posted by meghanicole94 J Pennsylvania Gardening Growing Tomatoes Garden. 4 Comments Updated J +2. What is Whitepages people search. Whitepages provides the top free people search and tenant screening tool online with contact information for over million people including cell phone numbers and complete background check data compiled from public records, white pages and other directories in all 50 states.
We provide answers to over 2 million searches every day, helping 35 million users. The America's Garden Capital Passport is an exclusive guide to exploring the region's public gardens.
Use the Passport to log garden visits to all 36 gardens located here in America's Garden Capital. Organized by geographic region, the Passport provides need-to-know information and must-visit experiences at each garden. The Southern Gardener and Receipt-Book: Containing Valuable Information, Original and Otherwise, on All Subjects Connected With Domestic and Rural Affairs, Gardening, Cookery, Beverages, Dairy, Medical, Veterinary, and Miscellaneous (third edition; Philadelphia: J.
Lippincott and co., ), by Mary L. Edgeworth, contrib. by P. Thornton. Penn State Master Gardeners of Lancaster County, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. likes 14 talking about this 12 were here. Penn State Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension. ZONE 6 PENNSYLVANIA GARDEN UPDATE JULY 18TH ZONE 6 - Duration: cab7 2, views.
Language: English Location:. Above: The Well-Tempered Garden by Christopher Lloyd is available in paperback on Amazon. If you read one gardening book, then this should probably be it. Christopher Lloyd is best known as the creator of the mesmerizing gardens at Great Dixter,where he was born inbut he was a prolific writer too.
Written to accompany a traveling exhibit organized by art historian and avid gardener Anna O. Marley of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the book focuses on artists from the Northeast and the Philadelphia area which has had a rich gardening tradition for centuries.Lookup People, Phone Numbers, Addresses & More in Gardners, PA.
Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory.Want to get rid of your weeds? Use our Weed ID to find your weed and the Preen product to control it. Select your state to view the common weeds found where you garden. You'll find photos and details for weeds plus helpful videos and other weed-fighting tips.


Feast on the Farm
Local Roots Farm 11707 262nd Avenue Northeast Duvall, WA 98019
Stewardship Partners, Salmon-Safe and Local Roots Farm have teamed up to present the fifth annual "Summer Harvest Feast on the Farm". It will be a night of fabulous local food and wine from Salmon-Safe certified producers! This memorable evening will include farm tours, tractor rides, a delicious meal prepared by a celebrity Seattle Chef accompanied by a live local band. Feast on the Farm promotes awareness for Washington farms that grow healthy food and actively participate in environmental stewardship.
The event will take place rain or shine.
Caffe Vita will be at this feast, one that cannot be missed! Bags of 12,000 Rain Gardens coffee will be given to guest to raise awareness for the program.


Sri Lanka is gifted with abundant greenery, colourful flora and plenty of fauna. Most of they country’s locations are filled with rich soil where traditional cultivations continue to thrive. The main plantations tea, rubber and coconut share a unique history as to how it was first introduced to the country and also grew to become among Sri Lanka’s primary exporters.
James Taylor marked the birth of the tea industry in 1867. This all started at Loolkandura Estate situated in the Kandy district. There onwards adjoining estates continued to harness opportunities to where tea could be grown. The main regions planting tea include Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Uda Pusselawa, Dimbula, Uva Province, Southern Province and the major tea growing areas are Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Bandarawela, Haputale, Galle, Matara, Mulkirigala, Ratnapura and Kegalle. Tea blends would be different from up country to low country, Uva to Sabaragamuwa province. Sri Lanka has numerous tea estates and some provided guided tours that include a bit history, introductions to production processes, a walk through the luscious green fields and finally to sip of hot cup of Ceylon tea while mulling over your next purchase from the gift shop.
Some of the best estates to visit include Pedro Estate, Halpewatte estate, Labookellie, St. Clair’s, Mlesna Tea Centre for a factory visit, production processes and tea tasting. The price per person usually varies from estate to estate and the factories recommend you to do this during morning hours to can witness the production process. The fee at Halpe Tea factory will cost LKR 450 and whereas Mlesna will cost LKR 350. If you are thinking of a tea factory experience our properties at Yoho Winrich Road in Ella or Yoho Hill Road in Nuwara Eliya would be great options to be based at.
The Sri Lanka rubber plantation industry began in early years of 1876 with the planting of 1919 rubber seedlings at the Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens in Gampaha. Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Matale, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts are the main rubber growing areas and are mainly the wet zone. Dewalakande, Panawatte, Frocester, Halwatura, Talduwa and Chesterford are a few rubber estates that belong to the main rubber plantation companies in the country. Few of these factories allows estate walks and factory visit to see the rubber process. If you are passing by make sure to visit an estate and experience the activity yourself.
Coconut is grown in most parts of the country. Kurunegala, Puttalam and Colombo belong to the first coconut triangle of Sri Lanka that cover 66% of all total coconut requirement of the country. The cultivated areas are above sea level up to elevation of 750 meters.
We have many coconut plantations in the country in the areas as Colombo, Kalutara, Puttlam and Kurunegala this cannot be missed when passing by. Coconut is used as a fruit, milk, oil, coconut shell after dried made into spoons, ornaments etc. The coir is natural fibre extracted from coconut husk and women labourers manually turn this into small industry ventures to produce ropes, mats and brooms for the local market. The second coconut triangle is not to far away in the areas of Jaffna, Mannar and Mulativu districts.


You Can Now Buy The Premier Lawn Level Tool Directly Online
Top dressing a lawn is done to level up an uneven surface or to fill in holes however there are some other advantages that you may not be aware of.
On top of the obvious benefits of top dressing to level your lawn, the health benefits are amazing.
With the addition of sand and compost on the surface of your lawn, you introduce organic matter back into the soil which both improves its water holding capacity and introduces beneficial micro organisms which in turn improves soil health.
Heathy soils lead to healthy, less stressed lawns and that’s something that all lawn lovers are looking for. With the addition of sand, soil drainage can also be improved and thatch can be reduced.
GRATE ADVICE – TOP DRESSING
What sort of material is best for my lawn?
A top dressing mix can consist of a combination of sand, loam and compost.
If you’re not looking to level up your lawn, then simply use compost. Make sure you buy one that has been properly made and highly composted. If you’re looking to fill in low spots, then you’ll need to add some sand or loam to your topdressing.
In this case, it’s important to make sure that the texture of the sand and loam you use matches the soil under the lawn as closely as possible as these new materials will eventually form part of the root zone and will therefore need to blend well. Sand or sandy loam is sometimes used as a topdressing material on lawns with heavy, clay soils or drainage problems.
Usually applied after aerating, the sand fills in the holes and over time can alter the structure of the soil to allow for better drainage and a healthier grass.
You can buy top dressing mix in bags from most hardware stores and garden centres. Check with your local landscape supply yard for bulk quantities.
When do you top dress?
The best time of year to top dress is in the Spring.
You need a good 4 – 6 weeks of warm weather for your lawn to recover. When top dressing for levelling purposes, you only need to do that as required.
Top dressing with compost can be done every year for good soil and turf health.
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There is some information about tropical fruit exporters that you should know. This is because the Tropical Fruit Exporter is one of the exporters selected to be part of the recommended business. As we know that fruit is one type of natural food that is consumed by many people every day. However, not all fruit variants are available or can thrive in an area.
Definition of Tropical Fruit Exporter
Before discussing further about other information, you should first understand the meaning of tropical fruit exporters. The exporters of tropical fruit are exporters of fruits originating from tropical countries. As we know that tropical countries store many unique fruit variants and can only thrive in that area.
Fruit Variant Options from Tropical Fruit Exporters
There are several variants of fresh fruit that you can choose from tropical fruit exporters. The variety of fruit offered is certainly unique, has good quality and contains many vitamins. What are the variants of the fruit?
The first fruit variant that you can choose from tropical fruit exporters is avocado. This fresh fruit contains lots of vitamins and meat, which makes it easy for you to consume for those of you who are on a diet program. This fresh fruit can also be processed into juices or smoothies, which many people like.
The second fruit variant that you can choose from tropical fruit exporters is Mango. Mango fruit also has a lot of vitamin content and is filled with delicious fruit flesh. The sweet taste of this fruit can be felt when you consume the fruit even when it is still half ripe. Like avocados, mangoes are also often processed into juices or smoothies according to individual tastes.
Tropical fruit exporters can be one of the partners in building an exporter’s business. Moreover, there are many fruit variants that you can choose to increase your sales turnover. Make sure to choose fruit with good quality so as not to disappoint your customers.


Trees are everywhere around us. They supply us with water, color as well as fresh air. Besides, they additionally give us fruits as well as blossoms. They do not just attract our world buy additionally they maintain the setting fresh as well as tidy. You will certainly see that a tree-lined road is always cooler. If you are going eco-friendly location it does not suggest that you are planting a lot of trees, yet likewise, you need to take great care of them. You need to safeguard them well from various illnesses as well as insects as well as feed them along with mulching and also trimming.
A lot of care is required to plant a tree. The soil should be well loosened to make sure that the roots can penetrate and spread out in the dirt and hold the tree. You need to give your trees excellent mechanical support till the tree comes to be solid enough to depend on its very own. You need to sprinkle them regularly for some time after growing them, as it is extremely essential for their survival.
Pruning of trees is very much required to keep the tree healthy and balanced and likewise to make it grow right. It likewise helps trees to fruit as well as flower well. The pests that are infested by branches or those which are diseases must be eliminated by the technique of trimming. It is also done to provide a desired form to the plant. You need to hire qualified arborists for tree pruning as too much trimming can create a lot of harm to trees.
In the case of removing the trees, tree care is required, especially when they obstruct sight or present a hazard to public areas. Illness or dead trees ought to be gotten rid of so as to stop dispersing of diseases. In order to maintain the right soil condition of the tree, mulching is done normally. It additionally helps to maintain dampness as well as offers a polished appearance. Roots are kept at the proper temperature level by the mulch. Organic compost is preferred over inorganic one. Please take a moment to visit treesnstumpsrus.com to find more useful info.
You can try to find indicators of diseases on the fallen leaves of the trees. The wilting of trees can be due to some mechanical or ecological anxiety. If the leaves of the trees are rounded after that they may be suffering from viral infection. Depending upon the kind of the issue as well as the level of illness the therapy of trees can vary.
Trees typically deal with damages throughout construction tasks in their vicinity. The damage is not always above the ground, in some cases, it takes place listed below the ground also. Specifically, when trenches are huge, the roots may be damaged leading to the killing of trees. You require to seek advice from the experts about the best way to go with building and construction without having any kind of unfavorable impact on trees.
Expanding trees have their origins deep inside the ground and also they can get all minerals that they require however just if you have actually delivered a tree right into the new soil. Trees no question look solid as well as sturdy, yet they require maintenance and you must well care for them.


The Vertical Garden Kit is a simple and unique hydroponic vertical gardening system. You can increase your fruit and vegetable yield while decreasing the garden space needed. Grow strawberries, tomatoes, herbs, flowers, just about any plant from your garden while using just a few square feet. These automated systems also do all the watering for you, requiring less effort to get your garden growing. You won't find a better way to hydroponically grow lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, peas, basil, parsley, or any of the other hundreds of plants that love growing in our system!
The automatic system includes a pump and timer, 10.5 gallon reservoir base for worry-free growing. Just fill the reservoir up, plug in the pump and set the timer. Plant the seeds or plug plants of your choice and watch it grow. You will need to change the reservoir solution about every 3-4 weeks, Let the sun do all the rest of the work. Virtually any plant that can be grown in soil can be grown in a Vertical Garden Kit (obviously large plants like trees won't fare well). Pick up a couple of units for the corners of your driveway, deck, or patio. Flowers will grow so large they will look like shrubs!
This unit has everything you need to get up and running quickly and with minimal fuss. Just set it and forget it, then come out to harvest when the time is right!
We guarantee that if you are not satifisfied with your product within 30 days, send it back and we will refund your money*!
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DUVON FAMILY WINE AND WEDDING ESTATE
DuVon is the perfect getaway nestled amongst the vineyards and gardens of this family wine farm. It is situated near Robertson in the De Goree district that forms part of the Valley of Wine and Roses. The name DuVon symbolizes the merging of the two sole co-owners: Armand Hercolaas Du Toit, winemaker, and his uncle, Alex Karl Von Klopmann, professional engineer and farmer.
Alex immigrated to Cape Town in 1990 and joined his nephew at DuVon to rekindle the family farming tradition.
Armand acquired a passion for winemaking from his parents, Ida and Jacques du Toit, who were fruit and wine growers. Together with his uncle Alex, they have lovingly restored the old cellar (dating back to 1940), and have progressively developed this young winery.
Proof of his passion for winemaking is the fact that Armand began making wine at the age of 19.
The farm offers exquisite wines that may be enjoyed while sitting beside the picture-perfect swimming pool, with a view that stretches over 100 hectares of vineyards and beyond...
Owners Armand du Toit and his uncle, Alex von Klopmann, have lovingly restored the old cellar (dating back to 1940), and have progressively developed this young winery.
The newest addition to the farm is a beautiful wedding venue that will fulfil all of our client's needs and preferences.
Armand and Alex, sharing a commitment to producing noble wines, will continue to produce excellent wines for years to come, driven by an ambition to pay tribute to their family legacy


- How-To Tutorials:
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Lawn Care Guide
Part I: Grow a Healthy Green
Lawn All Summer Long
By Al Ubell & Label Shulman
Published April 1, 1984 - Family Circle Magazine
Updated July 10, 2005
Most proud property owners want their lawns to look just as green and lush as their neighbors'. To help you cultivate a healthy green lawn without breaking your back, we consulted lawn-care experts. They let us in on some unusual tricks of the trade and provided us with a fail proof maintenance program that should make your lawn-tending days easier and more rewarding.
Review Part II: Grass Types & Climate Zones.
Every landscaping pro emphasized that a well-cultivated lawn is the end product of several decisions and activities relating to specific soil and climate conditions. These include:
- testing your soil to determine its contents and chemistry.
- proper preparation of the soil before seeding.
- choosing the right grass (or grasses) for your particular soil conditions and climate.
- applying fertilizers in the right combination and amounts and applied at the proper times.
- appropriate and adequate watering.
- regular mowing at prescribed heights.
- using insect and weed controls, when necessary.
Testing Your Soil
This is one of the most important steps you must take to achieve a beautiful lawn. You can test the soil yourself using kits, which are sold in most garden-supply stores. Or, you can use the soil-testing services of your County Extension Service or a local college's Agricultural Extension Division. (Consult your telephone directory.) Both organizations usually charge a nominal fee. Local, private soil-testing services may also be helpful.
Having your soil tested and analyzed takes the guesswork out of deciding what kind of fertilizers and minerals you need to add in order to make the soil receptive to grass growing. Since most lawns contain one or two different soil types, you should take two samples from your property (as far apart from each other as you can). Dig down about 6 inches and remove about a pint of dry soil for each sample. Store the soil in a plastic bag or container and deliver it to the soil-testing service.
Preparing Your Soil
Turn over, rake and break up the soil as deeply as possible. Most lawn-care and seed firms recommend raking 3″ or 4″ inches deep if you're just upgrading or patching your lawn. However, if you are sodding and seeding, dig down around 12″ inches. Add the appropriate fertilizers and any other minerals and organic matter, such as manure, compost, sawdust, peat moss or shredded ground bark. Most soil also requires a certain amount of lime and/or soil sulfur to bring the soil to the right alkaline or acid levels. Careful soil preparation encourages good grass growth and increases resistance to insects and lawn disease.
After grading (leveling) and smoothing the lawn bed, add a starter fertilizer that is high in phosphorus. See package for a middle number (24-4-8) indicating phosphorus content from 3% to 5%. Check fertilizer package for proper amount and application directions. After fertilizing, it's best to wait a month before seeding. Water the soil as if you had already seeded; if weeds start to grow, consider eliminating them using environmentally friendly non-herbicidal methods. Ask any local garden supply store about weed control alternatives. Allow the soil to dry thoroughly for three or four days before applying grass seed or sod.
If you are uncertain what kind of grass you would prefer, take a drive (or a healthy walk) around your neighborhood. When you find a lawn you like, ask the owners what type of grass it is. Then consult our “Lawn-Care Weather Zones” map and “Which Grass Is Best for Your Lawn?” chart (see page 66). They will help you decide on the perfect grass seed for your needs. But before buying any seed, answer the following questions:
- How green a lawn do you want?
- How durable? Is your lawn just for looks or for play?
- Is your lawn area predominantly sunny or shady?
- How much time and effort are you willing to invest in lawn care?
After you've decided on the proper type grass for your needs, purchase a quality-grade seed, but buy a bit more than you need (this extra seed will come in handy for future spot-seeding). A few extra dollars spent on quality seed wiil save you hundreds of dollars later on, since you'll have fewer problems.
When shopping for grass seed or sod, remember that no single variety is perfect. Our lawn experts recommend mixing two or three types of seed, depending upon the climate and the soil conditions where you live. You also may notice that your gardening supply center sells pre-blended packages of grass seed. The idea is to have the strengths of one variety compensate for the weaknesses of another, resulting in a grass cover that is good for all seasons. Special Tip: Check the weed content of the grass seed before you buy. The lower the percent of weed content, the better. Under one-half of one percent (.05%) is best.
Applying the Seed
- Grade and rake the soil thoroughly.
- Remove all surface stones.
- Level soil and rake smooth.
- Sow the seed. (Hand seeding works well for a small area, but a seed spreader allows a more even distribution, since it can be adjusted to drop the seed at recommended rates.)
- Divide the seed into two equal parts. Apply seed in one direction first, then seed with the second batch at right angles to the first, making sure to cover your entire lawn area.
- Lightly rake the area to coax some of the seed underground for better contact with the soil.
- Rent (or borrow) a lawn roller, and roll over the entire seeded area. This presses the seed further into the soil.
- Water the lawn thoroughly and gently so that the water soaks through the surface. Water two or three times every day with a fine mist spray to keep the lawn's surface from drying out. (Caution: Do not drown your lawn with too much water. This will just wash away the seeds!)
- When young shoots of grass emerge, reduce watering to once a day for a longer period of time. Keep soil damp to promote hardier, healthier grass.
Because soil conditions, drainage, climate and frequency of rain vary greatly, there is no absolute rule, but landscaping experts say your best bet is to water thoroughly until the lawn is moist to a depth of 6″ to 8″ inches. (Test with a screwdriver pushed into the soil.) In most cases, watering for two hours will properly soak an area of 1,000 square feet. Watering deeply less frequently is better than frequent shallow watering.
Water lawn again when soil begins to dry out. Use this test to see if it's time to rewater: Step on the grass. If it doesn't spring back, it's probably time to water. Another, more subtle way to determine if the lawn needs watering is when you begin to notice the grass color changing from bright green to a duller blue-green.
Some experimentation will be necessary until you establish the appropriate routine for watering your lawn. During a hot spell, more frequent watering will be necessary. During a rainy period, less watering will be needed. (You might even want to shut off your sprinkler system, if you have one, to conserve water.) Contrary to popular belief, there is no best time of day to water a lawn. The only caution you should observe is not to water during the middle of a bright, sunny, hot day.
Select fertilizer based on the type of grass you have, the soil conditions and the climate where you live. In general, nitrogen is the most important fertilizer for established lawns. Phosphorus and potassium are less important. The best time to fertilize warm-season grasses (grasses that grow better in warm weather zones, such as the sunbelt states) is late spring. while spring, late summer and early fall are best for cool season grasses. There are basically two types of fertilizers fast-release and slow-release. Use each according to the manufacturer's instructions. Special and sparing use should be made of fast-release fertilizers, since they have a tendency to “burn” grass blades and cause discoloration.
In most instances, lawn height should be kept between 2″ and 2 1/2 inches. But keep in mind that you should never cut off more than half the height of the blades of grass. Mowing about once a week during the growing season helps promote grass growth. Keep your lawnmower blades sharp to prevent the grass from being “pulled out” instead of being cut. Don't let the grass grow too high before cutting; this can result in damage to the grass blade stalks and debilitate the lawn.
If you mow frequently, you can allow the grass cuttings to remain on the lawn with no damage to the grass. In fact, it helps to return nutrients to the soil that have been absorbed by growing grass. However, heavy grass clippings can suffocate grass, so they should be removed.
Insect And Disease Control
Problems caused by insects or disease are, fortunately, not all that frequent. An unattractive lawn may be caused by conditions other than insects or disease. Before you assume these more serious problems, though, check the following list for possible causes of grass problems and take steps to correct them:
- misuse of fertilizers-usually applying too much.
- under or overwatering.
- chemical spills (gasoline, oil, etc.).
- animals digging or urinating.
- chlorine spills from a swimming pool.
- too heavy wear-and-tear for your type of grass seed.
- poor mowing practices.
If you still think your lawn has bug problems or a disease, consult your local Cooperative Extension Service, http://npic.orst.edu/pest/countyext.htm, or College Agricultural Extension Division. Your local garden center can also help, since they will be familiar with the problems typical in your area.
How To Handle Watering Restrictions And Drought Conditions
Water shortages are a problem where you live, you can still take some steps to maintain a reasonable-looking lawn. The key word is “adapt.”
- Seed or overseed with grasses that require less water, such as fine and tall fescues.
- Adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting (3″ to 3 1/2 inches), since longer blades help retain the available moisture.
- Fertilize your lawn regularly twice a year to promote deep root growth, following manufacturer's instructions carefully.
- Water deeply when you are permitted (soaking soil 8″ to 12″ inches deep). This also promotes deep root growth.
- Water lawn during cool parts of the day to minimize evaporation.
- Control weeds, since they eat up water, too.
Part II: Grass Types & Climate Zones, A Reference Guide.
Copyright © Alvin Ubell, Label Shulman & Family Circle Magazine - 1984
Accurate Building Inspectors ®


It's smart to eat when you're stressed
Comfort food is best.
I believe we are supposed to eat vegetables in season. Just because we can get fresh asparagus in December doesn't mean we ought to be eating it. Our past generations ate off the land, thriving on the nutrition in what was easily accessible from the ground. People did not have a vast array of out-of-season foods at their fingertips. The taste and nutrients of freshly harvested vegetables have always been unsurpassed by those shipped over land and sea, perhaps even preserved in some manner.
When I'm out grocery shopping, I breeze by displays of corn and sugar snap peas that could not grow right now in my area; I glare at hothouse tomatoes like uninvited house guests, no matter how perfect they look on the outside. I did all those this past summer, when I couldn't get enough of blossoming summer squash, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes, speckled beans, and others that basked in the sun on stalks and vines. (Don't get me wrong: I am a proponent of the colorful plate and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. I just don't want to get ours from another country.)
Appropriately, my current food obsession is creamy mashed roots. When the weather outside is frightful and cold, it is coincidentally the time when underground root vegetables are ready to dig up out of their hibernation. And because this season is a little harried and dinner is the last thing on my mind as I rush around from work, holiday activities, shopping -- and just generally trying to keep life on track, I am grateful for this desire for simple, close-to-home-grown comfort food.
So I'll simmer or roast, then mash potatoes with celeriac or parsnips or sweet potatoes with rutabagas. We'll eat roots in soups and stews until the first stalks of asparagus push up through the dirt. By then, my mood will have changed and I'll be ready for green and other vibrant colors of spring vegetables and fruits. Until that happens, for the most part, the muted shades of winter roots, supplemented with winter greens and frozen and canned vegetables, will sustain us well.
Mashed Celeriac and Potatoes
3 cups diced peeled celeriac (1/2-inch dice)
12 ounce russet potato, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks (about 2 1/2 cups)
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Cook celeriac in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Add potato and boil until both are very tender, about 15 minutes more. Drain. Return to saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until vegetables are very dry. Mash until mostly smooth. Stir in milk, cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.


By Mick Jensen
The on-farm recycling service offered by community recycler Wastebusters has amassed 85,500 tonnes of baleage and silage wrap over the last 12 months.
Some 234 farms in Mid Canterbury are signed up to the service, which encourages and makes it easy for farmers to do the right thing with the left-over products.
That number has risen strongly since Wastebusters started the charged service in 2014.
Recycling bins are filled on farm and, when full, are picked up by Rural Transport and delivered to Wasterbusters, which bales and compresses products like wrap.
Baled products are sent away to be made into other plastic-based products.
Bins contents collected over the last year have now filled four 40-foot containers.
Wastebusters manager Sharon Breakwell said Mid Canterbury farmers were getting behind the service and were “doing the right thing” with the left-over wrap and other products.
They were breaking old habits and helping the environment, she said.
Another 40 foot container with compressed bale twine and bulk fertiliser bags would also shortly leave the McNally Street depot, she said.
Wastebusters is also contracted through the Packaging Forum to collect recycled soft plastics from participating Christchurch and Ashburton supermarkets and other drop off points.


This afternoon after I went walking, I decided to rake the leaves in our backyard. The pecan leaves were already piled up on the ground. It was so thick and I can hardly see the pecans on the ground unless I scratch the leaves like chickens do, he-he! I also uprooted my vegetables because winter is here and it might freeze next week. So I did raked the leaves but I wasn’t able to do it all. Our backyard is wider than our front yard and there are more leaves to rake and throw away. I will have to continue again tomorrow.
Keep Your Home Cool
4 months ago


Afghan Hemp Cones
Shorten your prep time with Afghan Hemp pre rolled cones. These pre rolled cones are made from the purest natural hemp fibers sourced from the eastern province of Afghanistan. Afghan hemp uses the bast of the dried hemp stems which contains the most desirable fibers that provides the cleanest and slowest burn in rolling papers.
- 1 1/4″ – 32 in a package
- King Size – 40 in a package
BURNING HEMP SINCE 1709.
In 1709, a local tribal leader, successfully rebelled against the Safavids and made Afghanistan independent. Shortly after, small communities throughout the country were able to grow crops of their choice, including hemp. Since then, Afghanistan has been producing some of the finest hemp fibers in the world but never in the form of high-quality rolling papers. Today Afghan Hemp has modernized this process, bringing you this age-old tradition, in the form of premium rolling paper products.
It’s All About the Bast.
Afghan Hemp uses the bast of the dried hemp stems. The bast contains the most desirable fibers that allow for the cleanest & slowest burn in rolling papers.
Afghanistan has a subarctic mountain climate with dry and cold winters with only about 15% of land being suitable for agriculture. Hemp fibers used to produce Afghan Hemp papers come from the eastern province of Afghanistan, called Paktia, where the plots are collected by hand and fibers broken down into a pulp slurry. Once fibers are broken down, they are molded with a deckle and gently pressed and laid flat to dry. This is an entirely natural process to convert the plant into its final product, which is all of the Afghan Hemp rolling paper and cone products.


Garden plots are approximately 4' by 16' long, with water spigots every 30 feet. Plots are weeded and composted at the beginning of every season. Participants can choose between plots that have a wooden border, or plots that are elongated mounds. Based on what you are planning on growing, we determine where your plot will be.
We request a donation of $50.00 per plot per growing season. The donation covers water and outside maintenance. A second plot is $25.00, a third is $10.00. At the beginning of every season, participants will be required to fill out paperwork.
Limited garden tools available on site, or you can bring your own.
Garden open for planting: April 1st
Final day for clean-up: October 31st
For the most up-to-date information and events, check out John Weston St. Memorial Community Food Garden on Facebook.
If you would like to rent a plot or would like to volunteer to work in the garden, please email email@example.com
All gardeners are required to fill out liability paperwork.


Metal buckets can be transformed into rustic flower pots. Tank gardens are not limited to traditional flower pots or stalls. Reused items such as metal buckets offer alternative containers for planting flowers. Since metal conducts heat, the temperature of the blade can fluctuate more than other types of containers. With some modifications, a metal bucket provides a durable and visually appealing flower pot. Disinfecting the bucket A clean metal bucket is an inviting place for your flowers.
Even if you use a new bucket, quick cleaning and disinfection will not be damaged. The extension of the University of Illinois proposes first to wash the container with soapy water. Rinse the bucket thoroughly. A mixture of one part of nine parts of water bleach creates a disinfecting solution for the bucket. Rinse the bucket again before planting. Add Drainage A tank garden requires drainage to keep the soil from becoming too saturated.
Too much water in the soil can damage or kill the flowers that you have planted in the bucket. You will need three or more holes for a bucket of 12 pints. For larger buckets, more holes are required to ensure adequate drainage. For example, a 5-gallon bucket requires six or more holes. To add holes, turn the bucket and drill each hole with a diameter of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Cover the holes with a thin net so that the floor does not leak out. Fill the bucket The ordinary floor weighs too much for a metal bucket, especially if you want to replace the bucket. Use an above-ground soil mix for horticulture of containers.
The mixture keeps the bucket lighter, making it easier to move and not too heavy to hold the handle. Leave a space at the top of the bucket so that the earth does not wash when you water the flowers. If you do not want to plant directly into the bucket, fill a slightly smaller plastic jar with the mixture above the bottom and place it in the bucket. If you plant edible products in the metal bucket you will need a plastic coating according to the website “Organic Gardening”


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Treat Your Trees for Fungal Conditions
Fungal Foliar Diseases affect a wide variety of tree species. Fungal pathogens are unique to each species, so a proper diagnosis is vital. We’re trained at identifying tree diseases and recommending an effective treatment. Fungal diseases must be treated annually to ensure the long-term health of your trees. We can help with:
What is Apple Scab?
Apple Scab is the most common disease of Crabapple trees in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This fungal disease first appears as small round, olive-colored lesions on the leaves. As the growing season continues, the lesions grow in size, turning the leaves yellow, then brown and black. Complete defoliation can occur. Several seasons of defoliation will stress the tree, making it susceptible to other pests.
What is the Treatment for Apple Scab?
Apple Scab is easily controlled. Treatment consists of two Spring foliar applications of fungicide. Timing of the application is critical, and must start when leaves begin to emerge in the Spring. Fungicides cannot cure infected leaves, but can protect new growth.
Our Certified Arborists can evaluate your Crabapple, and determine if a fungicide treatment can protect your tree.
Rhizosphaera Needle Cast
What is Rhizosphaera Needle Cast?
Rhizosphaera Needle Cast (or ‘Rhizo’) can affect most varieties of Spruce tree. It is especially problematic for Colorado Blue Spruce- which are not native to our area.
How Do I Know If My Tree is Infested with Rhizo?
Spruce trees infected with Rhizo will display brown or purple/brown needles starting near the ground. As the pathogen progresses, the discoloration will work its way up the canopy.
What is the Treatment for Rhizo?
Foliar fungicide treatments in late Spring and early Summer can protect new growth. The first treatment is applied right after bud-break. A second and third treatment take place in 2-3 week intervals. Foliar fungicide treatment is recommended annually to limit the spread of new growth. Once tissue is infected, our spray is not effective. Preventing new infection of the brand new buds is necessary to keep the pathogen suppressed. Rhizo can be accompanied by other infestations and fungal diseases, so accurate diagnosis is essential. Our Certified Arborists are skilled at determining what is wrong with your tree, and recommending appropriate treatments.
Spread of the pathogen can be reduced by changing your tree care practices. Raise the canopy to allow ample air movement, remove infected leaf litter on the ground and space trees far enough apart to provide proper airflow. We recommend adjusting sprinklers to avoid spaying water on the needles, as this can spread the pathogen.
Diplodia Shoot Blight
What is Diplodia Shoot Blight?
Diplodia Shoot Blight is caused by a fungal pathogen, and affects a variety of Pine trees. Most commonly affected in our area include Austrian Pine, Red Pine, Scots, and Jack Pine.
The pathogen kills young, actively growing needles. Stressed trees are more vulnerable to the disease. To reduce the stress to your Pine trees, ensure that you are watering during warm, dry periods, protect the root zone and tree trunk from mower damage by installing a mulch ring, and prune to remove infected branches.
What is the Treatment for Diplodia?
We recommend annual foliar suppression spays. This protects new growth and helps slow the spread of the pathogen. The first application is made right after bud-break, in early Spring. Follow-up applications are made in 2-3 week intervals. We can accurately diagnose your tree, make treatment recommendations, and suggest changes to ensure the pathogen has less-favorable conditions.
Why Use Expert Tree Service & Science?
What Sets Us Apart
Meet the Team
The entire team at Expert Tree Service & Science is passionate about providing exceptional tree care and customer service.
We have an amazing team made up of Certified Arborists, highly trained Ground Crew, Tree Climbers and Equipment Operators. Not to mention our incredible Office and Sales Staff. Interested in joining our team? Click here for to learn about Career Opportunities at Expert Tree.
Find out why we’ve been awarded the Angie’s List Super Service Award for over 10 years in a row!


Wood Vision Sdn Bhd is the plantations arm of the Naza Group and was formed in 1995. The company has over 20 years of experience in running, managing and maintaining oil palm plantations.
The company has over 800 hectares of oil palm land with plans in place to expand further in the near future. The company's land acquisition exercise will be used to increase its oil palm crops and will also be integrated with livestock such as cattle and goat breeding as well as bird's nest farming. With the company's comprehensive experience, know-how and capabilities in plantation management, Wood Vision is in a strong position to become a significant player in both the oil palm and agriculture field.


+91 96770 19696
Our team is supported with experienced and qualified horticultural supervisors who are expertise in the
usage of fertilizers and pesticides, transplanting of trees and garden maintenance. We also have our own fully automated production unit allowing us to produce the plants that we use for our gardening services as well as for sales.
We are offering:
We will ensure that the full progression, from early stage to project completion, is even and flawless and offers you value for money.


People Powered Machines knows composting is important to the environment and great for your garden. We look at many different composters and choose the ones we think are the best in their class. If you are trying to decide which composter is just right for what you are looking for, see the compare chart below.
Composter Compare Chart:
|Sun-Mar 200 Continuous Composter
|Green Cone Composting System
|Solar Cone Green Johanna Compost Bin
|Stainless Steel Compost Pail
|Green Cone - recycled plastic
|Large Bin - durable plastic (last 10 yrs or more)
|Large round containter with layered trays + a collector tray
|Compost Pail, with filter
|How it Works
|Compost Material goes in the top and exits automatically out the end as the drum rotates
|Buried open basket allows aeration + breakdown with heat from the sun
|Unique venitlated, closed, hot composting system
|Large container filled with soil, with several hundred worms which eat their way up leaving rich castings behind + liquid fertiziler.
|Used for collecting compost in the kitchen then taking to your outdoor composter
|What to Add
|7 cu. ft.
|depends on number of worms
|hobby gardener w/ kitchen scraps + yard waste
|Avg. family of 4
|avg. family of 5
|size of unit
|31"h x 33"l x 24"
|27"h x 24"w x 11.5"
|38"h x 36"w x 21"top
|29"h x 20"w
|11"h x 7"w
|about 1 year
|few months to get started, then continuous
|need to stir or turn?
|sun-mar 400: 100 gallon capacity
|compost boost + kitchen caddy included
|replacement filters available
The Sunmar Continuous Composters are very easy to use with the material going in the top and exiting through the end when done. Regularly rotating and you'll have compost for your garden in no time.
The Can-O-Worms worm farm is versatile and easy to use and fun for all ages. The Can-O-Worms will reduce the amount you have for your trash and product fertilizer for your garden.


OEC ACCEPTING SEALED BIDS
Oconto Electric Cooperative has two crop land parcels totaling approximately 30 tillable acres available for rent beginning 2019.
Parcel Locations: Section 24, T28 N, R19 E. USDA map shows 6.26 acres and 23.42 acres are located along Chestnut Rd, in Oconto Falls.
Bidding Requirements: Bids must be submitted for a 4-year agreement (2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022 crop years). Each year’s rent is due no later than February 1stof that year. Sealed bids may be mailed or dropped off at OEC, 7479 REA Rd, PO Box 168, Oconto Falls, WI 54154
Bidding Deadline: 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 25th, 2019. OEC reserves the right to refuse any and all bids.


Peachtree Road just north of Lenox Road has never been more walkable. Last week, crews finished the massive, 34-foot-wide sidewalk outside Dick’s Sporting Goods across from Phipp’s Plaza. Also, the irrigation system on the north side of Peachtree is almost complete. This will allow the planters to be cleaned and filled just in time for the trees’ spring growing season. Median build-out will be done in a few weeks, with all major activities set to be complete by midsummer.


Putting in our very first order of 25 of these beauties....
We will be getting our 1 or 2 day old chicks around Mid-April...we are planning to split them into two groups....half for egg laying and the other half for meat birds. The kids are doing a 4-H project attached to these chickens where they will need to return a couple birds for auction as well as keep a record book and "show" a chicken at a chicken show.
So now Dan has some more building to do with the boys. This is most likely what our two chicken tractors will look like:
We are very new to all this....so we're doing our best to read up as much as we can and I guess we'll be learning a lot by trial and error!
We are very excited to be making our homestead more official by adding some farm animals to the mix. So far we have 8 fruit trees, 3 blueberry bushes and recently we put in 8 little raspberry bushes as well. Adding the chickens is definitely a big step towards our own family farm :)
Now that the chickens are ordered, I need to start figuring out the garden.


By Herman Tiu Laurel
One of the major crises stemming from current geopolitical tensions that the world is facing today is the global fertilizer shortage threatening food production and mass starvation in many parts of the globe.
The Philippines is not exempted from this danger.
We are fortunate that due to its constructive political principles and practice, China is not affected by these crises, that last March, it donated P4 million pesos worth of fertilizers to the Philippines.
During the turnover of the fertilizer donation China’s ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said “At present, there are concerns about supply shortages and high prices of fertilizers affecting farmers around the globe. I am fully aware that Filipino farmers and consumers are currently experiencing the effect of the problem”.
Xilian further pledged that the People Republic of China will continue to support the welfare of Filipino farmers.
Internally, China has imposed an export ban on fertilizers but has made exception to the Philippines as special assistance to help newly-inaugurated President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to achieve his goal of P20/kilo rice supply to Filipino consumers. That is the impressive extent to China’s concern and commitment to the Filipino government and people.
No less than President Marcos Jr. reaffirmed this during the Awards for the Promotion of Philippine-China Understanding, when he said, “China is our strongest partner!”
China-Philippine Agri Cooperation’s Long History
If we are to do a comprehensive history of Philippine-China agricultural partnership, we could go back to hundreds of years when in the 15th century China acquired through the Galleon Trade potatoes from the Philippines, according to Wu Jiewei, Deputy Dean of the Southeast Asian Cultural Studies Department of Peking University.
But we will limit ourselves, however, to recent times when the full bloom of the “enhanced relations” between China and the Philippines is enjoying a renaissance.
We trace back the current cooperation between China and the Philippines to efforts of China’s “Father of the Hybrid Rice” Yuan Longpin who made the first of his 30 visits to the Philippines in 1979 and eventually sent 75-hybrid-rice strains to the Philippines for trial.
It was however in 2003 that the breakthrough was achieved as our agriculture department posted a 97% rice sufficiency when Secretary Luisito Lorenzo implemented an aggressive integrated government-private sector rice program promoting Yuan Longpin’s varieties in collaboration with Henry Lim Bon Liong’s SL-Agritech.
Local planters started experiencing rice harvests averaging 15-tons/hectare, or about 300 cavans per hectare which was triple the record of Masagana 99 established by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the late 70s.
The boom and bloom in China-Philippine agricultural cooperation and productivity in this 21st Century really erupted when President Rodrigo R. Duterte won the Philippine presidency and thereupon made China his first state visit to a global superpower instead of the traditionally pilgrimage to the United States by all past Philippine presidents.
Subsequently $ 25-billions worth of assistance and projects were signed between the two countries that highlighted infrastructure and agricultural projects.
The long line-up of agricultural projects
While the China-donated Estrella-Pantaleon and Binondo-Intramuros bridge projects are treated like celebrities, their agricultural counterparts often get tucked in the rural areas and boondocks, but indeed they are no less significant.
Agriculture is the most significant foundation for a free and independent nation as it provides food security, although the other component to achieve that vital security aspect also include infrastructure, energy and industry.
Hence, one can say that the China-Philippines cooperation which includes all the components is indeed a wholistic approach to national development. But we are focusing on agriculture and the list in this aspect is long and continues to grow.
Foremost is the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) Program that has been in place for 22 years starting with initial $ 5-million dollars donation from the People’s Republic of China. It is now cultivating 226,500 hectares of commercial hybrid rice, boosting yields by 308,000 tons and benefiting more than 134,000 farmers.
Now on its third phase of development, PhilSCAT continues to serve with technological breakthroughs in hybrid rice research, genetics and farmers training.
In infrastructure for irrigation, there is the P 11.247-billion Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project which provides irrigation services for 34,450 hectares of farmland in Pangasinan 12-months a year. This was followed recently by the P4.37-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project which now serves to irrigate 8,700 hectares of farmland and benefit more than 4000 households in Cagayan and Kalinga in Northern Luzon.
In aquaculture, China has also donated to the Philippines through the Seeds of Hope Project, some 200,000 fish seeds or fingerlings of Leopard Coral Groupers, in two batches, as part of China’s “program of sharing aquaculture know-how and seedling”. This grouper seeds variety when fully grown increases value by 120 times.
Agricultural and aquaculture training continues as over 400 Philippine officials and experts have attended training courses in China and nearly 200 Philippine officials and experts have received training online from China.
As the Covid-19 pandemic eases up it is hoped that more such educational and training exchanges are conducted, especially with the new interest in China’s “saline rice” or “seawater rice” farming trials, and upland water impounding projects with downstream mini-hydro-electric projects, and floating “cage aquaculture”.
Agricultural trade cooperation with China is a key interest of the Philippines as the pandemic economic recovery and “sanctions war” in the West has deepening the economic crisis in the Philippines. Cooperation with China has made China the third largest export destination of the Philippine agricultural products, and the second largest import source of agricultural products of the Philippines. For example:
Philippine bananas have accounted for more than half of the market share in China since the China-Philippines engagement in 2016. Philippine fresh coconuts have entered the Chinese market for the first time, and the Philippines has become the first Asian country to export avocado to China which used to all come from Latin America and the Caribbean.
At the same time China continues to be the second largest foreign investor in the Philippines with investment in agriculture making major strides.
Major and minor crises visit the Philippines regularly especially during typhoon seasons, but the Philippines was able to buffer the initial adverse effects of the War in Ukraine, with the arrival of China’s donation of 10,000 metric tons of rice to assist the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Operations Resources Center (NROC) for food needy families from the pandemic and now aggravated by the rice in food prices.
At this point I should reiterate the timely anticipation of China’s authorities to the situations in the Philippines as seen in the March 2022 fertilizer donation intended to “sustain rice production in the country” faced with skyrocketing world fertilizer prices.
While negotiations for further supply in the months ahead aims to be priced at $ 500 per metric ton almost 50% lower than the $ 1,000 global market price, it is in this aspect that we see the exemplary concern China has for the Philippines.
Philippines will rise with China
The greater part of the developing world is facing a debt crisis due to the twin mega-crisis that has descended on the world this past two years. The first crisis if the Covid-19 pandemic that is gradually lifting yet lingers on with feats of new mutations, the second is the unexpected Ukraine War severely aggravated by the US-led “sanctions war” against resource-dominant Russia which has precipitated an energy and food crisis. The Philippines will be spared in large part due to China’s steady support from its wholistic cooperation.
At the bottom of all crisis is the food and energy crisis, and both issues are being addressed by China-Philippine cooperation programs.
It is, therefore, not surprising that President Marcos, Jr. has chosen to first visit China, among the many invitations he received following his inauguration. If that will be the case, it will indeed be the wisest decision.
China is the only major economy growing despite the pandemic and the Ukraine “sanctions war” by staying clear of the conflict, treating all nations equally, focusing on helping build global peace and prosperity and not taking one side of the “small blocs” against another.
The rest of the developing world agrees hence the China-led BRICS is also growing. China is now the indispensable partner of any nation that seeks stability and growth, and most certainly of the partner of choice of the Philippines.
Teamed up with China, the Philippines is not only safe but also assured to be able to benefit from the Asia-Pacific regional tranquility and growth but also ensured to be able to exert its influence in promoting peace amongst all nations as part of the concert of nations.
It is certainly essential that China-Philippines agricultural cooperation be further expanded by the new Philippine government to guarantee its success in the six years to come.


【Multipurpose Garden Tools Set】 All-in one garden tool kit is composed of with a handy tote bag, stainless pruning shear, garden trowel, transplanter, weeder, hand fork, hand rake and 2 pairs of garden gloves. 9 pieces high quality hand tools meet all your gardening needs. 【Durable Blades and Tines】Sharp blades and tips are made of solid polished aluminum, which are shiny, rust-proof and extremely sturdy. Giving your lawn and garden a clean cut, not only does this look nice, but your grass will recover faster. 【Ergonomic Rubber Grip Handles】Comfortable and soft anti-slip handle reduce hand and arm fatigue, providing you with great using experience. User-friendly hanging holes at the top of each handle for convenient clutter-free storage. 【Heavy Duty Garden Tool Organizer】 Equipped with built-in pockets along the outside to conveniently store garden tools at arm’s reach, and great to hold different kinds of hand tools and outdoor garden accessories. Portable and easy to be washed. 【Great Gardening Gifts】 Ideal gardening tools for planting, trimming, transplanting, removing stubborn weeds, mixing soil and compost fertilizer. Excellent Zen garden tool for men women and kids. 1-year quality guaranteed. Worry-free 12-month warranty, 30-day no-hassle money back guarantee and 24/7 friendly customer support.
Material Type: nylon


Dairy farms in Galicia represent more than 37 per cent of Spanish milk production and 0.3 per cent of European production. But there is growing concern over the sustainability of the dairy industry and recognition of the need to evaluate its economic and environmental impacts in order to make improvements.
The study used a novel complex technique, which combines Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), to score and compare 72 dairy farms across Galicia in terms of their eco-efficiency. Of the 72 farms, 41 were classed as inefficient.
The efficiency score depended on the consumption levels of each input to the system during milk production (e.g. animal feed, fertiliser, chemicals, water, diesel and electricity) and the amounts produced of each output (e.g. raw milk product, waste treatment, plastic waste and direct emissions).
Environmental ‘hot spots’, i.e. the processes contributing the most to the overall environmental impact, were found to be feed production and direct emissions from livestock. The low-efficiency scores were linked to farms with low milk production. However, the most efficient farms were not necessarily those with the largest production, which indicated that efficient practices could be adopted by all farms regardless of size.
As part of the analysis, the researchers calculated ideal target values for each process in the inefficient farms, and modelled the impact of applying these target values to low-scoring farms. The results suggested that the overall environmental impacts could be reduced by 23-30 per cent in all five impact categories tested: (1) non-renewable energy demand, (2) global warming potential, (3) land competition, (4) acidification and (5) eutrophication.
The scientists estimated that the potential economic gain from optimising efficiency in this way was €0.13 per litre of milk produced, which is equivalent to an extra profit of 40 per cent on the price for the raw product. The outcomes of the research support the recently launched EU-funded Geronimo II-Biogas project1, which will work closely with farmers to pilot new techniques that use Biogas as a cleaner energy source.
Knowing the relative economic and environmental gains of moving from inefficient to efficient farming practices will help decision-makers to focus legislation where it is likely to be most effective. The researchers recommend that the most efficient farms identified in this study are used as ‘benchmarks for an environmental legislation framework and that the same method is consistently used in future assessments.


Soil Index Properties - Grain Shape and Size Distribution
Index properties help us to classify the soils. Soil grain properties like grain shape, distribution and some parameters like the coefficient of uniformity and curvature help us to classify the soils.
What are soil grain properties?
Soil grain properties are properties about the individual grain. We take the remoulded or disturbed soil. Grain properties do not depend upon the soil formation.
• Grain Shape
• Grain Size Distribution
• Coefficient of uniformity and curvature
For coarse-grained soils (sand, gravel), these are called as bulky grains(all the dimensions are almost the same).
• Bulky grains are rounded, angular, subangular etc
• Angular grains would have more interlocking hence more shear strength
• Sphericity: For the classification of bulky grains
For fine-grained soils, these are called as flaky
Grain Size Distribution (GSD)
Sieve analysis is used for grain size distribution. Different sizes of sieves are used to classify the soil as uniformly graded, well-graded, poorly graded or gap graded etc.
Sieve analysis by mechanical shaking (10-15min).
• % retained on a sieve = (Weight of soil retain ×100)/(Total weight taken)
• Cumulative % retained = sum of % retained on all the sieves of larger size and that of a particular size.
% finer than the sieve under consideration=100 - cumulative %retained
• Well graded: All particle sizes are included
• Uniformly graded: Most of the particles are of same size
• Gap graded: Some of the particle sizes are missing
Grain Size General Classification
• If particle size greater than 300mm they are called as boulders
• If particle size (300-80mm) they are called as cobbler
• Boulders and Cobblers are not considered as soils
• 80-4.75mm: Gravel
• 4.75-2mm: Coarse sand
• 2-0.425mm: Medium sand
• 0.425-0.0075mm: Fine sand
• Silt and Clay are fine-grained soils
Coefficient of uniformity and curvature
To determine the parameters: Coefficient of uniformity and curvature, we need D60 and D30 and D10.
• D60= 60% particles are finer than the dia
• D30= 30% particles are finer than the dia
• D10= 10% particles are finer than the dia
D10=Effective particle size. If all the soil particles are of D10 size then the soil will produce the same effect of original soil.
• Coefficient of uniformity Cu = D60/D10
• Coefficient of curvature Cc = (D30)^2/(D60×D10)
• If Cu greater than 4 and Cc is in between 1 to 3: Well graded gravel
• If Cu greater than 6 and Cc is in between 1 to 3: Well graded sand