Today it can be extremely difficult to find grains that are not in some way synthetic, hybrids, or genetically modified all of which produce acidity in our bodies. The grains below have an old genetic make-ups that will both please your palate and nurture your body. These natural grains can be found in major health food stores in the form of breads, cereals, flours and pasta.
Amaranth is an 8,000 year old crop called the “super food” by the ancient Aztecs. Amaranth was fed to runners and warriors because of its reputation for providing large bursts of energy and improving athletic performance. It was a staple food of the Aztecs and was used as an integral part of Aztec religious ceremonies. The cultivation of Amaranth was banned by the conquistadors upon their conquest of the Aztec nation. Because the crop figured so prominently in Aztec culture and religious ceremonies, the conquering armies of Cortez burned the fields to the ground. As European crops replaced indigenous ones, Amaranth slowly fell out of use. Twenty years ago, the “ancient crop with a future” enjoyed a renaissance when the National Academy of Sciences recommended Amaranth as one of twenty foods to be re-introduced into the "American diet".
The main reason for Amaranth’s recommended re-introduction is its phenomenal nutritional profile, which provides several important nutrients that are often difficult to incorporate into a restrictive diet. For example, Amaranth contains large amounts of dietary fiber, iron, and calcium as well as other vitamins and minerals. The leaves of the amaranth planet tasted much like spinach and are used in the same manner that spinach is used.
Amaranth also has naturally high amounts of lysine, methionine and cysteine combined with a fine balance of amino acids making it an excellent source of high quality, balanced protein, which is more complete than the protein found in most grains. In addition to Amaranth’s outstanding nutritional value, it is also very low in sodium and contains no saturated fat. Another outstanding feature is that our Amaranth is organically grown and is naturally Non-GMO.
Amaranth is an ancient grain of the Aztecs has been rediscovered by Westerners, although you'll probably need to visit a health-food store or check an on-line source to find it. Amaranth has a distinctive sweet but peppery taste -- one that many people prefer combined with other grains, for a more mellow flavor. Technically, it's not a grain; it's the fruit of a plant. And that's the reason it contains a more complete protein, and more of it, than other traditional grains.
Meeting your daily protein needs with complex carbohydrates, rather than animal protein, is both healthier for you and a boon to your weight-loss efforts. That's because animal protein is nothing but fat and cholesterol -- two dietary components that you want to take out of your vocabulary and diet. Protein foods also help to slow down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. This in turn reduces hunger by reducing insulin levels and making it easier for the body to burn fat.
Using amaranth in combination with quinoa and spelt results in a complete protein as high in food value as fish, red meat or poultry. It is no wonder the Incas and the Aztecs called these amazing seeds "Gift from the Gods."
It just takes fifteen minutes to create a miracle food, 1 cup of the seeds to 2 cups of water. Simmer for fifteen minutes and eat plain with an avocado on top and some fresh squeezed lime or add fruit to it for an amazing breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Amaranth is also much richer in iron, magnesium, and calcium than most grains, so it can help keep anemia and osteoporosis at bay. It excels as a source of fiber, mostly insoluble, which is of help in reducing the risk of a variety of diseases, including heart disease, certain cancers and digestive-tract conditions.
Legend has it, that in China there was a special, heirloom variety of rice grown exclusively for the emperor. This variety of rice was the rice we know today as black rice or emperor’s rice. Black rice was cultivated in small amounts, in specially designated fields, by highly trusted servants and its seeds were guarded day and night. It was strictly forbidden for anyone, but the emperor, to consume this variety of rice.
The reason black rice was so highly valued, and closely guarded, by the Chinese emperors was because in ancient Chinese medicine, which relies heavy on the philosophy “food is medicine and medicine is food” black rice is seen as a main source of good health and longevity. In ancient days, black rice was viewed as the mystical source of the emperors’ good health and longevity and was consumed as a tonic. Therefore, anyone caught cultivating or consuming this rice was believed to be sabotaging or “stealing” the source of good health and longevity reserved especially for the emperor and thus was punished, severely.
Luckily, times have changed and no one will be punished today for consuming black rice. Though highly popular in Thailand and Indonesia, black rice is not a stable source of carbohydrates in most rice-consuming cultures such as the Indian culture, and the Arabic and Persian cultures. That is mostly due to the fact that the Greeks banned the cultivation, importation and consumption of black rice when they conquered the Middle East because they believed that the consumption of this food helped their enemies in battle. They did not however, ban white rice, which they deemed worthless. As a result, India, one of the largest exporters of rice to the Middle East, both then and now, stopped cultivation of black rice due to lack of demand. Therefore, white rice replaced black rice as the dominant source of carbohydrates in all Middle Eastern cultural cuisines. Due to events such as these, black rice, a food once highly reveled by the world’s most powerful figures, faded into oblivion.
Though there is still a lot we do not know about the health benefits of black rice, a series of scientific studies have labeled it “The Long-Lost Superfood”, a treasure house of antioxidants, fiber, nutrients, minerals and amino acids capable of combating and preventing a host of health problems ranging from cancer, diabetes, and heart disease to Alzheimer’s. Apparently, the emperor’s of ancient China were right.
The black, outer layer of this rice, contains antioxidant-rich bran. The purple and reddish pigment of this rice, which gives it its black appearance, contains Anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in such prominent superfoods as blueberries, acai berries and grapes.
Fonio is the smallest of all species of millet. It is also one the healthiest species of millet. It contains a lot of molybdenum, which is the 42nd element in the Periodic Table of Elements. When eating this grain you invoke "her" spirit-force and bring about wealth and prosperity.
It is one of the world's fastest growing grains and the easiest to grow. Even though it is the easiest to grow, due of it's tiny grains, it is very time consuming and difficult to remove the husk. It is very popular to the Akposso people of Togo and Fouta Djallon people of Guinea.
Fonio helps protect against tooth decay, good for proper metabolism of fats, carbohydrate and iron. It may even help to protect against certain cancers. Fonio is one of the world's fastest growing cereals. It is a crop reaches its maturity in as little as six to eight weeks. It is a crop that can be relied on in areas with poor soils, where rains are brief and unreliable.
There is a legend that tells that in WWII, a US airman claimed to have taken a handful of kamut grain from a stone box in a tomb near Dashare, Egypt. Thirty-six kernels of the grain were given to a friend who mailed them to his father, a Montana wheat farmer. The farmer planted and harvested a small crop and displayed the grain as a novelty at the local fair.
Believing the legend that the giant grain kernels were taken from an Egyptian tomb, the grain was dubbed "King Tut's Wheat". But soon the novelty wore off and this ancient grain was all but forgotten. In 1977, one remaining jar of "King Tut's Wheat" was obtained by T. Mack Quinn, another Montana wheat farmer, who with his son Bob, an agricultural scientist and plant biochemist, soon perceived the value of this unique grain. They spent the next decade propagating the humped-backed kernels originally selected from the small jar. their research revealed that wheat of this type originated in the fertile crescent area which runs from Egypt to the Tigris-Euphrates valley. The Quinns coined the trade name "Kamut" an ancient Egyptian word for wheat. Egyptologists claim the root meaning of Kamut is "Soul of the Earth".
Facts: Kamut is two to three times the size of common wheat with 20-40% more protein, higher in lipids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It is closely related to durum wheat and is a good wheat alternative. It is nutritionally superior and it is easily digested.
Over 5,000 years ago, high in the Andes mountains, the Incas began to cultivate quinoa as one of their staple crops, believing that it gave power and stamina to their warriors. Quinoa was also used in their ceremonial rituals. When Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America in the sixteenth century, they burned and destroyed the quinoa fields as part of the effort to annihilate Inca culture. But quinoa survived by growing wild in the mountains or by being cultivated in secret in small quantities. In the 1980's, two North Americans stumbled upon this ancient, super-nutritious food and began cultivating it near Boulder, Colorado. Since then, quinoa's popularity has exploded worldwide.
Although it is known as the "Mother Grain", quinoa is technically a seed. It grows best in mountainous regions, 10 thousand feet or more above sea level, and thrives in poor soil, thin air and extreme weather. Quinoa stalks are 3 to 6 feet tall, and each plant can produce up to a cup of seeds!
The benefits of Quinoa actually go far beyond that of a protein substitute for Vegans and vegetarians. People who suffer from migraines wouldn't go far wrong in making Quinoa a regular part of their diet.
This is because Quinoa also contains high amounts of magnesium, an important mineral for relaxing the blood vessels, which can in turn lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also help in the battle against diabetes and is important for maintaining strong, healthy bones.
Quinoa is also a very good source of protein, vitamin B2, vitamin E, and dietary fiber. It’s a good source of the minerals iron, phosphorus, copper, and zinc. Quinoa is a living food and besides the nutritional properties, quinoa has fiber..... Meat is a dead food, no fiber and very little accessible protein and nutritional value. Meat causes heart disease as it is loaded with saturated fat whereas quinoa with no fat at all promotes a healthy heart. Most people don't even know what quinoa is and prefer meat that leads to heart attacks, weight gain and cancer! I guess that is why doctors drive Mercedes and have two and three vacation homes and quinoa farmers in the Andes barely can feed their families.
Quinoa also has more calcium than cow milk, so when flesh eaters ask you, 'Where do you get your calcium," you can tell them quinoa and then turn around and ask them, "where do they get your calcium from, because it certainty isn't milk"....Milk is so processed and diluted, it is liquid meat. besides, the calcium in milk is for a calf to grow into a 1000 pound cow..
Quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long duration manned spaceflights. Try black, red or pearl qunioa to your diet. Lastly, quinoa is a 35 on the glycemic index, making it a good wheat or gluten replacement for those with allergies or diabetic needs.
The use of Teff can be traced back to about 3359 BC. It was produced and used primarily around Ethiopia, India and Australia. While Teff still provides over two-thirds of the human nutrition in Ethiopia, it is still relatively unknown elsewhere. Recently, some private entrepreneurs in the U.S have begun cultivating Teff.
Teff is the smallest grain in the world: it takes 150 teff grains to weigh as much as one wheat grain! Teff may be substituted for seeds, nuts or other small grains when baking, as a thickener for soups, stews, gravies and puddings, to make grain burgers or in stir fries and casseroles.
Teff is surprisingly high in calcium and vitamin C, a nutrient not often found in grains. Plus, it’s gluten-free, making it perfect for those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Teff is primarily made of high-resistant starch, which can help prevent colon cancer. Resistant starches aren’t immediately digested when traveling through the small intestine. Instead, they hang out in the large intestine, where bacteria feed on them and create fatty acids that make the environment less welcoming to bacteria that can harm the colon. A study also showed that people who ate muffins high in resistant starch felt fuller than those who ate muffins without. Teff’s tiny size (about the size of a poppy seed) allows it to cook quickly compared to other grains, ranging from 12 to 20 minutes depending on desired texture.
Real wild rice is not genetically modified, like most of the other grains (except for the ones shown above) available in the US. While the hybrids all have less nutrients that their ancestors, real wild rice is as nutritious and powerful as ancient grains. Wild rice is really an annual aquatic seed found mostly in upper freshwater lakes of Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The Native tribes used wild rice as an important staple in their diets and considered it the centerpiece of their "Megwetch Manomin Feast" that followed the first harvest. They called it manomin or mahnomen, (it means "Wild Rice People" in Ojibwe) The Menominee tribe referred to the grains as "Good Berry".
Most "wild" rice available in grocery stores across the country is actually cultivated in rice a paddies. It cooks uniformly, is consistent year after year, and is actually a hybrid developed by the University of Minnesota. It is because of this rice that many people do not like wild rice. Believe me: there is a great deal of difference real wild rice and paddy rice! To me there is no comparison.
Real wild rice requires just the right conditions to grow and only grows naturally in northern Minnesota and Canada. The water has to be at a plants. These non-depleted soils at the bottom of pristine lakes give the black rice a rich flavor and nutrition. White potatoes, white flower, white sugar, white salt, white rice are not good for you. They all are acidic and produce mucous additional mucous in your body once you consume these foods.
Mucous is like putting gum on wires in terms of your electrical body. Mucous is not a great conductor of electricity. In fact, mucous diffuses the potential amount of electricity that flow through your body and the first thing effected is your brain because it is powered by your body's natural electricity.
see the acid/alkaline chart for a complete nutritional guide of the foods that are less harmful and detrimental to the body.
Stay pHresh Stay Alkaline
Source: Alkaline Foods Cookbook by: Keith Exum
SoJourn to Healing by: Beverly Oliver
Our Line Of Alkaline Recipe Book by: Meskhenent


I am sick to death of winter. I was lulled into not hating winter by the relatively balmy December and January. But then came February with its arctic blasts. So, on this March 1st, I am ready for green growing things.
I, like you, receive upteen garden catalogs starting around Christmas. This year, I decided that I was not going to even look at them becasue all of the beds need to be reworked. It's the need versus want thing. So I made a critical error in judgement and recycled all of my garden catalogs. Not a Burpee in the house.
Well, I now find that even without ordering from them, I need them as reminders of the promise of Spring. I need to revel in the purples, yellows, oranges and reds on cold nights as the wind howls around the house. I need to dream of new yellow lilacs and white forsythia. I need to discuss plant varieties with my family.
While I am a flower grower and my sister is a vegetable grower, because we get the same catalogs, we can flip back and forth between them as we discuss the merits of zone 5 versus zone 4 gardening, sun versus shade and the latest techniques for keeping critters out. She kept her catalogs and is busily ordering her seeds with a long vision into the harvest. She will have pointy green caulifower, white tomatoes, yellow carrots and purple potatoes. And, of course, she always grows Bloody Butcher. She has an amazing green thumb and the patience to start all of her plants from seed. Patience is not my virtue. I go to the local nursery or order from catalogs....and await the box of veggies that will be coming to my house from the flatland.


Farmer Protest: Farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh are opposing the new agricultural law of the Central Government in Delhi these days. For this, thousands of farmers have gathered on the borders of Delhi and they are continuously sitting on dharna. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, these farmers also held talks with the central government, but the farmer leaders have rejected the government’s proposal. These farmers are demanding the withdrawal of new agricultural laws.
Farmers said, they have got ration for a month
But what the farmers of other states across the country are thinking about the performance of the farmers, what is the situation there, we tried to find out.
Why the opposition to the agricultural bill is only in Punjab and Haryana, why not in Bihar and UP
Bihar: In-situ Tiwari purchases government food through packs
In Bihar, where 70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture, there are very few farmer protests against the new agricultural law. However, it is not the case that the farmers of the state are against the farmers movement going on the borders of Delhi.
Farmer Vishwa Anand cultivates wheat, paddy and maize on five acres of Chaumukh village of Bochhaan block of Muzaffarpur.
Are you support Farmer Protest.


A little slow to get today's post up - I'm in Sunday mode!!
I've just been picking things from our garden. The tomato plants all needed trimmed back - so I picked the last of the tomatoes (mostly green ones). Also a few peppers - a purple capsicum, green capsicum 2 jalapenos and a few chillis. Then finally a very colourful carrot crop!
Now to put them to good use! Some will go in salads to make them nice and colourful - but the green tomatoes I need some inspiration for!
I remember last year my mum telling me she found a recipe for green tomato cake that turned out very tasty! I'm not sure I'm convinced I want to make a cake out of them though! I shall have to Google what to do with green tomatoes!
Any suggestions very welcome!
Are you harvesting anything tasty from your garden just now!!


The Negev Foundation
The Negev Foundation is a non-profit organization fully committed to nurturing the Negev region of Israel. The foundation recognizes the Negev's unique strategic importance to the State of Israel for security, sustainability, and success.
Sam Hoenig, President
To support the Negev region of Israel, nurturing opportunities by investing in agriculture, food, water, sustainability, health, culture, education, research, and wellness.
To make the desert bloom by developing the knowledge, infrastructure, resources, and relationships for sustaining meaningful life.
Thriving – Ensuring Jewish people’s continued autonomy in their homeland.
Sustainability – Advancing systems that promote a sustainable future.
Innovation – Supporting new solutions to emerging problems.
Our past has been full of big Risks. We have steadily grown with Resilience. And these efforts yield great Rewards.
When the Negev Foundation was established in 1992, the Negev was still regarded much the way it had been at the establishment of the State, a blank space, waiting for a purpose. The Foundation has spent the past 30+ years financially fortifying the region’s ability not only to provide food for Israel through investments in water management and arid land agriculture research and development but also a thriving home for a growing population of immigrants, refugees, pioneers, and visionaries – building the next generation of leaders for Israel. The population has doubled in size, and the economy has tripled.
The Negev has talents to share developed in the crucible of challenge. Negev Research Centers train thousands of aspiring farmers from all over the world, patent new technologies, and publish groundbreaking research. This innovative spirit has seeded solar farms, hi-tech engineering, and water reuse expertise. These gifts offer solutions to today’s biggest challenges.
Please see our website to learn more about our work.
Sam Hoenig, President
Richard J. Bogomolny, Board Chair
The Negev Foundation- Ohio Israel Agricultural and CleanTech Initiative
The Ohio Israel Agricultural and CleanTech Initiative (OIACI) was established under The Negev Foundation to promote and enhance trade opportunities and facilitate technology transfer and cooperation between Ohio and Israel in the agriculture, food, and CleanTech industries.


Kabloom: Foragebom Seedbom
Kabloom: Foragebom Seedbom. Foragebom contains a mix of edible common wild hedgerow herbs. Throw and grow your own and go foraging for a Foragebom!
Pull the pin and throw or drop Seedboms into areas that are in need of brightening up. Seedboms like bare soil, natural light and to be kept damp whilst growing. Full instructions are included on inside of each Seedbom sleeve.
Seedboms will biodegrade into the environment, leaving only plants behind.
Contains: Wild Marjoram, Borage, Yarrow, Wild Carrot, Meadowsweet, Wild Thyme & Common Sorrell.
For best results use within 1 year of purchase. Weight - 25 g
Size - 55 × 55 × 80 mm
Spend £60 or more for free UK delivery (some exclusions apply)


Why is Saffron so expensive?
Kesar, another name for saffron, is one of the most costly spices available. The labour-intensive saffron harvesting process and the comparatively low saffron yield per flower are the main causes of the spice's high price. In this piece, we'll look at the factors that make saffron valuable as well as the reasons why it costs so much.
The stigma of the Crocus sativus plant, which only blossoms for a few weeks each year, is harvested to make saffron. Only three delicate stigmas are produced by each flower, which means they must be manually harvested before the bloom withers. One kilogram of saffron requires approximately 150,000 flowers to make, which explains why the spice is so expensive.
The soil and climate requirements for saffron cultivation increase the expense of the spice in addition to the labour-intensive harvesting process. The Crocus sativus plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region and needs a particular set of circumstances to flourish.
The environment must be dry and sunny with mild winters, and the soil must be well-draining and abundant in organic matter. The areas where saffron can be grown are constrained by the absence of these conditions, which raises the cost of the spice.
The medicinal qualities of saffron are another reason in its high cost. Traditional medicine has used saffron for thousands of years to address a variety of ailments, such as anxiety, PMS, age-related macular degeneration, and depression. Saffron may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may enhance mood and cognitive performance, according to some studies. Because of this, saffron is expensive and in high demand in the pharmaceutical business.
Due to its expensive cost, saffron has become a target for fraud and adulteration. Some vendors may combine pure saffron with other ingredients like plastic fibers, pepper, or even turmeric to increase weight and volume while lowering price. In order to guarantee the quality and purity of their saffron purchases, consumers should exercise caution and only buy from reliable sources.
As a result of its labour-intensive harvesting, restricted growing environments, medicinal qualities, and vulnerability to fraud and adulteration, saffron is expensive. Saffron continues to be a highly valued spice despite its high price, and its distinctive flavour and aroma make it a necessary component in many different cuisines all over the globe.


Shivrai Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
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Engineered and developed in Pune (India), FarmERP is most advanced and comprehensive cloud ready software solution for managing arable, horticultural, plantation, floriculture, hydroponics and contract farming operations. It provides advanced level of farm analytics to support business decisions. FarmERP is a complete solution from purchase, inventory, production, contract farming, post production, planning, farm profile, accounts including HR. FarmERP can cater to the needs of managing your entire Farm to Fork operations.
This unique and innovative product FarmERP aims at;
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2. Optimization of cost of production to increase economic returns
3. Achieving water conservation
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5. Table control of farms


I planted 2 types today, a shell pea and a snap pea. I plant them side by side and have been doing so for a few years.
The first step is to determine a location and either establish a support structure or make a plan for one because once peas get growing, they need support to climb on.
This spring, I'm planting my peas here with stakes about 6 feet across and a bamboo pole on top. I'll build additional support as the peas grow with twine as they come up or might use some left over wire fence pieces, I haven't decided yet. In the background is an A-Frame structure that I've also used for climbing peas in the past, and it works on the same principle.
Next prepare the soil with some compost or and create furrows about 1" deep for planting. These are about 6" apart.
Of course, you're going to need peas, these are the ones I'm using today. I also use legume inoculant with all of the beans and peas that I plant. There is some debate as to whether this is really necessary if you have planted beans or peas in this location before because theoretically the beneficial bacteria should still be in the soil. An envelope of inoculant costs $3-5 and a little goes a long way so I figure that it can't hurt. I sprinkle it in the furrow right before my seeds. Some people say that you need to soak seeds and inoculant in water or milk together first to get good germination, but I honestly have not noticed much difference when adding these steps.
Then plant those seeds, water, hill up a little, label, and you're done.
Germination usually takes 1-2 weeks but can take longer if you get a cold snap.
One additional note that I have on peas is a recommendation for bird netting once they sprout. I'll drape some over the top of the support structure and anchor to the soil with landscaping stakes. At least in my yard, if you don't net your peas you will go out 1 morning to what looks like a weed whacker destruction site. Birds ... love them, but keep them off your peas.
Now fast forward to pea success ...
Once they get going they really grow quickly.
And then you get to eat meals like this, fresh pasta with peas and herbs. Delicious.
I hope this inspires you to get out and plant some peas if you haven't already.
Happy (almost) Spring!


Posted on: 19th June 2022
Exciting News from Eco Club!
We have some very exciting news from the members of our Eco club…They have grown their very own radishes!
The Radishes are the first thing they have grown and WOW don’t they just look amazing!
We were even able to bring the Radishes straight from the Eco garden to the children’s plates at lunchtime when they were used in our salad bowl. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!
Well done Eco club! We look forward to seeing what other healthy food options you will be growing!


In my meditation, I saw the tiny sprout of a pea plant, and I heard the word, "Seed". I understand this message to mean that when we set the intention for something to come into our life, it is just like planting a seed.
If we want to grow a pea plant, first we need to clear the ground of weeds and rocks so that the seed has room to take root. The same goes for clearing our space when we want an intention to manifest in our life. It's helpful to let go of toxic beliefs and habits that do not support us in following our heart's desire. Clearing our energetic blocks is like clearing the ground of stones and weeds. It frees us up to receive inspiration and tune into our intuition.
After clearing out the debris, we are ready to put the seed into the ground, surrounded by plenty of fertile soil to nourish it. And just as we plant a seed if we want peas, when we set an intention to manifest a change in our life, we need to plant it in a fertile environment. Having a supportive community is like fertilizer to our dreams. When we are surrounded by like-minded people -- our tribe, we know that there is no limit to what we can be, as we evolve into the best version of ourselves.
Then, we cover up the little seed, trusting that if we water it, it will grow into a sprout. This is akin to planting the seed of intention, sending it off to the universe, and then trusting that our heart's desire will come into our life. We have to let go of controlling every step of the process and trust that the seed we planted will sprout. It is that trust that waters our little seed of intention.
And just as we are excited the moment we see the tiny leaves of the pea sprout poking out of the ground, we are joyful when we see the beginnings of the manifestation of our heart's desire. This cycle continues as we experience synchronicities that confirm we are on the right path: plant, believe, witness, repeat.
© Erika Marie Rose and Good Vibes, 2019


Gifted Education Teacher
MMS/SHS Challenge Programs
Montevideo has successfully installed our Aquaponics Adventure system! This has been a two-year process, with REFI grants for both Cub Run and Montevideo needed to develop the working environment.
MMS Challenge students in 2015 worked on system models, and sized the necessary pumps, batteries, and solar panels needed for a successful installation. MMS Agriculture students in 2015 and 2016 have worked with prototypes for plant growth, and are working with Mr. Wanger on optimizing our new system.
Why Aquaponics? In systems using just aquaculture, it is necessary to dispose of nutrient rich water, and replace clean water for aqua health. Likewise hydroponic systems require the addition of expensive nutrients, as well as an additional waste disposal process. By circulating systems together, Aquaponics better distributes nutrients and eliminates the need for flushing. Nitrosomonsa bacteria in the floating bed digests ammonia and nitrite from the fish water, and creates nitrates to feed the plants. Water is filtered through porous media and passes through the roots of the plants in order to return fresh water to the fish tank. We are then able to cultivate fresh fish and vegetables in an inexpensive, clean environment.
Montevideo Agriculture, Challenge, and STEM Lab students have been learning about the working system over the past two weeks, and how energy, time, and money can be saved. Students from Spotswood High School were kind enough to share information about their smaller-scale Aquaponics project for Massanutten Regional Governor's School. Their challenges offered good information for us to improve upon the design.
Cub Run 4th graders will be visiting on June 1st to learn about the system, and to develop plans for their involvement next school year. I am copying you in case you want me to forward any pictures for the RCPS website, or if you are interested in further information.
NEXT school year: Fourth graders plant new plants, and use plant life for dissection and analysis. Middle school students monitor temperature, Ph, growth, and solar energy activity, while tracking data through graphs. MMS plans for developing guttering slats, customized tables, and the installation of the solar panel system (materials already purchased). And maybe even a faculty salad bar supplied by our Aquaponics Adventure?
Please enjoy the photos below. I encourage you to visit the Aquaponics system in Mr. Wanger's shop, and take a look at what's growing!


A nutritious mix of canola seed, canary seed, white and red millet, safflower, corn, oat groats, buckwheat and red milo.
Simply soak overnight to start germination, rinse in morning, and feed. Seeds become soft and more digestible.
Soaking seed, starts the germination process, causing the protein levels to rise, and increases the levels of B vitamins.
Wonderful during breeding season and when chicks are weaning.
Can be very beneficial for weak/ill small birds, that do not have the strength to crack dry seed.
Any seed left uneaten after a few hours, should be thrown out before it becomes sour, especially in hot and humid environments.


On Thursday 02/09/2017 we held the grand openings of our new shop located at 122 Mesogi Avenue in Paphos . The shop is ideally situated and provides easy access for the majority of the province's producers and it is expected to bring our company even closer to the agricultural world of Paphos.
The ribbon was cut by the Mayor of Paphos Mr. Phaidon Phaidonos, who in his greeting expressed his satisfaction for the return of more and more young people to agriculture and generally in the primary sector. A brief greeting was also addressed by our Managing Director Mr. Eric Shukuroglou.
The new shop-warehouse for plant protection & plant nutrition products is the jewel of our company and was created as part of our strategy for a more direct client approach with the Cypriot producer, both professional and amateur. The company now has 10 branches throughout Cyprus and its team consists of 20 agronomists that clients can turn to for guidance and advice.
Our company announces its new distribution partnership with Resoul Hellas S.A. Our company will distribute Resoul's 'micro stoves" and 'coffee stoves' for the Cypriot Market. The products will be available in selected supernarkets and D.I.Y Centers across Cyprus.
Our company announces its new distribution partnership with the Spanish group of companies Kimitec which is active in the specialized plant nutrition field. Our company will distribute exclusively for the Cypriot market the complete product range of Kimitec.
The Kimitec product range includes, biostimulant, flowering and fruiting setting enhancers, soil improvers as well as other specialized nutrition products for both conventional and organic farming.
Premier Shukuroglou Cyprus LTD will be taking part in The 34th International Trade Exhibition for Agriculture, Water &Agro-Industry which is going to be held between the 11th and 14th of October at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.


Welcome To Our Farm
Food the way nature intended it!
Who We Are
Bluegrass Blessings Farms & Apiary is a local, family owned, naturally grown farm dedicated to producing fresh and nutrient-rich products in the most environmentally sustainable and humane way possible. We are passionate about healthy food, protecting our natural resources, and strengthening our community.
When you purchase products from Bluegrass Blessings Farms & Apiary, you know:
You're eating food packed with nature's vitamins and minerals; nothing else
You're eating food that was grown or raised with sustainability and humaneness as a 1st priority
You're helping to support an alternative to our current restrictive food system
You're working with us to build a strong, healthy, and thriving local community
You're supporting a KY Proud, Homegrown By Heroes, and veteran-owned business
What We Do
Where We Are
"Best eggs and produce in the area. Owner strives for top-notch quality and customer service. You get what you pay for and their product is worth the money."
What Customers Think
"Bluegrass Blessing has been a God send to the Harris family. In our quest to eat natural food only, they have provided. Bluegrass Blessings is professional in all aspects of the business...
We look forward to a long relationship with this farm.
Dave & Elizabeth
"The produce was fresh and delicious. Always great customer service and utmost attention to providing exceptional quality. Chris is not only an outstanding farmer but also an extraordinary person and one we’re elated to have as our source of the best produce in Kentucky!"


Traditionally, the Riesling grape is the last to be harvested in Luxembourg and for the Clos des Rochers field it is the King grape!
Therefore, the Clos des Rochers winery as Bernard-Massard has announced that it is particularly satisfied with the harvest achieved on Monday 2 November, in its most prestigious vineyards, “Groaerd” in Grevenmacher.
The grapes reached optimum maturity showing a sugar content of 95° Oechsle. In what promises to be a great vintage, the “Groaerd” will be presented at the end of 2017.
Another highlight of the vintage, after a three-year break, is a great Riesling Vendange Tardive (Late Harvest) showing 179° Oechsle that could be harvested. As always this wine will be rare because just 130 litres have been produced!


Roast Profile – Light to Medium
Region – Sabanilla de Alejuela, Central Valley
Farm – Calle Lajas
Variety – Caturra, Catuai
Processed Method – Yellow Honey
Altitude – 4,750 ft
Cupping Notes – Winey fruit acidity with sugary sweetness and mouthfeel, blueberry, cherry, toffee, and citrus fruit flavors
Our premium, honey processed offering from Calle Lajas farm is a complex, smooth cup of coffee. With a rare combination of flavors, this light-medium roast brings constant pleasure. A nice finish highlights citrus notes with a sweet, light acidity. The best part of this coffee is a treasure chest of other flavor possibilities waiting in your cup!
You can find the Calle Lajas farm in the foothills of the mighty Poas volcano.
Calle Lajas farm is part of the Las Lajas micro-mill, operated by third generation coffee growers. This micro-mill started to produce honey coffees in 2008 after an earthquake halted the mill’s access to water for several weeks.
As a certified-organic mill, managing environmental impact is a primary focus. The addition of more shade trees and irrigation improvements are being applied this year to prepare for potential climate changes.
The micro-lots of Calle Lajas have benefited from a commitment to technological improvements, and ownership's dedicated attention to detail produces a special quality in every harvest. This is a farm that we will continue to source from in the future.


Certified Organic Beer
Upon receiving organic certification in 2003, Bison became one of the first fully organic breweries in the world. We converted our business to organic methods because it synced our personal lives with our business pursuits. We integrate our environmental values into our brewery and office operation. Bison’s small staff believes that sustainable and ecologically sound food production is the best way to protect our environment, save energy and ensure the sustainability of American farming.
All of Bison’s beers are organic, not just one or two labels to make us feel good about ourselves and bluster about our green credentials. We are certified organic by the CCOF, Santa Cruz, CA. Certified organic means that agricultural products have been grown and processed under USDA national organic standards and independently certified.
What drives us to brew organically is the real prize of organic agriculture—barley. Acres and acres of barley. Hops are just lipstick on beer (very gorgeous lipstick, mind you), but the main ingredient, malt, is the thing that really has an impact on sustainable and ecologically sound food production. Organic products, from field to consumer, are the best way to protect the environment, save energy, and ensure sustainability of American farming.
Converting Organic Farmland
A restaurant or bar choosing to buy sell one 15.5g keg (7 cases for retail establishments) of organic beer a week causes a farmer to convert one footbal field of farmland from conventional to organic agricuture. Each consumer who chooses a 6-pack/week of organic beer, causes a farmer to convert 1,700 square feet of farmland from conventional to organic agricuture. That is the size of many suburban homes, or twice an average apartment.
That is HUGE impact, and we have the numbers to prove it.
Stance Against GMO’s
Genetically Engineered ingredients are insidiously working their way into almost every foodstuff in the supermarket. What is the long term consequence of this on human health and the environment? Nobody knows. Eating and drinking organically is the only way to avoid GMOs. As a USDA and CCOF Certified Organic Brewery, Bison can GUARANTEE that our beer is GMO-free.


International Food and Film Festival
Saturday, Aug. 16th
2-10pm (films begin at 8pm)
5pm canning workshop
Location: Hattie Carthan Community Garden, Marcy and Lafayette Aves, Brooklyn
Just Foods is an amazing organization in NYC that is working to build a healthy sustainable food system. They work to address the needs of regional, rural family farms, NYC community gardeners, and NYC communities.
Come groove to the sounds of live African percussion and experience the fresh tastes and cultures of Brooklyn. All foods are prepared by the garden members. Learn techniques to preserve your harvest all year long! Use mason jars, a hot water bath and your delicious home grown vegetables to make irresistible foods you can eat in the colder months, or that you can give as tasty and beautiful gifts. When the sun goes down, the films will begin!
Directions: Take the G train to Bedford Nostrand. Walk one block to Marcy. Or take the B38 to Marcy & Lafayette
And while I'm at it, here are some pictures of what's growing in my own garden in Brooklyn.
we built a hoop house for growing plants from seed and starters, and three beds with several varieties of tomatoes, basil, beets, garlic, radishes, mustard greens, kale, broccoli, potatoes, cucumbers, nasturtium, sage, and cilantro, mint, and rodiccio
green zebra heirloom tomato
one of the amazing thing about having a compost bin is seeing what pops up! All my cucumber plants and a whole lot of tomato plants grew out of the bin. I ended up giving away many plants


MEET DR CLIVE SPRAY
Our founder, Dr. Clive Spray (yes, that’s his real name), has dedicated his life to developing several formulas to help improve the quality of other people’s health.
Clive Spray has walked an interesting path in arriving at his present passion for nutrition, natural supplementation, and the research necessary to accomplish both.
It started in Oxford, England where his father, a Ph.D. chemist, was a pioneer in researching Vitamin B12, among other nutrients, at Oxford University. At this time, Clive also became interested in what would be a lifelong passion for the natural world–both plants and animals.
He received his undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry in the UK, during which time he published his thesis on the analgesic properties of plant-derived natural products. (He received a grant for this research from a pharmaceutical company, who went on to patent some of the discoveries made by Dr. Spray). It was in his post-doctoral studies that his interests were turned more and more toward plant biology, leading to 15 years of research at UCLA, working at the forefront of the mapping of plant genomes, and publishing 27 papers on the subject.
From this experience, he knew that he needed to put his knowledge to use in the world of nutrition. It had become clear to him that our foods, often grown in depleted soils, or contaminated with chemicals, were no longer providing all the nutrition we require, so Dr. Spray began work on an innovative delivery system for nutritional supplements.
So, based on science and passion, he has arrived as founder, co-owner and lead chemist of Spray Labs, LLC, where he can put his varied experiences to work in producing high quality, scientifically-based oral spray nutritional supplements.
Ask Dr. Spray


Welcome to Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery. We are a small, family owned and operated winery located in the southern end of the Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. Three generations of the Kreck family have been involved in the winemaking process from the vineyards to the cellar and out into the marketplace. We invite you to try our award winning wines and experience a taste of why we have made this area our home.
Mill Creek wines have won many of the most prestigious awards possible including the Sonoma County Harvest Fair's coveted Sweepstakes Award, the California State Fair's Best Wine in the State award, and Orange County Fair's Four Star Gold as well as dozens of Best of Class awards and hundreds of Gold medals.
Conceived in 1965 when the family first planted grapes, the winery was not actually born until nine years later with the first production of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Two years later we completed transforming an existing farming structure into a state of the art winery. In 1982, Mill Creek built its tasting room modeled after one of the many wood mills that were popular in the area around the turn of the 20th century.
Several members of the Kreck family currently work on the Mill Creek property. Current owners, Bill and Yvonne Kreck are involved in many areas of the production of Mill Creek's world-class wines, from growing to bottling to selling. Their middle son, Jeremy Kreck, is now both winemaker and vineyard manager. Bill's brother Bob and his wife, Elizabeth, are still involved in some aspects of the farming and harvesting procedures.
On this single property, you can visit a place that completes the entire process of growing grapes through selling wine. Unlike some properties where most, or all, of the fruit is purchased, or the wine is made off-site, Mill Creek is the complete package where one can experience the creation of excellent varietal wines from start to finish.
Learn about our wine club >


We love our volunteers at Crown Point! Interested in volunteering? We have opportunities for both individuals and groups. Extra hands are always needed to help on the farm with seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and preparing produce for the community supported agriculture customers. We have projects available for students to fulfill volunteer requirments, for scouts to earn badges or other volunteer requirments. Our multiple events throught out the year also use volunteers to register guests, auction set up and check out. There are so many opportunities to visit and enjoy the beautiful fields while sharing your time and skills. Or perhaps you have a special skill you want to share? Tell us about it.
Fill out a Volunteer request form here
If you have any questions, feel free to call the office at (330) 668-8992


There can not be any person that isn’t immediately comforted when they see the bright yellow heads of sunflowers bobbing in the wind. Sunflowers summon images of the wilds of France, of summer season days and heat. Everything they stand for is wonderful.
Toko Bunga Cibubur – Therefore it is completely all-natural for garden enthusiasts of any ages to want to grow these fantastic annual blossoms. Luckily sunflowers are in fact one of the simplest plants of all to expand.
Merely plant the seeds either in the ground or in pots, water completely as well as leave to their very own devices. The seeds will germinate quickly as well as given sunlight and heat will certainly grow rapidly and a healthy diet until the end of the period.
Certainly, sunflowers are so simple to grow they could be an excellent intro to horticulture for kids that take wonderful satisfaction in watching the seeds they have grown germinate and grow.
Treatment of sunflowers is virtually as straightforward as the germination. Due to their high, thin stems most sunflowers should be supported with a stake or suchlike to ensure they do not tip over in the wind. In addition to this, their price of development implies they call for a bunch of nutrients and so it is a great idea to feed the plants when in development. Digging in manure or using a liquid plant food both function well.
Of course reduced a few of the heads when they are in blossom to bring inside as well as utilize as cut blossoms, yet also aim to leave some outdoors on the plant to make sure that the birds can enjoy all those juicy seeds in the autumn.


The story of Laporiya goes back to late 1970's when the western part of our country was reaping the benefits of Green revolution. In the same era somewhere eighty kilometers away from Jaipur a village Laporiya was fighting with its fate. The village was facing a severe problem of water scarcity and drought was knocking on the doors.
The village was in bad shape, with each passing day the water table was drastically falling and signs of migration were evident. The livestock was left unfed due to the marginal availability of fodder, and lush greenery was fading away. People were paranoid about their future and village was slowly getting gripped in the clutches of poverty, malnutrition and caste conflict. The situation was pathetic, people were helpless, and the government had no clue how to intervene. Eventually, nothing was going in the favour of Laporiya. A situation arrived when even rain was not able to bring back the moisture content in the soil. The situation even worsened when in late 1970s government declared Laporiya as a barren and saline land with minimal possibility of crop cultivation.
Meanwhile, in the village Laxman Singh, a young man and a freshly graduate from Jaipur University returned back to his natives just to find this abysmal situation prevailing at his village. Laxman hailed from an ancient Rajput royal family from Jaipur who was once the ruler of Laporiya before independence. He was distraught by witnessing the degradation of once a green and jubilant village into barren pastureland. Laxman thought of no other option but immediate need of an intervention. He was determined enough and motivated by the desire to evacuate his village out of this havoc. Laxman was ascertained that the traditional water harvesting technique, which has been practised from generation to generation in Rajasthan can prove instrumental mitigating the crisis. For that, he wanted to train the local youth and harness the local resources available to develop a concrete water harvesting system.
After a careful initial observation, Laxman concluded that the problem was persisting due to the negligence of the villagers and absence of guiding mechanism, which has perpetuated such a situation. Thereafter Laxman decided to mobilise the community, therefore, he arranged a meeting with help from his friends. In the meeting, he firmly asked the locals to either cooperate or to leave the village. Once people started arriving for help they embarked on a mission to repair the broken embankments, percolation tanks and to de-silt the community pond. During the work of the programme, the barriers of caste and class began fading away. The community, who previously quarreled over petty issues, was now going through the proper processes of resolving larger problems.
It was Laxman who had very early realised the potential of the rural youth and later on harnessed their energy to accelerate the developmental work. Perhaps it was the eclectic power of youth that became the bandwagon of the Laxman's success. In the process of mobilising the community, Laxman formed some youth association which later on lead to the inception of Gram Vikas Navyuvak Mandal (GVNM).
Laxman travelled to nearby areas to further study the water-harvesting systems. He relied more on the traditional knowledge and skills of gajdharis (traditional engineers). Ultimately these small developments led to a big invention which came to known as "Chouka System" or "Laporiya Square". GVNM started working on the near flat community pastures lands which were then in the hands of an upper class of the village. They began building chaukas (squares), a system of low berms and shallow pits, to recharge the local groundwater and to regenerate the communal pasture land. The chauka system divides the open, grassy plains into several cells of chouka. Within each cell, the runoff was carefully managed with the system of berms to ensure that the monsoon rainwater, which comes in intense bursts, is spread over the entire area. The slight slope pattern of the land allows rainwater to enter the square and fill it up as per the available depth. Excess rainwater then flows into the next square and soon all the square get filled with water. At the downhill end of the cell, the excess water gets collected in a tank, this is used for watering livestock.
This model of Laxman Singh slowly became a huge success in mitigating the pain of the fellow villagers. The land which earlier hardly supported any rain-fed crop now incubated two irrigated crops a year. Lush greenery was enhancing the livestock farming. Villager's income slowly started to rise, harvest was increasing and a positive change was visible. Laporiya was not only able to sustain low rainfall period but was now becoming immune to any foreseen drought. Since its troubled days, the Laporiya has now moved from scarcity to self-sufficiency, the food and fodder need is no more an issue.
GVNM in these years is working towards rebuilding the social institutions and have even extended their work to "integrated village development". This model of Laporiya has been replicated in the nearby villages and Laxman Singh is now an inspiration when we look back at his achievements.
For further Reading follow the below link------------------------------------------------------------------


Since Lonely Planet magazine first introduced Yangshuo to the rest of the world, travellers have thronged to experience its dreamlike sequences. While the main towns have subsequently become touristy, the best way to experience the stunning scenery is to take a walk or bike ride along the Li River starting in Guilin. Karst limestone hills rise above bamboo covered plains here. On this tour you will venture into local villages and farms and get an insight into the simple life.
Whist the unique geography gives Yangshuo its stunning beauty, 1400 years of history and diverse ethnic minority groups impart a cultural flavour. Be prepared to see the expansive rice fields, with farmers either planting rice or directing buffalos pulling wooden ploughs, ponds of water lilies and other simple farm and village sceneries.
This tour lets children get an insight into the countryside life of China. On the tour children will be able to interact with locals, under the supervision of our expert presenter guide,


STEPS TO GROW A HANGING GARDEN
Dec 28, 2021
Hanging gardens or vertical gardens are slowly becoming quite popular in the gardening world and vertical gardens may seem like a challenge to some but they are an excellent option for you if you lack horizontal space and by that, we mean that you lack the land to grow a horizontal traditional garden. In this blog, we will see the simple steps for you to grow a vertical garden or a hanging garden.
Select a Wall –
Choosing a wall can seem difficult but it is rather quite simple. You can practically choose any wall of your liking but you have to keep a few things in mind. That Wall should not be connected to any important structures of the house or any building because that Wall is going to get a lot of water and stay damp from the roots holding water. The wall should also so be facing the sunlight for most of the time of the day and this will ensure that your garden stays healthy and your plants receive abundant sunlight. you need not worry about sweight because anyone will be able to hold a normal sized hanging garden but you must ensure that your garden is not something really big.
Building a Frame –
The next most important thing you need to do is build the frame which you can directly put on a wall. For the frame, we would suggest that you use PVC pipes and PVC pipe elbows and make a frame. We would suggest that you do not use metal because metal can be expensive and also the additional weight can weaken the wall and we do not suggest that you use wood because without treatment wood will start to rot quite easily.
Plastic sheeting –
This step is quite important if you want to maintain the integrity and structural strength of the wall because prolonged exposure to water can weaken the wall and therefore, we would suggest that you have a plastic sheet backing to the frame that you just put up and this plastic sheet can be PVC sheets as well as any other construction plastic.
Water retention –
This is a simple step and the purpose of this step is to help your hanging garden retain water for the plants. The simplest way to do this is to attach layers of fabric to the frame and this is the part where your plants will live on and hold water. We would suggest that you use carpet padding as well as any other kind of thick fabric and you can attach them directly to your frame with stainless steel screws and stables and make sure that the fabric is stretched and does not have any folds or wrinkles.
This is one of the most important steps and this is where you will set up the irrigation system for your hanging garden. We would suggest that you do not DIY the hardware for this step as it is an important step and you need to buy your poly tubing with fittings from any irrigation supplier and you must be able to adjust the water to drip in seconds and not minutes as your vertical garden requires more water than a horizontal garden and you must be able to maintain the balance between wet and not overflowing.
This is an easy step once you have your irrigation system in place you can simply prepare, you’re the fertilizers you want to apply in your hanging garden and then and apply them through the water irrigation system.
We can discuss a thousand varieties that you can put on your wall but we and other experts seem to agree that it is always in the best interest to plant native species of plants in your vertical garden because that not only blends well with the surroundings but it is also good for the plants because they are accustomed to the climate and environment.
Inserting the plants –
After you have chosen the type of plans you want to plant, you will simply need to make horizontal slits with a razor in the fabric of the frame, and make sure to not go too deep has to pierce the plastic backing. Then you must insert the plant roots and see that no soil is there on the root and then fix the roots with staples.
These were the few simple steps you will need to follow if you want to blend a hanging garden or a vertical garden in your home and if you are someone who is into gardening and beautification and wants to see the same thing in your business complex but you do not have the skills and manpower to do it then you can always hire us at DMM Facility Management Pvt Ltd because we have renowned gardeners that will beautify the garden complexes of your business.


AgriSicilia offers an organic Bergamot Marmalade as good as few, with a citrus flavor and unmistakable smell. This product, enriched with BIO brown sugar, is perfect for a healthy and nutritious breakfast. In addition, it is available in convenient 360-gram jars.
Bergamot is the main ingredient, known for its relaxing scent and positive health effects: this good fruit is rich in vitamins and also has numerous antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Organic Bergamot Marmalade in Brief
Ingredients: Cane sugar BIO, Bergamot BIO with peels; gelling agent: fruit pectin; acidifier: citric acid.
Fruit used in the product: 45g per 100g.
Net weight: 360 g.
Storage: Keep at room temperature. After opening, store the product at temperatures within 4 degrees and consume within 14 days.
Taste, Appearance and Smell: Intense yellow in color, the citrus note is persistent and fresh and is matched by an unmistakable fragrance.
Suggestions for use: This organic bergamot marmalade is ideal for breakfast. Also perfect for spreading on bread or rusks, possibly even with a layer of butter to break up the intense flavor.


Franciacorta is located in Northern Italy, in the heart of Lombardy and encompasses the territory of 19 municipalities all included in the province of Brescia. This hilly area is touched to the west by the shores of Lake Iseo, which mitigate its climate, and by the river Oglio, its emissary, while to the north-east it is surrounded by the Rhaetian Prealps.
It is a purely moraine area of very ancient origin. It was created by the same glacier that dug Lake Iseo and which, about 10,000 years ago, retreating left this territory from which Franciacorta was born. The morainic origin has given these soils extraordinary characteristics both chemical, for the richness in minerals, and physical for the particularity of the soil. Here the vine has found an extraordinary suitable area so much that today Franciacorta is synonymous with both a wine and a production method.
The three vineyards of PIETRALUCE, located in different areas of Franciacorta, have different and complementary characteristics:


Monday’s post was pretty darn long, so I’ll keep this one fairly short.
Growing your food has a lot of benefits to offer both your overall well being as well as those around you. Just some of the many benefits:
- Firstly, and in my opinion most importantly, you know exactly what is being done to and how your plants/food are being treated. No pesticides, no chemicals. Just water, lots of love, dirt and perhaps some compost if you’re so inclined.
- It is also a pleasure to watch something grow with your assistance. Although plants are not animated, they do move and are a joy to watch over time. Plus, plants are actually quite receptive, and are, believe it or not, responsive to a positive attitude, singing and being talked to in a loving way. I even have names for a lot of my plants. 😀
- You get what is put into your food. Since you have grown your plants with love and support, they will in turn provide you with love in the form of flavor and optimal nutritional benefits. I feel like when I eat stuff that I have grown, I can taste the love – which can only be made sense of if you’ve grown your own food! 🙂
- Lastly, it is a benefit to your surrounding environment to grow your own food, and will hopefully help out the some local “wildlife” (hopefully bees – but sometimes magpies :-S )
I’m no pro when it comes to gardening. I started a couple of years ago for the desire to know where my food is coming from. It has definitely been a learning process, and am still no where close to an expert.
I currently grow all of my plants in containers. I live on the top floor of a 3 story building and have a fair amount of room on my back deck for the late spring, summer and early fall months.
I am currently in the process of bringing most of my plants indoors. This is going to be a struggle as I certainly do not have enough room for all of them indoors this winter.
My dream is to one day have a lovely permaculture garden on my property. But that is for another day. 🙂
Hope everyone has a lovely day.
Originally posted October 7/15.


What is mulching and what are the benefits?
To begin with, it can really help to promote the health of both the trees and shrubs in your gardens and landscape. Mulch is placed over the surface of the soil and as it breaks down and biodegrades, nutrients are fed into the soil, which are then absorbed by the root systems of the plants and trees. Mulching is like natural fertilizing.
When the soil is covered in mulch, it also helps the soil to retain more moisture as it is protected from the sun and the elements like the wind. This means your trees and shrubs require less watering to remain hydrated.
Another benefit of mulching is it stunts the growth and proliferation of those dreaded and unsightly garden weeds.
There really are many benefits to this practice, and a quality landscape contractor will help guarantee the health of your outdoor space. Contact Unique Gardens, LLC. for the following landscape services:
- Weed control
- Lawn care, lawn care maintenance, lawn care services
Specializing in landscaping for commercial and residential premises, Unique Gardens are the team to call for a free estimate at (610) 857-1907. We service Parkesburg, Coatesville, and Downingtown, PA.


Chandigarh, April 13 – The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Union Government to accept the request of the State Government to revisit the norms of shrivelled grains for the ongoing procurement of wheat. It also decided to appeal to the Union Government to issue the order for relaxations in the norms at the earliest.
Disclosing this, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs briefed the Cabinet about the status of the ongoing procurement. It was informed that 14.9 Lakh MT of wheat had arrived in the Mandis out of which more than 12 Lakh MT had already been purchased. More than 2 lakh MT of wheat, out of 5 Lakh MT that arrived yesterday alone, had been purchased on the day of arrival itself, he revealed.
The spokesperson added that while welcoming the early constitution of Central teams to assess the damage of shrivel grains in the state, the Cabinet also appealed to the Central Government to allow relaxation in the norms of shrivelled grains without any value cut, since the farmer had already been penalised on account of lower yield. A formal request in this regard had already been made by the State Government, he added.
It may be noted that due to extreme heat conditions the wheat grain has become shrivelled in many places and the grain coming in these Mandis contains shrivelled grain beyond the permissible limit of 6%. Thereafter, the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, had yesterday constituted five teams to assess the extent of the problem in the state. The teams are on the way and shall shortly arrive in the State to get a first hand assessment of the extent of shrivelled grain arriving in the Mandis. This data will then help the Government of India in taking a final decision on grant of appropriate relaxation in the specifications.
The spokesperson added that the Cabinet laid absolute emphasis on farmer welfare and asked the Department to take all possible steps to ensure smooth procurement. It also asked the Department to resolve any genuine issues of the staff deputed by the procurement agencies for procurement of wheat.


ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Carbendazim
Formulation: Suspension Concentrate - SC
Mechanism of Action: Systemic fungicide with contact and curative action, which is absorbed through roots and green tissues and translocates acropetally. Rodazim® 50 SC inhibits the development of germ tubes, the formation of appressoria and the growth of mycelium. It is used in the control of pathogens such as Fusarium, Colletotrichum and Rhizoctonia in beans and rice.


Portland OR Bans Neonics April 1 2015 reported by Xerces Soc.
Buying Bee Friendly - addresses the issues around the use of neonicotinoids, and lists the growers who avoid using them and the growers who do use them giving their reasoning 2/10/2015
EPA announces a moratorium on bee-killing pesticides. April 2 - 2015
What are neonicotinoids and what do they do?
Here are several documents that explain what these chemicals are, what they are supposed to do, how they are used, and how they may affect the environment.
What are Neonicotinoids?
How Neonicotinoids work
Are they killing the bees?
Who wants to use them and why..
Syngenta petitions EPA for expanded use of neonicotinoid product for spraying crops
Europe Bans Neonicotinoids...
European Environmental Agency (EEA) bans use of 3 neonicotinoid products
What household chemicals contain Neonicotinoids...
Here a list of household chemicals that contain neonicotinoids which are reputedly highly toxic to pollinators.
Articles about using Neonicotinoids and listing growers and nurseries that do not use them and those that do
Buying Bee Friendly - a comprehensive and reader-friendly article about the use of neonicotinoids; an explanation about its probable affect on pollinators; incluiding a list of growers who avoid using neonicotinoides, and a list of growers who do use them - including their justifications for how and when they use them.
Beware 81% of "Bee-friendly" plants sold at Big Box stores may have been treated neonicotinoids
Bee-friendly plants sold in Big Box Stores may be treated with neonicotinoids
Big Box Stores bow to pressure to label their inventory of neonicotinoid pesticides and list the plants they are selling that contain them
Big Box Stores begin to bend to consumer pressures in some states.
Home Depot and BJ's among others will label neonicotinoid pesticides by years end 2014 and here is another article on this subject
Here is a scientific analysis by a bee expert of the neonicotinoid controversy including critiques of the various papers & data published in support of differing theories on the subject.


In the south of Spain, the hearth of European vegetable cultivation, Internacional Olivarera, S.A. established in XIX century, grows, produces, packages and commercializes olives and a wide selection of Mediterranean products to all continents.
Internacional Olivarera, S.A. is among the leaders in vegetable product packaging. We dedicate ourselves to the development of innovative technological processing, packaging, and R&D.;
The mission of Internacional Olivarera, S.A. is to satisfy our customers’ needs while providing them with the highest quality natural food products.


Though tomatoes are grown widely, they also create lots of problem in the cultivation. Array of diseases and pests do violence to tomatoes and ruin them just previous to your harvest. Here are some ideas that are sure to help you.
Good Conditions For Growing
Tomatoes grow best naturally when there is good sunshine and soil that could be well-drained. They are more horizontal to the disease when you plant those plants in shade place or in clay soil. You need to plant the tomatoes foliage in different area in the garden every year as a disease may be there in the earth.
Put An End For Building Up Disease In The Garden Soil
In case, if your garden soil is not a rich one and if you do not hold that much place to cultivate this crop in a different place every year, you could undertake cultivating tomatoes in containers. Many of the tomatoes could grow well in the big containers filled with mix, formulated for the plants that could be grown in containers. Strictly, you have to grow them in huge containers; it must be at least twelve inches in width. There are some varieties that could be grown up to six feet high.
Fix The Varieties That Suit Your Location
There are huge varieties of tomatoes that could be cultivated, each one best suits for different regions. For instance, University of Florida made a release of varieties like ‘Solar Set’ that gives huge yield during the hot and humid seasons. ‘Northern Delight’ is the variety that gives outstanding quality and it do well in short-season regions. You could get advice from your local experts like your region extension agent. You could also get ride of diseases by choosing the varieties that has the ability to stand firm against disease.
Take Good Care Of Them
If the environment for growing is worrying, plants become weak and roots ways for disease. Therefore, see to that you provide adequate water for the tomato plants during the drought periods. To avoid the competition from wild plant you could spread mulch for 2 inches above the surface of the soil. Moreover, mulch could also avoid diseases attacking the plants from the soil.
When the plants remain wet, fungal diseases could be caused, so it is better to water the plants with drip irrigation or soaker hose as an alternative of spray nozzle or sprinkler. Water your plant ahead of noon so that the water gets drained before the air gets cool at night.
If your fruits get cracks, the trouble is due to over nutrients and water. Stop watering them and add little fertilizer. Select the variety that is a resistant to cracking. If your fruits get dark and dry spots at the end, it may be due to dry conditions. In such a situation water them adequately.


I started to create Peony Garden ” Ziedoņi ” ten years ago. During this time, the number of peony varieties has come close to two hundred and we can be proud of one of the largest collections in Latvian. I have collected the best peony varieties from near and distant countries – America, France, Great Britain, Austria, the Netherlands and Latvia. My latest collection is tree peonies. I started it four years ago and now the collection has grown to 30 varieties. The next challenge – crossing peony varieties and selection of new varieties.
Peony garden ” Ziedoņi ” grows also bearded irises, Siberian irises, daylillies, as well as less familiar decorative plants – yucca and Eremurus. I am member of the Latvian Plant Nursery Association and I participate in major plant fairs in Latvian.
The rich collections and beautiful garden attract many flower fans and „garden tourists” therefore annually in mid-June we organize Peony garden festival. In 2017 it will take place for the fourth time.
We have discovered that peony roots is also an effective constituent of beauty products. Peony roots contain valuable glycosides (paenol and paenoflorine), which act as antioxidants, therefore peony root has rejuvenating, balancing, antibacterial and healing properties. We have created natural cosmetic brand PEO which offers face and body oils, scrubs, balms and other beauty products with valuable peony root.
See you in Peony garden “Ziedoņi”!


Acorns, crickets and apple picking season are a few signs that summer is nearing an end and fall is just around the corner! Much like the taste of biting into a Red Delicious, the arrival of apple season in Northern Virginia can be bitter sweet. As it marks the beginning of a fresh, new season that includes tons of fun fall activities, there is also a bit of sadness knowing that we will soon be saying good-bye to summer. But cheer up! Our list of orchards, just a short drive from Fairfax County, will get you geared up for a fall (or end of summer) road trip to some great orchards and farms where you can enjoy the thrill of picking your own apples fresh off the trees. Apple picking is a fun, family-friendly activity and a great way to welcome a brand new season here in Virginia!
Please visit the websites or social media pages of the orchards listed here for all the details about their apple harvest and hours of operation. Apple season usually begins in mid to late August and runs through October, but can vary due to weather conditions and other factors. It’s a good idea to call before making the drive to the country.
Hollin Farms, 1436 Snowden Road, Delaplane, VA 20144 Phone: 540-592-3574
Hartland Orchard, 3064 Hartland Lane, Markham, VA 22643 Phone: 540-364-2316
Mackintosh Fruit Farm, 1608 Russel Road, Berryville, VA 22611 Phone: 540-955-6225
Stribling Orchard, 11587 Poverty Hollow Lane, Markham, VA 22643 Phone: 540-364-3040
Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market, 3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester, VA 22602 Phone: 540-662-1391
Rinker Orchards, 1156 Marlboro Road, Stephens City, VA 22655 Phone: 540-869-1499
Crooked Run Orchard, 37883 W Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132 Phone: 540-338-6642
Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA 20135 Phone: 540-554-2073


Discover the Difference Nature Makes
Dating back centuries you will find that people relied heavily on plants and plant sources for most of their nutrient consumption. At Fresh Herbs, LLC we are trying to bring the natural, plant based information back to the public. Herbs are not hard...actually, many of us have herbs that heal growing in our very own backyards!!! No worries though, I am not asking you to go in search of them. Fresh Herbs, LLC is your one stop shop to get the herbs you need!
Herbs have a long shelf life if stored properly. Here at Fresh Herbs, LLC we have done all the research for you and all products come with thorough instructions on storage and how to get the best result out of your product!!
Fresh Herbs, LLC products are all natural, plant based products and have never been tested on animals. All herbs are from trusted, organic sources, and are for human consumption.


How to Support Your Child’s Academic Learning at Home
As parents, we constantly are challenged as to how and when to support our children’s learning at home. We have learned from teachers that children learn best when they are given the chance to explore academic experiences at their own pace through project-based learning experiences. Within the classroom, a teacher strives to create a holistic learning environment that can adequately support the social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development of each child. At home, we can enhance our children’s daily activities by allowing our children to explore and create at their own level of understanding with projects that facilitate learning.
For example, a preschooler, an elementary age child, a middle school child and their dad recently created a container vegetable garden. The project included the following primary activities:
- Research how to construct container gardens on the internet and in gardening books. Determine how much wood, nails, and other construction supplies will be needed to construct the container. Measure the area that will be covered by the container. Determine how deep the container should be for proper vegetable growth and irrigation.
- Once the container supplies have been purchased, construct the container.
- Determine how much dirt must be purchased for filling the newly constructed container and pour it into the container.
- Identify the various vegetables that will grow best in a specific season and purchase the seeds. Plant the seeds according to the instructions for each type of vegetable.
- Construct netting or other types of protection over the garden to ensure insects and animals cannot harvest the crops too soon.
- Water each vegetable plant and fertilize as needed to ensure healthy growth.
- Harvest crops as they mature. Plan meals that include the use of various vegetables from the garden. Create recipes that will include the harvested crops.
When we include our children in the planning and development of a container vegetable garden, the children can learn and explore the project-based learning at their own pace. The preschooler will be happy helping dad construct parts of the container, shovel dirt into the container, plant larger vegetable seeds, sprinkle the vegetables with water, and help harvest and cook with the crops. The elementary age child could also help dad calculate the various amounts of materials that would be required for the construction of the container, the amount of soil required, and how many vegetables of each type could be planted in the container. The middle school child could additionally research the project’s cost and help dad work within a specific budget. All three children, at these various levels of project-based learning, can benefit in their overall academic learning in language arts, math, science, and social studies. Added language arts and performing arts activities for all ages could include keeping a daily journal with illustrations on the growth of the various vegetables when considering changing weather patterns. The children at all ages could compare the growth of various types of vegetable plants to determine which plants grow best in their yard. Added research could be conducted on the use of various amounts of water and the impact on the growth of plants. Environmental conditions can also be researched on the internet to determine how to manage soil conditions, insect infestations, drought conditions, and other variables that can impact the healthy growth of the plants.
This one home project of growing a garden can expand each child’s social-emotional growth by nurturing their creativity and responsible behaviors in managing their role in developing and maintaining the family garden. Children can cognitively grow in this experience at their own level of interest and academic understanding. Each child can also participate in the outside activity that will build strength and endurance with the construction of the garden and the ongoing maintenance of the garden. Finally, the children will take pride in creating healthy recipes for the family that will include the use all of the vegetables. Typically, children who create or grow something will be more prone to eating it. They will also take pride in helping others appreciate their produce. When children learn to eat healthy meals at an early age, they tend to reinforce these healthy behaviors throughout life.
Our project-based learning sample of growing a family garden may seem simplistic, but it can have a lasting impact on the family. Each evening, the family can harvest the crops for a salad, discuss how each vegetable is growing while eating dinner, and determine how they can prepare new recipes that are healthy when using a variety of vegetables from the garden. If a family lives in an apartment that does not have garden space, many cities have community gardens that families can share and develop into vegetable gardens. Additionally, many seniors would be happy to have young families help them develop a shared garden in their yard. Families with younger children would also love to share in a family garden with older children in their neighborhood. Please email or comment on successful project-based learning experiences that you have shared with your children so we can summarize these creative projects in our next blog.
For more information on how to create project-based learning experiences for your children, check the Generational Parenting Resource link on this website. You can also learn more about how to prepare for your spring conferences with your children’s teachers on a Corwin Connect Blog titled 10 Strategies to Engage Parents created by our team at http://corwin-connect.com/2016/05/10-strategies-engage-parents/.
Copyright © 2016 by GenParenting
Mary Ann Burke, Ed.D., Digital Education Expert, is a substitute distance learning teacher for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, California and the author of STUDENT-ENGAGED ASSESSMENT: Strategies to Empower All Learners (Rowman & Littlefield: 2020). Dr. Burke creates digital language arts and substitute teaching K – 12 activities for teachers and parents. She is the Cofounder of the Genparenting.com blog. Burke is the former Director II of Categorical & Special Projects for the Santa Clara County Office of Education that supports 31 school districts serving 272,321 students in Santa Clara County. She is also a previous Director – State & Federal Compliance for Oakland Unified School District, the former Director – Grantwriter for the Compton Unified School District, and was the initial VISTA Director for the Community Partnership Coalition in southern California. Much of her work focuses on creating innovative digital trainings and partnership programs for teachers and families to support students’ learning. These programs were featured as a best practice at a National Title I Conference, California’s Title I Conferences, AERA Conferences, an ASCD Conference, the NASSP Conference, and statewide educator conferences.


Intro Emiko to Fat Uncle Community
Dear Fat Uncle Farms Family,
My name is Emiko Corey and I am the new Director of Marketing and
Sales for Fat Uncle Farms. I wanted to introduce myself to those of
you I haven’t met yet and let you know that I look forward to getting
to know you over the next few weeks and months. I recently moved to
Los Angeles and have been working markets for various farms as I get
settled. Prior to my move to the BIG CITY I primarily farmed in Santa
Barbara. Most recently I managed a 3-acre non-profit farm in Santa
Barbara which grew food for the Food Bank. I loved my days in the
field, on the tractor, watching seeds turn into food and encouraging
health and wellness of those who may not have the opportunity to eat
fresh Farmer’s Market produce on a regular basis. Before that I spent
six months in a farming apprenticeship program at the Center for
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz. My passion
for farming began when I worked as the Marketing Manager for Fairview
Gardens in Santa Barbara. I have loved working as an advocate for
organic farmers, helping people in my community understand the need
for supporting local, sustainable agriculture.
Now at Fat Uncle Farms I have the opportunity to continue pursuing my
passion in a more urban setting. After working the Wednesday Santa
Monica Farmer’s Market and visiting the farm with Nate, I decided that
I would enjoy the opportunity to join Fat Uncle Farms in a greater
capacity. My main goals as the Director of Marketing and Sales is to
create community, efficiency, organization, joy, and empowerment
through your involvement with Fat Uncle Farms.
I hope to establish a positive community of those connected
to the farm, customers, marketeers, kitchen staff, and those who work
in the orchard. I believe that this community has the potential to be
life-giving not just to us, those in the Fat Uncle Farms Family, but
also to those in the cities in which we live. Although you may just
think you are selling almonds, we really are a part of greater change.
Whether your involvement in the farm is just a stepping stone to
another path or whether you hope to use this opportunity to continue
working in sustainable agriculture I believe working with a farm can
and will change your life.
I plan to improve our system for selling all of our products that
feels supportive and efficient for our market staff (hopefully
engaging you all in the process of increasing sales), convenient for
customers (wholesale and online), and creating a system that is
collaborative as we envision the future of Fat Uncle Farms. This means
I want to be available to you and our customers for feedback, both in
ways that you feel we are doing well and areas that could be improved.
Lastly, I want to make sure that we all are having fun, as I think
part of farm life is enjoying the community that farms create. I
envision potlucks, bonfires, and parties to celebrate the joy of
working for Fat Uncle Farms.
I have fallen in love with these almonds and am definitely nuts for you!


Staying both physically active and mentally stimulated are both key factors to increasing the chance of living a longer and healthier lifetime (see Living a “Blue Life”). While statements like this make common sense, we all discover it’s often something much easier said than done in actual practice.
Looking back now, as a middle aged man, staying physically and mentally engaged seemed so natural and part of everyday life early on. A lifestyle with more free time, more energy, more opportunities to play games, ride bikes, do sports, read, and learn new things (even if you disliked a classroom as much as I did).
Then I grew up, moved to the “big city” and got lost in the business of education, career, and other peoples agendas…ugh. I’m sure many can relate! When you have the time you don’t have the energy, when you have the energy you don’t have the time.
Three years ago, when I was trying to find new and interesting ways to stay active and stimulate my mind, I suddenly remember from my youth my mother’s Summer garden and the enjoyment of being outside preparing the ground, planting seeds, watering, weeding, tending plants, and ultimately reaping (and eating) the season’s harvest. That sparked an idea in my mind that I took advantage of as soon as the first Spring arrived— I’m going to grow a garden!
The best thing about the whole process was that it checked off three key things I was looking for that were high on my list of lifestyle requirements: it got me outdoors, it got me physically active, it required some mental thought and learning.
Remembering that the goal was to just get started, no need to be too ambitious out of the gate and end up with something I couldn’t manage or didn’t like, here’s what I did:
- I created an 8 foot x 8 foot square garden space in the back yard using 8 foot landscape timbers (secure them in place however you see fit).
- After trimming the inside grass down to ground level, I covered the floor of the square garden space with a double layer of weed barrier fabric.
- I used two-thirds of the square space for my growing area and left the remaining third as a clear “staging area” to work from and keep tools and supplies, etc. organized; separating the two spaces from each other with an additional 8 foot timber in-between.
- Filled the growing area as deep as possible using a combination of garden soil, compost, and organic humus and manure. The mix is roughly half garden soil, one-quarter compost, one-quarter organic humus and manure. I just dumped out all the bags in the middle and mixed and spread evenly until I had the growing area filled completely- TIP: double stack the landscape timbers around the growing area to create a deeper garden plot.
- Some optional steps: fill the remaining workspace area in your garden square with sand or gravel or pavers or wood chips for example; fence in the garden square or just the growing area to keep out dogs, rabbits, etc; create a bird netting “tent” over the growing area- TIP: building a simple frame with light PVC pipe works well for suspending netting.
- Figured out what seeds or starter plants I wanted to grow based on the time of year and region. I suggest starting with just a few choices and follow the instructions on the packages or research online (USDA.gov)- TIP: I’ve found it best to check around at different hardware and home stores for seeds as their seems to be a difference of what’s available, how much is available, and when they are available based on the store.
- Tended to my garden. Be patient, don’t worry about failure, enjoy the activity, enjoy the thought process, and enjoy the harvest with your family and friends!- TIP: in the fall or winter, after your harvest season, clean out your growing area and securely cover the soil with a black plastic sheet or tarp to keep the soil clean and ready for the Spring.
Of course, purchase whatever tools and goods you may need and remember, this is just a general framework for what I did, figuring out the details for what you want and overcoming your specific challenges is part of the mental exercise that’s an important part of the process– TIP: the supplies listed above were all obtained at the Home Depot.
You should know that my first growing season was less than successful to say the least, I actually over planted and had too much success, meaning too much competition among plants resulting in a struggle for dominance producing more green growth (all stems and leaves) than vegetables and fruits…lesson learned.
But keep in mind the goal is not just a successful garden— it’s a lifestyle upgrade!
Irregardless of how my garden turns out each season, remember the real goal; gardening gets me outdoors, gets me physically active, and requires me to think and learn new things! On top of that my family occasionally enjoys some fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits that come directly from garden to table. All those things – the experiences, the new knowledge, the fresh food – are moments in time that would be completely lost or would never exist otherwise simply by growing a garden.
So step up and grow your garden. As a man there is something basic and primal in using raw earth, seeds, water and sunshine to grow food for your family. It shows and teaches me that I am cable of nurture and caring, of protecting and cultivating, of feeding and providing, not just for a garden but for my family and loved ones.
In my opinion, every man should grow a garden!
Just an idea.
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