Joe and Debbie Thomas began as a teacher and marketing executive, respectively. But today, they run a ten-acre organic farm in the east hills of Paso Robles, California. With more than 900 fruit and nut trees, a vineyard of Italian varietals, and beds of specialty greens, garlic, tomatoes and herbs, they began a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, sharing baskets of fresh produce weekly with their neighbors. A few years later, they opened Thomas Hill Organics, a market bistro and wine bar, where they serve seasonal, organic produce from the farm, wines from the Central Coast, and locally-sourced beef, poultry, and fish. As part of California Restaurant Month, I spoke with Debbie Thomas by phone about organic farming, eating local, and the challenges of running a farm, CSA, and restaurant all at once.
Neither you nor your husband come from a farming family. So how did the farm begin?
We both lived in Pasadena. I was commuting from Pasadena to west LA every day, and eventually, it kind of wears on you. We had been up to Paso Robles several times, and we loved it here. It’s just beautiful—rolling hills, like you’re in Italy, in the Tuscany area.
And finally one day, we just said, you know what, let’s just move! Well, actually, we said, let’s look for property. So we started looking for property, and we found a cute little house on top of a hill, located on ten acres… not that we were looking for ten acres. But the view was just breathtaking. So we said, all right, let’s buy it. We bought the house, but we knew we couldn’t move up there right away. Then I had an opportunity with Adidas to move up here and take over the Northern California region. So my husband said, all right, I’ll move… if I can farm. He’s always been into organics, and everything has to be fresh and local and that sort of thing. So we moved up here, he started planting away, and 900 fruit and nut trees later, we’re certified organic, and… that’s really how it happened.
You make it sound so easy. But there had to be growing pains. How did you transition into the farm life?
It’s so rewarding, but it’s one of those things… it’s back-breaking. Especially if you’re organic. We can’t use any sprays or pesticides or anything harmful. We can’t try to poison gophers, or any of that. It’s all hand labor. We had to build these wire baskets to put in the ground before we put the trees in… so we had to build 900 wire baskets. And then you have to hand-weed in the baskets. So it’s definitely a lot of work. But it’s so rewarding: when you pick fruit off the tree, and there’s no pesticides and nothing has been sprayed on them, it’s quite a treat. It really is. You just can’t go back.
It’s just that there’s nothing harmful on it. It’s good for you. Just the thought of the pesticides, and the poisons, and everything they spray… you’re eating that, you’re putting that in your body. With organic, you feel so much better, and people tell us you can really taste the difference. We don’t have children, but if I had children I wouldn’t want any of those pesticides or chemicals in them.
How did the farm evolve into the market bistro?
We started out doing a community-supported agriculture program, whereby all of our neighbors and friends would get a basket of what we were growing weekly. But it just got to be too much that we had. One of our neighbors mentioned, why don’t you open a restaurant? Now, my background is sales and marketing. So neither one of us had either been a farmer or a restaurateur. But silly me, I was like, how hard can it be? We love good food, we love good wine, you know it’s one of those things… we plan vacations around that. So we found this charming spot. We looked at it. Then, in the meantime, one of my major accounts for Adidas was talking about going bankrupt. And we started looking seriously at what we were going to do if this account closes. And it did. We had to kind of jump on it. Within two weeks we made a decision: We were opening the restaurant. And that’s what happened. We’ve been open three years now. We have an amazing chef; she loves to work with fresh produce and we do natural meats, and everything just tastes phenomenal, and people are really, really responding.
Being that it’s California Restaurant Month, what’s on the menu right now?
There are three courses that we’re doing right now, starting out with black mussels that are baked with buttered oats. It sounds strange, but they’re phenomenal. And then we put that in a Thai chili sauce, with chilis sourced from the farm.
The second course is a lamb kefta, a Moroccan dish. We make these little meatballs with cumin and paprika and onion and garlic and all these wonderful spices, and then we roast it in a red pepper relish. All the herbs come from the farm. And then we follow that with a chocolate mousse with a candied orange peel.
What are some of your favorite places to dine?
One of our favorites is Artisan; they’re California cuisine, and they work with a lot of the farmers as well. So we truly appreciate that. There’s also Il Cortile, which we enjoy for Italian food. Villa Creek also. Tom, the chef there, also buys a lot locally, supporting the local farmers as well. So those are our three favorites.
Let’s talk a little about the CSA. What’s been the biggest challenge for you?
Farmers struggle. We really do. As a farmer, you’re challenged with weather. This past year, we had a lot of rain, but we had no sun. Typically, we would start our CSA program mid-May or end of May and run through October or November. We couldn’t start it this year until mid-July because we just didn’t have the sun. The tomatoes weren’t growing; all the foods that normally would be growing didn’t grow. Once you start it though, people are always amazed. Like, we have 15 different varieties of figs and all sorts of things people have never tried before. We do white pomegranates—you just don’t find those in a store. And we always put recipes in with our newsletters, so people really enjoy that.
What advice do you have for readers who aren’t lucky enough to live close enough for your CSA baskets and restaurant?
The biggest thing is that just about everywhere now has a local farmers’ market. That’s what I would encourage them to do. And look at the whole trend toward farm-to-table. We started the restaurant three years ago, and the first year was really challenging because people would see organic and they’d ask, does that mean you’re vegan? They didn’t understand what organic meant. But nowadays, you look at all the restaurants around us, and they’re all talking about buying local, buying organic, and that’s what they’re building their menus on. We totally encourage people to do to support your community and support your farmers. Buy local, buy from farmers who don’t use pesticides and chemicals. It’s just healthier for you. And you know what? There’s nothing like fresh produce. Fruit that’s picked from a tree and that’s ripe. Once you start eating that way, you don’t ever go to a grocery store again.
Kim Kohatsu judges the quality of her relationships on the ability to share food. If she can't split an appetizer with you, in her eyes, you are pretty much worthless. Kim's current food adventures revolve around ramen, sushi, Indian curries, Sichuan food, and fried chicken. Oh, and cheeseburgers. Kim loves a good cheeseburger.


- Event Management
Tesco goes ‘Big’ at Ploughing ’16
Every year, the National Ploughing Championships attracts thousands of people from all over Ireland who don their wellies for three days of family fun.
As the biggest buyer of Irish food Tesco aims to wow attendees, but standing-out from the crowd each year is no easy feat with over 1,500 exhibitors all competing for attention. Tesco’s brand message centers around their passion for quality food and communities, with this in mind, we were challenged to find a way to reinforce their message and celebrate the agricultural community by cultivating open conversations between Tesco, their suppliers, and most importantly their customers – families.
Starting from the ground up we built, planned, managed and design Tesco’s presence at Ploughing ’16. It all started with Tesco’s giant, bright and vibrant tent, from them striking rolling hills pictured on the walls to faux grass on the floor. Outside, various contests ushered attendees into the tent and highlighted Tesco’s ‘big’ message. Inside, people could feast their eyes on Tesco’s fresh produce and meat displays, while enjoying delicious Angus steak sandwiches, mini burgers and a variety of gourmet food samples. Aspiring chefs and foodies were given the opportunity to watch and learn from Tesco experts as they provided live cooking and butchery demonstrations over the three days.
However, the star of the show was the family fun-zone which intrigued, delighted and surprised the masses. With its enchanted path running through the tent, kids and ‘kids at heart’ were brought on a journey of a seedling to fruition. Young adventurers began by planting a seed in fresh soil, getting their hands dirty and ending surrounded by GIGANTIC fruit and veg- the perfect photo-op. Nobody left empty handed, receiving lots of goodies including the seed they’d planted in a cup with all the instructions they needed to help it grow. One small seed for them, one giant veg. in the making. 🙂


- Investigating the ecological (climate, landscape) drivers of zoonotic disease in wild rodents
- Integrating field surveys with large-scale agricultural trails of rice farming practices.
- Multidisciplinary training integrating disease ecology at University of Warwick with global change perspectives at the International Rice Research Institute.
Land-use changes due to intensified agricultural practices are a concern in the Philippines (Dirzo et al, 2014). The replacement of forests by mixed agroecosystems and high-value crops has led to biodiversity loss and increased contact of humans with wild animal populations. Consequently, changes in the ecology of wild animals have led to changes in the epidemiology of diseases and emergence of novel livestock and human pathogens, e.g. zoonotic diseases (Olival et al, 2017).
In the Philippines, 4.7 million hectares of land are dedicated to rice farming alone (PhilRice, 2020). Rice is a vital dietary component in the Philippines that provides an estimated 109-kilogram of food per-capita each year. However, the rise of rice production has also provided generalist rodent species increased availability of food sources (Singleton et al, 2008). Due to their role as disease vectors, increases in their abundance and anthropogenically driven shifts in their distribution pose a significant threat to the public health (Baker, 2007). A study investigating the effect of land cover data on rodent pathogen prevalence identified a positive association between synanthropic rodent abundance and increased habitat fragmentation and agricultural land cover (Morand et al, 2019). The study also revealed an association between these human-altered landscapes and the presence of zoonotic pathogens. While it is known that human-altered landscapes, particularly agroecosystems influence the transmission of infectious diseases in general, a mechanistic understanding of how changes from agricultural practices influence disease risk is needed. This information could inform current surveillance efforts as well contribute to a broader understanding of disease spill-over.
Therefore, this project will investigate the transmission ecology of rodent borne disease in agroecosystems. It will apply an interdisciplinary and systems approach to uncover key mechanisms influencing pathogen dynamics within the rodent vectors as well as the pathways / barriers to disease spill-over from rodents to humans or livestock.
HostUniversity of Warwick
- Climate and Environmental Sustainability
- Organisms and Ecosystems
- Erin E. Gorsich, University of Warwick, [email protected]
Specifically, the study aims to:
- Identify how agricultural practices and the environment (weather and landscape) influence of rodent population growth and their spatial distribution.
- Evaluate the effects of rodent population dynamics on pathogen prevalence?
- Identify the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of rice farmers that contribute to their exposure to rodent-borne zoonoses; and
- Create a predictive risk map of disease incidence and intensity for rodents and rice farmers based on the evaluated risk factors.
We will align rodent sampling and disease testing with ongoing field trials run by IRRI. Sampling will quantify rodent abundance, species composition, demography (age, sex), and multiple measures of animal health (body condition, size, fecundity ect.). Because zoonotic disease risk is influenced by both ecological and social factors, our risk maps (aim 4) will integrate data on rodent disease (aim 1& 2) with a data collected using a household survey of rice farmers (aim 3).
Training and skills
The interdisciplinary nature of this project results in different training form project partners. At Warwick, the student will join a large group of disease ecology and epidemiology researchers. This will provide training in the collection and analysis of disease data. In the Philippines, IRRI will provide expertise global change biology and rice farming. The candidate has experience with rodent sampling and monitoring in the Philippines.
Partners and collaboration
This project is a collaboration between the University of Warwick and IRRI. Erin Gorsich is a disease ecologist at the University of Warwick specialising in the ecological and evolutionary drivers of disease (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/people/egorsich/).
The International Rice Research Institute is dedicated to abolishing poverty and hunger among population that depend on rice-based agri-food systems (https://www.irri.org/). They work to address multiple sustainable development goals, including climate action (SDG 13), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), life on land (SDG 15), among others focused on poverty and hunger.
If you would like to apply to the project please visit: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/study/pgr/studentships/nerccenta/
Analyse previous data collected to relate agricultural practices, environmental conditions, and rodent population dynamics. Develop methods for disease sampling.
Building on methods developed in Year 1, collect disease and conduct household surveys.
Quantify and map relationships among agricultural, rodent, disease, and household datasets.
Baker, D.G. (2007). Flynn’s parasites of laboratory animals (2nd edition). Blackwell.
Dirzo, R.H.S., Young, M., Galetti, G., Ceballos, N., Isaac, J., & Collen, B. (2014). Defaunation in the Anthropocene. Science 345:401–416.
Morand, S., Blasdell, K., Bordes, F., Buchy P., Carcy, B., Chaisiri, K., Chaval, Y., Claude, J., Cosson, J., & Desquesnes, M. (2019). Changing landscapes of Southeast Asia and rodent-borne diseases: decreased diversity but increased transmission risks. Ecological Applications DOI: 10.1002/eap.1886.hal-02105014.
Olival, K.J., Hosseini, P.R., Zambrana-Torrelio, C., Ross, N., Bogich, T.L., & Daszak, P. (2017). Host and viral traits predict zoonotic spill-over from mammals. Nature 546:646–650.
Philippine Rice Research Institute. (n.d.). Rice Statistics – PalayStat System (2021): Estimated production, area harvested and yield per hectare (PAY). Retrieved September 4, 2021, from https://palaystat.philrice.gov.ph/statistics/retrieve/table/1
Singleton, G.R., Joshi, R.C., & Sebastian, L.S. (2008). Philippine Rats: Ecology and Management. Philippine Rice Research Institute: Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
We do not envision any significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to project delivery, given that the work will be conducted in collaboration with IRRI. Even during a hard lockdown, previous data is available for analysis to address aim 1, and there is sufficient work for a PhD if aim 3 cannot be completed.


Backyard Gardening CAN Be Simple!
Backyard gardening is back in style. Nothing tastes as good as home grown and cultivating your own tomatoes, peppers, basil, strawberries and many other garden goodies can be simple… and of course, healthy. We’re here to share information we have gathered through the years in our own garden. Enjoy the journey with us!
Join us in our garden for a season full of successes, flowers, food and a LOT of “dirt therapy”! If you are looking for simple, healthy backyard gardening on a budget, you found the right place. We will share tips on simple gardening techniques including:
- Organic Vegetable Gardening
- Container Herbs & Veggies
- Raised Bed Ideas
- Urban Gardening
- Community Gardens
Summer Time Garden Goodies
What’s growing in YOUR garden? Summer time brings yummy tastes for the tummy like fresh zucchini, peppers, and of course – those vine-ripened tomatoes nothing can compare to! We tucked a few tomatoes into pots for a little “camouflage” (left). Brussels sprouts make a nice addition to a flower garden (above).


Who is nextplant?
nextplant is a globally active leading provider for clonal mass propagation of garden orchids. The in vitro laboratory with cultivation area supplies gardeners with cultivars of Cypripedium and Dactylorhiza, from young plantlets to blooming flowers. The selection of adequate donor plants and the established cloning process ensure robust, frost-resistant and attractive plants with predictable characteristics. However, not only gardeners profit by the new method: Due to the drop in prices for the end consumer gardenorchids will become the exclusive perennial plant for everybody.
We are looking forward to your visit!
We feel honoured to have been selected the winner of the award „Start-Up of the Year“ (2012) in the Green Branch“!
Products and Services
- Gardenorchids – vitroplants, young plants, blooming flowers
- in vitro services – propagation, induction of clones, in vitro sowing
Please note: nextplant only supplies professional gardeners.
- Cypripedium „Ulla Silkens“, C. „Lothar Pinkepank“, C. reginae, C. reginae (white)
- Dactylorhiza purpurella, D. maculata, D. majalis hybrids
Interested in expanding your portfolio?
Feel free to contact us for information about our stock and prices:
- Phone: +49 30 6576 4244
- Mail: email@example.com


There are thousands of varieties of rice. Sonray has spent years internationally sourcing and selecting the most superior rice from the regions it is best known to grow. All the rice we supply is chosen due to its exceptional quality. We at Sonray are never embarrassed to sell quality. It’s a premium worth buying because customers are never disappointed.
Call us rice fanatics or rice connoisseurs. Whatever we are, we know and love our rice. In February 2010, with a big scoop of passion, and a bag of initiative, we launched a website called Have A Rice Day for consumers dedicated to rice. We believe in the quality of our specially selected rice and choose to educate consumers, not just about the brands we carry and what makes them special, but also about the nutritional benefits of rice. We even provide a comprehensive collection of recipes.
Here is our favourite rice that we have handpicked and distribute:


It's that time again.... planting time! I just LOVE flowers. This year I built a seed starting rack for my birthday--with the help of an amazing husband who puts up with my crazy notions to build shelves in the basement with lights for my seeds! :) I've got 300 little seedlings growing--they are getting to be good sized now. I have yellow and red yarrow, Lupine, Delphinium, daisies, Purple Coneflower, Mexican Hats, Lamb's Ear, Lavendar, Rose Campion, Zinnias, African Daisy, Bachelor Buttons, and Coreopis. I'm really excited to get them ready for my garden! What are you growing?
I have a card for you today--I used the La Dolce Vita kit from Pixie Dust Paperie for this card. I just love those satin ruffles!
Have a wonderful night!


3 min read
The rice revolution initiative of Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has started yielding results with the supply of seedlings, yesterday, to Bayelsa and Delta states.
Other states within the South South region are next in line in the supply chain from the automated rice seeds and seedlings factory commissioned in June last year by President Mohammadu Buhari.
The supply forms part of the first batch of production worth N3 billion of a N10.8 billion order for the southern states under the auspices of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) with the support of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Speaking to newsmen at the Ayade Industrial park in Calabar, Cross River governor, Prof Ben Ayade disclosed that “the state will also provide all the seedlings support services for the southern part of Nigeria.”
The feat which reflects a full realisation of the vision for a rice seeds and seedlings factory in Cross River, according to Ayade is aimed at “gradually migrating into a technology-based rice farming where we move from the cultivation of seeds to seedlings,” adding, “when you start with the seedlings, it gives you pleasure because you are already dealing with the seeds that have already germinated and are set to go into the soil and grow very fast.”
The governor also explained that “As we do this harvest, we are conscious that harvest has to be done in the evening because that is when there is minimal destruction in terms of atmospheric temperature that affects the seedlings.”
Other support services offered by the the seedling factory according to Ayade, “are mechanisation support and planting services, so indeed what is happening is that Nigeria is gradually migrating from the primitive, rural and African method of rice farming to a civilised modern technology driven farming as your yield will go up, your size of land will be less with maximum yield and your per hectare will move from two tons to ten tons per hectare.”
Ayade who personally joined in loading the consignment into the trucks said “overtime, Cross River will lead us into a situation where Nigeria will be the next exporter of rice because Bayelsa and Delta are fully ready to receive our seedlings and I am sure that in no distant time, Rivers, Edo and other states in the Niger Delta will follow.
“The payment for the supply is not done by individual farmer or state, but coordinated under the RIFAN- CBN program, so that is the way to handle it. Before we make a supply to a state, we receive an order from RIFAN, go to that state, do a valuation of the preparedness of the people and farmers to receive the seedlings, we then have a list of all the potential recipients farmers and on the basis of that, we compute that into our system and know the quantity that will be loaded to a particular state,” the governor intimated.
Continuing, he said: “My joy is that the seedlings factory is now a reality. Cross River has a huge challenge of almost converting every single soil that is arable into rice farming because the demand is huge. I am also happy that Nigeria has a great opportunity to see us do the commercial harvesting and now going into full planting to support Bayelsa and others do their rice value chain.”
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the special commitment to have the project come into full realisation.
While encouraging young Nigerians to go into agriculture in order to become agro-preneurials and millionaires from agriculture, Ayade said: “The automated system I have brought is fantastic and I am proud that it will also change the story completely in Nigeria.”
He further added: “I intend to make 18 green millionaires driven from agriculture, green because they were peasants before they met Ayade and become millionaires of agriculture, so every local government area in Cross River will have one millionaire made by Ayade.”
Source; Leadership Newspaper


Slugs are unwelcome guests in any home, leaving slimy trails and damaging plants. Dealing with these slimy invaders can be frustrating, but fear not – there are numerous effective methods to get rid of slugs in your house. In this article, we’ll explore 25 ways to keep slugs at bay and reclaim your living space.
Set Up Beer Traps
Place shallow containers filled with beer in slug-prone areas. Slugs are attracted to the scent, crawl in, and drown.
Use Coffee Grounds
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the areas where slugs are prevalent. The rough texture irritates them, discouraging them from crossing.
Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth in problem areas. It dehydrates slugs upon contact, effectively eliminating them.
Introduce Natural Predators
Encourage natural slug predators like frogs, toads, and birds in your garden. These creatures will help keep the slug population in check.
Install Copper Barriers
Slugs are repelled by copper. Place copper tape or barriers around plants or entry points to create a slug-resistant barrier.
Lay Down Salt
While not the most humane option, a thin line of salt can be effective at deterring slugs. However, be cautious as salt can harm plants.
Create a Grapefruit Trap
Hollow out a grapefruit and place it upside down in the garden. Slugs will be attracted to the moist environment and can be easily removed the next day.
Crushed eggshells act as a natural deterrent. Sprinkle them around plants to create a barrier that slugs are reluctant to cross.
Apply Petroleum Jelly
Create a barrier by applying petroleum jelly around pots or on the legs of furniture. This sticky substance will discourage slugs from climbing.
Introduce beneficial nematodes to your garden. These microscopic organisms prey on slugs and are a natural and environmentally friendly solution.
Spray with Vinegar
A mixture of water and vinegar can be sprayed directly on slugs. The acidity disrupts their skin’s mucus production, dehydrating and deterring them.
Plant Slug-Resistant Plants
Choose plants that are less attractive to slugs, such as lavender, rosemary, or geraniums. This reduces the likelihood of a slug infestation.
Use Garlic Spray
Create a garlic spray by blending garlic cloves with water. Spray this solution on plants to repel slugs with its pungent odor.
Apply Seaweed Mulch
Seaweed mulch not only enriches the soil but also repels slugs. Its salt content creates an environment slugs prefer to avoid.
Set Up Cardboard Traps
Place damp cardboard pieces in slug-prone areas overnight. Slugs are attracted to the moisture and can be easily removed in the morning.
Implement Raised Beds
Elevated planting beds make it more challenging for slugs to access your plants. This physical barrier can significantly reduce slug-related damage.
Use Citrus Peels
Scatter citrus peels around plants to create a natural slug barrier. The acidity in the peels acts as a deterrent.
Apply Caffeine Spray
Mix coffee grounds with water and spray the solution on plants. The caffeine is toxic to slugs and can help protect your garden.
Encourage Natural Habitat
Create a balanced ecosystem by maintaining a diverse garden with various plant species. This attracts natural predators that keep the slug population in check.
Regularly inspect your garden and manually remove slugs. Wearing gloves, pick them off plants and deposit them far from your home.
Use Iron Phosphate-Based Baits
Iron phosphate-based slug baits are effective and less harmful to pets and wildlife compared to traditional chemical-based baits.
Keep the Garden Dry
Slugs thrive in damp conditions. Water your garden in the morning to allow the soil to dry out during the day, making it less hospitable for slugs.
Introduce Companion Plants
Planting certain crops together can deter slugs. For example, planting sage near cabbage can help protect it from slug damage.
Sprinkle dry cornmeal around slug-prone areas. When slugs consume it, the cornmeal expands in their stomachs, deterring them from further feeding.
Create a Beer Spray
Mix beer with water in a spray bottle and mist it on plants. This creates a slug-deterring scent without the need for traps.
With these 25 effective methods, you can reclaim your home and garden from the menace of slugs. Whether you prefer natural remedies or more conventional solutions, there’s a method for everyone. Implementing a combination of these strategies will ensure a slug-free living space and a thriving garden.


Country Liberal Government will weed out Gamba Grass A Country Liberal Government will work to eradicate Gamba grass across the Northern Territory to protect the natural environment and reduce fire risk, through a comprehensive management framework, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said today. “Today I’m announcing a three point plan that a Country Liberal Government will implement to tackle Gamba grass. We have an ambitious but focused target to eliminate Gamba grass from all Crown land across the Territory, including land owned by local government,” Mrs Finocchiaro said. A CLP Government will:
Empower and resource the Weeds Branch in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to develop and oversee a comprehensive crown land eradication plan.
Work with private landholders to ensure they are trained in identifying, removing and monitoring Gamba grass and are supported with equipment and herbicide.
Form a Gamba Management Network consisting of local government, Aboriginal rangers, environmental organisations and other community groups.
“Gamba grass infestation can wreak a devastating impact on the landscape and is a severe fire hazard, increasing both the intensity and ferocity of bushfires. In addition to the threat to life and property it causes, Gamba grass is also a threat to our tourism industry with its destruction of the natural environment,” Mrs Finocchiaro said. “A Country Liberal Government will empower and resource the Weeds Branch to oversee this policy priority. This will include developing the Gamba Management Network consisting of local government, aboriginal rangers, environmental organisations and other community groups to inform the strategy and coordinate Government’s approach. “We will provide training in identifying, removing and monitoring of Gamba grass, and provide equipment and herbicide to landholders, whether private or otherwise, to help them manage it on their land. “This is a practical policy that will benefit the environment, landholders and the tourism industry. It’s a simple goal that will require a coordinated effort, but it can be achieved and more can be done,” Mrs Finocchiaro concluded.
"Only together can we build a better Territory for you and your family.”
- LIA FINOCCHIARO MLA, Leader of the Country Liberal Party and member for Spillett


China is the biggest producer of almost all kinds of food whether its vegetarian or non vegetarian. The food that Chinese eat is also low in fat and hence is good for health. Many spices are produced by China and is also the leader in many food products. They have better equipments of agriculture and others. The climatic conditions of China are almost equivalent to Indian climatic conditions. But India is not far behind in producing food items. India is the second largest producer of food items in the world and is ahead of others even China in many products. More than 60 % population of India lives in villages and is related to the agricultural work. The population of India is around 1.2 billion and this is the main reason that more than 60% of the retail industry is food and food items. India is the world leader in milk yielding. Newer technology is coming everyday for agricultural uses and the production is also increasing.
As we know, Indian economy is mainly based on agriculture and is concentrated to produce newer varieties of food products. Except agriculture, India is the world leader in Information Technology. India produces almost 15% of the total percentage of vegetables produced by world and is just behind from China with little margin. Vegetables in India can be grown in almost every part but mainly in Great Plains. It is true to say that the fertile Land between the two great rivers of India is the most fertile land in the world. These two rivers are the Ganges and Yamuna and this land produces almost every food product which can be grown in the plains. Mainly the vegetables like Potato, tomato and onion can be grown by the Indians. Potato is the agricultural product used in almost every food and is taken by Indians in plenty. Except vegetables, India grows many fruits as well. Indian Apple is one of the best quality apples produced by the world. Oranges, grapes, banana, Guava and a lot of other fruits are produced by Indians. Banana is mainly consumed by Indians. Except vegetables and fruits, India also produces other food products like milk, meat and others.
India is a world leader in milk production. Every Indian likes milk and milk products and hence, the consumption of milk are also high. Many cooperative dairies are working in India and have their plants across the country. Parag, Mother Dairy, Sudha, Amul, Param and a lot of other brands produce milk and milk products out of which Amul is the biggest brand in India. The milk of Amul is most popular in cities and the company is based in Gujarat. The milk production in India is very high but mainly the sector is unorganized. More than 65% of Indian houses use milk from the unorganized sector. Amul also produces milk products like curd, buttermilk, Ghee and Butter. Amul Butter is considered as finest butter in India with the punch line “Utterly Butterly Delicious”. Indians love fats and is used by Indians in every food. Without butter or ghee, Indian food cannot be prepared. Except milk and milk production, India also produces Meat and poultry products like Egg.
Meat and Poultry production sector is one of the emerging sectors in India. The production of the sector is increasing every year and India is planning to be a world leader in it. India’s place in fish production is 3 among all the countries while India comes at number 5 in terms of egg production. Every year both the sectors are growing with a high rate of 9% per annum and very soon India will capture top position. But the packed meat industry is not popular in India and hence, India’s rank is not high. After the blue revolution in India, fish production increased and India is ahead to capture the top rank. Medicinal plants are also grown in India and India is a world leader in producing such plants. This is also an emerging sector in India
Plantation industry also comes under food industry. India grows more than 9400 medicinal plants as well as spices. Some of these plants are Turmeric plants, Cumin plants, ginger plants and others. India is the largest producer and exporter of spices. More that 70% of the total spices known in the world are produced by Indian from Saffron, the costliest to the Chili, one of the least costly among the spices. India has plans to increase the production and newer discoveries in the plantation are coming day by day. Except plantation Industry, other food products like Cakes, Chocolates, packed water and other food articles are also produced by India.
India produces several drinks like Juice, packed water, liquor and others. Indian Juice Industry is emerging and planning to capture high rank in this sector as well. India is a world leader in many food productions but India’s total share in world food trade is near about 2%. This is because as much India grows is just a bit more than the Indian demand and most sectors are unorganized.
The world is open for Indian food products. What all India need is to convert unorganized sector into organized sector.


The current Jewish year of 5782 is a Shemitah Year. The Torah tells us that the Land of Israel can be farmed for six years, but must remain fallow in the seventh year. That year is a Shabbat for the land. Shemitah was always a very difficult mitzvah to observe. It is a test on par with the test of the Mon during the Jews’ forty year sojourn in the dessert. At that time, the Jews were miraculously supported by food from Heaven. Every night the Jews would go to sleep without any food in their cupboards and hungry children fast asleep. They had no idea where they could acquire food in a natural fashion, if need be. They were totally dependent on the daily miracle of the mon. Such dependence was meant to foster within them their faith in Hashem. The lesson of the mon continues to reverberate for us. Although we are no longer supported in such a miraculous fashion, we nonetheless are challenged to recognize the indispensable role that God plays in our achievements. The test of Shemittah is no less challenging. During the seventh year, the farmer and his family may have produce from the 6th year to eat. However, leaving the land fallow puts into jeopardy the farmer’s ability to support himself the two years subsequent to the Shemittah year. Shemittah is a test of faith for the farmer. It is therefore not surprising that the prophets were constantly exhorting the Jewish People to strengthen their commitment to the mitzvah of Shemitah.
The Sefer Hachinuch (Mitzvah 84) mentions two other lessons that can be learned from the Shemitah year. First, it reminds us of the power of Chidush, renewal. God created the world in six days, but He also renews the world on a constant basis. Leaving the land fallow every seventh year re-energizes the soil and renews its potential to grow life-sustaining crops. Second, Shemitah teaches us the importance of caring for others. During the Shemitah year, one’s land is considered ownerless, and its produce is available to anyone who wishes to partake of it. The farmer is reminded that even though much of his energies are spent on worrying about his own family, he has a responsibility to his fellow Jew and the broader world as well.
We who live in the Diaspora have limited access to fulfilling the mitzvah of Shemitah. The technical rules of Shemitah become relevant when we vbiosit Israel this year or if Israeli produce is imported to our stores. However the lessons of Shemitah: trust in God, concern for other and appreciating the power of renewal, are lessons that are very relevant. Let us utilize Shemitah 5782 to strengthen our commitment to these values.


Arizona Muse’s life has changed tremendously in the years since she rapidly ascended the fashion world hierarchy after both opening and closing a Prada show in 2010 as a newcomer to modeling. Magazine covers and campaigns for brands like Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander and Fendi soon followed. But now her days are filled with discussions of soil, crop resiliency and everything else relating to regenerative agriculture, a practice that she believes could significantly help fight the climate crisis.
In 2021, Muse formed Dirt, a charity devoted to promoting biodynamic farming. “I’ve been a model for a very long time. I started educating myself about the fashion industry and about the negative impact that we as a whole are having on the climate and all the people who work along our supply chains. Everything kept bringing me back to soil,” she says. “I started volunteering on farms — a specific type of farm called a biodynamic farm. I just fell in love with biodynamics and really believed that this type of regenerative agriculture has the potential to be one of the major solutions to climate change.”
Muse has taken on the task of being an ambassador for biodynamic farming, a concept that few outside the agriculture industry are fully familiar with. “Regenerative farmers are amazing because they’re not using any chemicals at all. They’re composting and building soil fertility that way,” she explains. “Then you have biodynamics, which takes another leap in another direction off of regenerative. What you have is a type of agriculture that uses all the techniques within regenerative, like crop rotation, like mobile grazing for animals, like composting and then it takes another layer as well. It says, okay, so plants have a physical being that I can touch, eat sometimes even. But there’s undeniably something inside them that’s keeping them alive. They look very different when they’re dead for instance. Biodynamics has these medicines that farm the life within the plants.”
Her career as a model has dramatically shifted as Muse has become increasingly involved in climate activism. Now 33, Muse finds that the kind of modeling offers she receives are different than those of a decade ago, as are her priorities. “The work I do accept as a model now is few and far between, and I’m very careful about who I like to work with. I really also try not to travel long distances. It rarely happens anymore that I would accept a shoot that was in a far-off country. It just doesn’t seem worth it to me,” she says. “But I do still model a little bit and I’m grateful to the modeling that I did for fueling my activism, because I recognize that my activism would not have been the same had I not been a model first. If I’d gone to become a farmer at age 20 instead of a model, I would’ve had a different impact as an activist.”
- BEAUTY TIP: For sleek yet soft hold, spritz hair with Aveda Texture Tonic ($28) and comb through.
Muse recently relocated from London to Ibiza. The pandemic lockdowns left her feeling fatigued and time spent staying on a farm convinced her that a different way of living might be best for her and her family. “We were in London for the second two lockdowns. It was so boring and it was so blatantly obvious that cities are meant to have people in them and meant to be thriving. You’re not meant to all be sitting at your homes all the time,” she recalls. “I wanted my kids to grow up in a place that was close to nature. Ibiza is so beautiful and we have quite a lot of friends here and that’s why we chose it.”
What Muse would truly love would be to incorporate her new home into her modeling work and to shine a spotlight onto the local fashion industry. “I really encourage everyone who wants to shoot with me to come to Ibiza because it’s really beautiful. Even more than that, I encourage them to use local teams here because there’s some great talent here in hair and makeup and photography. The production companies here are amazing. So that feels really great to be contributing to the growth of the local industry here.”
While Muse has been working as an activist for years, forming Dirt has given her a renewed sense of purpose. “With activism, it was difficult to measure impact. I became an educator. I absolutely love sitting on panel discussions, giving talks and making videos for my Instagram about the stuff I’m learning,” she says. “But you never know who’s impacted by it and whether they really shift in their behavior after listening. With the work I do with Dirt, the impact is so there. It’s about how much land can we be farming biodynamically. How many raw materials, food and fiber can we transition to be biodynamically grown so that the earth is not being harmed and is in fact for generating? It’s huge. I’m so happy. I love this so much.”
Hair by Lorenzo Barcella and Makeup by Luciano Chiarello, both at Julian Watson Agency; Manicure by Sally Derbali; Casting by Shaun Beyen at Plus Three Two; Model: Arizona Muse at DNA; Produced by Bjorn Frederic Gerling at Production Paris.
A version of this article appears in the March 2022 issue of ELLE.


Welcome to Sinclair Family Farm
Naturally grown, pasture raised
Beef, Chicken, Lamb and Pork
Cage Free Pasture Raised Eggs
Our products are available Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 4 pm at
*7209 Church Street in Penryn*
Cold Storage Rental Available
Sinclair Family Farm is currently raising pasture raised lamb, beef, and pork, as well as pastured chicken and eggs on our properties in Penryn and Ophir, California. We operate a rotational grazing system with our sheep and cattle to:
- Help with invasive weed control and reduction of fire fuels
- Maintain grass and brush to improve the health and
well-being of the land
- Produce meat that is higher in essential nutrients like Omega 3 fatty acids as well as high levels of conjugated linoleic acid
If you are in the area and are interested in ordering our product, contact Karin or Keith Sinclair today at email@example.com or 916-663-0303.
Sinclair Family Farm is proud to be predator friendly. We use livestock guardian dogs that protect our sheep and chickens from coyotes, mountain lions and dogs without harming the predators.
“We have grown by leaps and bounds this last year! We have added chicken and beef to our product list. Our whole family is very involved with the farm. There are so many things that we love about working with the land and the animals. Our aim is to keep things as natural as possible for both.” - Karin Sinclair


Video answer: How to grow corn & keep worms out naturally : the chef's garden
Top best answers to the question «On my corn silk what are the bugs on there»
Corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) is the most common sweet corn insect, being found in all areas of South Carolina… The new generation of moths lays eggs on fresh corn silk as it appears. Usually, several eggs are laid on the silk of each ear, but only one worm reaches maturity due to natural enemies and cannibalism.
Those who are looking for an answer to the question «On my corn silk what are the bugs on there?» often ask the following questions:
💄 Is there corn silk on an ear of corn?
- Indeed, the corn silk is an annoying element of eating fresh corn, but with this tip for quickly removing corn silk, you'll never fret when you're facing down a dozen ears for dinner again. What Is Corn Silk? Corn silk is the fine weave of wiry fibers that hide just below the leaves, or husks, on an ear of corn.
- What does corn silk do in making corn?
- Are there any vitamins in corn silk tea?
- How many strands of corn silk are there?
💄 Is there caffeine in corn silk tea?
Features and benefits of corn silk tea
Oksusu-cha can be made from corn kernels, corn silk, or a combination of both. The caffeine-free infusion is a popular hot drink in winter. Corn silk is considered a waste byproduct of corn.
💄 Why are there so many bugs in silk?
- Proper care is required when it comes to maintaining a silk garment. Silks are often prone to damage by moths and bugs. For lifelong durability of a silk fabric, one has to protect it from these bugs. They tend to eat out the silk thread, leaving it hollow and damaged.
Video answer: Indoor corn plant care instructions : garden space
9 other answers
Japanese beetles on corn silks (click to enlarge) The phone has begun to ring now that Japanese beetles are out and about and we also have corn beginning to tassel. Japanese beetles will feed on corn leaves but are particularly attracted to silks. Leaf feeding is of little concern, but silk feeding draws a lot of attention.
The green stink bug (Chinavia halaris) and brown stink bug (Euschistus servus) are the two predominant stink bugs pests of sweet corn. Stink bugs use their piercing/sucking mouthparts to feed on developing ears. If feeding occurs before tasseling, ears may become deformed, often resembling the shape of a banana.
Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) onto the corn leaves and over the silk on each corn ear. Bt can be purchased at a local nursery or garden center and is a bacterial insecticide that kills larvae of the corn borer.
Sweet Corn Genotypes Sweet corn varieties are categorized by their genotypes. The most common varieties are: Normal or sugary (su) — Standard hybrid sweet corn is a mutant type of corn that differs from field or dent corn by mutation at the sugary (se) locus. The standard hybrid sweet corn accumulates about two times more sugar than field corn.
Corn earworms can begin as soon as 10 percent of the ears are silked. The earworms then move in to lay their eggs on the green silks. Use Sevin every two to three days once silking has begun. Stopping the use of Sevin before harvesting the corn is recommended.
Between two and 10 days after laying, eggs hatch and the larvae feed on corn silks for about two weeks. This stage creates the most damage, with the caterpillars feeding on developing kernels while...
June bugs and corn root beetles feed on corn silk as well. Kernels Fall armyworms are the larval stage of the fall armyworm moth, which lays its eggs on leaves planted after early June.
Southern Corn Leaf Beetle Description: Adult beetles are about 3/16 of an inch long with a grayish or brownish color pattern. They are usually covered with soil particles, giving them a dusty appearance. Damage Symptoms: Beetles feed on the edges of leaves and stems, producing notched holes in the leaves. Incidence: May, on seedling corn. Sampling Scheme: None available.
Plant a variety of sweet corn that will grow with a tightly closed husk. This repels insects such as the corn earworm, whose larvae eat the silk and then top kernels of corn. Honey and cream,...
We've handpicked 25 related questions for you, similar to «On my corn silk what are the bugs on there?» so you can surely find the answer!Are there any health benefits to corn silk tea?
- The patients were administered extract of corn silk in varying doses. At the end of the trial period, individuals with high blood issues were found to have decreased their blood pressure. Also, it was seen that the higher corn silk doses, the higher the decline rate of blood pressure.
- Corn silk tea has no harmful effects and can be used over longer period of times even as prevention of obesity. Corn Silk Tea can reduce your blood sugar levels drastically. So if you are already using medication for diabetes control, then this tea can almost reduce blood sugar level to an extent that you may lose energy to do normal work.
- Corn silk and "water pills" might cause the body to get rid of potassium along with water. Taking corn silk along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Potential Risks of Corn Silk Tea. If you have an allergy to corn pollen or corn starch, corn silk may give you: Rash; Red skin; Itchiness; Corn silk can also lower the amount of potassium in your...Is there a silk for every kernel of corn?
A. Yes, but only if pollen falls on the silk. Otherwise, a kernel does not develop. A corn plant produces corn silk surrounding each ear about two months after the plant emerges from the ground.
Video answer: Gardening means: bug wars!Why is there silk attached to the corn tassels?
Silk and Tassel Development in Corn. July 15, 2020. Silks and tassels are emerging and the smell of pollen is in the air in fields throughout the State! Two recent articles from Dr. Bob Nielsen, Purdue University, may be helpful for a refresher and also to learn something new regarding silk and tassel development and pollination.Which is better corn silk tea or dried corn silk?
- It is possible to make your tea using either fresh or dried corn silk, but it is considered best when you use fresh corn silk for a more effective herbal remedy. If you are using fresh corn silk then look for golden strands rather than browner ones. Start by bringing water to a boil (100ºC).
Video answer: How to identify insect pests in your vegetable garden - csi garden pestsWhat color should corn silk be?
Corn Silk is a light, bright, glow stick yellow with a sunflower undertone. It is a perfect paint color for a kitchen. Pair it with white trim.What does corn silk taste like?
DELICIOUS FLAVOR - Corn Silk Tea is a unique brew, crafted from corn on the cob's silk strands. Its earthy, slightly sweet flavor delights, and without caffeine can be enjoyed throughout the day.What is corn silk good for?
What Is Corn Silk, and Does It Have Benefits? Potential benefits of corn silk. Although corn silk is routinely used in herbal medicine, studies on it are limited. Corn silk dosage. Because human research on corn silk is limited, official dosage recommendations haven’t been... Corn silk side effects ...
Video answer: Garden worms!! how to kill them!!What is corn silk made of?
What is corn silk, and how is it used? Corn silk is the long, thread-like strands of plant material that grow underneath the husk of a fresh ear of corn. These shiny, thin fibers aid the pollination and growth of corn, but they're also used in traditional herbal medicine practices.What is corn silk use for?
- Corn silk is used as a medicine. Corn silk is used for bladder infections, inflammation of the urinary system, inflammation of the prostate, kidney stones, and bedwetting. It is also used to treat congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, fatigue, and high cholesterol levels.
Corn Silk:Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, Interactions... www.emedicinehealth.com/corn_s...
- Corn silk is used as a medicine. Corn silk is used for bladder infections, inflammation of the urinary system, inflammation of the prostate, kidney stones, and bedwetting. It is also used to treat congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, fatigue, and high cholester...
Adult corn rootworm can clip silks… Grasshopper nymphs and adults can also occasionally eat corn silks. They are usually found around field borders first and then can infest the field interior later in the summer.What vitamins does corn silk have?
Corn silk contains large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the body to help blood clot. Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. By helping the blood clot, corn silk might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin).Can silk get bed bugs?
Extreme cold kills bed bugs so fabrics like lace and silk can be placed in a plastic bag and into the freezer. Once frozen for 24 hours, take outside and shake vigorously. This will remove all the dead bugs and eggs.Is silk made from bugs?
Silk is derived from the cocoons of larvae, so most of the insects raised by the industry don't live past the pupal stage. Roughly 3,000 silkworms are killed to make a single pound of silk.Is corn silk edible?
- Harvested young ears of corn (and corn silk) are edible raw, but with the plant's maturity the kernels and silk become too tough to eat without boiling first. The corn silk is harvested with the edible corn and the separated and dried separately.
Video answer: Funny tik tok memes compilation v2Is corn silk toxic?
Lethal dose of corn silk extract was estimated to be more than 2,000 mg/kg. In the 4-week subacute toxicity study, there was no corn silk extract related toxic effect on body weight, water intake, food consumption, urine parameters, clinical chemistry, or organ weight.How does corn silk work on growing corn?
Silk Development and Emergence in Corn. Corn produces individual male and female flowers on the same plant. The ear represents the female flower of the corn plant. Severe soil moisture deficits can delay silk emergence and disrupt the synchrony of pollen shed and silk availability, resulting in poor kernel set.What is the difference between corn tea and corn silk tea?
Corn Silk Tea Health Benefits. Used by different races since ancient times for healing and medicinal needs, corn silk tea possess many health benefits. While a few of its benefits have been proven beyond doubt by scientific studies, research is still being done on many other benefits that corn silk tea may possess.


Midwest Goundcovers continues to grow a broad selection of Local Eco-type Natural Garden Natives™. Plant availability varies throughout the season as our crops sell out and new crops mature.
Download a list of currently available plants.
To confirm availability of a specific plant, please contact us at 847-468-2000. From April 2, 2012 through June 23, 2012 our hours are Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30. From June 25, 2012 through October 27, 2012 our Saturday hours are 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
You may also email us at firstname.lastname@example.org at any time.
Please see our Natural Garden Natives™ Custom Order Form for pricing information.
CUSTOM ORDERING WILL RETURN IN APRIL 2012


Place 5 kg fresh olives (any variety) in a large container. Fill with fresh water to cover olives.
Change the water every day, for 10–12 Days.
After 10-12 days, prepare approximately 5 litres of water with 500g of salt. Boil water & salt and allow to cool.
Place olives in an airtight container with lots of oregano, one thickly sliced lemon, garlic to taste, and one firm green chilli. Pour salt water to cover well.
For black olives seal container for 6-8 weeks.
For green olives, seal container for 8-10 weeks.
If olives are still bitter, allow to mature a little longer.
If you miss a day changing the water, don’t worry, just continue the process for an extra day.
If you see mould forming on the final product, remove mould and place 4 or 5 slices of lemon and some more oregano on top of the olives.
Lina's Crushed Olives
Crush 2kg of olives with a rubber mallet on a chopping board. Remove pips and place olives in 3L of water, squeeze 2 lemons and add juice and lemons to the water. Leave olives in water for minimum 20 minutes or up to one day.
Drain water and remove lemons. Add 3L boiled water, mix for 5 minutes and drain. Add fresh cold water to cover olives. Cover with a tea towel, ensuring tea towel is wet all over. This keeps the olives submerge. Change olives to fresh bucket and add fresh water once or twice a day, until olives loos bitterness. Approx 4-5 days.
Rinse and squeeze excess water out of olives. Place olives in a large dish, add 2 large sprigs of finely chopped parsley, two thinly chopped cloves of garlic, 1 thinly sliced hot chilli, 1 tablespoon dried oregano and 60g of salt. Mix well and place in container. Push down nice and firm. Ready to eat straight away. Keeps in fridge for up to 2 weeks.
2nd Saturday - Collingwood Children's Farm - End of St Helier St, Abbotsford
3rd Saturday - Gasworks Farmers Market - Cnr Graham & Pickles Sts, Albert Park
4th Saturday - The Slow Food Farmers Market- The Abbotsford Convent,1 St Helier St, Abbotford
The Sicilianos’ backyard is an astonishing example of the great breadth and quantity of produce that can be generated on a relatively small acreage in Suburban Melbourne. Figs, chestnuts, kale, blood oranges, cumquats, walnuts, pomegranates, apples, celery, garlic, potatoes, carrots, artichokes and corn are just some of the fruits of their labour.
Lina was just 17 when she and Tony immigrated to Victoria as newlyweds from Varapodio, Calabria. Both hailing from farming families, it was only natural that the pair should start to grow their own food and impart their discerning love of good fresh food to their children. However, don’t let their heritage intimidate you, the first tree the couple planted actually died!
“We didn’t really know what we were doing then,” Lina confides with a twinkle in her eye. They certainly got the hang of it though and look forward to sharing their knowledge with visitors to the property.
Lina and Tony’s children were blessed with organic home grown food from a young age, something that was important to the couple. They wanted their children to understand the seasons and to learn about how to grow wholesome and delicious food.
“Even when they were little, our kids could tell the difference between vegetables we grew at home and things we bought, even if I’d bought it direct from another grower,” Lina says proudly.
Rosecreek Estate ABN 17 005 511 875 PHONE (03) 9337 5471. Copyright 2013 Rose Creek Estate. All rights reserved.


1 Affiliation : Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
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2 Affiliation : Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
Email : firstname.lastname@example.org
3 Affiliation : Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
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4 Affiliation : Data Scientist ,Great Learning, India
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5 Affiliation : Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
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6 Affiliation : Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
Email : firstname.lastname@example.org
The population of India is over one billion. Nearly 65 percent of the population of India lives in villages with the main occupation being agriculture. The diverse climatic conditions in the country result in the production of a large number of agricultural items. Many surveys have proved that the suicide rate of farmers is proliferating over years due to the selection of the wrong crop resulting in less yield. In some areas, farmers lack information about the composition of soil and weather conditions and may choose the wrong crop to sow which results in lesser yield. Production of crops depends on geographical parameters like humidity, rainfall, and properties of soil such as pH, and NPK content. Integration of technology with agriculture helps the farmer to improve his production. The main goal of agricultural planning is to achieve the maximum yield rate of crops by using a limited number of land resources. This paper mainly focuses on recommending the appropriate crop using ML Algorithms ( Decision Tree, Naive Bayes, Random Forest ) based on soil composition and weather conditions to maximize the yield of the farm and increase the economic condition of India’s farmers.
Machine Learning; Crop prediction; Decision tree; Naive Bayes; Random Forest; crop recommendation
 Van Klompenburg, Thomas, Ayalew Kassahun, and Cagatay Catal. "Crop yield prediction using machine learning: A systematic literature review." Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 177 (2020): 105709.
 Chougule, Archana, Vijay Kumar Jha, and Debajyoti Mukhopadhyay. "Crop suitability and fertilizers recommendation using data mining techniques." In Progress in Advanced Computing and Intelligent Engineering, pp. 205-213. Springer, Singapore, 2019.
 Pudumalar, S., E. Ramanujam, R. Harine Rajashree, C. Kavya, T. Kiruthika, and J. Nisha. "Crop recommendation system for precision agriculture." In 2016 Eighth International Conference on Advanced Computing (ICoAC), pp. 32-36. IEEE, 2017.
 Kalimuthu, M., P. Vaishnavi, and M. Kishore. "Crop prediction using machine learning." In 2020 Third International Conference on Smart Systems and Inventive Technology (ICSSIT), pp. 926-932. IEEE, 2020.
 Osman, Tousif, Shahreen Shahjahan Psyche, MD Rafik Kamal, Fouzia Tamanna, Farzana Haque, and Rashedur M. Rahman. "Predicting Early Crop Production by Analysing Prior Environment Factors." In International Conference on Advances in Information and Communication Technology, pp. 470-479. Springer, Cham, 2016.
 Shah, Ayush, Akash Dubey, Vishesh Hemnani, Divye Gala, and D. R. Kalbande. "Smart farming system: Crop yield prediction using regression techniques." In Proceedings of International Conference on Wireless Communication, pp. 49-56. Springer, Singapore, 2018.
 A. Sharma, A. Jain, P. Gupta and V. Chowdary, "Machine Learning Applications for Precision Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review," in IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 4843-4873, 2021, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3048415.
 Kamatchi, S. Bangaru, and R. Parvathi. "Improvement of Crop Production Using Recommender System by Weather Forecasts." Procedia Computer Science 165 (2019): 724-732.


Flowers for Change: A Sustainable Approach to Planting
Flowers for Change: A Sustainable Approach to Planting is a collaborative effort to educate and raise awareness about the sustainable benefits of Iowa’s native prairie. Secondly, the project aims to tackle sustainable planting strategies by distributing packets containing seeds of a small sample of Iowa’s native prairie flowers. Our group is working directly with the Iowa City Public Library (ICPL), who have been generously helped our group with seed distribution, content creation, and promotion. Our project involves two dates of seed distribution, with one of those days conveniently falling on Earth day! As a group, we want to highlight the incredible benefits of planting native prairie plants, such as an improvement in soil quality, water management, and an increase in pollinators. In attempt to raise awareness about environmental sustainability, our group hopes that individuals in the Iowa City area can learn about the many benefits of Iowa’s native prairie plants while also being able plant their own flowers. For more info and planting instructions:https://stem-o-sphere.org/projects/2021-projects/flowers-for-change-a-sustainable-approach-to-planting/.


Lawone Agro is a company that provides creative agricultural solutions that helps boost Sustainable Agricultural Production and Satisfy Market Demand. We are established to identify key opportunities and markets both locally and internationally for selected agricultural products. Using our creative solutions, we create the entire value chain that ensures the product moves from the farm to the end user.
Our strategy seeks to establish a one-stop-shop that effectively utilizes innovative approaches to determine markets for profits on targeted agricultural produce, thereby stimulating production activities in the supply chain, and creating a window of opportunity for small and medium scale businesses
Our Major Projects
Some of our major projects done for government organisations….
Design, Construct & Manage Franchise Infrastructure Hubs (Agric Hubs) across Nigeria for Federal Ministry of Finance under the YouWin Connect! Program
Training and empowerment programs
Lawone Agro has partnered with the Presidential Amnesty program in the training and empowerment of over 300 delegates from the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. The training scheme seeks to empower the unemployed restive youths in the area with agricultural skills that would ensure they are self sufficient and gainfully employed.
Get in Touch
We would love to hear from you
Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm
Abuja: 2nd Floor Millennium Builders’ Plaza, opp. NNPC Towers, Central Area, Abuja.
PHC: Plot 140 East West Road, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Phone: +234 803.705.8714
Email: [email protected]


Coconut Palm Sugar Exporter in India
The Coconut Grower is one of the leading organizations, recognized for our ability of exporting a premium quality range of Coconut palm sugar exporter in India. We export wide range of Desiccated Coconut powder exporter in India and additionally we offer Coconut milk exporter in India it brings convenience to the buyer. The coconut grower is a leading engaged in manufacturing and exporting a vast range of Coconut palm sugar exporter in India.We provide good quality of Coconut Palm Sugar from our company. We are engaged in making available Coconut Palm Sugar , Coconut Milk, Coconut shell charcoal export in India.
To meet the exact packaging demands of our clients, The coconut Grower provide them customization packaging solution. Further, our products are available in the market at affordable prices .Enriched by our vast industrial experience, The coconut Grower are involved in offering an enormous quality range of Coconut palm sugar exporter in India.
The coconut grower we Export coconut palm sugar exporter in India. Coconut sugar is formed from the sweet sap of coconut flowers. Sugar contains natural vitamins and minerals that support a healthy way for people that are active. it's been used as a sweetener and a preparation ingredient. coconut palm sugar exporter in India is traditionally produced with care intensively by our farmers. it's a delicious addition to coffee or tea, smoothies, fruit juices, cakes, pancakes, Curry dishes, sweet toppings, Pudding, any kind of fruit pies and additional.
coconut palm sugar is the best choice for diabetic patients. Coconut palm sugar exporter in India products are highly appreciated by the customers for their purity, fresh and longer shelf life. The coconut grower also ensures the quality of the products before final dispatch of the items at the customer. we hold expertise in exporting of Desiccated Coconut powder,virgin coconut oil exporter in India,Coconut milk exporter in India and many more. We are offering a range of Virgin Coconut Oil which is derived from coconut milk and is further centrifuged for extracting water from oil.
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I received a very special delivery from my Brother 3 days before Christmas. He got a big box of avocados straight from the grower and sent me about 10 of them! What an excellent Christmas surprise. I love avocados but we usually don't see any good ones around here during the cold winter. The first one was ripe enough to eat on Christmas and you better believe this week will be jammed packed full of avocados for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thanks David! What a great and generous surprise!
Also - here is a picture of Buckley digging into her Christmas stocking yesterday!


Hi Everyone!! This article will share In the Orchard Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of A Lesson in Kindness, Jerry’s a Good Boy Now and The Chimpanzee’s Friend so, you can check these posts as well.
In the Orchard Questions & Answers
Question 1: Complete these sentences:
1. Fruits grow on plants and trees.
2. Farmers grow fruit trees in their orchard.
3. An area of land used for growing fruit trees is called an orchard.
4. We pluck fruits when they are ripe.
5. We eat only the seed case, not the whole fruit.
6. We use fruit seeds to grow more plants.
7. First of all, flowers appear on a fruit tree.
8. We get sugar, minerals and vitamins from fruits.
Question 2: What do we grow in an orchard?
Answer: We grow plants and fruits in an orchard.
Question 3: What part of a fruit do we eat?
Answer: We eat seed case of a fruit.
Question 4: What grows from blossoms?
Answer: Small green fruits grow from blossoms.
Question 5: When do we pick fruits to eat?
Answer: We pick fruits to eat when they are ripe.
Question 6: What do we get from fruits?
Answer: We get minerals, sugar and vitamins from fruits.
Question 7: What do we get from cereals?
Answer: We get carbohydrates from cereals.
Question 8: Name the foods that give us:
(i) Proteins – fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and fish
(ii) Vitamins – fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and fish
(iii) Minerals – fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and fish
(iv) Carbohydrates – wheat, rice and maize
Question 9: Match the following columns:
|Column A||Column B|
|1. Sway||a. a flower on a fruit tree.|
|2. Cereals||b. to cut and gather a crop.|
|3. Harvest||c. to save from harm or danger.|
|4. Protect||d. an area for growing fruit trees.|
|5. Orchard||e. to move slowly from side to side.|
|6. Blossom||f. grains that can be used to make bread.|
So, these were the Questions & Answers.


Benefit or burden? The mixed results of an agricultural program
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – War veteran Edward Tongoona started farming in 2008, after receiving land under a controversial scheme that redistributed Zimbabwe’s large commercial farms, mostly owned by white farmers, to black farmers . Like many other farmers, Tongoona has no title to his land, only a letter of offer from the government. This made it difficult for him to obtain a bank loan.
This limited access to credit – particularly for growing maize, a national staple whose production had fallen by nearly two-thirds by the time Tongoona took up farming – is one of the reasons why the Zimbabwean government introduced a contract farming scheme, popularly known as Command Agriculture, in 2015 which aims to reduce the country’s growing dependence on maize imports. Under this program, in the form of a loan, the government provides farmers with fertilizer and seeds for one season in exchange for 5 tonnes of maize per hectare, the cost of which is deducted after harvest.
Tongoona started participating in the program in 2018. “I joined because I didn’t have enough money to buy everything I needed in agriculture,” he says. “Since then, a lot of things have changed for me. I was able to buy two tractors and other agricultural equipment. Each season, he produces up to 250 tons of maize on his 34.8 hectares and sells it to the Grain Marketing Board, a government body that acts as an intermediary between farmers and millers. “It’s a good program. This should continue as it helped me transition from a small farmer to a more pronounced commercial farmer,” says Tongoona.
Not everyone feels this. Since its inception, the Command Agriculture program has been marred by criticism, ranging from skepticism about its usefulness in boosting Zimbabwe’s food security to accusations of corruption and cronyism. According to government watchdog Veritas, Zimbabwe accrued a “significant portion” of its sovereign debt – which as of September 2021 stood at $13.7 billion – after the program began. “Funding Command Agriculture has disproportionately bled Zimbabwe’s finances,” reads a recent Veritas report, “with little commensurate benefit to the public.”
In 2017, 54% of farmers enrolled in the program defaulted on their loans — in 2018, that number rose to 81%. Prince Kuipa, chief operating officer of the Farmers Union of Zimbabwe, which represents more than a million households, says it is an unfair burden on Zimbabwean citizens “because most taxpayers have no farms”.
“The best way to finance agriculture is not through the government, given its tendency to write off debts,” Kuipa says, adding that the government’s role should be limited to building roads and ensuring proper storage of crops. . “The private sector is more efficient in managing loans. »
LINDA MUJURU, YPG ZIMBABWE
Tawanda Murwira is one of the farmers who have defaulted this year. “I only managed to repay part of the loan this year, even though I intended to repay it all,” he says. “The yields weren’t good.” Zimbabwe is expected to have a below-average maize harvest this year, partly due to delayed rains, but Murwira reports other delays as well. “I didn’t get all the inputs I needed, and the few that I did, I didn’t get on time,” he says. “We would be sent goose hunting all over the province to get all the inputs. It really affected the timing of our planting and ultimately the production yield was affected. »
The results have been downright contradictory, according to the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, a local think tank that evaluated the program in 2020. On the one hand, maize production and deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board appear to have increased under the program. ; the other, his report notes, food insecurity and maize imports have also increased. One of the reasons for this apparent contradiction, according to the report, is that the ruling party and “securocrats” – a term used in southern Africa for police and military who wield political influence – run the agriculture of command as a form of patronage, and its revenues have been “a very powerful means by which supporters of the regime are financed, incentivized and rewarded”, making it “very difficult to translate bumper harvests into food security and reduced imports corn”.
Well-connected farmers tend to receive inputs before others, says Murwira; moreover, he says, the inputs for the program are sometimes sold on the black market, sometimes by the military officers in charge of distributing them. A 2020 survey of 200 beneficiaries and stakeholders by the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute found that 64% believed the program was riddled with corruption. The House Public Accounts Committee alleges that about $3 billion was misappropriated under the program. Asked about the allegations, Deputy Agriculture Minister Douglas Karoro said he would respond – but days later he was arrested for allegedly stealing agricultural inputs from the Presidential Input Scheme, a program similar to Command Agriculture. . He has since been fired; the Agriculture Ministry did not respond to further requests for comment.
Graphic by Matt Haney, YPG
Although corn production has increased in recent years, says Andrew Pascoe, president of the Commercial Farmers Union, the program has affected other areas of agriculture as well. “It also tends to push all inputs out of the market, leaving those that don’t grow under Command Agriculture in short supply,” he says, adding that late payments to input suppliers have a ripple effect on production. of inputs. “Funding for commercial agriculture should be left to the private sector,” he says, “while government focuses on creating an enabling policy environment that encourages production.”
Freedom Mazwi, a Harare-based agrarian researcher, disagrees. Agriculture is too important to be left to the private sector, he says, refuting the prevailing idea that Zimbabwe’s dependence on maize imports is linked to land reforms initiated in the 2000s. and the International Monetary Fund have urged Zimbabwe and many African states to withdraw from financing agriculture, and what have been the results? Export crops have flourished, but the country has started to be a net importer of cereals,” he says. “African governments can learn a lot from Command Agriculture. Recently, the Rwandan government announced that it would take a similar approach in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which left many African countries food dependent.
He also notes that agricultural inputs are priced in US dollars while payment for agricultural output is largely made in the local currency, the Zimbabwean dollar (ZWL), which continues to lose value. “This means that farmers who are paid in ZWL find it very difficult to buy inputs for the next farming season, which are pegged to the US dollar,” he says.
LINDA MUJURU, YPG ZIMBABWE
Mazwi acknowledges that the program is not without flaws. He and his fellow researchers recommend more targeted selection of Command Agriculture beneficiaries — in particular, larger mechanized cultivators with a proven history of corn production. (Aid for small farmers, he adds, can be channeled through other programs.) “It is true that there were imports of maize after 2016, when the initiative was introduced. for the first time,” he said. “Droughts are the main reason. This is why we suggest that beneficiary selection targets farmers with irrigation facilities and large farms to act as a buffer against droughts and other climatic shocks. If this is complemented by a good pricing framework, it can go a long way towards enhancing national food self-sufficiency.
Murwira, however, has decided to step down for the time being. He focuses on self-financing next season’s harvest. “If run well, it’s a good program, but right now it’s riddled with confusion and corruption,” he says. “As things stand, I will no longer apply for funding under Command Agriculture or any government-supported funding. Agriculture is time sensitive, and time is not essential in these programs. »


Tools to take the LEAP in agriculture
BBLeap develops tools that enable farmers and growers to operate at a large scale but act on individual plant or fruit level. The core of all BBLeap technologies is LeapBox. LeapBox ensures perfect spray quality at all times and carries out the actual spraying. All other technologies are connected or plugged into LeapBox for specific application techniques. These technologies can be developed by BBLeap or partners.
We are open about the development stages of all our technologies. Transparency is important to us so farmers and partners know what to expect. When we are in starting phase of a technology it might not so interesting for a farmer or a grower, yet. To potentials partners, it is interesting to partner up with us if we are at the start of product development because there is lots of space left for involvement and co-creation.
Invitation to partner with us
BBLeap is open to working with innovative partners. With our BlackBox philosophy, we believe it is important to be transparent to our partners and customers. Transparency to our partners means sharing knowledge and opening our technologies for seamless integration. Our goal is to make the LEAP in agriculture possible for farmers. This includes the possibility for farmers and growers to make use of complementing technology. Therefore we are open to all collaborations to get the best technology available for our customers. Learn more about collaborations at LeapPlus.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
The use of TRLs is to be open and transparent to our customers and partners. The figure below explains are levels.
For Farmers & Growers
We have rated each technology based on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to express clearly where we are with our development. Whenever a technology reaches TRL 9 it is commercially available. On all other levels, we are still developing, testing, and or gathering experience, but you are welcome to join in.
We have rated each technology based on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to express clearly where we are with our development. A low level means that partners can have more influence on further developments and for potential suppliers, it is an opportunity to fill in a part of the development. Our philosophy is that we don‘t want to develop something that already exists and meets quality standards.
Explore all BBLeap technologies!
LeapBox is the core to all technologies. The system is in use since spring 2020. It can be installed retro-fit to any sprayer brand and fruit sprayer. Some sprayer brand manufacturers offer LeapBox installed new sprayers at their factory (ask your dealer). There are many possibilities and functionalities that LeapBox has to offer.


Growing lima beans might encourage him to eat some.
While your preschooler isn't exactly ready for quantum physics, she can start on her road to scientific exploration through a simple experiment. Little learners are ready to understand the basics of the life sciences such as how plants grow and their need for water and sunlight. If you are trying to think up a fun-filled science activity for your child that isn't overly involved or above her learning level, try germinating lima bean seeds. Although your preschooler may scoff at the idea of actually eating lima beans with her dinner, she will get a kick out growing them.
1Discuss the seed germination process and plant life cycle with your child. While it may seem fairly obvious to you that plants need water and sunlight to grow, your little learner might not realize this yet. Explain to her that plants start as seeds and, with nutrients from the water and the sun, they sprout and grow.
2Show the lima bean seeds to your child. While she might think of these beans as just the food that she eats -- or more than likely, refuses to eat -- help her to see that lima beans are part of the plant world and not born in the frozen food section of the grocery store.
3Soak dried lima beans in a bowl of water over night. This can help to quicken the growing process.
4Dip five or six cotton balls in water. Avoid getting them overly wet, making sure they aren't soaked or dripping.
5Line the bottom of a clear plastic bag with the wet cotton balls. Place three or four lima bean seeds into the bag, pressing them into the wet cotton.
6Seal the bag at the top. Prop the bag up against a sunny window.
7Check back in with the bags regularly -- at least daily -- to watch the seeds germinate. Have your child keep track of the seeds as they sprout and grow into mini plants.
- Help your child to better understand the scientific process. As she observes the plant growing, have her make a journal to document what she is seeing. She can draw a new picture every day to show the plant's life cycle.Break out a ruler and measure the plant as it grows. This will add a math layer to your already stellar science lesson.When the plants get to be too big for the bag, transfer them to a small soil-filled planter.
- Always supervise your child during the experiment as well as when she is making observations. Don't allow her to put the dried beans or cotton in or near her mouth.
Things You'll Need
- Dried lima beans
- Plastic resealable baggies
- Cotton balls
- Plastic bowl


It's all too easy to forget the power of scent at this time of year, something we might more usually associate with high summer and the heady scent of roses. But mid-winter can offer up some of the most seductive and powerful scents we could wish for in the garden. Here are three of my favourite.
Terracotta rhubarb forcers will give you an early crop of tender stems.....but a simple bucket would work just as well.
For tender stems, exclude the light from the newly emerging stems of rhubarb. Mulching around the pot with straw will help increase the temperature inside the pot, helping to speed those shoots along.
Microgreens are the seedlings, usually consisting of the first pair of seed leaves, of various vegetables and herbs. Beloved by chefs for enhancing the visual appearance, texture and taste of dishes, they are also a great way to get an extra veg hit in the darkest days of winter. They're high in carotenoids, vitamins C, K and E according to US research published in 2014. So with a nod to good health, Veganuary and the purse strings, I've decided to try out Johnsons Microgreens growing kit.
I'll always have my National Trust 2018 calendar tea- towel to cheer me up. Designed by the late, great Pat Albeck, it's beautifully designed with Victorian-style greenhouses, masses of fruit and veg and, of course, a robin, garden cat and perky blackbird to keep order in the border. Too good for drying up with though, so on the office wall it'll stay pinned.


The Taranaki region is location on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand and has a population of around 110,000. The Taranaki Region has a temperature climate with abundant rainfall given its exposure to the West . The region is extremely fertile given the high rainfall and rich volcanic soil.
The Taranaki Region's economy largely consists of mining, agriculture and farming.
The region consists of three Territorial Authorities; New Plymouth District, Stratford District and the South Taranaki District.


Trying to be self-sufficient is becoming popular these days. More and more people are trying to eat healthier and are paying more attention to their overall health.
I have noticed that online seed companies are selling out of vegetable seed more quickly and the seeds that are selling the fastest are the heirloom seeds. More and more people are getting scared of GMO (genetically modified organisms) and hybrid seeds. A lot of people, my self included, want to only buy seeds once then let some of the end-of-season crops go to seed for next year. There is a problem with that, though. Some vegetables, like corn, are so hybridized and so easy to cross pollinate, that it is almost impossible to keep the variety pure. Corn has to be planted like 2 miles from other corn or it will cross-pollinate from the wind. And some vegetables take more than 1 year to produce seeds, like carrots and asparagus.
There are a lot of little things people can do to become more self-sufficient these days. One of the easiest( for us at least) to do is to just stop buying things you don't need. You have to know the difference between a need and a want. You NEED food, water, shelter, clothing, and climate control. You WANT an i-phone, a big screen plasma TV, eating out every week or even every night, and Prada. Once you can deal with the difference between want and need, you will realize just how much money we all waste every month. With all of the money you save from cutting your spending, you can get yourself out of debt. You simply cannot be self-sufficient if you are in debt. Money has to come from somewhere and if you have debt, you cannot make enough to be SELF-sufficient.
You can grow your own food, raise animals for meat and/or eggs, cook your own meals, make your own bread, sew your own clothes, and you still will not be completely self-sufficient. You will still have a water bill unless you have your own well, electric bill unless you have gone solar or wind, fuel costs for your vehichles unless you can bike everywhere you need to go and are physically able to do so, and countless other things that nibble away at your money. There are even some things we would have to buy even if all of the other criteria have been met. There is simply no way to grow coffee where we live. It just gets too cold. And the same with sugar cane. Sorgham for molassas, yes, sugar cane, no. We "could" grow herbals for tea if we were really in a bind, and roasted dandelion roots makes a passable coffee substitute, but those would be desperate times indeed. And as long as we have access to enough dirt and/or pasturage, we could free up money from other food items to buy coffee, sugar, and tea.
Being truely self-sufficient is a complete dream these days, but cutting as much as possible, given the current economic climate, only makes sense.


February 17th, 2017
Cyprus grows its own bananas!!?
Yes sir, we do!!
The story goes – somewhat – like this: When Nature was deciding where to allow the growth of bananas in Cyprus, she opened a map of the island, closed her eyes, and placed her finger on ….
the Kissonerga and Peyia villages in Paphos District!
That is the only area, in the west part of the island, where the micro-climate is suitable enough for the growth of this delicious and nutritious fruit. If you tour the region in February (maybe on your way for a hike in the Akamas peninsula), you will see them hanging under bright blue plastic skirts for their protection.
Mr. Theodosis, the Paphian farmer whose bananas I buy in the open-air fruit market of Nicosia, matures his bananas in a natural way – by placing them in boxes of apples.


After my morning workout yesterday, I decided to head on over to the farmers market. We were completely out of fresh fruits and vegetables, and I was craving more peaches. What better to do when you're out and about in the morning and soaking up the last days of summer?!
North Carolina is not exactly known for our apples, and summer isn't what I think of as apple season, but I was really, really hoping that I would find apples. I don't recall ever buying them at the farmers market before. I was thrilled to find a farmer selling TWO types of apples, WITH SAMPLES. I definitely ate one on the drive home. Then I ate a peach after I got my haul inside.
Note: After reading this post, my dad informed me that NC is a big apple producer. During a winter time trip to the farmers market, I found many more varieties of apples. My new favorite variety is Cameo.
For lunch, I cooked a squash and the bell pepper with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and a grated bulb of elephant garlic. It was delicious with whole wheat spaghetti and some leftover tomato basil sauce (not pictured). Even my food is hand me down.
How do you make healthy eating enjoyable? What is your latest farmers market thrill?


Zwischensumme: ( Produkte in Ihren Warenkorb)
UVP: 15,09 €
Spare: 3,50 €
Normalerweise innerhalb eines Tages versandt
Challenge your preconceived ideas about the traditional colour of vegetables! This gift box provides everything any budding gardener needs to create their own funky veg and enjoy fresh produce at their fingertips.
Growing your funky veg is simple - everything you need is inside this gift box, including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing instructions and tips to guide you to green-fingered success! Add vibrant colour and intense flavour to your plate and never be bored by vegetables again with this fun gift idea. -MB
The box contains:
This pack contains real plant seeds Origin UK. The plant seeds can die before or after germination. Please plant your seeds as soon as possible. Due to the varying nature of the conditions that the plant seeds are stored and grown in neither Gift Republic Ltd nor any other company supplying this gift pack can accept any liability in relation to the under-performance of the seeds or coir disks and pots. This is a novelty gift and must be regarded as such.
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Bewerte ein Produkt und gewinne einen 100€ Gutschein.


The coffee harvest season in Ethiopia, affected by factors like altitude and weather, usually spans from late September to January. It begins in the lower elevation areas of Bench, Sheko, and Bebeka in the South Western region and concludes in the higher altitude regions of Bale, Sidama, and Guji in the South Eastern part. As of now, harvesting has started in the South West coffee regions, where they’ve also set initial farmgate prices. Other regions, including Limmu, Sidama, Guji, Yirgacheffe, and Bale, are expected to begin their harvest in November.
The current farmgate price for a kilogram of fresh coffee cherries is 28 Br (about $0.50 USD) in Bench and Kaffa, while it’s slightly lower at 26 Br (approximately $0.46 USD) in some lowland regions of Jimma. These prices are notably lower than last season’s inflated rates, likely to influence the minimum export prices.
Since 2020, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority has been setting a weekly minimum floor price for exported coffees, influenced by many factors including the local cherry price. Despite the early stage of the current season, a decrease in these minimum export prices is evident. For instance, Washed Yirgacheffe and Guji G1 coffees, which were priced at $3.39 and $3.36 per pound respectively at September’s end, have dropped to $3.29 per pound as of October 23, 2023. Similarly, Jimma and Sidama G1 coffees, initially at $2.81 and $3.39 per pound, are now priced at $3.32 and $2.75 per pound.
Additionally, numerous coffee processing warehouses still have substantial stocks of both specialty and commercial coffees, indicating an oversupply in the market and contributing to the adjustment in market prices. Nonetheless, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority is aiming for an estimated yield of 350 metric tons in the forthcoming 2023/24 harvest season.
Want to learn more about the Ethiopian coffee value chain? Read our in-depth Guide to Navigating the Ethiopian Market.


Many of you when reading often wonder what does a maple tree look like in stardew valley? The Maple tree in stardew valley is one of the most prevalent trees, and you can find it virtually anyplace. Trees are the major source of many commodities and resources used in gameplay.
They supply items that are utilized to make things and build new infrastructure on the farm. You can also use it to create Artisan items that you can sell in the shipping crate for extra gold. You can get Maple Seeds if you cut it down with an axe. If you’re a Lumberjack, you can even get some Hardwood.
Shaking it, on the other hand, will result in seeds or a Hazelnut if done within the last two weeks of Fall. If you choose the Forester profession, you can get up to 25% additional wood or 15-20 pieces when you chop down maple trees stardew valley.
How To Get Maple Seeds In Stardew Valley?
These seeds can get into the game in a variety of ways. It can be straight from the tree or from other sources. See below to learn how to get it in the game:
- At Foraging Level 1, cut down a Maple Tree with an Axe.
- Foraging Level 1 Shaking a Maple Tree
- Searching through garbage cans.
- Digging the earth for dropped seeds with a pickaxe or axe.
- When the pond population reaches 9, it is obtained from the Woodskip Fish Pond.
- Purchasing it for 100-1,000g from the Traveling Cart.
How To Grow Maple Trees In Stardew Valley?
To grow a maple tree started, you must first plant a Maple seed in the earth. The seed or sapling can then be fertilized with Tree fertilizer to help it develop faster. This fertilizer will assist it in progressing to one stage per night until it reaches the fourth stage, at which point it will be fully matured two nights later.
Stardew maple seeds mature in 24 days on average after going through four phases of growth once planted. In addition, fertilizing takes five days in any season. Although these seeds have a 20% chance of growing every day except during the winter, when no trees can sprout, individual trees grow at different rates.
If the tree is planted outside of the farm and Pelican Town, it will grow as Saplings in the third growth stage. If the stump is removed, it will grow normally again.
|Once the seed is planted, the first stage will begin. Plant it eight tiles away from other tree seedlings or mature trees so that it can grow past the fourth stage.
|After a few days, you’ll notice that the seedling has achieved its second stage of growth when leaves emerge on it.
|When a sapling enters the third growth stage, it is referred to as a sapling. The height of the plant and the quantity of leaves distinguish this stage from the previous stage fast.
|The sapling grows taller, with a narrow, short trunk. It also takes twice as long to advance to the following stage. This is the stage of development before attaining complete maturity.
|The stardew maple tree has reached its last development stage in the fifth stage. You may cut it down to obtain resources or tap it to receive some yummy syrup.
How To Use Maple Syrup
Because there are so many things and activities to discover in stardew valley maple tree, understanding how to obtain Maple Syrup may be a game changer.
- Players open up a universe of options with a consistent supply of Maple Syrup. They can use this resource to strengthen their bonds with other villagers (except Maru, who dislikes it).
- Maple Syrup may be used to produce Maple Bars, which offer a lot of health and vitality, or to construct the Bee House, which is one of the simplest ways to generate money in Stardew Valley (a recipe learnt at Farming Level 3).
- This Artisan Good Item can assist players in regaining health, crafting money-making products, or cultivating connections with other villagers.
- It starts at 200g and goes up from there if they’ve entered the Tapper profession.
- Players may focus on other aspects of the game without feeling overloaded by managing the farm if they streamline their resource harvesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the easiest way to get Maple Syrup Stardew Valley?
Ans. After making a tapper, just hang it on a maple tree and wait for it to generate maple syrup. It is used on oak or pine trees to extract oak resin or pine tar, respectively. In particular, the maple syrup will be available in around 9 days.
Q2. Where can I buy Stardew maple seeds?
Ans. No, you cannot purchase the seeds, however, you may interact with the trees outside of the farm. Right-click to shake them and (occasionally) receive a seed, or chop them down to acquire a seed more reliably. You may also manufacture tree fertilizer to help the trees you’ve previously planted grow faster.