I have managed, thanks to the miracle of modern science, to grow some herbs. Not THAT kind of herb, though it would appear that there is bank to be made in that way, but edible herbs; parsley, basil, and chives. These came from a kit that cheerfully proclaimed that the seeds were “guaranteed to grow,” so I figured that I’d thrown away $5 on less, and bought the kit, fully intending to cash in the guarantee, if only for the principle of the thing.
But the little black seeds laughed in my face, and sprouted in their little plastic greenhouse, until the tips of the chive shoots bent at the top where they ran into the plastic of the “greenhouse.” Thankfully, I am well read, so I knew this was a sign that the plants were ready to be moved to a larger pot, but the mechanics of such a task were well beyond me.
“It’s simple,” J told me. This woman thinks dismantling and replacing the blade of a lawnmower is also “simple,” so I immediately disregarded this piece of advice in favor of fretting nervously about my precious plants. Meanwhile, the chives were turning into something out of the Little Shop of Horrors, essentially BREAKING OUT OF the little greenhouse of plastic.
So, like any good gardener, or lesbian, come to think of it, I headed to Homo Depot (WHAT?? That’s what we call it) to find the cutest wee pots for the windowsill. This task was the simplest of the bunch, since shopping is something of a specialty of mine. Home Depot didn’t have quite what I was looking for, so a second trip to Lowe’s was necessary, as was a trip to the local nursery. Listen, people, I like shopping local as much as the next person, but when the local store has a selection that is even more paltry than my cupboard, the big box store it is.
Wee pots, dishes, and potting soil procured, I… well, I’d love to tell you I repotted my herbs, but I was still convinced everything would die immediately the moment I changed one single solitary aspect of their growth. So the potting soil sat in the living room, and the pots in the kitchen, and the chives continued to grow, and grow, and grow, until some wee elf could have used them as a rope swing, had my windowsill been a cliff and the hardwoods below a lagoon.
I did, eventually, get my act together and repot the herbs, after two or three phone calls to J to ascertain that I was doing things in the proper order and with appropriate reverence. The plants made it out of their plastic greenhouse and into ceramic pots, lined up on the windowsill like I’m some sort of green-thumb-home-cook.
And this brings me to my point. Four HUNDRED words later, I know, but you’ve already read this far, why not continue?
These little green shoots- the parsley still so fragile that if I am not careful they fold over in half when I water them- they turn to the sun. Even when the sun is more like an idea behind the white-grey blanket of clouds, I come home from whatever errands I spend the day rushing to and fro to find the basil leaves nodding toward where the sun should be.
Oh, it’s the simplest of wee movements, but these little plants do it every day. Ok, so we all agree that plants are not sentient beings, right? I mean, even VEGANS eat BASIL, right? But there they are, turning themselves to the sun, like they know it’s good for you.
So here’s to turning your head to the sun, even when it’s not apparent beneath the fog. I doubt I spend enough time looking for the sun, even with all this unemployment on my hands. I’ll try to spend more time looking for it, even when it’s pouring. Or when the relocation specialist hasn’t returned either my phone call or my email in four days (but that’s another post altogether).


Italian white wine: wines DOC and DOCG
The Umbrian white wine represents, among all the Italian white wines, a production core of very high quality. The DOC, denomination of controlled origin, and the even more protective DOCG are the guarantee of quality of the Umbrian white wine and of the best part of the Italian white wines of the region; however, some varieties of grapes deserve a particular mention as they best define the wine and gastronomic character of the region. The most diffused white wines belong to the local types of the Trebbiano white wine, like the Procanico, that has been the basic grape of the Orvieto white wines, but are also cultivated the Trebbiano Toscano and imported varieties like the white wines Garganega and Tocai. Some indigenous varieties are also resisting and even increasing their own production year after year like the Trebbiano Spoletino wine, the Verdello wine and above all the Grechetto wine. The various microclimates of the region allow the cultivation of more grapes also at short distances, so that the white wines are produced with combinations of grapes that increase their taste shades.
It is also the case of the Italian white wine of the Hills of the Trasimeno, where the lake exercises its influence on the vineyards and allows to obtain white wins vivacious, and at the same time elegant and refined, or wines of the area of Torgiano where white wines fragrant and full come from the hills with the warm climate, at the south-east of Perugia, wealthy of clayey, sandy and calcareous lands, laying on tuff substratum. The Altotiberini hills above the Tevere river at the northern limit of the region almost up to Perugia, are taking profit of the Trebbiano Toscano grapes and of the Malvasia of the Chianti and produce some excellent light wines. The Amerini Hills, at the east of the Tevere river and along the valley of the Nera river, and the Martani hills, on the high plains between Todi and Foligno are generating doc wines among which the most famous are the Trebbiano, the Grechetto, and the Grechetto of Todi. At last, the Orvietano, is the area of the famous vineyards of Orvieto.


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An agricultural exhibition, Field Day, organised by Uralchem, was held at Agrofirma Savali in Kirov Oblast. The event was attended by leading specialists from Uralchem's agronomic sector, as well as the company's partners Econiva-Tekhnika, a supplier of agricultural machinery and equipment, and Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Company, a producer of plant protection products. A total of 90 agricultural producers attended the forum.
JSC "United Chemical Company "Uralkhim" took part in the international agricultural exhibition "AgroVolga-2021". The event took place from July 1-3 in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan.
URALCHEM trading house will increase the volume of mineral fertilizers to the territory of the Chuvash Republic already in spring. The decision was taken at a working meeting of URALCHEM's representatives with the management of the region's Food Fund.


In this essay we are going to talk about the farmer. A farmer is the true server of the country. He is the reason for the country’s wealth. Without a farmer, there is no country that would cherish food. He brings food to our plates working his knees off and even skipping his meals. A farmer is the backbone of the country. He is selfless and always believes in hard work. A farmer engages and incorporates agriculture in his life until his last breath, he continues to practice farming. No matter the losses, he never gives up due to circumstances.
Short Essay On Farmer
He basically cultivates his own land or works on others’ lands for yield. They grow plants, raise animals and look after crops. Their whole crop yield depends on the weather which is indeed unpredictable. After all the hard work, nature is who decides their results. Farming involves a lot of labor. They have to work day and night with sleepless nights to protect crops.
But it is so hard to see them die because of crises. Their lands are being corrupted by the corporate world. No water is allowed to flow through their fields. Their fields are snatched from them. They are being exploited way more than we think. Aren’t we responsible for it?
Being a farmer in any country is tough. The amount of support they need is immeasurable. There are many scenes in many countries where children from farmer families are being subjected to not receiving opportunities in life. They are discriminated against and criticized and the ironic thing is they should be treated on top of the world and yet they gain nothing good in return.
How can we help them?
1. Protect and preserve the environment
Environment plays a crucial role in agriculture. We should protect our flora and fauna and maintain a balanced ecosystem for everything to be synchronized. Their practices are very well cherished.
2. Initiate programs
Initiate programs to help them with resources and in selecting better products for the production. To make them understand how it is better to use organic ways to cultivate crops and give techniques.
3. Teach new techniques
Generally, they lack in implementing techniques and still follow old methods of cultivating the land. With this being, the soil is being depleted due to the long stay of the crop. In order to prevent soil fertility and to have a perennial year, they should be taught new techniques in farming and educated about it in vast horizons.
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4. Do not waste food
It feels so easy to just dump food in the trash can right? But what goes inside underserved is the hard work they put in to produce that one piece of food and simply dump it like that. Waste no food. Cook how much is required and preserve. Wasting food will simply cost your money and put their hard work in trash cans which seems pathetic.
5. Food security
Many of them and their families are malnourished. They do not receive sufficient food that is needed for basic living. They barely eat anything all day. Food security needs to be improved by providing them with better groceries, supplements, and so on.
They are under-seen and left out from this society. They are treated the worst. We together should help them grow and make them accessible to all the facilities they require. It is our responsibility as they fill our stomachs without any selfishness of anyone treating them happy.


How To Create A Drought Tolerant Yard
Living in California means we don’t have much water. Either from rain or from snow melt. Here rain helps with our plants but our drinking water comes from up north. So if there isn’t a lot of snow melting in the spring we will have less water for the summer. We are in a drought and have been for over a decade so many people are doing a drought-scape in their yards. It is a great way to reduce water consumption and save on our water bill. Added bonus, I fired my gardener and am saving $65 a month. I applied for the drought rebate program with the water company and was approved a few months later. Prior to starting work on my yard it didn’t look too great. I had a mix of random types of grass growing and lots of weeds. It didn’t look bad if it was mowed short and watered often, but since my water bill seems to always be too high I’ve been trying to reduce my watering and only water my vegetable planters and my fruit trees. Before you start a job like this it is a good idea to figure out your supplies ahead of time. We used 3 pallets of wood chips (mulch). Each pallet held 60 bags. Each bag cost $3.67 plus tax. We thought we’d have extra to return but we actually used it all up and could use about 10 more bags. If you are ordering by a pallet it is easier to order extra and return some. We bought the wood chips from Home Depot. The cost for delivery was $79. This cost was the same, regardless of the number of pallets. So it was better to order three pallets and have extra rather than order two and need more. If we had extra we could always put a few in a truck to return them. If we needed more we would have to pay a new delivery fee.
If you want to be frugal and do this yourself read more. Lots of tips and tricks I learned. I helped a few family members in their yards and they helped me do mine. Great win-win. We had 3-4 adults and two teens working so we got it done pretty fast.
Before doing the any work my yard was sorta green, not great looking grass. Lots of weeds ( you couldn’t tell if the grass was really short but it was really a mix of weeds and lots of different types of grass). I like grass, when it looks good. But comparing the grass-yard to my new drought-yard, I love the new one.
For the areas where I am keeping plants, it is important to have good topsoil, good fertilizer and some insecticide and fungicide products, incase your plants get sick. I found products from The Dirt on Dirt to work great in the garden. They are environmentally friendly, non-toxic and fast acting. My rose bushes and artichoke plants also get aphids. I found the Eco-Mite is a great insecticide Miticide and is safe for flowers and vegetables.
I’ve used the Eco-PM Fungicide on my orange tree. It was getting leaf curl and the leaves were turning brown and dying. After using the Botanical Fungicide three times (once a week or two) I noticed the leaves weren’t getting worse. Looking a few weeks later, the tree had new,healthy leaves, and the leaves are looking a lot better.
The fruit trees in the photo (and some not seen) are dwarf lemon (behind the bench), fruit cocktail (in the center), plum (behind the fruit cocktail) and dwarf orange (on the right). I want to plant a dragon fruit tree on the front-right. Since it needs less water than everything else I might put some bricks around it and make it a little raised.
Garden Vegetable Planters. Empty for winter but will soon have lots of veggies in them. The NutriRoot is a great liquid soil applied fertilizer to help plants develop a good root system. I use this every time I plant a new tree. My dad built the raised garden planters with some wood and paint. Took a few hours to cut and paint the wood then he brought them over and we assembled them, did some touch-up paint and filled each with soil. Living in Southern California means I can plant so much! Last year we had melon, corn, artichoke, tomatoes, watermelon, pumpkins, lettuce and a lot more.I’m not sure what I’m doing with this side yet. I was thinking some stepping stones leading to a bistro set. It is hard to see but there is a few plants on the left side. Right now they are blending in with the wood chips but they’ll get taller and add some dimension to the yard.
The top front yard had about 7 plants, so far. I’m going to plant two trees (left and right side) soon. The right of the driveway has a rosemary and sage (very top) and on the right of them a raised vegetable garden. I usually plant my tomato plants here that I get every year from Tomatomania. Below that is some lantana, aloe and lavender.
When adding wood chips make sure you get a LOT! Make a guess on how many you need and double it. This was our first try. But they didn’t spread out enough and it left the ground with bare patches. This was before we bought the pallets. Frugal Tip: Any bags of soil or wood chips that had rips or tears in them were 50% off at Home Depot.
In the front I want to do a dry river pathway and add a few large rocks too. Something to break up everything and add some style. I did not buy any huge plants since they are not safe close to the house (don’t want a place for potential burglars to hide) and on the parkway I was told I could not plant large plants that would block people from getting in/out of their car if they parked on the street in front of my house. All in all, my estimated budget for the whole project was about $2500 and I spent $2000, so I was under budget. Part of this was from using some potted plants I already had (to put in the space on the right of the driveway), shopping sales for plants, soil and wood chips and having family help with the labor. In the spring, when wood chips are about 50% off on all bags, I will buy some more to make the overall height of them a little higher to deter weeds and grass from growing.
On top of reducing my water bill on grass, I have a prettier yard. New raised veggie planters. Fired my gardener and am saving about $800 a year. Saving about $100 a month by using less water. It is a great win-win for the environment and my pocketbook.


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7 DAYS UNTIL 40%-90% OFF BEGINS. THE WAREHOUSE SALE IS ALMOST HERE. STARTS 01.25 AT 9AM
Since 2004, Brandon Tai has been keeping bees in urban Atlanta.
In 2007 bears decimated his hives placed in north Georgia to capture the sourwood honey flow.
Since then he has begun anew and started Honey Next Door, cultivating over 130 hives across 12 different Atlanta neighborhoods, including Candler Park, Morningside and Decatur to name a few!


» Home: Zoroastrian Heritage
How to Sprout Wheat and Lentils (Adas):
• Purchase whole grains and lentils and ensure from the seller that the grains and lentils are suitable for sprouting.
• Start the sprouting process 2 weeks prior to Nowruz.
• Place a 1 cm thick layer of grain or lentils good amount of seed on a nice plate or dish. A thinner layer produces a less dense growth.
• Soak the seeds in water for two days and then place them on a shallow plate and cover the seeds with a cotton cloth or thin towel.
• Place the covered seeds in a sunny location or under a light.
• Keep the grain moist (not soaking wet or dry) by squirting water over the shoots several times a day. Keep them covered with the cloth.
• In about 2 or 3 days, small sprouts appear. Remove the cloth and let the sabzeh grow (increased exposure to the sun will increase the growth speed).


We believe in responsible vine growing methods respectful of the vineyard and its environment. Our aim is to produce environmentally-friendly wines with the utmost respect of our terroir. Thus, our vines are cultivated according to the so-called « sustainable agriculture » standards by adjusting the interventions according to climatic conditions, to the observation and knowledge of the soil throughout the vegetative cycle of the vine.
Preserving our environmental legacy
The entire vineyard is monitored by an approved external body advocating a reduction of chemical treatments allowing the best organic balance brought to the vine while guaranteeing a perfect control of the risks incurred by the grapes throughout its growth as well as to preserve a constant quality of our wines.
At Domaine des Tilleuls, we believe that sustainable viticulture is indeed the very best way of preserving our environmental legacy for future generations.
A terroir between schist and clay
The terroir is a unique combination of soil and climate.
Located about 50 km from the Atlantic Ocean, the Pays Nantais’ vineyard benefits from an Oceanic climate. Winters are relatively mild with temperatures rarely falling below 0°C, while summers are warm and dry, but never too hot. Besides, the vineyard of Nantes, located south of the Loire River, is settled on the Armoricain Massif made up of various volcanic rocks whose there are a dozen different terroir.
At Domaine des Tilleuls, we are situated on siliceous-clay soil that is crossed by a schist vein. Of these two components of the terroir, the soil is the most subtle and the most exciting. The vines draw the moisture they need to grow from between the plates of schist, the roots penetrating down to a depth of some seven or eight metres, where ground water fills the empty spaces and cracks which will give minerality and a certain salinity to our wines. Another major component, the mineral rich clay, allows the soil to heat up slowly in springtime, which causes the vines to bloom early on. The clay’s good water-retention capacity is also very useful in summer. The silica and clay will give tenderness, aromatic complexity and delicacy to our wines.
The geological potential of the plots (exposure, slope, etc.) and the age of the vines also confer a specific personality to each wine, creating diverse and varied cuvées, with an excellent ageing potential.
It all starts with the pruning period, which takes place from November to March. This is the first vital step in determining the quality of a wine. At Domaine des Tilleuls, we practice single Guyot pruning, which consists in leaving one long fruit cane with ten buds and one or two spurs with one or two eyes each, to obtain a controlled yield in order to optimize and ensure a constant quality of our wines.
Viticulture is very susceptible to the vagaries of climate change, which can affect the quality of an entire harvest. Good weather conditions during the flowering of the vines, in early June, are essential for the proper development of the flower and the future harvest. Maturity and ripeness are fundamental for all of our varieties. This is why we practice topping and tying up, techniques that allow the grapes to reach better concentrations. The grapes start to ripen around August (veraison), at which point they already contain all the characteristics of their terroir and their vintage.
Ageing on the lees
Particular careful attention is taken at each grape harvest, the berries being tasted several times to ensure the very best sugar/acidity balance. This is a crucial step that determines the beginning of the harvest. Depending on the plots, harvesting starts early in the morning to take advantage of the lower temperatures and avoid oxygenation. Some of the grapes are hand picked, notably in our plots of old vines.
The grapes are then brought to the cellar where they are slowly and gently destemmed by pneumatic pressing to avoid oxidation and maceration. The debourbage is done via natural decanting over a period of 12 to 18 hours. The musts obtained are kept cold for a few days before the process of alcoholic fermentation begins. This is done at low temperature for part of our Muscadets, which allows a better extraction of their organoleptic qualities. Malolactic fermentation, performed after alcoholic fermentation, begins in November and ends in December. This technique is mainly used on part of our Chardonnays.
Our wines are then matured on their fine lees, which confers finesse and roundness to each of our cuvées. Of a usual duration of eight months, we also age some of our wines on their lees over a longer period (up to 18 months or more), for wines with greater body and substance, and notably more complex aromas.


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In this comprehensive review, we will explore the key benefits, features, and user experiences of the Plant Parent app. Discover how this app can revolutionize your plant care routine and make you a successful plant parent.
Overview of Plant Parent
Plant Parent is a user-friendly mobile application designed to assist plant owners in providing optimal care for their beloved green companions. With its array of features, Plant Parent equips users with the knowledge and tools necessary to nurture and maintain healthy and thriving plants.
Benefits of Plant Parent
- Smart Care Reminders: One of the standout features of Plant Parent is its smart care reminders. Forgetting when to water, fertilize, prune, propagate, or repot your plants will become a thing of the past. Simply add your plants to the app, and Plant Parent will send you timely notifications for all your plant care tasks. This ensures that your plants receive the attention they need, resulting in happier and healthier greenery.
- Light Meter: Plant Parent’s built-in light meter assists users in determining the optimal lighting conditions for their plants. By calculating the light level your plant is receiving, you can make informed decisions about its placement within your home. Adjusting your plant’s position based on accurate light measurements can significantly impact its growth and overall well-being.
- Plant Identifier: Have you ever come across a plant and wondered about its name or species? Plant Parent has you covered. With its plant identification feature, you can simply take a photo of any plant using the app, and it will promptly provide you with its name and relevant information. This feature eliminates the guesswork and allows you to learn more about your plant collection.
- Care Plans: Each plant has specific care requirements, and Plant Parent understands that. The app offers custom care plans tailored to your plant’s individual needs. Whether it’s watering, fertilization, lighting, or pruning, Plant Parent provides personalized care guidance to ensure your plants receive the ideal conditions for growth and development. Following these care plans will lead to healthier and more vibrant plants.
- Plant Illness Diagnosis: Identifying and addressing plant diseases can be a daunting task for many plant owners. However, Plant Parent simplifies this process with its plant illness diagnosis feature. By capturing a photo of a sick plant and submitting it through the app, Plant Parent will analyze the image and provide an accurate diagnosis. Additionally, the app will recommend an effective treatment plan, helping you nurse your plants back to health.
- Growing Site Recommendations: Finding the perfect spot for your houseplants can be challenging, considering their varying sunlight requirements. Plant Parent comes to the rescue by offering growing site recommendations. Whether you’re unsure about the best location for a specific plant or the amount of sunlight it needs, the app provides valuable insights to help you optimize the growth conditions for your plants.
- Plant Parent Premium: For users seeking additional benefits, Plant Parent offers a premium version. By upgrading to Plant Parent Premium, you gain access to unlimited plant disease identifications, an extensive library of rich plant content, one-on-one free consultations with gardening experts, and the ability to set care reminders for an unlimited number of plants. This premium package takes your plant care journey to the next level.


Filed under: Doing | Tags: okra, Propagation, rachael durrant, sowing seeds, toilet rolls
At last, ’tis the time to start sowing!
After waiting an age for some seeds to arrive from Tamar Organics, Rachael and I got involved with some toilet rolls, potting compost, propagating okra and tomatoes.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on the best way to propagate so I am going to break ranks and try everything which means using a rag tag army of bottles, cartons, toilet rolls, food cartons, leaf mulch, compost, soil and love.
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Monday, June 22, 2009
The importance of rice to the Japanese diet cannot be over stated. Rice has had a long, rich history in Japan, and even as times and trends change, rice will continue to play a part in Japanese culture and cuisine. It’s really the backbone of everyday life.
Since its introduction to Japan more than 2000 years ago, it has become the staple grain of this island nation. It grows well in Japan’s climate, and the annual rituals of sowing, transplanting, weeding and harvesting follow the seasons. Many homes in rural Japan have their own rice paddy.
When I stayed with Chef, Deco Nakajima and husband Everett Brown – at Brownsfield, an organic rice farm and health retreat – I helped bring in the rice harvest over the course of the fall, and over several paddies. Brownsfield grows enough rice to feed their family of 5 plus 5 interns for the whole year. That’s a bit more than 1000 pounds!
But, before you can harvest the rice there are structures to be built. Fence units made of bamboo need to be erected. Long 30 foot poles are harvested from the forest, the ends hollowed out so that one can handily fit into another. Support poles are fashioned, 2 together to create upside down v shape. The resulting fence will hold the bundles of rice, hanging to dry.
In fact, on my arrival at Brownsfield I was immediately sent into the forest with a hand scythe to go fetch some bamboo. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing but didn’t want to seem like a wimp, either. Off I went, and figured it out pretty quick. You want to work fast and efficiently in those woods since they are infested with mosquitoes!
Some folks wear rubber boots to venture into the paddy, but Everett subscribes to the barefoot method. Prepare to get very muddy! At first it’s a little creepy but after a while the cool mud is quite refreshing. Usually you work in pairs, with one person cutting off the sheathes of rice and another taking 2 bundles and tying them together with lengths of dried grasses. Big buzz of pride, once mastered!
Harvesting is a time for celebration, and usually a festive meal ensues, often pot luck. Once everybody gets hosed off! And while Deco and her crew are famous for their fabulous macrobiotic dishes, no meal is complete without a simple bowl of nutty organic brown rice, and a bowl of soothing Miso Soup. Intern Yuma, who was my farm boss and subsequently became my protégé in the kitchen (in breadmaking!) taught me this simple version that you can whip up on the spot in time for breakfast.
Miso Soup – Feeds 10
2.5 L water
1 yellow onion peeled and cut in 8 wedges
1 large carrot, scrubbed, cut in large dice
1 piece seaweed (kombu is good)
2 or 3 dried shitake mushrooms
2 – 3 large T of miso (can use white, yellow or red)
Optional garnishes: sliced green onions, enoki mushrooms, slivered red raddish.
In a large pot put all ingredients (except miso) on and bring to a boil. Turn heat to med and let simmer about 20 minutes. Scoop out mushrooms, remove and discard stems, cut cap in slivers and return to pot. Use a bit of the stock to moisten your miso, and return to pot. Let it warm through and garnish as you wish.
Posted by Patti at 9:43 AM


The beautiful world around us is called Nature. Nature include plants, animals, landscape and other feature which are not developed by humans. It also include weather, atmosphere, our ecosystem, flora, fauna etc.
Nature beautify our surrounding. This is the precious gift of god to our earth. Without nature our earth is totally dull and meaningless. There is no life on the earth. Our nature is also called “mother nature” because like other mothers, nature no wish us and complete our all the necessities. If there is no nature means there is no atmosphere on the earth then there would be no life on earth. The food we eat, clothes we wear, house where we live these are things have been provided by nature.
Components Of Nature:-
Nature include soil, atmosphere, radiation from the sun, water and living organisms.
A material composed of minerals, organic matter, living organisms, gases and water that support life. Various phenomenon occur in nature. Soil formation is one in them. Soil is formed by the process of weathering of rocks and minerals. Soil is the natural habitat for plants and animals. Upper layer of soil is called Humus. Humus is the top layer of soil. Humus contain the dead decaying organic matter and this layer is most productive layer of soil and this helps in the growth of the plant. Soil provide and transport water and nutrient minerals to the upper part of the plant that help in the generation and growth of the plant. This makes our environment Healthy and clean. Nature is more beautiful soil help in the production of many plants that provides us food and nourish human beings. Soil is the natural habitat for various microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms help in nitrogen fixation in legume plants and decompose dead decaying organic matter.
Importance of Soil:-
- Help in the growth of plant.
- Natural habitat for plants and microorganism.
- Help in nitrogen fixation.
- Biological habitat for microorganisms.
- Microorganism help in the decomposition of organic matter.
- Transport water, nutrient and mineral to upper part of the plant.
- Other types of soil used in construction.
Atmosphere is the layer of gases that surround our planet. Earth atmosphere is the mixture of gases include water vapours and dust particles.
=>Various Gases in the atmosphere are:- Nitrogen-78%. Oxygen-21%. Argon-0.9%. All other gases-0`1%.
- Gaseous form of water present in atmosphere is called water vapours.
- Dust particles help in condensation of water vapours.
- The main atmosphere is Temperature, Pressure, Wind, Humidity, Cloud, Precipitation.
=>Importance of various Layers & Atmosphere in our Nature.
- Troposphere :- This layer is the lowest And important layer of the atmosphere because all the climatic changes occur in this layer and due to the atmosphere because all the climatic changes in this layer and due to those climatic changes existence of life occur on the surface.
- Stratosphere :- This layer extends up to 50km from the earth surface. Air flows in this layer. This is ideal for flying of aircrafts.
- Mesosphere :- This layer extends up to 80km from earth surface. Meteors and shooting star exist in this layer.
- Ionosphere :- This layer spread up to 4oo km from the surface of earth. Radio forecasting is possible due to presence of this layer because radio waves are reflected back on the earth from this sphere.
- Exosphere :- This is the last layer of atmosphere and the density of air is least in exosphere.
- Atmosphere protect us from various harmful UV rays. If these rays reaches on the earth surface. It affects the life of human being very badly. These harmful rays cause harmful disease and also affect the life of plants and animals. Due to these UV rays, existence of life is not possible on earth.
- Atmosphere contain the air in which we breathe.
- Help in maintaining Earth’s temperature. If Earth’s temperature rises then human can’t survive and also vegetation is not possible on earth.
3.Radiation from the sun.
Radiation from the sun is also called sunlight. Sunlight has there major components.
- Visible light – Wavelength between 0.4-0.8 micrometer.
- UV light – Wavelength shorter than 0.4 micrometer.
- Infrared rays – Wavelength longer than 0.8 mocrometer.
Sun is beautiful creation of nature. It is the source of energy for most of the organisms large amount of solar radiation are absorbed by atmosphere.
Sunlight takes about 8.3 minutes to reach the earth surface.
Importance of Sunlight :-
- Source of energy – Sunlight is source of energy for plant, animals and microbes green plant use sunlight in the process of photosynthesis and make food which is consumed by humans and animals. Photosynthesis provides us O2 for respiration.
- Flowering and growth – Sunlight duration affect the time of flowering in plants or fruit crops and growth in trees. If duration is less this affect the bud generation and we cannot get fruit at appropriate time.
- Pigment – Light is necessary for synthesis of plant pigment. Strong light dry up the leaves and moderate gives dark colors.
- Light also affect the movement of animals. Example- Owl, bats, cockroaches, hide during day and active at night. Many animals attracted to light.
- Light affect the distribution of animals by affecting the flora.
- Growth – Sunlight have important role in photosynthesis, developing chlorophyll synthesis of growth harmones, opening and closing of stomata. If there is no sunlight then there is no growth.
Water is composed of 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen molecule. chemical formula of water is H2O.
Water is transparent or Adour less substance of our earth. It is present in all 3 state – Solid, Liquid, Gaseous state.
- 71% of earth surface covered by water.
- water is important for all the living organisms present on earth. Water is very important for human being. Water keeps our body hydrated and maintain or regulate our temperature and also help in maintaining our body functions.
- 97% water on earth is salty water and 3% is fresh water.
Natural sources of water are:-
- Ocean is the larger body of water. It has only all salty water.
- pacific ocean is the world’s largest and deepest ocean.
- Lake is largest body of slowly moving and standing water. Large area of fresh water surrounded by land is called Lake.
- Baikal is world’s largest fresh water lake.
- Pond is usually smaller than lake. Pond is an area filled with water. Either natural or artificial. Pond have standing water.
- Great Pond is the largest pond in world.
- Natural flowing freshwater is called River.
- Nile is the longest river in the world.
Instead of providing water these Ocean, river and other water bodies beautify our nature.
Importance of Water:-
- Beautify our nature.
- Useful in growth of plants.
- Useful for human being in regulating temperature and maintaining our normal body function.
- Useful in the survival for plants and animals. If there is no water then there is no life on the earth.
- Water helps in photosynthesis.
- Role in digestion of food and circulation of oxygen in body.
=>Water Pollution :-
- When there is addition of foreign substance to water which change the physical property of water and become hazardous or unfit particles which pollute water is called pollutants.
- Physical pollutants – Heat and Oil spills. Chemical pollutants – Pesticides (DDT, BHC), Radioactive waste etc. Biological pollutants – Viruses, Bacteria, Protozoa, Helminth, Algae etc.
- Humans causes water pollution they add organic waste, soap and detergent to rivers & lakes.
Effect of water pollutants:-
- Pollutants make water unfit for domestic and industrial use.
- Pollutant make water harmful for living organisms.
Control of water pollution.
- Separate ponds and tanks for animals.
- Before release from factories hot water should be cooled.
- Solid water recycled.
- Water hyacinth purify water.
Living organisms include plant, animals and microorganism.
- A plant is living thing that grow in the earth. Plant has root, stem, leaves. Plants absorb nutrient and water through roots.
- Plant need air, water, soil and sunlight for survival.
- Plant make their own food with the process of photosynthesis.
- Plants absorb CO2 and release O2 which is taken by humans oxygen is necessary for survival.
- Plant produce food in the for of fruit and we consume that.
- Many flowering plants beautify our surrounding. Example – Topiary, Gardening, Flowers.
- Plant Wood are used for many purposes like in House Making, in combustion etc.
- Some plant clean our water. Example – Lilly.
- Some plants purify or clean our air. Example – Peace Lily, Spider Plant etc.
- Plants are used for decorative purpose in house and flowers used in weeding.
- Various plants are used in aesthetic purpose. Example – Peepal (Ficus Religiosa)
- Various plants are used in medicinal purpose. Example – Tulsi, Garlic, Ginger etc. Although every plant have some medicinal properties.
- They provide shade.
- Through some plant parts we complete our body need for vitamins, minerals etc.
- Plants are the ultimate source of food and energy for animals.
By planting more number of trees we can control soil erosion and floods. They provide shelter for many animals and birds. We save our trees and plants more no. of trees so that we can also save our life.
“Save Trees, Save Life”
2.Animals and Microorganisms.
An animal is living creature such as Lion, Rabbit, Tiger or Elephant etc.
Kingdom – Animalia.
Animals are domestic and wild. Domestic animals are those animals that are kept by humans for their benefits. Example-Cow, Dog, Buffalo etc. Wild animals are those animals who lives in forests or they find their food, shelter on their own without the help of humans in their natural habitat. Example- Lion, Tiger, Wolf etc.
Microorganism- Any organism that can be seen under microscope. Microorganisms include Bacteria, Protozoa, Algae and Fungi.
- Animals help in maintain the earth’s natural environment by predating on plants and other animals.
- Maintain food chain in the environment.
- We get fiber, wool through some animals.
- Through the waste material of animals, we get FYM which is effective for the growth of plants.
- Microorganism decompose the dead decaying organic matter.
Many of animals get hunted by human beings foe their fun. This should be stopped by government. Government take strict action on this. Through this extinction of some animals occur but government take action and extinct animals are saved by making Sanctuaries, Sacred grooves etc.
Importance of nature:-
- Many things that is present in nature like plants, mountain, rivers, grassland beautify our nature.
- Nature provide us food, shelter, oxygen (for respiration) and various other things.
- Various medicines are provided by nature.
- Natural components protect our life from many diseases.
- By seeing nature, we feel happy, calm mind and we get peace.
- Everything which is the part of our nature and present in our nature have its own importance and value towards human being/ life of human being. So we should conserve our nature.
Moses Henry Cass Quote=>
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; We borrow it from our children”


I really love these garden sheds. With the weather warming up I’m finding myself in the garden a lot more these days. And it’s such a hack having to lug my tools down from the garage. Think I could do with one of these in a quiet corner… (as well as that greenhouse I mentioned a few weeks ago)
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Roots, Shoots & Leaves (published by Sunbird Publishers) is a book that celebrates vegetables and brings to life forgotten heirloom varieties. Recipes are simple, seasonal and delicious.Prickly Pears & Pomegranates Price: R340
The recipes in this book (published by Quivertree) have been passed down from five generations of Palmer women living on a Karoo farm steeped in culinary history. Also available in Afrikaans.
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The continued need for support to the Ukraine Relief Fund -
On June 6, 2023, the hydroelectric dam in Nova Kakhovka, near Kherson, Ukraine, was destroyed, flooding more than 100 towns and villages in southern Ukraine and forcing tens of thousands of war-weary Ukrainians to flee their flooded homes and farms to safer locations.
Ukrainian officials believe this catastrophe will leave hundreds of thousands of people without drinking water and destroy large regions of rich agricultural land, impacting the harvest of grain and the overall food supply.
Please pray with us about this situation.
We can be sure that we will receive additional relief requests due to this new devastating event.


In the world of agriculture, water is a resource as precious as it is unpredictable. For centuries, farmers have been grappling with the ever-present challenges of drought, flood, and irregular rainfall. But recent advancements in technology – specifically the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart sensors – are revolutionizing the way farms manage their water resources. So, how exactly are smart sensors and IoT enhancing agricultural water management? Let’s dive in to understand better.
In essence, the Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. In the context of agriculture, these "things" could be anything from soil moisture sensors to automated irrigation systems.
IoT-based solutions offer real-time data collection and monitoring, making it easier for farmers to manage water resources effectively. Gone are the days when farmers had to rely solely on experience and intuition to determine when and how much to water their crops. With IoT, they can now make data-driven decisions, leading to optimized water usage and increased crop yield.
Smart sensors are a critical component of IoT technology. They are essentially devices that detect and respond to some input from the physical environment. In farming, sensors are used to measure variables like soil moisture, temperature, and ambient humidity.
Dans le meme genre : What Is the Role of Robotics in Achieving High-Efficiency Recycling Processes?
The data gathered by these sensors can be incredibly valuable for farmers. For example, soil moisture data can inform irrigation scheduling, helping to prevent both overwatering and underwatering of crops. This can result in significant water savings, crucial in regions where water scarcity is a serious concern. Additionally, smart sensors can provide data in real time, allowing farmers to react swiftly to any sudden changes that could potentially harm their crops.
Combining smart sensors and IoT technology can result in highly efficient data-driven irrigation systems. These systems use soil moisture sensors to determine exactly when the soil is dry and needs watering. When the sensor detects that the soil has reached a predetermined dryness level, it sends a signal to the irrigation system, which automatically starts watering the crops.
This automated, data-based approach to irrigation is a game-changer for water management in agriculture. It ensures that crops receive the exact amount of water they need, at exactly the right time. As a result, it significantly reduces water waste and helps to conserve this precious resource.
Another significant advantage of IoT and smart sensor technology in water management is the ability to provide real-time monitoring and alerts. This means that farmers can be immediately notified if there is an issue with their irrigation system or if sudden weather changes have caused soil moisture levels to drop drastically.
By being alerted to issues in real time, farmers are able to intervene and correct problems much more quickly than they would be able to otherwise. This can be the difference between a successful harvest and significant crop loss.
With the continuous advancements in IoT and sensor technology, the future of farming is undoubtedly digital. But it’s not just about making farmers’ lives easier. These technologies also have the potential to significantly reduce the agricultural sector’s environmental impact.
By optimizing water management, we can reduce water wastage and the energy used for irrigation. This not only conserves natural resources but also contributes to the fight against climate change. Hence, IoT and smart sensors are not only transforming farming practices but are also helping to create a more sustainable future for agriculture.
In a world where water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, the importance of efficient water management in agriculture cannot be overstated. And with the help of smart sensors and IoT, we’re making strides towards achieving just that. So, the next time you bite into a juicy apple or a crisp lettuce leaf, remember: there’s a high chance that IoT and smart sensors played a part in bringing that food to your table.
Quality of water is critical in agriculture, not only for irrigation but also for livestock and crop health. Traditionally, testing water quality was a tedious and time-consuming process. However, the integration of IoT devices in agriculture has revolutionized how farmers manage water quality.
Smart water sensors are now providing real-time data on the quality of water. These sensors can monitor various parameters such as pH, salinity, turbidity, and the presence of harmful chemicals or bacteria. When the IoT sensors detect values outside the acceptable range, alerts are sent to the farmer’s device in real time.
Furthermore, IoT enabled devices can collect data over time, allowing for the tracking of water quality trends. This is especially beneficial in areas where water sources may become contaminated due to factors such as industrial waste, natural disasters, or climate change. By tracking these changes, farmers can take necessary actions to either purify the water or find alternative sources, thereby protecting their crops and livestock from potential harm.
By integrating these IoT based management solutions into their operations, farmers can ensure the health of their crops and livestock, leading to better yields and higher quality produce. It also contributes to sustainable farming practices by averting the overuse of potentially contaminated water.
Embracing IoT and smart farming technologies is more than a trend; it’s a necessary step for the future of agriculture. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for food increases. Simultaneously, climate change and the increasing scarcity of water resources make it imperative for the agricultural sector to adapt and optimize its practices.
The use of IoT water sensors and smart irrigation systems can substantially improve the efficiency of water usage. Precision irrigation, enabled by real-time soil moisture data, ensures that crops receive the exact amount of water they need, reducing wastage and conserving water resources.
Moreover, real-time monitoring and alerts allow farmers to promptly address issues that could harm their crops. Whether it’s a malfunctioning irrigation system or a sudden drop in soil moisture due to weather changes, the immediacy of real-time data allows for swift intervention.
In addition, the application of IoT in water quality testing offers remarkable opportunities for safeguarding crop and livestock health. Ensuring the use of high-quality water reduces the risk of lower yield and poor-quality produce.
As we look to the future, smart agriculture powered by IoT and smart sensors holds immense promise. By improving water management and optimizing usage, these technologies play a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for food while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The future of farming is not just about producing more; it’s about producing better, with less impact on our environment. This paves the way towards a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector, capable of feeding the world, today, and in the future.


Responsibly sourced specialty coffee direct from farms utilizing sustainable business and farming practices roasted right and delivered fast. In short: Beautiful coffee.
We source our coffee through a company based in Bolivia that has invested in several farms in South America. They have taken these farms under their wing and are teaching the producers responsible farming practices: how to treat both the earth and man with integrity and justice, and how to grow excellent coffee. There are incentive programs built in wherein the producers are rewarded for utilizing sustainable business practices and for the quality of the beans they produce. The result is a producer who is excited and energized to respect the earth and produce excellent coffee. We ship the coffee to our roastery in Corpus Christi, Texas, and we take it from there.
We as coffee roasters, in turn, take our part very seriously, and we strive to perfect the roast. Coffee varies greatly from origin to origin, and even from crop to crop. Each bean has distinctive flavors, with flavor notes ranging from chocolate to nutty, cinnamon to honey, and on. The challenge of the roaster is to roast in such a way that the inherent and distinctive flavors are preserved and celebrated. A poor coffee roaster will serve his coffee either raw or baked. Under-cooked and sour or over-roasted like charcoal.
You’re in luck. With us, you get full disclosure. Not only do we communicate the source data concerning our coffee (you get country, region, coop, and sometimes even farm information, altitude, processing methods, and flavor profile), but we also disclose to you the date on which we roast the coffee. It would be much easier for us to roast all of our coffee and store it indeterminately until you purchase it. It’s our guarantee that we won’t do that. You get coffee that’s fresh; that’s our promise.


Some time back I came across this nice article by Dr. NandKumar Kamat about growing Oyester mushroom at home and since then my hands were just to carry out the experiment myself.
Two roadblocks in this experiment were to be getting the mushroom spawn (kind of mushroom seed) and paddy straw, incidentally the only two significant raw materials required to grow mushrooms at home.
Department of Horticulture, Biotechnology Center, Hulimavu sells Mushroom spwan for just Rs. 8/- a packet, and that solves one of the problems. Here is how it looks.
The next raw material i.e., paddy straw, takes some searching in a city like B’lore (Google perhaps can’t help you out here with their current suit of products). Probably the fruit vendors or glass shops can help here as their materials normally comes packaged in straw.
But once you have these two ingredients, the rest is a cakewalk. There are already numerous sites including the above article which speak in detail about how to cultivate mushroom.
So, I think i’ll emphasize on saying it pictorially.
This spawn packet is enough for roughly 2 standard size plastic bags full of growing medium (in our case it’s paddy straw, i hear there are other mediums also).
Again roughly, if you take one plastic packet bag full of dry straw, after post processing (soaking in water), it will be just enough for 2 plastic bag full of growing medium.
So, I just cut 1 bag full of dry paddy straw into pieces of 3″-4″ inch each, for the lack of a better cutting instrument, i used our kitchen scissors. Well, my wife wasn’t very happy about it, but somehow convinced her, by promising a bumper crop of mushrooms 🙂
Step 2.Soak the cut paddy straw in a bucket of water overnight.
Once soaked overnight take out the paddy straw and boil them in fresh water. This is done to kill the surface contaminants. So, just boil it for the amount of time we normally boil plain water to make it fit for drinking. Just in case one is doing
Once boiled, drain out the water and put the straw for drying. May be on a
Take two plastic bags of average size, pastic packets in which the mens briefs come are just ok for this purpose. Cut few holes in them for giving passage to air. In those bags put the straw upto 3-4 inch height, then put handful of mushroom spawn ideally
then mushroom spawn. Continue this, such that you 4-5 layers of straw and mushroom spawn in a bag.
tie the top of the bag and keep in dry and cool place for 18-20 days. I chose my old TV carton for this purpose. Here is how it looked at this stage:
For the next 20 days, its test of one’s patience. As the only thing required to be done in this period is to leave it alone. At the end of 20th day, cut open the plastic, and here is how it looked:
For the next 12-15 days, once in every 3-4 days you will get mushroom cropping up on this. Only thing required is to keep spraying some water onto it 3-4 times a day.
So, I did get the reward for all this work in the form of this:


The business sector is ready to scale up and facilitate investment in critical areas, support productivity and competitiveness to create prosperity, if the right policy environment is in place. Moreover, manufacturing should be among the priority sectors for viable business initiatives and to create more and better jobs, especially for young people.
Africa’s precarious food security situation is the result of a variety of factors, some of which are structural.
The war in Ukraine is the latest shock to hit global food production, causing concern about the food security situation in African continent.
While African farmers have land, they must depend on other countries for essential inputs such as fertilizer. And here at the EU-Africa Business Summit in Brussels, participants are calling for more private sector involvement and investment in African agriculture.
Europe could benefit from Africa, has plenty of opportunities to offer in terms of innovations and technologies, with the world’s population projected to increase to 10 billion by 2050, food production should remain high on the international agenda’s unquestionable concerns.
Africa will rest heavily on building resilient agriculture value chains, investing in climate change adaptation, infrastructure and local manufacturing.
The Africa continent needs more than ever reliable partners, all stakeholders of the food value chain to stand with their partners and their customers on the continent. We at OCP are well aware of our responsibility to maintain our role as partners of Africa’s green re


2020’s CHALLENGES FOR GLOBAL TOBACCO FARMERS
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on most economic sectors and the tobacco sector is no exception. Although it is still too early to assess the long-term effects of the novel coronavirus on the industry, some of its short-term effects can already be seen.
One of the main consequences of the lockdown has been the postponement of the marketing season in several countries. In certain cases, restrictions have continued even after the lifting of the lockdown. In the case of Malawi, tobacco growers were forbidden to physically attend auctions and were represented by farmers’ associations. This restriction made growers uncomfortable, especially the smaller growers, and together with the prices offered motivated protests as growers felt they were badly represented when they saw the outcome prices. As a consequence, some small growers even considered abandoning the tobacco-growing business. However, despite this instability, the average price has increased in the 2020 marketing season, from US$1.44 per kg in 2019 to US$1.51 per kg, as of June 26. To date, the crop volume is 64,402 tons, a reduction of 10% when compared with the previous year. This reduction is not only due to the pandemic but also to the heavy rains that continued until March, which in addition caused a loss of quality.
The auctions in Zimbabwe were postponed until the end of April and reopened later with a restricted number of attendants. Small growers were also barred from attending auctions and had to designate a Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) registered grower representative to make the decisions on their behalf. Similarly to Malawi, this marketing season is showing an increased average price in Zimbabwe. Until July 3, the average price was at US$2.36, a 30.39% increase when compared to the same period last year. At the reporting date, total sales showed a 1% decline, which translates into a volume of 110,000 tons sold. This decrease in tobacco sales can also be explained by the introduction of the foreign exchange auction system. Some tobacco growers were holding on to their crops while waiting for better exchange rates.
In India, tobacco growers have been struggling at the auctions as well. The difficulties started with the lockdown but continued after the reopening of the auction systems. Tobacco growers couldn’t sell their tobacco leaf because few traders were buying the stock. For this reason, the government of Andhra Pradesh decided to intervene in the market by establishing minimum prices and purchasing tobacco bales to ensure better prices for the tobacco leaf. After the government’s decision, buyers increased their bid price by 15%. The state also reduced the penalties for excess sales of tobacco leaf.
Karnataka sold 6,000 tons above the officially approved level of 100,000 tons for the year, so tobacco growers are expecting the state government to have an approach similar Andhra Pradesh’s. Currently, Andhra Pradesh has already sold 47,306 tons of leaf at an average price of US$1.91, while Karnataka sold 106,208 tons at an average price of US$1.65.
In South America, the marketing season is almost over. In Brazil, 76% of the tobacco crop had been sold and the season will be extended until mid-August, according to Afubra. Due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic, this auction season was conducted via videoconferences, while growers send tobacco leaf samples to its buyers to confirm the product agreement with the standards. In addition to the pandemic crisis, southern Brazil also faced a prolonged drought at the beginning of the year, causing losses in the quality of the leaves. Overall, until May 9 average prices, when compared to last season’s, showed a slight increase: 3,4% for Virginia tobacco, 1.6% for Burley, and 1.8% for Galpão (dark air-cured).
While the rest of the world starts to go back to a new normal, Argentina is back to phase one of the lockdown. This has an increasing impact on the tobacco sector’s economic crisis. In fact, the sector, which is in the last days of its marketing season and starting the planting phase, has been dealing with delays in payments, lack of resources, and preventive closure of cooperatives and industries.
Consequently, small growers that are now starting the planting phase are worrying about whether they will be able to do it or not.
North America is at the planting phase along with Argentina. Several states had already completed the transplanting at the beginning of July. In Kentucky and Tennessee, the transplanting of dark tobacco was delayed largely due to rainfalls, which can pose a problem for those growers that have adopted the double cropping system. Also, at some locations in Virginia, the fieldwork was delayed for two weeks due to the rainfalls that flooded the fields, though transplanting is already completed.
In North Carolina, growers had to face adverse conditions as they went from wet and cool weather to hot and dry weather very quickly, which caused complications during the planting phase. The lack of rainfall has allowed fieldwork to be done easily, but crops are behind their normal development at this point. In South Carolina, weather conditions were the opposite, and crops benefitted from the frequent rainfalls.
Georgia and Florida have already begun harvesting and the quality of the leaves is looking good even though they appear to be lighter than in previous years. It is estimated that around 3,237 ha of flue-cured have been planted in Georgia and about 404 ha in Florida.
Overall, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is estimated that in 2020 the planting area decreased by 2% when compared to 2019, translating into a decrease in all types of tobaccos, except for the Pennsylvania Seedleaf.
In terms of Oriental tobacco, the major producing countries will have crop reductions. Turkey expects a cut its crop size by 12%, North Macedonia expects a decrease of 10% , and Greece is estimating a reduction of 15% when compared with the previous year. Bulgaria is the only country that will maintain a crop size of 5,200 tons, unchanged from last year.
International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA)


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Our patented technology enables us to give plants the perfect amount of nutrients, water, lighting, and atmospheric conditions.
Groviv scientists and botanists constantly analyze every harvest, then feed this data back into our automated controlled environment platform, or GroPod™, to improve each new crop.
The GroPod™ solves many critical farming issues: fresh water, arable land, chemical run-off, weather, and energy use.
We see a bright future for agriculture. One that’s sustainable…both financially and environmentally. Our vision is to partner with Ag producers and provide solutions to help responsibly nourish the world.
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Take extra good care of your lawn
Your lawn has a hard time in autumn because of the rain and cold. That is why your lawn could use some extra attention. Keep your lawn free of leaves as much as possible and give it a final mowing at the end of October. Be careful not to cut the grass too short. A little longer grass keeps out weeds and moss because the grass absorbs the sunlight. Finally, sprinkle some grass seed in the bare spots to fill them up again.
Move plants, plant bulbs
Regular precipitation ensures that the soil is moist in autumn. As it is often not yet cold in autumn, this season is suitable for planting new flower bulbs for the spring. Do this no later than October! If you plant your flower bulbs at this time of year, they can gain strength before the winter comes.
Vegetable garden season
September and October are not the only times when you have to get your garden ready for autumn: For lovers of home-grown vegetables, autumn is the ideal season! Endive, winter carrots, spinach and lamb’s lettuce are all easy to grow now. Cress is also good for sowing.


Egerton-Warburton, L , BassiriRad, H , Sehtiya, H , Lussenhop, J .
Uptake kinetics of organic and inorganic nitrogen in ectomycorrhizal Quercus seedlings.
Ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species predominate in temperate forests where nitrogen (N) is generally considered to be the main growth- limiting factor. One dimension of EM functioning is the ability to access different soil N pools. Although there is evidence to suggest that EM fungi can gain direct access to organic N, only a small proportion of EM fungi have been tested to date. Such EM fungi were able to acquire amino acids and peptides, but some species appear to have a limited ability. These differences suggest that any change in N resources- including the physiological differences among EM fungi for N uptake and source, and those projected under the scenarios of anthropogenic N deposition- could feedback to influence plant growth and forest structure. We examined the uptake of organic (glycine) and inorganic (ammonium, nitrate) N in seedlings of Quercus alba and Q. rubra. Seedlings were each inoculated with one of six EM-forming species from the Basidiomycetes (Laccaria, Tricholoma, Cortinarius subg. Telamonia, Clavulina, Amanita) or Ascomycetes (Pezizales); these taxa included early (Laccaria, Pezizales) and late-successional EM fungi (Cortinarius, Tricholoma, Amanita). Nitrogen uptake kinetics were measured in hydroponic cultures. Depletion curves showed that in symbiosis, all EM fungi readily acquired glycine. Ammonium was acquired by certain EM, but nitrate uptake was higher in non-mycorrhizal than EM plants, suggesting that EM fungi may have a limited capacity to metabolize nitrate. Any increases in soil nitrate through atmospheric N deposition could therefore be detrimental to EM fungi and their host plants. We also detected differences in N uptake with EM colonization, and that Q. alba was more dependent on EM than Q. rubra. These factors could feedback to influence oak establishment and function by altering the efficiency of N uptake with changing N supply from the environment.
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1 - Chicago Botanic Garden, Institute for Plant Biology and Conservation, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA
2 - University of Illinois, Biological Sciences, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Location: Boulevard A/Hilton
Date: Tuesday, July 10th, 2007
Time: 3:30 PM


The Fungal Alchemy: Understanding Psilocybin
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, has captivated the human imagination for centuries. In recent times, the interest in cultivating these mystical fungi has surged, and one of the key tools in this pursuit is the psilocybin grow bag. These specialized bags provide an environment conducive to the growth of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, offering enthusiasts a fascinating journey into the world of fungal alchemy.
The Mechanics of Magic: How Psilocybin Grow Bags Work
Psilocybin grow bags are designed with precision to create an optimal environment for the cultivation of psilocybin-rich mushrooms. Typically consisting of a substrate, which serves as the nutrient-rich base for mushroom growth, and a filter for gas exchange, these bags create a controlled ecosystem. The substrate contains a carefully balanced mix of organic materials, fostering the mycelium’s growth—the precursor to mushroom formation. The filter allows the exchange of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide, crucial for the metabolic processes of the growing fungi.
The Appeal of Psilocybin Grow Bags: Accessibility and Efficiency
The popularity of psilocybin grow bags lies not only in their effectiveness but also in their accessibility for both beginners and experienced cultivators. These bags simplify the intricate process of mushroom cultivation, making it more approachable for those eager to explore the world of psychedelics. Compared to traditional methods, grow bags reduce the risk of contamination, enhance yield, and provide a controlled environment that accelerates the growth cycle, offering an efficient and reliable means of producing psychedelic mushrooms.
Legal and Ethical Considerations: Navigating the Psilocybin Landscape
As interest in psilocybin cultivation grows, it is essential to navigate the legal and ethical dimensions of such endeavors. While some jurisdictions permit the cultivation of certain psychedelic mushrooms for personal use, others strictly prohibit it. Understanding and respecting the legal framework is crucial to ensure a responsible and ethical engagement with psilocybin cultivation. As enthusiasts embark on this journey, they must tread carefully, acknowledging the potential risks and consequences associated with the cultivation and consumption of psychedelic mushrooms.


Seven Hills Directions:
Thank you to all our customers who provided such praise for our delicious Dorper lamb. In the end we sold 55 lambs, and already have orders for our next batch. We hope to provide more lamb in a box in the Spring. If you would like some please email me and I will add you to our list.
The farm is getting busier. Josh is now harvesting about 120 dozen a day (Jack helps and so do I), and we are grading and delivering eggs six days a week. The new flock have started laying and the older hens are back on the lay. We call it an EGGPLOSION! Almost 1500 eggs a day is a lot of eggs. Demand is growing. We are adding more stores and selling heaps at the farmers markets. Last week was 171 dozen at Woodend market!
Seven Hills Organic Farm is nestled in the Kerrie Valley in the Macedon Ranges Shire. The Murray family, own and run the farm using organic and biodynamic techniques. Our goal is for the farm to provide 100% of our daily meals – and to introduce people to some of the best and freshest produce available along the way.
We sell most of our produce at local farmers markets (these include Woodend, Lancefield, Riddells Creek, Kyneton and Trentham Farmers markets), organic health food stores (Plump in Yarravile, and Alma Organics in Point Cook) and more recently independent supermarkets near the farm. These include Foodworks in Gisborne and Riddells Creek, and IGA in Trentham and Romsey. Royal George in Kyneton and Moobies in Macedon now both serve our eggs for breakfast. Our eggs are also available at Mass Nutrition in Moonee Ponds, Berties Free Range Butcher in Richmond and the Rustic Organic Sourdough Bakery in Greensborough.
It took almost a year for us to find our farm, many weekends dragging the kids around, bribing them with visits to the local bakeries. The day after we gave up our search, and resigned ourselves to staying in Gisborne for a bit longer, we got an email. more »
I grow all my flowers on the farm and have a mix of varieties so I have them all year round. Dahlias are my favourite. more »
In early 2009 Mom asked me to take over the responsibility of looking after the hens. By June 2010 Mom and Dad realised that as I was doing all the work for the chickens, it would be better for me to run it as a business and be in charge of everything. In the beginning I sold my eggs to friends and then started knocking on the door of businesses in Gisborne. Dad has his office there so it seemed an easy place to start.


Care & Feeding Your Orchids
Our intention here is to give you some very basic guidelines on how we manage to water & feed our orchids. As many of you already know, there are many variables that can influence this perfect state of balance. I hope you find this information useful, but please understand that our growing conditions probably vary from yours, so please keep that in mind. Careful observation of your plants, your daily weather and what type of orchids you are growing, coupled with appropriate care will have your orchids not just thriving, but flowering.
Some thoughts on Watering
Watering orchids is a fine balance between how loose or dense your media is, the type of orchid and what the weather is doing...hot & dry or cold & damp. All 3 factors must be considered every time you water. We like to grow in a very loose mix ( 1/2 New Zealand radiata Pine Bark & 1/2 perlite) which does dry out quickly but allows us to water 3 times a week with our typically warm, sunny Hawaiian weather. Should our weather become very wet, cool or not as much sun we will eliminate 1 watering cycle so that the plants will dry out.
Should you start seeing wrinkling on the pseudobulbs of oncidiums,zygopetalums & miltonias, on the canes on dendrobiums or very soft (limp celery) leaves on vandas, paphiodilums, masdavallias or phalenopsis your plants are too dry.
If your orchids are not getting enough water they will tap into the water reservoir of the older bulbs & canes in order to generate new growth or produce a flower spike. Monopodial orchids without bulbs or canes are most vulnerable as if they get dehydrated it will compromise the integrity of the entire plant.
Vandas in particular need to be watered sufficiently, which means almost daily. We grow ours with no media & water daily. The best is the double water method of watering generously and then 10 minutes later watering again with either fresh water or fertilizer. This primes the plant for better water uptake on the second watering.
Always water in the morning so that the plants do not becomes stressed during the heat of the day or 'go to bed with wet feet'. Wet roots at night can cause root rot, so by watering early in the day the plants have the opportunity to dry out before the evening rolls around.
Time Release Fertilizer
We apply time release fertilizer once the plant has established a good root system in their new pot. If we continue to grow the plant at our nursery beyond 1 year in that pot we top dress with another round of the 13-13-13.
Nutricote 13-13-13 270 day release (9 months)
Nutricote 18-6-8 90 day release (3 month)
Water Soluble Fertilizer
As we are commercial growers primarily of blooming orchids, not just near blooming size, we have a very thorough and consistent fertilization program as our goal is to turn benches of flowering orchids in a timely fashion. So, in addition to our top dress, time -release nutricote, we also fertilize with water soluble fertilizer that is injected through our irrigation system.
We typically rotate between - 20-9-20 and 13-2-13 both produced by Technigro.We foliar feed every 2 out of 3 waterings or basically 2x a week, the 3rd watering being just fresh water to flush the pots of any salt build up. Fertilizer is mixed at 150 ppm.
Fish Emulsion is also injected once every 2 weeks at 50 ppm (parts per million).
General Guidelines for Dendrobium, Cattleya, Oncidium, Intergeneric Oncidinae, Miltonia, Pahiopedalum, Zygopetalum and Masdavallia
- Temperature: 55 – 85 degrees
- Light: filtered (30 -50 % shaded) no direct sun
- Watering: 3 times week (once with fertilizer) in the morning for 3-5 minutes. Allow the plant to moderately dry out in between watering.
Do not water any orchids at night, as that will increase the chance of root decay from staying too wet.
- Fertilizer: Water heavily with a well balanced, liquid, foliar fertilizer such as 20-20-20 once a week. Water plant first, and then water again with fertilizer.
- Humidity: A pebble humidity tray helps keep the air moist around your plant if you are in an extremely dry area. Bathrooms are also good, for they tend to be more humid.
Miltonia, Paphiopdilem, Intergeneric Oncidinae and Zygopetalum and Masdavallias do not like to dry out completely in between watering and I suggest a humidity tray for these and more frequent watering in warmer weather.
Cattleyas and Dendrobiums like to dry out completely in between watering.
The American Orchid Society has individual culture sheets for many different orchid genus that can be down loaded from their web site linked below.
Membership to the American Orchid Society not only provides you with a beautiful magazine, -Orchids, 12 times a year which is packed full of information, but a member discount on books and gift items purchased through the Society.
Orchid Pest Management
Here in Hawaii we have some of the best year round weather and growing temperatures, but that can also mean year round issues with pests, fungus & bacteria. All of our plants are greenhouse grown under plastic (except paphiopedilum...they are under just shade cloth and are subject to all our rain), with just shade cloth for walls which does not provide a barrier for insects or fungal/bacteria spores.We have to be diligent with a regular spray program to prevent pest problems and plant loss due to fungal and bacterial issues. It is always best to keep these issues at bay, rather than treating the problem once it has become established.
The following information is meant to be a BASIC Guideline of how we prevent and/or treat Pests and Diseases. Please always read labels, mix at the correct label rate and follow the correct application schedule. Most importantly, always wear protective gear (Gloves, eye proctection, protective clothing) when mixing or applying any chemical and adhere to the proper re-entry levels.
Pesticides for Insect Control
Avid - Mites, Foliar Nematodes
Orthene - Aphids, scale
Admire - Thrips
Dipel - caterpillars
Conserve - Spider Mites
SlugFest - Slugs, Bush Snail
Distance - Scale
Dursban - Most sucking type insects
Rhapsody - We use this especially on our keiki production, small plants just out of flask.
Pentahalon - All purpose, both fungus and bacteria
Heritage - All purpose
Aliette - All purpose
Subdue - good for preventing root rot, pythium & phytophtera


Bushflow Herbals now stocks grow your own micro greens kits!
The simple process of growing micro greens enhances the enzymes in germinated seeds and legumes making them easier to digest. It also increases the amounts and bioavailability of protein, vitamins and minerals, transforming them into nutrient powerhouses...and they are SO easy to grow, and taste delicious.
You can choose from broccoli, pea or radish sprouts for $12 each. Packs come with everything you need to get started with growing your own micro greens, with compostable packaging and detailed instructions.


Production Costs and Returns of Selected Agricultural Commodities
International Standard Serial Number :
The report provides the updated estimates of production cost and returns for other selected commodities. It covers a total of 26 selected commodities excluding palay and corn. The commodities are classified into 8 groups namely: Fruits, Nuts, Root Crops, Bulbs, Vegetables, Legumes, Commercial/Industrial and Fisheries. The complete cost structures and profitability measures are presented by nature of costs incurred i.e., cash costs, non-cash costs and imputed costs.
Level of Disaggregation: National
Schedule of Release: No scheduled release


Total Produce Group
Total Produce Group is one of the largest providers of fresh fruits and vegetables in Europe, serving retail, wholesale, catering, and food production sectors. It is one of the leading companies in Ireland, UK, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Czech Republic. It also owns large companies in the Netherlands, Italy, and the Slovak Republic. The company has been operating in India since May 2008. The group provides complete solutions for fresh fruits and vegetables – from simple service providing to complete category management. It also has one of the largest capacities for ripening in Europe.
Meet Total Produce Group in 3 minutes
"Our competitive advantages – our people, our suppliers, our infrastructure, and our relationships – mean an added value for our customers, which gives them a deluxe service and exceed their expectations..."
Companies of Total Produce Group
- Charles McCann founded the company in Dundalk, Ireland
- N. V. McCann enters the company.
- Beginning of consolidation on the Irish market
- Establishment of United Fruit Importers Ltd.
- Establishment of Fruit Importers of Ireland (FII)
- Acquisition of Fyffes
- Acquisitions in Europe
2000 - 2004
- More European acquisitions (Hortim International – Czech Republic & Slovakia, 2002)
2006 - 2007
- Division of Fyffes pls into three groups: Fyffes plc, Blackrock International Land, and Total Produce plc
2007 - 2008
- The grown continues…


Main / Racing / Harvest moon game mobile
Harvest moon game mobile
Name: Harvest moon game mobile
File size: 171mb
If you were afraid this game was going to be a bad mobile port-job well, I've got This is not the Harvest Moon game you hope it's going to be. *Please note: Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories is compatible with devices that have more than 2GB of RAM* The original farming and life simulation game that. Download HARVEST MOON: Seeds Of Memories and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, game that started it all is now available on iOS with a full Harvest Moon . apps and rebooting my phone as CeeCee has told others online but still nothing.
Rising Star Games announced today that the very first mobile Harvest Moon game, Harvest Moon Lil' Farmers, is finally available on mobile. It's the very first Harvest Moon game to hit mobile (excepting the puzzle game Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming), prompting us to ask "Man. Harvest Moon is a popular Farming Simulation that offers RPG, . Farming Simulation created by Free Fun Mobile Games for Android and.
Harvest Moon: Seeds Of Memories is a game for Android and iOS that gathers the best of farming and Farm Away! is an idle farming game for mobile devices. A new mobile spin-off title from the Harvest Moon series is being aimed directly at younger children, Harvest Moon Lil' Farmers.


Get to Know Kitchen Garden Expert, Rita Bachman
Please meet Rita Bachman of Rita’s Roots. Rita and her crew provide total kitchen garden design and installation for the Lowcountry, and our Nexton residents love stopping by to chat (and nibble) when she’s working in the garden of our model home.
We think Rita is amazing. She embodies our values of living local and healthy, and we know for a fact that a custom kitchen garden quickly becomes the highlight of a home’s outdoor space. We caught up with Rita recently for a fascinating Q&A and we learned so much! Rita isn’t just a gardener and entrepreneur – she’s an artist. Now it all makes sense…
Q: Rita, when did you fall in love with gardening?
A: I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors and making art and being creatively organized when I was indoors. Gardening collides art and the outdoors and the organization is crucial in running a business. We had a garden when I was very young and I remember walking amidst the towering tomato plants.
We moved to a new house when I was eight, which had tremendous deer pressure, so gardening became a thing of the past. I do recall my mother teaching me about talking snapdragons and saving marigold seeds at the new house. I revisited growing my own food in college by participating in community gardens and was intrigued by the possibility of minimizing money spent at the grocery store.
Q: Why is organic gardening is so important?
A: I surely do not want to eat chemicals on my food, and I can’t imagine many others do either once they sit down to think about it. Many chemicals used in conventional agriculture were originally left over from World Wars – chemicals used to kill people in concentration camps and used to defoliate forests in Vietnam. And their repurpose after the wars end was to help grow food. These chemicals are incredibly toxic and are known carcinogens. Why use them on food, when farmers do not have to?
Organic is a legitimate, viable option that nurtures the soil and uses natural fertilizers and specific bacteria to target problem pests. When soil health is optimized, plants are healthy and naturally repel pests and disease. I do not believe in using products or practices that toxify the soil or the water or our bodies.
Q: Where did you go to college, and how did that help you expand your passion?
A: I went to the College of Charleston from ’00 – ’04 and graduated with a Political Science major and a Sculpture minor. At CofC I met some incredibly formative people in my life who helped educate me on where food comes from. I became a vegetarian for seven years and joined community gardens where I began experimenting with growing my own food and learning how to cook and use vegetables in the kitchen.
Q: How did you decide to start your own business instead of following an established career path?
A: After graduation (and not knowing what my career path should be) I began an apprenticeship on an organic vegetable farm in upstate New York. It was the hardest, longest work I had ever done, but by far the most fulfilling and empowering. To grow your own food and rely that much less on the industrial supply chain was liberating.
I learned how to be more self-sufficient and was honing my trade-able skill set. From medicine in the herb garden, to fruit in the berry patch and vegetables on the farm, we produced about 50% of what we ate. And it never tasted so good! I was hooked. From there I knew I wanted to be a farmer. I worked a second season on a farm in California and moved back to Charleston after that. There was very little happening in terms of organic vegetables here, so I had to make my own way.
Starting my own business came out of necessity. I began growing vegetables at a local farm and selling them at the farmers market and to restaurants. I worked in varying capacities with other established farmers, but once you work for yourself its hard to go back! Luckily my parents and my farmer mentors taught me how to work long and hard which has proven an absolute necessity for self-employment success.
I farmed in the field until 2010 and transitioned my passion to helping people grow food in their own yards. Rita’s Roots Backyard Harvest was founded spring of 2011 and we have been growing (figuratively and literally) ever since.
Q: Tell us about the vision for Rita’s Roots.
A: Rita’s Roots takes the Guesswork out of Gardening. We install raised bed organic vegetable gardens for our clients and then teach them how to grow food. We bring over all of the supplies needed in the garden – plants, seeds, fertilizers, sprays – and work with our clients to teach them all aspects of caring for a garden and keep them on the planting calendar to ensure garden success! We follow and teach only organic practices.
Our goal is to have everyone in the Lowcountry growing their own food, or at least eating locally grown vegetables. We have the ability to grow year-round here, even through the winter. Why not take complete advantage of that? In addition to supplying fresh, delicious organic vegetables, growing a garden gets families together outdoors to exercise, chat and share with neighbors, and is a major source of happiness and pride.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about your job?
A: Growing beautiful healthy plants and seeing the joy it provides my clients. I also love living with the seasons, the weather and how dynamic the business is. All seasons are different and it keeps it interesting! My clients are really fantastic, interesting people too!
Q: And you’ve got a great team helping you, right?
A: I have been blessed with reliable, talented, hard working friends who help me with all aspects of Rita’s Roots. Kim helps me with client visits and garden care, Aron builds boxes and perennial installations, and Jessica does the bookkeeping and nursery care. I could not do it with out them. I joke that when they are ready to move on, I need six months notice because that’s how long it will take to find and train a suitable replacement. Everyone knows their responsibilities and gets the job done, without me needing to micro-manage.
Q: Do you have public projects where people can see your gardens?
A: I own a small shop space downtown at 1630 Meeting Street, which I call the Container Garden. It is literally a shipping container that I have turned into part storage shed, part pop-up shop for essential Rita’s Roots approved garden supplies. The shop is literally open only after gardening classes and during plant sales in the spring and fall.
All around the Container, we have built garden boxes, which show off what can be grown throughout the seasons in our area. The gardens are open for viewing at all times. I also mentor the Green Heart Project by helping them match their gardening schedule with their programming curriculum. I help them grow a bountiful garden to teach and feed their students and get organic veggies into their homes and cafeterias.
Q: In what areas of Charleston have you built gardens for customers?
A: I have built gardens for families from Wadmalaw to Lake Marion and everywhere in between! We have a concentration of clients in Mt. Pleasant and West Ashley. The toughest part of my business is the driving, but a good podcast and some Spotify tunes help the time fly.
Q: Do you do educational or pop up events?
A: We began offering gardening classes and Pop-up Plant Sales at the Container Garden last fall. We do part of the class indoors in the conference room in the big building using the smart TV and then head outdoors to get our hands dirty in the gardens to apply the knowledge we learned.
The hands on makes a world of difference in conveying proper soil amending, transplanting, seeding and watering techniques. I’ve had about 100 people go through my Gardening 101 workshops, and will be creating and Advanced Garden Management class for this Fall.
The plant sales are held at seasonally appropriate times of year with the offerings being appropriate to plant at that time. We grow all of our plants using 100% organic techniques. We also sell select garden products such as SC compost and fertilizer to get folks fully equipped for gardening success. Folks can join our mailing list to get updates about these classes and plant sales through the link on our website www.ritasroots.com.


There are more than 7,500 apple cultivars in the world and each differ in size, shape, color, and taste. Some apple varieties are best for cooking, others are best for eating raw, while others are suitable for making cider. While there are countless apple varieties, only about 11-15 varieties dominate the apple market in the United States, making up 90% of all apple sales. Some of the most popular varieties of apples in the U.S. and the rest of the world include Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Cortland, Gala, and Fuji.
Red Delicious is the most popular apple grown in the U.S., valued for its bright red color and crisp, sweet, juicy and mild-tasting flesh, harvested in September and October. It is best eaten raw as a snack or added to salads and fruit cups. First discovered in Peru, Red Delicious was known as hawkeye and was renamed in 1895 by the Stark Brothers.
Golden Delicious, also known as Yellow Delicious, is the second-most grown apple and was first discovered in West Virginia in 1914, then known as Mullin’s yellow seedling. This delicate and sweet apple has a pale yellow or yellow-green color and medium-to-large in size. An all-purpose apple, Golden Delicious is often used to make desserts, salads, and snacks.
Cortland was introduced in 1915 and primarily grown in the northern Great Lakes states, the Northeast, and eastern Canada. It is crisp, juicy, slightly sweet, and tart, with red-and-green striped skin and a white flesh that is resistant to browning, best used for salads and fruit cups.
Gala has thin red-orange-gold skin with an aromatic scent, semisweet taste and yellowish white flesh. It is crisp and juicy, and delicious eaten raw as a snack or paired with mild cheeses.
Fuji apple was developed in Japan in 1958. It has a distinctive pale green skin with blushes of orange and red. Its dense, crisp, and tart flesh makes it ideal for adding to salads, making applesauce, and eating out of hand.
Other popular apple varieties include Ida Red, Empire, Macoun, Northern Spy, McIntosh, Braeburn, Granny Smith, and Winesap.


Blake Johnston is used to military planes flying over his Aylesford cranberry farm. But last summer, a different kind of aircraft appeared on the horizon: drones.
Although often used for military and covert operations, these drones were being flown by NSCC’s Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG). Equipped with infrared sensors, the relatively small unmanned aerial vehicles gathered data on Blake's crops – information that will not only enhance yield, but enable him to do it more cost efficiently.
“We’re always keen to get involved in research projects that will help not only our own farm, but other cranberry farmers,” says Blake, president of Bezanson & Chase Cranberry Company.
“Drones have been ubiquitous in our society for the past couple of years. They’re becoming more effective and cheaper, and we believe they’re going to play a greater role in what we do thanks to the data they can collect.”
Benefits of drones
The drone flights were part of a pilot project conducted by Bill Livingstone, research project manager, David Colville, research scientist, and Brittany Reeves and Ian Manning, research associates with the AGRG. “The use of this technology marks a significant advance in the remote sensing research work that the group has been conducting since 2000,” says Bill.
“What we can do is equip these drones with miniaturized infrared sensors that measure beyond the spectrum of what we can see with our eyes. We did a flight in July, August and then September, photographing locations throughout the field. And the data we gathered was a kind of reality check for them, delivering valuable information for decision-making beyond what their experience and observations were telling them.”
Bezanson & Chase Operations Manager Janice Lutz says the pilot project revealed issues with water drainage, in particular with a new crop that was first planted last year.
“We didn’t know about that until we saw the drone photography,” says Janice. “There’s hydrostatic pressure in the area, and we will need to look at the drainage in that area. The data gives us a chance to correct that before the vines get too established.”
Currently, Bezanson & Chase is talking with the college about the possibility of weekly drone flights for the summer of 2016. “It is the time of the year where we’re fairly active in managing water levels and stress of the plants,” says Blake.
“If the drones can help us do that, it could not only save us irrigation costs, but also significantly enhance our yield and enable us to better manage our resources. The potential of this technology for agriculture in Nova Scotia is virtually limitless.”
Potential for more work with drones
Bill, meanwhile, is looking into other possible projects for the drone technology, both in agriculture and beyond. He sees great potential, not only for enhancing the province’s forestry operations, but also coastal monitoring and protecting our environment.
“I’m amazed at how this technology is constantly changing, with new sensors and new opportunities for applying it. It’s just a matter of time before we start realizing the true value of what it can do. But there’s certainly incredible potential for Nova Scotia to create more product for export, so we want to get this technology into as many hands as possible.”