Seed Bearing Lollipops
THESE ARE SO COOL!
By Amborella Organics, a seed-bearing lollipop is an organic candy with edible herbs and flowers that weave throughout. After devouring, you can plant the biodegradable stick in soil horizontally, cover with a layer of top soil, water daily, and grow a herb or flower. Each heirloom herb or flower grown has a connection to what you just ate; Sage & Marshmallow grows a sage plant, while Peach & Marigold yields marigold. While we are proud to offer treats that are both kid-friendly and adult approved, a seed-bearing lollipop is about forming a relationship with nature and sharing this experience with those you love. We believe nature is the greatest medicine and most enlightened teacher. Pick a flavor and get blooming!


News & Stories
What do you do when an idea pans out? Enjoy it. Things are good at Limestone Creamery. As a pilot project for the Ontario dairy industry it has been a singular success that is now being looked at as a potential model for other locations around the province. The idea of building a small dairy processing plant located on a dairy farm, producing milk and cream and butter within sight of the cattle in fields, and selling the products at the same location and offering old-style milk delivery to the countryside and a nearby city can work.
The Groenewegen family, who live and farm on Sydenham Road north of Eginburg in South Frontenac, have made it happen. More importantly they have completed a transition from a traditional dairy farm to the kind of operation that the local food and food sustainability movement has embraced. All without changing the way they operate as a family farm.
Francis Groenewegen’s family had been dairy farmers in Holland and Canada, and own farm property near Harrowsmith. Kathie was raised on the farm where they live and work, which her parents bought in 1967. They decided to make the transition to organic dairy production and started making that transition in the late 1990s. They have now been fully organic for 15 years. They joined a number of other farmers from the surrounding area under the brand of Organic Meadow.
“One part of the change over time has been that we don’t push our milk cows to produce so much. They get some grain but are mostly grass fed. We find they are healthier and we can milk them until they are older; many of our milk cows are in their teens,” said Kathie Groenewegen in explaining how they really have not looked back from making the change.
“And the soil is better than it has ever been. This being the International Year of Soil it is important to mention that. Seeing improvement in the soil is pretty important to us, and since we are lucky enough to have our children working with us, it makes us feel we are building a future on this land, not just taking from it,”said Kathie Groenewegen when interviewed in the porch in front of the Limestone Creamery Farm store.
Daughter Olivia manages the farm store and son Patrick runs the processing equipment, while Kathie and Francis run the farm, but they all pitch in where they have to, and there are also four full-time and six parttime employees working in the business.
With support from OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs), National Farmers’ Union Local 317, and the Frontenac CFDC, Limestone Creamery started up their full service operation three years ago.
“Our business plan was based on us being able to sell half the milk we produce, and we are now selling just about all of it. We do 360 home deliveries, which is a lot, and through the store we sell products from some very good local farms. It’s been pretty exciting, and very busy,” said Kathie.
One part of the mandate of Limestone Creamery is to participate in the rebuilding of the local food system and the infrastructure that is necessary to support it. The processing plant itself enhances the local food infrastructure. At first it was also used by Organic Meadow to process the milk for the co-op, but Organic Meadow has built their own, so now there are two small local processors where there were none before. In the store, they carry cheese: Glengarry cheese (recent winner of a world cheese award), Gun Hill cheese from Western Ontario, and Bushgarden Cheese from Elgin.
Limestone Creamery has also been going to the Sunday Local market at the Memorial Centre in Kingston and has developed connections with a whole community of young farmers in the area.
“It’s really nice to see all that is going on, all these young farmers coming and working very hard to grow food. We like being a part of it.”
Limestone Creamery sells skim, 1%, 2% and whole milk, and they also carry non-homogenized milk, 3.8% chocolate milk, fresh churned salted and un-salted butter, half and half, whipping cream, and more.
Specialty products include Spring butter, and at Christmas time, Egg Nog, which everyone around loves. In the future they may start making Buttermilk, and perhaps some fresh cheese. The store also carries their own Hereford beef, Whitall baked goods, Freedom Farm and Patchwork Garden vegetables and much more.
Among those who have helped the Groenwegens along the way, the Frontenac CFDC has provided grants for the purchase of specific pieces of equipment through the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP), some money through loans, as well as encouragement and advice.
“They have supported us from the start,” said Kathie, “and still do today.” The next step for Limestone Creamery – and it is one they are already engaged in – is managing growth and capacity. Our goal has always been to run a family farm, and to keep it to a size that is manageable for ourselves and the land that we farm. We won’t grow beyond that.”
Article by Jeff Green, The Frontenac News
(Original article published in the Frontenac CFDC Summer 2015 newsletter)
Do you have an innovative business idea? Think you have what it takes to disrupt your industry and change the game?
The Spin Master Innovation Fund is looking for young innovators to compete for up to $50K in financing!
Futurpreneur Canada and Spin Master Ltd. are partnering for the fifth consecutive year to offer financing, mentoring and expert-led workshops for up to 10 young entrepreneurs who meet our criteria for innovative business ideas.
The Application Deadline is June 19 2015.
Situated half-way between Toronto and Ottawa, the FAB (Food & Beverage) Region is making a name for itself in the world of craft beer. There are currently six breweries in operation, with another three scheduled to open in 2015. Below you will find a map and detailed listing of all the FABulous craft breweries!
Lake on the Mountain Brewing Co.
264 County Road 7, Prince Edward County
Stay tuned! These craft breweries (below) will be in operation in 2015.
Limestone Organic Creamery is dedicated to providing fresh, nutritious organic dairy and whole foods to their customers. As a result of their efforts, Limestone Organic Creamery was recently recognized by the Organic Council of Ontario.
In it’s fifth year of celebrating excellence in Ontario’s organic sector, the Ontario Organic Awards was held on April 24th 2015 in Waterloo, Ontario. The awards recognize and celebrate innovation in organic agriculture in Ontario. Awards are given to individuals and businesses which show consistent pioneering efforts within Ontario’s organic sector.
Congratulations to owners Grancis and Kathie Groenewegen!
View all the awards here.
Henderson Farms is a business that springs directly from the old farm tradition of making jams and jellies throughout the year as fruits come into season.
The family farmhouse on Wolfe Island is where Robert Henderson makes all of his products in small batches, and although he uses stainless steel and modern sterilizations techniques in the process of making his award winning products, not much else is different than the way jam and jelly was made on the farm by his mother. In fact, until quite recently his mother did all the jarring for the company.
While the fresh figs and Seville oranges in some Henderson products are not produced on Wolfe Island, other ingredients are still grown on the family farm, just as they were when the company started up in the late 1980’s. “We started out doing organic gardening on the farm, got into jams and jellies to use up leftover fruit, and the jam business took over,” is how Robert Henderson describes how the business developed.
Oh, and there was, and is, a lot of work involved as well. The rhubarb patch at Henderson Farms is a 1/4 of an acre in size, which is a lot of rhubarb, and the rhubarb must be picked, cleaned, cut up and cooked or frozen immediately to be made into Rhubarb Fig Marmalade or Strawberry Rhubarb jam. Not only are the products all made by hand in small batches, but new products are introduced annually to keep the business moving forward and provide a challenge as well.
“It is not just a matter of making something new, it has to be good. That takes trial and error,” said Robert. The newest products on the list are Pear and Raspberry jam, and Garlic Scape Jelly, joining such perennial favourites such as Ginger, Wild blueberry, and Strawberry Jam; Apricot Jalapeno, Lime, Mint, and Wild Dandelion Wine Jelly; and Orange and Lemon and Seville Orange Marmalade.
Then there is the matter of sales. Henderson farms maintains a stall in the Kingston market, here they sell baked goods, cut flowers in the summer and other farm products in addition to jams and jellies. Two years ago, Robert starting making Dairy-free Sorbets forsale at the market in the summertime. They also participate in some small and some very large craft and other shows throughout the province, as well as selling in fine food stores in Ontario and Quebec.
Although the business has grown over the years, it is still very much a family run operation. Robert’s brother works with him full time, his sister on a part-time basis, and his mother is still involved, and even elements such as the design of the labels is done by a cousin, who it turns out is a graphic designer.
In fact, it’s been 20 years since the labels were designed, which is hard to believe because they still have a contemporary feel, and the effect was instant and long lasting. “As soon as we put the new labels on the jars, our sales doubled, and we haven’t looked back,” said Robert. Plans are coming together for Afternoon Teas this summer on the farm in Wolfe Island, as an additional part of the business.
Even with the track record of Henderson Jams and Jellies and legions of customers from across the Province and beyond, it is always necessary to move forward, introduce new products and new ways of marketing, and Frontenac CFDC has helped along the way with advice and loans. “The CFDC has helped with a loan when I re-did the kitchen a few years ago, and I have participated in workshops as well. They’ve been very helpful,” Robert said.
Article by Jeff Green, The Frontenac News
Frontenac CFDC is a non-profit organization offering free business advice and commercial financing to entrepreneurs and those looking to start a business in the Frontenacs and supports community based projects. Click for information.
While many people instinctively think of pairing chocolate and wine, we wanted to learn more about pairing craft beer with chocolate. Earlier this week we asked local chocolate specialist, Ludwig Ratzinger of Fine Chocolate By Ludwig, about pairing his chocolate with craft beer. Here’s what Ludwig had to say. Cheers!
There are two varieties of my chocolate that would pair well with dark beer. Both of these chocolates pair nicely with Beau’s Tom Green Milk Stout or with Ashton Brewing Company’s Vanilla Stout.
1. Maracaibo Clasificado 65%
The Maracaibo Clasificado 65% couverture was named the best couverture by the Italian Pastry Academy. A pure Grand Cru Chocolate made of Criollo beans from Sur del Lago, Maracaibo, Venezuela. It has aromas of coffee and plum and notes of orange blossom, cinnamon and raisin. Read more!
2. Cru Sauvage 68%
Cru Sauvage made with 68% cocoa mass from wild cocoa beans come from the Amazon region of Beni, Bolivia. The substantial and harmonious cocoa flavors of the Cru Sauvage are well complemented with the freshness of the lemon and the fruitiness of the grapefruit. The traditional gentle processing method (60 hours conching) unfolds the intense dried prune bouquet and vanilla in its most exquisite way. The exceptionally pleasant fruit acidity and the long-lasting ending make the Cru Sauvage with its cocoa content of 68% a unique culinary experience. Read more!
On October 30 Anne Prichard, Executive Director of the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) and FAB partner, spoke about the FAB Region, including the iCraftBrew website and application at the Municipal Agriculture Economic Forum.
With the headline of There’s an App for That – Using Technology to Support and Grow Businesses in Rural Ontario, Anne spoke about developing resources and apps to support the development of food and beverage (FAB) businesses in East Central Ontario.
Ontario’s artisan Food and Beverage (FAB) Region is a unique economic development partnership between the counties of Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox & Addington and the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation with a goal of helping entrepreneurs ‘live their dream’ of operating an artisan food and beverage business.
On October 19, the MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Co. was announced the winner of the 2014 Fall Cask Festival, hosted by Red House.
The Fall Cask Festival hosted eleven Ontario craft breweries. All voting took place by patrons in attendance at the event. The winner of the Fall Cask Festival were as follows:
1st Place: MacKinnon Brothers, Honey Fermented English Pale Ale
2nd Place: Amsterdam Brewery, Downtown Brown Ale
3rd Place: Stone City Ales, Ships in the Night Oatmeal Stout
The MacKinnon Brothers Brewery Co. is located in Bath, Ontario, which is apart of the County of Lennox & Addington, a partner of the Food and Beverage (FAB) Region.
Another craft brewery has been added to this FAB Region of Ontario. MacKinnon Brothers Brewing is now open and operating on a family heritage farm near Bath, ON.
Entrepreneurs Devin and Leslie Huffman will soon be building what’s considered to be Ontario’s first micro malt house. To be situated in Hastings County, just North of Belleville, the business will be known as Barn Owl Malt.
According to a story by Jerome Lessard printed in the Belleville Intelligencer, the Huffmans say, “We aim to be in production with a one-tonne capacity by the mid, late summer”. The Intelligencer also notes that the business will use a three-step process of steeping (wetting), germinating (sprouting) and kilning (drying) to produce a base grain product used in the production of beer.
This is exciting news for the brewing industry as the Huffman’s will provide brewers with malted grains made right here in Ontario’s Food and Beverage (FAB) Region.
If you would like to invest in this FAB Region as well, contact us today!


Lonicera caerulea: 4-5′ high x 4-5′ wide / full sun to part shade / zone 2
We grow these instead of blueberries, as they thrive in our heave alkaline soils. The skins of the berries are very thin and melt in your mouth, and the seeds are too small to notice. They’re delicious fresh and can be made into any of the standard preserves. Two different varieties are required for pollination; we carry Borealis and Berry Blue.


A Sustainable Agriculture Business Creation Model delivering sustainable leading edge agriculture solutions to the African market.
The Global Food Security Paradigm:
The global food security challenge is straightforward:
By 2050, the world must feed 9 billion people; and
the demand for food will be 60% greater than it is today.
The United Nations has set ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture as the second of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the year 2030.
To achieve these objectives requires addressing a host of issues, from ageing demographics to skills development and global warming, adopting more productive business models forging strategic.
The Food Security risks: malnutrition, hunger and even conflict
With Our Unique Sustainable Agriculture Business Creation model comprising:
an Integrated Through Life Cycle Capability model for food provisionng
Strategic market hub including Innovation COE
New Innovative Agriculture Products
Disruptive Leading Agriculture IT & Technology solutions
Relationships/agreements with Governments, Funders, Markets
Suppliers and Agriculture Industry at large as a Strategic Partner (sharing Risk & Reward)
we integrating farmers including farmer communities, vendors and the consumer markets to offer the best produce to the consumers in our FUTURE FARMING model.
Agri Business Solution Integration
Agriculture Capability is the measure of the ability of an agriculture entity (government, department, organisation) to achieve its agriculture objectives. Successful implementation of a Sustainable Agriculture Business Creation Model is dependent on the effective integration of funding, land & resources, markets, suppliers, products, farmers, industry and leading practices for the complete agriculture / food through life cycle management.
We are a trusted solution integrator that govern and manage the complete programme ensuring farmer organisational agility and efficiency, improved farming business capability, technology efficiency, timeous return on investment for all parties.
Agricultural Finance – is a sectoral concept that comprises financial services for agricultural production, processing and marketing. The greatest constraint in the emerging farming market segment has been the availability and management of capital and operational funding risk comprising the lack of liquidity most farmers face during the growing season.
We provide access & proposals to funders. With our integrated solution, we also minimise the risks for funders, ensuring cost efficient access to funds for the farmer, access to global markets for fair product prices ensuring sustainable profits for re-investment and well governed & management of funds provided to farmers.
Consumer Markets & Dependable Suppliers
The objective of the market management pillar is to implement strategic marketing plans to reduce food costs and balance cash crops to optimize high value revenue streams as well as ensuring accredited and dependable suppliers.
We provide access to consumer markets, International Off-Taker Contracting, Forward Trading, Futures Trading, etc. as well as access to accredited and dependable suppliers, all through our online marketplace.
Our Unique Agriculture Products
Innovative and new leading agriculture products are required to ensure sustainable and profitable Agriculture businesses. We provide some unique food products including high protein food solutions as well as high value nutrition and health solutions such as Chaya.
Our core and key differentiator solution is the Market Hub comprising a Physical market management solution for the key business areas in fostering strategic partnerships, between farmers and vendors; an E-Marketplace, linking buyers and sellers, supplier discovery and development, contract negotiation, sourcing for buyers, asset disposal and selling and online negotiating generating 5 to 15% increase in profits, a Centre of Excellence providing a collaboration portal with access to Market Intelligence, Agri Knowledge Base, Agri Research and Development, Agri Partners and Leading Business Practices, Business support for small scale farmers including logistics, funding, banking, financial management, planning and business case management, insurance, Enterprise and Social economic Development programs supporting Farmers Agri Industry opportunities (“Industrialisation”).
Our core and key differentiator solution is the Market Hub
A strong Information Management foundation must be established to be able to help run core business processes along the entire agribusiness value chain more efficiently, from agricultural production and origination to trading and sales. It must support informed decisions that help balance costs, increase productivity and flexibility, mitigate trading risks, and efficiently track and trace food from farm to fork.
With our world leading IT solutions , we run core business processes along the entire agribusiness value chain more efficiently.
Farmers & Farmer Communities
Though large enterprises in the agro-processing industry contribute a significant share of income and employment, the relative share of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to the total employment is higher, compared to their share of total income in the industry. To ensure effective and sustainable farming operations a holistic through life cycle capability approach must be taken in terms of the farmer, farming products and the supportive and dependable communities. The objective is to up-skill farmers to become independent and self-sustainable.
We provide three models namely Self-Farming: Assisted Farming: and Turn Key as well as As part of enterprise & social development initiative emphasis are put on sustainable employment and healthy self-sustaining communities. This include community wellness programmes (diseases management, mobile clinics) and energy solutions (Solar).
To ensure the farmer get a larger piece of the income value chain and become profitable, a supporting Agri industry is key to ensure products are processed for larger value and that not only low profitable raw products are supplied. We provide food and beverage manufacturers solutions.


1. Collect the wild plants (weeds) from your garden or park, more than 5 different varieties. When
choosing wild plants, choose a variety. When picking leaves, choose ones from the top rather than bottom leaves; higher leaves contain higher concentrations of growth hormones, which are excellent for Wild Plant Enzymes. Morning time before 8am when the leaves still have the morning dew on them is the best time for picking.
2. Shake the dirt off the plants and wash the wild plants thoroughly. If the size of the plant material is too big, cut the leaves into 3-4cm pieces (discard the roots). We recommend that you do not use a metal knife, rather tear the leaves using your hands or use a wooden or plastic knife. Doing this will increase the surface contact area and promote the action of osmotic pressure.
3. Weigh the wild plants and brown sugar (you can use white sugar, honey or maple syrup), using the ratio 1:1. The weight of the brown sugar should be the same as the weight of wild plants (or any ingredients you choose to use ex. apple, pumpkin, etc.) Organic brown sugar is the best but even white sugar can be used as the chemical components will be changed into raw sugar during fermentation process.
4. Place layers of wild plants and sugar into a glass jar or you can mix the sugar and wild plants together (using your hands) in the bowl and then place in the jar. At the end cover the leaves with a layer of sugar (40% amount of sugar). If you can obtain a clay pot or a cedar barrel, that would be better.
The ingredients should fill about 3/4 of the jar, not too much less or too much more. This 1/4 space is not useless; rather it is the required amount of space for air to react with the ingredients to the correct degree.
5. We use a stone to weigh down or compress the leaves down to prevent fungus forming on the leaves. To prepare the stone, wash it thoroughly and then put it in the microwave for two minutes or boil it for at least ten minutes. Place the stone on top of the leaves.
6. Now cover the jar with a fine net or porous paper and tightly seal so that no bugs would go into the jar (they like sugar, you know).
7. Place the jar in a cool, shaded place. It should be dry, good air flow and cool. Stir all ingredients with a wooden spoon once a week for three weeks.
Don’t forget to write the date!
8. After three months, separate the ingredients from the liquid using fine net. Place the liquid in a glass jar and let it sit for another 3 months. Then, you can start drinking enzyme. Depending on your preference, you can dilute with lots of water or just drink as it is. It’s your choise.
You can throw away the ingredients as compost, back to nature!
9. Usually, it is best to start drinking enzyme after a year because microbacteria keeps fermenting. You can store enzyme for as long as you can. We have 5 years old enzyme in our farm ;)
- If someone has diabetes, you can dilute the enzymes one cup to nine cups of water; leave for 2-10 days. It is then safe for a diabetic to drink it.
- If after a few weeks a white layer forms on top (something that looks like fungus), scoop it away and clean the area around it and add another handful of sugar. Enzymes are a living culture; you have to observe it like nature. Sometimes the fungus grows because there is not enough sugar or the temperature changed or the enzymes were not in a cool enough place.
- You can only put a tight lid on after a year, and you need to open the lid weekly to allow gas to escape so that it does not burst or pop.
- If you have a problem with ants, place the bottles in a plate of water and make a large cover that covers the whole bottle and put an elastic band around the bottle to prevent the ants from coming in.
- Final advice: The temperature of the storage should be maintained (63-68 degrees). Devotion and the right mind towards the plant and the forming of enzymes is very important in making the enzymes, and the storage environment is very important; that is, continue to make efforts to keep the room at a good and steady temperature.


|Here's my tomatoes and Peppers|
|This little pepper will be ready this weekend too.|
|Here's what I look down on each morning. My Lovely Pallet Garden|
|I have peas and green beans.|
|Wednesdays Harvest. Just enough for me! YUM!|
|Here is the Squash pallet. There are Zucchini, Yellow Squash and Spaghetti Squash in there.|
The Spaghetti Squash is taking over!
|Here is my pallet of Herbs. There is Cilantro, basil and oregano there.|
Next to be planted will be some rosemary and thyme.
So there's the update of the garden. Jaxon and I have been watering it each night that we don't have rain. Pulling the weeds and harvesting make for a relaxing end to the day.


Consider the two different opening paragraphs of a discussion about a preventive measure against malaria. Which one is a better first paragraph for a Discussion and why?
We trapped and counted the number of mosquitoes within the urban environment of the city of Kumasi using conventional carbon dioxide traps. Nearly 70% more adult A. gambiae were caught in communities near moist urban agricultural establishments than in rural locations or in without irrigated urban settlements. When we evaluated malaria episode reports from people living in various parts of the city, we found that 18% of malaria cases in all seasons were reported by those near urban agricultural sites, whereas only 2% of the control groups reported incidences of malaria per year.
The results of this study show that open-space irrigated vegetable fields in cities can provide suitable breeding sites for A. gambiae. This is reflected in higher numbers of adult A. gambiae in settlements in the vicinity of irrigated urban agricultural sites compared to control areas without irrigated urban agriculture. Moreover, people living in the vicinity of urban agricultural areas reported more malaria episodes than the control group in the rainy as well as dry seasons. Apparently, the informal irrigation sites of the urban agricultural locations create rural spots within the city of Kumasi in terms of potential Anopheles spp breeding sites.
(With permission from Elsevier)


The village of Kenninghall is located south of Attleborough and north west of the town of Diss. Kenninghall still has a thriving agricultural community with mostly arable farming, some pig farming and egg production too. The village has attractive 18th and 19th century cottages as well as some much newer properties. St Mary's church, with its large tower, dominates Kenninghall skyline and is visible for miles around. The market place is at the centre of Kenninghalll and it is here where you will find most of the village's shops and businesses.


Women in Agriculture Study 2019
A study on the working and living situation as well as on the social security of Bavarian women in agriculture
The study examines the living and working situation of women in agriculture, their social security position, and the role of women in agriculture. The changing rural demography, the ongoing agricultural restructuring combined with changes in the understanding of gender roles affects the life of farm women.
Based on a survey, the social and economic situation of women in agriculture in Bavaria are examined and compared across time using results from previous studies.
The final results and the report are currently only available in German and are published on the German page of this study (Bäuerinnenstudie 2019).


Soil Moisture (%)
This particular soil sensor measures volumetric water content. This means that the sensor measures the total amount of water in the soil in 0-100%.
Soil Temperature (C°)
Along with the water content, the sensor also measures soil temperature. The temerpature sensor ranges from -40 to 80 degrees celcius.
Electrical Conductivity (EC)
The third unit of measure on the sensor is electrical conductivity, measured in decisiemens per meter (dS/m). EC is commonly used in various fields, including agriculture and hydrology, to assess the salinity or ion concentration of water or soil.
- What is the maximum number of data points I can fetch per call?
- Cital Insights API Entity Relationship and UML Diagramms
- How can I fetch the entity view (device) data starting from the first activation date until NOW date?
- Are entity views the entity used to attach data to the devices (sensors)?
- What is the max size limit returned from the time series API when aggregation is submitted?


“Campolivo” is an oil, our farm and a slice of beauty of the hills embracing Florence. The story behind its name is lost in the memories, some of the olive trees casting their shade since 16th century but still managing to bring quality and excellence today.
On this hill, forty years ago Giorgio Sardi started to take care of the remaining trees, planting new ones and selecting the newest techniques to obtain the best product possible.
His hard work is constantly renewed by Renata, his daughter, and her sons. Three generations guarantee the excellence of an authentic Tuscany Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Renata and her family take care of the olive groves during all their cycle, then they entrust the nearest mill of the harvest. The oil is cold-pressed to ensure the best quality and organoleptic properties.
Taste it on bread, embrace it sparingly to raw and cooked dishes suggested by the imagination, but at least, once in your life let it accompany a soup or minestrone of great tradition. We await your judgement and especially criticism if this oil doesn't "assault" your throat with all its rich fragrance.
75% frantoio variety, 20% leccini variety and 5% pendolini and moraiolo varieties. The latter give the characteristic softness to the extra virgin olive oil.
Mill Temp. 18°-20° C.
Raccolta semi meccanica per diminuire al massimo i tempi, ciò permette di effettuare la frangitura nel più breve tempo possibile (max 72 ore), perchè l'oliva nel momento in cui viene colta entra subito in fermentazione. Questa riduzione dei tempi va a beneficio di un minor punto di acidità oelica. L'acidità del nostro olio è 0,14 (per essere IGP deve essere inferiore allo 0,2).


VAIGA - Agri Hack 2023
Hey !! Just a few hours away from Kerala’s largest agricultural hackathon, please read the instructions >
Teams Shortlisted for VAIGA– Agri Hack 2023 Grand Finale
This includes the list of selected candidates for participating in VAIGA Agri Hackk 23 Grand Finale and teams who are in the waiting list. Teams in waiting list are not yet confirmed to participate in the grand finale, but they should be ready to participate on receiving instructions from the offiicals.


Spring fever is running hot here in Parker, Colorado, after a long winter. Last year, I put in a Square Foot Garden, and I added a few small containers with tomatoes. This year, I have added a second Square Foot Garden, and bought two Earth Boxes. I have also added more strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. It is still very early days in the season, but I feel pretty confident that there won’t be any more hard frosts here. Everything I have planted so far (except the tomatoes) is relatively frost hardy, and I am hoping that the Wall O Water will protect the tomatoes from the cold.
View of two Square Foot Gardens
Container Ozark Beauty Strawberry and my miniature Dachshund Roxy
Early Girl 50 Tomato inside a Wall O Water


On Thursday October 12, 2006 and Friday October 13, 2006, The Watershed Project (TWP) will be working in the upland along the edge of Western Stege Marsh at the RFS to condition soil for planting in the upcoming rainy season. Activities will include removing weed block fabric, spreading rice straw and rototiling to mix the straw into the soil and reduce rutting. The area will then be watered to promote weed sprouting. After the intial flush of weeds is removed, the area will be planted with native coastal scrub and prairie plants being grown in the TWP nursery at the RFS. Planting is expected to begin in November. All work is taking place in clean soils imported for coastal prairie restoration.
October 9, 2006


This paper explores the long-term prospect of alternative, local food initiatives, taking a particular interest in the development of the embedded local values, understood as economic as well as cultural values. Analysing the case of a cooperative of mountain cereal farmers in Switzerland, we show that sustaining local values-based quality is a dynamic process of linking local and extra-local resources.Our results first show the importance of both proximity and place in constructing the ‘local’ by the cooperative. Second, product flow, knowledge and information exchange, quality control, and innovation are governed by both horizontal and vertical relationships between local and extra-local resources, and these multiple relationships build trust in the network and beyond.This, thirdly, enables the cooperative to continuously reproduce its values by weaving them into a cycle of quality creation. We conclude that we need to understand the characteristic values-based quality of the cooperative’s products as the result of a recurring cycle of local and extra-local knowledge creation and resource exchange.
Key words: local; extra-local; value chains; values; proximity; place; rural development;


Friends making wine
with precision, passion and joy
Our small winery fuses traditional and modern techniques to make delicious artisan wines.
Our Piedmont vineyard is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tended by hand. We manage our grapes without herbicides, and wildflowers grow between the rows.
Barbera, Bracchetto and Moscato grapes have grown in Piedmont for more than a millennium, and our vineyard was planted sixty years ago.
The vineyard has been managed organically for the last twenty years, and when Bob and Alice bought it in 2021, they focused on growing the best possible grapes to make into the most appealing regional wines.
Aleksey, our winemaker and Agricultural Director, moved into the main house with his wife Alina and their two children, and we all have been tending and vintning ever since.
our wines are made thoughtfully
We grow our grapes with biodynamic principles, harvest them by hand, and press them with a pneumatic press. We have Great Tanks!
The semi-porous concrete exposes wine to low levels of oxygen, aging the wine gradually.
The shape of the egg creates an internal current that moves the wine within the vessel. This natural movement matures the wine very delicately.
Egg-shaped vessels have been used to ferment wine since prehistoric times, and were supplanted by barrels around the time of Christ.
Concrete eggs are one of the latest trends in tank design, or, everything old is new again!
Terroir and taste
In France, they say you must bow to the vine twenty times in a year to make perfect grapes. At La Collina Degli Amici, we treat our vines like royalty.
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Finding an Excellent Sod Company
Maybe there is an area of land around your home that you are not using, and if this is so, then your plan might be to turn it into a beautiful lawn that you and your family can enjoy. One thing they might want, then, is a lot of greenery, as green things soothe the mind, relax the thoughts, and lead to greater health and wellness. They will be glad to know that although it can be hard to make the right kind of grass grow from scratch, they can hire a company that offers sod services. One will be glad to know that through the best sod company, he or she will be able to gain and to enjoy a lot of benefits, and all of them will really be worthwhile.
There are a lot of benefits to finding a sod company like this one, and one of them is the fact that homeowners can choose from between a lot of different kinds of grass. You can select from between Bermuda, Bahia, St. Augustine, or Zoysia grass, choosing the kind of texture and look that you want to achieve in your home. When you buy any kind of grass from this company, then, you can be sure that you will be able to enjoy flexibility, and get the perfect look and feel that you want for your garden.
Hiring the best sod company like this one is also something that you should do, as when you do so, you can be sure to make great savings on your time and on your energy. Growing grass from scratch can be very time-consuming and back-breaking, and what is more, people cannot be a hundred percent sure that the seeds will sprout and grow. One will be glad to know that when a sod company like this one is hired, it will be possible to have the sod with the grass already intact installed in the garden, making it instantly green without much effort.
Finding a wonderful sod company like this one is also something that you should do, as when you do so, you can be sure that you will actually be able to save money. The reason why this is so is because it will offer affordable and flexible packages that they can pay at their own pace, making it easy for them to get the perfect garden today.
One who finds a great sod company like this one, then, can be sure that when he or she does so, a lot of benefits can be gained, and all of them will be wonderful and worthwhile altogether.


Watermelon: Low calorie thirst quencher
The watermelon consists mainly of water. It is low in calories. Even those who want to lose weight can therefore access it. Everything about ingredients, origin and preparation
Rich in water, low in calories: the watermelon
© Panthermedia / Torsten Schon
Ingredients of watermelon
Watermelons keep what their name promises: They consist of over 90 percent water and are therefore even suitable as thirst quenchers. Because they only have a few calories, those who want to lose weight are also allowed to eat. In terms of vitamins, watermelon contains, for example, vitamin C and provitamin A. The carotenoid lycopene provides the reddish color.
Origin and botany
The watermelon originally comes from the steppe areas of Africa. Already in the Egypt of the Pharaonic times, about 4000 years ago, they were cultivated. The watermelon is comfortable in hot and dry climates and grows in tropical and subtropical countries. Today it is grown in these countries around the world. The main producers of watermelons in 2017 were China, followed by Iran and Turkey.
The watermelons available in Germany mostly come from Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary and Turkey. In winter, imports come from Central America and Brazil.
The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Just like cucumber and zucchini, it belongs to the cucurbit family. So strictly speaking it is a vegetable, not a fruit. The watermelon is an annual herb with pinnate leaves. The single flowers are light yellow and very small. The fruit itself is known as the armored berry because the one to four centimeter thick rind is quite hard. The flesh of the watermelons available here is mostly red.
There are many different types of watermelon. Seedless varieties are now also being bred.
Season and storage of the watermelon
In Germany, the watermelon is available fresh from June to September.
Watermelons can get very large, even weighing up to twenty kilograms. The fruits that are available in stores weigh between two and six kilograms, although smaller specimens are increasingly being sold in the supermarket.
The individually shrink-wrapped melon pieces should, if possible, be consumed on the same day as they spoil very quickly. Watermelons have a limited shelf life in the refrigerator and lose their aroma quickly.
Tips for preparation
The freshness of the watermelon is tempting to eat it raw. It also tastes very good in a fruit salad or muesli. In many Asian countries, watermelon pieces are a popular and low-calorie dessert. If you want to try something new: Small pieces of watermelon also taste good in a salad.
Nutritional table: watermelon (per 100 grams)
Beta carotene (
Vitamin E (mg)
Vitamin B1 (mg)
Vitamin B2 (mg)
Vitamin B6 (mg)
Folic acid (µg)
Vitamin C (mg)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOSTAT): Watermelons, Production Volume (Tons) - for all countries. Online: www.factfish.com/de/statistik/wassermelonen%2C%20produktionsquote (accessed on 08.08.2019)
Imhof S: Useful plants database. Online: www.online.uni-marburg.de/botanik/php/details.php?id=213&lemma=wassermelone (accessed on 08.08.2019)
Heseker H, Heseker B: The nutritional table, 5th updated edition, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse Neuer Umschau Buchverlag 2018/2019
Franke W, Lelley J, Lobitz R et al .: Vegetables, 21st modified edition, aid infodienst Nutrition, Agriculture, Consumer Protection 2014


SuperRoom 5′ x 5′ LED Soil Grow Room
SuperCloset’s all-in-one, turn-key, LED indoor grow setup makes indoor gardening simple and fun! The SuperRoom 5′ x 5′ LED Soil Grow Room Package is a professionally designed, fully automated LED indoor grow setup that comes complete with everything you need for a smooth and easy growing experience. Grow like a professional!
The SuperRoom 5′ x 5′ LED Soil Grow Room Package includes a 5′ x 5′ Gorilla Grow Tent; a Kind LED K5-XL750 grow light; Nine 5 gallon soil pots; timers for complete light cycle automation; a Phresh carbon scrubber & filter; digital readout thermometer / hygrometer; an internal circulation fan; an adjustable net trellis system; an electrical GFCI adapter; a pH Testing Kit; a TDS Meter;a TechnaFlora Nutrient Bundle; an instructional DVD and a 3 year warranty!
Gorilla Grow Tent 5′ x 5′ x 6’11″ (7’11″ w/ extension)
The very best and tallest, thickest, and strongest grow tent available. This is the only height adjusting grow tent available worldwide. GROW STRONG!
Nine 5 Gallon Soil Pots
They’re soil buckets, what can you say? Actually, plenty. These heavy duty pots feature a reinforced rim making them strong enough to pick up with heavy plants. They feature a side and bottom drain design for superior drainage and offer a wide base for increased stability and the development of a more robust root mass. Trust us, these soil pots are tops.
A K5-XL750 Kind LED Grow Light
This Kind LED grow light uses only about half the electricity as an HPS light and produces much more yield per watt. Many studies have even show an increase in oil production and quality, closer inter-nodal spacing, and denser fruits and flowers. Also, because Kind LED grow lights produce less heat, they do not need to be air-cooled like HPS lights, therefore eliminating the need for additional fans, which also makes them run quieter. Click here for the full specifications of the K5-XL750.
Phresh Carbon Filter
Phresh carbon filters are by far the best filters on the market for larger grow rooms. They utilize an exclusive carbon charcoal fitting that contains unwanted odors much greater than any other on the market. Phresh filters are the only company that has access to this special carbon filling, which results in a completely neutral air environment.
ActiveAir Internal Circulation Fans
Properly sized and placed internal circulation fans are integral to moving all the air around your room. Our design will result in a perfect growing environment. Proper airflow is essential in eliminating mold or mildew and minimizing potential bug problems. Many other packages don’t include fans, and if they do, they tend to be inadequate, noisy, and poorly placed.
Hurricane Inline Fan
This commercial grade, high performance fan is made of steel with a durable powder coated finish. It is made with quality UL listed components for reliable and quiet operation.
A trellising system increases your yields up to 30%, as well as greatly maximizing your quality as well. Trellises help support, partition, and train your plants creating equal spacing from each other and assist in the formation of a nice, even canopy, ensuring even light distribution and absorption for each and every plant.
Digital Thermometer / Hygrometer
This handy device gives you the ability to make certain that you are providing your plants with their ideal environment. Effectively measures indoor/outdoor temperature and indoor humidity. Stores the min/max values of your temperature and humidity. Switch between °C and °F. Clock function. 12/24 hour mode switch. Includes a water proof temperature probe.
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit
Is your pH off today? Well, it won’t be if you use our pH Control Kit made by General Hydroponics. The kit contains 8 ounces of pH Up, 8 ounces of pH Down, 1 ounce indicator and vial. Each system comes with this kit that keeps your reservoir contents in perfect harmony.
Is your water source suitable for hydroponics? Did you add the appropriate amount of nutrients? Find out quickly and easily with this digital Total Dissolved Solids Meter. The TDS-EZ has a large and easy-to-read LCD screen. The translucent blue housing is strong and durable and includes a convenient color chart explaining TDS values related to water purity.
Bond Moisture Meter
Take the guesswork out of knowing when your plants need water. The included Bond Moisture Meter will quickly and accurately measure the water content of your soil at all levels in the soil pot. Easy to read display will tell you when your babies need that sweet, sweet nectar of the gods. No batteries needed.
TechnaFlora Nutrient Bundle
Technaflora Plant Products Ltd. prides itself in manufacturing exceptional quality plant nutrients and additives. This starter kit includes 10 different nutrients to get you going. Want enough to last the whole season? Upgrade to our Nutrient Super Pack!
10 Socket Industrial Power Strip
Power surges and lightning strikes are not the only things that can damage your indoor grow setup. Simply switching your workshop tools on and off can create electrical imbalances that could cause cumulative, permanent damage to your valuable equipment. The Belkin Industrial Power Strip provides clean, safe, and balanced power from 10 grounded outlets.
Our light timer gives you the power to control the sunrise and sunset automatically, allowing you to control the season, and ultimately dictate whether your plants vegetate or produce beautiful fruits and flowers. Say hello to stress free vacations!
GFCI Shock Buster
Safety first! That’s our mantra here at SuperCloset, and why we include a GFCI plug adapter with every one of our products. Extremely easy to operate and a must have for eliminating electronic malfunctions that may occur whenever water is adjacent to electrical components.
Each Indoor Grow Setup comes with an instructional DVD, the Grow Tips manual, a 3 year warranty, and lifetime customer service. With your SuperRoom you will harvest better on your very first yield than people who have been growing for years. You will receive lifetime grow support and consultation along with a great DVD. All SuperRooms are easy to set up, fully automated, and come with A+ BBB customer service. Competitors will sell to you and forget you. Don’t grow alone, grow with support. Welcome to the Super Family.
This amazing product is engineered, designed, and built in California by SuperCloset, a trusted and reputable company that has provided the #1 selling grow systems in the world for over 10 years. Prices in USD


Gravity is the only component of Earth environment that remained constant throughout the entire process of biological evolution. However, it is still unclear how gravity affects plant growth and development. In this study, an in vitro cell culture of Arabidopsis thaliana was exposed to different altered gravity conditions, namely simulated reduced gravity (simulated microgravity, simulated Mars gravity) and hypergravity (2g), to study changes in cell proliferation, cell growth, and epigenetics. The effects after 3, 14, and 24-hours of exposure were evaluated. The most relevant alterations were found in the 24-hour treatment, being more significant for simulated reduced gravity than hypergravity. Cell proliferation and growth were uncoupled under simulated reduced gravity, similarly, as found in meristematic cells from seedlings grown in real or simulated microgravity. The distribution of cell cycle phases was changed, as well as the levels and gene transcription of the tested cell cycle regulators. Ribosome biogenesis was decreased, according to levels and gene transcription of nucleolar proteins and the number of inactive nucleoli. Furthermore, we found alterations in the epigenetic modifications of chromatin. These results show that altered gravity effects include a serious disturbance of cell proliferation and growth, which are cellular functions essential for normal plant development.


This October, Greencore Group Technical Director, Helen Sisson, as part of a team of intrepid women from the food industry, will be embarking on a challenge of a lifetime in Tanzania: The Big Beehive Buildin support of Farm Africa. Working alongside female beekeepers in Tanzania’s Nou Forest, they will be putting their DIY and endurance skills to the test by building over 100 beehives in just 72 hours!
Who is Farm Africa?
Agriculture is the backbone of Africa. And Farm Africa is the leading charity specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.
Building on over 30 years’ experience of helping Africa’s people thrive, they help farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more, while protecting the environment for years to come. Last year, their work helped over 1.9 million people towards a more prosperous future for themselves and their families.
The Big Beehive Build is a Farm Africa challenge event under the banner of our Food for Good fundraising campaign: uniting the food and hospitality industry behind Farm Africa’s vision of a prosperous rural Africa.
Building a lasting legacy for women in Tanzania
Thousands of people living in Tanzania’s Nou Forest are reliant on the forests around them to survive. But deforestation has become increasingly common as people chop down trees for timber to sell as firewood, and to clear grazing land for their animals. Poverty is the main driver of deforestation so Farm Africa works with the communities teaching them how to make money through forest-friendly businesses.
This challenge will kick-start new honey businesses for women in the Bermi community. The beehives are specifically designed with women in mind – unlike the traditional tree-top beehives that are considered socially unacceptable for women to use, these hives sit on the ground and give women the opportunity to grow their own businesses and sustain their own livelihoods.
Building a legacy with your support
And the team need your help to make the challenge a success! Not only do they want to leave behind the beginnings of sustainable businesses for women in Bermi, they want to give Farm Africa the means to carry on their life-changing work across eastern Africa.
As a team they are aiming to raise £80,000 – this will make an enormous difference to Farm Africa’s ability to reach more farmers across eastern Africa to unleash their potential.
You can support the challenge by making a donation at our team fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/BBB17.
Every gift will truly help build a more sustainable future for farmers across east Africa.
Keep up to date with the build:
- Web: www.farmafrica.org/BigBeehiveBuild17
- Twitter: @FarmAfrica #BigBeehiveBuild17
- Facebook: Facebook.com/FarmAfrica #BigBeehiveBuild17


Sustainable development is part of our corporate philosophy and a core principle in our decision-making process. Our framework of sustainable development is built on the three pillars of environmental, social, and ecological goals.
We are a company that works in partnership with local communities and respects traditions. We believe technological progress can work hand in hand with customs that date back to generations. Therefore, we use sustainable technology and renewable energy in our entire production chain.
For years, Dashrath Prasad Fertilisers has produced different grades of soil nutrients that follow the 4R principles and provide customised solutions to our customers. Additionally, our field staff works hard to educate farmers about these tenets. This leads to the use of a balanced mix of organic manure and chemical fertilisers to improve soil quality, increase its water retention power, and, thus, achieve optimum production.
Besides this, we have also been using eco-friendly biomass briquettes as furnace fuel. We also recently replaced power-guzzling halide lamps with energy-efficient LED lamps, leading to a 66 percent reduction in our energy bill. And we provide better lighting and a safer, healthier workplace.


Types of Soil
Soil and its Component
Soil is the loose material which forms the upper layer of the mantel rock, i.e., the layer of loose fragments which covers most of the earth’s land area. It has definite and constant composition. It contains both decayed plants and animals substances. The four main constituents of soils are:
Silica: The chief constituent of sand
Clay: is a mixture of silicates and contains several minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, sodium and aluminum. Particles of clay absorb water and swell.
Chalk: (calcium carbonate) provides calcium, the most important element for the growth of plants.
Humus: is not a mineral, it is an organic matter. It is formed by decomposed plant remains, animal manure and dead animals and is the most important element in the fertility of the soil. It helps retain moisture in the soil and helps the plant in absorbing materials from the soil for building its body. A soil looks dark on account of the presence of humus.
The natural factors involved in the formation of soil are:
Nature of parent rock
Layers of Soil
Soil has mainly two layers i.e. Top soil and Sub soil. Top soil (the upper layer) is of greater importance. Top soil is responsible for the producity of the vegetation thus its of vital importance from agricultural point of view. It is only a few meters deep. Millions of bacteria, insects and worms live in it. Top soils develop very slowly. It may take years to form top soil suitable for plants, but it can be washed away in a few years if proper precautions are not taken.
Sub soils consist of the parent material from which soil is formed. It also contains plant food and moisture but it is not a s productive as top soil. It has to be converted into soil and it may take years to convert sub soil into soil. Below the sub soil generally there is solid rocks.
Types of Soils and their characteristics:
This is the most important and widespread group of soils. It covers about 15 lakh sq.km of the land area in Great Plains from Punjab to Assam and also in the valleys of the Narmada and Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. These soils have been brought down and deposited by three great Himalayan rivers Sutlej, Ganga and Brahmaputra. These soils consist of varying proportions of san, silt and clay. Khadar is the newer alluvium which is sandy, light coloured and occurs near river beds where deposition takes place regularly and bhangar or older alluvium. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile and therefore the best agricultural soils of the country. The regions of these of these soils constitute the’ wheat and rice bowls’ of India.
As the name indicates these soils are black in Colour and since they are ideal for growing cotton, they are also called cotton soil. These soils, covering an area of 5.46 lakh sq.km, are most typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt). The black Colour of regur is variously attributed to the presence of titaniferrous magnetite, compounds of iron and aluminum-Unsuitable for heavy irrigation. Ideally suited to dry farming. Suitable for cotton, cereals, oilseeds like linseed, castor and safflower, many kinds of vegetables and citrus fruits.
These soil occupy about 5-18 lakh sq.km over the peninsula reaching up to Rajmahal Hills in the east, Jhansi in the north and Kutch in the West. In North western peninsula is covered by the black soils and the remaining south-eastern half is covered by red soils- Entire black soil in the eastern part of Peninsula comprising of Chhotanagpur plateau, Orissa, east Madhya Pradesh, Telengana, the Niligris, Tamilnadu plateau and Karnataka. The soil have reddish colour due to iron compounds. It is suitable for rice, ragi, tobacco and vegetables.
These soils occupy an area of 1.26 lakh sq.km. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock. They are found capping in the flat uplands, and are spread in western coastal region which recieve very heavy rainfall. These soils are Poor in nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and lime. These are suitable for rice, ragi, tapioca and cashewnuts.
Forest and Mountain Soils
These soils occupy about 2.85 lakh sq.km in the hilly regions of the country. They are also called as soils in the making. These type of soil are found in the Himalayas and the other ranges in the North and high hill summits of the Sahyadris, Eastern Ghats and Peninsula. These soils are poor in Potash and Phosphorous content. The soil is suitable fot the growth of Temperate fruits, maize, wheat and barley.
Arid and Desert Soil
This type of soil is found in the Northwestern parts of the country and occupy area in Rajasthan, south Haryana, north Punjab and Rann of Kutch. Thar Desert alone occupies an area of 1.06 sq. km. It contains high percentage of soluble salts and a low to very low organic matter.


Real Fresh. Real Fruit. Real Fun.
We believe in creating a personal relationship with our farmers and knowing that the fruit we use is fresh.
We are dedicated to ensuring the shortest possible time from being picked from the farm to being procured and flash frozen into one of our delicious pops.
Our Promise: Fruit Pops should not be diluted with artificial sweeteners and flavoring. Our pops are 100% real fruit, our pop flavors are seasonal, based on whether or not the fruit is in season. All of our ingredients are bought fresh and locally.
All of our pops serve a health conscious market by being: gluten, dairy, nut, and soy free.


Agriculture Land Lease Opportunity
The Town of Royalton will hold a lottery to select a lessee for a lot of roughly 8 acres of farmland located on the site of the Royalton Town Offices (2460 Vermont Route 14).
The land is available for seasonal crop use only, beginning April 1, 2024, and ending March 30, 2027 for a cost of $400.00 per year. The lessee is required to abide by the State of Vermont’s Required Agricultural Practices including maintaining proper buffer zones, providing adequate nutrients back into the soil, responsible use of relevant pesticides and fertilizers, and establishing appropriate cover crops. Provision of replacement nutrients and establishment of cover crops is required each year, including during the final year of the lease once crops have been harvested. Interested parties should be aware that there is no irrigation on the property, and the land cannot be certified as organic.
Interested parties should send a cover letter detailing the name of the organization, crops intended to be grown, and certificate of insurance for the farm / organization.
The Selectboard will draw an awardee at their regular meeting on November 28, 2023. Interested parties should submit their letter of interest no later than 2 PM on Monday, November 27th.
Interest should be sent to:
Royalton Town Administrator
2460 VT RT 14 (PO Box 680)
- Royalton VT 05068
Questions can be directed to email@example.com or 802-763-7967


Fruit trees were a very hot seller in 2020-2021, selling out early on in the season, to much disappointment. We have worked hard to source more supply, but it has been very challenging.
Generally speaking – half of our 2021-2022 selection (i.e. apples, cherry, pear, quince trees) will start coming in mid November, 2021, the second half, coming in April, 2022 (i.e. plum, peach).
Apologies in advance; we will not take reservations, and we operate on a first come, first serve system.
We do our best to source quality trees, refunds on bare roots are, unfortunately, are not available. Below is our typical selection, however some trees are subject to availability as they sell out fast.
Please note our winter hours : 10-4, Tuesday – Sunday. We look forward to seeing you soon.


Where the sunny vines touch the freshness of the sea - this is where we have been creating our story of viticulture and winemaking with passion and respect since 1947.
We respect the tradition of our ancestors' wine culture, enriching it with our work and combining it with the charm of our land of Istria.
Our wines symbolise the warmth and hospitality of Istria, which we want to extend to every employee. They set a standard of quality that future generations will want to follow. The best and most loyal ambassadors of the Vinakoper brand are the people who work in the company and all those who faithfully grow with us.
Get to know the wine-growing region of Slovenska Istra. The exceptional natural conditions have enabled the caring Istrian winemakers to develop a strong tradition of winemaking and viticulture, which we, at Vinakoper, are passionate about continuing. Ten sunny vineyard locations lie on 570 hectares of the Istrian land.
Take a walk through our history. Discover how the Vinakoper brand has matured over time and what the important milestones have been.
Vinakoper wines have been judged and awarded by world experts from France, England, the USA, China and other countries. We are proud of the many champion wines that stand out from the competition and impress even the most demanding wine lovers.


Whistlepig Farm is a new venture by Lyndsey Mulherin of High Noon Farm and Henry Allsworth of Winnower Farm and Ferments. Located in the heart of Boise's Dry Creek Valley, Whistlepig Farm grows vegetables, grains, and seeds on three acres of organic ground. Find our food at the Boise Farmers Market, Roots Zero Waste Market, and through our CSA.
We grow using organic practices and aim to put the Earth first in everything we do. In addition to growing pesticide-free vegetables and grains, we practice minimum tillage, crop rotation, and integrated pest management in order to maintain a diverse ecosystem both above and underground.
We also opt for plastic-free packaging whenever possible and use 100% recycled (and recyclable) plastic when it's necessary.


We moved to Kentucky in 1992 after Lee’s sister,
Carin, and her husband, Jim, purchased a second farm. They asked if we
would like to help them work the farms. Never any money in it but it so
much more relaxing than the usual rat race. They raise beef cattle and
grow Kentucky’s cash crop, burley tobacco. With cattle you have
to produce your own supply of hay to get through the winter with. So summers
are devoted to hay production, both rolled hay and squares.
Tobacco is such a labor intense crop. You start in the spring raising
from seed your plants. We used the greenhouse/waterbed method. In late
May you have to transplant them to the ground with a tobacco setter one
plant at a time. With 10-15 acres to plant it takes a lot of time. Then
you have to side-dress (plow fertilizer next to each row). Sometimes you
have to do that a couple of times. Then there is always the weeding with
a hoe walking up and down each row. When the plants mature they will produce
a flower at the top BUT it is the leaves you are selling so you have to
break the flower out of each plant causing the top leaves to grown more.
In late August/early September you cut the tobacco (one plant at a time).
To cure the tobacco leaves you hang it in a barn. To do this you spear
6 stalks of tobacco on a 4’ stick. These sticks are then hung in
the barn on rails. Most barns are 8 to 10 rails high and the rails are
made of 4"x4" boards 12’ long and that is what you stand
on passing the sticks up and hanging as you move through the barn. In
late November/early December after the tobacco has cured to the brown
color you have to drop the sticks down from the barn and strip the leaves
off the stalks one at a time to put the different shades of brown in separate
piles. The tobacco companies are looking for the darkest color to buy.
By the time you get it sold it is time to start on the next year’s
crop. Never ends and it sucks. The amount of tobacco each farm is allowed
to sell is determined by the government and they have been cutting that
number each year. Jim’s has been reduced down to where it is now
more advantageous for him to lease it to another farmer and let them grow
it. You won’t hear any complaints from me.
We were able to purchase a 21-acre farm in 1995 and started our own cattle
farm (with Carin and Jim’s help). We had 5 cows and a bull. But
last year with Lee’s disease he was no longer able to help Marge.
Her cows were like pets and would come right up to you. A couple times
Lee tried to feed them and they knocked him down. So she sold them and
bought Boer Goats to replace them. She started with 5 nannies in the summer
of 2002, had 5 kids (3 girls and 2 boys (sold 1)). Seven of the nannies
(Last one to deliver anytime now) had a total of 14 babies so far this
spring (one set of triplets). It is so cute to watch all the kids running,
jumping and playing around out in the fields. We had an old picnic table
that we put in the field with them and they love to play king of the mountain
Marge had been raising Mini-Rex rabbits to show for a number of years.
She would show them at the Kentucky State Fair each year and had won a
number of ribbons. Unfortunately she became too busy with the church,
volunteer work and the grandkids and didn’t have the time to devote
to them. We got rid of all but 3, which are more for the grand kids.
Those of you that know Marge know that she has always named all of her
animals. She can sit on the porch right now tell you the names of all
14 of the kids and who their mothers are. She sure does love her animals.
Sometimes Lee gets a little jealous of all the attention she shows them.
*smiling* Needless to say, she is in seventh heaven here on the farm
and always felt she was meant to be a farmer.
UPDATE..... We have decided to retire and have only the 3
goats, Oreo, Stella, & Stan and all rabbits have passed on.
But........ We now have free range chickens for eggs and entertainment.
UPDATE..... Marge decided to get cows again but is going miniature, two
Dexter heifers, Maggie and her half sister, Millie, and a miniature
Herford bull, Scully ....... they are smaller, very gentle and easier to
handle. Maggie, had a heifer calf, Joy with Scully as the father.
Millie came to us bred due next spring/summer. Marge is 'planning'
t raise our own beef .....but........ we'll see how that goes!!!!


Are you looking to plant a new lawn, but don’t know whether to plant grass seed or lay sod? Depending on your location, one will deliver better results than the other. Garrido’s Crew offers free quotes and will help you decide whether seeding or sod is better for you.
- More grass varieties to choose from
- Less expensive
- Stronger root system development
- Time is limited for seeding, late summer and early fall work best
- Initial establishment time is longer than sodding
- Instant lawn
- Can be laid anytime during growing season
- Better for sloping areas
- More expensive than seeding
- Less varieties of grass to choose from
You can get additional information at Seeding and Sodding Home Lawns.


My name is Calli and I am a wife, mother and passionate horticulturist. I was inspired to start Sweet Pea’s Garden after the birth of our daughter Penelope in 2012. My career in Horticulture has led me in many different directions over the years. I have had the chance to work at some really great places which have shaped my growing experience. I started at an organic herb farm, then worked at a wholesale tree farm and have grown everything from vegetables, annuals and perennials to trees and shrubs at a retail garden center. Most recently I managed the perennial program at a wholesale greenhouse here in Palisade. Although I love growing flowers, my heart and the health of my family has driven me to grow more of the food my family eats. I am devoted to growing and eating quality, homegrown food at our family table.


The symposium will promote exchange of fundamental and applied understanding of the diverse aspects of orchard nutrition.
Yearim hotel is located in Israel's central mountain region, just 10 km west of Jerusalem and around half an hour from Ben Gurion international airport.
Israel is characterized by a large variation in climatic conditions in a relatively small area. Hence, participants will have the opportunity to see a wide diversity of orchard crops, from date palm, typical to desert areas, to tropical subtropical and Mediterranean crops including banana, mango, avocado, citrus, olive and grapes, to temperate zone crops including apple, pear, peach and cherry. Almost all orchards in Israel are micro-irrigated using drip irrigation and sprinklers and are fertilized via the irrigation systems (fertigation). The majority of local orchards are irrigated using recycled wastewater, further affecting fertilizer needs, nutrient availability, and tree nutrition.


Every plant is different; Roses require different amounts of water to say Lillies. You need to consider the species and where it come from, its natural habitat, the kind of soil it’s planted in, the temperature, lighting, and humidity in your home or surrounding the plant. Plants that have an expansive leaf surface or that are lush with foliage will certainly require more water than plants with less foliage or that have leathery or wax like leaves.
A plant’s need for water also depends on the growth cycle the plant has. A plant will absorb more water and moisture when it is actively growing than when resting.You also have to consider the type of pot the plant is in. If it’s in a smaller sized pot, moisture will be quickly absorbed, a pot that’s too large will hold too much water. A plant that has been placed in a porous pot, like clay, will require water on a more frequent basis than a plant placed in a glazed or plastic pot.
Are you worried about the white crusty build-up on the top of your plant’s soil?
It’s an accumulation of the soluble salts contained in fertilizers and tap water. This build-up is unsightly and it can cause damage to roots and foliage alike. What you’ll see is wilted looking, yellow or leaves that appear scorched.
The good news is that you can easily get rid of these excess salts. Take your house plant and place it in a sink, or move it outdoors if the weather is warm. Using tepid water, pour over the soil or potting mix. Let the water naturally drain out of the plant through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Then pour more water on the soil or potting mix, letting it drain out. When you’re finished just pour the water out of the drainage tray. This will take only minutes and allow your plant to feel better and be healthier.
You can use a moisture meter to inform you how much moisture is still in the soil.
Plants should be thoroughly watered and then given time to somewhat dry out before they are watered again. Watering should be done well, but not all the time.
If you do not own a moisture meter, use your finger to pierce the soil up to your first knuckle. Then you can tell how dried out the soil is and if your plant needs to be watered again. If the soil feels moist, it’s not time yet. If the soil feels dry, it is time to water.
When you over-water your house plants you are most likely causing more damage than would be caused by under-watering. The roots can only absorb as much water as the plant requires. Any excess water removes oxygen from the soil. Because plants require oxygen just like humans, soil soggy with water actually suffocates the roots and they just begin rotting.
If you’ve been over-watering and have a waterlogged plant you should try this:
Lean the plant sideways for a couple of minutes allowing excess water to just drain off.
Use paper towels to absorb excess water and moisture from the surface of the soil. Keep replacing drenched towels with dry ones until the excess moisture is gone.
If you notice the plant wilting or losing leaves, immediately put the plant into a new pot with good drainage using fresh soil.
Water should be at room temperature (68° F or 20° C).
Water plants thoroughly and allow them time to dry out some before you water again.
Do not over-water as this is the main cause of death for house plants.
There are many plants that can benefit from a higher level of humidity than homes usually have. If you have tropical plants they are at their healthiest with average humidity about 50% - 60%, which is much higher than in many homes.
In winter, homes can become very dry due to the fireplace and furnace creating a constant stream of hot air blasting into the house. This creates an arid environment which might be fine for a succulent or cactus. But for normal house plants that have come from the tropics, you should increase the moisture content or humidity in the air surrounding them.
It’s unlikely that you want to buy a humidifier for the entire house, so luckily there are a number of ways to raise the humidity surrounding your plants to keep them happy:
If you’re only concerned about one particular room, a room humidifier will do the job. Select one that provides a cool, fine mist spray. Put the humidifier as close as needed to give your plants the moisture they need, but not so close that the foliage gets wet.
Using a hand mister that gives off a fine spray, mist your plants every single day, or as you see it’s needed. Using water at room-temperature spray a fine mist so big droplets of water do not settle on the foliage. This is only going to work well if you are able to mist your plants several times a day due to moisture evaporating very quickly.
Set the potted plant on a tray you’ve filled up with wet pebbles. Fill the tray with only enough water so that the pebbles on the top half of the pile don’t get wet and neither does the pot. The water will start evaporating, which will raise the humidity level in the air surrounding the leaves of the plant.
These trays are specifically called humidity trays or pebble trays and they keep any excess water draining out of a plant contained so that floors and furniture are not damaged. The excess water just stays in the tray and then evaporates, which is what you want to raise the humidity levels surrounding your plant. Humidity trays are easy to take care of, only needing to be washed occasionally with soap and water.
Arrange your plants in groups with several close together. Because plants emit moisture on their own, this in and of itself will raise the level of humidity in the area surrounding the grouping.
Look at your plant carefully and you will see the tell tale signs of sickness due to low humidity.
Plant is wilting
The edges and/or tips of the leaves are turning brown
Flowering plants have poorly developed blooms or they wither too quickly after starting to bloom
Next article in the series: Choosing the right fertiliser for healthy house plants


Tips To Nurture The Grass By Lawn Mowing
What adds to the beauty of a garden or a lawn? The greenery of the gardens adds to the gorgeousness. Our eyes feel soothing and relaxed when we look at the green gardens around us. So, the best way to achieve this is by mowing the grass, trimming it, or even re-growing.
These are some of the essential measures and a dedicated approach to landscaping. Only then can you keep a garden looking straight out of a picture-postcard all year round.
Of course, grass in the gardens and the flowering arrangement is all time consuming for many. For those with the green thumb, this is just a great accessory to your home and the area around it.
You must be aware of different types of garden grasses and be conscious of how each type has its growing speed. While many of you may be eager to take out the lawnmower or the leaf blower for use, many of you would rather hire someone else to do the mowing for you.
Whatever you do, there are steps to take to nurture this garden grass. Let us check the best measures to follow for a lush garden.
- Identify your Specific Local Grass Variety
You will need to know the type of soil of your locality in the UK and even the local grass type. Most of the UK will have the cool-season grasses growing through the year. However, you should be aware that different areas across the UK are growing different grasses, from carpet grass to Festuca grass to Grostis.
Ask your local botanists from the nearby nurseries to understand your local varieties and plant them if you are looking for a refreshing grass cover.
- Mowing and its Significance
If you are to get a green garden cover, look for mowing your existing lawn. Do not compromise on the quality of the grass. If you do not mow the lawns regularly, it may breed insects or pests and may only grow unhealthily. Moreover, it may cause a hurdle in your lawn usage. You will need to wade through the dense foliage through your garden to the gate. This might surely be a painful task, and you can buy the best lawnmower. Read the buying guides and reviews from 10Twick for your garden.
- Schedule Regular Cleaning
You will need to do regular cleaning of the lawn, and you should do it from time to time. Your grass may often not find space to grow if weeds and untamed plants are growing just for no rhyme or reason.
This is why you will need to schedule a proper cleaning program, and you may even use a garden shredder if you have a big garden and are looking for ways to reduce the waste and collect it easily. Buy the best garden shredders available online after reading the reviews from 10Twick. These are ideal for making your work seem less hassle.
- Garden Care
You will need to get the right seeds from aerating the garden to using fertilizers or even the best mowing process. A lot of planning and scheduling goes into getting a beautiful and healthy garden. Check the soil Ph level and give the soil some breather in nourishing nutrients from time to time to give the grass more life and buoyancy.
- Get the Right Type of Lawnmower
You will need to know the size of your garden and get the mower as per that. If it is a small garden, you can go for the basic ones, but if it is a big lawn area, go for the electric one, and for rolling sloping lawns, go for a motorized one.
These come with seats to glide through with as much ease and allow you to relax and cover more space. The smaller ones come with attachments and can be easy to manoeuvre with firm handles. But you should not go for the lawnmowers just for the sake of getting ones. Your mowers will last long if you make the right choice. Moreover, regular and dedicated maintenance will be a necessity.
How to Maintain Your Lawnmower for Life?
Start from the Basics
The first step will be to ensure there is no gasoline remaining at the end of the mowing. Any gasoline remaining will not allow the mower to start again. It will also ensure only clean oil goes into the engine to make it run. This will reduce the chance of any contamination. Plan and schedule the cleaning and repairing or servicing every month if you are using it once a week on your garden. It depends on the number of uses you do and the extent of the garden you mow. All these contribute to the lawn mower’s longevity.
Clean the Underside of the Mower
Scrap out the cut grass and weeds that will stuck while mowing. So, make sure to remove all the old clipping and other debris with care. While doing this, remember to check the air filter as well as the spark plug. These are crucial checks you ought to perform just so that it cuts the grass well next time.
Blades and the Final Touch
You will need to check the sharpness of the blades because they shall give the right cuts. If the blades do not have that sharpness, you might end up spending just fuel in vain. So, try to keep an eye on the sharpness. While you may file the blades to give it more finesse, many others recommend professional touch. Yes, a proper mower technician will be able to give the lawnmower a full check-up and revive its efficiency. They may even take out the filter and remove any dirt or grime from it.
With care, you will notice that the mower functions smoothly and even play a vital role in keeping your garden grass healthy. The manicured lawns speak volumes of your attention to detail as well as your love for a green garden.


The reason for posting this periodical is that I recall when G.M.O.’s were first introduced. It began in 1994 with a “delayed-ripening” tomato that innocently entered the marketplace. Actually, it was the American public who were innocently beguiled by the marvel of this not-so-new technology of genetically modifying plants. Delayed-ripening…? On average how long does it take for tomato to ripen…one, two, three days? That should have been a “red flag” as to what was to come. It isn’t that this engineered hybrid benefited the consumer, the idea was sold to the farmer as a way to prevent tomatoes from rotting during transit. And the farmer in question was no longer “Old MacDonald.” It was the MacDaddy’s of agricultural industry. Armed with USDA subsidies, they began blighting the landscape like swarms of locus, and divesting the family farmers of their livelihoods with the slick poise of carpetbaggers. One need only follow the money to see just how far up the food chain it goes.
Systematically, overtime, transgenic species began positioning themselves in the produce section and supermarket aisles—a stalk of corn here, a box of cereal there— who would notice? They covertly blended into the food population like mutant aliens. Their mission? To inject their altered genes into our bio pathways. Although I doubt this is the intent of the lab scientists who engineer these Frankenfoods— they’re just doing their job— but it leads one to view the breeding ground of our food sources today with a suspicious eye.
Little, if any, independent research is available on the adverse affects G.M.O’s have, and what is available was funded by the agricultural industry. And it doesn’t take a degree in biogenetics to know what side the results were buttered on. What’s the remedy? Become informed. Stand-up and say “No” to G.M.O.’s. The effect of one voice may seem like a drop of water in the desert, but all it takes is a few drops of rain to start a flash flood. Organizations such as IRT, Institute for Responsible Technology, the European Network of Scientists, and Earth Open Source, are just a few reputable websites offering guidance in addressing legislative recourse and in-depth information on current engineered foods and the pesticides and herbicides being used, and their cross correlation to the current health crisis’ we’re facing today, such as the rise in obesity, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, IBS, and gluten intolerance, to name a short few on a very long list. In the meantime, check-out the Scorecard to see which of your state’s legislators have your back when it comes to initiating food safety policies. If you haven’t already done so, SmartLabel is one of many apps you can download to scan food products in the market for information on nutrition and possible use of GMO’s that aren’t necessarily listed on the ingredient label. For non-labeled produce, support your local farmer’s market. I’m old enough to remember when eating organically grown food was the norm and didn’t cost extra. It isn’t too late to return to those days and take back our inalienable right and that of our children’s and future generations, to eat real, unadulterated food the way nature intended.


It may come as a shock to you given my obsession with all things autumn, but I have never been apple picking before this year. Last weekend I had the opportunity to go with a couple of girlfriends and we happened to get the the most gorgeous weather and had the absolute best time!
We arrived at The Farm at Swan’s Trail by their opening time (10am) on a Sunday and the parking lot was already PACKED! I think this was due to the fact that it was during the weekend and the previous day had been rainy so everyone was taking advantage of the beautiful weather! This being said, the property is HUGE and there are so many things to do that I never felt cramped or crowed (read: unsafe regarding COVID-19). All other guests were following social distancing guidelines while walking around / in lines as well as wearing masks. I was very impressed with all of the precautions that the farm had taken… lots of barriers set up for cashiers, frequent sanitizing of communal surfaces, and procedural systems put in place for smooth (and efficient!), but safe processes for all cues. I felt very safe the whole time we were there.
We wore our masks and brought our hand sanitizer even though there were plenty of hand sanitizer and hand washing stations sprinkled throughout the property. Upon entering the grounds we were tempted to stop and explore all of the yummy goodies that were available, but decided it would be best to wait until after we picked our apples!
Swan’s Trail Farm features Washington honeycrisp apples, which are our favorite variety and, admittedly, was the main reason why we chose this particular farm. 😊 We followed the signs that guided us on a walk path to the U-Pick apple orchard and then listened to a brief tutorial on how to properly harvest the different apple varieties (who knew that each kind has a specific way to pluck it from the branch?!).
As much as we wanted to bring our own cute baskets for the occasion, due to COVID restrictions the farm requested that guests not bring their own bags or baskets — however, they did provide their own durable plastic bags for their guests to use for collecting apples.
* Please note that as an Amazon Associate I may earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases.
Once you are done picking your apples, you go to a weighing station where there is super minimal contact. You hang your own bag on the scale and the scale transmits the weight to an attendant’s tablet and they then ring you up by swiping your credit / debit card with the Square attachment.
There is a cute little tractor-pulled covered wagon that provides complimentary rides between the farm entryway / main area to the apple orchard if mobility is a concern for you. We decided to ride it back from the orchard just for fun! It was a short ride, but we sat on bales of hay and got to see the corn field / corn maze so it was definitely worth doing.
Of course we had to stop on our way out for some tasty goodies! I picked up fresh apple cider (my husband’s absolute favorite!) and apple cider doughnuts, kettle corn, and dried apple chips! Thank goodness they offered me another bag because my arms were FULL of treasures! 🤣
They also had other produce available (squash, corn, etc.) and an adorable general store with cute merchandise. My friends grabbed some food while we were there (who can pass up “fair food” when it’s available?!) and I enjoyed one of my hot-and-fresh apple cider doughnuts. Since we’ve been really watching our calorie intake for the past few weeks this indulgence tasted like HEAVEN. When you visit, the doughnuts are an absolute must.
If you have kiddos, this looked like an amazing place to take them… there were hayrides, a playground, carnival-like games, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a mega corn maze, hayrides, etc.! I would highly recommend this farm for children of all ages.
Due to COVID-19, the farm has limited the number of people in the activity areas and advance purchased tickets are required so please keep that in mind before you visit! That being said, the food area, apple orchard and pumpkin patch are all open to the public and no tickets are needed. ☺
A FEW TIPS:
The u-pick apple season lasts as long as the apple varieties are available… first come, first served and once they’re gone, they’re gone so plan your visit accordingly. I believe The Farm at Swan’s Trail may be close to closing their u-pick apple orchard for the 2020 season if they haven’t already, but there are many local apple farmers in the area that may still have u-pick experiences available!
It’s a farm, there are lots of people walking though, it rains a lot in Washington… all of which result in a very muddy experience! I highly recommend wearing waterproof shoes for this — rainboots (or “wellies”) are definitely the best choice. These Blondo boots are waterproof enough, but wellies would have been better
Please check the policies of the farm you would like to visit before bringing your own basket, bucket, or bin for gathering. There may be additional precautionary measures and new policies to review before you go, so do a little research!
Happy autumn, friends! 😊


Last Friday, a federal court in the northern district of California vacated the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) decision to deregulate sugar beet seeds genetically modified by Monsanto to be resistant to Roundup. The vacatur order once again makes the seeds a “regulated” article under the Plant Protection Act and consequently precludes their planting until APHIS complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and conducts an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), or otherwise orders the partial deregulation of the seeds. The court’s order, however, specifically allows the seeds already planted to be harvested and processed.
In considering the remedies available to the plaintiffs, the court relied heavily on the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, 130 S.Ct. 2743 (2010). It found that in light of Geertson, an injunction preventing the planting of the genetically modified seeds was unnecessary and inappropriate. Specifically, the court held that Geertson prevented the issuance of an injunction when a “less drastic remedy” was sufficiently able to redress the plaintiffs’ injury. In so ruling, the court rejected the plaintiffs’ argument that APHIS would be unable to sufficiently prevent growers from violating the vacatur as too speculative to warrant an injunction. The court’s ruling therefore, makes no attempt to limit APHIS’s authority to “partially deregulate” the seeds and allow their planting under certain restrictions while the EIS is being completed.
The court also held that under Ninth Circuit law it was constrained to follow, it had the discretion to leave the invalid deregulation order in effect while APHIS conducted an EIS, if equity so required. Although the court objected to the discretion in the face of what it found to be a clear statutory mandate to invalidate the deregulation order, it nonetheless applied the Ninth Circuit law to determine if justice required leaving the order in effect. Ultimately, the court declined to exercise its discretion because it found that a vacatur would not cause “serious irreparable environmental injury.” In so ruling, the court declined to recognize Monsanto’s claim that the vacatur would cause it significant economic harm as a factor.
The court’s ruling comes almost a year after its determination that APHIS violated NEPA by deregulating the seeds without first performing an EIS, and five months after its denial of the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.
In March 2010, the court ruled that because the plaintiffs had delayed five years in seeking and injunction, and during that time the industry had overwhelmingly converted to GM seeds, a preliminary injunction was not warranted. In closing, however, the court admonished that its decision should not be viewed as indicative of its views on a permanent injunction, and that going forward the defendants should take all efforts to use conventional seeds.
Before the court could rule on the plaintiffs’ permanent injunction, however, the Supreme Court announced its opinion in Geertson Seed Farms. In Geertson, the Supreme Court was faced with a similar case in which a district court had found an APHIS order deregulating Roundup Ready alfalfa to be invalid for want of an EIS and injoined the planting of the seeds until the EIS was complete. The Supreme Court, however, overturned the injunction because it was unnecessary in light of the decision to vacate the deregulation order, and it inappropriately preempted APHIS’s authority to first consider how it would proceed while the EIS was pending.
Finding the Court’s ruling in Geertson Seed Farms precluded a permanent injunction, the district court in this case simply vacated APHIS’s deregulation order and remanded the case back to APHIS for further consideration. Thus, as it stands now, APHIS is free to issue interim measures during the pendency of the EIS, such as partially deregulating the genetically modified seeds and allow their planting under certain restrictions, and the plaintiffs, of course, are free to again challenge any such decision.
Last month, several environmental organizations, including the Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed suit against the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in federal court in Florida. The plaintiffs are asserting four claims alleging, in essence, that APHIS violated the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 by granting permits to ArborGen to field test genetically modified eucalyptus trees without first preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS).
On May 12, 2010, APHIS granted ArborGen and affiliated paper companies permission to perform field trials of genetically modified eucalyptus trees on 28 sites across seven states. Approximately 200,000 trees are, or are scheduled to be, planted on 300 acres in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.
Although eucalyptus trees are not native to the United States and generally thrive only in very warm climates, they have been commercially grown in Hawaii and Florida for some time. ArborGen’s genetic modifications, however, are intended to allow the trees to be commercially grown further north by making them tolerant of temperatures as low as freezing. The trees are also modified to sterilize the male plants to prevent unintended invasion and to lower the lignin content, making them more suitable as raw materials for paper products. Eucalyptus trees provide valuable raw materials for pulp, paper, and bio-fuels and can be harvested faster than traditional hardwoods.
These field trials mark the first time that APHIS has approved genetically modified forest trees for open testing. Critics of the field tests, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, have expressed concerns that the eucalyptus trees can be particularly invasive because they are known for their longevity and pollen spread, and that they can be harmful to the natural environment because of their heavy water use, flammability, and susceptibility to harmful fungi.
Despite receiving over 12,000 objections to the trials, APHIS determined ArborGen could go forward after conducting only an environmental assessment, rather than the more involved EIS. Consequently, on July 1, 2010, the plaintiffs filed suit in federal court seeking to set aside the permits and obtain an injunction preventing APHIS from allowing any of the trees to flower pending the completion of an EIS. Plaintiffs are also seeking a declaration that APHIS violated NEPA and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act. APHIS has not yet filed an answer.
This dispute could have potentially important impacts on the regulatory approval process for genetically modified crops, particularly after the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms.