INDIAN AGRICULTURE AND ITS UNENDING CRISIS
April 23, 2006
As a decade in the life of a nation, the 1990s could attract a variety of descriptions. For one thing, it was the decade of liberalisation, when India, after a seeming eternity of hesitation, finally decided to engage with the global economy. For another, it was when the Indian middle class, thwarted in its ambitions for generations, carried through its revolution of rising aspirations. And it was also a period of the unabashed celebration of the good life, when older notions of austerity and social responsibility, nurtured in the Gandhian strain of the Indian freedom struggle, were thrown overboard.
With all this, the 1990s could also be remembered as the decade when agriculture fell off the radar screen. Two points in time when the Indian economy was severely buffeted by weather adversities, capture the essence of this transition. In 1987, when the monsoon failed to an unprecedented degree, the economy as a whole went into recession. Agricultural output fell by over 2 percent and with industry and services also feeling the impact, the overall growth rate slumped. The next time around when the monsoon turned in a performance quite so disastrous was 2002. And yet, even as agricultural output shrank by as much as 7 percent, industry and services maintained their brisk rates of growth. The overall impact of the drought on the economy, at least in terms of growth rates, was relatively subdued.
Prior to the decade of globalisation, the financial press through the month of April seemingly had its priorities clear. With the winter crop of grain being harvested, attention would be focused on market arrivals in the mandis of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, for pointers about the security of essential supplies over the year ahead.
Today, though, the concerns of the financial press are confined, as at any other time of the year, to the level of the stock market. Indeed, April 2006 was a historic month for the Indian stock markets, with the sensitive share price index on the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex, touching 12,000, after a steep climb from the landmark level of 11,000 it had touched just days before. The new record meant that market capitalisation in Indian stocks was, for the first time, of the same magnitude as GDP. This was, in the estimation of the financial press, occasion for joyous celebration. It was state of the art economics, they pointed out, that market capitalisation should be at the same level as the country’s GDP. This was the story in the advanced capitalist economies and it would be the story in India too. Globalisation and the Indian middle class’s revolution of rising aspirations, had transformed the stock market, with its 40 million investors, into a higher national priority than agriculture, with its 600 million people. That was fair going if inherent values, as denominated in monetary terms, were to be considered. Even as the stock markets touched their unprecedented heights, agriculture, the sole source of livelihood for over 55 percent of the country, was plunging towards the 20 percent mark in terms of its contribution to India’s GDP.
As the rabi harvest for the current year gets underway, there is little reason to believe that the wheat crop will be any less than anticipated. Yet, even before procurement began, the Union Government had announced plans to import wheat from Australia for supplying the country’s southern markets. These markets could be more cheaply supplied with imported wheat, says the government. Farmers, needless to say, are unimpressed, and see in the import decision and especially its timing, an effort to cut back wheat procurement operations. The price at which imports have been contracted is much higher than the procurement price for Indian wheat. And if the background to this decision is kept in mind, which is the export of almost 20 million tonnes of wheat from the country’s overflowing granaries since 2002 – at a price below that reserved for the population below the poverty line – then the numerous anomalies in policy approaches to agriculture would become still clearer.
Matters would have been murky enough if they had ceased there. But a mere three weeks into the procurement season, the Government announced a decision to import an additional 3 million tonnes of wheat. When concluded, this would be the biggest food import contract since the Green Revolution, as it is called, supposedly established India as a country that had no cause to worry about food security any longer.
The rapid decline in agricultural fortunes would in most circumstances, except in cases of policy-induced myopia, be serious cause for worry. Through the decade of globalisation, the per capita availability of foodgrain showed a persistent decline for the first time since the 1960s. And this recent phase of agricultural decline has been more alarming since the earlier episode had identifiable climatic adversities that could be held responsible. And despite all the climatic fluctuations through the 1990s, it is nobody’s case that the erosion of Indian agricultural output has had anything to do with natural phenomena, or with unavoidable causes.
Indeed, manmade causes have more to do with the adversities that agriculture today faces. Since structural reforms began in the Indian economy, there has been a steep decline in the proportion of the central government’s budgetary outlays that go into agriculture. This has also been the case with industry, energy, and other sectors. But in certain sectors like industry – though uncertainly so in energy -- budgetary cutbacks could be made good by private initiatives. This in any case is a decided impossibility when it comes to agriculture. Indeed, gross capital formation in agriculture after a gradual decline over the years, began to fall rapidly in the 1990s. And most expert analysis is agreed on the fact that this decline is primarily on account of the fall in public investment in agriculture.
Through the 1990s, the reigning mantra of economic policy was that public investment in sectors where there was no alternative to the energetic economic leadership of the State, would not suffer. The burden of adjustment rather, would fall on unproductive public expenditures, like unmerited subsidies and the establishment costs of the vast government bureaucracy. But this political program for obvious reasons, has been impossible to carry through. Agricultural subsidies have if anything, only increased in the period of structural adjustment, to the extent that the reigning slogan now within official circles is that the priority should shift from unproductive subsidies to productive investments. But there are obviously politically influential farm lobbies that benefit from the subsidies paid out and any effort to ensure a transition to productive investments that benefit a larger cross-section of the agricultural population, would have to run the gauntlet of their resistance.
To take the component parts of food subsidies, there is first, the difference to reckon with, between the price at which the Food Corporation of India procures grain from the farmer during the harvest and the price at which it issues grain to the public distribution system. Then there is the cost of operations, stockholding and transportation that the FCI bears. For much of the 1990s, stock levels were far in excess of prescribed norms. Figures compiled in a recent study commissioned by the Ministry of Finance of the government of India, tell a compelling story. As of January 1, 2002, stocks of wheat and rice with the government and its agencies were over three times the prescribed level – in the case of wheat, almost four times. The volume has been drawn down in subsequent years, until now the seeming embarrassment of riches has been transformed into a deficit. But this has been achieved only by exporting grain at a price below that reserved for “below poverty line” (BPL) families in India. A part of the food subsidy, in other words, is going towards subsidising the consumption of Indian grain abroad.
The report on subsidies makes note of the phenomenon of rising food stocks coexisting with endemic hunger and “reported starvation deaths” in the country. It notes that the price reserved for BPL families, of both wheat and rice, has risen cumulatively by over 60 per cent since 1997-98, against an increase in the consumer price index of only 26 per cent. And despite this rapid increase in the issue price of foodgrain, the aggregate food subsidy burden has increased tenfold since 1990-91 – from a figure of Rs 2,450 crore to over Rs 25,000 crore.
The reasons are twofold: firstly, the costs of stockholding have increased enormously; and secondly, the procurement price paid to the farmer has multiplied several-fold. Increasingly, the food subsidy has lost its function of safeguarding food security and become a system of underwriting an unnecessary and wholly irrational accumulation of food stocks with official procurement agencies, and of keeping the politically voluble farm lobby quiescent, especially in the grain surplus areas.
The rapid increase in procurement prices has been partly justified as a necessary compensation for the sharp curtailment of the fertiliser subsidy, which has contributed to a steep escalation in the price paid by the farmer for this essential input. But the situation here still remains anomalous. According to a recent calculation, if import parity prices were to be used as the benchmark, only an average of about 56 per cent of the total fertiliser subsidy borne by the government is the farmers’ share. The rest is a subsidy for the fertiliser industry.
Official policy, in its reach towards the agricultural sector, is becoming increasingly limited. And the 1990s have also been a period when farmers were once again subject to a gradual but inexorable process of marginalisation. After the robust period of integration with the institutions of the mainstream economy, beginning with the nationalization of the country’s main banks in 1969, this was a serious setback for the millions dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.
Figures tabulated by the National Sample Survey Organisation, show that cultivator households till as late as 1971, were drawing at least 68 percent of their credit requirements from the non-institutional sector – in other words, the local mahajans and moneylenders who would charge extortionate rates and not hesitate to seize their land and other assets in case of a default on repayment, even one induced by severe climatic stress. The picture began to change from the time that the banks nationalization occurred, to the extent that by 1981, the share of the non-institutional sources in total agrarian credit had fallen to 36.8 percent. Over the next decade, the figure fell still more, to 30.6 percent. But once the philosophy of liberalization kicked in, the farm sector became a relatively low priority for profit-oriented financial institutions. In consequence, the share of the non-institutional sources of credit in total agricultural lending, had increased to 39 percent by 2002.
It is possible to make the case that the more accurate measure to use for assessing the adequacy of credit flows to agriculture would be to take these in proportion to GDP. With the share of agriculture in GDP having fallen progressively over the years, it should occasion no surprise that the flow of institutional credit to the sector too, should diminish. But this does not take into account the fact that 60 percent of the country still depends on agriculture for its livelihood. With the shrinking of its access to institutional sources of support – whether budgetary or through the credit system – the agrarian sector becomes more vulnerable to transient parameters, such as weather fluctuations, pest infestation, or natural disasters. The consequence has been a huge increase in agricultural indebtedness, which the most recent survey of the NSSO testifies to in an abstract sense, and the spate of suicides by debt-ridden farmers bears witness to in a rather more intimate and alarming way.


Agriculture is an ever growing business, one that can bring you and your company very profitable endeavors, especially if you are in the food industry. For the past few years, the demand for livestock has increased significantly and, wherever you are from, there is only so much that your country can do in terms of raising sufficient animals. If you are looking for business opportunities with regards to the livestock business, you will definitely have to look beyond your country’s borders. In Europe, for instance, there are several countries that produce a large number of animal heads yearly, both for raising, wool, and dairy products, but also for slaughtering, as they provide really high-quality meat and the weight to meat ratio is more than good.
The best advice for any entrepreneur out there in this field is to look for countries exporting sheep and cattle. Look for countries with distinctive breeds of cattle and sheep, known for yielding some of the best results on the market, as the breed of the animal can determine the amount of profit you are going to make. Countries with a longstanding tradition in agriculture will have the experience and the prices to make you a great offer.
Romanian sheep and cattle, the most sought after animals right now
There is no secret that Romania has great agricultural feedback from clients all over the world. Only from the export of sheep, they make over 150 million Euro every year, being the top sheep exporting country in the European Union. That is pretty impressive and, by adding the export of cattle, feeds, and other related products, you will immediately see why their offer is worth looking into. What do Romanians export?
– As mentioned earlier, sheep is the main type of livestock. The most coveted sheep breed is the Romanian Tsurcana, as it is very resistant to temperature fluctuations, illnesses, they produce an enormous quantity of wool and the lambs are strong and healthy, with an extremely tasty meat. Moreover, this particular breed is highly appreciated for the milk it produces. Romanians have become masters of the trade, making sure every client is getting the best deal for their money. Needless to say, they follow all EU regulations and also the client’s demands. For example, before lambs are exported to Israel, they are vaccinated, castrated and their blood is analyzed.
– Romanian cattle breeds are also amazing for the weight- meat ratio they provide. The Romanian Simmentaler also makes some really delicious and healthy milk and it is very resistant to really cold climates.
– They can provide you with additional services such as sheep and cattle feed. What the animal eats is crucial for the quality of the meat and other products that they will eventually yield. Fattening and veterinary treating services are among the best in Europe as well.
Romania currently exports throughout Europe, Northern Africa, but also the Middle East. By importing livestock from this country, you are making sure your business grows and expands and that you are producing much more than you are investing. Entrepreneurs all over the world are jumping at the opportunity to start business partnerships with Romanian livestock exporters, so, for the following year which seems to be a favorable one for agriculture, you would best get in on the action. What I really liked regarding Romanian sheep and cattle exporters is that some of them are very flexible in terms of shipping, being able to make mixed sheep and cattle deliveries.
Another great advantage is the great tracking system they have in place. You’ll never be deceived about an animal’s origins again, as you can trace it as far back as you want. Veterinary certificates, cattle passports, you name it. They really are the best out there, making sure each client is satisfied and interested more in growing mutually beneficial business relationships than turning huge profits at the end of each year. If you don’t know where to start, try accessing Seradria.com, the website of a company with more than 20 years of experience when it comes to exporting livestock and checks out their services. You won’t be disappointed.


From the Mayor of Fredericksburg Iowa
It looks like it's finally here!! Harvest time that is. Even though I live in town like many of us do, please be aware of the farmers trying to get their crops out. Be cautious on the road, give them extra time and space. They are trying to make their living and we know it's been a tough a year for all of them.
Also be aware that just because you may live in town and maybe have never driven a tractor, or had your livelihood depend on this years yield, everything they are doing is affecting us in so many ways. Our community thrives on agriculture! Farmers buy gas, diesel, food, pay the bulk of the taxes and keep our small towns thriving. We have the Farmers Winn Co-op employing so many people, and it's all driven by agriculture and these farmers.
So if you have the temptation to get frustrated that you have to follow that grain wagon up a hill or you think that combine could move over, also remember that they are feeding this nation, the rich, the poor and everyone in between! Give them the respect they deserve and even a thank you if you see them and pray for a safe harvest season! It's farmers that make this world go around!
Thanks for listening,


The A,B,C’s of CBD in Texas
The journey of CBD (Cannabidiol) began in Texas with the passage of the US Farm Bill in late 2018. This bill legalized the farming of hemp in the United States and was the precursor of individual state laws being passed to legalize the farming of hemp and the buying and selling of Cannabidiol products, which does not get you high. Texas followed the Farm Bill with a bill of its own, which passed in the summer of 2019. It too legalized the growing of hemp and the buying and selling of Cannabidiol products. Texas farmers are looking forward to growing their first hemp crop in 2020, pending the approval of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s publication of its rules and regulations for farmers who register to grow hemp.
Several other states, including Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, North Carolina and Kentucky, to name a few, are ahead of Texas by a couple of years and farmers there have been growing and selling their hemp to processors, who extract the Cannabidiol and sell it as tinctures, topicals and edibles for humans, as well as pets. Farmers have switched from growing other crops, such as tobacco and cotton, into growing of hemp, with the promises of making double the revenue from the newly approved crop.
Why is Cannabidiol not a felony anymore? What changed? The problem was that hemp looks and smells just like its sister plant, marijuana, the infamous plant used by people to get high. Consequently, hemp, along with marijuana, was outlawed in the 30’s by the United States https://www.cbdraise.com/ law enforcement and others could not tell the difference between the two plants so they threw out the baby with the bath water. It was not corrected until 2018, when the Farm Bill was passed, reestablishing the legality of the hemp plant.
In actuality, marijuana produces smaller amounts of Cannabidiol than hemp. And hemp produces smaller amounts of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical that gets you high. Consequently, the Federal government has determined that Cannabidiol is legal as long as it is.3 % or below in each and every Cannabidiol product that you purchase. You can verify that amount through Certificates of Analysis (COA’s) from third party, independent labs that are published by the manufacturers and sellers of Cannabidiol.


Thinking about booking a corporate event or a private family function? Our winery and farm might be just the right place…
Sonocaia is more than just a warm and inviting estate vineyard and boutique winery.
We’re also eleven acres of compelling ecological and agricultural projects.
We offer corporate team building functions and private family events, all mixed with learning about sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Explore the symbiotic relationship between nature and viticulture. Savor serious wines and farm-to-table produce while fostering a commitment to ecological and agricultural values. Schedule an educational seminar on a variety of grape, wine, and farming topics.
The winery and farm has a continuous and evolving set of projects underway at all times. Visitors are encouraged to inquire in advance about topics of interest.
We partner with great chef-caterers offering delicious food options as part of your event plan.
Add an ecological or agricultural topic to your visit
Begin with a farm tour of bee hives, fruit orchards, and olive trees. Meet in the elevated pool house for a customized educational seminar. Take a stroll through the vineyard. Learn about composting, creek restoration, and surface water recovery. Or head straight to the winery to taste wine and enjoy a carefully curated chef’s meal.
In addition to grapes and wine, here are a few examples of the potential topics for your corporate or family visit:
Learn about estate Sagrantino, our special Umbrian red wine
Our estate grown Sagrantino is a boutique-scale effort; it is a traditionally-made deep red wine that transports tasters to the hills of Montefalco, Umbia, Italy. A rare find in California, this varietal is relatively unknown in the new world and is sparking curiosity from both the casual traveller and the serious wine critic. We have painstakingly cultivated our highly regarded Sagrantino vineyard over the years with careful sustainable farming practices. The resulting rich wine makes a bold but approachable statement.
Learn more about our estate Sagrantino here: information about Sagrantino
Shop for our Sonocaia estate reserve Sagrantino and other wines here: shop for wine now


As the Bright Horizons education team continue their work setting up the preschool, they also get involved in giving to those in need in Pignon.
This morning we were woken up by our goat and chicken friend bright and early! We had the chance to help with peanut harvesting this morning at 6:00am. We helped pull the peanuts out of the ground and then pulled them off of the plant. It rained last night which helped us pull the peanuts out of the ground easier. It was an interesting experience and we are glad that we got to be a part of it!
We had some french toast for breakfast this morning and then headed off to devotions with the Many Hands 4 Haiti staff.
We met the preschool teacher Juna today! We prayed for the school’s success, children, and teachers. We then were finally able to put together the classroom! We put in the chairs and tables and the carpet tiles for the children. After that, we spent our afternoon getting things ready for the classroom. We didn’t finish it all, but we got a great start! Everything seemed to fall in place perfectly and all seemed well.The new preschool classroom is almost ready
Next, we were able to help plant banana trees for some families here! We rode in the back of the three wheeler around the community and stopped at two different homes. We dug up five holes with a pick-ax and a shovel and then planted the shoots. The families watched seeming eager to await their new banana tree. There was such an overwhelming happy feeling knowing that this will supply them with food. There are at least 1,000 banana trees on Many Hands 4 Haiti property, so it was a pleasure to take what we have grown here and give to those around us.Planting the Banana trees!
On our way home, we saw many Haitian kids on the streets and we stopped to play and sing with them. The smiles on their faces were contagious. They knew some English songs that Craig (Program Leader for MH4H) had taught them. It was a joy listening to them.
The rest of the night, we worked more on the banners for the open house for the preschool classroom. We had a nice dinner with everyone in the house and then we shared stories on the porch while getting our hair braided by some of the Haitian staff.
Tomorrow morning Sarah and Tia will tackle Mount Pignon!
Sara & Tia


On behalf of our business partners we are looking for long-term customers, who are in need of organic cold pressed amaranth oil (Amaranth grains are from certified organic amaranth cultivation farms / kbA), with a squalene content of 5% -8%.
This oil can be used in the production of your products or it can expand your product range.
We would be delighted to create you a suitable offer.
To place an order, please click here to fill out our contact form.
In connection with the receipt of requests for testing screw presses to the possibility of squeezing oil from amaranth seeds AEN Engineering conducted a test of the extraction of oil and laboratory investigation of the resulting end product, the oil from the seeds of amaranth varieties Lera. For reviews and experts from Germany and Russia, the technology of extraction of oil and biochemical parameters are satisfactory, and can be recommended for commercial production. In connection with this company, AEN Engineering has taken steps to update the home page. Now, thanks to a new link "News" you can get acquainted with the results of studies and tests of AEN Engineering clicking on the link: here.
Amaranth - the forgotten miracle cereal culture, which the UN Food Commission called the culture of the 21st century.
The botanical name comes from the Greek. "Amarantos": - "unfading flower." Amaranth over 8000 years old was one of the major grain crops in South America and Mexico. In Asia, popular as amaranth grain and vegetable crops. Amaranth grain contains up to 16% protein, 5-6% fat, 55-62% starch. For lysine content amaranth protein is twice the protein of wheat; lipid fraction contains up to 10% squalene (squalene rejuvenates cells, inhibits the growth and spread of cancers, increases the strength of the immune system of the body several times, thus ensuring its resistance to various diseases.)
Given the general trend of minimizing the use of chemicals and the desire to fully utilize homeopathic (natural) resources in the treatment of severe cancer:
July 27, 2012 the company AEN Engineering GmbH & Co. KG conducted a test trial of its screw presses supplied to the possibility of cold-pressed oil from seeds of amaranth varieties CEM and LERA, and laboratory studies of the biochemical composition of the product (oil from seeds of amaranth).
Results of tests and laboratory tests exceeded all expectations both on the technical parameters of equipment (for screw presses supplied by AEN Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, yield of oil was much higher than on similar presses of other companies), and on the biochemical composition of the oil Lera varieties of amaranth seeds. According to experts in Germany and Russia, who studied the data of laboratory research results proved to be quite stable and good!
For several reasons, extract oil from seeds of amaranth is not easy. There are several techniques to obtain: oil extraction, extraction with organic solvents and supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE - CO2).
Our proposed method of cold pressing of their value, simplicity, quality parameters of oil differs radically from these expensive technologies offered by our competitors.
When the content of 6-7% oil in the seeds of amaranth varieties Lera when pressed cold pressed oils, we obtained the following results:
•% of oil output during the spin cycle: ~ 3.3%
•% squalene content: ~ 5.42%
• Vitamin E: 51,84 mg/100 ml
•% content of monounsaturated fatty acids (Monoungesättigte FA) - 23,7%
•% content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (Polyungesättigte FS) - 51,2%.
We offer a screw press to obtain cold-pressed oil from seeds of amaranth with a fairly high content of squalene!
Until recently, the squalene received only deep-water sharks from the liver, resulting in its cost was so high that the mass of its use became almost impossible.
From the easily renewable plant resources squalene in small amounts in wheat germ oil, rice bran, yeast, cranberries (0.34%), zmeegolovnika (0.67%), oregano (0.15%), peppermint (0 , 36%), Melissa (0.57%), seaweeds (0.07%), black currant seed (0.16%), Peony (0.22%), cranberry (0.19%), thyme ( 1.18%), fungus (0.45%), horse chestnut (4.19%), common wormwood (1.3%). Data are presented on the technological development of SIC ER "Goro".
The highest content of squalene from literary sources found in amaranth oil - from 8% to 15%, depending on the technology of production.
Thus, cold pressed oil is the best for such raw materials as amaranth, as it allows to select from amaranth seed oil extract from the most comprehensive content of squalene in it and a set of PUFAs, and as a protein meal with a lot of inherent amaranth amino acid and trace element composition , ready for use, for example, in Badakhshan.
Watch videos on the method of cold-pressed oil from seeds of amaranth here.
According to the forecasts of the World Health Organization, by 2030 the number of people with cancer to grow by 75%.
This is stated in a study published in the pages of the medical publication Lancet Oncology.
Every year the world spent huge funds to develop new methods and drugs for the treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of vsgo this is much lower than expected.
The company AEN Engineering GmbH & Co. KG has decided to go the other way - to find natural remedies to boost immunity and combat the growth of cancer cells.
Recent research in this area one of the most effective in this area is called squalene - biological compound, natural unsaturated hydrocarbon. In the body of man, squalene rejuvenates cells and inhibits the growth and spread of malignant tumors. In addition, squalene can improve the strength of the immune system of the body several times, thus ensuring its resistance to various diseases.
About how the company AEN Engineering GmbH & Co. KG pomogaetproizvodit oil with high content of squalene here.
"Recent news from CNN states that we are, 'only days away to a world population of 7 billion people.' And according to the U.N, the global population may rise to 9.3 billion by 2050. Those are extreme numbers considering that people will have a major need for food and energy. We, here at AEN Engineering, are taking this issue very seriously and want to participate in this challenge. These are reasons why it is so important to us to supply our customers with economical solutions based on the world's best technology and quality in the food and energy industry, which can only be realized with a world-wide network of great partners."
- CEO, Johann Juschin
Due to the increase in sales and inquiries, AEN Engineering took a small step to update their Homepage. Also, with their new link "Partners," AEN Engineering is now using the call-to-action approach to new potential partners. Their services have updated too, which you will find here.


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Flower Field is Closed for the Season-See you in 2024
Welcome to WM Knight Lavender, Flowers & Herbs
Events on the Farm
We host several events on the farm including, the Lavender Festival, Flower Festival, Bouquet Bars, Girls Night and more.
We are family-owned lavender and cut flower farm located in beautiful New Plymouth, Idaho. In mid to late June the lavender field comes to life showcasing beautiful buds in all shades of purple and pink. Then in July the flower field is bursting with blooms of every color. We would like to invite you to join us on the flower farm journey.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (aka CSA) is a partnership between a local farm and the CSA members who buy a “share” of the harvest for the season. Because a huge amount of a farm’s yearly expenses happen before the growing season begins, and thus before we can expect any income, CSA members play a crucial role each year by paying for their share before the growing season begins. This helps the farm pay for the supplies and seeds we need to get started. In return, our CSA members will receive twenty weekly shares of fresh vegetables grown on the farm and picked at the peak of flavor.
What is the Papillion Urban Garden?
Papillion Urban Garden is a charitable, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a registered domestic nonprofit corporation in the State of Nebraska.
Who operates the farm?
The farm is operated by two full-time employees and a group of dedicated volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering for the Garden, please reach out to us through our Contact page!


The orchard picking truck is composed of walking system, lifting system, hydraulic system and table, which can ensure the accuracy and efficiency of operation. After testing, the efficiency of picking was improved by 50%, the rate of missing picking was less than 4%, and the rate of fruit damage was less than 4%, compared with the work of manual and picker alone. The device can reach a height of up to 3m. Suitable for the cultivation and picking of vegetables and fruits.
|Device size||193cm（length）X68cm（width）X53cm（height）||control mode||inching control|
|Rise speed||0.25m/s||travel speed||40-60m/min|
|travel speed||24V/110A||motor power||0.37kW|
|motor power||53-300cm||the carrying weight||300kg|
The above parameters can be customized
1. Significantly improve work efficiency
The equipment can walk and lift, compared with the traditional mobile platform, increase the lifting function, significantly improve the work efficiency.
2. Convenient transportation
Can be connected to the transport vehicle for use.
3 .the device has strong passability
After the mature structure design, the body width is narrow, which is conducive to the picking area and has little impact on vegetables and fruits.


Initiatives of CHAI
The confederation has successfully organised and supported national and international conferences, workshops and national consultations and, services in education, and is providing solutions to the problems. Awards and Fellowships are instituted to recognise the contributions of scientists and other stakeholders in the research and development in the country and also abroad. The Confederation has instituted various awards, which includes Honored Fellowship for leadership of par excellence, Life Time Achievement Award for distinguished life time contributions in horticulture, Honorary Fellowship for noticeable contributions, and commitment to furtherance of horticulture, Dr. R. S. Paroda Award for Excellence in research and academics. Dr. B.H. Jain Award for excellence in transfer and diffusion of technology and Ram Nandan Babu Award for excellence in farming. CHAI Fellowship is conferred to members for their commitment in furtherance of agriculture / horticulture. JISL fellowship is provided for training abroad to meritorious members. Considering the needs for dissemination of science based knowledge among scientists for the furtherance of agriculture/ horticulture science, an International Journal of Innovative Horticulture (IJIH) is also published besides newsletter and books, which has over whelming response. To encourage the students, the CHAI has instituted Dr. D. P. Ray Best Dissertation Award for the students who have completed masters and Best Paper Award for scientific article published in IJIH, are also awarded.


Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am Starting the day with a visit to local market ( available only on Monday, Friday and Saturdays ) or a morning walk to the fruit orchards of Ayvali Village. We will collect and taste fresh fruits from the trees (harvesting between June and October) or visit the cave storages for lemons and potatoes. The tour continues with the walk through the narrow streets of the village. Each door opens for an invitation as the villagers invite you for a cup of tea or a plate full of dessert, fruit from their house. According to the season, we join the villagers to learn and help making grape syrup , tomato sauce productions and pumpkin seed collecting. Visiting the local meeting point, Kahvehane,(coffeehouse) to learn more about their lifestyle and local games while drinking the Turkish coffee and tea.Visit the mosque in the village and learn more about the religious customs. For the lunch, we are invited to a real village house to join a Turkish family. We'll collect the ingredients from their garden and we will participate the cooking of the delicious Turkish meals.. We are going to have the lunch by sitting together with the family as it is in the traditional way. After the lunch, a walk in a beautiful hidden valley near village. Drive to see a cave wine house to see the process of making delicious and famous Cappadocia wine. Before going back to the hotel, there may be an optional stop to see an art and handicraft center of Cappadocia.


Alsace is one of the most surprising regions in France. You imagine yourself in Germany, especially because of the names of cities, streets and buildings, but it has the sultry and relaxation that is so characteristic of Eastern France. The classic almost Swiss villages, the beautiful historic buildings and castles, the hills and vineyards, it is a different world. Especially if you are invited to a winemaker who does it really differently from many fellow winemakers and elevates terroir above all else: Domaine Marcel Deiss.
Marcel Deiss: the vineyards
And how can you get more in the mood than cycling through some of Marcel Deiss' vineyards: Mambourg, Grasberg and Rotenberg. On the outside you can see grapevines and rolling hills, but the difference is underground: the composition of the soil can vary enormously within a few meters and this variation is more complex than in Burgundy. And anyone who has ever stood at the vineyard Le Montrachet, for example, knows how quickly the soil conditions can change there.
When you enter Bergheim, the domaine is not to be missed. We were warmly welcomed by Marie-Helene Deiss, who immediately introduced us to the vineyards, their location and the general philosophy. And then the tasting started right away, the best choice: here we talk about the soil, the location, the terroir. As Marie-Helene herself described it: "a grape variety is like paper: it says nothing. So what you write on it is what matters".
A mix of grape varieties grows on each plot, as it used to be in the old days. In this way, the varieties compete with each other, which leads to quality improvement of the individual grapes. Domaine Marcel Deiss stimulates the vines to get their roots deep enough to get the best out of the terroir. So one tries to get the character of the soil in the grapes, so that every wine is an expression of its origin.
The taste of terroir
During our tasting, the location of the vineyard was shown for each wine and real pieces of soil were used to illustrate what the soil condition looks like. Each wine was clearly different, even if the wines had exactly the same composition of grape varieties. This was the case for example with Engelgarten and Rotenberg, which we tasted side by side in 2 glasses. The plots were right next to each other. Engelgarten is situated on an old river bed with pebbles and gravel, Rotenberg is old Jurrassic soil (Oolite limestone). Both wines were completely different, but each with their own specific touch. And when we asked which grapes the wine was composed of, Marie-Helene looked at us quizzically: "But that's not important at all, is it?". It turned out to be a combination of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Beurot, Muscat and Pinot Noir.
The tasting was a voyage of discovery of the terroir and showed what the Alsace and the various grape varieties can produce for enormous quality. The Grand Cru vineyard Schoenenbourg was briefly compared to Romanee Conti by Marie-Helene. A popular wine in Europe since the 12th century because of the excellent shelf life due to the composition of the soil. Schoenenbourg wines can become very old. A winemaker must consciously choose to make the wine. Unfortunately, according to Marie-Helene, that happens too little, so that Schoenenbourg no longer has the allure of the past, but the potential is still unchanged. And we could taste that afterwards, next to the Grand Cru Altenberg and Mambourg. What fantastic wines these were.
We tasted 18 wines that afternoon and we came to the conclusion that we should have visited Marcel Deiss much earlier. The philosophy behind winemaking, the intention with which the wines are made, the quality and certainly the price-quality, it all appeals to us. And to return to the importance of grape varieties and want to do 'it' differently: Domaine Marcel Deiss managed to get rid of the obligation to state the grape variety on the label a few years ago. Indeed: we do it differently here.
Too much to tell...
This Blog can go on for many more paragraphs, on the website of Marcel Deiss you can find all the information. And we try to keep our stock up to standard with often old vintages of the Grand Cru wines that only show their true quality at a later age.
When we left the domaine, Marie-Helene said goodbye with: "It's all about terroir: pass the message on!"


This weekend was a very productive one at our farm as we brought in a massive amount of food over the weekend from our gardens. Watch our latest VLOG and see how tobacco, okra, muscadines and sweet potatoes grow here in the Appalachian region. https://youtu.be/QQTRC0Y1Ouk
Today was a great day harvesting our muscadine grapes. We will be making juice and wine this week as the harvest continues. Here is our latest VLOG on the harvest and also we talk about HiBar Ranch got its name and the values we live by here at the farm. Enjoy!! And remember to subscribe … Continue reading Our Muscadine Grape Harvest For Muscadine Wine – Today!!


There have been many new experiences in the garden for the children to get involved in.
Sunflower seeds were planted in March and as you can see, what a success this year.
The children were having fun measuring with measuring tapes, talking about their own height to the height of the sunflowers.
There were also lots of conversations about the bumblebee taking the nectar from the sunflower and how we can eat the seeds from the middle once they are dried and roasted.
Potatoes were also planted. We all watched them flower and grow and Mr Farr very kindly harvested them for us. Heather then washed and cooked them for our lunch.
Sadly we had to let our butterflies go!
The Preschool children observed the life cycle from tiny caterpillars to beautiful butterflies!
The children watched while we released the butterflies from the net. We talked about how they take a while before they start to fly away because their wings are sometimes stuck together.
We will look out for them, they might fly into our garden again!


Mitsubishi Asian Children's Enikki Festa
Started in 1990, the Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa is a program that seeks to promote literacy education and to stimulate cultural exchange among children by allowing them to learn about each other through “enikki” (illustrated diaries).
Age 8, Boy
I went to the cattle market and bought a cow for this year’s Eid festival of sacrifice. I took a photo of myself with the cow.
Age 8, Girl
I drew this picture of farmers because farmers grow rice for us. I admire how farmers work long hours outside under the sun and rain to grow the rice. Rice is important to Thais as our staple food. Farmers work especially hard during the harvest season to harvest the rice. So I want everyone to eat their rice down to the last grain. Do not waste even a single grain. That is why I drew this picture.


Straw For sale
Straw is the hollow stems of fully mature grains like wheat, oats and rice. While it may have a little grain left in it, it has little food value. It is, however, better at absorbing moisture, and is smoother and less picky than hay, so is better as bedding, always avoid using dusty straw.
Oat straw and mixed grass /clover hay, both work just fine. Always store both in a dry location off the ground.
Our Straw is For Straw is For Sale in the following sizes:
Mini Hesston (80/90)
1/2 Quadrant (70/80)
3/4 Hesston (19/90)
We have Straw For Sale throughout the Uk and Europe.
Straw is normally used for a bedding material, while hay is used as a feed supplement. Straw is dried out and works well for building nests and providing cushioning for animals to sleep in.
It is not moist like hay and is unlikely to mould. Straw is also more practical to use as bedding than hay is, because of its lower cost.
We source top quality Barley, Wheat and Oat straw which can be delivered in large square,round or small conventional bales. All bales are moisture tested.
WE can also supply: Meadow and Seed hay, Large bales of haylage, Large bales silage and we also welcome Bulk Buy services. See here >>>>>
For all enquiries call Saul on 07866504720


There was a lot of noise on the farm this week....we have weaned some of the lambs from their mummies! The noise was definitely coming from the ewes rather than the lambs, which was surprising I always think that the ewes would be pretty relieved to have a bit of a break by now. The sheep calendar is amazing as we are already thinking of getting the ewes ready to receive the rams in about 2 months time. The ewes need to be 'dried off' which means they stop producing milk and all the energy they are consuming from the grass is going directly into their condition.
Other news is that all our hay is in! We have been so blessed with the weather, we needed 5 days of dry and we eventually got it last week. Stuart our contractor came one evening and mowed all the fields in about 4 hours it was incredible, see the video footage. Molly and I were watching and the speed the tractor went was amazing! Molly was transfixed and didn't seem to bat an eyelid as the big noisy tractor approached! Stuart came back and tedded (turned the cut grass to maximise dryness) and then baled and then Roly spent all of Monday loading up the trailer and bringing the bales in, very satisfying.
The rams had their 'MOT' this week - we look at their feet, check their teeth and generally have a good going over to make sure their condition is good, and everything is in working order. We will need to change at least two of our rams, the Lleyn and maybe one of the Texels, to ensure that they are not put with any of their daughters as we keep all our own replacements (ewe lambs which we will breed from next year).
Molly is almost 6 months old, we can hardly believe it! She was christened on Sunday which was very special and true to form clashed with a major farming event...haymaking...but as I've already mentioned, we were lucky with the weather which meant Roly could have the day off.
Our other news is that we are now on Twitter@camillaandroly! So take a look at follow us and we'll let you know about our latest lamb offers and up to the minute news from the farm.
Camilla, Roly, Molly, Boris and Belle


1940s Sugar Beet Bucket
Absolutely loving these fabulous galvanised vintage metal buckets. They date back to the 1940s and are from a Sugar Beet factory, each farmer would have a sample of his Sugar beet put in a bucket with his name hidden under the spring-loaded flap and it would go off to be graded, he'd then be paid depending upon the quality and soil content. Read More
Due to the fact that they have drainage holes in the bottom they make wonderful planters. Each Bucket is washed, cleaned and waxed, please note no two are the same which adds to their rustic charm.


La Chapelle Paul Jaboulet
Appellation Hermitage (Rhône)
Surface: 125 hectares of vineyards
Production: 90000 bottles
Geology : Rich soils composed of granitic arena covered with micaschist and gneiss
Grape varieties : 100% Syrah
Maturing : oak barrels
Antoine Jaboulet founded his company in 1834, in Tain-l’Hermitage. His sons Paul and Henri succeeded him, then it was the turn of Louis, Paul’s son. Then came Gérard, Louis’ son, and finally, from 1997, Michel Jaboulet, Gérard’s cousin, who took over the reins of the estate until 2006 when the house was bought by the Frey group, owner of vineyards in Champagne and Bordeaux. It is oenologist Caroline Frey who now manages a house with a reputation that was already established but which is serenely returning to an excellent level.
Since 2013, the Jaboulet vineyard is officially in conversion to organic farming.


Marachekku (Wood Press) Coconut Oil – 1 Litre
- Natural Wood pressed oil
- 1 Litre
Coconut oil / Copra oil, is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. Coconut Oils pressed in traditional wooden mills have been used for cooking and as a Hair oil in India for hundreds of years till refined oils took over. Real unrefined cold pressed coconut oil is extracted at our direct supervision using the traditional wooden grinding method where the oil is extracted without heating or any chemical processes. Coconut oil that is extracted using a traditional cold pressed method is highly nutritious and healthy.
There are no inquiries yet.


Hearts for Kenya is the assumed name of Play Source International, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Kentucky corporation. Headquartered in Louisville, it has a four-person board of directors. John E. Willingham, Jr., a seasoned missionary with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agriculture, serves as President and is the primary person involved in the Hearts for Kenya operations. The secretary of the corporation is G. Kennedy Hall, Jr., an attorney with the Louisville firm of Middleton Reutlinger. Other key persons, including the Kenyans who coordinate the day-to-day operations of the program, are listed in the Key Persons List.
The country of Kenya straddles the equator in east Africa. (See Maps) It extends from the Indian Ocean to Lake Victoria and is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda on the north and by Tanzania on the south. Its population is approximately 37 million, with 50% of its citizens below the poverty line. Kenya has democratically elected national and provincial governments, although tribal structures also wield varying degrees of power and influence. Neither the government, the tribes, nor local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have succeeded in combating the effects of extreme drought, unsophisticated farming methods, and a history of poverty. As a result, nearly eleven million Kenyans are on the brink of starvation.
Oyugis is a village of about a thousand inhabitants that lies in Nyanza province, the westernmost and poorest of Kenya’s eight provinces. Although there is commercial fishing activity along Nyanza’s Lake Victoria shore, most of the people who inhabit Nyanza are totally dependent on the crops they grow. The province has been farmed for over three thousand years but without any replenishment of the soil. As a result, the soil of Nyanza is extremely poor. In addition, farmers of Nyanza have historically lacked draft animals and mechanized farming equipment as well as knowledge of modern farming methods. Understandably, crop yields have been extremely low — insufficient to provide adequate sustenance. These conditions have resulted in starvation for many inhabitants.
Besides a lack of adequate food, the people of Oyugis have experienced the myriad problems that accompany extreme poverty throughout the world. Infectious diseases –especially malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS – are rampant, compounded by a lack of trained medical personnel, by a lack of drugs or the means to properly distribute them, and by dysfunctional cultural patterns. Sanitary drinking water has been non-existent. Adequate structures in which people can gather for education, governance and mutual support have been lacking. Although realizing the need to maintain its focus, Hearts for Kenya saw that attention to a handful of other social problems was critical to the success of its agricultural program. It, therefore, made an early decision to selectively extend its involvement into various social problems to allow effective impact of its primary purpose.
The community in which Hearts for Kenya is currently active includes the village of Oyugis and outlying lands comprising roughly forty square miles with a total population of approximately 12,000. References to Oyugis are sometimes confusing because the area extending out several miles from the village is also often referred to as Oyugis, or sometimes as “the Oyugis area.” When Hearts for Kenya was first formed, Oyugis farms were yielding about 300 pounds of corn (maize) per acre. There was no significant ongoing fertilization, irrigation or crop rotation. There were no animals or machines to pull a plow. Sixty percent of the children of Oyugis were infected with HIV/AIDS virus. Starvation and infection were the leading causes of death. Waterborne infectious diseases were spreading freely among the people. The few public buildings and churches that existed, being built of mud and sticks, were not durable.
Although dire conditions remain, significant progress has been made in Oyugis since 1997 due to the efforts of Hearts for Kenya and the initiative of the local people. Corn crop yield has been increased from 297 pounds to over 1,263 pounds per acre. There is now enough corn grown locally to sustain the local populace, with some left over from each harvest to sell. Significant progress has also been made in irrigation, fertilization and farming methods. A sanitary water system has been built, as have three churches. A community center is now under construction. The eleven schools in the community are now better stocked with books and supplies, and five with playground equipment, although they still lack desks. Although the recent drought has ended, the problems of malaria, TB and AIDS remain rampant. Local people are exercising enough leadership and initiative to sustain the gains made thus far. However, they will require much additional time and help in order to have a chance to overcome the various other barriers to survival that are characterized by the extreme poverty. Hearts for Kenya is ready and willing to continue providing that help, and it needs a continual flow of resources in order to accomplish that goal.


500,000 Litres of Water delivered to drought stricken communities
Up to 30 truckies have transported water and food to drought stricken Coonabarabran the weekend before Christmas.
"A convoy of nearly 30 trucks has helped deliver water and food as part of the Caring for our Farmers initiative in what has proven to be a life-changing journey for many of its volunteers last weekend." Reads the Primemover Mag article.
"Caring for our Farmers, an initiative organised by Mike Williams who is also known as the Oz Trucker, travelled from Sydney to Murrurundi, Coonabarabran and Baradine – places where tank water on properties is now a luxury for the very few who can ship it in from major cities."
Along with various other donations throughout the trip, this display of mate-ship is exactly what Australia is best known for.
Read full story HERE


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Tsaker Chemical Acquire 100% Equity Interests of Dongao Chemicals
(Hong Kong – 4May 2016) Tsaker Chemical Group Limited (“The Company”, together with its subsidiaries, collectively referred as the “Group”, stock code: 1986.HK) is pleased to announce that on 4 May 2016, Tsaker Chemical (Dongying) Co., Ltd. ("Tsaker Dongying", indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and Huage Holdings Group Co., Ltd. ("Huage Holdings") has entered into the Agreement to acquire the entire equity interests in the Shengli Oil Field Dongao Chemicals Co., Ltd. ("Dongao Chemical") at the consideration of RMB17,361,000 (equivalent to approximately HK$20,668,000 ).
Prior to the acquisition, the Group rents the production lines of Dongao Chemcial from Huage Holdings for the production of mononitrotoluene. According to the independent valuation report, the net asset value of Dongao Chemical was approximately RMB17,361,000 as at 29 February 2016. As at the date of this announcement, the annual designed production capacity of mononitrotoluene (consisting of PNT, ONT and MNT) amounted to an aggregate of 80,000 tonnes; and the annual production capacity of ONT, which mainly used for production of agricultural chemical intermediates amounted to about 48,000 tonnes.
The Group will become one of the largest global mononitrotoluene producers after acquiring the 80,000 tonnes production capacity. The production of mononitrotoluene enables the Group to have stable source of PNT for its production of DSD Acid (PNT is the key raw material for DSD Acid production). ONT/OT is the important agricultural chemical intermediates especially for herbicide. The acquisition allows the Group to secure this capacity and enhance the leading market position, as well as further improve the market share and price bargaining power. It also can strengthen the refinance ability of the Group’s asset.
Regarding the acquisition, Mr. Ge Yi, Chairman of Tsaker Chemical said, “The acquisition of Dongao Chemical is a strategic move for the Group to pursue bolder development in the fine chemical industry. Since the leasing of Dongao Chemical for the production of mononitrotoluene in the beginning of 2015, the Group has become more familiar with the production techniques of mononitrotoluene, whereby the production has ramped up and gradually reached its optimal scale. Given the recent sales performance, profitability and production volume of mononitrotoluene were better than expected, we believe that the Group has successfully entered into the mononitrotoluene market and enjoys a significant presence in the agricultural chemical intermediate industry, especially herbicide industry. The Directors remain optimistic on the acquisition and expect the production and sale of mononitrotoluene would deliver good financial return to the Group in the medium to long run."


Western Australia’s rural communities are essential to our food security, economy, and cultural identity.
Many farmers and pastoralists are practising sustainable farming, but still face less predictable rainfall, poor returns and extreme weather events as a result of climate change. Around 11,000 people worked in agriculture in WA in 2009-2010. The 2011 – 2012 Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA ) records that Western Australian farm products generated around $5.9 billion revenue, or 11% of the State’s GDP. Eighty per cent of this produce was exported, including 97% of grain, 75% of livestock and 18% of horticultural produce. Seventy per cent of these exports go to Asia.
A combination of a drying climate and a series of poor seasons, rising costs of fuel and fertilisers, competition from imported produce, limited local markets, price pressures from the large supermarket chains and often having to compete in international markets is putting many farmers under significant financial pressure. The farming population in Western Australia is ageing with the median age now being 53. There is also a growing skill shortage with fewer young people choosing to stay in farming or related skill areas. In addition, mining and onshore gas extraction is threatening important agricultural areas, either directly or by damage to water sources. This has put additional strain on farming communities. Finally, the release into the environment of Genetically Modified (GM) crops has set farmer against farmer in legal challenges to protect the rights of Western Australia’s organic producers and other non-GM farmers.
WA needs a resilient agricultural sector that supports farmers to remain on the land and earn a healthy return on their produce. That’s why the Greens are campaigning for solutions that will help farmers adapt to climate change and continue to provide Western Australians and regional markets with a safe and reliable source of food.
See the full initiative attached.


Exactly How a Grass Care Solution Can Improve the Look and also Health And Wellness of Your Grass Whether you intend to develop a healthy and balanced, eco-friendly grass or you have an existing lawn that needs some love, a yard treatment solution can offer it the attention it is entitled to. These specialists are experts in dirt and lawn health, weed control, fertilization, aeration, and extra. The primary step to a successful grass treatment program is to develop a strong structure by applying a correct fertilization schedule, deep origin feeding, oygenation, and weed control. These services will certainly enhance your yard’s wellness, reduce the amount of water it needs, and also prevent illness and parasites from damaging your yard. Grass seeding is a vital part of preserving a healthy grass, as it offers a fresh start for new lawn plants and also assists them get off to a solid, healthy and balanced begin. Aeration is an essential part of the procedure, as it separates compressed soil that can disrupt plant development as well as dirt dampness. Aeration likewise urges deeper origins, which will aid the yard endure droughts and also other anxieties. A lawn treatment solution will apply herbicides to kill weeds such as dandelions and clover that can harm your grass. Some companies use these therapies all over the grass, while others only deal with at risk parts of it. Herbicides can be specifically helpful to homeowners that have a history of weed problems or are trying to prevent the spread of these plants to various other locations. They additionally have a reduced environmental influence than chemical-based items, and also they are much safer to make use of around pet dogs as well as youngsters. Weeds are a problem for the majority of grass, but they can be removed by the ideal techniques. The most usual methods of managing weeds are oygenation, herbicide applications, and also physical elimination, which indicates making use of an asparagus blade to cut off the roots. In addition to aeration, fungicides can be put on eliminate fungal problems that have already taken hold of your grass. They can also be put on prevent future fungi infections. Grass debris, particularly fallen leaves and sticks, can be a severe threat to the wellness of your grass. During the winter, these detritus can accumulate on your grass, making it hard for it to soak up nutrients and water. During the springtime and summertime, your specialist yard care carrier will certainly eliminate these detritus, so that your grass can grow as a healthy diet as feasible. The price of grass care depends upon a variety of factors, consisting of the dimension of your company, the geographic location where you operate, and also the sort of equipment you utilize. Some firms charge per hour, while other organizations use flat prices or a square foot rate to identify the rate of each solution. Many yard solutions use discounts for repeat consumers, and a few of them have bundles that include a mix of solutions. These bundles can be a fantastic means to save money and also streamline your life while still preserving the appeal of your lawn. Hiring a yard care service soothes home owners of the time and tension of preserving their yards. They can focus on other top priorities, like college or job, while understanding that the yard remains in great hands. In many cases, they can also prevent conflicts with HOA rules about grass elevation or landscape design. Taking the time to locate and hire a lawn care solution can cause a beautiful, healthy and balanced yard that you will take pride in.


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March In the Garden, To-Do List
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Freelance article written on December 3rd, 2011
A recipe for extreme local eating: pork and lamb shepherd’s pie with roasted brussels sprouts.
Vancouver residents, Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon ate nothing but locally produced food for a whole year and wrote an award-winning book about it: The 100-mile Diet: a Year of Eating Locally. While their approach is probably a little too extreme for the average consumer to keep up for any length of time, it is probably not too much to handle for just one meal. Is it possible to create a delicious meal in December using only ingredients that come from Vancouver Island? How hard would it be to find all these local foods and what would they cost?
French-trained culinary expert, and respected jazz musician, Louise Rose set out to answer those questions. She improvised a recipe for shepherd’s pie and roasted brussels sprouts that draws from the soil of Vancouver Island and nowhere else. Rose is a local-food enthusiast and a member of Slow Food Canada, a non-profit organization that opposes fast food and supports local food traditions. She is actively involved in the culinary community of Victoria.
Whether or not you believe it is good for the environment, the economy or your health, a one-meal-stint of pure local eating will boggle your mind. It will open your eyes to the influence of the seasons, the effect of the local climate and it will introduce you to the people who grow and produce food.
The first eye-opening reality of using locally grown food is that peppercorns do not grow in this part of the world. Therefore a purely local meal cannot use black pepper. Other foods that don’t grow here are olives, rice, coffee, bananas and many spices. This means olive oil and Worcestershire sauce are out.
The next wake-up call of local eating is that it is practically impossible to find locally grown herbs for sale in Victoira in December. Around here, plants only grow at certain times of the year, based on the hours of sunlight and amount of heat they require. Eating locally means eating with the seasons. Those seasons can be stretched out through the age-old practices of drying, preserving and storing certain foods through the winter. Locally grown produce available in December includes potatoes, squash, cabbage, brussels sprouts rutabaga, beets, apples, pears and other plants that don’t require a lot of sunlight and warmth or that can be harvested in the fall and be stored in cool dark places. Frozen local berries are also available. But not herbs.
The only way to purchase locally grown herbs for a meal in the winter is to grow them yourself, find someone who dried some in the summer, or if you are comfortable with the art of cold-calling, phone Brian Hughes. Hughes owns Kildara Organic Farm in Sidney, which among other things, provides every Victoria Thrifty Foods with organic salad greens. Hughes says he will happily provide almost any local food item a consumer could want. Just phone his 30-acre farm with your food needs and if he does not grow it or raise it, he will know someone who does.
The most hard-hitting reality of shopping for locally produced food is the cost. The grocery run for this shepherd’s pie will cost almost $90.00 ($25.00 is for the bottle of blackberry port). Why is locally produced food more expensive than imported food that travels around the world to get here? According to Michael Mockler, director of produce operations at Thrifty Foods, the higher prices are a result of several factors of growing food in Canada. We have more expensive land, higher costs of labour, shorter growing seasons and smaller volumes of crops in Canada compared to the U.S.A, Mexico, New Zealand and elsewhere. “B.C. apple growers are in a bind,” says Mockler, “because the consumer wants the cheaper apples from Washington.” “Reluctance to buy locally is pervasive,” says Rose. “this generation wants an agricultural land base that grows food for them for next-to-nothing.” She says it is a paradox that those same people have no interest in joining the Land Conservancy or contributing to the work of the local grower.
It is not only possible, but it is also enlightening to prepare a local meal on Vancouver Island in the cold month of December. It does, however, take a lot of effort. You will spend close to two hours consuming fuel and emitting exhaust while you drive between the six locations specified in the recipe.
So, why go to all this trouble to eat locally? Hughes says there is a health benefit to eating food that grows in the same region as you live. “Locally grown food breathes the same air, and is exposed to the same amount of the sun’s radiation as the people who live in that region,” says Hughes. Perhaps it is this connection to your food that is the ultimate reward of eating locally. You must eat to live, so eating locally connects your life to the earth that provides for it. It feels good to bite into a pear while standing on the soil in which it grew. It feels good to eat a shepherd’s pie made from animals and plants that were thoughtfully raised by Vancouver Island men and women with whom you could have a face-to-face conversation or bump into at the gas station.
Instead of buying butter, try making your own in just 20 minutes. The only ingredient is 35% cream. Seal about a cup of cream in a jar and start shaking. First it will turn to whip cream. Keep shaking! Remove the lid and check the appearance of cream periodically. Eventually, liquid (buttermilk) will separate and chunks of butter will form. Pour off the buttermilk and enjoy your home-made butter.
Side Bar #2:
Kildara Organic Farms in Sidney grows Bramley Seedling Apples, which are considered the ultimate cooking variety in the U.K., using seeds descended from the original 200-year-old Bramley Apple tree in Nottinghamshire, England. These apples can be purchased at Fol Epi Organic Baker at 101-398 Harbour Rd. Most cooked apple dishes require cinnamon and other ingredients that are not locally produced, so you will have to forgo being a total purist if you want to enjoy an apple dessert.
Recipe and list of retail locations:
Extremely Local Shepherd’s Pie in December
Louise Rose improvised this meal and generally rejects conventional recipes. She encourages experimentation and catering to individual palettes. Measurements were added after-the-fact as a rough guide.
Combine all the gro of garlic (crushed and chopped), 3/4 tsp. of the salt, 1 tbsp. malt vinegar, 2 tbsp. port and 1/2 cup of the blue cheese. Use butter (not olive oil) to grease frying pan and cook until no longer pink. Peel, quarter and boil potatoes (consider leaving some of the skin on to increase nutrition). Mash potatoes along with 1/4 tsp of the salt, 1/2 cup of cream, 2 tbsp. butter and 1/2 cup of the blue cheese. Place mashed potatoes on top of cooked meat in a baking dish and bake until potatoes are golden brown. Grease a cooking pan with butter and spread out the quartered brussels sprouts. Drizzle with 1 or more tbsp. of melted butter. Warm on the stove top then bake until they turn brown. Just before brussels are ready, drizzle 1 or more tbsp of the port into the hot pan. If you can get your hands on locally grown parsley or green onion, you can finely chop one of these and sprinkle on top of brussels to serve.
You may miss carrots or peas in your shepherd’s pie (they are out of season), but the herbs and blue cheese give a delicious twist to this old fashioned dish.
Kathy Alexander – 2011


Analysis of mRNA RGFP966 purchase levels after co-cultivation of Trichoderma with Rhizoctonia solani revealed a significantly enhanced expression of Trive160502 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000) and Trive180426 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.031) in T. virens, Triat152366 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.027) and Triat210209 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000) in T. atroviride, and Trire56426 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000) in T. reesei upon contact with the host fungus (Figure 3). On the other hand, expression of Triat142946 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000), Triat136196 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000) in T. atroviride,
Trive92622 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000), Trive47976 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000), Trive30459 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.034) in T. virens, and Trire70139 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.032), Trire119819 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.000) in T. reesei Vactosertib order was significantly PLX 4720 decreased in the presence of R. solani compared to the corresponding controls. Transcript levels of Triat290043 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.971), Triat142943 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.093), and Trire82246 (pâ€‰=â€‰0.102) were unaffected by the presence of R. solani. Again no transcript could be detected for Triat46847. Expression of Triat46847 was further assessed on both plates and in liquid minimal and full media and under different developmental stages (vegetative growth, conidiation) of the fungus. No transcript could
be detected under all the conditions tested (data not shown). Figure 3 Relative transcription ratios Liothyronine Sodium of PAQR family (class VIII) members. mRNA levels of the respective genes of T. atroviride (A), T. virens (B) and T. reesei (C) upon direct contact with the host fungus R. solani (black bars) were assessed by RT-qPCR and compared to a control where the respective Trichoderma species was grown alone (white bars). Samples of the gene
with highest expression in the control condition were arbitrarily assigned the factor 1. sar1 was used as reference gene. Analysis of the location of the seven PAQR-encoding genes in the genome of T. atroviride revealed that three of them (Triat142946, Triat142943, Triat46847) are in close vicinity on scaffold 19 (Figure 4). This is similar in T. virens and T. reesei for the orthologues of Triat142946 and Triat142943 suggesting the possibility that the third T. atroviride gene (Triat46847), which was found not to be expressed under any of the conditions tested, may have resulted from gene duplication with subsequent inactivation. Figure 4 Schematic drawing of the T. atroviride genomic locus with the PAQR (class VIII)-encoding genes Triat142946, Triat142943, and Triat46847 and the loci with their orthologues in T. virens and T. reesei . Scaffolds and position numbers are given as specified in the respective genome databases [57–59].


Contact Us : +91-9871380502 ( 09.00 am to 6.00 pm ) wishlist. It can be dried down as well, and arranged with other dried flowers to preserve its unique hanging character. Amaranth seeds are the perfect substitute for cereals. 5 out of 5 stars (1,427) 1,427 reviews $ 2.75. 500 RED GARNET AMARANTH Amaranthus Tricolor Vegetable Flower Seeds *Combined S/H SEEDVILLEUSA. Johnny’s offers two distinct amaranthus seed species. Flowers can be harvested in 45-70 days and grains in 75-110 days. Get it as soon as Thu, Sep 10. 49. These majestic plants make a lovely backdrop in the flower garden and a bold statement in flower arrangements. 4.5 out of 5 stars (15,666) 15,666 reviews $ 3.00. Also called tassel flower. Love lies bleeding used for border plants, cut flowers, flower arrangements, Autumn flowers and architectural plants depending on variety of Amaranthus seeds. $7.45 $ 7. Overview Information Amaranth is a plant. To this day, Amaranth grains are toasted much like popcorn and mixed with honey or molasses to make a treat called alegra, or joy.Our Amaranthus & Love Lies Bleeding Seeds are on sale, by the packet or in bulk! Nov 18, 2014 - Pase Seeds - Gomphrena Buddy Series Mix Annual Seeds, $3.49 (http://www.paseseeds.com/gomphrena-buddy-series-mix-annual-seeds/) Dec 3, 2016 - This page gives instructions on how to buy amaranth flower seeds from David's Garden Seeds. Vegetable Seeds (Summer) Flower Seeds; Vegetable Seeds. You may increase your germination success by using an electric heat mat. David's Garden Seeds Flower Amaranth Coral Fountain 1701 (Pink) 500 Non-GMO, Open Pollinated Seeds. height 4' Amaranth Seeds. Since 1948, by Kamal Kishore Saini & Sons HUF . A. cruentus features arched or upright plumes. Globe Amaranth Red Flower Seeds 30+ (Gomphrena Globosa) Vegetables Tea Organic Easy to Grow for Bonsai Garden Outdoor Indoor Planting. Wählen Sie aus erstklassigen Inhalten zum Thema Amaranth Flower in höchster Qualität. Many varieties also feature appealing flowers that grow in tassels as long as your forearm. Amaranthus. 99. For more on cooking with amaranth, we recommend this informative article on our sister site, Foodal. FLOWER SEEDS » Amaranthus seed » Amaranthus seed. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. David's Garden Seeds Flower Amaranth Coral Fountain 1701 (Pink) 500 Non-GMO, Open Pollinated Seeds. Dating back to the Aztec's, Amaranthus flowers were used in drinks, foods and artworks during ceremonies. 96. Amaranthus tricolor, 300 seeds. SEEDS OF CHANGE™ ORGANIC HOPI RED DYE AMARANTH SEEDS. These tall flowers are easy to grow and will catch your eye in a garden. Flowers Collections VIEW ALL SEEDS. Growing from Seeds . apart. The above photo shows you how the flower clusters look when harvesting them for seed. 45. Harvest amaranth greens in 30-40 days after planting. The entire plant is used to make medicine. If planting outdoors, sow Amaranth seeds after the soil has begun to warm in the spring. £5.99 £ 5. Seeds are excellent for making a high-protein, … FREE Shipping on your first order shipped by Amazon. favorite_border favorite_border favorite_border favorite_border favorite_border (0) Write a Review Buy Now Product Description. Leave the seeds on and watch the birds flock to your yard. In some parts of Mexico and the US today, the dried seeds are popped and topped with sweet goodness such as honey, molasses, or chocolate. It is primarily used for grain that is rich in vitamin B, vitamin A, vitamin E and iron. Amaranth was well known to the Aztecs, the seeds were part of their staple diet. Amaranth Seeds, Love Lies Bleeding Flower. These very unusual plants have showy, drooping, fuzzy red clusters of flowers that look like chenille. Amaranth prefers warm weather. 3.4 out of 5 stars 4. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Amaranth plants produce nutritious leaves and seeds. SEEDS OF CHANGE™ ORGANIC BURGUNDY AMARANTH SEEDS. How to Save Amaranth Seeds. Flowers vary interspecifically from the presence of 3 or 5 tepals. Directly sow Amaranth seeds into your flower garden, or start indoors for transplanting later. Seeds. #Gardening #Amaranth #GrowingFood Amaranth is one of my all time favorite things to grow in the garden. The seed, oil, and leaf are used as food. Amaranthus caudatus, 500 seeds. 4.0 out of 5 stars 76. Sow: Spring or after frost and summer From $1.25 Make a statement with trending coral, lime-green, bronze, and red amaranthus flower varieties. Leaf vegetable/salad green; Can also be grown as a sprout and microgreen . Autumn Palette 200 seeds . Outsidepride Globe Amaranth Gomphrena Globosa Flower Seed Mix - 1000 Seeds . Amaranth plants are grown from seed. Amaranthus tricolor 5.00 (2 reviews) Size Price QUANTITY; XL Mylar Packet (~2000 Seeds) $2.50 -+ 1 Oz Mylar (28.4g) $6.00 -+ 1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) $9.60 -+ 1 Lb Mylar … They’re real focal points in the garden and you’ll have lots of fun growing them. Your Amaranth Flower Seeds stock images are ready. Flowering: June - October, 12 weeks from sowing: Vase Life: 7-10 days. Their exotic flowers are very long and hang down elegantly from the plant. $7.45 $ 7. 13 Products Found Sort. Flowers (2367) Trees & Shrubs (222) Grasses (66) Climbers (119) Tropical & Conservatory (19) All (A-Z) (2782) Vegetable Seeds. Globe Amaranth,Amaranth seeds,amaranth flowers,heirloom seeds,herbs for tea, purple flowers,annual seeds,flower seed packet,seed packets, happyhopemade. Dye: The red pigment from Amaranth could be used as coloring for foodstuff and medicines. Seed Type : Non-Hybrid, Open Pollinated and Non-GMO SOWING TIME : February to June (Summers), July to September (Rains) PLANT CHARACTER : Small Nutty flavored seeds with leaf flavor similar to spinach LEAF CHARACTER : Green thick leaves, multiple stems and few flowers HARVEST: Early greens can be harvested post 2 weeks, full crop gets ready in 45 -50 days Mexican Heirloom; More Info. Amaranth 'Love Lies Bleeding' is an unusual heirloom plant with long, drooping strands of burgundy-red flowers in late summer. FREE Shipping. Medicinally, some use this plant as an astringent, diuretic, or anti-parasitic. Flower Seeds. VIEW ALL SEEDS; Gardening Center. Products name; Products model; Price; List Grid. 45. Annual 80cm; Good for dried or cut flowers . I am a seed saver so at the end of the garden season I watched carefully as the amaranth flowers started to fade. $6.49 $ 6. Flower seeds; Amaranth; Amaranth seeds Amaranthus seeds. Plant many more seeds than you need, as germination rates are low. A major crop of the Aztecs, beige seeds follow the dramatic, burgundy plumes in about 105 days; very high in protein and other nutrients. How to Grow Amaranth Amaranth is self-pollinating, but will also readily cross with other varieties and the wild-type amaranth, which is quite common. Leaves may be as decorative as the plants, … Get it as soon as Wed, Dec 9. They start to change to a light brown colour and you want to remove the spent flowers before the seeds drop to the ground. You can start globe amaranth from seed, but the plants take about eight weeks from seed to flower, so it's best to start seeds indoors in late winter for earliest blooms. All Categories. From shop happyhopemade. From shop SEEDVILLEUSA. Important: Amaranth plants are susceptible to frost. 4.0 out of 5 stars 20. Sort by: Products name. The leaves are edible. Amaranth- Caudatus Red. Finden Sie perfekte Stock-Fotos zum Thema Amaranth Flower sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images. Sow your amaranth seeds early in the growing season, since the plant will rarely produce flowers earlier than three months past planting. Victorian-era, A. caudatus is well-known for its rope-like tassels. If you’re growing for grain, you’ll need to plant with enough time for amaranth to flower and then seed, which is often over 100 days after planting. Cook like rice for a side dish or pop like popcorn! x Red Garnet Amaranth Seeds. It is named after Aurelia, the woman whose family revived and saved seeds of this amaranth. Amaranth- Red Leaf. This variety has been revived in the Mayan communities of Baja Verapaz after almost being lost during the civil war. Erect spikes of pistachio-green tipped with bronze, mixed … 3.7 out of 5 stars 11. Amaranth is a herbaceous plant or shrub that is either annual or perennial across the genus. $2.49. Select amaranth flowers for velvety blooms with vibrant, unfading color. Petsdelite ® Seed- Jamaican Callaloo, (10 Packs of 6 Seeds) Edible Amaranth Real Jamaican Organic Heirloom. Amaranth seeds can be started indoors as well about three to four weeks before the last frost date. Seeds: The seeds could be eaten raw or cooked. Care Tips: Weed well in the area they are to grow and water regularly. It also makes an interesting container plant or cut flower. Amaranthus caudatus is a species of annual flowering plant.It goes by common names such as love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth,  tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, and quilete. Red Garnet Amaranth Seeds Open Pollinated Quick View. Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Get it Tomorrow, Nov 8. Love Lies Bleeding Amaranthus Flower is an old-fashioned garden gem. Ornamental amaranth plants bear loads of tassel-shaped flowers that may droop like decorative chains or remain erect. All Categories. Amaranth seeds are very fine, so generally, the seeds are sprinkled over a prepared area after the risk of last frost has passed. Love Lies Bleeding amaranth gives the garden a touch of the exotic or the old-fashioned, depending on what it's combined with. Heirloom, open pollinated, non-hybrid and non-GMO seeds with no chemical treatments. Leave to self seed. Once the amaranth seeds have sprouted, they should be thinned to about 18 inches (46 cm.) Get it as soon as Thu, Dec 10. This heirloom produces seedlings for colorful microgreens, deep red baby leaves for salads or steaming, and flowers for bouquets. $6.96 $ 6. FREE Delivery on your first order shipped by Amazon. Amaranth flowers resemble cat tails. Only 16 left in stock - order soon. It could be taken in form of popcorns or added to salads. Flowers are usually red to crimson, but you can find orange, yellow, and green types for the garden. Amaranth was an important food crop for the Aztecs and Incas as well. David's Garden Seeds Flower Amaranth Love Lies Bleeding 1139 (Purple) 200 Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds. Cart. They are available in various shades; red, pink and light green. May need staking. They can also be cut for a dramatic bouquet. It is also used like a grain. Sowing, Seeds, Planting: Sow March - May, either indoors or directly where they are to flower (make sure all risk of frost has passed). This native amaranth from Guatemala flowers light green. 2.2 out of 5 stars 5.


Kenya Kamuchuni Nyeri AA - Espresso
Kenya Kamuchuni Nyeri AA
Mukurwe-ini District, Mt Kenya
Varietal: SL 28 & Riuru II
Elevation: 1400-1550 MASL
Process: Washed & Sundried
Tasting Notes: White grape acidity, stone fruit.
The Kamuchini wet mill lies on the slopes of Mt Kenya and was constructed in 1987. Part of the Ruthaka Co-op and certified Fair Trade, the mill employs 9 permanent staff. Working with 480 active farmers with an average of 200 trees per farm, Kamuchini presents a unique cup profile.


Stadlalm – Farm holidays
with breakfast in the Dolomites
The farm Stadlalm welcomes you to an unforgettable vacation in one of the most impressive Dolomite regions. At an altitude of 1,520 m, in the heart of nature, you may enjoy the alpine mountain atmosphere of the Val d‘Ega. Many farm animals live on the Stadlalm, and particularly the youngest guest will make new discoveries every day. Besides gorgeous Haflinger horses, there are calves, sheep, cats and chickens on the farm Stadlalm, and many fresh farm products are produced daily. Four beautifully furnished apartments offer you a comfortable residence for the duration of your stay. During your holidays you may choose between bed and breakfast and self-catering. On the farm, upon request, every morning a hearty breakfast with the many farm products from the farm Stadlalm is served.
A great start into the day:
breakfast on the farm
A rich breakfast offers the best conditions for a successful start into your vacation day. On the farm Stadlalm we invite you to an eventful farm holiday with breakfast. Paying a small fee you may enjoy a vigorous farm breakfast with plenty of fresh products from the farm Stadlalm. The hostess bakes her own bread, and also fruit spreads, cakes and juices are produced in-house. Furthermore, you may look forward to fresh milk, delicious yogurt, jams, syrups, eggs, cheese, berries, cereals and spicy bacon. Coffee, tea or a cup of hot chocolate round off the culinary experience in the morning. Full of energy and cheerfully you may venture out for your leisure activities in the mountains of the Dolomites.
Farm products – Enjoy cooking
in the apartments in Nova Levante!
If you wish, we delivery you daily fresh food from the farm Stadlalm! Eggs, milk, homemade jams, syrup, seasonal vegetables, bacon, sausages – everything from our own production! For your own use, you may pick 10-15 different herbs from our garden.
Shop corner with bacon, cheese, smoked sausage, eggs, fruit spreads and herb pillows.
In the summer, salad and vegetables from the farmer’s garden.


To celebrate Earth Day this year, we thought we'd showcase how we source some of our most popular natural raw materials. Partnering with Firmenich, a local fine fragrance supplier in NYC, Olfactory NYC is committed to sustainable sourcing. We also utilize special designed molecules where sourcing of natural ingredients cannot be done in a sustainable or vegan-friendly way (like musk!). Take a look at the sourcing of seven of our natural oils below.
The patchouli used in our fragrances is sourced in Indonesia as part of a sustainable supply chain. Indonesia's farmers receive agricultural training and a fair price mechanism that guarantees their ability to continue to grow and profit from patchouli.
Our musk is a specially designed, vegan molecule. As natural musk is traditionally sourced from an animal (the musk deer), its collection often involves unnecessary animal cruelty and intervention. We opted for a more ethical, sustainable, and renewable musk variety.
The production of our jasmine oil is cultivated through a partnership with 800+ local farmers growing jasmine in Tamil Nadu, India. Through this collaboration, the farmers are ensured improved standards of living.
4. Madagascar Vanilla
Our natural vanilla is sourced from local small-hold farmers in Madagascar. Our partners work with thousands of farmers in 40 villages, supporting their livelihoods and traditional methods by maintaining a traceable value chain.
Learn more about our Madagascar Vanilla.
Find vanilla in Riley and Hunter.
5. Violet Leaf
Find violet leaf in Cam.
Our natural vetiver is cultivated through a partnership with Agri-Supply Co. in Debouchette, Haiti. Haiti's farmers use their polished methods to grow vetiver, while also being offered educational and medical facilities for their personal use.
Learn more about our vetiver.
Find vetiver in Max.
One of the most coveted natural raw materials, our rose oil is sourced from France, where local farmers are keeping the methods of traditional and sustainable rose cultivation alive.
Learn more about our rose sourcing.
Find rose in Ryan.


FGV produces Bright Cow dairy products
KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) has ventured into the local food industry by producing Bright Cow brand dairy products through isubsidiary FGV Dairy Farm Sdn Bhd.
FGV said FGV Dairy Farm can process 800 tonnes of fresh milk per month including from a 10-acre farm owned by the company in Linggi, Negri Sembilan.
"The close location of the farm to the focused consumer areas in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya provides the freshness of the dairy products enabling them to reach the market destinations within 24 hours," FGV said.
FGV group chief executive officer Datuk Haris Fadzilah Hassan said Bright Cow is a strong brand that had been around for a long time.
FGV Dairy Farm's dairy products can add value to the company, which is actively implementing its integrated agricultural development plans.
"We are currently in the process of expanding, with the construction of an integrated factory for the production of fresh milk-based products at the Linggi farm, which is expected to be completed within six months.
"When ready, FGV Dairy Farm will contribute to the national food supply security's agenda by supplying 10 million litres of fresh milk annually. Freshness guaranteed to consumers, as milk produced in the morning can be enjoyed on the same day," he said.
FGV said in order to meet the growing demand for fresh milk and dairy products, FGV Dairy Farm had imported 122 Jersey Friesian and Holstein Friesian dairy cows from New South Wales, Australia in March.
This top Australian dairy breed gives an edge for FGV Dairy Farm products in terms of freshness, quality, taste and nutritional value.
Meanwhile, FGV Dairy Farm is running a 'Brighten Up Your Ramadan with Bright Cow' campaign on Bright Cow's social media site with weekly recipes and prizes, contests creating slogans and open picture contest or product launches, in conjunction with the holy month.
In line with the Movement Control Order, Bright Cow took the initiative to provide a delivery service direct to consumers' homes in the Klang Valley six days a week from Monday to Saturday.


"NEW APPROACHES IN ENGINEERING SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN LOBLOLLY PINE SUSPENSION CULTURES"
ELIZABETH MORGAN CUMMINGS BENDE
Many industries including agriculture and healthcare require efficient methods for replication of plants with optimal traits. The loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is a valuable crop in the timber industry, occupying 30 million acres of U.S. land, and breeding efforts aim to produce a crop with ideal phenotypic traits, including superior growth and wood quality. One method to large-scale clonal crop propagation is somatic embryogenesis (SE), the process through which asexual (somatic) plant cells undergo differentiation in vitro, resulting in germination-competent embryos. There are three main stages of growth and development that lead to the production of embryos: 1) aggregated cells that form embryonic suspensor masses (ESMs) are grown and scaled up in maintenance cultures; 2) ESMs are plated on solid media to initiate SE; and 3) embryos are separated from the ESM and germinated to generate plants. However, this process is not fundamentally understood, leading to large, unpredictable variability in embryo yield, a number only determined 8-12 weeks downstream of SE initiation. This work aims to glean fundamental insight into culture dynamics and correlations with outcomes while simultaneously providing engineering strategies to improve embryo yield.
Here, a variety of process manipulations and their effects on SE process outcomes and performance are presented. Induction of stress-related pathways through exogenous addition of plant stress hormones prior to moving a culture into development was shown to improve the rate of SE, and this knowledge was used to explore a means for more efficient embryo production. A clear link between the total volume of small cell aggregates and embryo yield was demonstrated, enabling yield prediction at a timepoint 12 weeks before previously possible. Finally, methods for culture protein modification without genetic transformation were developed through inhibition or supplementation of endogenous extracellular arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), which were found to significantly influence SE in loblolly pine. Techniques were developed to characterize the influence of these treatments on embryo yield as well as the molecular response of the cultures, including culture stress (determined by phenolic content), growth (using a Coulter counter), and total and specific protein biomarkers. The work presented here is among the first studies that consider process engineering as a simple and cost-effective means to improve the overall feasibility of SE on both an academic and industrial scale.


As the story turned into the 1990's, what happened next astounded me. Farmer John launched a new business model for his farm, the Community Supported Agriculture project (CSA). Basically, John turned his farm into an old-fashioned diversified organic farm, then sold shares of the crops to city folks in advance. Each week, "subscribers" received a bushel share of the crops that ripened during the growing season. Not only did the farm make out, by sharing the risk with the shareholders, but the consumers made out by getting fresh from the farm organic produce cheaper than they could get at the store. The whole idea excited me.
For more than two years following the airing of this show, I kept my eyes out for something similar in my area. Then, one day I saw the flier. Porter Farms had a CSA that delivered to my area. $350 for 22 weeks of fresh produce - usually around 10 lbs per week. Since then, I have found other types of CSAs including those that produce fruit and some even that provide meats and dairy. Now there is a whole website devoted to promoting CSAs nationwide.
Cheap, fresh produce alone sounds like a great deal, but it is more than that. We get more produce than our family typically eats in a week. So we make it our mission to work it into every meal. Only vegetables that are in season make it into the bag and we find ourselves feeling very connected to the growth cycles of our food in this way. Lettuces early on. Tomatoes in Augus. Squash and Cabbage in the fall. We get a newsletter every week with our food. I learned about the airborne fungus that wiped out cucumber crops across the northeast. I learned how the cold summer we had this year kept tomatoes from ripening and how most of their crop was lost.
We are connected to our food in a new way, and in some ways, we are more connected to our earth.
P.S. Earlier this year, I was given a book that really made me think about this idea of supporting local agriculture called Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. My recommendation is to skip the first chapter entirely. The rest reads like a man's earnest pursuit to find out more about his food chain. I just picked up the more recently released book, In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan and I am looking forward to checking in regarding this book as well.


Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Finally the weather is getting warm and sunny! Which is just what the garden needs. I swear in the last 48 hours everything has suddenly gained 1/3 in size. Of course, no rain means heading over every day to water and check on how things are progressing.
The peas. I need to make their trellis a little less half assed. That's a project for tomorrow, I also need to get some more decent stakes.
Cauliflower! These are growing REALLY nicely.
The tomatoes and peppers. Some of the tomatoes are growing better than others, but they're all growing, and some are flowering already. I cannot WAIT for fresh tomatoes.
Peppers, eh. Not really a fan, frankly I'm only growing them because my husband eats them and I got the plants for free. That's why there's only two pepper plants and a zillion tomatoes.
Another view. The lettuce is looking great!
Well, it looks great except for this. Which used to be an unbroken line of lettuce. I suspect bunnies - do they steal entire heads of lettuce?
The spinach is finally looking a little better. Not sure what's going on with it, it just wasn't growing at all until the last couple of days.
Fresh herbs in the herb garden! Now I just have to remember to actually PICK some.
The whole garden (or at least most of it, there's a couple of plots not in this picture). So much amazing stuff growing! It's going to be fun to take this picture again over the rest of the summer and compare how it looks!