With the right equipment and techniques, bale wrapping can provide an efficient and effective way of preserving hay and other materials for easy storage and transportation.
Baling is essential for farmers and ranchers who need to store, transport, or feed their livestock. Utilizing a bale wrap effectively can help ensure that hay is properly stored while reducing waste and effort. This article provides a comprehensive guide to baling – from understanding the basics of using a bale wrap to tips on using one correctly.
Understanding the Basics of Bale Wrapping
Bale wrapping is a process in which hay or compressed feed is wrapped in plastic or paper, usually sealed with a tie string. This ensures that the bales are kept dry and free from contamination or damage during storage or transport. It also helps reduce waste and ensure that the hay is consistently high quality.
Types of Bale Wraps
There are two main types of bale wraps – plastic and paper wrap. Plastic wrap firmly seals in moisture, making it ideal for longer-term storage, while paper wrap is more breathable and better suited for short-term storage. It’s essential to pick the right type of wrap for your needs to be effective. Let’s discuss each one of them in detail:
Plastic Bale Wrap
Plastic bale wrap is the most common material with special plastic film. It’s highly effective at keeping moisture in and preventing contamination from outside sources. Plastic wrap is typically used for long-term hay storage and shipping purposes, as it can maintain the quality of the hay for extended periods.
Paper Bale Wrap
Paper bale wrap is made from a paper-based material and is more breathable than plastic wrap. As a result, it’s ideal for short-term storage or transport, as it protects against damage and contamination while still allowing the hay to breathe. The downside, however, is that it won’t keep moisture in as well and isn’t suitable for long-term storage.
Using a Bale Wrap Effectively
When using a bale wrap, there are several things you should keep in mind to get the most out of your wrapping process
- Be sure to use enough material when wrapping so that no parts of the bale are exposed.
- Tightly secure the wrap with a tie-string or similar material to keep it from coming undone.
- To ensure even moisture distribution, use a bale presser when wrapping multiple bales at once
- For extra protection against contamination, cover the wraps with a tarp before transporting them
- Store wrapped bales in a dry location to avoid mould and mildew buildup
- Regularly check the bales for signs of damage or contamination
- If you notice any issues, replace the wrap as soon as possible.
Following these tips will help you get the most out of your baling efforts and ensure your hay is protected during storage or transport. With proper use, you can rest assured that your grass will remain in top condition for as long as possible!
Bale wrapping is essential for farmers and ranchers who need to store, transport, and feed their livestock. Utilizing a bale wrap effectively can help ensure that hay is properly stored while reducing waste and effort. By understanding the basics of bale wrapping, as well as using the correct type of material and correctly applying it to the bales, you’ll be able to get the most out of your wrapping process.


Great Tips And Advice For Giving Your Garden A Much Needed Lift.Gardening can sometimes cause a headache - a lot of people are unsure of where to start or what to do next. Here we give you some cool ideas to get creative in your garden again. Hopefully gardening shouldn't seem as difficult.
A good tip of what to plant in the garden is to plant high-value crops. Value is a subjective term, but plant the things that are most costly to buy, as long as they are suited to the climate. The whole garden does not have to be devoted to this, but if an area is earmarked for this type of crop, it can save money in the coming season when prices are sky high for certain crops.
A good idea when gardening is to keep a record of progress. If it is a journal form or photographic form of recording the progress of the garden is helpful for the years to come. Recording which types of plants work well, which did not work or what types of soil can help future gardens start without any trial and error of previous years.
Plant a new and different edible each week. Eating tomatoes or corn every day can get old real quick, but if a variety is planted, this problem will never happen. The garden can offer a wide variety of different edible plants and if they come to maturity at the same time the variety will make the garden more enjoyable and more fun.
A great way to keep insects and pests at bay in your garden is to spray your plants with a dish soap and water mixture. A mixture of one quart water and one half teaspoon dish detergent will kill off those pesky parasites. Be sure to respray every fourteen days.
Don't try to remove low lying weeds by hand. Instead get a small shovel and flip them over so their leaves are under the dirt. You will kill the weed and the leaves will rot creating a fresh mulch like material for you to use. It is green and nourishing for the other plants.
Used tea and coffee grounds make good soil enrichers. Both coffee and tea grounds are great additions when you need to raise the acidity of your soil. If your soil is pH balanced, adding the tea and coffee is good, as flowers such as rhododendrons and azaleas, and fruits such as blueberry, appreciate soil that is on the acidic side. You can work the grounds into the soil before you plant your garden, or sprinkle a little around existing plants once a week or so.
Recycled newspaper can be used in the garden. Newspapers are an eco-friendly addition to your garden that can keep weeds at bay and help your soil retain important moisture. Simply wet some newspaper, and place it around the bases of your garden plants. Sprinkle with soil to ensure the paper does not blow away. It will smother any weed seedlings trying to emerge and help the soil hold onto its moisture.
Tend to your garden a few steps at a time. A garden requires ongoing maintenance, and becomes a big time drain if you let things pile up until the weekend. Stop by the garden for a few minutes each day and deadhead some flowers while you're waiting for dinner to cook or pull a few weeds while watching the kids play.
If you do not like chemical insect repellants you should consider using herbs instead. Herbs like chives can be used in place of the chemical insect repellants to keep bugs from eating your flowers and produce. You can grow chives yourself or buy them at your local grocery store.
A great tip when beginning an organic gardening is to add lime to your seed-starter mix. This is done to reduce the acidity of your peat. Too much acidity can damage it. You should aim to add around 1/4 teaspoon of lime in every single gallon of your seed-starter mix.
Make easy work of washing your organic produce with a laundry basket. As you pick your produce, lay them in a plastic laundry basket, which works as a strainer. Hold the hose over the top and the water can make quick work of rinsing all the dirt and other matter off of your fruits and veggies.
Seeds that have sprouted don't require the extra warmth that was needed before they sprouted. To ensure that your plants do not suffer shock, start eliminating the use of a heat source. You must also take away plastic films from your containers in order to keep the warmth and humidity out. You should know when the right time is if you are keeping an eye on the seeds.
Praise the areas of your yard where grass will not grow. Do not be discouraged. Do not try to regrow glass there. Go ahead and take this opportunity to change your ground cover a more natural choice. Look for something that is low-maintenance, and put anywhere grass is struggling to thrive.
Discourage deer in your garden. Deer love chewing on vegetables, roses, fruit trees, juniper, and holly. They can decimate a garden in a single day if given the chance! While people tend to favor an electric fence to discourage deer, there are certain things you can do that don't involve unnecessary pain. Fill bags with human or dog hair, dried blood meal, or fish heads. Attach to the perimeter of your property, or to specific plants that could be eaten. Alternatively, make a spray of two egg yolks mixed with one quart of water and spray fruit trees liberally. For some reason, this seems to work!
Growing an organic garden does not take more effort than any other type of garden. In fact, because organic gardening emphasizes on what nature provides, plants will not need to rely on artificial means to thrive, thus saving you time in applying chemicals. Try organic gardening in your home; you will be impressed by the results.


According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the farming industry supports more than 800,000 jobs in the state of Michigan.
The Small Farm Safety Grant Program will have $1.25 million dollars available to some smaller farms in the state.
The money is made possible through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
It will be available to farms with fewer than 10 employees, farms that have proof they are in good standing , and can show that taxes are being paid.
The grant money is for testing and training workers, buying protective equipment, and for procedures ensuring the safety of the food.


Agriculture, proximity to the land, their work, the harvesting of their fruits … transport me back to my childhood. My grandparents had farms in which they grew grapes and potatoes, mainly, and in the sowing seasons, as in the harvesting seasons, there were great preparations to welcome the day laborers who came to help with the work. I was between four and six years old. My favorite moment was when the grapes were passed to the press, to extract their juice.
After the crisis that we have suffered in 2020, there are many people and families who rethink their way of life, there are many and many also, who have become interested and have even begun to take their first steps, towards their own cultivation, either in a small orchard or garden, either on the balcony or in a little hole next to a window in your place
Well, if you are in this process of initiation to the primary sector, we recommend the ¨Calendar of Biodynamic Agriculture 2021 “by María Thun. It is incredible how taking into account the position of the sun, the seasons and some pruning tricks and ways to combat small pests, you can make your garden flourish and give you many joys, apart from food ;).
Biodynamic agriculture is an organic farming method based on the theories of Rudolf Steiner, founder of anthroposophy, at the beginning of the 20th century. In practice, there are two fundamental aspects that distinguish it from organic agriculture and other forms of agriculture. On one hand, the use of preparations obtained with the very particular processing of certain medicinal plants such as chamomile and dandelion. On the other hand, taking into account the influences of the stars to carry out some agricultural and livestock tasks.
This type of agriculture considers farms as complex organisms, part of a whole. It emphasizes the interrelation between soils, plants and animals, treating the whole as a balanced system, seeking to harmonize the disposition of nutrients due to the output of crops and other products outside the farm, with the production of these nutritive elements through the raising of animals that provide the manure to make compost and the cultivation of plants as green manures.
As in other forms of organic farming, the use of industrial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides is prohibited. Biodynamic agriculture is also characterized by the use of vegetable and mineral preparations as additives for compost and sprays for the land, as well as by following a sowing calendar based on the movement of the stars.
The Earth is immersed in our solar system and planetary forces leave their mark on the morphology of plants. Biodynamic farmers use this knowledge to choose in practice the appropriate sowing dates, soil aeration work, treatments and harvesting, according to the cosmic forces active at the time.
Just as sunlight contributes to the growth of plants and the Moon affects the water content of all organisms, the planets also exert their influence on the earth and on all the beings it hosts.
Since ancient times the planets have been divided into interiors (between the Earth and the Sun: Moon, Mercury, Venus) and exteriors (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn). The inner planets work on the growth of plants, either directly through the atmosphere, or indirectly through water, humus or calcium (limestone, potassium and sodium). The influences of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are channeled through heat and silica (quartz, feldspar, mica); they flow through the silica content of the earth and from there upwards through the interior of the plant, expressing themselves in the colors of the flowers, and in the fruit and the production of the seeds. They also contribute to the longer-lived plant form, such as wood growth.
However, we warn you that many of the species of great forest and fruit interest in Spain, the fig tree, the vine, the olive tree, the almond tree, the orange tree, the stone pine, the pomegranate, the pistachio, the avocado, the banana , kiwi, pineapple, carob … are some examples, they are not named in the recommended book. In general, reading it will give you tools and knowledge to better understand the behavior of what you plant, how to take care of it and strengthen it and, above all, do it in a sustainable way while respecting the environment.
At home we already have three citrus fruits, a young almond tree, pumpkins, strawberries and beans. Besides, we use to germinate the flax bags that we have designed in Rewinder, for this purpose.
Do you consider having your own garden and letting yourself be guided by the stars in their care?


Farm To Table Dinner Series by The Farmer's Daughter
Celebrating the rich culture and diversity of New Mexico agriculture is highly anticipated this time of year with chile roasting in full swing, Growers Market vendors bursting at the seams, and the State Fair date upon us. This year, bringing even more excitement to the mix, are the Farmer’s Daughters who are showing off the local harvest bounty in a Farm to Table Dinner Series sponsored by Heritage Hotels.
Ashley and Chantelle Wagner, the cousins behind Farmer’s Daughter, are fourth generation farmers in New Mexico. Their fathers, brothers who farm Big Jim Farms and Wagner Farms, are part of a long line of growers who have been farming the Middle Rio Grande Area (Corrales) for over a century. The cousins are behind a local food movement that’s putting New Mexican’s back in touch with an understanding of where their food and wine comes from, along with an increased appreciation for the providers of these goods and the chefs that prepare it.
The Farmer’s Daughter Farm to Table Dinner Series features an extraordinary six-course menu created exclusively from ingredients sourced from New Mexico. Chef Gilbert Aragon, Executive chef at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town and the new, luxury Hotel Chaco, is lending his expertise for the Farm To Table Dinner Series, creating unique dishes that highlight the uniqueness of New Mexico heritage and harvest, and paring local wines perfectly to the meals thanks to special partnerships with local wine growers. The Farm to Table Dinner Series runs July-November and hopes to create a ripple effect that touches locals through both tastes of local ingredients and farmers telling their stories, creating food connections that will last through to future generations.
Note from Erin, our Founder:
I had the honor of attending the August Farm to Table Dinner Series.
What a pleasure it was to attend this event, sharing the tables with farmers and locals alike, and knowing we were eating well while contributing to small business and agriculturists. This farm-to-table experience brought the freshness of farms, orchards, ranches, and artisanal local foods directly to our table. Chef Aragon thoughtfully prepared beautiful rustic dishes for guests to savor while taking careful consideration to highlight the local ingredients—allowing them to be the spotlight of the evening. This special experience not only delivered an amazing meal in the unforgettable settings of Hotel Albuquerque’s Dining Room with their magical wisteria garden as the backdrop, but also offered a chance to see and learn firsthand how New Mexico producers make the most of the state’s not always forgiving land.
We heard from Heather Solopeck, also a fourth-generation farmer, who own’s Legacy Pecans in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Heather recently moved her retail location onto the famous Mesilla Valley Plaza and carries on her family’s legacy by selling their family’s pecans in artisanal products like her chocolate covered pecans. Todd Grudy, from A-Z Family Farms in Corrales, New Mexico, also provided for the dinner by bringing in herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers. He spoke about the importance of both community ties for farmers and teaching the next generation about farming.
You can tell, the Farmer’s Daughters had one goal: to make a lasting connection between the community and the farmers, ranchers, and winemakers that produce our amazing local food. The results have done just that—create an unforgettable marriage of food, place, and people. They are dedicated to bringing the flavors of their farms to the public. I highly recommend you plan your next dinner out to one of these unique Farm To Table dinners and experience the magical marriage for yourself.
Photo Credit: Shawn Buckley, Heritage Hotels
A light hearted look into the mouth watering Farm to Table Dinner Series by Farmer's Daughter:


Fresh cucumber slices make delicious crunchy additions to salads and sandwiches. But sometimes, cucumbers can have a bitter taste. Why do some taste bitter? Is it the particular breed or variety of cucumber? Are you supposed to eat the skins of some types but peel others first? Or does it have to do with how the cucumbers are grown?
There is bad news and good news. The bad news is that every variety of cucumber has the potential to taste bitter depending on the particular weather conditions in which it was grown. But the good news is that it’s easy to isolate the bitter portions of a cucumber and peel them away.
The bitter taste in a cucumber comes from a terpenoid compound called cucurbitacin. Cucurbitacin, named for the squash family of fruiting plants called cucurbits, is a bitter-tasting compound normally found in the leaves and stems of cucumber plants that helps deter insects, fungi, and plant-eating animals from eating the vine itself (similar to the alkaloid compounds found in nightshade vegetables). Under normal conditions, an enzyme called elaterase neutralizes the bitter cucurbitacin compounds in the cucumber. But certain environmental conditions will cause the cucumber to inhibit elaterase production, leaving the bitter cucurbitacin in the fruit.
Conventional thought suggests environmental stressors such as harsh temperature fluctuations and insufficient water or sunlight cause cucumber plants to reactively produce excess cucurbitacin. But researchers at the University of California believe that cucumber plants may be a bit “smarter.” They suggest that cucurbitacin production is linked to environmental conditions amenable to fungus and insects. In other words, during cooler, darker weather, which tends to attract excess bugs and fungi, cucumber plants are “smart” enough to build up extra bitter-tasting chemicals as protection from pests.
All cucumbers have the potential to taste bitter when harvested, but different culinary publications suggest that some varieties of cucumbers have a higher probability of tasting bitter than others. Larger varieties like English and American Slicing cucumbers may be more likely to have a bitter taste than smaller types like Persian, Summer Dance, and Sweet Success.
But ultimately, any cucumber you buy or grow has the potential to taste bitter. So how should you guard against accidentally adding a bad cucumber to your dish?
Most cucurbitacin compounds can be found just under the skin and at the stem end of the cucumber. When you’re slicing one, taste a slice from the stem end. If it tastes bitter, keep tasting and discarding slices until you get to the part of the fruit that tastes like a normal cucumber. To be safe, if you notice any bitter flavor in your cucumber, go ahead and peel the skin and just enjoy the insides.
And if you’re growing your own cucumbers, make sure they are raised in well-draining soil and given plenty of water. The best location would be a warm, sunny, south-facing slope.


Nutress – based in Veenendaal, The Netherlands - was founded in 2012 and has grown into Europe’s biggest and most innovative algae food company. The company manufactures and markets nutritional added value applications for feed, food and pharma.
This is realized by cultivating and developing food grade algae(products). Nutress is FSSC22000 certified. By continuously working toward innovative solutions Nutress will contribute to feed the world sustainably.
Nutress is a Phycom company


Kay Dee offers protein and mineral supplements for sheep in all phases of production. Our Sheep Etts granular mineral supplies sheep with precise daily nutrient levels for health and productivity. Our Sheep 6 Block contains 6% phosphorous, and provides mineral supplementation for moderate-to-low quality forages. The Sheep 8 Block has 8% phosphorous and is specially formulated to provide optimal levels of vitamins and trace minerals required for all stages of production.
Kay Dee’s sheep protein products are second to none, and are of the finest quality. The Kay Dee Sheep Lick 16 is made from all-natural protein, and fortifies late-season forage and winter rations. Available in a 40 lb. or 100 lb. tub, the Sheep Lick 16 is convenient to use. The Kay Dee 20% Sheep & Goat Protein Block also contains no urea, supplements low-quality forage, and helps extend forage grazing.
Kay Dee’s new 5 lb. brick is available in both protein and mineral formulations, and makes feeding small herds even easier.
Copyright (c) 2013 KAYDEEFEED.com. All rights reserved.


Karan Swiss Cow
We are highly renowned among clients for exporting Karan Swiss Cow. There are also many other varieties in our Karan Swiss Cattle. breed of brown swiss and sahiwal, these cows are best known for producing good quantity of milk. Usually light gray to dark brown in color; these are brought up in a way that they get well adapted to different climatic conditions without any adverse impact on the milk productivity.
1) This breed of cow is known for its excellent yield of milk per day which is rich in protein and calcium
2) Completely free from any kind of disease
3) The milk of this cow breed contains 4.2% fat


Harvest Luncheon 2017
Investing in the future of our area’s most prominent industry is the hallmark of this 55-year event. Drawing upwards of 800 attendees, Harvest Luncheon brings national, state and local leaders of agriculture together with community leaders. Previous keynote speakers include, Governors Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson and California Agriculture Commissioners Bill Lyons, JR and A.G. Kawamura. The lunch features Valley products like Mape’s Ranch tri-tip, beans and locally grown produce. Proceeds from the Harvest Luncheon are used exclusively for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce Voss-Berryhill Modesto Junior College Ag Scholarship Program.
Buy TicketsTicket Price: $25.00$10.00 Senior/Child
MJC ACE Ag Pavilion
September 16, 2016
11:30am – 1:00pm
Audience Profile: Agricultural and business leaders, developers, business professionals and executives from the region’s top companies.
2017 Keynote Speaker: Kent Kushar, click here to learn more about our speaker.
2017 Gold Sponsor


On 12 June 2021, the new shared garden was inaugurated in Campobasso, Molise.
Through the practice of urban ortho therapy, you want to combine socialization and health. Taking care of green spaces has positive influences on the psycho-physical state of people.
The project is promoted by a local association, “Centro Sociale Anziani Colle dell’Orso”, in collaboration with the municipal administration.
The urban garden was built on an abandoned and uncultivated land. The vegetable garden has been divided among the members of the initiative who take care of it daily and whose fruits are often shared.
This initiative will therefore be an opportunity for socialization, enhancement of the sustainability of production, urban regeneration and psychophysical regeneration.


TOPAS MOOC of Agrarian economics
Online module of TOPAS E+ Course Description
Dr. Prof. Farhod Ahrorov
The following online learning module “Assessment of Agricultural Economics” is a result of the Erasmus+ TOPAS Project CBHE 585603 funded by EU
- to foster modern lecturing and teaching in universities
- to make university knowledge online available for all interested groups of our societies
The goal of the course is to provide the theoretical basis for decision-making in agriculturla production and the subsequent illustration on specific practical examples for crop production. In this case, the course deals primarily with the issue of short- and long-term costs calculation means of crop production such as winter wheat. In the process, the question is addressed whether is the crop production short- and long-term profitable or not. With the example of such questions, the theoretical basics of economic decisions are illustrated and discussed. Subsequently the developed theoretical principles are applied to specific practical examples. The results are discussed and evaluated from the perspective of decision-makers. Additionally, the course is utilizing Moodle. For each module, there is time for questions and discussions in a virtual chat room scheduled, to which all users have access to.
The presented online course is the result of the common and equal work of all ten participating universities of TOPAS.
1. Introduction to the Economics
2. Demand, supply, market equilibrium
3. Production and costs in agriculture
5. The role of government in agriculture
6. Economic goals and main economic indicators
7. Economic growth in agriculture
8. Money and inflation
9. International trade of agricultural products


Brian of Cove Honey Bees will be here with his bees and products for you to learn more about the wonderful busy bees and the products that their honey helps to produce.
Bring the kids to see and learn more about these amazing flying insects that do so much for the world we live in. They can take away some produce that the bees helped create too! An experience to tell all their friends about!
Here is a little background on Cove Honey Bees:
'After researching the Honey Bee since 2012, Cove Honey Bees was set up in Spring 2014 with just one colony of bees.
In 2015, we rapidly expanded from one initial hive bought in 2014 to having three apiary sites around the Aberdeen and Shire area giving us a wide range of different honey over the season. We now have just under 50 hives - 98% of them bred by ourselves. We take pride in this. We don’t buy in bees and we buy local stock.
2017 saw the creation of the honey banana bread which has been extremely popular and is now one of our most popular products along with our honey. You can buy them online on our website along with free range eggs and Castleton’s jam range.'
Why are bees so important?
Globally there are more honey bees than other types of bee and pollinating insects, so it is the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. It is estimated that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees, but also by other insects, birds and bats.
Honey bees can also pollinate clover and alfalfa, which are fed to cattle, so there are implications for the meat and dairy industry too. And that is not to mention the huge range of manufactured food products made from all these ingredients.
Come and see Brian and the bees, ask plenty of questions and try his super tasty products! There is no cost to meeting these super clever busy bees. We look forward to seeing you.


Snow Plowing and Lawn Care Tips
When the seasons change we need to adjust with them. Some simple actions we take at the beginning or end of a season can save potential headaches and money. These are some simple tips for each season to refresh our memories.
Lawn Care Estimate
When browsing the internet for lawn care services, do you expect a free estimate? The answer is simple; Yes you do. As a Stillwater lawn care service provider, Ring Lawn Care will suggest services you may have overlooked or had not known existed, that will be the best fit for you.
As a consumer you shop around for the best estimate and service provider. Who would not want the greatest lawn care service with the best prices? There are some really great and honest services out there, you just need to keep searching until you find one that satisfies all your lawn care needs.
Fall Lawn Care and Leaf Clean Up
Completing a few fall lawn care projects, some we may not ever have thought of, can save a lot of work before the lilac trees start blooming. A last sprucing of the lawn before winter will benefit your turf come spring. Ring Lawn Care provides leaf clean up for your landscaping and turf.
The gratification of not only being able to look back at your work and see your accomplishment, but when spring does shine on us you will see all your fall lawn care efforts have paid off.


Collective ferment Setouchi Triennale, Shodoshima, Japan
Part 1: installation, exhibition - containing fruit and plants - of two holding tanks (for exhibition and fermentation).
One tank contains locally sourced fruit (80 melons + 11 lemons) fermenting in 200 litres of 35% proof alcohol while the other tank contains locally sourced plants fermenting in 350 litres of 25% proof salted water. Fruit and plants represent what are available and in season on the island of Shodoshima Island. The contents of the tanks change colour, position, form and texture as the fermentation process takes place during the Triennale, by the end of which they are ready to be bottled and distributed to the local community on Shodoshima as well as to art institutions and curators around the world.
Part 2: Drunken Melon Workshop – bottling and distribution workshop (for consumption and contemplation). The contents of each bottle contains either melon and lemon alcohol designed for consumption or plants in saltwater designed for contemplation.


Growing trees on wastelands, where due to the very high salinity in most cases not even grass species are growing, seems to be utterly impossible. It would however provide the unique opportunity to produce, timber, bio products, like oil, fibres and pulp, and biomass for energy on land, which is not suitable for food production.
With a growing population, there is a very high demand of these products, especially in the countries most affected by salinization, like India and Pakistan. Biosaline Agro Forestry would provide a key to cultivate these wastelands and thereby produce bio products for growing economies. The BIOSAFOR research project is investigating the potential of biosaline agro forestry from the choice of the right trees, to an optimized management and the development of economical feasible value chains.
BIOSAFOR stands for Biosaline (Agro)Forestry: Remediation of saline wastelands through production of renewable energy, biomaterials and fodder.
BIOSAFOR is a joint research project of nine research institutes from the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Germany, India, Pakistan, Spain and the United Arab Emirates financed by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme.
Follow this link to the internal section for project partners


Organic-Enjoy Nature, Be with nature, Stay with Nature, Evolve in Nature. Objective is environmental friendly farming framework creating opportunities and utilizing natural resources.
2020 is year of Organic products for food, Skin care, Healthcare & Textile. Organic products are the products which are produced by methods that comply with standards of organic farming. Globally Organic product are growing rapidly especially in Europe, US and Asian Continents.
Contemporary Organizations regulating policies for organic products and may restrict the use of certain pesticides and fertilizers in the farming methods.
Organic foods are not processed by irradiation, industrial solvents, or synthetic food additives.
The demand for Indian organic food products is continuously increase worldwide as India exported organic products worth $515 million in year 2017-18, from $370 million in 2016-17.
Why is organic farming used?
Organic farming primarily promotes the use of crop rotations. Organic surplus and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back to the farming land. Cover crops and composted cow chips are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility.
Benefit of Organic Food.
Way of Growth and Development of your food can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health as well as the environment.
Organic foods usually have many beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts and people having allergies from foods, chemicals, or preservatives often find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat organic foods. Organic produced food contains less pesticides.
Organic food is usually fresher as it doesn’t contain preservatives. Organic food is produced often on smaller farms near where it is sold.
Organic farming is better for the environment also. It reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy in organic farming. Farming without pesticides is also good for birds and animals as well as people who live close to farms.
Organic milk and milk are quite richer in many nutrients since antibiotics are not used for growth of hormones, or fed animal byproducts.
Organically-raised animals get more space to move around and access to the outdoors, which makes them healthy.
Organic food vs. locally-grown food
Organic farming has standards; there are no standards for local food. Local food could be grown in local community, in your region, in your state or country.
Most of time it is usually possible to find food grown close to home at places such as nearest farmer’s market.
Organic clothing is comprised of Jute, Cotton, Silk, Ramie or Wool. Another term is organic textiles, which comprises of both apparel and home textiles. The technical requirements in terms of certification generally remain same for organic clothing and organic textiles.
Types of Organic clothing:
1 Hemp. Hemp is a bast fiber and is considered as very sustainable fibre.
2 Organic cotton. Cotton production is considered as one of the most polluting processes in manufacturing.
4 Ramie. …
5 Organic jute. …
6 Tencel. …
7 Organic Linen. …
8 Organic silk.
Why Organic clothing better:
Organic cotton uses far less water too. The key benefit of organic materials is that the crops treated without pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and Genetically Modified Organisms. These toxins are Harmful for farmers, workers , eco-system and wild life.
ORGANIC SKIN CARE:
Organic skin care is usually defined as a skin care product which contains organically grown ingredients that are free from pesticides. Organic products are more beneficial for the skin as it is presumed there are little or no harsh chemical ingredients.
Pamper your skin with 100% Pure’s Organic Argan Oil, Kiwi & Pineapple Brightening Cleanser, Organic Cucumber Juice Renewal Serum, or any of their pure products and you know that you’re using only the best natural and USDA certified organic ingredients.
Why organic Skin Care products are better
Organic skin care product grown without herbicides and pesticides, their organic ingredients are also free from that contamination, which means the same for your skin and body. Organic skin care products are non-allergic. Plants grown organically contain higher level of antioxidant vitamins than non-organic plants. In synthetic skincare products, on the other hand, active ingredients only make up 5 to 10% of its contents.


A loved ones grove is an area where a family owns and also develops fruit product or veggies in an area that is actually commonly used for cultivating objectives. Many household groves are actually had and also worked through families as well as businesses that are located almost a community or even community. Commonly, these orchards have actually operated for creations as well as have become a staple of the community. Schoenborn Conklin, MI
Barton Orchards is actually a household possessed orchard in Poughquag, NY that levels to the general public. It is an all-encompassing ranch that delivers fruit product, hayrides and also veggies. They additionally deliver treasure stone mining bags, cuddling zoo as well as other exciting tasks. Travis Conklin, MI
One of the most effective features of this particular family-friendly PYO ranch is its own midway, which features an enjoyable playground, a frozen yogurt position and also a full-sized gallery. Guests can easily likewise take pleasure in a variety of neighborhood songs. The ranch organizes a few enjoyable occasions as well as events throughout the period.
Diocesan’s Orchards is actually a family-owned plantation in Guilford, Connecticut. It has stayed in business for over 140 years, and it is among minority office local ranches in the location. The ranch uses new fruit and vegetables and also fruits to customers. They likewise offer produce to retail buyers.
Bishop’s Orchards provides apple picking, pears, raspberries, pumpkins and also peaches. Aside from offering fruit and vegetables, the grove possesses a winery as well as a planter market. This is a wonderful area for people to go to, as it is actually a location for exterior exciting and also amusement.
Connell’s Household Orchard
The Connell household has actually resided in the fruit organization for more than a century. It started as a solely agricultural company, however possesses right now end up being an authentic office function. There are forty acres of veggies and fruit to become had. Aside from the normal apples, plums, pears, and mangos, the grove likewise supplies some intriguing offerings including berry bushes, a bunch of diehards, as well as an excellent ol’ created corn maze.
Not to mention, the firm claims the most effective client service in the region. This is actually particularly true on weekends, when the orchard is at its own most hopping. Certainly, it’s not simply the workers that are in on the process.
A family members possessed and operated orchard along with peaches, pears, apples and pumpkins on tap for the time, Hagen’s is a food lover’s dream come correct. The above mentioned pies are actually a piece of cake, yet the menu additionally includes a well-stocked present and a full club store.
Hagen’s has operated for greater than 5 many years. Managers Jim and also Linda Hagen run the above mentioned orchard along with a tiny army of assistants. While the aforementioned orchard is actually an annual pilgrimage for several citizens, it is a well-known destination for website visitors coming from more afield. The abovementioned establishment is effortlessly available coming from Illinois by means of the free ferryboat that operates 24 hours a time, 7 days a full week.
Harbes Family Farm
The Harbes Loved Ones Farm and Vineyard is a family friendly destination in Jamesport. Featuring a 78-acre apple grove, a pumpkin spot, as well as even more, the farm is a perfect family destination.
Aside from the standard apple picking as well as pumpkin spot, the farm offers an assortment of other loss tasks. The ranch has an honor gaining a glass of wine sampling barn as well as offers fresh vegetables and fruits developed on internet site.
Stuart’s Fruit Farm.
Stuart’s Fruit Farm is actually a loved ones grove found in The big apple’s Westchester County. It is a 200-acre ranch with over 20 different selections of apples. This farm is actually possessed by the Stewart household as well as levels to everyone year-round. Site visitors can choose from a variety of apples and can appreciate a day of apple choosing. There is actually likewise a bakery and farm stand where site visitors can easily obtain apples, cakes, apple cider doughnuts, as well as various other fruit product products.
The ranch gives an assortment of activities for family members featuring apple as well as fruit choosing, hay trips, and a pastry shop. Go to the ranch on any kind of time of the full week from 10 am actually to 5 pm, as well as take your time to scan as well as discover the plantation through the fruit and vegetables and also various other products available.
Cider Mountain Family Members Grove
If you are actually appearing for a fantastic area to take the family members for a time out, you ought to look at seeing Cider Mountain Family Grove. The grove additionally creates apples, blackberries, cherries, as well as pears.
Some of the greatest things about this location is actually the fact that it levels seven times a week. It is a u-pick apple orchard, which indicates that you can decide on apples yourself. All you must carry out is show up, get a bag, as well as purchase the apples. There end 1,500 apple trees in the orchard, along with over 18 various selections.
A household grove is actually an area where a family develops as well as possesses fruit product or vegetables in a spot that is generally used for farming purposes. Several family members groves are actually possessed as well as worked by households and also businesses that are positioned in the vicinity of an area or even town. Featuring a 78-acre apple grove, a fruit patch, as well as a lot more, the ranch is actually an excellent family destination. Stuart’s Fruit product Ranch is actually a family members grove situated in New York’s Westchester Area. If you are looking for a wonderful area to take the family members for a time out, you should take into consideration seeing Cider Hill Family Plantation.


Please see definition of “estate coffee” below:
“Estate coffees are a specific type of single-origin coffee. They are generally grown on a single farm, which might range in size from a few acres to large plantations occupying many square miles, or a collection of farms which all process their coffee at the same mill” Coffee is cultivated throughout Honduras with vast amounts of hectares (estimated up to 300,000) dedicated to coffee with most plantations in forest regions producing “shade grown coffee” resulting in a rich & robust coffee which enhances the biodiversity. It is estimated that about 500,000 families are directly & indirectly employed in the coffee sector making it an important labor generator having a huge impact on GDP. This emphasizes the not only economical impact of coffee on the country but also the social impact of coffee…
Honduras is in the top ten (10) Arabica producing countries in the world expected to reach 5th place in 2017 as per many international and independent reports, i.e. The World of Coffee 2017 by the Neumann Gruppe
We invite you to taste the excellence of the coffees of “Café de Honduras”; the delicious and distinctive flavors that originate in our country. Café de Honduras is synonymous with its people, rich agricultural tradition and harmony with the diverse environment. Coffee production is a way of life for more than one hundred thousand families 100,000 families who directly participate and benefits from the production of this agricultural product.
The vast majority of coffee produced in Honduras comes from mountainous regions of 210 of the 298 municipalities and 15 of the country’s 18 departments, generating more than one million jobs that generate about 38% of Agricultural GDP. About 48% of the Honduran territory is forest land; mountainous regions, valleys and an unequaled bio-diversity which enhances “Cafe de Honduras”!
The quality of our coffees is the direct result of the combination of the geographic diversity of the country and the meticulous work of our producers throughout the production chain, from the production of small farms to large plantations, the ‘shade grown”, sun dried and benefit the preparation for export.


Are you looking for a new springtime project? Why not consider a learning garden?
You’ll see from our Instagram account that we’re helping Christ Covenant School in their effort to bring a learning garden to campus. These gardens provide so many wonderful educational opportunities! Students have the satisfaction of watching patience and hard work pay off, but they also learn about healthful living and environmental preservation. The Christ Covenant Spartans will even incorporate math, history, and art lessons into their gardening experience.
So if you’d like to introduce your family or friends to their own learning garden, check out this how to guide!
First things first: plants need sun. As you begin your garden, make sure you locate a spot with prime light exposure.
Next, you need to select a building material. According to landscaper Jenny Peterson, wood or cinderblocks are the least expensive options. Stone and steel are more expensive options but will add an element of class to your finished product.
If you need help deciding, refer to this chart:
Peterson also says that 4′ is an ideal width for gardens. Feel free to pick any length, the 4′ parameter simply ensures you don’t have to climb into your garden to take care of it. The height will depend on your intended gardeners. If your family is helping you, try keeping the bed 6″ to 1′ high.
For a step by step construction guide, go to Better Homes and Gardens.
Once you’re happy with your garden frame, fill the bed with soil! Then go on a seed shopping spree to buy the herbs, fruits, and vegetables you want to grow most!
There are lots of fun ways to mark and use your produce, too!
These field note printables are from the Sisters Guild. Let your kids observe how their plants grow each day.
As for plant markers, Whimsy love has a crafty solution:
Here’s a beginner’s guide to canning which you can tuck away for future reference once your harvest arrives!
Choose to grow your meals this summer! You won’t regret it!
(Photo credit: linked sites)


Targeted modification of plant biomass properties
Plants biomass could serve as an important self-renewable source of natural polymers. Technologies allowing modifications of biomass composition are of high industrial importance. Lignin is the second most abundant organic polymer on Earth useful in a number of applications ranging from production of ship diesel until valuable chemicals.
TECHNOLOGY (INVENTION) DESCRIPTION:
We found that via targeted modification of proteins involved in signaling or biosynthesis of plant hormones cytokinins, it is possible to change the amount of lignin in the plant biomass. We discovered that cytokinins act as important regulators of the developmental pathway leading to the secondary cell wall (CW) formation. This process is of high economic importance, as the CW-derived biomaterials are widely exploited in diverse human activities relating to food, fibers, textiles, paper and building materials. In terms of more advanced technologies, plant CWs form the bulk of the lignocellulosic biomass in prospective 2nd generation bioenergy crops. Thus, manipulation of cytokinin signaling could be an important target in our efforts for production of biomass with specific properties.
ADVANTAGES OVER EXISTING SOLUTIONS:
Increasing the lignin content can improve the energy value of the plant biomass dedicated for heat production via burning. Lignin pyrolysis allows production of ship diesel with low sulfur content. However, the most promising is using of lignin in valuable chemical production useful as e.g. natural binders, dispersant and adhesives, concrete admixtures, automotive industry materials, food or fragrance industry (vanillin, the world-wide mostly used flavor could be produced from lignin). By generating the biomass with improved lignin content, we could increase the effectiveness of the whole process leading to lignin extraction.
DEVELOPMENT STATUS (STAGE):
The result at the level of fundamental research in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Further development necessary.
Didi V, Jackson P, & Hejatko J (2015) Hormonal regulation of secondary cell wall formation. Journal of Experimental Botany 66(16):5015-5027
IP PROTECTION STATUS:
The way of influencing lignification in plants. Czech Patent No. 306073. In CRaTUoBCV Masaryk University (Brno, Canada)
TECHNOLOGY / IP OWNERS :
Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic) and The University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). Hejatko J, Didi V, Vasickova J, Mansfield SD.
More information is available upon signing a CDA / NDA (Confidential Disclosure Agreement / Non-Disclosure Agreement)


Hay and Pasture Resources
Texas: The Texas Department of Agriculture is encouraging impacted ranchers to utilize the Hay Hotline to locate forage and hay supplies. The listings include individuals and businesses that have hay for sale or pasture for lease. To access the Hay Hotline, call 1-877-429-1998, or go to TexasAgriculture.gov and look under Most Popular Links.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has two directories (pdf) for ranchers looking for hay:
Arkansas: Arkansas Hay Producers Database
Nebraska: The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has a hay and forage webpage and toll-free hotline at 800-422-6692.
Colorado: Colorado Ranchers Trying to Help Texans During Drought -
500 tons of grass hay available for sale under cover in barns. Located in Collbran, Colo., (western Colorado), by Grand Junction. Please contact Ken Likely at 970-260-7039 or email@example.com.
New Mexico: New Mexico Hay Association's Buy/Sell webpage
Internet Hay Exchange - Login required to view contact information of sellers/buyers, but an account is free. Listings by state and area code.
Drought Information Links and Resources
Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) A collaborative educational network dedicated to educating citizens about disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Texas EDEN is a part of theTexas AgriLife Extension Service and is affiliated with National Extension Disaster Education Network.
State Drought Preparedness Council - The chief of the Texas Division of
Emergency Management is the state drought manager. The state drought manager is
responsible for managing and coordinating the drought response component of the state water
Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is an index used to determining forest fire potential. The drought index is based on a daily water balance, where a drought factor is balanced with precipitation and soil moisture.
TAMU Ecosystem Science and Management Extension Unit Formerly the Forest Science and Rangeland Ecology and Management Dept
All Hazards website- Resources to help rural communities prepare for disasters and other hazards
ReadyAG©: Disaster and Defense Preparedness for Production Agriculture An educational tool developed to assist farmers and ranchers become better prepared for ANY disaster.
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Heat Stress Forecast and Information
Drought Maps and Weather Resources
NIDIS (National Integrated Drought Information System) Drought Portal
U.S. Drought Monitor and Weekly Summary (released on Thursdays)
Assistance and Recovery Programs
USDA Farm Service Agency Programs
The USDA's Farm Service Agency administers several important programs that help producers recover from disaster damage and livestock deaths. Among the key programs available to address impacts from disasters are the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program.
Fact sheets for all of these programs can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Newsroom, then Fact Sheets. .
To view PDF files you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.


ترجمة الآية 5 من سورة Al-Fīl - English - سورة الفيل : عدد الآيات 5 - - الصفحة 601 - الجزء 30.
And made them like an empty field of stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle).
And He made them like eaten straw.
(105:5) and made them like straw eaten up (by cattle). *7
*7) The word asfas used in the original has already occurred in verse 12 of Surah Ar-Rahman above: dhul-'asf war-raihan: "and corn with husk as well as grain". This shows that asf means the outer covering of seeds, which the farmer throws away after the grain has been separated from it. Then the animals eat it, and some of it falls down in the chewing and some is trampled under the hoofs.قراءة سورة الفيل


Emergency relief for the vulnerable of Lebanon
Images: Malak Jaafar & Ziad Rizkallah
Lebanon has frequently been in the news lately with the severe economic crisis further worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now combined with the recent disastrous explosion at the Port of Beirut and there is enormous need for emergency food relief for the vulnerable of Beirut.
Lebanon imports nearly 85 percent of its food, largely through the Port of Beirut. Grain silos with the capacity to hold 120,000 metric tons have mostly been destroyed. At the time of explosion, the silos contained around 15,000 metric tons of wheat, corn, and barley. Current wheat flour reserves in the country are estimated to cover market needs for 6 weeks, whereas a 3-month supply is standard to ensure food security.
In response to this crisis Global Development Group is partnering with the World Food Programme on an emergency relief project in Lebanon. WFP estimate that 150,000 people are now vulnerable due to the explosions.
A recent WFP survey, prior to the explosion, found that access to food had become a major source of concern. 50% of Lebanese respondents say they were worried they would not have enough food to eat.
This emergency project is focused on providing emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable in Lebanon.
WFP has delivered an emergency supply of 50,000 metric tons of wheat flour to stabilize national supply.
WFP are now distributing 5,000 food parcels to the most vulnerable people affected by the blast. Each food package is enough to feed a family of five for one month with basic items such as rice, pasta, chickpeas, oil, sugar and salt.


Rhone: The Rhone river valley in southeastern France is a grape growing and wine producing area famed for its red wines.
The region is just under 150 miles long (north to south) and lies
between the cities of Lyon in the north and Avignon in the south.
There are 16 specific appellations that cover an area of more than
41,000 hectares. All qualities of wine are produced here from Appellation
Controllee to Vin de Table. Production is 2% white, the
rest being red and rose. Wines from the Rhone can achieve outstanding
quality. There has been opportunity to achieve greater value in
the purchase of many Rhone wines versus those of Bordeaux
Some of the vineyards here
are very rocky. Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhone (means
'Slopes of the Rhone') are the two best known wines to come from
this region. A wide variety of grapes are grown and blended
in this region but the two most commonly used are Syrah


Researchers collaborating through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation recently developed a way to make the sugars in plant cells more accessible for producing second-generation biofuels. The results are published in Carbohydrate Polymers.
The outer walls of plant cells are constructed from polysaccharides, molecules made of bonded sugars. These molecules determine the physical properties of plants and affect their growth. A metabolic reaction called acetylation modifies the sugar chains to support life processes like cell wall strengthening.
“You can imagine the sugar is a long chain and has all kinds of decorations like on a Christmas tree,” said researcher and first author Hsin-Tzu Wang. Acetylation is the process that adds these “decorations” – but they’re getting in the way of making a biofuel product. “The tree itself is the raw material, so we don’t want those decorations,” said Wang, who conducted the research in the lab of principal investigator Breeanna Urbanowicz. “We are modifying the proteins involved in synthesis, so there is a smaller amount of decoration.”
CBI facilitated collaboration with the National Renewal Energy Laboratory to run simulations predicting which amino acids – components of proteins – have the most important influence on acetylation of the sugar chains. In her lab, Wang tested the best candidates to draw conclusions about their functions.
She and her team were able to identify an amino acid that is key to modifying the long-chain sugar. “We can use this method in the future to adjust the protein’s activity and thus ‘change the decor on the Christmas tree’ – which will make biofuel production easier down the line,” she said.
The study’s method of combining computational analysis with benchwork can also be applied to analyzing similar proteins in other organisms and feedstocks, Wang said. The approach can guide future enzyme engineering to redesign plant cell walls without compromising plant growth or height.
In addition, Wang said, “The modified proteins we generated can be used to synthesize long-chain sugars with adjustable decoration in a cell-free system. This has applications in creating eco-friendly materials for use in drug delivery and food packaging.”
The Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is one of four Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers focused on advancing biofuels and bioproducts for a vibrant domestic bioeconomy. CBI is accelerating the development of bioenergy-relevant plants and microbes to enable production of drop-in sustainable aviation fuel, bioproducts that sequester carbon indefinitely, and sustainable replacements for plastics and other environmentally harmful products. CBI research is supported by the Biological and Environmental Research program in DOE’s Office of Science.


John and Grace Schutter Memorial Scholarship
- Pursuing a degree from the College of Agriculture;
- Full-time student;
- Junior or senior status;
- Intent to pursue career in agricultural discipline;
- Demonstrate meritorious academic performance.
- Pursuing a degree from Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology
Additional Award Information:
- Award may be renewable at the discretion of the award authority.
- Previous recipients must continue to meet the required qualifications and submit an application annually to be considered for renewal.
- Agriculture, Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology


We’re looking for a stable, serious, honest and faithful relationship. We’re looking for true love, the one and only.
If your’re looking for the same thing , enter and tell me so, right into my eyes.
First and foremost, we’re farmers devoted to working the land and to providing you with its product, and that is the best guarantee for the quality of our fruit.
Quality citrus fruits 12 months of the year.
We do our work properly and will not fail you.
You can trust us because you’re very important to us.
Never forget that we want to be by your side.
Sincerity will be the force that brings us together.


About the Role
We have a range of agricultural work available across the Ashburton district; one day, you may spray weeds, and the next, you'll be helping prep a field for harvest. With so much variety, there won't be time to get bored!
Working in a team of four to 15, you'll undertake various duties depending on the season related to all types of arable and vegetable crops and bulbs.
We provide paid training sessions to upskill/teach you the basic agricultural skills needed to:
- Remove rogue plants from the main crop (canola, wheat and barley) in paddocks
- Spot or line spray rogue crop out of a range of grass paddocks
- Prepare a paddock for harvest
- Work on farm machinery
- Use different hand or power/petrol tools
You have an awesome attitude and work well in a team environment. You have great communication and listening skills, and you pay attention to and follow instructions.
Being capable of physical work is essential as you'll walk long distances over the course of the day. This role is not suitable for someone with back or leg issues which will prevent you from doing these tasks.
- You'll pass a drug test
- You're physically fit and capable of standing/walking/bending down repeatedly
- No experience is needed (but any you have is beneficial)
What's Being Offered
We offer super flexible contract lengths - do you only need a few weeks of work? Or, do you want 2, 4, or 6+ months? We can be flexible with how many days per week, and how many hours you work, provided you can commit to the same days/times each week.
- Starting rate of $23 p/h (+8% holiday pay
- Saturday work available
- Flexibility in roster (take a day off during the week to sightsee)
- Immediate start available for the right candidates
- Full, paid training is provided
- PPE is provided
- Transport is provided from the yard in Ashburton to the site
- If you have a full, clean driver's license, earn a bonus for driving
How to Apply
If you're interested, then apply online now, or call Donna on 0800 247 8233 for more info.
Please note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. You MUST already be in NZ with a suitable work visa/permit to be considered.


Last year I was lucky enough to score a garden plot from my condo association behind our building. While I would die for a real farm with backyard chickens and maybe even a goat, I figure my own garden plot comes in a close second, especially given my current location. I have to imagine my D.C. condo association has rules against goats.
Now, let’s get serious. Yesterday, I noticed a new neighbor weeding his plot next to mine. Last year, I was pretty much the only one who weeded my garden, nevermind plant anything, so there was no competition. But NOW. And with something as public as a garden plot. Bring it on.
I had unknowingly prepared for this, and the spring bulbs I planted last fall bloomed on Easter. So, without even lifting a finger to weed, I figure my spring blooms kept me on par with him. But today I forced myself to spend a vacation afternoon weeding and planting some seeds (that have been sitting on my kitchen counter for over a month). It’s amazing how competition fuels me (even when it’s made up in my head).
Then, with the help of some OCD, I sat down with a sheet of graph paper and mapped out my plot for the year (aka the game plan). So far, I planted the seeds, and moved the left over strawberry plants from last year. I got a little overzealous with the pea seeds… still working on that self-regulation.
I thought a lot about companion planting, and I plan to move the tomatoes next to the path so I don’t have to trudge through the whole plot to get to them like last year (2013: the year common sense is on my side).
Um PS, according to MS’ calendar in Living, Martha herself also tilled her garden today. That must mean the gardening gods are on my team, no?


Gardening can be a rather enjoyable past time or hobby. There are, however a few concerns you will need to address if you want it to thrive. Proper care will warrant knowing the good and bad bugs in the garden for maintaining optimal health.
There are many reasons homeowners choose to take up this particular hobby. A flower bed can add a beautiful attraction to your home’s curb appeal or backyard environment. A fruit/vegetable garden can provide fresh and tasty produce at your convenience. They each have their set of advantages, but with these also come disadvantages in keeping it up.
Whether you’re growing flowers or planting fruits and veggies, both of these types will face a common nuisance – Pests. Not all bugs are bad, however. There are many species that are actually beneficial for plants. Being able to properly identify good and bad bugs in the garden is the first step. From there you can take measures to ensure the health of your plants.
Bad Bugs for your Garden
Just as with weeds, certain bugs can wreak havoc on your precious plants. They can feed on the leaves, seedlings, and may even carry diseases that can harm your garden. If you’ve spotted holes in your plants or see signs of munching or black spots you might have a problem with these garden pests.
These guys mean bad news for your plants. Aphids are tiny insects characterized by their translucent appearance and typically green, however their colors may vary. They are one of the worst destroyers for your garden, consuming sap from the stems, leaves, and buds of plants.
Moths are infamous predators for gardens. Although they’re named cabbage moths, the adults will also eat on other garden varieties of vegetables along with fruits.
These bugs are so-named for the famous clicking sound produced when they bounce back to escape their predators. It’s their larvae that make these unwanted around plants as they feed on roots!
These ground worms are actually the larvae of certain moth species and live under the soil. They feed on young plant stems and seedlings, cutting them down as their name implies. These are detrimental to your garden.
These jumpers will leave your garden looking less than healthy if permitted. They jump from plant to plant chewing holes in the leaves.
These large green caterpillars have big appetites to fill. If you have a vegetable garden they love to chow down on tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers to name a few.
These pesky insects are no picnic to deal with in your yard or your garden. Though they don’t particularly feed on plants, they can spread disease and infest your yard.
Snails and Slugs
These slimy night feeders will feast on your precious plants at night and leave a slimy trail behind. Snails and slugs will eat holes in leaves and can even eat the entire leaf of many fruit and vegetable plants if touching the ground.
These buggers will squash the life of your garden as they drain the nutrients from vegetation. This causes leaves to wilt, yellow and can spread diseases infecting vines and stems.
These little wood munchers love to feast on cellulose– a substance found in decaying wood, woody plants, and bark mulch. If they find their way into your garden they could find their way into your home which means a great deal of trouble.
Good Bugs for Gardens
You may be questioning how any bug can be beneficial to your plants, but hear me out. The truth is a vast majority of those creepy crawlies actually have some great qualities. A large percentage of flowering plants and crops alike thrive from pollination that comes from certain insects. If you find these flying around your flower bed your plants are likely doing well. Many of the bugs you find crawling around can actually help protect against the bad ones by feeding on them. These are the good guys!
Assassin bugs (also known as Wheel bugs) prey on other insects by consuming their body fluids through its beak. These bugs are characterized as having a thin head and neck connecting to the body. They’re generally dark in color and range in size from as little a 5mm up to 1.6 inches in length.
Honeybees and small native bees are definitely your friends in the gardening world. These buzzing bugs are largely responsible for assisting in pollination by going from flower to flower collecting pollen and nectar. This is beneficial for the life of your garden to help flowers and plants flourish.
When they begin life as caterpillar larvae, these bugs are not too kind to your garden as they generally like to eat plants. As adults, however, butterflies assist in pollination to help your garden thrive while adding an enjoyable aesthetic.
Some beetle species can serve as beneficial assets to your garden. Ground beetles prey on other insects that are common nuisances for gardens such as fly larvae, cutworms and slugs just to name a few.
These little crawlers are great for gardens but not to come too close to due to their painful stings. These crawlers generally won’t bother you, however, as they’re not too active during the day. They burrow in the soil, providing aeration that will benefit plant roots and they like to feed on slugs – a common garden pest.
These will definitely help keep common garden pests at bay while allowing you to enjoy your time outdoors. Dragonflies will devour mosquitoes and other flying insects that may be threatening to your garden. Even as larvae, they consume mosquito wrigglers that live and breed in water.
These buggers are very beneficial to your garden as they prey on the bad bugs. They have a unique characteristic of imitating bees in their appearance and behaviorisms by hovering over flowers. They also aid in pollination!
These are super bugs to have in your garden.They feed on pollen and honeydew at night as adults and the larvae feed on common garden pests. These bugs are so effective at controlling the bad bugs in the garden that they’re marketed to greenhouses!
If you have these in your garden you’re in good company. The adults and larvae of Praying Mantises prey on a variety of garden enemies and will often wait for the opportune time to attack.
These 8-legged critters often get a bad rap because many have a phobia of spiders. In the garden, however, they can be your ally against other garden predators.
Insects that are BOTH!
Bear in mind that there are a couple of insects that fall into both categories as good AND bad bugs in the garden. This lies in their particular species.
Beetles – with beetles, there are certain kinds you don’t want having around, but then there are some that are worth keeping. The good beetles include ground beetles or Bombardier beetles. These will actually help in keeping the pests down by feeding on other insects. Then there are a few that can be destructive to gardens and worth noting. Japanese beetles, Lily-leaf beetles and the Striped Cucumber beetle are bad news for plants.
Ants – these insects can fall into both categories as good and bad bugs in the garden. Ants are beneficial in digging tunnels underground which helps aerate the soil. They’re also great at ridding your garden of remains from other insects that have fallen prey to previous predators. On the other hand, they’re notorious for collecting aphids (a garden culprit) which can mean bad news for plants. They are also invasive and you certainly don’t want to come across a fire ant mound while pulling weeds!
How to Get Rid of the Pests
Using insecticides and chemicals could potentially harm your plants and will also kill the good bugs in your garden. Natural methods to control good and bad bugs in the garden are a much better approach. Some plants can actually serve as natural pest control by their strong fragrance and natural oils such as these listed below:
- Basil – add these to your fruit/vegetable garden to keep common pests at bay.
- Lemongrass – plant in containers or along flowerbeds as a natural insect repellant that also adds elegance to your garden.
- Lavender – the calming scent of these flowers drives away flies, moths, and mosquitoes.
- Garlic – a great addition to a vegetable garden for harvesting, planting garlic around carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage will deter pests.
Additional measures such as regular gardening maintenance can help too. Getting rid of weeds will eliminate a potential food and shelter source for bad garden bugs.


This week’s Meaningful Midweek is going to be short and sweet. I have a Statistics Midterm that I have to get to (and have been studying frantically for all morning).
One of my favorite things I have done up here in Bend is to volunteer for Agricultural Connections! Each week, I get the pleasure to help with the pick-up in town. We unload the truck with beautiful fruits and vegetables fresh from local farmers (along with meat, dairy and eggs). In exchange, I get a free family share! Anyway, I encourage you to find a CSA in your community.
CSA= Community Supported Agriculture
It’s an awesome way to support local farmers and seasonal, local vegetables and fruits are the best for your body! Instead of the color enhanced and chemically altered fruits and veggies you often find at the grocery store, sign-up with a CSA or hit up a local farmer’s market to get your produce supply!
2 thoughts on “Meaningful Midweek: Support the Farmers”
Love those farm fresh photos!
Isn’t that produce beautiful? So delicious, too!


The corn was brought to the barn for storage and in winter it was worked upon. The left hand passage bay in the barn is also the threshing floor, where sheaves of corn were laid and hit with the flail to separate the grain from the chaff. Shown on the left is a flail, which rests in the passage bay.
Towards the end of the 18th century threshing machines were introduced. This culminated in the Swing Riots of 1830-33 when farm workers protested about the loss of their winter work. This is a picture of an early threshing machine in the museum. The sheaves were held whilst being threshed, rather than passing through as they did on later machines.
Grain could be further cleaned by passing it through a corn cleaner.
The stalk of the corn could be chopped up into small pieces by a chaff cutter and then mixed with beans for animal feed. The image shows chaff cutters.
In Bay XIII there are a couple of bean mills, which cracked the field beans before they were added to the feed. There is also a cake crusher, which broke up thin slabs of linseed and other cake for mixing with the feed. Bay XIII also includes a flocking machine, which was used to shred wool, sacking etc. for filling saddles and collars. It was also used on the land.


Diablo Valley Farmers' Market
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Diablo Valley Farmers' Market offers a wide selection of seasonal produce, from asparagus and artichokes in the spring to heirloom squash and apples in the fall and squash and citrus fruits of winter. Besides produce, there's also a selection of breads, eggs, fish and more. Customers can browse the selection, chat with the farmers and suppliers and even get free samples from some vendors. Diablo Valey Farmers' Market was voted Walnut Creek's favorite farmers' market in 2010 and operates year-round, rain or shine.
Mitchell Dr & N Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
- Hours: Sat, 9am - 1pm
- Website: http://cafarmersmkts.com/markets/category/diablo-valley


We take pride in providing excellent customer service to the 30,000 customers in the City of Nampa.
Irrigation Turn Off Dates
City of Nampa irrigation to be shut off October 4
The City of Nampa will shut down its irrigation system Friday, October 4 to coincide with Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District’s October 7 shut-off.
Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District is one of three providers for most of Nampa’s irrigation water. The Boise-Kuna Irrigation District is scheduled to end its season October 7 and Pioneer Irrigation will wrap up tentatively October 11.
The Nampa Waterworks Division reminds individuals and companies that the city valve should not be turned off when blowing out sprinkler lines. The keyed turnoff is for city emergency use only.
The majority of Nampa’s irrigation water comes in the canal system from Lucky Peak. The Pioneer Irrigation District and the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District manage most of the canals and ditches in Nampa. In some cases these irrigation districts are solely responsible for the infrastructure leading to a customer’s property.
City of Nampa Pressurized Irrigation
In many subdivisions the City of Nampa Waterworks Division is responsible for the pressurized irrigation pump station, water main line, and curb stop valves.
The service line, which is between the curb stop and the sprinkler head, belongs to the property owner. The City will not repair a customer’s service line.
Water is a valuable resource in our community, for this reason over watering violates City Code.
Nampa City Codes Section 8-1-22 Waste of Irrigation Water
To report over watering send us an email.
- Learn what time of year and in what weather condition should you water your lawn.
- Read our Do-it-Yourself Water Check for the Home Landscape.
- The University of Idaho offers water calculation tools to help you determine how much water to apply based on your irrigation system.
Policy & Property Assessment Login
Broken Curb Stop Policy
AFTER HOUR EMERGENCIES ONLY
: There is someone on call after normal business hours, 365 days per year (208) 468-5860.
Please Note: An emergency is any event that causes or threatens to cause damage to property, life or health. We understand your irrigation water is important to you. Please call the number above during normal business hours 8am-5pm Monday-Friday if you are experiencing water outages or low pressure and we will respond to you in a timely manner.


I’m gonna have to stop calling it my Grandgarden.
Three years ago, when Son Two hacked a couple of rows out of our backyard’s over-shaded, overgrown onetime raspberry patch and stuck a few seeds in, that’s what I called it. Didn’t take any responsibility beyond watering for a few days when he went off-island.
Fast-forward three years. Son Two’s long gone to the east coast. Last year I decided I could handle the responsibility of planting and watering my own seeds. So I did…full of trepidation about getting tied down to another 20 years of garden maintenance (which I thought I’d left behind when Son Two graduated and we moved to an island full of organic farms).
So it’s MY
kid garden now.
Nothing ambitious–a few rows of greens. Some broccoli and potatoes. And some strawberries, originally planted by Son Two. Sure, I can handle that. Didn’t even get too bummed when the raccoons beat me to the ripened strawberries.
This year, I cleared a little more. Still didn’t plant anything I wasn’t sure could thrive in such shady conditions.
Still didn’t commit myself to fertilizing, beyond a few shovelfulls of compost, or staking. Got too much going on to spend hours out there. But regular minutes, weeding, watering, harvesting? In MY garden, once more?
Yes. And I’m not even counting on those strawberries. The raccoons are even more committed to my garden than I am.
Thanks, Son Two, for getting me re-started. And my hat’s off to all you COMMITTED gardeners. This semi-committed one is glad you’re there. Got any strawberries, just in case?


Get advice from Alan Wilson author of books on Potatoes and we hope, in addition to potato seed sales we will hope to have, yet again, the following have said they will return in 2017:
- Talks – Chris Bird from Sparsholt College , history, modern methods, varieties to choose and as many questions as you care to ask!
- Children’s activities run by Friends of Whitchurch Primary School
- Refreshments from H’s Coffee Shop
- Runner, Broad and French Beans and Pea seeds and Onion and Shallot sets at very competitive prices – Charlton Park Garden Centre
- Heritage seed sales – Thomas Etty Esq
- Organic vegetables – Harroway Organic Gardens
- Herbaceous plants, locally raised lamb, wool and woolen goods – Tufton Plants
- Unusual edible plants – Edulis
- Grandma’s local home made jam, preserves and cakes
- Phoenix Perennial Plants
- Hampshire Branch of the National Vegetable Society
- Greetings cards with seeds – Grow your own cards
- A seed swap, run by Hampshire Organic Gardening Group. Bring your seeds to swap for something different
- Alan Wilson, Author of The People’s Potatoes with his new bookPlus the chance to share your experiences with other growers (~1,400 attended in 2016)
The location is Testbourne Centre, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch which is just off the A34, 4 miles north of its junction with the A303. There’ll be signs from the A34. (see the map).
When you’ve visited the Day, why not try out some of Whitchurch’s eating places or the Silk Mill – there’s a special 2 for the price of one entry tickets for those visiting the Hampshire Potato Day
To advertise the event, there is an A4 poster here and an A5 poster here (2 on one A4 page) they are Adobe Acrobat files
Don’t rush to get your favourite variety – there will be fresh stock of all varieties each day.
Seed Swaps are becoming popular at various venues up and down the country with Brighton’s Seedy Sunday being the largest. We will have a selection of seeds available for visitors to swap for those they have brought along, if anyone would like to take more than they bring, a small contribution will cover the “transaction”. All seeds (provided they are viable) are welcome, flowers, vegetables, wild flowers, trees and shrubs, be they home collected or those surplus to requirements from packets overfilled by seed companies. For home collected seed all we ask is that it is labelled with the name of the species, variety and the year it was collected, if it’s unusual some details would be helpful. Pay envelopes (about 3½” x 4½”) are perfect containers but any small envelope will do, provided they are well sealed to stop the seeds leaking out.
Although now available in garden centres the prices are quite high. We will have stocks of
Dried blood – 1.5kg for ~£2.50
Fish, blood and bone meal – 2kg for ~£2.50
Bone meal – 2kg for ~£2.50
Seaweed Meal – 1kg for ~£2.50
Green manures are a very useful way to build up the fertility in the soil, without have to make and transport compost/manure. Over winter they also dramatically reduce the leaching of nutrients. One problem is that (like lots of potato varieties they are not easily available. We intend to have a small number of the 10 or so main green manures available at over 30% off retail prices:


Thursday, August 23rd
Reservations Required at Osborne Nature Center
Osborne’s Older, Wiser, Livelier, Souls will be touring Forest Hill Farm for the August 23rd destination. This year’s theme is “Northeast Iowa Grows It Better.” O.W.L.S. are traveling around Northeast Iowa to find unique farms and businesses who are growing locally.
Forest Hill Farm raises certified organic, grass-fed beef and lamb along with pastured pigs and poultry. Keith and Glenda Plozay began their adventure in 1991 on a very small scale with just three acres. A couple years later they bought another ten acres and slowly grew their dream into an 85 acre farm. Raising heritage hogs, certified red angus cattle and most recently bees to pollinate the pastures, garden and fruit trees show that conservation is a high priority. To learn more about the animals they raise and their passion for the environment visit their website at foresthillfarmiowa.com
Make reservations by calling (563) 245-1516 or visit the Osborne Nature Center. Please meet at Osborne Park at 10:30. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
The Osborne Center is located on Highway 13, ten miles north of Strawberry Point or five miles south of Elkader. The center is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday-Saturday, and Sunday noon to 4:00pm. Please call 563-245-1516 for more information or visit www.claytoncountyconservation.org.


Sorry folks, but we have been asked by the Village of Lumby to cancel the May 13th Saturday Market due to the risk of continued flooding and possible severe weather. We’ve never had to cancel before and sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause to our vendors and customers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are trying to deal with the flooding by filling sandbags, shoring up riverbanks and creating berms, and, of course, to those whose homes have been damaged by the flood waters.
We expect to be back at the same location in the Whitevalley Community Park on May 20th.
Well, I was asked a couple of questions about companion gardening and although I knew a few plants that do well with most plants and provide a benefit, like the use of marigolds in your garden, a little research provided a greater insight..so, here it goes for some of our most common garden plants. Tomatoes will greatly benefit plants like carrots, beans, celery, cabbage, and roses…..
Read more at http://www.lumbyvalleytimes.ca/issues/page3.html
Spring herbs – I’m always happy to see my little patch of stinging nettle every spring. The leaves decrease pain and act as a mild diuretic, accounting for their use in providing relief from allergies and arthritis. The young leaves, rich in iron, chlorophyll and vitamin C are excellent cooked as a vegetable. Once the leaves are cooked, they lose their sting, and you can drink the water for an extra boost. Herbalists use a strong infusion as a tonic for treating iron deficiency anemia. To keep your supply fresh, cut them back three or four times a year to encourage new growth, but the dried leaves can also be used to make an excellent tea – steep 1-2 tbsp dried leaves in 8 ounces of boiling water for 5-30 minutes. Strain, sweeten if desired and enjoy.
Lavender, it’s a good friend to have on the windowsill or in the garden, but Lavandula officinalis/Lavandula angustifolia is a herb we don’t give much thought to. Yet, for centuries it’s been used as a general tonic, sedative, antispasmodic, diuretic, and digestive aid. We use the tea and essential oil for insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and a host of other complaints. Lavender is easy to grow in most climates. It doesn’t require a lot of water, likes full sun and well-drained soil. It will form fairly large bushes that can easily be made into a hedge. Harvest lavender as it blooms throughout the summer, and prune back by about a third each fall.
If you’re an avid gardener or athlete, this recipe is for you: Blend 2 drops rosemary essential oil, 1 drop lavender essential oil and 1 drop eucalyptus oil. (Avoid essential oils in pregnancy, and never take internally.) Add 4 teaspoons of sweet almond or sesame oil. Blend well. Apply to body, especially joints before going out to the gym or the garden. (Lavender makes a great athlete’s foot ointment, for the recipe, e-mail me at email@example.com) Donna, the herb lady
Spring planting has already begun, and here at the Market, we’re lucky to have one of the Okanagan’s best gardeners right on the spot. Sam also writes a gardening column for our local weekly newspaper, the Lumby Valley Times. Pests bugging your timid tomatoes, making your carrots cringe and your lettuce less than lovely? Check out Sam’s home-made solutions here: lumbyvalleytimes.ca/issues/page3


Upon hearing about Rwanda being a country with abundant livestock and horticulture opportunities, 19 Dutch companies flew in, to explore prospects.
The firms include: seven in livestock and 12 in horticulture. Among them is Pluriton, a company specializing in exporting eggs and chicks to Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Green innovators group, Bosman Van Zaal, and horticultural automation suppliers are also among the prospective investors.
With the help of the Rwandan Embassy in the Netherlands, the delegation, which arrived on November 22nd in the capital Kigali, were presented with several opportunities in the country as well as appointments with local companies.
Matchmaking sessions and workshops were held at the AgriProFocus conference ‘Promoting Innovation and Trade in Horticulture’ from 25 to 27 November, where over 500 producers, traders and input suppliers from all over East Africa gathered.
This arrangement was organized under the banner of “the Netherlands African Business Council and partners. Which included the Rwandan Embassy in the Netherlands, SPARK, RDB, PSF, AgriProFocus and Greenport Holland.
Part of the delegation interested in livestock visited the Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority, livestock development organizations: animal feed factories, large meat and dairy processors and poultry farms.
There were also individual business and networking meetings.
Rwanda’s dairy sector has experienced rapid growth with a reported milk surplus, presenting several opportunities along the supply chain ranging from breeding, fodder production and milk quality control to processing.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country’s poultry sector is booming and offers investment opportunities including; hatchery, fodder production, and egg production.
For example chicken meat production has increased by 78% over the last 10 years and egg production stands at 32% growth in the same time period.
Rwanda also presents the opportunity to utilize gaps in the horticulture sector. While the country still imports fruits and vegetables from neighboring countries, its untapped fertile volcanic soil presents excellent prospects for local producers and traders to better meet local demand.
The country also offers a large demand for skills, technologies and products that can increase production in horticulture sector.
Investors can also utilize the demand for fertilizers, irrigation equipment, greenhouses, processing equipment and seeds.
Rwanda’s steady 7% growth rate, stable government and growing consumer base present the ideal opportunity for smart investors.
MEA Markets is happy to announce that the MEA Business Awards are returning for the sixth consecutive year! This established awards programme identifies those individuals and companies who excel in their respective industries, encompassing the entirety of the Middle East and Africa in our search to highlight the firms that go above and beyond to establish themselves as business leaders.Visit our awards here
MEA Markets is very proud to host the UAE Business Awards 2023 for its seventh instalment! This awards programme aims to reward a vastly diverse range of hardworking businesses from across the United Arab Emirates region, who are demonstrating innovation and excellence throughout a turbulent economic climate many firms are suffering through.Visit our awards here
For the past five years the African Excellence Awards have recognised the very best of African Industry, and MEA Markets is excited to announce that this respected programme will be returning for its sixth edition in 2023! The African Excellence Awards are an essential guide to the key sectors driving growth throughout the continent, rewarding those outstanding companies and individuals whose entrepreneurship has strengthened Africa’s position as the next global economic powerhouse.Visit our awards here
We have packages to suit everyone. Let us help work out which one would suit your needs!


As food costs increase and families look to save cash in creative ways home vegetable gardens are becoming more popular across the country. Occasionally, one of the major challenges to growing your own food is to discover a appropriate design that is inexpensive and can offer portability, if necessary.
Portability is a vital aspect if you live in a home that does not provide ideal conditions for a stationary garden. Some of the issues that may require portability may include nominal access to daylight, strong wind conditions or animal control. A bucket garden is a rather simple way to begin your journey toward food independence.
If you are uncertain whether you even want to venture down the trail of changing into a self made vegetable grower, you can start tiny with one or two 5-gallon buckets. Most start with the basic plant plants; tomatoes, peppers, peas or perhaps green beans before they go full bore. You may even start small with herbs like basil or parsley before tackling real vegetable plants.
To get started, you can go to any home improvement or ironmongery shop to get the following Materials:
1. One or two 5 gallon buckets
2. Potting Soil
3. Tomato or Pepper plants
Most 5 gallon buckets come in white, but you can buy different colors to accent your garden theme. You can add a little pizazz to your bucket garden by dressing up the 5 gallon containers with some paint. Pastel colours and designs might be a bit cheesy, but white buckets could be a bit plain and this could help dress up your growing space.
Once you’ve everything you need, follow the method below to build your first bucket garden :
1. Drill one or two holes in the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket for drainage
2. Fill the bucket 2 / 3 of the way with the potting soil
3. Create several divots in the soil about 3 to 4 inches apart
4. Place plants into the holes and cover with remaining potting soil
5. Add Water and place in partial sunlight
Having plant buckets sit on the ground or up on a table can supply the basic portability you want. Another choice for your bucket garden is the ability to suspend them off the ground so you can grow your plants the wrong way up.
For more information visit how to make a garden where you will find video instructions for how to start a vegetable garden.


Ever looked at your neighbour’s lush green lawn with envy, wondering how they manage to keep it so perfect? Well, the secret might just be fast growing grass seed. It’s exactly what it sounds like: grass that grows at a much quicker rate than usual. Fast growing grass seed is an incredible innovation that offers numerous benefits for lawn owners. The speed at which it grows can be especially useful for new lawns or patches of land that need quick coverage.
One of the most significant advantages of fast growing grass seed is its ability to establish quickly. This makes it an excellent option for areas with high traffic or those prone to soil erosion. With a speedy germination period, this type of grass seed will ensure you have a green lawn in no time. Not to mention, it also helps outcompete weeds, giving your grass the best chance to thrive.
Selecting the perfect fast growing grass for your lawn
Choosing the right fast growing grass seed for your lawn can be a bit of a challenge, especially with the variety of options available on the market. But don’t fret; we’re here to guide you through the process! First off, you need to take into account your specific needs and circumstance. Are you looking to cover bare patches? Or are you starting a lawn from scratch?
Factors to consider
When choosing a fast growing grass seed, it’s essential to consider the climate where you live. Different types of grass seeds thrive in different conditions. Some prefer cool climates, while others do well in warmer regions. Your soil type is another crucial factor to take into account. Different seeds have different soil requirements, so make sure to get your soil tested and choose a seed that’s compatible.
Types of fast growing grass seeds
There are several types of fast growing grass seeds to choose from. Ryegrass is a popular choice due to its quick germination period and ability to withstand heavy foot traffic. Bermuda grass, on the other hand, is ideal for warmer climates as it’s very drought-tolerant and grows quickly during the summer months. If you’re unsure, you can always seek advice from a lawn care expert or do a quick search on www.moowy.co.uk for some guidance.
Step-by-step guide to planting your fast growing grass seeds
Now that you’ve chosen your perfect grass seed, the next step is planting it. This process may seem daunting if you’re new to gardening, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Start by preparing the soil – remove any debris, till the area to loosen the soil, and even out any lumps. Once done, you can start sowing your seeds. Ensure they’re evenly distributed for the best results.
After you’ve sown your seeds, it’s time to cover them lightly with soil. This helps protect them from birds and helps maintain moisture. The final step is watering – give your newly seeded lawn a generous soak. But remember, it’s essential not to overwater as this can cause the seeds to wash away or lead to waterlogging.
Essential care tips for your newly seeded lawn
You’ve planted your fast growing grass seed – great job! But the work doesn’t stop there. Proper care and maintenance are key to ensuring your lawn thrives. Watering is crucial in the first few weeks after planting. Make sure your lawn stays moist but avoid overwatering. As your grass grows, you can gradually decrease the frequency of watering.
Besides watering, it’s also essential to feed your grass with the right nutrients. Use a high-quality lawn fertilizer to encourage healthy growth. Remember, patience is key here. While fast-growing grass seed does speed up the process, you’ll still need to give your lawn time to grow and establish.
Understanding common challenges with fast growing grass
While fast growing grass seed has numerous advantages, it’s also important to be aware of potential challenges. One common issue is the rapid growth rate which can sometimes lead to uneven or patchy growth if not managed properly. To mitigate this, regular mowing might be required to keep your lawn looking neat and tidy.
Another challenge with fast growing grass seeds is that they may require more maintenance compared to other types of grass. This includes frequent watering and fertilizing to support their rapid growth. Lastly, while fast growing grass seeds are designed to outcompete weeds, some stubborn weeds might still find a way to sprout. Therefore, regular weeding may be necessary.
Maintaining your lush, green lawn: long-term strategies
In the long run, maintaining a healthy and lush green lawn requires consistent care and attention. This includes regular mowing, watering, fertilizing, and weeding. Be sure to adjust your care routine according to the seasons as well. For instance, your lawn might require more water in the summer months compared to the cooler seasons.
Lastly, always keep an eye out for any signs of disease or pests. Early detection can help prevent any major damage to your lawn. And remember – a healthy lawn is not just about its aesthetic appeal but also about creating a green space that contributes positively to the environment!