Motives and barriers of using innovations by Lithuanian farmers
Changing food consumption patterns have influenced market share in food production. More consumers are requesting high nutritional value products, natural food and food products supporting health. These changes increased the role of innovations in agriculture in post-industrial development stage. Organizational innovations play the most important role by helping to form new local food market. Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics in 2012 conducted a research based on the survey on innovations in Lithuanian agriculture. 1100 respondents participated in the survey. Data analysis was used to identify motives and barriers for applying innovations at the farms, to define overall level of innovations in agriculture and how various institutions as research, business and public institutions contribute to spreading innovation techniques. The research results revealed that motivation and barriers for applying innovation differs at the farms implementing cost leadership or differentiation strategy. Policy makers of the innovation policy should differentiate policy measures based on the competitive strategies used in the farm.
R58, R100, R280, R580
Article in: English
Published on-line: 2013-03-29
Keyword(s): inovation, inovation policy, agriculture, food market, competitive strategy
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Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development eISSN 2345-0355
This journal is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License. Responsible editor: Dr Audrius Gargasas.


A lush and beautiful lawn is often the centerpiece of any outdoor space, adding vibrancy and curb appeal to our homes. However, achieving that perfectly manicured lawn requires more than just regular mowing. It necessitates a thoughtful and consistent lawn care routine that encompasses various aspects of maintenance and nurturing. From mastering the art of lawn mowing to understanding the intricacies of fertilization and weed control, there are several factors to consider when it comes to keeping your grass green and your neighbors envious.
Lawn mowing, in particular, plays a fundamental role in maintaining the health and appearance of your lawn. While it may seem like a straightforward task, there is a science to mowing that goes beyond simply running a lawnmower across the yard. The height and frequency of cutting, the type of mower blade, and even the direction you mow in can all impact the overall health and aesthetics of your grass. By understanding these finer points and utilizing proper techniques, you can transform your lawn into a lush oasis that will have the whole neighborhood talking.
However, effective lawn care extends beyond regular mowing. Providing your lawn with the necessary nutrients through fertilization is equally essential for its growth and resilience. A well-fertilized lawn not only ensures that your grass receives the necessary nutrients for healthy development but also strengthens its defenses against pests and diseases. By applying the appropriate fertilizers at the right times and in the correct quantities, you can enhance your lawn’s vitality and create the perfect foundation for a lavish and flourishing outdoor space.
With lawn care being a multifaceted endeavor, understanding the various components and investing the time and effort into proper maintenance is key to achieving a truly enviable yard. By mastering the art of lawn mowing and implementing a comprehensive lawn care routine that encompasses fertilization, weed control, and other essential practices, you can transform your turf into an inviting, verdant landscape that will be the envy of the neighborhood. So grab your gardening gloves, sharpen your mower blades, and let’s embark on a journey to create the lawn of your dreams.
Choosing the Right Lawn Mower
When it comes to maintaining the perfect lawn, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is choosing the right lawn mower. With so many options available, finding the ideal mower for your needs can seem like a daunting task. However, by considering a few key factors, you can make this process much easier.
First and foremost, you’ll want to assess the size of your lawn. If you have a smaller yard, a manual push mower might be a suitable choice. These traditional mowers are lightweight, environmentally friendly, and ideal for maintaining smaller areas. On the other hand, if you have a larger lawn or prefer a more effortless mowing experience, a self-propelled mower may be worth considering. These models are equipped with a motor that powers the wheels, reducing the effort required to push the mower.
Next, take into account the terrain and any specific challenges your lawn presents. If your yard has uneven surfaces or slopes, a mower with larger rear wheels can offer greater stability and maneuverability. Additionally, if your lawn has obstacles such as trees or flower beds, a mower with good maneuverability features, such as a zero-turn radius, can help you navigate around them easily.
Another important factor to consider is the type of cutting mechanism that suits your lawn. Rotary mowers are versatile and work well for most lawns, especially those with thicker grasses. They use a horizontally rotating blade that cuts the grass in a scissor-like motion. However, if you have a fine-textured lawn or prefer a more precise cut, a reel mower might be a better choice. These mowers have a cylinder of blades that rotates vertically, giving a clean and even cut.
By carefully considering your lawn’s size, terrain, and specific needs, you can select the perfect lawn mower to help you achieve a well-maintained and healthy lawn. Remember to also take into account factors such as maintenance requirements, budget, and personal preferences to make the best choice for your specific situation. With the right lawn mower in hand, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of lawn care.
Essential Lawn Care Tips
Proper lawn care is essential to maintain a lush and healthy outdoor space. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your lawn stays well-maintained throughout the year.
Regular Lawn Mowing: Regular mowing is vital to keep your lawn looking its best. Set a consistent mowing schedule and avoid cutting too much of the grass blades at once, as this can stress the lawn. Aim to mow when the grass reaches about one-third higher than the recommended height for your particular grass type.
Mow with Sharp Blades: Dull blades can tear the grass instead of providing a clean cut. It’s important to sharpen your mower blades regularly to ensure a precise cut. This will not only help maintain the overall appearance of your lawn but also promote its health.
- Lawn mowing service in Frisco TX
Proper Watering: Adequate watering is crucial for a thriving lawn. Water deeply but infrequently, encouraging the grass roots to grow deeper into the soil. Early morning or late afternoon is the best time to water, as it allows the grass to dry before evening, reducing the risk of disease.
Remember, these essential tips will go a long way in maintaining a lush and vibrant lawn. By adopting a proactive approach to lawn care, you can enjoy a beautiful outdoor space that will be the envy of your neighbors. Stay tuned for more expert advice on lawn care!
Maintaining a Healthy Lawn
A well-maintained lawn not only adds beauty to your home but also creates a welcoming outdoor space for relaxation and recreation. To have a lush and vibrant lawn, it is crucial to take good care of it. Here are three essential practices for maintaining a healthy lawn.
Regular Lawn Mowing:
Regular mowing is vital for a healthy lawn. It helps promote grass growth, prevents weed invasion, and improves overall appearance. When mowing, ensure that you don’t cut the grass too short, as this can weaken the roots and make your lawn more susceptible to diseases and pests. Instead, aim to trim about one-third of the grass height each time you mow to maintain an optimal length.
Watering your lawn correctly is key to its health and longevity. A deep watering session once or twice a week is generally sufficient, depending on your grass type and climate. Avoid daily shallow watering, as it promotes shallow root growth and makes the lawn less resilient to drought conditions. To determine if your lawn needs watering, keep an eye on the color and texture of the grass. If it appears dull and footprints linger, it’s a sign that your lawn requires moisture.
Fertilizing and Aerating:
Fertilizing provides essential nutrients that help the grass thrive and maintain a rich green color. Choose a high-quality lawn fertilizer and apply it according to the instructions provided. Aerating, on the other hand, involves creating small holes in the soil to allow for better air and water circulation. This helps prevent soil compaction and improves root growth. Aerating once or twice a year, especially in high-traffic areas, can significantly benefit your lawn’s health.
By following these practices, you can easily maintain a healthy lawn that becomes the envy of your neighborhood. Regular mowing, proper watering, and fertilizing/aerating will keep your grass lush, resilient, and visually appealing all year round. Remember, a little effort goes a long way in achieving the perfect lawn!


Over the last year we have spent more time than usual cooped up inside. Who knows exactly when it will be safe to venture out of our comfort zones to freely share indoor air with others.
Refuge from the abnormalities of the past year has often been found in the ability to commune with nature. The winter months can be especially taxing as a result of this. Going out and enjoying fresh air can feel practically impossible (or simply just unenjoyable) when it’s a frosty thirty degrees outside.
One of the best things you can do to try and combat the winter quarantine blues is by sprucing up your space. This can mean redecorating for comfort and productivity, maybe splashing a fresh coat of paint on the walls, or even something as simple as starting an indoor garden.
Indoor gardens properly tended to are scientifically proven to improve concentration and productivity as well as reduce feelings of loneliness and stress (really, who wouldn’t benefit from that these days?).
Below you will find a series of useful tips and ideas we’ve put together to help you DIY the best garden possible all within the comfort of your own home.
Picking Your Plants
Getting going on your in-house garden starts with choosing the proper plants.
Picking out a handful of plants from the garden center at the hardware store, tossing them in a pot, and crossing your fingers will likely not work well when it comes to cultivating an indoor garden.
There are houseplants and there are plants that are better suited to outdoor life — you should make sure you are choosing the household variety (or an outdoor variety that is versatile) before you commit to growing your indoor garden, otherwise you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
Be sure that you are choosing Indoor plants that spark joy so that you can get the most from the flora and fauna in your home; part of this is making sure that you choose plants that have a good chance of survival in your environment.
There are many factors that play a part in determining what sorts of plants might flourish in your environment. Humidity, lighting, and room to grow are all considerations that must be taken into account before you choose which plants to welcome into your home.
This is especially true if you are intent on growing edible plants.
Many vegetable and fruit varieties require a lot of sunshine and fertile soil to really take off. This can be a difficult (but not impossible) thing to come by indoors. If you are willing to invest time and resources into caring for your inside veggies, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to reasonably produce some simple staples right in your own home .
Effective countertop cultivation can be made even more lucrative (and less messy) by the utilization of hydroponics. Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants that does not require any soil.
This method is great for indoor gardening because it eliminates the possibility of getting dirt all over your house from mishandled potted plants.
There are a variety of smart design hydroponic planter systems that are perfect for sitting on a kitchen island to happily grow herbs or small vegetables without much work at all on your part. These types of planters also come in tall vertical designs that can effectively accommodate a wide variety of traditionally outdoor only plants.
However, if you are looking for a more budget friendly option, it may not be the best choice to purchase a pricey kit for a full on indoor vegetable garden.
Granted, with a little bit more effort and planning, you can make hydroponic planting work for you.
A simple hydroponic setup for lettuce plants can be achieved with a few mason jars, some water, plant food, and a touch of ambition. If you are just dipping your toes into the world of hydroponics, something like lettuce or basil is a safe place to start as both plants are affordable and easily grown and managed.
Find a Good Spot
Once you have established the types of plants you want in your house, the next step is figuring out your setup.
Not only should you consider the lighting in your house and the space that your plants have for spreading out, but you may also want to put some thought into where you would most benefit from the presence of plants in your home.
A solid supply of serotonin brought about by a carefully placed plant may be the key to a good morning or a relaxing afternoon.
If you find it difficult to wake up in the morning, it may be that a set of plants in your bedroom will give you a bit of motivation for getting out of bed. Not only is this immediate motivation to get up and take care of something other than yourself, but it can also provide oxygen right near your bed, which might help to provide your morning routine with just the right amount of fresh air to get you feeling good first thing.
Similarly, an herb or indoor vegetable garden might be the best place for your kitchen. A hydroponic vegetable tower or a small window box filled with fresh basil, thyme, and dill would be ideal inspiration for cooking right where you need it most.
Not only should you put a little care into where your plants are placed, but setting them up in a visually pleasing way can do a lot to maximize the benefits of your indoor garden.
Something as simple as a cheap, hand decorated jar for your hydroponic lettuce can do a lot to bring you joy and inspiration in your home. You might also experiment with hanging indoor planters, round basket planters perfect for the center of a coffee table, or look into any number of fun plant vessels designed in eye catching shapes like stars or elephants.
Taking this aesthetic consideration can turn your indoor garden into a collection of breath giving ornamentals.
Help Your Plants Grow
Choosing the proper plants for your place and making sure that they are properly placed is the bare minimum when it comes to fostering a healthy indoor garden.
The container you choose to put your plants in, the food you give them, and the amount you water them also play a part in how healthy your plants will be.
This is especially true if you are growing your plants from seed form or diving into hydroponic gardening — both of which take a bit more care on your part for good results.
Nutrients for your plants are fundamental when you are gardening without the use of soil. Though a dirt free indoor garden is ideal for reducing the chances of mess, pests, and mildew in your home garden, you are also taking away a plant’s traditional source of sustenance.
To substitute for this lack of nutrients, you must be sure to introduce plant food solutions into your hydroponic setup to provide your garden with the fuel it needs to survive and grow. You can make these solutions at home, however that will require investing time and resources into acquiring proper ingredients and safely mixing them.
An easier solution to a DIY approach would be to buy a reputable organic brand of hydroponic plant food that has already been measured out and put together for you. Pre-designed hydroponic greenhouse kits usually come with solutions for feeding your plants, if you are venturing out on your own though, you will need to be sure to measure the PH levels in your plants water to be sure that you are feeding them properly.
For both hydroponic and traditional soil based plants, a growing light is a great accessory to a healthy indoor garden. This is especially true if your place is scant on natural sunlight.
Growing lights for indoor gardens are specially designed to replicate the right color balance of natural sunlight. You can’t just chuck a fluorescent bulb desk lamp over your seedling and expect them to take root.
Lights made specifically for gardening give your plants just the right amount of intensity for them to properly grow. Be sure, however, that you don’t over expose your plants to fake sunshine. Plants, just like humans, need a little time to rest and respirate in the dark.
It may sound a bit odd, but talking to your plants has also been proven to help them grow.
Sitting close to your plants and talking to them can help them flower more vigorously and grow more lusciously. Though we would of course like to believe that this is evidence of what a little bit of “love” can do to help a thing grow, it is in all likelihood largely due to the CO2 humans give off when we exhale; Either way, it’s a pretty good symbiotic relationship — a plant won’t judge you for your secrets.
Succulents, Succulents, and More Succulents
If you don’t have a suitably sunny spot for your plants, find yourself lacking in the time and motivation to properly care for more fussy varieties of plants, or do not have the funds to spend on a fancy hydroponic system that more or less does the work for you, succulents are the way to go.
These hearty plants are made for beginners in the plant world who may find that their thumbs are any color but green.
If you find that you are nervous about committing to keeping a plant alive, starting out with a cheap succulent is a great way to reap some of the benefits of indoor plants without having to worry about keeping anything in your home alive but yourself.
These easy plants are much more likely to die from being overtended to than under.
If you really want to reduce any amount of effort regarding your indoor garden, buy pre-potted mini succulents. These little guys will fit practically anywhere and only need to be watered every couple of days — they’re just a few small steps up from a pet rock.
Ultimately, there is no excuse for not bringing a little bit of greenery into your life.
Whether you live in a large five-bedroom house with plenty of light, or a tiny, dark one-bedroom apartment, there is something out there that will happily grow in your environment with just a little tending to.


Welcome to the Biya Organics website, dedicated to promoting sustainable farming practices. In this article, we delve into the world of Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM), an exceptional class of organic fertilizers that play a vital role in improving soil fertility and enhancing plant nutrition. Join us as we uncover the benefits and applications of PROM in sustainable agriculture.
Understanding Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM): Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM) are organic fertilizers specifically formulated to provide a rich source of phosphorus (P) to plants. These fertilizers are derived from natural sources, such as bone meal, rock phosphate, fish meal, poultry manure, and other organic materials, which are rich in phosphorus content. PROMs are minimally processed to retain their nutrient composition and ensure their organic integrity. The Importance of Phosphorus in Plant Nutrition: Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient required by plants for various physiological processes, including energy transfer, cell division, and the development of roots, flowers, and fruits. It plays a crucial role in overall plant growth, crop yield, and quality. PROM fertilizers provide a sustainable and organic solution to address phosphorus deficiencies in soils and promote healthy plant development. Advantages of Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM): 1. Sustainable Phosphorus Source: PROM fertilizers utilize natural sources of phosphorus, such as bone meal and rock phosphate, which are renewable and sustainable. By minimizing dependence on synthetic phosphorus fertilizers derived from non-renewable resources, PROMs contribute to the long-term sustainability of agriculture. 2. Slow Release of Phosphorus: PROM fertilizers release phosphorus slowly and gradually, ensuring a steady supply of this vital nutrient to plants over an extended period. This slow-release characteristic reduces the risk of nutrient leaching, improves nutrient use efficiency, and minimizes the environmental impact associated with excessive phosphorus application. 3. Soil Health Enhancement: Phosphate Rich Organic Manures not only provide phosphorus to plants but also contribute to overall soil health. These fertilizers enrich the soil with organic matter, improve soil structure, enhance microbial activity, and promote nutrient cycling. The organic matter content in PROMs enhances soil water-holding capacity, aeration, and nutrient retention, resulting in healthier and more fertile soils. 4. Environmental Stewardship: By choosing PROM fertilizers over synthetic alternatives, farmers contribute to environmental stewardship. PROMs are free from harmful chemicals, synthetic additives, and heavy metals that can potentially leach into groundwater or harm beneficial organisms. Their organic nature ensures that they support biodiversity and promote a sustainable balance within the ecosystem. 5. Enhanced Plant Nutrition: The phosphorus provided by PROM fertilizers improves plant nutrition, leading to better crop yields and quality. Adequate phosphorus availability enhances root development, flowering, and fruiting, resulting in healthier and more productive plants. PROMs also aid in nutrient uptake and utilization, optimizing the overall nutrient balance within the plants. Application of Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM): PROM fertilizers can be applied to various agricultural systems, including field crops, horticultural crops, home gardens, and organic farming operations. The application rates may vary depending on soil conditions, crop requirements, and specific PROM formulations. It is recommended to follow recommended guidelines and consult with agricultural experts to ensure appropriate and effective utilization of PROMs. Conclusion: Phosphate Rich Organic Manures (PROM) fertilizers provide a sustainable and organic solution to address phosphorus deficiencies in soils and promote healthy plant growth. By harnessing the power of natural sources, PROMs contribute to soil fertility, enhance plant nutrition, and support sustainable agriculture. Embrace PROMs as an essential component of your organic farming practices, and witness the transformative benefits they bring to your crops and the environment.


Why Is Grass Fed Beef Better?
If you’ve bought meat at your local grocery store you’ve probably noticed a higher-priced beef labeled as “grass-fed”. Like I did before my family started a real food diet, you may have assumed that all cows are grass fed. I mean, we’ve all seen cattle grazing in a pasture, right?
The truth is most cows are fed grass for a time, usually while they are still nursing. At some point, the cow is taken from its mother – and its grassy feast – and sent to a feedlot where it is fed grains, such as corn, to fatten it quickly and make it the right size for turning into cuts of beef.
The lives of cattle in feedlots aren’t those of the cows we see in the countryside peacefully grazing on grass. I don’t want to go into detail because I don’t like thinking about it. But suffice it to say, learning about feedlots is enough to turn many folks vegan.
I’m not vegan anymore, but I do want the meat I eat to come from the healthiest (and yes, happiest) animals possible. That means when I eat beef I want it to come from pastured-raised, grass-fed cattle.
It’s important to note that the best version of grass-fed beef is “grass-finished”. Some sellers of grass-fed beef feed the cows grain at the end of their lives in order to fatten them quickly. I prefer beef that has been grass-fed for its whole life, and thus, is grass-finished by default.
Read on to find my six favorite benefits of grass fed beef.
6 Benefits of Grass Fed Beef
Grass Fed Cattle are Healthier, Happier Cattle
Cows weren’t made to eat grains. Cows digest grass easily and their bodies were designed to turn grass into, well, delicious beef. Grain causes problems in a cow’s digestive system causing them to be more susceptible to illness. (source)
Grass Feeding Cattle Eliminates the Need for Antibiotics
A grass-fed cow is a naturally healthy cow. A pastured cow who is given plenty of space to graze on fresh grass doesn’t need antibiotics. (source) When cattle is raised using traditional animal husbandry practices their natural immunity keeps them well. Fewer to no antibiotics in beef means less risk of antibiotic resistance in humans.
Grass Fed Beef is Healthier
The meat of grass-fed cows has a higher ratio of Omega-3s. (source) This is important because most Americans tend toward an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 fatty acid to omega-3 fatty acid. The more omega-3s we can get from our food, the better off we are.
Grass Fed Beef is Leaner
The meat of grass-fed cows is lower in fat. Now, if you’ve read my blog for long, you know that I know saturated fat is good. Unfortunately, the fat of feedlot cows can be filled with toxins that I don’t want in my body, so their higher fat content is not appealing.
In addition, I get more meat for the money when I purchase grass fed beef because there isn’t as much fat to count toward the total weight of the cut of beef.
Finally, the amount of fat occurring on the bodies of grass-fed cows is the amount that nature intended. If cows were supposed to be fatter (or more specifically – fatter faster) grass would make them so! (source)
Buying Local Grass Fed Beef Doesn’t Support CAFOs
I don’t want to support vile Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). I won’t go into detail about this one because I don’t want to upset my more tenderhearted readers. Check out the source of my information if you are interested in more details.
Buying Local Grass Fed Beef Supports Local Farmers
I want to support local farmers who understand how Mother Nature works and are good stewards of the bounty that she provides.
It’s far less expensive for me to purchase grass-fed beef from local farmers than it is to purchase it at the grocery store. (See what I get in a quarter of grass fed beef.) This allows me to support my local economy and the farmers who share my beliefs that the animals we eat are to be treated well in return for giving their life for our sustenance.
Want to find a local source of grass-fed beef? Check out EatLocalGrown.
If you don’t have a source of local grass fed beef you need ButcherBox.


Agricultural Extension Officer
Agricultural extension officers are intermediaries between research and farmers. They operate as facilitators and communicators, helping farmers in their decision-making and ensuring that appropriate knowledge is implemented to obtain the best results.
Agricultural extension officers need to communicate to farmers agricultural information on natural resources, animals, crops, on how best to utilise the farmland, how to construct proper irrigation schemes, economic use and storage of water, how to combat animal disease, and save on the cost of farming equipment and procedures. They need to ensure that farmers understand this information and use it on their farms in order to obtain the best production.
Agricultural extension officers often propagate new farming methods. This always takes place in conjunction with the farmers, who make the final decision. They also research food, fibre and animal products in conjunction with agricultural scientists. They assist cattle farmers, and guide and assist veterinary surgeons in the treatment of different animal diseases. Each agricultural extension officer is linked to one of the agricultural development centres throughout the country, which render agricultural services to farmers.
Agricultural extension officers encourage farmers to adopt new, improved methods of farming, using a variety of methods to reach farmers i.e. organising study groups for farmers, ‘farmer days’, demonstrations, lectures and literature, as well as informing the media. The best method though, is through personal contact with farmers on their farms.
It sometimes happens that an agricultural extension officer must re-plan a farm in conjunction with the farmer. All the resources on the farm are then thoroughly investigated. Sometimes it is necessary for agricultural extension officers to develop recovery programmes for eroded soil, protect cultivated land against erosion and develop a new pasture system.
They propagate farming and development programmes aimed at reaching marginalised farmers or those who have little access to information and extension services. They do this in collaboration with farming communities, helping them to help themselves to become more self-reliant and independent.
- working with people
- helping to improve the quality of their lives, by helping them achieve higher yields which in turn provide better returns
- planning and implementing various programmes can become time consuming and very taxing
- good communication and interpersonal skills
- possess persuasive abilities
- keen interest and knowledge of farming and the environment
- enjoy working outdoors
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences are usually required
Recommended Subjects: Life Sciences, Geography, Agricultural Sciences, Information Technology
The minimum requirement for appointment as an agricultural extension officer, is a BSc (Agric) or BAgric degree.
Degree: BSc (Agric) - UFS, UL, US, UP, UKZN, UNISA and UZ, also at Agricultural Colleges such as Cedara and Owen Sitole
Diploma: CPUT, CUT, NMMU, TUT, UNISA, NWU, Fort Hare, DUT
- Department of Agriculture
- various industries and manufacturers of agricultural products and farming co-operatives
- own business, working as a consultant
- pest control companies
- agricultural co-operations
- self-employment, working as a consultant
Environmental Education Association of South Africa
P O Box 94, 6140
Tel: (046) 603-8390 Fax: (046) 636-1495
The Director: Human Resources
National Department of Agriculture
Private Bag X116
Agricultural Research Council
P O Box 8783
Tel: (012) 427-9700
Fax: (012) 342-3948
Department of Agriculture
Private Bag X250
Tel: (012) 319-7328


Don’t forget that even as the season turns you can get fresh local produce at Clay Street Market as part of Tricycle Garden’s Get Fresh! program. Season veggies available now including turnips, radishes, collard greens and mustard greens.
Get Fresh! is also supplying Quick Mart at 1621 Williamsburg Road in Fulton.
As a reminder, the Tricycle Garden’s Farm Stand will be open Thursday at their new HQ at 2314 Jefferson Avenue from 4-6 PM.


Costa Georgiadis maintains that a return to the simple things of life, such as a home garden, is essential in these challenging times. Costa is an environmental educator, TV presenter, landscape architect and host of ABC’s Gardening Australia. His passion for sustainability has its origins in the care and concern for the environment instilled into him at an early age by his grandparents. His recent book, Costa’s World: Gardening for the SOIL, the SOUL and the SUBURBS, is more than a wonderfully illustrated and informative gardening book – its is really a book about living and restoring, replenishing and re-invigorating our immediate home environment. He argues for achieving biodiversity, reducing waste and living mindfully in our immediate environment.
Costa contends that at the heart of sustainability is the ability to separate needs from wants – something we do when we go camping. He uses the analogy that we are “campers” on this earth and we need to be conscious of our imprint day to day, while being able to create an environment that nurtures, protects and sustains us . His book is imbued with his enthusiasm, humour, energy, conviction and down-to earth practicality.
Getting to know our microenvironment
Costa is a great believer in diaries and logs for getting to know our microenvironment – he argues that grounded data is pure gold. He also maintains that we really need to get to know microclimates – to understand the climate of our neighbourhood in terms of the variability of the temperature, the timing and volume of rain, and the extremes of heat and cold. Costa argues that we have to inform ourselves of our local, grounded seasons not just the four traditional European seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter – that we are familiar with. He suggests that we can draw on indigenous knowledge and descriptions of seasons to better inform ourselves. He reminds us that seasons shape our lives – they influence what we eat, what we wear, how we spend our time, and the amount of time we spend indoors or outdoors.
Costa has a series of questions that we can ask ourselves to better understand our immediate environment. They cover issues such as the source of prevailing winds, the physical landscape, tree placements and impacts of fences and structures. He argues that developing awareness about these environmental elements and the location of our living space can helps us to prevent waste, save energy and invest time and energy in productive, sustainable practices.
Sustaining and regenerating our microenvironment
Throughout his book, Costa provides multiple ways we can restore, replenish and enrich the biodiversity of our immediate environment – the source of life and sustainability. Here are some of the areas that he explores with practical hints on how to progress them:
- Composting – Costa contends that in composting we are “bringing dead things back to life”. He argues that anyone can compost as all the required materials are readily available – kitchen food scraps, leaves, grass clippings, used newspapers, paper & cardboard, twigs and sticks. He provides detailed instructions with clear illustrations to get us started and practical ways to make the ongoing process easy. He contends that in composting we are reducing waste and landfill, developing great soil and “making new friends in the community” by inviting worms and multiple insects to break down the composting ingredients. Birds too will happily visit to feed on the worms and contribute their droppings. He also recommends the ShareWaste app as a way to engage a wider community of people in your local area in the composting process.
- Enriching our soil – Costa maintains that “healthy soil is teeming with life”. He encourages us to really observe our soil – its colour, texture, feel, and smell. He offers multiple ways to test our soil and to enrich it, all the while raising awareness about the soil needs of different plants such as native and indigenous plants. Costa encourages us to develop a partnership with our soil which is critical to our survival individually and as a species. Composting has a key role here as it not only increases organic matter in our soil but enables us to get closer to the soil by investing time and energy in regenerating it.
- Reducing water usage – being conscious of our consumption and waste of water. Costa suggests that a salutary lesson is to observe the number of times in a day that we access a water outlet and to ask ourselves how we can reduce our water use.
- Plastic-free initiatives – here Costa encourages us to start “breaking up with plastic” by reducing our dependence on it. He offers ways to achieve this “breakup” which include avoiding the use of plastic straws, drink bottles, and cutlery. He also encourages us to influence others to overcome the habit of single-use plastic which has become so much a part of our lives in modern times..
- Conscious consumption – Costa suggests that we become conscious of the origins and ingredients of our consumable items such as coffee, tea, clothes, soaps, detergents and toilet paper. He provides a series of questions we can ask ourselves to increase our awareness of the impact of these consumables on our microenvironment.
I feel that I have not done justice to Costa’s book in this brief review. He achieves a wonderful balance between depth of information and practicality of application. His book is replete with examples, activities, projects and guides as well as reinforcing illustrations and quotes. His enthusiasm for replenishing our immediate environments is motivating and energising. Costa shares a lifetime of study, research and education in his book and maintains that activism for us is “performing day-to-day actions” in our microenvironments.
As we grow in mindfulness through time spent in nature, gardening and observing our immediate environment, we can better appreciate our world, contribute to sustainability and develop an improved environment for succeeding generations. Gardening can enhance our awareness, give us greater access to the healing power of nature and enrich our lives through increased texture, colour, feel and interest. It also gives us the opportunity to learn as we try out new plants, locations and soil enrichments – we can learn through doing and reflecting on the outcomes both intended and unintended.
By Ron Passfield – Copyright (Creative Commons license, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives)
Disclosure: If you purchase a product through this site, I may earn a commission which will help to pay for the site, the associated Meetup group, and the resources to support the blog.


Frequently Bought Together
20'W x 42'L portable shade structure on skids. Specifically designed to be easily moved throughout the pasture daily with either a small tractor or ATV.
The 7ft tall version is ideal for smaller livestock such as goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens. The 10ft tall version is ideal for larger livestock such as cattle.
Constructed and reinforced with mostly 2-3/8" Galvanized Steel for easy pulls, including lateral moves, through rough terrain, and or extreme turns. Top trim pipes are reinforced with 1.9 galvanized pipes to easily support the included 80% shade cloth.
80% shade cloth
Four corner anchoring kit
Please call for a freight quote. 260-760-1716


Californian dried fruit processor drives up Australian prune prices
Updated 8 Apr 2015, 6:18am
Overseas interest in the Australian prune market has forced processors to pay more for local fruit this season.
Californian grower co-operative, Sunsweet, is buying 700 tonnes of dried plums from southern New South Wales this year, more than double 2014 exports to the US.
The co-op hopes to secure 5,000 tonnes of prunes from the region over the next five years.
Several growers in the Riverina have recently planted new plum trees, while others plan to upgrade fruit drying equipment to cater for increased demand from the world's biggest prune processor.
At Young, processor Verity has been watching California's entry into the market with interest.
This year it paid $2,600 a tonne for the largest prune grade, a 20 per cent increase on last season's prices.
Manager Chris Brook-Kelly said the price rise was inevitable.
"The Americans have been used as a lever, for want of a better way of putting it," Mr Brook-Kelly said.
"Which don't get me wrong, the price of prunes definitely had to improve because a few chaps had pushed trees out.
"Our biggest stumbling block will be being able to pass higher prices on."
About 20 kilometres south of Young, Jeff Granger is busy shifting pallets of tinned prunes from his Kingsvale packing shed to various markets in Melbourne.
He agrees growers need to be paid more for their fruit, but is wary of Sunsweet's long-term commitment to the region.
"I can understand why California is doing it," he said.
"But I can also see a day down the track, not too many years away when they say 'gee we're producing enough of our own now, we don't need yours.'
"We do a lot of importing from them and we know them very well."
However, Yenda grower and prune industry development officer Anne Furner isn't worried just yet.
"They (Sunsweet) have guaranteed that they're not here for the short term, they're here for the long term.
"I can't see it as a real bad thing for the Australian prune industry at the moment, I definitely think its a positive."
First posted 8 Apr 2015, 4:21am


Pandu Mirapakaya Pachadi or ripe red chili pickle is very popular after Andhra Avakaya Pachadi(mango pickle) and Guntur Gongura Pachadi.This pickle is generally made during the end of the winter season. Usually, the farmers harvest the chilies when they are still green. but by the end of the winter season, they leave some batches of chilies on the plants without harvesting. and allow them to turn red on the plant itself. later they harvest the ripe red chilies and leave under sunlight until they turn dry.at that time the farmers sell some ripe red chilies for pickling.
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Complementary foods based on cereals and legumes often contain high amounts of phytic acid, a potent inhibitor of mineral and trace element absorption. The possibility to degrade phytic acid during the production of complementary foods by using whole grain cereals as the phytase source was investigated. Whole grain rye, wheat, or buckwheat (10%) were added to cereal-legume-based complementary food mixtures, and phytic acid was shown to be completely degraded in a relatively short time (1.5 to 3 h) when incubated at optimal conditions for cereal phytase. The potential usefulness of the method for industrial production was demonstrated with a complementary food based on wheat and soybean.
|Number of pages||5|
|Journal||Journal of Food Science|
|Publication status||Published - 1 Jan 2003|
- Complementary foods
- Food processing
- Phytic acid


Now, plants use all different visible light wavelengths for photosynthesis. Through this process, they use light to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen, but plants that actually do not need green wavelengths are only green to us because they reflect that part of the research center's spectrum is located in Yorkshire. They are exploring how plants can grow without a green light. This is \u200bLED grow lights\u200b for crop planting. It takes a while to get used to it. This is just hairy acne, your "all plans" obviously look black, and you are still very young now, yes, they absorb all the red and blue light is one of the reasons we choose this light, But if we illuminate white light, then we can really see the green elastic agent.During the inspection, blue light is the most effective light absorbed by the leaves and then used most effectively for the first sense. You just need to burn equal amounts of red and blue on all plants, or mix them together, because this does not apply. We have developed different formulas for different crops, so we changed the red and blue mixture, which changed the taste of the plant, changed the color of the plan, changed the oil content in the leaves, changed the flowering time and changed the concentration Antioxidants. This is very clever, why can't ordinary light bulbs expand these coals, you can touch them? Yes, if the plan becomes better, they will not burn the leaves, so since you can place the lights again near the plan, you can stack more plants on top of each other, yes.This is why we have these stacked shelves in these facilities, and I found that this smart person does not look good. The reason is that we have these facilities everywhere and save space. \u200bLED lights\u200b are more economical because it improves efficiency by 30%. Researchers even hope that their technology will eventually be 60% higher than traditional lighting technology, so you know there is not enough space, there are other reasons we should consider using this technology, because you Knowing that we will grow some grains in the future. Yes, I think we do need to study the difficulties farmers and growers encountered when harvesting the crops on the table in 2012. It has been a very difficult year for me, I don't know. Where does this happen repeatedly? I think everyone should do this, but it is not that simple, because we have a lot to learn. This is the first step into such a system.We must find out the economic factors, because we are ourselves. The reason for setting up facilities here is that we can start to prove to the industry the true potential of the technology. I think that because of the huge scale of this kind of agriculture, it makes sense and solves many sustainability issues. There are still economic and environmental issues that need to be resolved, but I think this is long-term thinking with foresight.


"Farmageddon. The real cost of cheap meat ".
Text: Anna Plaszczyk, photos: press release
25 August 2018
"How feeding people all over the world, created with such good intentions can become so deteriorated?"
Death of the country, a plague of diseases and billions of starving people... Philip Lymberys book, an activist engaged in the protection of animal welfare, reveals the dark side of the agricultural industry and shows a catastrophic vision of the future of our planet. Is Farmageddon scenario inevitable?
Do you know what you eat?
For a long time industrial farming has nothing to do with the idyllic images of a farm life, which are presented in books for children. Its more like an image of the earth after a cataclysm - vast areas of impoverished soil, thousands of animals packed together in a closed space, thousands of hectares of monocultures ...
Farmageddon is a call to perceive the industrial farming as one of the most horrific manifestations of wasting food, animal suffering, the extinction of endangered species, water pollution and a growing number of diseases of affluence.
When collecting material for the book in the United States, I stood among the almond trees growing in perfect rows on thousands of acres and I breathed the air so heavy because of chemical sprays that it smelled like a washing-up liquid. There was neither a blade of grass, nor a single butterfly or insect. In the distance there was a dairy mega-farm, one of the many operating in this state. Thousands of listless cows with a beach balls size udders stood in the mud, waiting to be fed, milked or dosed with drugs- its a real, dramatic picture of industrialized agriculture described by the author. For three years Philip Lymbery have travelled the world and watched how industrial farming looks like. The book shows the whole process "from the back", as well as its effects on humans, animals and the planet. It shows how quality of food on our tables is getting worse deliberately: starting with the artificial acceleration of animal growth and through the use of huge amounts of chemicals, antibiotics, hormonal drugs, to the overproduction of grain for feed.
A large part of the meat on supermarket shelves hides its dark secret, that you will not find on the label - the way it was produced. For manufacturers, this ignorance of consumers is convenient, they dont know that meat and milk comes from an animal that has once lived and breathed, so no one will tell how the breeding was conducted. Some manufacturers go to great lengths not to changed it; to cloak it in - the author writes. Then he reveals the truth about what we do eat. The author doesnt leave the reader only with a disturbing picture of the food industry – he explains how to avoid an upcoming food crisis by making conscious consumer choices and proposes new models of animal breeding and food production. Respect for nature, animals and humans will be their basis.
* Every year, all over the world, 70 billion animals are slaughtered for human consumption, of which up to 11.6 million chickens, 270 million pigs and 59 million cattle are wasted.
* The global industrial farming produces 14.5% of the greenhouse gases generated by human beings – it is more than all the cars, planes and trains put together.
* 1/3 of the worlds grains crops are used as a feed for breeding animals. If they have been used as food for humans, about 3 billion people could be fed.
* 28% of global cultivated land is used to produce food that is wasted, it costs about 750 billion dollars, an equivalent to the GDP of Switzerland.
About the author:
Philip Lymbery is an activist for the protection of animals, and a president of Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), an international organization, the mission of which is to promote the animals welfare all over the world. He contributed to significant changes in the law concerning the breeding conditions of hens and pigs. He has also conducted negotiations with representatives of the farming industry, which resulted in the reduction of livestock exports from Great Britain. Privately, Lymbery is a great lover of nature and a certified specialist in bird ringing. He lives in Hampshire village with his wife, stepson, a rescue dog and a flock of hens, which he succeeded to saved from a cage breeding.


Climate Change & Environmental Services
Changing climatic conditions and the loss of local ecosystems are threatening the livelihoods of small scale farmers and pose a serious threat to supply chain stability.
At FLO-CERT we believe that the responsibility for a sustainable supply chain and the resulting opportunities need to be shared fairly among the supply chain participants. We have developed business solutions that allow our customers to measure and communicate the environmental performance of their organization or products (Carbon Footprinting).
The concept of Insetting (offsetting within your own supply chain) enables you to create truly sustainable supply chains and shared benefits among all members, while at the same time mitigating supply chain risks and meeting environmental performance goals.
Voices - The Impact of Climate Change in Africa
This video presents some of our Fairtrade auditors' and producers' experience with climate change. Find out how the impacts strike their environment and daily work.
Workshop for Tea Producers in Kenya
This special workshop for tea farmers focussed on the impacts of deforestation, climate change and carbon footprinting on farming. Find out what we did on site.


The Farmer's Market this week --
walked through in the rain...
And I've gotta say the crops are coming in!
We loved seeing the variety of fresh veggies available...
[and the flowers! Oh my!]
I was pleased to see that the new potatoes were still available too.
We still had some yellow squash in the fridge so this week we bought
new potatoes, corn, green beans...
and, of course, a couple of those delicious cinnamon rolls!
I'm sure you've seen this recipe floating around Pinterest -
Green Beans - Chicken - New Potatoes
- baked all in one dish with spices and butter over the top -
So I thought I'd give it a try ---
and it turned out pretty good -
We had corn on the cob and fried squash to go with it -
Here's our critique -
the baked dish was good....
but could have been BETTER with a little less spice...
And of course, being in The South -
we 'd like for our green beans to be A LOT more done - ha -
and the potatoes too...
But it WAS good!
I rinsed the leftovers off before storing them in the fridge...
they may be re-purposed into chicken salad and potato salad for the weekend.
and if you're on instagram: #farmersmarketmeals
I'd love to see how you're eating local / fresh!


Want to support local farmers and save money? Try eating seasonally! Eating with the season means more nutrients and less environmental impact since the produce doesn’t have to be transported as far, and spring has especially delicious vegetables to brighten up your meals.
Asparagus is often called the “King of Vegetables” (yes, that’s a real thing) and for good reason—it’s packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, and plenty of fiber. You can steam it, roast it, grill it, or eat it raw. To keep asparagus fresh, trim the ends after you buy it, and place the bunch in a couple inches of water and cover.
We all know carrots may or may not give you x-ray vision, but they also have been linked to reduce the risk for certain cancers. Carrots are so versatile. Try using them in a new way this season: grate them into a salad, eat them raw with dip, or even bake them into a carrot cake!
If you’ve never had a leek, you’re missing out. They taste sort of like an onion, and raw leeks are perfect to chop up for salads. Start with leek and potato soup, which is delicious!
Rhubarb is a tricky plant to work with. Raw rhubarb is incredibly sour, and the leaves are poisonous, but don’t let that scare you. Rhubarb season runs from April to June, when the stalks are more flavorful. When cooked right, rhubarb can be delicious. I mean, have you ever had rhubarb pie? Yum!
You probably eat lettuce year-round in salads, but there are more varieties than you might think. Lamb’s or bibb lettuce can be found at farmers markets in the spring and will give your salad more flavor. Try just adding a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten it up!
Radishes grow extremely fast, so they’re perfect for gardening beginners. For the best radish flavor, add butter and salt! If you’ve never tried radishes in a veggie sandwich or pita, you’re missing out.
Of course, there are a million ways to use spring vegetables, and more—like ramps—that we haven’t mentioned. What are your favorites? Share them with us!


June 30th, 2009
My Recession Garden looks nothing like the one from the White House (thanks to @kattancock for the link). First of all, it’s a lot less organized and doesn’t come with a beautiful plan with lots of walking space. Instead it’s a lot of messy overgrown plants beside some plants that just haven’t grown well (yet). My cucumbers have started to flower, as have my cocozelle zucchinis (I had to look them up; I planted a mix of summer squash and didn’t know what’s what), and I have some baby beans sprouting which left me with endless joy this morning.
I spent a few minutes searching through Epicurious for recipes using summer squash because I think we might be inundated in another few weeks. So if anyone has tried and tested veggie recipes for zucchini, cocozelles or other summer growers, holler back. But so far we’ve eaten our own lettuce for weeks, starting off with arugula (which was delicious and has prompted RRHB on more than one occasion to say how much he loves it), then moving on to my own mix of red leaf lettuce, drunken lettuce (isn’t that an awesome name) and two more that I can’t remember off the top of my head. I bought more lettuce seeds yesterday to keep replanting (I already ripped out my arugula and spinach and have started second crops). And we tried our rapini but I let it grow for too long; it was inedible.
Up next are trying to save the tomato plants given to us by our neighbour — even though they’re in separate pots and are not being watered with the same frequency as the rest of the garden — they’re still developing blight. Oddly, the plants that I bought from the nursery are absolutely disease free so I’m not sure what’s causing the problem.
Here’s my complete growing list: cucumbers (two different kind of slicers), yellow cucumbers, nasturtiums, sage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bush beans (three different kinds), summer squash (three or four different kinds), lettuce, rosemary, french taragon, oregano, thyme, basil, garlic, onions, carrots (just planted), radishes and some hot, spicy peppers. So far, the only “crop” that failed has been the rapini — but in its place I planted some melons and I’m afraid they haven’t even sprouted yet.
I keep saying it to many people: I am really not a fan of gardening, but I sure do love to eat my own vegetables. I also love to share. And swap. What about you other recession gardeners out there?


You may decide to grow a wider range of vegetables – bear in mind that this will require little planning, more time during the growing season, and some self-control.
Here are just a few different vegetables that are suitable to grow in a small garden.
Peas and Mange-touts
SweetcornSweetcorn is a great crop to grow alongside peas and bean, and it usually matures just as their season is coming to an end. It is an attractive plant and will enhance any vegetable plot at the same time as producing delicious succulent corn cobs in late summer and early autumn.
Onions, Shallots and Garlic
Shallots are also simple too grow. Plant as individual bulbs, about 15cm apart, just below the surface, leaving the tip showing. By the time the foliage has died down in July or August they will have multiplied to produce a cluster of shallots.
Garlic is a crop that can be tucked in at the edge of the plot where there is not room to grow anything else. Garlic is one of the most under demanding vegetables to grow, especially on sandy, well drained soils.
Written by: Jade Coleman


In FarmVille, experience focuses are compensated to you, the rancher, at whatever point you complete an activity. As you progress in the game you will aggregate these focuses. By acquiring experience focuses your rancher will open new things.
Experience focuses are expected to get to a higher level are shown on commercial center menu as XP. As you place your pointer over your experience bar, your experience focuses will be shown and what focuses you really want to arrive at a higher level. The experience bar is situated in the FarmVille screen on the top focal point of the screen.
Ranchers can procure experience focuses by purchasing seeds. You will be granted experience focuses for purchasing the seeds. Presently you can procure more focuses by purchasing a seed that requires 1 day or more to collect, you will acquire 2 experience focuses for these seeds. Concerning seed that takes under a day to gather will procure you 1 experience point. These is one special case which are raspberry seeds that will yield you 0 experience focuses. Recall every day in FarmVille is just 23 hours.
The speediest method for stepping up UFABETเทคนิคแทงบอล from the very outset is to zero in on the 6 square plots you start with. The 6 square plots will have 2 square plots of eggplants, 2 square plots of strawberries lastly, 2 void square plots. The best chance to begin your most memorable day of FarmVille is the morning. Then, at that point, by the end of the day you will currently be on level 5.
From the outset gather the harvests that are ready, which ought to be the eggplants and strawberry crops. Then, go to the commercial center and get some strawberry seeds to plant. Plant the strawberry seeds in every one of the 6 square plots.
Rehash this cycle with the Strawberries until you have 12 x 12 square plots. By going with this procedure you will gather strips. From the strips you will be granted with FarmVille cash and meanwhile, continue to plant and get more plots of strawberries.
At the point when you arrive at level 8 supplant the strawberry seeds with the raspberry seeds, yet keep a similar system. Another great methodology when you arrive at level 5 is to establish pumpkin seeds before you nod off. The pumpkins will be prepared for gather as you alert the following morning.
What’s more, try to establish crops all simultaneously since, in such a case that you don’t the yields will mature at various times. So plant crops as per your everyday timetable. FarmVille highlights crops that will reap at various times. The speediest yield will mature in 2 hours, while the longest collect requires 4 days. The best thing to do is plant crops that age when you are free. By not arranging your harvests it won’t simply be irritating to really look at the yields constantly, however a wilted yield will make you lose more coins.


Why Our Berries Are Better
We have one single focus: to provide the best-tasting strawberries year-round! Our berries are of the highest quality, with superior color and taste, which is why we call them Forever Delicious™.
We are Forever Sustainable. We use a system for indoor farming called Cogeneration. Cogeneration is the use of a reciprocating engine to generate electricity and produce useful heat at the same time. Utilizing these systems, we create a greener way to farm - generating electricity for the grid, useful heat for the greenhouse, and CO2 for plant growth.
The Future of Farming
We are Forever Unmatched. Our indoor farming process allows us to consistently harvest delicious strawberries 365 days a year. We have 1 million square feet of hydroponic growing space, and our LED supplemental lighting provides optimal conditions for growth no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.


Pallet Coffee Roasters
Pallet Coffee Roasters have recently opened their 6th venue, an amazing roastery in Railtown which is their new head quarters. We were lucky enough to be invited to the opening and the size of this newest addition is astonishing as is everything inside from the staff to the coffee and roasting machines. It is definitely worth a visit as the coffee is truly spectacular - parking not so much.
Established in Vancouver in 2014, Pallet is a team of experienced and passionate coffeelovers, with a drive to showcase, educate and inspire their customers about specialty coffee. Pallet pride themselves on being a locally owned and community- minded coffee company, and stand above the rest with an unwavering dedication to providing our community with an excellent product and love for specialty coffee.
At Pallet they believe that much of this begins at the ground level; Pallet's coffee is a direct link to the relationships they have fostered with farmers and producers, who now have become like family to Pallet. Through ongoing collaborations with these amazing people, Pallet hope to continually build sustainable long term relationships and showcase the passion, hard work and dedication of the farmers, families and communities behind each cup that they serve to their customers daily.
Honduras - Finca San Francisco
Providing a flavour profile of juicy strawberry with sweet caramel & milk chocolate.
Roger Antonio Domínguez Márquez owns several farms in La Paz, Marcala, including the 4.23-hectare plot called San Francisco. He grows Catuai on the farm, and has about 18,000 coffee trees. After picking, the cherry is de pulped the same day, dry fermented in tanks for 18 hours, washed three time, and dried on raised beds for 12–15 days on average. He is interested in planting different varieties in the coming years, as well.
The natural processing on this coffee highlights a delicious sweet profile with tasting notes of orange soda, sugarcane and pomegranate.
The Gahahe washing station is located in the Kayanza Province of Burundi. The washing station processes cherries for its 1250 small holder members.
The cherries are delivered to the washing station by the famers where the coffee is then processed by the workers at the Gahahe Washing Station.
This is a unique lot, being that it is a natural processed lot. It is currently very rare to find a natural processed lot coming from Burundi, the majority of coffee coming from Burundi is washed and processed.
The washed processing on this coffee highlights orange and cane sugar with a smooth chocolate almond finish
The Zelaya family has been growing coffee for over 100 years and four generations. This renowned family owns farms throughout Guatemala and grows one of only a handful of genuine ‘Antigua’ coffees (coffees grown in the Antigua valley area bounded by three volcanoes – Agua, Acatenango and Fuego). Finca Santa Clara is located on the fertile southern slopes of the Volcán de Agua in the Antigua Valley at 1,600-1,830 metres. Ricardo Zelaya has managed the farm, which was bought in 1974 by his Grandfather, since 1988 and is the 4th generation of the Zelaya family to have produced coffee at Santa Clara. Since taking over the farm, he has increased the size from 17 hectares of coffee plantations up to 95 hectares as well as building a wet mill, drying patios and a greenhouse to improve the processing of the coffee.
At Prototype they like to source a wide variety of exceptional coffees all at once, and showcase all of them in their tasting room. Prototype give sourcing preference to small unique lots sourced through their importing partners who build healthy and long-term relationships with the producers at origin. In terms of roasting style,
Protoype feel like each coffee has its own story to tell, so they tailor each profile to maximize sweetness, balance, and versatility across brew methods while trying to avoid roasty notes. The goal is to use roasting as a way to give the coffee a voice without getting in the way too much. Prototype don't want to add flavour to the coffee; they want to let it speak.
Ethiopia - Bedhatu
Providing a flavour profile of mango, blueberry and ginger.
Bedhatu Jibicho is in her 80’s and going strong, has been growing coffee for over 40 years and continues to manage the operations on her farm in the village of Banko Gotiti. This is the third year in a row that Prototype carried coffee from her farm, and this year there are two different lots from her farm, one washed and one natural processed. This roast is from the natural process.
Nicaragua - Los Milagros
Providing a flavour profile of caramel with marshmallow and pear it is a rounded roast with tasting notes of sweet fruits, vanilla, marshmallow and a creamy body.
Coffee beans are from the Nicaraguan social enterprise Gold Mountain Coffee Growers, who are a Direct Trade social enterprise connecting coffee farmers with roasters to improve both quality and economic sustainability.
49th Parallel Coffee Roaster
49th Parallel are the ultimate coffee professionals who have an unbridled passion for their coffee, providing you with the very best roasts achieved through extensive samples cupped every year.
They value the process from soil to cup and care deeply about how the product reaches you. Working directly with the farmers, they visit each partner multiple times through the year to gain a better understanding of the challenges they face and work together to overcome these obstacles. This process ensures they have a strong partnership and upside of this is they get the best possible coffee for you.
Los Robles - Honduras
A light filter roast from El Cedral, mountain in Honduras, Miguel Enamorado is working to produce some of our favorite coffees in Santa Barbara. Having purchased land at the very top of this mountain, the higher elevation is taking his coffee even further in quality and quickly becoming a substantial portion of his harvest. This year, Miguel has been experimenting with more resistant Parainema coffee varieties with excellent results.
A blend of Pacas and Bourbon lots, selected through blind tastings, in Los Robles you can expect notes of nougat, nutty sweetness and syrupy body.
San Juan - Guatemala
At San Juan farm the coffee is shaded and protected by surrounding foliage. After processing, it is carefully dried on raised beds in a greenhouse with a ventilated roof - ideal for slow, even drying.
Last year there was an emphasis on pruning and maintenance through most of the farm, which is already typical for San Juan. Because of it the farm is looking terrific. The focus on agronomical practices here are quite outstanding, from soil renewal, irrigation control to pruning and picking - a year-round project that brings us some of our favourite coffees from Guatemala.
In the cup, notes of dried apricot and fresh orange juice. Refreshing mouthfeel with great depth and lingering sweet aftertaste.
Oughtred Roasting Works
Oughtred Roasting Works is a second generation, carbon neutral, craft coffee roasting company dedicated to fostering the growth and awareness of specialty coffee through education, relationships, quality and sustainability. With their establishment of the Oughtred Origin Works back in 1973,
Oughtred has been directly sourcing some of the finest specialty grade coffees from around the world from both farmers and millers who have a proven commitment to quality coffee production and sustainability. From seed to cup, the Oughtred’s commitment to sustainability can only be matched by their multiple awards for quality including the 2018 | North American Roaster of the Year as well as being recognized as the most decorated Canadian Roaster at the North American Golden Bean Roasting Championships since 2015.
Guatemala Milagro - El Crucero
4 times Golden Bean Medal Winner Providing a flavour profile of peach with caramel and tangerine this is a medium roast bean which has been washed and sun dried. Is suited to both a filter brew or espresso methods.
From the Hoja Blanca region in Huehuetenango. Coffee beans originate from Juan and Milton Martinez who manage their family run farm.
2 time Golden Bean Medal Winner Providing a flavour profile of peach with jasmine and honeysuckle this is a light-medium roast which has been washed on raised beds. It has a incredible body, buttery texture and a complex layer of flavours ranging from Black Tea to Honeysuckle.
From the Borena zone of Southern Ethiopia, beans were sourced by Trabocca to help uncover a gem from Ethiopia.
6 time Golden Bean Medal Winner
Providing a flavour profile of chocolate, toffee and syrup. This is a medium roast, each component carefully processed and selected for its ability to produce a flavour profile that is sweet, well balanced and has a excellent mouth feel.
This is Oughtred's best selling espresso and is comprised of coffees that are directly imported from their growing partners in Huila, Colombia, Lintong, Sumatra and Minas Gerais, Brazil. The beans have been washed harvested & sun-dried in 2019 from small lot producers.
Modus is a Canadian coffee company geared towards simplicity. Their coffees are straightforward and uncomplicated to inspire appreciation for the many hands involved in the coffee chain, including quality focused producers doing good. It’s impossible to make great things with not great ingredients so Modus look to source wild coffees from purposeful producers, forming consistent long-term relationships along the way. Noticing that it isn’t easy to find coffee that was light, sweet and balanced, Modus started to take form in early 2015 out of an obsession to enjoy coffee that’s honest to origin and terroir. It’s difficult to describe the idea of a specific taste, but describing their coffees as uncompromised works. Accepting the seasonal inconsistency of coffee, Modus have designed a line up that’s consistent, approachable, and delicious.
Dom - Guatemala
Providing a flavour profile of apple pie, marshmallow and milk chocolate. Excellent as an espresso or drip.
Produced by Jorge de Jesus Zuleta Castneda, who has worked in the coffee industry for 53 years. His father Camilo operated plantation with Arabica beans. Jorge started working on the plantation waged 15. Planting in volcanic soil 17,000 metres above sea level he does not use any type of herbicide or chemical which could harm the environment. Growing coffee is a way for Jorge to provide for his family and working together with roasting companies this enables these farmers to bring an exquisite cup of coffee to the customers. Jorge is paid a premium for these beans to ensure future quality and to keep these farmers from the selling at 'C market' pricing.
Bare - El Salvador, Casa de Zinc
Providing a flavour profile of almost Reeses Pieces to the cup, dark malts with a peanut buttery taste.
A delicate approach brings out what would be subdued notes. Uncompromised flavour brings out raw honeys, mulled spice and breakfast cereal notes keeping it super light while upping the sweetness and body for an approachable take on a familiar cup.
Bare comes from Mapache in Ataco Ahuachapan. Considering El Salvadors lower altitudes Jan-Carlo has a heavy emphasis on the agricultural side and also the processing, pushing our as much character in the cup. Mapache is a serious advocate for El Salvadorian coffee.
Hiro - Ethiopia, Kawo Kamina, Sheka
This latest version of Hiro comes from Ethiopia and brings with it a winey and tropical taste profile. The tasting notes bring out flavours of Christmas cake, Jamaican rum and plum.
Located West of Ethiopia bordering Illubabor and Wollega and close to Bench Maji. There is a Unesco protected forest, rich in honey and in endemic plants and birds. Sheka Special Fermentation, an anaerobic processes, where coffee after being cleaned and selected, sits in Stainless steel tanks for 60 hours and is then dried on elevated African beds. This process produces strong fruity and winey character.Natural anaerobic, Heirloom varietals, 2100m, 60 hours in fermentation tanks, 14+ screen, dried on raised beds. Sourced by Dustin @ Mountain.
Agro Roasters is an artisan specialty coffee roaster and café located in Strathcona, Vancouver. Locally owned and operated by Dusty Smith and Marina Castro, Agro buys, roasts and sells organic coffee that is ethically sourced and of top-quality. Dusty's experience in the coffee industry is extensive.
As one of only 20 licensed Q-Graders in Canada, the equivalent for coffee as a sommelier for wine, Dusty knows how to evaluate and most of all source top quality green coffee beans.
Agro Roasters are commited to buying, roasting and packaging the finest organic coffee in the world.
Roaster's Choice - Light Roast
Organic coffee beans roasted to provide a delicate body, the beans are processed naturally which is a drying method suited to dryer climates such as Ethiopia.
The coffee beans are harvested and dried in the sun over a few weeks. This roast brings out fruity flavours of blueberry, strawberry and cream.
Agro - Equinox Expresso
Enjoy the exquisite flavour profile of blueberry, cocoa, cookie dough with a velvety body and juicy finish.
This delightful roast is brought to you from coffee farms in Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia to provide this unique blend.
Medium roasted beans which have gone though a natural wash.
Organic coffee beans roasted medium/dark giving you a full body and rich cacao aftertaste. This roasts brings out flavours of blood orange, hazelnuts and sugar for you to enjoy.
The beans have grown at an altitude of 1100 to 1700 M, processed using the washed/wet hulled method which is a popular method for speciality coffee in Indonesia The hulling process removes the parchment from the bean and then the mucilage by washing the beans.


Wladimir Klitschko—the legendary heavyweight boxing champion and brother to the current mayor of Kyiv—has issued a warning about a looming “world food crisis.”
Speaking on ‘Mornings with Maria’ on Fox Business, Klitschko revealed that hundreds of millions of people will go hungry if Ukraine is unable to deliver the necessary wheat and grain.
“Ukraine has been providing food for a lot of countries in Asia and Africa,” Klitschko told FOX Business. “Half a billion people will be put to hunger because we cannot deliver grain that grows in Ukraine, which we’ve been doing for the past decades.”
Ukraine, which is known as the “breadbasket of the world,” has been unable to deliver grain due to Russian forces’ blockade of Ukrainian ports, as well as the invading country’s destruction of grain silos and agricultural machinery. Before the war, most of Ukraine’s wheat and corn were shipped through the Black Sea.
Russia and Ukraine export a combined third of the world’s wheat and barley, more than 70% of its sunflower oil and are prominent suppliers of corn. Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, alone imports 80% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia. Estimates suggest that approximately 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain have been prevented from reaching the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.
According to the United Nations. food prices as of April 2022 were 34% higher than they were one year ago.
Klitschko noted that a correlated support effort from world leaders and allies could help stem the tide of global hunger and show Russia that “this invasion was a big mistake.”
“I think the world food crisis will continue, as well as any other crisis, on the energetic side as well,” Klitschko said. “If we act together, we can do it. We can stop it.”
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This time of year reminds us of how people manage to put up with Wisconsin winters. August has been beautiful so far with mild days of mostly low humidity and cool nights. The corn that did not get washed out in the spring rain is tall and tasseling. The farmers who did get flooded out planted soybeans, one of the lovliest crops in the country. A close look at this field will reveal corn stalks sticking up in the soybean plants. Well, I guess not every corn stalk was killed by over watering!
If you look closely between the tree branches you will see the doe and fawn in the meadow.
We decided to try to get some seed pods from the abundance of wildflowers that are lining our roadsides and blooming in ditches. Queen Anne's Lace (I love the stuff) is everywhere, and alongside are purple and yellow blossoms I can't identify.
When we came home we tossed seeds down the hill towards our little creek. We will see if any grew when next summer comes around.


How do you feel about the health of the food and beverages that you buy?
If you have to buy a lot of these, how do you decide which ones are ‘healthy’?
And how do brands like Pepsi, Kellogg, etc., know which of their products are healthy?
These questions are among the most important issues to address as India’s food and drink industries struggle with soaring food prices and a declining consumer base.
India has been a food producer for more than two centuries, but this year has been particularly bad.
The country produces less than half the calories of the average world population, and the population of 1.3 billion people has shrunk from a peak of over 11 billion in the 1970s to less than 1 billion today.
According to a recent report by the World Bank, food consumption in India has declined for the past two decades, and this has meant a drop in GDP per capita from over $10,000 in 2011 to less $2,400 in 2020.
This is all part of a longer-term trend.
Food prices have skyrocketed, as the World Food Program (WFP) has predicted for the last five years, with food stocks dropping by nearly half a billion tonnes (mt) over the last decade, and a third of the country’s crop yields are expected to be lost over the next three years.
While India’s overall food production is already in decline, there are some areas where the country has benefited from the current situation.
The agricultural sector is growing at an alarming rate and the number of acres of farmland planted has doubled in the last three decades.
But India’s biggest export is food, accounting for around a third (33.6%) of the total food exports.
The food sector is also home to India’s largest number of food processing facilities, as well as the largest number (14.4%) of farmers who produce fruits and vegetables.
The food sector has also been a major contributor to India being one of the most expensive countries to live in.
The average price of a kilogram of rice is over $2.50 in India, according to the World Health Organization.
The WFP expects India to grow to be one of India’s top five food exporters by 2040, and India has been one of its top five fastest-growing economies since 2013.
In a report released in June, the World Resources Institute (WRI) forecasted that the country will grow at an annual rate of about 2.4% from 2020 to 2040.
But by then, India’s economy will have shrunk by 20% to 6.3%.WRI expects that the population growth rate will decline by 20%, with the country forecast to have less than 2 million new people in 2040 compared to 1.5 million in 2020, and less than 100,000 new people annually in 2030.
These numbers will not be sustainable for the foreseeable future.
India’s economic growth rate is also set to fall from 4.6% to 3.3% in 2036, with the economy forecast to grow by just over 1% in 2021 and to shrink by 1.7% by 2032.
This will mean the country is on track to grow just under 1% a year in 2038, less than the 3% annual growth rate India experienced during the early 2000s.
India is projected to have the lowest per capita GDP in the world, and that number is set to continue to fall.
India is also projected to be among the lowest-income countries in the developed world by the 2030s.
The country is projected, for the first time, to have a per capita income that is at least 20% below that of its neighbours.
According the WRI, India will be among India’s poorest countries in 2030, which means that by 2034, it will be below half the global median income.
The world is also witnessing a rapid decline in India’s agricultural output.
By 2032, India expects to have lost an estimated 25% of its crop yield, the Wri reported.
And the country may be unable to sustain this loss of production.
According to the WPI, India is expected to lose 2.3 million mt of crop yields by 2036 compared to 674,000 mt in 2020 and 751,000 mmt in 2030 (both from crop yields declining in response to price spikes).
India’s growing population will also affect its food security, with a large proportion of the population living in poverty.
According a report by UNICEF, India has the highest proportion of under-five children in the entire world, at 14.3%, and the highest percentage of girls aged under five in the whole world at 19.5%.
This has been the case for decades.
But the economic situation is also changing rapidly in India.
In 2020, the population rose by 6.4 million, which is a 2.6 percentage


PI Industries Limited is one of India’s leading agrochemical companies, providing integrated and innovative solutions to its customers. It enjoys tremendous brand recognition, a strong global presence over the years on the foundation of trust, integrity, and IP protection. It has exclusive rights from several global corporations for the distribution of its products in India and is constantly evaluating prospects to further expand its product portfolio. The spectrum of services that it provides to its customers is interwoven and spread across its value chain ranging from research and development, product and application development, registration, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and customer connect initiatives. Over the past several decades, it has worked relentlessly to provide value-added solutions to millions of farmers in the country and across the globe carving a niche for itself in the market and leaving a lasting impact on the minds of the customers.


「ModernAgri Expo」(2016 The 12th International Modern Agricultural Expo) is a global event that will be held in June 9th-11th, 2016 at Shanghai New International Expo Center. This three day event will bring together professionals and experts related with the agricultural sector from all around the world and offer them a perfect platform to network with each other. Moren than 500 exhibitors of domestic and overseas will take participate in this event. It will attract 20,000 audiences from 30 countries and regions to visit.
「ModernAgri Expo」has 6 Professional show areas: AgriChem, AgriEquip, AgriAvation, GardenTec, IrrigationTec and SeedTec. These 6 areas focus on protected agriculture, horticulture, water-saving irrigation, digital agriculture, pesticide, fertilizer, plant protection, agricultural machinery, agricultural aircrafts, UAVs and so on, with show area of 40,000 sqm. We will provide a high quality and professional platform with more trade opportunities for domestic and overseas suppliers & buyers in modern agricultural industry.
China is the most densely populated country in Asia. The agriculture is a large branch and one of priority directions of a national economy. 「ModernAgri Expo」 is a meeting of manufacturers and suppliers of agro industrial sector with the basic consumers and potential partners. Key players of the agricultural market from all over the world will take a participation in the exhibition. The professionals of the related sector will gain relevant information and detailed knowledge about the industry and gets an ideal opportunity to share their ideas and experiences with other attendees. More >>


Hydroponics is something new to me, and something I knew little about. If you are not familiar with it, hydroponics is a method of growing plants with nutrient rich water, instead of using soil. Soils actually retain nutrients, but are not essential for growing plants. This is a new concept to me, and I never really understood the advantages, or why someone would want to use hydroponics. I had a lot of questions until I found this book, “How To Hydroponics” This is a great resource, to view or to download, please click the link below.


If collard greens or kale are your normal go-to greens, then a switch to mustard greens might be in order. I enjoy the hearty taste of collard greens and often serve them with rice, pasta or sweet potatoes. I grow collards in the summer and look forward to picking fresh collard greens in early fall and at the first frost. Occasionally, I grow turnip greens and enjoy them fresh from the garden, but I have never grown mustard greens or ate them until I was recently introduced to them. When I asked how to prepare them, I was told to combine them with turnip greens for a delicious flavor. Mustard greens are nutrient dense, low calorie, rich in antioxidants, contain insoluble fiber and are enjoyed in many parts of the world. Mustard greens are in the same family as kale, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Different varieties and types of mustard green are found in many parts of the world. Sulfur containing antioxidant nutrients known as glucosinolate and sulforaphenes prevent free radical damage to cells thereby protecting the body from inflammatory damage. These nutrients provide anti-inflammatory protection for the brain and eyes. Mustard greens are also rich in insoluble fiber that helps reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol. Other nutrients found in mustard greens include vitamins A, E, C, K, folate and the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, manganese and selenium. Similar to other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens and turnip greens, chlorophyll in the mustard greens is considered to have important anti-cancer properties. When finely chopped and combined with turnip greens, red bell peppers, onions, garlic and smoked turkey tails or necks, the bitterness of the greens is not as obvious and the result is a delicious peppery and satisfying dish.
- More Salmon for Vitamin D


Paris Public Library will host a free University of Illinois Extension webinar at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 18.
Growing your own small fruits has become increasingly popular for the fresh taste and diverse cultivars available. Bountiful Backyards, taught by Extension Horticulture Educator Bruce Black, will cover the basics from selection and planting to management and pruning for longevity and best producing small fruits.
Pre-registration is appreciated but not required. Call the Extension office at 465-8585 or sign up online.


The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme offers free business-skills training to family farm businesses, providing the tools to evaluate their business viability and long-term sustainability, enabling them to make informed decisions on their future direction.
The past few years have been a very challenging time for the farming sector. Years of declining farm gate prices and uncertainty about the future of UK farming policy and funding has put pressure on farm businesses.
The East Devon AONB Partnership partnered with The Prince’s Countryside Fund to deliver the Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme.
Aimed at supporting family farm businesses to improve their confidence, efficiency and resilience, the programme helps farming families to prepare for change and build more robust businesses, capable of being successful in a changing environment.
Farms sign up to the programme as a family business and then the whole family can access a series of workshops and one-on-one meetings with local coordinators, in addition to business health check tools.
Open to family farms whose main enterprise is livestock or dairy, many of the farms that participated in the East Devon programme were mixed, with more than one on-farm enterprise or diversification.
- Support family farm businesses to improve their confidence, efficiency and resilience
- Help farming families to prepare for change and build more robust businesses capable of being successful in a changing environment.
- 2018 – Project start date
- 2019 – Project end date
- Business planning
- understanding accounts and budgeting
- Exploring new opportunities for your farm
- Succession planning
- Farm diversification and making better use of redundant farm buildings.
A benchmarking tool designed to demonstrate the benefits of improved record keeping on farm, look at their strengths and weaknesses and allow anonymised costs comparison against similar farm businesses.
All the farms that participated in the scheme benefited from the experience and for some it catalysed positive change in their business operations and succession planning.
More to Explore
We lead, partner and support projects that focus on a wide range of themes, including landscape and heritage, environmental quality and climate, biodiversity, recreation and tourism.


Just outside Cortona in the nearby Chio Valley deep in the heart of Tuscany, the Buccelletti family have been pressing their organic, Estate grown olives into the finest Extra Virgin olive oil available here in the States. Named Olivolo in honor of the Moraiolo olives grown on the Buccelletti Estate, we’ve been fortunate enough to import a limited number of bottles of this extraordinary olive oil so you can taste freshly pressed, olio nuovo (new oil) as nature intended it.
This wonderful, bright green and unfiltered olive oil was pressed in November of 2012 and flown directly from Buccelletti’s farm to our temperature controlled warehouse, ensuring the highest quality with a taste just as it would at the Buccelletti Estate.
Olivolo has a rich, creamy texture with pronounced fruitiness, artichoke and grassy notes, and the classic Tuscan pepperiness on the finish.
Pairing the olive oil: Drizzle Olivolo on crusty bread as the Italians do, sprinkle it over fresh spring salad greens, or pour a thin stream on a grilled-rare steak. If you’re a fan of gelato, you can even make a sublime Olive Oil Gelato — trust me, it’s an incredible experience (see the recipe here).
Visiting Buccelletti: The Buccelletti farm is located about an hour south of Florence and just outside the medieval town of Castiglion Fiorentino, right off SR71 at Via Santa Cristina, 16, Castiglion Fiorentino (AR) 52043. It’s usually best to make a reservation if you’re planning a visit, which is easy to do: you can reach Lidia and Roberta by phone at +39.0575.650.179, or by E-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Learn More: Read my Dall’Uva Journal article on this extraordinary producer of Extra Virgin olive oil.


Centre For Urban Agriculture And Sustainable Thinking
Communal urban centre for the study and demonstration of green technology and tools for the applying sustainability in daily life, with the aim of promoting the city as a productive, clean, green place.
Gan-Eden presents to the general and professional public several topics which affect everyone’s quality of life – how to grow food on the balcony, use household refuse for the benefit of the garden, and how to live in the synthesis of nature and city. We offer courses and workshops on container growing, green walls, hydroponics, the sustainable kitchen, medicinal herbs, and more.
Coordinator: Ella Gil, firstname.lastname@example.org


Tan Trao Tea Joint Stock Company.
Tel: +84273835226/ +84273835290 Fax: +84 273 835936
Head office : Tan Phu village - Son Duong town - Son Duong district -Tuyen Quang province.
Website : http://www.tantraotea.com.vn
Email : Che_tt@hn.vnn.vn / firstname.lastname@example.org
Tax code : 5000121437
Tan Trao Tea Joint Stock Company (Tan Trao Tea.JSC) was founded on 24/04/2009 from the State enterprise transformation. The company was established by merging two State Owned Enterprises which are: Tan Trao State Farm established in 12/1960 and Tan Trao Black Tea Factory founed in 01/1976
Tan Trao Tea JSC has over 55 years of experience in growing, production, processing tea for domestic consumption and export.
Besides, the company is located in a favorable geographical position in mountainous region of northern Vietnam where have an average elevation of 400-1000m is very suitable for the development of tea plants .
The Company’s structure:
Our company have a total of 1000 hectares of tea material areas, including
- 600 hectares of tea material areas which are planted and managed by the company
- 400 hectares of tea material areas which are invested in and planted by the farmer
We employ over 700 people
We have 2 tea processing factory with a capacity of 70 tonnes of fresh tea per day.
We also have Tan Kim Bac Limited Company as subsidiaries which specializes in manufacturing bricks with a production line of 4-6 million units per year.
Moreover, our 8 management teams are responsible in planting, tending and harvesting of fresh tea.
Product:Annual product is from 3500 tons to 4000 tons for domestic consumption and export including +Black tea OTD : OPA, OP, P, BOP, PS, BPS, F, TH, D…… +Hong Tra Tea : produced from special seeds such as Kim Tuyen, Ngoc Thuy, Bat Tien, PT10, Khuc Van Tien , etc.. according to Taiwan traditional production lines and high technology. · .Hong Tra Tan Trao 1 .Hong Tra Tan Trao 2 + Green tea :
.Green tea ATK, Tan Tuyet Shan, Bat Tien, Special Tan Trao Tea…
- Green tea OP
- Green tea Pekoe
- Green tea leaves BPS, F, D
- Geen tea Broken
Over 80 percents of the company’s product was exported to the following countries: Taiwan, Pakistan, Afghanishan, Sri Lanka, Russia etc.
From 2006 until now, the company has been continuously listed on the top and prestigious tea exporter in Vietnam. With the target of “Tea product for public health”, we always set up the tea producing standard according to The Rainforest Alliance standards – a sustainanble agriculture production standard. Our business policy is “Reliability – Quality – Efficiency”
With our good product and professional service attitude, we always provide satifaction to the customer.


Soil Biology is the study of the living component of soil– the parasites, fungus, and soil creatures which all have particular soil handling tasks. It is unique from, but connected to the procedures involved in Chemistry make up (nutrient processes) and Soil Physics (soil structure, framework, stability, water activity in soil).
Importance’s of soil biology:
Soil biological, actual and chemical techniques are related and all give rise to plant efficiency. The level of soil biological activity is therefore affected by the soil type, but it also depends on the control methods used, particularly the control of natural matter, especially carbon. Changes that are made to the material and physical environment in soil will therefore effect the scientific techniques and consequently the contribution they make to the soil’s fertility overall.
Soil biology is the research of soil biota and the communications they have with each other and their atmosphere. Soil biota contains four wide categories, depending on size:
The soil biota consists of a tremendous variety with reviews indicating there could be greater than 15 000 different species per gram of soil. Much of this variety, mostly from the microflora group, is yet to be categorized, however genomic technology are assisting us recognize previously unknown soil organism.
Issues associated with soil biology:
Soil biology is a complex area, however, and research is constantly on the locate new information concerning the organisms themselves, their procedures and aspects that impact them. Additionally, control of soil biological processes is difficult to do accurately due to the varying aspects of each individual situation, such as soil type and land use. A certain area control practice may also impact one group of organisms, but not others.
Benefits of Soil biology:
Agricultural land management methods modify aspects of soil chemical and actual infertility with repercussions for soil scientific procedures and viceversa. Both wildlife and harmful bacteria contribute significantly to substance changes in the soil and impact their physical surroundings to various degrees. Organism on and around plant roots have major impacts on plant nutrient availability and some form specific organizations with legumes, which greatly impact the C: N rate of plant remains in soil.


Sinc Energy (Emission Strategies Inc, a Maryland small business) has been awarded an FY 2022 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program grant for its technology “Smarter Agriculture with VOLTTRON” (SAV™). The project was awarded under the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Engineering Plant Production and Protection topic area of the USDA’s SBIR program. In their Update of August 10, 2022, NIFA describes this SBIR as “a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to enhance crop production in both conventional and organic systems by creating and commercializing engineering technologies that enhance system efficiency and profitability and that protect crops from pests and pathogens in economical and environmental ways.” (NIFA)
SAV is designed to improve controlled environment agriculture (CEA) by addressing energy use, among other benefits. We have assembled a strong team to execute the Phase I project, including Verdicity, Candidus, EMAT, the University of Maryland State Extension program, and our greenhouse demonstration site Catoctin Mountain Growers. The work will continue through spring 2023.
As part of this program, Sinc Energy is partnering with LARTA to support a Phase II commercialization plan. We thank our partners and look forward to working together on this project and in the future.
For more information on VOLTTRON, read the white paper here.
- Sinc Energy www.sincenergy.com
- Verdicity www.verdicity.com
- Candidus www.candidus.us
- EMAT www.ematprogram.com
- University of Maryland COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architect
- Catoctin Mtn Growers www.catoctinmtngrowers.com
- Larta Institute www.larta.org