Protoleaf is a Japanese gardening soil brand. Home gardening is very popular in Japan; however, concerns about nuclear radiation from Fukushima had caused consumers to question soil safety – even in store-bought products. We wanted to let our stakeholders, including consumers and trade, recognize the surprising quality and safety of the product.
What if the soil was so safe, you could actually eat it? To showcase our soil quality and safety, we opened “The Soil Restaurant” with a Michelin 3-star chef who created a full course meal using Protoleaf Soil as the main ingredient. The restaurant was open to the public and charged $100 per person.
Customers and Media ate it up: Media flocked to the The Soil Restaurant, resulting in massive coverage not only in Japan but in nearly 20 countries throughout the world as well, including features on CNN, CBS and BBC. With zero media investment, and only using the soil itself, we clearly demonstrated the product safety to the world. The total free exposure was valued at approximately US$8,900,000, and, as a result, consumers felt safe to buy soil again as sales surged to 130% versus the previous year. This meant people could once again return to their gardens and producing their own food. Whether for hobby or self-sufficiency, consumers now think of their soil differently, as a more integral part of food production – and something that can even be eaten.
Describe the brief from the client:
In order to recover the brand’s credibility, remove concerns about product safety and encourage consumers to buy soil again, we wanted to let our stakeholders, including consumers and trade, recognize the surprising quality and safety of the product. However, since the disaster, Protoleaf’s business had stagnated. Further, the scientific study that proved the product’s safety was costly, leaving very little budget for advertising. We had to save the brand and product from the crisis, with next to nothing.
Customers and Media ate it up: Within one week, 3 TV stations, 1 newspaper and 58 news websites reported on The Soil Restaurant. It became popular nationally, filling Twitter and Facebook with comments. A TV program interviewed the VP of Protoleaf, and the company’s passion for soil safety soil could be deeply understood by consumers. The media continued to visit The Soil Restaurant, creating massive coverage in Japan and nearly 20 countries throughout the world, including features on CNN, CBS, BBC and the Discovery Channel. This simple idea racked up approximately US$8,900,000 in total exposure with zero media investment. Using only the soil itself, we definitively proved the safety of our product, and of Japanese soil, to the world. As a result, consumers felt safe to buy soil again as sales surged to 130% versus the previous year. People could return to gardening and producing their own food.
On January 17, 2013, the restaurant was open to the public and charged $100 per person. Before opening, we sent a news release to 20 media, including gardening magazines, gourmet magazines, national newspapers and web news sites, by mail. We enclosed corporate message card with “soil ice cream” image and a full course soil menu in the mailing. The impactful image on the card and the menu list stirred up journalistic curiosity and motivated them come to the restaurant. After that, all we needed to do was ensure the restaurant visitors were treated to a high quality ‘soil’ dinner.
Since 2011, Fukushima nuclear power plant’s disaster caused by earthquake and tsunami, Japanese people have become deeply concerned about soil safety, even in store-bought products. Protoleaf is a Japanese gardening soil brand, and the credibility of their brand had been shaken. To make a breakthrough in the situation, they asked a technical institution to examine their soil’s safety. They definitively proved the safety and decided to re-launch their soil as “safe and high quality 100% organic soil.”
What if the soil was so safe, you could actually eat it? To convincingly showcase our soil quality and safety, we planned to offer everyone an experience of eating soil. We opened “The Soil Restaurant” with a Michelin 3-star chef who created a full course meal using Protoleaf Soil as the main ingredient. Our strategy was to change news about soil into news about a restaurant. People just love to talk about restaurants. We believed this disruptive approach – based on a high quality full-course meal prepared by a well-credentialed chef – would create media and consumer attention to drive buzz and transmit our message without the need for media investment.


The article presents the results of validation for the method of measuring the lateral stability in tractors, trailers and agricultural machines. The method was developed in the testing laboratory of the State Scientific Institution «Leonid Pogorely Ukrainian Research Institute for Forecasting and Testing Equipment and Technologies for Agricultural Production», Kharkov branch. The method developed for measuring the angle of lateral stability is based on measuring the mass of the machine on boards in a horizontal and inclined position. Evaluation of lateral stability is carried out through an indirect indicator — the ratio of the mass of the machine bead in a horizontal position and inclined. The application of the developed method does not require determination of the coordinates of the center of mass of the machine and the use of platform stands, but provides only for measuring the mass of the machine in a horizontal position and at an angle when lifting one of the sides. A method for calculating the metrological characteristics of the proposed method is given. The error in measuring the angle of transverse stability of the proposed method consists of the error in measuring the mass of the machine and the uncertainty in measuring the angle of elevation of the machine’s edge. These values are independent and uncorrelated. The measurement error of the lateral stability angle is determined for the range of the real values masses of the machines and the angle at which they can be lifted aboard in safety conditions. As a result, validation is established. The method of measuring the lateral stability of a machine by successively weighing its sides is suitable for use. Its following characteristics. Requirements for the accuracy of measuring instruments: the measurement error of the angle of inclination of the machine — no more than ± 0,1°; measurement error of the mass of the machine — no more than ± 4 kg. The total absolute error of the method: when the mass of the machine is (2000)—(2300) kg — not more than 1,5°; with a mass (2300)—(10000) kg — 1,0°; with a mass of 10,000 kg or more — 0,5°. The range of measured values of the lateral stability angle is (25—45)°. The angle at which the machine climbs is (5—15)°. The scope of application of the method: tractors, trailers, agricultural machines. Table — 4. Figure — 4. References — 10.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


I lean over the freezer box in the local store to get to the very last ice cream at the bottom of the box. The outside of the box is warm against my legs, clearly working hard to maintain the glorious coldness inside.
I like to walk on the strip of grass running along our apartment building instead of on the pavement, just to feel the spring under my feet as a break from all the asphalt. Now there is hardly any grass at all. The media report that garden experts say not to water the lawn, since the grass will grow downwards in search of water and emerge from the drought period all the stronger. Does that work when there is hardly any grass left, only hardpacked soil?
Out on the farm there will be no crops at all this year. From a distance the grain appears yellow and ripe, but looking closer it is clear that it is all withered.
We flee to where there is water; the river, or the playground that channels small brooks and fountains from the nearby river to play in, and if we can’t face going that far, we bring the water to us.
I think about previous summers, when this kind of heat lasted a couple of days, or a week at most – and then we felt really lucky – and I think about being a teenager and enjoying the freedom of walking the city streets late in the bright summer nights, when everyone’s windows are open, and you can hear life going on inside.
And then it rained.


PORTLAND LIVING MARKET COMPLEX:
Given the opportunity to work with a site and program of my choosing, I was initially intrigued by the lack of community gardens in Northwest Portland, and began exploring ways to address this while still creating a realistic and profitable program on the high-value site at NW 21st and Burnside Avenue in Portland, Oregon. As the project went on, the program evolved to become an 80 unit apartment complex with ground-floor retail and a rooftop restaurant. Flanking the west side of the tower is a local produce market, opening into a public square. Utilizing the space of its generous footprint, the market contains a living roof with two components: one for growing produce for the market, and another serving the neighborhood as a community garden, helping to fill the community garden void in the neighborhood.
COMMUNITY GARDEN LOCATIONS IN PORTLAND
FIGURE GROUND PLAN
TOP FLOOR RESTAURANT PLAN
TYPICAL APARTMENT FLOOR PLAN
EAST ELEVATION (APARTMENT TOWER)
SOUTH ELEVATION (MARKET WITH COMMUNITY GARDEN ON ROOF)


AIMING to woo youngsters into farming activities, Kites Foundation, an NGO, has launched the project named ‘Punarjjani’. Kollam Assistant Collector Arun S Nair planted seeds of brinjal, marking the district- level launch of the programme, here, on Friday. As part of the project, seeds of vegetables are being distributed to youngsters who can start farming on the premises of their houses and thereby attain self-sufficiency in food production. “It has been noticed that youths aren’t that keen to take up farming. Through this initiative, we provide seeds free of cost to all individuals interested in agricultural activities, along with giving technical advice on all the stages of farming,” said Shehana Rani, state president of Kites Foundation. Those interested to be part of the programme can register on the portal of the NGO. So far, over 100 people have registered online, of whom more than 20 are from Kollam. It has been envisaged to distribute more than 100 seed packets in Kollam and the team has already distributed more than 50 seed packets. It also envisages to associate with Haritha Keralam Mission for their project ‘Haritha Samruddhi Ward’ in Kollam. The target is to distribute as many as 1,000 packets of seeds this year in the state. “These registered people will be giving seed packets in their neighbourhood also,” said Shehana. An award will be given to the best young cultivator every year.


Hello dear readers! In this post on negarinfo we are going to talk about “will cayenne pepper hurt plants”
So stay with us to the end, thanks for choosing our website.
Cayenne pepper, a type of capsicum, is used to flavor dishes. The red-colored vegetable is eight times hotter than red chilies.
This spiciness makes it a good candidate against garden adversaries ruining your hard work. You can either use it in liquid, powdered, or crushed form to prepare a repellent; all forms are equally effective.
Now you may ask, “Will Cayenne Pepper hurt plants?”
The answer is NO! There are no known side effects of cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is non-toxic and won’t burn your plants.
It is, in fact, a natural insecticide and pesticide that repels pests like lace bugs and spider mites and keeps animals like squirrels from eating up edible parts of your plants.
Does cayenne pepper hurt plants?
Cayenne pepper is one of the best ways to keep the pests and bugs away from your plant. The best part is it does not even hurt your plant in any way. Though it may seem that the flavor of the cayenne pepper might hurt the plants but it doesn’t. A little sprinkle of pepper will not hurt the plant.
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Does Cayenne Pepper Help Plants?
Cayenne pepper is non-toxic to your plants. It’s mostly beneficial as a repellent to keep animals and some insects away from your plants.
You can use cayenne pepper spray to get rid of animals and pests that may be digging up your plants at night.
The main ingredient in cayenne peppers is capsaicin that irritates the skin and taste buds of animals. Furry critters, like squirrels, rabbits, and deer don’t appreciate the spicy hot flavor of cayenne peppers, so they’re less apt to dine on your plants after taking a taste.
It is also found to be toxic to some insects like spider mites and lace bugs as it damages their nervous system.
How Do I Use Cayenne Peppers on Plants?
You can use the cayenne pepper in different ways on the plants depending on what you need. Keep in mind that regardless of the method you choose, you’ll have to reapply after it rains.
Make a Cayenne Pepper Spray
The best way to use cayenne pepper to deter animals is to make a spray and apply it to your plants.
To make the spray you can either use fresh cayenne peppers from your garden or store. Or you can use the pepper flakes you may have bought. I’ve written a post that will help you grow some hot and spicy peppers in your garden
- Take 1 gallon of water and 2 tablespoons of the chopped up cayenne pepper or flakes in a cooking pan.
- Heat the mixture on a high-medium heat till it starts boiling. Then lower the heat to medium and let it simmer for a while.
- Make sure to keep your face away from the steam that may arise during this cooking process. Otherwise, you can get some serious irritation on your face, nose, and throat.
- Once the mixture has cooked for about 15 minutes, you need to close the heat. Let it stay in the pan for 24 hours.
- This will give the mixture the most potency when used as a spray to deter pests and animals.
- After 24 hours, you can use a sieve to remove the pepper pieces or flakes from the mixture. You just need the liquid that has the full-strength of the cayenne pepper.
- Mix 2 teaspoons of biodegradable vegetable oil into this mixture. This oil will help the cayenne pepper mixture to stick to the plants without harming them.
- You can fill the strained mixture in a spray bottle for use in your garden. The cayenne pepper spray will last you 2-3 months before it loses its potency.
Before using this spray, put it on a few leaves and let it stay for a few hours. If the leaves don’t suffer from any negative effects, you can continue using the spray on the entire plant.
To use the cayenne spray you created, you need to spray it on all the parts of the plants that are been attacked by pests and animals.
It’s best to apply this spray in the morning after you have watered the plants. You don’t want to apply it in the afternoon as the heat from the sun will bake this mixture and harm the leaves.
The effect of the spray will last you a few days and then you need to reapply. If it rains in your garden, the spray will get washed away and you need to reapply immediately.
If you’re spraying the cayenne pepper on your vegetable plants, make sure to wash the leaves or vegetables well after the harvest. Otherwise, you’ll get an unwanted spicy flavor from the vegetables.
Cayenne pepper spray
Cayenne pepper spray is a taste repellent. It is applied to the plant and when an animal tries to taste it, it is repelled by the hot pepper taste. Spraying cayenne pepper on plants will keep deer, rabbits and squirrels as well as stray animals from eating them.
Can I sprinkle cayenne pepper on my plants? Sprinkle pepper power directly onto plants
Cut up several dried cayenne peppers, then add them to water in a squirt bottle with a squirt of dish soap to help the solution adhere to plant leaves. This solution is useful if dusting alone doesn’t keep squirrels away, and will also repel many types of undesirable insects.
Subsequently, Can you sprinkle cayenne on plants?
Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper won’t hurt your plants but it will keep many small animals away. Every few days, sprinkle about ¼ cup of cayenne pepper throughout your garden. … Try planting them all along the border of your garden as a type of “no trespassing” barricade for bugs and creatures.


Food trade drains global water sources at ‘alarming’ rates
The complex trade is increasing pressure on non-renewable groundwater, mainly used for irrigating crops such as rice, wheat and cotton.
Pakistan, the US and India are the countries exporting the most food grown with unsustainable water.
Researchers say that without action, food supplies with be threatened.
Around 43% of the water used to irrigate crops around the world comes from underground aquifers, as opposed to rivers and lakes. Many of these sources are being used up quicker than they can be refilled from rainfall.
Back in 2000, experts believed that non-renewable resources sustained 20% of global irrigation. In the 10 years to 2010, this increased by more than a fifth.
While scientists have long known about the depletion of groundwater, this new study sets out to understand how supplies are impacted by the booming international trade in food and crops.
The vast majority of the world’s populations live in countries that source nearly all their staple crop imports from nations who deplete significant amounts of groundwater to irrigate these foodstuffs.
The researchers found that some 11% of the non-renewable groundwater used for irrigation is embedded in the the global food trade. Two-thirds of this are accounted for by Pakistan, the US and India.
Over the decade from the year 2000, the use of non-renewable groundwater has doubled in China and increased significantly in India and the US. The crops using the biggest amounts of this water are wheat, rice, sugar crops, cotton and maize.
However, the web of responsibility is a complex one.
The US, Mexico, Iran, Saudi Arabia and China are among the top 10 users of unsustainable water in agriculture. However, they are also among the top importers of crops grown with these dwindling resources.
So, Iran, for example, mainly imports rice from Pakistan irrigated by the Upper Ganges and Lower Indus aquifers. These water sources have extraction rates up to 50 times higher than required for sustainable use. Iran in turn exports perennial crops irrigated by the Persian aquifer that has being extracted at a mere 20 times the rate that is sustainable.
“The depletion rate is alarming – we have these clusters of countries that are at risk both from domestic production and imports,” said lead author Dr Carole Dalin from University College London.
“If the reserve of water runs out the price of food will be affected and it will affect almost all the world’s population.”
Many developed countries are aware of issues in the depletion of groundwater and have put measures in place, such as urban water restrictions in California during the recent years of drought. However, in developing nations, the mechanisms to restrict water may not exist.
“Pakistan for instance, is quite complex,” said Dr Dalin. “They can make good money out of exporting rice, but the framework is not really there to account for the impact on the environment. It is true that eventually, it will affect the production there.”
The researchers argue that while governments need to have greater awareness about the impacts of production on water resources, consumers in richer countries should also think about water when considering the foods that they buy.
“The products that consumers buy at a supermarket may have very different environmental impacts depending on where they are produced and how they are irrigated,” said co-author Yoshihide Wada, from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
“In order to help consumers make more sustainable choices about their food, producers should consider adding water labels that make these impacts clear.”
The paper has published in the journal Nature.


Illumitex patented LEDs deliver up to 90% of the light in the beam angle leaving almost no wasted light or energy.
$430.00 to $650.00
Multiple color temperatures and LED colors. Up and down or up/down only light direction. Very low profile and small size with incredible light output.
Illumitex has radically transformed traditional LED design and greatly increased functionality with the creation of an LED package that emits light in a uniform, highly-precise beam directly from the source. The result: with die-level optical integration, the need for cumbersome and inefficient secondary optics to control light is obsolete, opening the world to more versatile and energy efficient lighting applications than ever before imagined. For the horticulture industry, Illumitex LEDs deliver custom-spectra photons directly and uniformly on plants, allowing growers to produce plants in less time and with less energy.


Yucca: A flowering desert plant, in the plant household Agavaceae. Native to the southwest United States, Baja California, and Mexico. Known as the ‘tree of life’ by Native Americans for its many makes use of including well being promoting advantages. Its extracts have been used for centuries in folks drugs to deal with a wide variety of inflammatory disorders, including complications, gonorrhea, arthritis, and rheumatism.
Yucca Plant Extract has many makes use of together with as a foaming agent in soft drinks, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and as an animal feed additive. It is cited to hold positive effects for livestock development, feed effectivity, and health. As well as benefits for plant development, fruit juice powder and soil permeability.
Yucca extract advantages for your plants are wide ranging and highly effective.
In addition to different useful compounds, Yucca comprises what are often known as steroidal saponins; natural foaming brokers with dispersant and coating properties that have anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial properties.
Saponins are a pure surfactant, or wetting agent. This is what yucca extract does for plants; as surfactants break the floor tension of liquids; allowing them to be extra simply distributed and absorbed.
Why is Yucca Plant Extract Important For Plants?
Increases plant cell wall permeability and dispersal of liquids.
Protects against plant pathogens.
Reduces plant stress from drought, heat, and salinity.
Increases soil infiltration and absorption of water and nutrients.
How Does Yucca Plant Extract Boost Your Grow?
Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency
When used as a Plant Biostimulant, Yucca Extract permit for elevated mobility of nutrients and water throughout plant and soil surfaces.
Plants gain many positive benefits from the increased dispersal of water, nutrients, and other beneficials through soils. The saponin content material in Yucca chemically alters liquid molecules, breaking the cohesion of chemical bonds; In effect making the liquids, ‘more liquid’. This allows water and nutrients to get to the place plants achieve the utmost benefits, the foundation zone.
When utilized in foliar sprays, the saponins in Yucca act to ‘soften’ plant cell partitions. Allowing water and nutrients to be extra efficiently spread over a better area. When used in combination with biostimulant or fertilizer compounds, this increased cell wall permeability leads to greater absorption of nutrients and beneficials, maximizing nutrient and water use effectiveness.
Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of Yucca Extracts in treating seed borne and other bacterial and fungal plant pathogens.
Common plant diseases reminiscent of Fusarium, Leaf Spot, Pythium, Alternaria, and others have been efficiently managed by treatment with Yucca. Yucca Extract has been proven to have a broader anti-fungal impact when compared to commercially available fungicides. And with organic rising strategies being implemented, these outcomes have proven to be equally or in some instances more practical than standard growing practices.
The therapy of seeds with Yucca was additionally discovered to enhance seed high quality and plant progress in the form of increased number of regular seedlings, seedling emergence and seedling vigor. The effectiveness of Yucca Extract as a Biocontrol for plant pathogens is a secure, pure various to standard methods reminiscent of copper sulfate and different synthetics; and results in elevated plant well being and progress.
Plant Stress Tolerance
Stresses comparable to heat, drought, and salinity are frequent causes of plant damage and loss. If you enjoyed this article and you would such as to get even more information regarding Fruit Juice Powder (Pastelink.Net) kindly see our web-site. Yucca, as a native desert plant, has developed mechanisms to tolerate and handle these stress conditions.
Saponins permit for water and nutrients to be more evenly absorbed by plants and soils. Which permit your plants to deal with stresses extra easily. Saponins help get the water and nutrients plants must the place they benefit essentially the most.
In addition to saponins, Yucca Plant Extracts comprise other compounds that protect and improve plant well being and efficiency. Polyphenols are Antioxidants that have been recognized to help plants in tolerating various stress circumstances.
Polyphenols reminiscent of resveratrol, larixinol, and yuccaols act as antioxidants, and serve plant defending features. These compounds scavenge without cost-radicals, and reduce the numbers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) current in soil. These ROS act as signaling molecules when plants are below stress, and their accumulation can result in plant loss. The antioxidants present in Yucca Extracts enable plants to reply to stress and at the identical time benefit from the regulation of potentially harmful substances.
Getting water and nutrients to a plants root zone is an apparent way to learn plants.
Yucca Plant Extract is a Plant Biostimulant that can be used to enhance soil and plant growth and health. Improving permeability at the soil floor, as well as nutrient use effectivity at the root zone. Yucca extracts improve the dispersal of liquids, and allows for higher infiltration rates and improved soil and plant efficiency.
Yucca accommodates many advanced sugars which might be additionally a significant profit to residing soils. This helps to create the conditions for a various and vibrant soil ecosystem. These sugars feed and energize soil microbes, permitting these beneficials to multiply and work with plants to gather nutrients, protect against pathogens, and grow higher plants.
Simplify the Science
Every rising state of affairs is unique. Once you add a diverse and potent concentration of Biostimulants, your chance of success is maximized.
Yucca Plant Extracts are a key part in GreenEden Mycorrhizal and Inoculant Products. Enabling the powerful and concentrated formulations to get to where they’ve most profit. Increased root zone dispersal, foliar absorption, and soil health.


Are you a South African who wishes to become an agricultural engineer but needs clarification about the potential? The article will help ease the confusion because the salary of an agricultural engineer is discussed.
|Monthly Salary Range:
|R 14300 – R 45600
|Average Monthly Salary:
|The agricultural engineer is responsible for developing solutions to agriculture-related problems. They deal with everything related to machinery, power, soil, water, and farming.
|People who wish to become agricultural engineers should get a degree in agricultural engineering or biological engineering. They must be familiar with science and technology because it helps solve multiple agricultural processes in the field. Moreover, they can get different crop advisory or irrigation certifications to know their field better.
You can scroll through to know the salary structure based on experience in the field. Moreover, the responsibilities of an agricultural engineer are explained for a better understanding. I hope you get all your answers by reaching the end.
Overview of Agricultural Engineer Salary
Agricultural engineers are also known as agrarian biosystems because they apply science to agricultural processes. They often have to work in offices but may have to visit rural settings every few days. The irrigation method was the first application of agricultural engineers back in the day.
South Africa is more modern than the rest of Africa and has a productive and diverse economy. The demand for agricultural engineers in the country would be high. This might intrigue everyone about the farm engineer’s salary in the country, which is why it is discussed below.
A rough overview of the salary structure of an agricultural engineer is discussed so South Africans can have an idea. The table helps us understand the salaries according to experience.
|Experience in the Field
|Monthly Salary in ZAR
|0 to 2 years
|3 to 5 years
|Five years or more
Hence, these figures help us understand the salaries paid to agricultural engineers in South Africa.
Responsibilities of an Agricultural Engineer
The responsibilities of an agricultural engineer are explained to help understand their importance.
- An agricultural engineer helps to maintain and develop agricultural machinery, structures, and equipment that help farmers complete their daily tasks.
- He must perform research and develop safe and efficient ideas for production.
- An agricultural engineer should inspect and perform experiments to stay up-to-date.
- He is responsible for developing strategies for soil conservation and introducing new farming techniques.
Hence, these are a few duties that an agricultural engineer has to perform.
What does an agricultural engineer do?
An agricultural engineer has to solve all the problems related to production. He has to implement safe and efficient methods.
Is there a high demand for agricultural engineers?
The demand for agricultural engineers is likely to go up by 2029. People hire them to get efficient production, which is safe and budget-friendly.
What is the lowest salary for an agricultural engineer?
The lowest salary for an agricultural engineer in South Africa is around R 14,300. Inexperienced engineers earn this amount when they join the field.
A brief yet informative article is written on the agricultural engineer’s salary to help South Africans have an idea. Students who wish to pursue agricultural engineering can know the potential in the field. They can decide whether to join the field or explore other options in South Africa.
Article Modified on October 28, 2023. The data in this article is written and collected by multiple authors. Learn how we research on About Us.


Editor’s Note: The dialogue and descriptions in this article are fictional; they reflect an imaginary, hypothetical interview with Norman Borlaug taking place in 1970. However, the events mentioned are all historically accurate.
For Norman Borlaug—or “Norm,” as he insists on being called—the potted tulips are much more than sweet-smelling decorations. His whole house, it seems, is filled with the spirit of being outdoors, from the cherry wood floors to the gardening tools strewn all over the front porch.
Remarkably, Norm lives a relatively minimal life for a person of his status. He lives in a small home in Mexico City with his wife, son, and daughter, and not much else. “I don’t care about getting attention; all I did was my job—planting and harvesting and experimenting with wheat.”
Since his birth in 1914, Norm lived on his family’s 106-acre farm and attended a one-room rural school. In 1933, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, and eventually transferred into the forestry program. Finally, he studied plant pathology and received a Ph. D in plant pathology and genetics in 1942.
The “job” Norm is referring to is his days working in the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program in Mexico. In 1945, he was asked by the Rockefeller Foundation to research stem rust in wheat plants in Mexico. Stem rust is a disease affecting wheat plants that had cut potential crop yields by up to 50% and had been troubling Mexican farmers for several years.
Despite not knowing anything about wheat or diseases, Norm hopped into his SUV, crammed in food and supplies, and drove across the border for what he thought would be a quick look at the diseased plants, a professional recommendation, and then a swift exit. Little did Norm know that he would be staying there for the next 20 years.
Norm tells me that he was inspired to go to Mexico because of his childhood. “My family lived on a farm and grew up hungry. On the worst of days, in winter, I could only get one meal per day.” But one person believed there was hope for change. “It was Granddad who most influenced my young life. No one else saw any prospect of change. But if he saw a better world ahead, I had to make myself worthy to meet it.”
Leaning back in his reclining chair, Norm casually glances at a car maneuvering through the busy Mexico City traffic. He reflects wistfully on the old days of his work, pulling weeds from the fields and cross-breeding seeds by hand.
The Wheat Breeder—1945
In Mexico, Norm had crossbred different species of wheat in hopes that they would produce stem-rust-resistant varieties and would create good bread. He first planted an assortment of Mexican wheat seeds and immersed them in stem rust, analyzing which plants stayed strong and did not fall victim to the disease. Then, he took the seeds of the surviving plants and crossbred them with other seeds to try to form highly resistant wheat varieties. He found five desirable varieties, which he named Kentana 48, Yaqui 48, Lerma 52, and Chapingo 52 and 53 (named according to the year they were created; Lerma 52 was harvested in 1952).
These varieties of wheat seemed perfect to Norm. They were unaffected by stem rust and produced delicious bread.
Norm thought his job was done at this point. “‘What more was there to do?’, I thought.” says Norm. “I didn’t realize that my work was just beginning.”
Norman Borlaug in Mexico, 1970. (LIFE Magazine)
Then, Norm thought it was time to show off his wheat to the public. He hoped to distribute seeds to several Mexican farmers in order to develop some rapport with the community.
To do this, Norm hosted an event showcasing his wheat seeds and how farmers should use them. He put up several flyers in town announcing “FARMER FIELD DAY” in bold letters, asking to visit his farm, inspect his wheat, and take a few samples back to try. Originally, most farmers were hesitant to come as they thought it was a waste of time, and they didn’t trust the American genetic scientist. To get an audience to come, Norm had to advertise that there would be “free beer and barbecue.”
Despite his efforts, there was a lack of audience to the event. “Three farmers had come for the beer, and one person genuinely wanted to learn.”
During the event, the four attendees contested every statement Norm made about how his wheats were better than theirs. “Their harsh words, which mainly reflected prejudice against Americans, undermined the audience’s confidence. At the end when I called for questions no one spoke up. Not one of the 25 wanted any of the seed packages, either . . . they just wanted the beer and barbecue.”
The next year, Norm reasoned with Mexican agricultural leaders who had influence over the farmers. These leaders spread the word about Norm’s successful seeds, and the Sonora community learned about how they could improve their crop yields according to the American scientist’s advice. The next time Norm hosted Farmer Field Day, almost 200 farmers showed up. “Moreover, they treated me with respect and asked me thoughtful questions.”
India: From Famine to Surplus (Our Daily Bread; The Essential Norman Borlaug)
“Eventually, the Farmer Field Days became my favorite days of the year—the turnout just kept increasing. For the first time, I felt that I was being respected as a foreigner and that I had support from a vast group of people.”
But Norm’s work was yet to be finished. The United Nations, specifically the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) asked him if he could ship his seeds, now internationally famous, to nations spanning between Morocco to India (some of which were nearly facing starvation).
Beyond the Americas—1963
“At this point, I was overjoyed. My life was finally turning around, and I was ready to cordially engage with scientists from around the world who would respect me.” Norm was to lead a convention with representatives of 14 countries across Africa and Asia to teach them about western agricultural practices and his research on stem rust and help distribute his developed wheat seeds to these countries. Most accepted his research gratefully and ordered seeds, eager to develop scientifically. However, there were two nations who rejected Norm’s research, namely India and Pakistan.
In both of these countries, politicians were the root of the problem. “Anwar Hussain, the Pakistan institute director, planted both Mexico’s and Pakistan’s wheat in two separate fields for comparison. He found that Pakistan’s wheat grew beautifully compared to Mexico’s, which I saw with my own eyes. But there was something wrong.” Norm found that the tests were biased; the Mexican wheats had not been weeded and fertilized when grown properly. He discovered this discrepancy, apparently intentional, from the person in command of the test fields. Showing this new evidence to the Pakistani board, Norm was able to bring Pakistani leaders onto his side and convinced them to order his wheat. Additionally, the Indian agricultural board had been skeptical of Norm’s wheat varieties, but they quickly accepted them and followed suit with Pakistan after they saw the results of Hussain’s study.
Norm’s Seed vs. Pakistani Seed. (Data from Our Daily Bread; The Essential Norman Borlaug)
India reacted in a positive way to Pakistan’s success with the wheat. Once Pakistan accepted Norm’s varieties, so did India. Both eventually ordered massive shipments of seed for their farmers, so much that Mexican farmers had difficulty growing enough seed for the order.
Finally, Norm’s job had been done, although his work would continue to expand. Breeding with abnormally short Japanese varieties, a side project attempting to create dwarf wheat, turned out to be successful and researchers were able to create wheat that was resistant to wind and extreme weather conditions.
In 1970, Norm was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in bringing the world together in terms of food security. He brought countries out of famine and is said to have saved one billion people from starvation.
For this Thanksgiving, I give thanks to Norman Borlaug, the scientist who helped put food on my plate. Not only did he create a more resilient variety of wheat, but he also sparked a revolution in agriculture and the field of plant genetics that is inspiring farmers and people around the world.
“You can’t build a peaceful world on empty stomachs and human misery.” – Norman Borlaug


If you do any gardening at all, you know that in order to grow something you have to put seed in the ground. Then depending on the soil of the ground and the care that the seed is given after being sown will tell when bloom time or harvest time comes.
Gardeners like to share their seeds and exchange with each other so that they have a variety of plants and flowers. However the art of saving seeds and exchanging is being lost to the easy trip down to the store to buy already potted flowers and plants.
What about the seeds we sow into others lives each day with our words? Do you plant seeds in the hearts of those you come into contact with? Or do you just leave it for the pastor or the priest or the evangelist to do?
God says there will always be a seed time and a harvest. He says some plant the seeds, some water and then some harvest. We can all plant seeds. But we may not be the one to water or harvest.
Genesis 8 v 22..."While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, Winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.".....
John 4 v 37-38...For in this the saying is true; "One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors......
God did not say to brow beat someone into receiving Him or His word. He said to share the good news with them. To share His love and the Father's love for them. Sometimes we just want people to immediately receive the Word and make a change. But that is not always the case.
You will never put a seed in a pot and then stand back and watch it sprout immediately. The seed needs nourishing and caring to come to that point. Different seeds take different amounts of time to germinate, no matter how much water or care you give it, the seed will not germinate before its time.
God knows each of us and He knows when our hearts will become one with His. He knew us before we were ever a seed planted in our mother's wombs.
Jer. 1 v 5..."Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations".........
God knows our hearts so He knows the type of soil that seeds will be sown into. Don't be discouraged or become aggravated with a loved one or someone who you think has not received your seed. Instead, you need to nourish that seed with prayer and love. Don't keep pushing on it, you will push it so far down into the soil that it will not be able to spring forth and germinate.
Just like when planting seeds in your herb bed, the seeds you plant in someone's life does not need pressure to grow, it needs to be gently laid just below the surface of the soil. In other words when you share the good news of God's love with love, the seed will come to germinate.
The most important thing to remember is to never sow weeds in with your seeds. Remember your words are your seeds. Only sow good seeds. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!


Hi Friends, how are you all? How was the week that went by?
On my Instagram story yesterday, I posted about my current fruit-addiction ‘Thai Guava’. Well, it’s a fruit that I got introduced to very recently. It is a guava grown throughout Southeast Asia but now, produced locally even in Maharashtra.
I generally prefer local, seasonal fresh produce as that tends to be less in wax and other preservatives and is…well, fresher. When I tried Thai guava, I was apprehensive initially as I though it’s an import. Later, when I researched more, I came to know that it’s produced locally. Thank God because I love them!
I also prefer my food to be non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms). And food/produce which is made to look better and made to last more on our plates/shelves, doesn’t appeal to me…despite the enhanced beauty.
And apparently there are more like me because on my Instagram story, I got a few queries if Thai guava was a non-GMO. And that is how this post came into being.
The truth is that a lot of fruits and vegetables that we eat are not nature-made. In fact, most of what we eat today is man-made. Oh yes, the orange carrots we love to munch on, were purple in the beginning. The kale and broccoli…the cauliflower…the Honeycrunch apples….all man-made. You won’t be able to eat most of the original versions!
So what exactly is a hybrid and what is a GMO produce?
A hybrid produce is man-made for sure, created either on a farm/plantation or in a lab…by cross-breeding two different but compatible fruits or vegetables. This creates a new variety which could be very different from the parents or just a better version, more suitable for human palette.
Many a times this happens naturally (evolved over a period of time) and sometimes its man-induced. Grapefruits for example is a cross between pomelo and sweet orange. It was a done on a plantation way back in 18th century.
And the banana that is equally loved today all over the world by all the classes…is a hybrid and I bet, you won’t like the original banana at all! A hybrid of two wild species, both unpalatable…our nutritious and humble banana as we know it today, was a natural accident, capitalized upon by human agriculturists however it hasn’t changed genetically.
In case of bananas in India, the popular varieties or ‘cultivars’ are Robusta, Monthan, Poovan, Dwarf Cavendish, Nendran, Red banana, Basrai, Ardhapuri, Nyali, Safed Velchi Rasthali, Karpurvalli, Chinia and many others.
Hybrid fruits/veggies need a lot of care as they are sensitive to their environment. They also don’t reproduce easily on their own and might not stay true to their parents if reproduce at all. They might eventually stabilize and survive on their own.
The hybrids are particularly profitable to the farmers/producers as it produces a consistent, higher yield and is predictable in terms of quality. They are maximized for human-desired traits. This could also make bigger-sized fruits/vegetables with a better taste.
As per WHO, foods produced using GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) are called GM (Genetically Modified) foods.
This genetical engineering (genetic cloning, protein engineering and kinds) can be done through bacteria, viruses or other plants/animals. It is mostly done to ensure some sort of resistance or tolerance in the produce e.g. a resistance for pesticides that is used to kill the pesty weeds or making the crop resistant to insects. The saved harvest can be high on that pesticide or other ‘un-studied on humans’ chemicals…and this is why GMO is a controversial topic since ever.
For example, GMO corn has a pesticide Bt engineered into its genetic code and this insertion makes it resistant to the pests. Overuse of such corn with a pesticide built into its genes, over a period of time really raises a red flag! However, don’t worry, thatb corn is industrial and the whole sweet corn (including canned/frozen versions) that we eat is most likely not genetically modified. Almost all GM-corn is used as fuel (I am also not sure if ethanol really is environment-friendly to be honest but that’s for another day), livestock feed and processed foods.
Am waiting for the day when it would become compulsory for the producers to label the produce as GMO or otherwise. We deserve to know and make our informed choices on our own, don’t you think?
In The End
Not saying GMO is all bad. There is a reason why such a concept was even introduced and the resultant high-yield, disease free species help in maintaining food supplies all over the world. They are approved by top authorities as safe for human consumption before they reach us. So make sure, they are approved by authorities such as FDA, FSSAI etc
In the end, a few key-points are worth remembering:
- Hybrids are not genetically modified. They are guided/traditional/controlled cross-pollination in fact
- Hybrids can be both natural or man-made…in plantations or in labs
- Hybrids do not have an altered DNA
- Organic foods are only labeled organic if they do not in any way, use GM products so make sure you know how to identify truly organic products/produce
- Read your labels carefully as almost 50% of imported packaged food today have either wheat or corn in them, one way or other and…are also found to be GM positive
- India allows import of GM soyabean and canola oil however the only GM crop approved for cultivation in India is Bt Cotton (because of many crop failures in past in the cotton belt area, I believe)
- Cultivation of unapproved GM crops in India, is a punishable offence. Yey!
We are lucky that India still manufactures most of its produce non-GMO and many attempts to introduce them to Indian consumers in past, have been not allowed yet e.g. BT brinjal, Protato (protein rich potato) and GM mustard etc
However, let’s stay aware of what we consume and make a habit of reading the labels well. Till the time we have a definite answer to the question whether GM produce/crops are safe or not, better stay wary…and aware.
Do join me on Instagram on the link below for much more like this…on health, fitness, nutrition and awareness, on a regular basis.
Till next Friday
Love, Health & Peace


Colombia - Tolima
Tasting notes: With the exquisite fragrance of honeydew and a cup redolent of green grapes and lush melon, this cup seduced our palates from the first.
While many delicious coffees aren’t in fact organic, we are still keen organic food consumers and want to support its promotion. Our opening offering is a Fair Trade Organic cup from the Department of Tolima in Colombia. With its exquisite fragrances, we’re really excited to feature it as our first organic offering.
250g resealable bag
162 smallholder farmers grow this coffee between the altitudes of 1,650 and 2,100 metres above sea level; heights ideal for creating fine flavours. ASOPEP, the farmers’ association, trains its members in ecological standards and best agricultural and post-harvest practices.


Blog followers help suggest creative ways to get your green on!
With Earth Day coming up April 22, Tesselaar Plants is offering new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. And this year, the international plant developer is getting help from followers of its Your Easy Garden blog.
“During the blog’s recent ‘Labor Saving Tips Contest,’ we couldn’t believe how many ideas we received about making the world a better, greener place,” said Tesselaar cofounder and president Anthony Tesselaar. “The tips were so perfect for Earth Day, we just had to share them.”
Ditch the chemicals
Shelley Button uses horse manure instead of synthetic chemicals to fertilize her garden. “What a great use for the waste we get from our horses,” she said. “And every year, our garden and flowers look amazing.”
Don’t have horse manure readily available? If you live in the country or suburbs, you might be able to get it from nearby farms or riding stables. If you live in the city, you could ask mounted police patrols or those offering horse-drawn carriage rides.
If you live by the ocean, you can also use seaweed as fertilizer. At least that’s what Charlee Curtis of Boothbay, Maine does, composting seaweed along with food, organic scraps, shredded newspapers, paper towels, tissues and banana peels.
Another way to cut the chemicals in your garden is to buy plants that are naturally disease and pest resistant.
Fortunately, plant developers are heeding customers’ demands and offering more disease-resistant varieties. For the last two decades, Tesselaar has pioneered in this space, rolling out the world’s first eco-friendly, no-spray roses.
“Two decades after introducing the Flower Carpet® line as the world’s first eco-friendly, no-spray roses, we’re still committed to introducing plants so tough, they require little or no chemical treatments,” said Tesselaar. Flower Carpet roses, he added, have won more All Deutschland Rose designations (the world’s highest honor for natural disease resistance) than any other easy-care groundcover rose. Tesselaar also offers the mildew-resistant Volcano® phlox and virtually pest- and disease-free Festival™ Burgundy and Burgundy Spire™ cordylines.
Be a wise waterer
Tracy Beauchamp uses the water produced by her central air unit to water flowers automatically. She just places a clear tube (available from a home improvement center) inside the air conditioner discharge hose and directs it to the pots that need it. “It’s handy because that hotter and drier it is, the more the A/C runs,” she said.
Carmen Monnin puts out a bucket or two to catch water when it rains. “And then I use that to water some of my plants on the porch, especially those that didn’t get as much rain,” she said.
“You can also conserve on water by investing in drought-resistant plants – and they don’t have to be desert scrub or cacti,” offered Tesselaar. “Flower Carpet roses, for instance, are so waterwise, they’re called ‘desert roses’ by southwest gardeners and landscapers.”
His two other drought-resistant recommendations? The Storm™ series of agapanthus and Tropicanna cannas. “Although cannas are known as great water garden and bog plants because they can handle wet feet, they also handle drought very well, which makes them ideal container plants.” “Storm was the only agapanthus to survive the Dallas Arboretum’s famous ‘trials by fire’ in intense heat and drought,” explained Tesselaar.
Repurpose those containers
Cintia Pendleton of Port Orange, Florida suggested transforming plastic containers and cans from the kitchen into beautiful planters. “Bulbs like cans and you can make the cans look good with some art,” said Pendleton, adding that they’re great ready-made gifts once the flowers bloom.
Sam Frazier of southwest Michigan repurposes old yogurt containers for seedling starts. “They’re free and reusable, and it keeps them out of landfills,” he said. “I do the same with old coffee containers, and the lids make great plant saucers!”
Get involved in community gardening
In addition to using her horses’ manure for her own organic fertilizer, Shelley Button also donates it to community gardens that help feed the hungry. “It helps those with food assistance needs get a better production in their plot, and it also helps with their flower beds,” she said.
“What a wonderful way to be green – helping others while helping the planet we all share,” remarked Tesselaar. “We know we’ve all been inspired by these tips, and this Earth Day, we hope they’ve inspired you, too!”
Click here to download a Word version of this News Release/Story Starter
Tesselaar Plants searches the world and introduces new plants for the home garden, landscape and home décor markets, undertaking extensive research and development of its varieties. The Tesselaar philosophy is to introduce exceptional plants while “making gardening easy” for everyone, so it makes its products as widely available as possible. Tesselaar believes the more gardeners there are, the better it is for everyone.
Media Contact: PR@TesselaarUSA.com


Del Sur produces and markets agricultural products from Paraguay.
It is a subsidiary Company of Compañía Agrícola Ganadera Heisecke, a Company with a 100 years’ of history in the agricultural business.
Del Sur invests in state of the art technology and infrastructure
available in the industry to provide world class quality rice.
We grow 3,500 hectares in our own fields located on the Tebicuary
river basin, the region with the best soil and water flow for rice crop in the country.
Our goal is to produce the finest quality rice in the world. We supply to markets with the highest standards.
From planting to harvesting, our production process ensures uniformity in appearance and flavor of the grains.
- Long Grain White Rice, Polished,
- Long Grain White Rice, Enriched
- Long Grain Brown Rice
- Paddy Rice
- Broken White Rice
- Rice Bran
|Lenght of grains – average||6.638 mm|
|Width of grains – average||1.883 mm|
|Fat (Dry sustance)||80.5%|
|Protein (Dry sustance)||7.85% fibra|
|PH Value||5.5. – 5.5%|
|Free Fatty Acids (Dry sustance)||0.15 %|
|GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)||Non detectable|
|For human consumption|
Whiteness and polishing accordingly to buyers specification.
25 kg, 30 kg, 40 kg, 50 kg, 1.000 kg polyeweave bags or 1 kg, 2 kg, 5 kg film bags
Products can also be shipped in bulk.
River/ sea transport of our rice, in bulk, bags or packages, is made in inspected, approved and properly prepared containers to ensure the product reaches our customers in optimal conditions. Airtight containers offers greater security for food transportation.
Inspected and approved trucks are used for the shipping by land. The cargo is specially conditioned and covered to protect the product quality.
For businesses of greater volume. We have the necessary infrastructure for bulk cargo by vessels.
- Calle Tte. Fernando del Valle 289 C/ Del Espiritu Santo | CP 1713 | Asunción, Paraguay
- +595 21 285260/1/2
- +595 972 198800 – +595972 300050


For medicinal and culinary uses, herbs have been used by indigenous peoples in all corners of the globes since time began. Herbs are very hardy and adapt to just about any type of growing climate. You won’t have a problem finding herbs you can grow. You don’t have to be an experienced gardener to have a successful herb garden. They are not complicated. Read this article to learn some simple steps to get started.
There are many reasons that people are growing herbs these days; they can enrich your life in so many ways; such as enhancing the flavor of your food, adding aroma to your home and even has some medicinal qualities. However, you shouldn’t assume that every herb you can grow is safe to consume. Aloe, for example, is a medicinal herb that’s used externally on the skin and also made into a juice. If you grow aloe, however, you shouldn’t ingest it as it can have serious side effects. When you purchase aloe juice, it is very concentrated and has instructions on how to take it safely. Another herb that’s often used in homeopathic remedies is arnica, but this is only safe to take in very small dosages. There are a lot of herbs that can be harmful to your health; these are just two of many.
Herbs have been grown for thousands of years, by people who have used them for healing and purposes that were medicinal. Herbs can be found everywhere, and a different benefit can be found with each herb. There is a lot online about herbalism, in addition to books, where you can find whatever you want about herbs. There are healing teas that come from herbs, in addition to many other remedies and even tinctures.
Dandelion, for example, which is considered a mere weed by people who don’t know any better, is a powerful tonic for the liver. Chamomile is well-known for its calming qualities, while burdock is a blood purifier. To make use of herbs for anything medicinal, it is bad to use pesticides for repelling pests, so natural methods should be used.
The problem of pests surfaces for just about everyone who has a garden – indoors or outdoors. There are the little insects that are annoying, and there are bigger pests who just want to have your herbs for dinner. A good method to help protect your herbs is by planting a few of the herbs that are abhorrent to insects. The mints are famous for driving away ants, aphids, lice, and the black flea beetle. Don’t forget to plant some lavender. It will help protect your other herbs from moths and smells wonderful. These are just a sample of the herbs that are natural insect repellents. Learn more about them and incorporate the useful ones in your garden to control your insects. The best way to protect your herb garden from marauding larger animals is to enclose it in a fence. All of your careful planning and hard work can be for naught if these larger animals get into your garden. They can turn it to ruins very fast if you can’t devise a method of keeping them out.
Your herb garden can be a project concerning the whole family, or if need be, you can do it by yourself. Beginners should start with an herb garden, but growing herbs still gives lots of satisfaction to experienced gardeners. Growing plants have been a tradition for many people, for a long time, and herbs have been one of the most favorite.


What a fantastic morning P1 had at Plant and Play Wildlife Garden in Bangor!
We had been learning in school all about bugs and plants and had set up a wormery to watch the worms making soil and also a Bug Garden with live caterpillars, so our outing was really to have fun reinforcing some Science facts and make more investigations.
Vikki, who is in charge, told us lots of fun facts about bees and wasps, butterflies and moths, snails and worms and then we made a Life Cycle chart about Ladybirds.
We went outside into her really interesting garden looking for various minibeasts and comparing them and then we smelled various herbs that were growing and tried to guess what they were.
Later on we heard a story about unusual vegetables and then we each planted a pot of Marigold seeds to take back to school.
But the highlight of our day was observing Pixie Prickles, the hedgehog which was very sleepy but managed to wake up enough to nibble some dog food and show us her claws and twitchy nose.
It was a beautiful sunny day and we came back to school having had such fun and having learned so much.


Owner & Managing Director
Mallanganee local, Ross Larsson started Mara Global Foods in 2009. He brings 25 years of grain experience and 15 years’ milling experience to the business. Ross has a background in benchmarking and business development and has worked across numerous industries. Ross has a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) from the University of Queensland and is heavily involved in all levels of management and process.
Ross comes from a local 5th generation cropping and livestock family and is proud of his Northern Rivers heritage.


There’s much we can learn from realms outside of business: this is a prime example.
Smallholder farmers—and the rural communities that depend on them—are extremely vulnerable to climate change. The transition to more sustainable agricultural practices is vital to improve productivity and resilience while decreasing farm-related emissions. But despite the urgency, changing the behavior of small-scale farmers remains an uphill battle. Farming is a financially precarious profession, which makes most farmers reluctant to experiment with methods that introduce even more uncertainty into their already uncertain livelihoods
Take Colombian farmer Pablo Cruz, who doesn’t hold back when discussing what it takes to grow his lettuces. Composting, he told us, was more sustainable, but also difficult and time consuming. Chemical inputs guaranteed productivity, but increased pests. Like many other farmers, Pablo (whose name we’ve changed) was initially skeptical about making the switch to more sustainable agricultural practices. “Chemicals poison food, but people want everything easy and want to see those big lettuces. If you go organic, the lettuces don’t grow. Can a plant even grow without chemical attention?”
Improving the adoption rates for new farming technologies has been a challenge since the onset of agricultural extension training programs in the ’50s. Strategies for designing effective change are still far too reliant on traditional levers like material incentives (“pay them”), rules and regulations (“stop them”), and information (“tell them”). In Colombia’s Norte de Santander department, where Pablo lives and farms, these strategies don’t work at the scale needed for meaningful change. While they might reach some farmers already eager to adopt new practices, many more are reluctant to approach outsider NGOs or adopt the latest technological innovations.
Strategies for designing effective change are still far too reliant on traditional levers like material incentives (“pay them”), rules and regulations (“stop them”), and information (“tell them”).


Our society faces a cascade of pressing issues in the highly interlinked sectors of energy, water, land and livelihood (the WELL nexus). India is counted amongst the countries that will reel from the worst effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and droughts. The report Composite Water Management Index released by Niti Aayog in June 2018 stressed the water scarcity in the country. Around 600 million people in the country today are facing high to extreme water stress. Tamil Nadu has been facing two consecutive years of drought and has been rated as ‘extremely water stressed’. Ground water levels are dwindling at a fast rate. The water scarcity is, in turn, having a severe effect on the agricultural sector and the many livelihoods dependent on it. The sector employs 40% of the State’s workforce and accounts for 20% of the total electricity consumption, and for an estimated 80% of the total ground water extraction.
The State’s policy of free electricity supply for agricultural consumers presents an unsustainable subsidy burden on the State and on the electricity utility. It also contributes to the fact that 3-phase electricity supply for agricultural connections is highly unreliable and sporadic. The sector often witnesses long hours of power supply interruptions. To deal with unreliability of electricity supply, farmers tend to keep pumps permanently switched on, in order for pumps to operate whenever 3-phase electricity is available. This leads to increase in electricity consumption, or extraction of ground water and over irrigation of fields.
To meet the challenges in the WELL nexus areas, different central and State Government initiatives have been launched. These include the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY) launched in 2015; the Agriculture Demand Side Management (AgDSM) Programme to replace inefficient agricultural pump sets; and the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme approved in February this year for the use of solar PV at farm level. However, there is lack of convergence between these schemes to derive synergistic benefits for all the stakeholders: farmers, the State and the electricity utility, and the public at large. Meeting the pressing needs of the agriculture and power sector in the State will require an integrated problem solving approach of the water-energy-land-livelihood (WELL) nexus. A three-pronged approach that integrates grid-interactive solar PV (photovoltaic), energy efficient pumps, and advanced irrigation technology promises to substantially alleviate the issues outlined earlier.
Solar energy produced at farm level comes at a lower cost than the average cost of supply of grid electricity. The on-site consumption of solar energy by the farm will significantly reduce the subsidy burden on the State and TANGEDCO. As the farmers receive free electricity supply, the investment for deployment of solar PV at farms is unlikely to be made by them and will have to be made by a third party, such as a RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company), which gets paid by TANGEDCO for the solar energy produced. To participate in such a program the farmer should benefit as well. An incentive can be provided whereby the farmer earns more when electricity (and water) consumption is reduced. If well designed, such an incentive will also motivate the farmer to invest in energy efficient pumps and advanced irrigation technologies.
Combining solar PV with energy efficient pumps reduces the pumping energy requirements and translates into less units of electricity that need to be supplied by TANGEDCO free of cost. Advanced irrigation technology (micro-irrigation in combination of ICT enabled precision irrigation technology) has the largest beneficiary impact on farmer income due to increase in yield; it also greatly reduces water and energy requirements. With the right program design, farmers can self-finance advanced irrigation from the increase in crop yield and the solar farm incentive along with the help of existing subsidy schemes. TANGEDCO needs to be the key driver for a successful implementation of such a program.
Introducing solar PV at farms would also contribute significantly to meeting the State’s solar energy target. The recently announced Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2019 set a solar energy target of 9,000 MW by 2020, of which 40%, or 3,600 MW is allocated to the consumer category solar (small-scale solar).
For Tamil Nadu, it is estimated that such an integrated approach would result in a total elimination of the free electricity subsidy, an increase in farmer income of up to 70%, reduction in water usage up to 45% and curbing of CO2 emissions up to 283%. Further, there is a large green job creation potential in manufacturing, installation and maintenance.


Dubai’s Irrigation Systems For Maintaining Your Gardens Look
Driving through Dubai’s streets, one cannot help but notice the massive pools of water on the sides of the roads and walkways. These puddles, which are the consequence of irrigation attempts on green areas and plants, are a colossal waste. As a result, one critical issue arises: Does the UAE have that much water to spare?
In the United Arab Emirates, water is in limited supply. The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s top ten water-scarce countries, with one of the highest per capita water use rates. A Dubai citizen drinks more than double the worldwide national average of 20 liters per person per day.
Methods Of Irrigation In Dubai:
There are some methods that are used in Dubai For irrigation here we’ll discuss about them and will tell you which one is the best choice for you.
Spray irrigation is the Cheapest and easiest mode of irrigation. It can be easily fitted. In this irrigation system, the water distribution will be equal. Spray irrigation (sprinkler systems) Can be used to cool down the system when the temperature is high.
Drip irrigation is a technique that is being utilized as a substitute for spray irrigation. Drip irrigation uses perforated tubes that are put along the floor or buried near the plant roots to provide water straight to the roots. Not only does this result in a significant reduction in water evaporation, but it also consumes 25% less water than spray irrigation systems.
Gravel and Pipes Irrigation System :
Another technology utilized in the UAE is a gravel and pipe irrigation system that is 60cm below the surface. The area is dug and coated with a waterproof tarp, then layers of gravel and dirt are poured around a half-pipe before anything is planted. The pipe is bored at appropriate locations to allow water to flow while keeping sand and silt out. This approach uses only 2.5 liters of water to maintain a plot that typically uses 10 to 12 liters.
Some are straightforward and can be implemented right away:
- Set the sprinklers to water just the grass and plants, not the streets and sidewalks.
- Drink water at cooler times of day, such as early in the morning or late in the evening, to avoid evaporation.
- Time irrigation to coincide with seasonal rainfall.
- Increase the number of drought-tolerant plants in your garden.
Other options, such as switching to more effective watering systems, might be more difficult (see above). Of course, the government has a role to play in encouraging people to embrace ecologically beneficial practices. The government has the power to:
- Provide financial assistance for the installation of more advanced irrigation systems (e.g., drip irrigation).
- Give farmers that follow environmentally friendly regulations or standards better loan and credit terms.
- Launch a series of programs around the UAE aimed at informing farmers and citizens about the need to conserve water for the environment.
With water scarcity at an all-time low, there isn’t enough water to be dispersed evenly among the UAE’s citizens, much alone water to squander. Now is the moment to take action.


On the 30th November and 1st December festive fun hit the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells with the arrival of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, bringing the Christmas spirit to mid Wales.
Over 32,900 people braved the wind and rain to visit the event this year, yet again breaking the record for the largest attendance to the show over 2 days, a sure bet that this show will continue to get bigger and better over the coming years!
We were, once again, delighted to be able to attend and promote the quality Welsh produce grown in Pembrokeshire and Wales to visitors from all over the UK. This year we chose the theme of ‘Mrs Claus’ Kitchen’, as every family has a Mrs or Mr Claus who prepares their Christmas dinner lovingly on Christmas day.
With our potato oven bringing a warm glow to the stand, we gave away approximately 5,000 free samples of our Rudolph potatoes that were either baked, roasted with rosemary oil or bombay spiced.
Visitors to the stand also had the opportunity to enter our free prize draw, with first prize being a set of professional saucepans and runners up having the chance to win a pair of Cariad mugs, designed by Welsh potter Keith Brymer Jones.
On Monday we also had a special visitor to our stand, Mrs Claus just had to try some of our tasty Rudolph potatoes, which she thoroughly enjoyed!
With the festive season in full swing we look forward to next year’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair, where our quality Welsh produce can, once again, be on show!


LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., April 29, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EnviroIngenuity today announced its offering of hydroponic vertical gardens for use at home. The beautiful stackable garden systems make it easy to grow delicious, nutritious, non-toxic food at home using limited space and reducing use of natural resources.
Tag Archives | EnviroIngenuity
EnviroIngenuity Partners with Garden Supply, Inc. to Offer Improved Hydroponic Vertical Farming System
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EnviroIngenuity today announced a partnership with Garden Supply, Inc., to represent and promote hydroponic vertical farming systems throughout the Western United States.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — With the arrival of the holiday season, Alegria Fresh announces ‘healthy greens’ gift giving. This year, instead of giving the latest technology, entertainment or fashion goods, Alegria Fresh makes it possible to give vitality and longevity with its new one-month gift subscription. Enjoying a produce bouquet full of nutrient-rich greens and herbs will go along way to battling the calories and damage done from eating high-fat holiday treats.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — ‘This food will keep you alive and vital, and I am living proof,’ says Francis Lingel, a 90-year young veteran who has joined Alegria Farm’s team to assist with farm tours. ‘Fresh greens are the secret to longevity,’ he adds.
Sustainable Teachers Delegation from Sweden tours Alegria Farm to learn about Disease-Preventing Food and High-Efficiency Hydroponic Vertical Farming
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — A Swedish delegation of Sustainable Teachers toured Alegria Farm to learn about its new high efficiency farming process and find out about the disease fighting food being grown and delivered by Alegria Fresh.
Japanese Delegation tours Alegria Farm to learn about High Efficiency Hydroponic Vertical Farming Process
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Huntington Beach Sister City Association and its delegation of 25 adults from sister city Anjo, Japan, toured Alegria Farm on Sunday October 7, it was announced by Erik Cutter, Managing Director of Alegria Fresh. Learning about Alegria’s innovative new farming method that employs the Verti-Gro(R) System provided the delegation with nutrition-rich knowledge to bring back to Japan.
EnviroIngenuity Brings Energy Efficient Vertical Farming Process and Locally-Grown Food to Laguna Beach
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Local entrepreneur Erik Cutter has bought the farm – literally. EnviroIngenuity today announced the phase one completion of Alegria Farm, Orange County’s first hydroponic vertical farm. Engaged in the promotion of sustainable technologies, EnviroIngenuity has brought a new farming system to the west coast.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Today, EnviroIngenuity’s Urban Hydroponic Vertical Farming Division announced the completion of Laguna Beach’s first solar-powered, hydroponic vertical farm. It is located on the private Bluebird Canyon Family Farm property, the first urban organic farm in Laguna Beach with a view of the Pacific.
Green Planet Productions Films EnviroIngenuity’s Hydroponic Vertical Farms for Sustainability Feature
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Today, EnviroIngenuity’s Hydroponic Vertical Farming Division announced its participation in a Green Planet Productions special feature on sustainable living.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EnviroIngenuity’s urban hydroponic vertical farming division today announced plans to develop a hydroponic vertical farming demonstration center in Laguna Beach. The Verti-Gro(R) system, featured at the Epcot(R) theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida for the last 16 years, will be employed at the new demonstration facility.
Health Experts Advocate for Patients to Heal and Prevent Disease through Locally-Grown Natural Foods
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., April 4, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EnviroIngenuity today added two health experts to its urban hydroponic vertical farming division. Dr. Dave Williams and Dr. Steven Dreyer join EnviroIngenuity.
TEMECULA, Calif., March 5, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Temecula Valley Strawberry Farms, Southern California’s first commercial hydroponic urban vertical farm, partners with EnviroIngenuity to promote new production techniques. On Saturday, March 17, 2012, the public will experience the future of farming at the grand opening of Temecula Valley Strawberry Farms, Southern California’s first hydroponic vertical strawberry farm.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Feb. 7, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EnviroIngenuity today announced a partnership with Verti-Gro(R) to represent and promote hydroponic vertical farming systems throughout Southern California. Verti-Gro, Inc. designs and manufactures cost-effective, high density hydroponic growing systems. It offers stacked towers to suit large-scale commercial production needs which can be downsized for residential use and Community Supported Agriculture.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Jan. 24, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EnviroIngenuity today announced its vertical farming division, which is developing vertical farming processes in Southern California to enable individuals and communities to grow their own food in urban areas.
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- Huskies for Adoption Hermosa Beach Saturday May 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tue, 21 May 2013
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- Gunther’s Games Arcade Reopens on Broadway Fri, 26 Apr 2013
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Is India on its way to becoming an entirely organic nation?
The study found that while fruit flies normally live between 39 and 51 days, those that ate the Truvia ingredient erythritol died...
Brazil joins the growing number of countries rejecting GMO imports from the United States.
Germany’s cabinet just approved a draft law which bans the cultivation of genetically modified crops within their borders.
Farmers in India's poorest region are recording record rice yields by growing organically, debunking once and for all the myth that GMOs...
It’s not a mystery why most countries around the world have completely banned GMO’s.
It is time for American leaders to listen to the dozens of other countries that have banned GM food.
The Vietnamese government says it hopes to have 30 to 50 percent of its cropland planted with GMOs by 2020.
Russia has announced a game-changing move in the fight against Monsanto’s GMOs.
It’s hard to tell whether this speech by Jim Carrey was a speech of the year or a speech of the decade!
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Being self reliant and providing for our own needs has been a prophetic call.
Even though I have only a small balcony does not restrict me from growing some good veggies & spices every year. this was my growing garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, sweet peppers, cilantro, kale & lettuce.
This will be my third pick of peppers
and grape tomatoes.
And some beautiful cilantro.
Cucumbers are still growing.
Being self reliant and frugal is a great way to live. Harvesting my own veggies and some spices makes me feel good while bringing some comfort in knowing I follow a prophet's call to having a garden.


Composting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and make the earth a better place. However, not everyone has a backyard to start composting. If you live in an apartment, you can still compost! With some creativity and a little effort, you can start your very own compost in your apartment. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to start a compost in your apartment, step by step.
When it comes to choosing your compost bin, you should consider the size and design. For an apartment, you would want a small compost bin with a sleek design that will fit your apartment. You may also consider a compost tumbler that you can keep indoors. Be sure to purchase a compost bin that comes with a lid to prevent odor. The lid should be easy to remove so that you can add scraps such as food waste and newspaper clipping.
The key to starting a compost is adding the right materials. For a successful compost, you need to add green materials such as vegetable scraps and coffee grounds. You also need to add brown materials such as newspaper clippings and dry leaves. This will help to maintain the correct balance of carbon and nitrogen. Be sure to mix your composting materials regularly to ensure that they decompose evenly.
Choose a suitable location for your compost bin. You can place it in a balcony or near an open window for good ventilation. Avoid areas that might be too warm, as it could cause the compost to dry out. Keep in mind that the smell of decomposing food might attract insects, so be prepared to keep the bin away from the living area.
Composting is all about balance. You need to be careful with the type and amount of materials you add to your bin. A good rule of thumb is to add equal parts of brown and green materials. Remember to keep your compost bin moist and stir it regularly to help the decomposition process. You may also want to add a compost accelerator or a handful of soil to speed up the process.
After a few weeks, your compost should be ready for use. Use it to enrich your house plants or herbs. Not only will it help your plants grow, but it will also help to reduce waste. You can also use it to fertilize your outdoor garden when the time comes.
Starting a compost in your apartment might seem like a daunting task, but it is relatively easy with the right tools and steps. Remember to choose the right compost bin, add the right materials, find the right location, maintain your compost, and use it to your advantage. By following these steps, you will be able to create a compost that will reduce your carbon footprint and make the earth a better place. Happy composting! If you're looking for apartments in Wilson, NC, contact Oasis at Heritage today to schedule a personal tour.


The raised beds are done! At least being built, anyway. Josh built four more beds and we filled two with compost and soil and planted them. The other two are going to wait until we get another truckload of compost, hopefully soon after we're home from the hospital.
In bed 2 (bed 1 was what we planted Sunday), we planted marigolds, lettuce, peas, spinach, okra, tomatoes, and sweet peppers. In bed 3 we planted marigolds, lettuce, onions, carrots, spinach, peas, okra, tomatoes, sweet peppers, jalapeno peppers, and cayenne peppers. I don't remember the exact layouts off the top of my head, and I kind of winged it in order to get all of the starts in the ground before we're gone for a week. I also planted a row of peaches and cream corn in the ground along the back edge of the garden area. The ground was pretty tough, so I'm not sure how well that will work out.
Ben slept in the stroller while we worked in the garden.
I'm not sure why, but I took a picture of the diaper laundry today. It was such a sunny perfect day today and I'm so pleased with my decision to cloth diaper. We temporarily stopped cloth diapering today, so we wouldn't have dirty laundry to come home to. I already forgot how much I don't like disposable diapers. They smell weird, feel like paper and leak.
I went to the store and got a bag of snack food, we've cleaned and packed, and we're about as ready as we're going to be for tomorrow.


||edHelper's suggested reading level:
||Flesch-Kincaid grade level:
||compost, reused, scraps, series, leftover, speed, dying, understand, between, quickly, enough, different, pile, waste, shovel, attract
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Feedback on "Bin" Composting?
Spanish: ┐Compostaje en "envases"?
By Beth A. Beutler
1 Grandma Susie has a compost bin. She throws all sorts of scraps in it. The chickens think it is for them. They like to peck at it!
2 I asked Grandma what a compost bin is for. She said it makes dirt to help her plants and garden. At first, I did not understand.
3 Grandma Susie explained. "Over time, my leftover vegetables, pieces of plants, grass clippings, and egg shells break down into new dirt. The dirt contains nutrients that help other plants grow. I mix the finished dirt into my plants and garden. It's a way to recycle."
Paragraphs 4 to 6:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Copyright © 2009 edHelper


One of the projects Go Eat Give supports through international volunteerism is an organic community farm in Cuba. A few miles outside of Havana, a large public housing project was created for people who could not afford to live in the city. In 1997, four agronomist Cubans started an organic urban farm, Vivero Alamar as a way to feed the community and generate employment. Now Vivero Alamar has over 25 acres and employs over 160 people.
The farm has been able to make a huge impact in the lives of Cubans. Up until recently, Cuban diet consisted of rice, beans and meat, but thanks to the produce of Vivero Alamar and other such farms in the area, the locals are now eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Under the direction of Isis Salcines, Vivero Alamar started an outreach program with local schools. Here, children learn to grow vegetables, get a basic understanding of where their food comes from, and discover what makes a healthy diet. By teaching the next generation about organic and sustainable food production, Isis and the staff at Vivero Alamar are ensuring that their methods and philosophy will continue, no matter what happens in Cuba.
Secondly, Vivero Alamar is an innovative cooperative, where all employees share in the profits of what they produce and sell. The employees live, work and participate in Alamar so that they have better working conditions and higher wages than an average Cuban.
The market at the entrance of Vivero Alamar sells produce like cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, green onions, carrots, tomatillos, peppers, beets and bok choy; Cuban staples like rice and black beans; peanuts, sprouts and sunflower seeds; and some prepared foods like tomato puree, mango or guava jam, and sauerkraut. Customers can pick up fresh produce daily and meet the farmers too.
During our volunteer vacation in Cuba, we spend a day at the farm learning about sustainable organic farming in Cuba, helping out with their projects, giving them donations and enjoying a delicious lunch prepared using all farm grown ingredients! Isis Salcines said, “Go Eat Give is the only organization who has come to Alamar to work alongside the farmers and make them feel important!”
Go Eat Give volunteers took donations of clothes and office supplies for the farm and its workers. Simple items such as paper clips and pens are very expensive and sometimes even hard to find in Cuba, so our offerings were much appreciated!


Farm Implements by GenZ
Agriculture Equipment Optimization
GenZ Technology is a company that builds farm implements and produces next-generation agriculture equipment for spraying strawberry fields and vineyards. Their sprayer systems take a decade’s old process and make it safer, more efficient and help save farmers money by reducing waste. Early prototypes of their system performed well but were challenging to produce and experienced breakage in specific subsystems.
Improving Agricultural Equipment
A comprehensive design review, as well as specific design improvements, would be the best way to improve manufacture-ability and reliability without completely redesigning the system from the ground up.
Equipment Engineering Analysis
As with many projects, a thorough understanding of the application was an important starting point. After meeting with leadership at GenZ as well as production personnel, the team had a clear understanding of the issues and opportunities to improve the design. As analysis and redesign progressed, SGW Designworks used Finite Element Analysis to define the root cause of failures. Subsystems and assemblies were redesigned and then validated using the same FEA and simulations. Design changes were then optimized for production, and captured in production documentation suitable for fabricators and assemblers.
GenZ systems incorporating the design improvements are available now. This year GenZ’s first strawberry sprayers are seeing use in the field by customers and the company continues to develop new agriculture equipment addressing pesticide drift issues and operator safety concerns.
A key issue for farmers is reducing the amount of pesticide used as well as staying current with changing regulations dealing with pesticide application.
As part of the engineering effort, SGW Designworks used Finite Element Analysis for GenZ Technology to help identify possible problem areas and working to strengthen and correct any weaknesses that were identified in order to help GenZ make their existing prototypes more robust.
Learn more about SGW Designworks Product Design Services.
- Mechanism Design
- Electronics Integration
- Cost Optimization
- Desgin Documentation


We present an opportunity to invest in a new or an existing agricultural company located in East Europe, in Romania.
Having fertile and productive lands, located in a variety of relief forms, like plans, hills, plateau, mountains, crossed and watered by rushed streams or clean and cold rivers, allowing increasing productions from farms and optimal yields for the most types of crops.
Are you interested about the project ?
If you know such kind of things, or have a good idea or want to make a proposal for us, please visit the Proposal for us page, or
If you think you know such kind of things and want to share with us, please e-mail us with all details.Thank you.


A day that deserves our respect
After more than 100 years, the association of vegetable oils with alcohol, in a chemical process known as transesterification, COULD make the new fuel of renewable origin viable: Biodiesel.
A Renewable and clean fuel that does not harm the environment and has important social and economic functions for Brazil and the world!
PROVIDES Sustainable development and social inclusion – a strong demonstration of this, happens in the southern region of Brazil where 40% of the grains used for the production of biodiesel come from family farming, assisting approximately 75 thousand families every year.
In addition to being very economically attractive, biodiesel is:
AN Environmental quality vector;
Emits 98% less CO2 than oil, it is not toxic, it is a hundred times more biodegradable than ordinary diesel oil.
It contributes to the reduction of the greenhouse effect.
It enables the use of carbon credits linked to the clean development mechanism, resulting from the Kyoto Protocol, and the use of unsuitable land for food production.
In Brazil, the creation of the National Biodiesel Production and Use Program (PNPB), in 2004, marks the beginning of biodiesel production and use in the country.
Lumina congratulates all Brazilian Biodiesel producers and is proud to be part of this journey, from the beginning of the Biodiesel project in Brazil to the present, exporting Glycerin (a by-product of Biodiesel production).


Do you want to build a veggie garden? Well, I’m here today to tell you why if you need to make a veggie garden to not use humongous white yezees. Firstly the veggie garden would not be a good shape. Secondly, when you plant the seeds you won't be able to see them grow because the shoe would have gone into the ground very deeply. Finally, the sun would not shine on the seeds when they were planted because the sun shines on an angle. That is why you should not use humongous white yezees to make a veggie garden.


50 Florida Landscaping Ideas Front Yards Curb Appeal Palm Trees
Creating a vibrant and beautiful garden and yard in Florida comes with its own set of challenges, but there are also many opportunities to try new things. The following are just a few suggestions:
Gold Lantana is an attractive plant that works well in Florida – it contains a sap that attracts butterflies. This is a plant that works well in a wide variety of gardens. You may also want to consider planting Aztec grass if you live in Florida and would like to try something different. Although this isn’t a native plant, it works well in this region and again, is very low maintenance. It doesn’t require large amounts of water – perfect for Florida.
Dwarf firebushes are a good choice for Florida landscapes because they attract wildlife, specifically butterflies, to your garden, which adds another element of beauty to the surroundings.
Vegetable gardens also do well in Florida, so if you have been thinking about growing some of your own vegetables it shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve. When planting a vegetable garden, you may want to build a raised bed and put a layer of erosion cloth around the perimeter of the garden bed to deal with any water that may come off the plants after they are just planted.
Because it’s common for soil in Florida to be lacking in nutrients, it can be more difficult to grow vegetables than other plants, which don’t require as many nutrients and can adapt to the local soil. You may have to add a rich potting soil mix to the bed so that the vegetables have access to enough nutrients to grow properly. You can also include soil additives if needed. Good soil for a Florida vegetable garden may include compost, peat moss, shredded fir bark, and dolomite.
Some people mistakenly believe that you can’t grow vegetables under the strong Florida heat, but this is just not true. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, and herbs thrive in hot temperatures and are perfect for a Florida vegetable garden.
Again, the main thing that many Florida homeowners worry about when planting gardens is the condition of the soil, which can be quite sandy. If you’re worried about planting new shrubs and plants in your backyard, stick to low maintenance plants that don’t require a lot of water. If you do, the soil shouldn’t pose much of a problem. But don’t add fertilizer or manure to the soil. This may actually cause more problems because the plants will adapt to the added nutrient content of the soil; when it dissipates, the plants may develop problems or stagnate in their growth.
When fertilizing, you may want to try an alternative to chemicals. To help improve the environment and your health, there are a variety of natural fertilizers available made up of natural plant and animal products. A good natural fertilizer is also able to improve the condition of your soil, which is crucial in Florida landscapes. A healthy soil is really what will keep your garden going strong for years to come.
GreenMark Provides professional Commercial Orlando Landscaping – Landscape Maintenance and Tree Removal.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Gilliland/43334
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/782408


Grain Farmers of Ontario represents Ontario’s 28,000 growers of corn, soybean and wheat. Farming over 5 million acres across the province, grain farmers and are a driving force in the Canadian economy. Grain Farmers of Ontario seeks to educate the general public about the importance of grain farming in Ontario, debunk myths, change perceptions and advocate with government.
Grain Farmers of Ontario’s resident chef is connecting urbanites with farmers, keeping the farm to fork process top of mind.
- Position grain farming as a compelling and vital agriculture sector to the general public
- Reach the average consumer in an approachable and relatable way
- Engage Canadian consumers to shop local and get to know the people behind their food
What we did
- Worked with Grain Farmers of Ontario to create a strategic communications plan which reached their organizational objectives while communicating brand objectives to consumers
- Developed the Chef Partnership initiative, an eight month long partnership with a well-known and respected Toronto based chef; Canada’s Next Top Chef Chef 2013 finalist and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club’s Executive Chef, Jonathan Goodyear
- Collaborated with Chef Goodyear to create 12 grain based recipes, supporting Ontario’s corn, soybean and wheat farmers
- Engaged tier-A GTA broadcast to host Chef Jonathan Goodyear for segments where he would describe and demonstrate easy and innovative ways to use grains in the kitchen
- Collaborated with the 2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair’s Road to the Royal Chef Challenge and positioned Chef Jonathan Goodyear as the expert food judge in the final completion with hosts Ben Mulroney and Bob Blumer
- Hosted a consumer focused cooking event inside the Grain Farmers of Ontario interactive trailer at the 2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, with Chef Jonathan’s demonstrating his original recipes onsite where fans could watch the expert chef up close and ask questions
- Secured tier-A broadcast coverage with four GTA outlets and ongoing bookings continue
- To-date 4,188,000 impressions have been secured through online and broadcast, with more than half of the campaign still going strong.


Introducing Solid Bamboo from Moolihai UK! This amazing product is made from 20 seeds of bamboo trees, which are grown in India. Bamboo trees are an excellent source of dietary fiber, magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, copper, amino acids, protein, vitamin B1, sodium and essential minerals. With Solid Bamboo from Moolihai UK you can get all the benefits of these essential nutrients in one convenient package. Plus, it’s easy to use and store – just add water and let it grow! Get your hands on this amazing product today and start enjoying the health benefits of bamboo trees!