The march of interconnected global forces does not cease.... global trade, global finance, global village, global terror, global war on terror, global corporations, global warming, global travel, global citizens, sub-prime crisis, global energy crisis, etc.... And now Global Food Crisis!
...it seems only yesterday, that one heard people talking about the benefits of globalisation, and how now there is plenty of food to feed the world... And given time (and "good" governance) it will all trickle down.
In any case, here is a slice of news headlines from global press:
Financial Post (April 8, 2008)
..."We are now by all accounts in the midst of a global food crisis: key grain prices were up 40% to 130% in the last year, people are protesting and hardship is mounting. But it could soon be worse. Governments and agencies all over the world are gearing up for a global "New Deal" on agriculture policy to solve the food crisis, which means the people who brought us the food crisis are the same people who now want to fix it.
The World Bank reports that prices of staples have jumped 80% since 2005. The price of rice hit a 19-year high last month, and wheat rose to a 28-year high, twice the average price of the last 25 years. Factors behind the surge in prices are varied, including bad weather in some regions, soaring demand from growing populations, and US$100-a-barrel oil".
The Guardian (August 29, 2007)
..."As the US, Europe, China, Japan and other countries commit themselves to using 10% or more alternative automobile fuels, farmers everywhere are rushing to grow maize, sugar cane, palm oil and oil seed rape, all of which can be turned into ethanol or other biofuels for automobiles. But that means getting out of other crops.
The scale of the change is boggling. The Indian government says it wants to plant 35m acres (140,000 sq km) of biofuel crops, Brazil as much as 300m acres (1.2m sq km). Southern Africa is being touted as the future Middle East of biofuels, with as much as 1bn acres (4m sq km) of land ready to be converted to crops such as Jatropha curcas (physic nut), a tough shrub that can be grown on poor land. Indonesia has said it intends to overtake Malaysia and increase its palm oil production from 16m acres (64,000 sq km) now to 65m acres (260,000 sq km) in 2025."
The Times - Online (April 8, 2008)
..."The US Department of Agriculture believes that the world will suffer a 29 million tonne discrepancy this year between what it needs to feed itself and what it can actually produce. Markets have been quick to recognise this and the traditional Asian staples of soyabeans, palm oil and pork have all soared.
Many grain and edible oil markets have also been squeezed by what some observers believe is an unsustainable conflict between cars and stomachs. Land that might previously have been used to feed people is increasingly planted with crops designed for conversion to biofuels, forcing unexpected rises in the prices of everything from tofu to instant noodles."
CNN (March 25, 2008)
..."From subsistence farmers eating rice in Ecuador to gourmets feasting on escargot in France, consumers worldwide face rising food prices in what analysts call a perfect storm of conditions. Freak weather is a factor. But so are dramatic changes in the global economy, including higher oil prices, lower food reserves and growing consumer demand in China and India...
...Clashes over bread in Egypt killed at least two people last week, and similar food riots broke out in Burkina Faso and Cameroon this month.
But food protests now crop up even in Italy. And while the price of spaghetti has doubled in Haiti, the cost of miso is packing a hit in Japan...
...Among the driving forces are petroleum prices, which increase the cost of everything from fertilizers to transport to food processing. Rising demand for meat and dairy in rapidly developing countries such as China and India is sending up the cost of grain, used for cattle feed, as is the demand for raw materials to make biofuels.
What's rare is that the spikes are hitting all major foods in most countries at once. Food prices rose 4 percent in the U.S. last year, the highest rise since 1990, and are expected to climb as much again this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As of December, 37 countries faced food crises, and 20 had imposed some sort of food-price controls"....
Democracy Now! (April 8, 2008)
..."Global food prices have risen dramatically, adding a new level of danger to the crisis of world hunger. In Africa, food riots have swept across the continent, with recent protests in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania and Senegal. In most of West Africa, the price of food has risen by 50 percent——in Sierra Leone, 300 percent. In the United States there has been a 41 percent surge in prices for wheat, corn, rice and other cereals over the past six months".
New York Times (April 8, 2008). By Paul Krugman
..."These days you hear a lot about the world financial crisis. But there’s another world crisis under way — and it’s hurting a lot more people.
I’m talking about the food crisis. Over the past few years the prices of wheat, corn, rice and other basic foodstuffs have doubled or tripled, with much of the increase taking place just in the last few months. High food prices dismay even relatively well-off Americans — but they’re truly devastating in poor countries, where food often accounts for more than half a family’s spending.
There have already been food riots around the world. Food-supplying countries, from Ukraine to Argentina, have been limiting exports in an attempt to protect domestic consumers, leading to angry protests from farmers — and making things even worse in countries that need to import food..."
Business Day (April 4, 2008)
..."World Bank president Robert Zoellick called yesterday for a co-ordinated response to the spiralling prices, which “were exacerbating shortages, hunger and malnutrition around the globe”. He said 33 countries could face social unrest because of higher food and energy prices....
....“We need a new deal for global food policy that should focus not only on hunger and malnutrition, access and supply, but also on the interconnections with energy, yields, climate change, investment, the marginalisation of women and others, and economic resilience and growth.""
The Times of India (March 8, 2008)
..."Global wheat stocks were down to 107 million MT (metric tonnes) in 2007, compared with over 197 million MT in 2001; rice stocks were just 71 million MT compared with 136 million MT...
....In 2007, the world supply of wheat was affected due to drought in Australia, a freeze in US and lower production in Ukraine. The price surge was also fuelled by the new US law saying the use of ethanol for automobiles should be doubled to 15 billion gallons by 2015. Ethanol is made from corn..."
The Standard - Hongkong (April 2, 2008)
..."Global food prices rose 35 percent in the year to the end of January, according to the United Nations, accelerating an upturn that began in 2002. Since then, prices have risen 65 percent....
....The Chinese, who ate just 20 kilograms of meat per capita in 1985, now eat 50kg a year. Each kilogram of beef takes about 7kg of grain to produce, which means land that could be used to grow food for humans is being diverted to growing animal feed.
As the West seeks to tackle global warming, a drive towards greener fuels is also compounding the problem. It is estimated that one in four bushels of corn from this year's US crop will be diverted to make fuel ethanol.
Palm oil is also at record prices because of demand to use it for biofuel, causing pain for low-income families in Indonesia and Malaysia, where it is a staple.
But despite the rising criticism of biofuels, the US corn-fed ethanol industry enjoys wide political support because it helps farmers."
And so we may continue to see an increase in these global trends as have been happening during last few weeks/months... e.g.,


It’s likely that the first mulch ever made on this planet was created by Mother Nature herself. Trees have always dropped leaves and needles that mat together to form a protective covering below. Under that covering can be found rich, dense soil with nary a weed in sight. While Mother Nature likely designed this as a means for trees to sustain themselves, today’s gardeners have far more issues to contend with and mulch has become an effective modern day solution.
The use of mulch in our landscaping provides more than aesthetic value, though that in and of its self is priceless. Mulch also holds moisture into the soil and slows evaporation by forming a protective barrier. When applied in an appropriate thickness it also suppresses weeds since they cannot reach the light. Mulch will further protect your plant’s roots from extremes in temperatures – both heat and cold.
But all mulch is not created equal and all mulch suppliers in South Carolina are not delivering consistently high quality product as we are at Seaside Mulch. The mulch that we make supplies organic matter to the soil and is free of noxious weeds, insects and disease. You won’t find foreign matter in our high quality mulch – something not all suppliers of mulch can say.
We sell a large variety of the finest mulches that you can get in this area and we’ll deliver it right to your door or jobsite. You can count on the mulch that you buy from us to be backed up by our own Quality Assurance Program. That’s something you won’t get from other suppliers.
Our sizes and quantities of mulch are available from 8 quart bags to 2 cubic foot bags by the box or pallet and bulk deliveries from 1 cubic yard to 100 cubic yards delivered by our full service fleet of walking-floor trailers. We offer fast and professional delivery through not just North and South Carolina but also Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
If your gardens aren’t all you think they could be and you suspect you’ve been receiving inferior product from your current mulch supplier, we encourage you to give us a call at Seaside Mulch at 910-791-2100. We’d be happy to show you how a good, high quality mulch can impact all of your gardens!


Nature Strip Maintenance: Monday 11 – 25 November
The maintenance of nature strips – sand seeding process will commence Monday 11th of November these works continue over a week to a fortnight rain, hail or shine. They will be concentrating on areas that are bare away from the base of the tree where the seed has a chance of surviving.
Once the work has been completed we request that residents water to keep the seed alive. The key to this is to keep the seed moist over the first 2 weeks to give the seed a chance to germinate. Soon as the seed completely dries out it’s all over at the seed will not germinate.
From 1st November the team will be fertilising all nature strips, with exception where residents are looking after their own lawns. We are hoping the rain bands hit us tonight and over the weekend to help with the process.


DRY INOCULATOR SEED TREATER
Investing in seed treatment is wise, but it’s crucial to apply it properly and ensure it gets on and stays on the seed. Good seed treaters will do that. Bulk seed handling has increased and planting time has become increasingly valuable. To get seed treatment or seed lubricant on the seed evenly is hugely important. It’s good for your crop, it’s good for the environment, and it’s good for your bottom line.
Enviropac’s Dry Seed Treater/Dry Seed Inoculator can provide the most accurate metering in the industry. Its low RPM/high torque motor and gearbox, combined with an effective slide gate, provides enhanced accuracy you won’t find anywhere else.
We offer both a direct mount and auger mount system.
The Direct Mount system can mount directly onto a seed tender. This version is the most economical unit available.
The Auger Mount version comes complete with hanger brackets, mounting rails and wiring system. Its special two-way wiring powers both the treater and auger.


Who We Are
The founders of Dupont Danks have been cannabis fanatics for a combined 10 years. Through their journey, they have had the privilege of learning from the industry’s leading thought leaders, seasoned cultivators, world-class growers, and dedicated theoreticians. Drawing on these diverse lessons they formed Dupont Danks with the idea that the art of supplying quality products within the Washington D.C. region is at the core of providing an excellent customer experience.
Our team is made up of what we like to call connoisseurs a combination of passionate nerds and cannabis enthusiasts who will work for the benefit of their clients. Dupont Danks experts use tactics and techniques to make assessments, recommend solutions, test all products, and coach the client on how to execute our recommendations.
"We are bridging the gap."


The excellence of a flourishing nursery brimming with sublime plants and trees can scarcely be depicted in words. It requires some investment and endeavors to make a ‘picture-wonderful’ garden. Nonetheless, if you purchase the correct plants and plan the scene productively, the undertaking can undoubtedly be cultivated.
There are incalculable nurseries and nursery focuses that give a wide range of plants and trees for arranging purposes. A large portion of them are mail request nurseries and they give the simplicity of setting orders on the web. Regardless of whether you decide on visiting the nursery place by and by to buy plants or get them on the web; there are sure things that you ought to consider.
Reason – If you are an energetic landscape and planting is your obsession then you can develop pretty much whatever suits the scene. Be that as it may, assuming you are pointing towards a particular sort of nursery, you should pick the plants likewise.
Light, Water, and Soil Requirements – Most of the plants incline toward all around depleted and great quality soil. Nonetheless; various assortments have explicit prerequisites. You should think about every one of these viewpoints before purchasing plants. The area of your nursery can be a central consideration and it is suggested that you review the region and plan out planting beds before buying anything. On the off chance that a portion of the spaces in your nursery is concealed, you can consider developing shade adorning plants to utilize the space. Then again, assuming you have waste issues, you can go in for plants that wouldn’t fret wet or wet soil.
Plant Hardiness Zone – Local climatic conditions likewise assume an urgent part in the development and advancement of plants. Tropical plants perform best in warm, muggy, and heat, and humidities through; high plants incline toward dry and low temperatures for development. Check the plant toughness zone for your space and purchase plants that can acclimate to climatic conditions.
Accessibility – If you are intending to re-plan the whole online nursery then it is ideal to buy from a discount cultivator that can furnish you with a wide range of plants and trees. This way you won’t need to go through the issue of visiting a few distinct nurseries looking for explicit plant assortments.
Cost – Total expense associated with arranging the whole nursery is for the most part beautiful high. A large number of us don’t understand this and we wind up going overboard significantly more than we had anticipated. It is consistently insightful to set up an arranging financial plan. To set aside the cash you can do a few undertakings all alone rather than recruiting somebody. Purchase plants from a discount nursery as they ensure the best quality plants at moderate rates. You can wind up saving significantly more if you pick a discount cultivator over a retail nursery.
Online nursery is an ensured discount cultivator. In online nurseries, you can have a wide spectrum of local plants, bushes, greeneries, and trees. It works in Bare Root Stock and Balled and Burlapped Trees. There are various varieties available to suit all your finishing requirements.


Fresh fruit and vegetable terminal market inspection services; fee revisions,
[Federal Register: October 20, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 202)]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
Proposed Rules Federal Register
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 51
[Docket Number FV-04-310]
Revision of Fees for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Terminal Market Inspection Services
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening and extension of comment period.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed Revision of Fees for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Terminal Market Inspection Service is reopened and extended. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
DATES: Comments must be postmarked, courier dated, or sent via the internet on or before November 3, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this proposal. Comments can be sent to: (1) Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Fresh Products Branch, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 0640-S, Washington, DC 20250-0295, faxed to (202) 720-5136; (2) via e- mail to FPB.DocketClerk@usda.gov.; or (3) Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should make reference to the date and
page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available for public inspection in the above office during regular business hours.
FOR FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: Rita Bibbs-Booth, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 0640-S, Washington, DC 20250-0295, or call (202) 720-0391.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2005 (70 FR 49882) requesting comments on the proposed Revision of Fees for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Terminal Market Inspection Services. Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or before September 26, 2005. A comment was received from an industry association, representing independent produce wholesale receivers, expressing the need for additional time to comment. The association requested the comment period be extended to allow the association an opportunity to meet with their members to discuss the impact of the proposed fee increase.
After reviewing the commenter's request, AMS is reopening and extending the comment period in order to allow sufficient time for interested persons, including the association, to prepare and submit comments
Dated: October 14, 2005. Kenneth C. Clayton, Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-20961 Filed 10-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P


This summer, the gardening activity regained momentum at the Sélection Manoir Notre-Dame residence in Roberval, located on the Lac St-Jean shore. Out of the 125 residents, many are already passionate gardeners, while others are learning by following the overall excitement. Let’s discover their gardens together!
How Is the Gardening Activity Organized?
At Sélection Manoir Notre-Dame, the summer of 2022 will be remembered as the rebirth of the gardens. The concept of individual garden areas was left behind as a new successful approach was brought to life: community gardens with facilitated accessibility. In fact, the parcels of land which had not been used in many years would have needed a ton of plowing work for them to be usable to plant vegetables or herbs.
Mrs. Harvey, the new residence animator, revived the idea of a garden. First, several residents gladly participated in the sowing process. At the dawn of June, already 25 to 30 tomato plants were ready for transplant!
The transplants were done at two-week intervals. Several people volunteered each time! We only needed to put up a sign that said, “Transplanting tomorrow!” for volunteer gardener residents to rally for the cause.
At Manoir Notre-Dame, we appreciate spontaneity!
The Motivation Behind the Gardening Activity
The driving force was to allow residents to be part of a unifying activity which they can discuss together. What a success! People who barely knew each other before have now formed new friendships thanks to their common interest in gardening.
Very Accessible Gardening Areas
Several 4 feet long by 1 to 2 feet wide elevated boxes hold the seedling. They certainly are very practical: no need to bend over while picking! Tomatoes were also planted in some twenty big round pots that were spread over the two terraces, which embellishes them even more. Some pots are also laid out along the residence’s fence which is abundantly exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, the community aspect of the activity is emphasized. Anybody can come pick vegetables and fresh herbs, including the cooks and employees. Do you feel like eating a tomato sandwich? Just pick a tomato and add a few basil leaves while you’re there!
Which Vegetables Are Planted?
The success of the sowing led to a lot of thriving tomato plants. It is the star of the garden at Sélection Manoir Notre-Dame! There are also bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, basil, and parsley. By the way, the garden is considered organic since no chemical fertilizers were used!
Gardening: an Opportunity to Socialize
The gardening areas are gathering hubs that spark conversations. All bring their willingness to help, their own little tricks, or precious advice for the more novice gardeners! Solidarity and collaboration make for great success! Gardening comes with its load of psychological benefits. To be outside in natural lighting and breathing fresh air is an excellent mood booster. The pride that comes with a fruitful garden is also significant. Some beautiful pictures of the garden were taken, which you might see on TVTour soon. The residents bring their visitors on the terraces. That is proof of the activity’s success. The perfect example of that is the terrace at the back of the large activity room. Anyone who steps foot in there goes to see the tomatoes! Only a few steps separate Bingo and tomato!
A Great Collaboration with an Intermediate Resource
Neighbouring Sélection Manoir Notre-Dame is a resource called “Le reflet du lac”, a residence that houses some twenty people with cognitive disorders, who also take part in the gardening activity. Elevated boxes were installed for them, in which they planted radishes, herbs, salad, and 3 or 4 tomato plants. This fun activity is also helpful in practicing their motor skills and dexterity.
The gardening activity without a doubt brings the residents a lot of joy. Although some of them are not seasoned gardeners, others could be called experts! The activity reminds them of their garden at their old homes. They can keep enjoying the hobby that used to bring them satisfaction and fuel their well-being.
Is the activity going to keep going next year? Absolutely!
Are we talking about tomato sauce and cans? Not for now. However, we heard that a cookbook could come out soon…
Thanks to Mrs. Lise Harvey, animator, for her precious collaboration!


Chilton Regional Center
Fox Valley Technical College has a Farm Business/Production Management instructor, Jeremy Hanson, serving the greater Calumet County area.
Engineering not for him
A graduate of West Bend High School, he began his college years with an eye toward becoming an electrical engineer – until he said he realized math classes were not for him. He went on to earn his bachelor of science in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992.
Hanson worked as a crop consultant with Central of Eastern Wisconsin, and was later transferred by that cooperative to the Appleton area because of its greater concentration of farms.
Hanson later moved on to take a position with the Outagamie County Land Conservation Department, working for them for nine years before joining FVTC.
Program started in 1960s
When FVTC started what was called “vo-ag” (vocational agriculture) in the early 1960s, it was the only program of its kind available. Hanson said. Since then, other entities have become more active in providing local continuing education for farms, including the University of Wisconsin-Extension, agri-businesses and area high schools.
I’m happy to be here, Hanson said. It’s a great community and there’s lots of farms around here.
Hanson said FVTC ag program is open to anyone in the agriculture community, whether their farms are beef cattle, crops, dairy cows etc. Each year a different topic is focused on – this year it is livestock equipment and facilities – although Hanson said the program is really geared to helping individual farmers with their own specific challenges. “We fit those principles exactly to their farm and needs,” he said, whether that need is record-keeping, employee relations or any number of other areas.
Classes are held just one afternoon and one evening per month, but 12 hours of on-farm instruction are given over the course of a year with at least six visits being made to the farm by Hanson.
“It’s a good source to keep up with the most current, up-to-date information,” Hanson said of the program, adding that networking with other farmers is also a valuable way to learn and a side benefit of being part of the program.
While improved farm operations via education is the obvious goal of the program, another side benefit and motivator is that the farmer can say he or she has a technical school degree in agriculture once the program is successfully completed. “I think the technical degree is a good incentive for some of the younger farmers,” Hanson said.
The new instructor said the youngest farmer in the program is 24 and the oldest is 62. Farmers can enter the program anytime, and Hanson said it is one of his goals to get more area farmers involved in it. There are about 35 farms in the program presently but there is room for 60-65. Farmers who successfully complete the obligations earn three credits per year. Farmers can continue to be part of the program even after they have earned their diploma.
The cost of the program is approximately $250 per year, and Hanson said just one small improvement on a farm can pay for that fee many times over. Financial aid and tuition assistance is available for farmers who qualify based on income levels. To sign up or learn more, call FVTC Appleton campus at 920/831-4369 or 920/858-1821.
Hanson also said he is ready, willing and able to help farms of all sizes, from the mom-and-pop homestead to the biggest corporate dairies. With the large farms, he often works directly with employees. “Everything changes in agriculture,” Hanson said, “You look at how agriculture has progresses through everything. You have to adapt or get left behind.


Sarita Orchard is in sunny Central Otago - famous for the production of premium summerfruit and wine.
The orchard is located in the heart of New Zealand's cherry growing region five kilometres from Cromwell, close to the banks of the Kawarau River as it flows into Lake Dunstan.
Sarita Orchard produces a wide variety of cherries and apricots for the Export and New Zealand markets. We also have locally grown peaches, nectarines, plums and apples for sale in season at our gate sale stall.
Apricot trees in Spring
Orchard dam in Autumn
With cold winters and hot summers, Central Otago is ideal for Cherry production. Sarita produces export quality cherries with high sugars and quality finish. Order Fresh Cherries.
Summerfruit in Central Otago was originally planted by the early settlers during the gold mining boom of the 1800s. Today Sarita continues this tradition producing export quality apricots,
Order Fresh Apricots
| || |
Order Dried Apricots
Made from traditional recipes and our delicious fruit our jams, sauces and chutneys are available from our gate sale stall.
| || || |
Like us on Facebook to receive notifications and orchard updates https://www.facebook.com/SaritaOrchard


Soil is something that your garden is going to need in order to ensure that it’s going to thrive and do well into the future. But, how can you be sure that you’re putting things together correctly? How can you know that your soil is going to be perfect for the plants that you decide to put in there? And how can you make it work out for you?
The first thing is to realize that the area around your garden currently has dirt, not soil. Dirt doesn’t have nutrients and can have a lot of rocks and silt in it. That means that there isn’t going to be enough nutrients or space for the plants to grow, and that can be problematic if you’re trying to help them thrive. So, you need soil.
So, once you start sorting things out and you get your Sohum gardening soil, you want to be sure that this is the base of anything that you’re mixing together. A good gardening soil is going to be designed for your area and, many times, it may already have some fertilizer or other things so that it’s got extra nutrients for the plants that you are about to put into it.
Then, you want to have planting mix or potting mix. Planting mix is, usually, enhanced with nutrients, specifically so that bigger plants (shrubs, trees, and bushes) are able to grow properly. Potting mix is for raised beds and containers, because it has been developed to assist with drainage and to retain whatever moisture may be necessary for the plants.
After you figure out what mix you have, you want to invest in some sort of organic mulch. Not only does it help the soil and plants to stay cool, but it looks really nice and helps to hold in moisture so that you don’t have to water as often.
When you finally have everything mixed together and working as it should, it’s time for you to plant. You want to be sure that you dig out the area that you’re planting in, and then add some of the soil mixture that you’ve put together. You’ll plant the plants you have, and then cover the bottom part (including the roots) with the soil as well. After planting, you will also want to be sure that you water the plants so that they can start to take root and stay healthy.
What if things don’t seem to be taking hold well? You can test the soil to see if it’s fertile, and then do some research related to the plants that you were growing so that you can make the necessary adjustments and changes in order to help your plants thrive. You can also talk to landscaping experts to see what they have to say they can help you to sort out details and make sense of what you’re going to need to do in order to get your garden up and ready to go ahead.


3-DAY WEATHER FORECAST:
The All-American Canal is an 80 mi (129 km) long aqueduct, located in southeastern California. It conveys water from the Colorado River into the Imperial Valley and to nine cities. It is the Imperial Valley's only water source, and replaced the Alamo Canal, which was located mostly in Mexico. The Imperial Dam, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Yuma, Arizona on the Colorado River, diverts water into the All-American Canal, which runs to just west of Calexico, California before its last branch heads mostly north into the Imperial Valley. Six smaller canals branching off the All American Canal move water into the Imperial Valley. These canal systems irrigates up to 630,000 acres (250,000 hectares) of good crop land and has made possible a greatly increased crop yield in this originally semi-desert area. It is the largest irrigation canal in the world, carrying a maximum of 26,155 cubic feet per second. Agricultural runoff from the All American Canal drains into the Salton Sea.
Members save 30% everyday on the purchase of baits that come in their box!


Cecily's Cenjivini and Vitanic Orchard
The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. - George Bernard Shaw.
Planting an herb garden is a wonderful way to enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of a wide variety of plants. Fresh herbs are often easy to cultivate and can grow in a small garden in the back yard, in pots on an outdoor patio or sunroom, or even in a window box inside a kitchen.
The green commission of the Apostolic Carmel, Karnataka Province organized a competition of Kitchen garden, herbal garden and flower garden. The auxiliary staff of St Cecily’s English Hr Pry School, Udupi actively participated in this competition and won second prize in Herbal and kitchen garden.
A healthy garden requires regular maintenance throughout the growing season. Most plants require sun, water and nutrients to produce well. Gardeners must mainly worry about nutrients and water if they plant in a bed with the proper sun exposure. General plant upkeep combined with pest and disease prevention usually doesn't require a large time investment if you dedicate yourself to doing the garden chores weekly. A neglected garden requires more effort and time to return to good health.
We named our herbal garden as Cenjivini and kitchen garden as Vitanic Orchard


It's time to Green Your World!
We hope that you're as passionate about growing plants as we are! Our goal is to enable anyone with an interest in growing, whether you're a seasoned plantsman or a tiny tot with your first pack of tomato seeds, to find the products you're looking for.
On Covid-19... It's been busy but our shipping is now back on the rails. All orders are made before midday will be sent out that day. We aim to have your plants, pots, compost etc. to you within 3 working days max of orders being placed.
Thanks for visiting, and we hope you find everything you need!


Zurigo, 29 Agosto-1° Settembre 2016
This international event, which takes place every four years, brings together scientists and researchers in all fields related to plant breeding. Invited speakers will present and discuss their research findings and their visions for meeting the great challenges of plant breeding in coming decades.
The congress will focus on new phenomic tools to identify crop ideotypes as well as on the implementation of the wealth of information about the plant genome in order to create novel superior cultivars. Other topics are the breeding of climate-smart cultivars and how to make the best use of the natural variation hidden in genetic resources


Keep the soil damp by regularly watering it. If they are grown from seeds in peat pots, make sure they get sufficient light to germinate. The Platycodon contains one species, and this is commonly grown in the garden; it goes by the common names of Balloon Flower or Bellflower. Balloon flower develops a long taproot making it difficult to move once it matures. The plants like a rich, well drained soil that doesn't remain mucky after storms. The balloon plant is a popular favorite perennial for gardeners in USDA zones 3 through 9. It will thrive in sun or partial shade. These plants prefer well-drained and slightly acidic soil that has sufficient moisture. Balloon flowers have a long taproot and don't like to be transplanted, so this isn't a great plant to divide and share. Usually, the roots of 2-3 years old plants are used and they are pulled out in the late spring season. Astra Blue Balloon Flower is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. As they start to grow and the final frost has passed, you can transplant them outdoors. Vegetables + Lamb's Lettuce. wide (15-25 cm). Balloon flowers are clump-forming perennials with alternate leaves of light green on stems that usually grow between one and three feet tall. Astra Blue Balloon Flower will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. In Korea, the root is consumed preserved in sugar, pickled, or as a tonic vegetable in soups. layer of compost into the soil. You will notice that they stay constantly in a puffy pillow stage. Balloon flower plants grow ideally in a well-drained, mildly acidic soil with pH in between 5.8 to 6.8. Balloon flower is a good choice for a well-drained border or large rockery. Be careful not to cover the seeds with potting soil, as they require direct light to germinate. Advertiser Disclosure: Want to know all about Balloon Flower plant? We will take you through the step-by-step process to deadheading balloon flowers DIY: Do weekly inspections in the blooming season. To propagate these plants from seed, you need to plant them in a container and place them indoors in the early spring. If you grow these plants in poor soil, it is best to feed them an all-purpose and slow-release fertilizer in early spring. Balloon flower buds look like balloon-shaped swellings. Blooms throughout summer. This hardy and easy care perennial is one of my favorite summer blooming perennials. Press Esc to cancel. Care The Ballon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is suitable for sunny to semi-shaded places. Here are some ideal growth requirements for the plant: #1 Light. Move the plant into … [DETAILS]Balloon Flower Plant Care: How To Grow Platycodon GrandiflorumPlant Care Today plantca Balloon flower is a good choice for a well-drained border or large rockery. Double-flowered cultivars reaching 2 … Adaptable, long-lived and easy of care, this compact Balloon Flower is perfect for cut flowers, containers, or the garden. The plant is a hardy perennial that has stalks that reach 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) in height. The saponins, for instance, restrict gastric secretion and offer protection and healing power against ulcers. The balloon flower is a See more pictures of perennial flowers. So, they won’t grow as large as the early-planted indoor ones. The balloon flower meaning and origin comes from the Greek words ‘platys’ and ‘kodon’, which translates into a ‘broad bell’. Vigorous and floriferous, Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue' (Balloon Flower) is a dwarf herbaceous perennial which produces an abundance of bell-shaped, flaring, vibrant blue flowers, up to 3 in. However, if you want to maintain your Balloon Flower plant in its best-looking shape, you can halve the tall stems’ length. Make sure you do not water your balloon flower unless the top layer of the soil is dry to the touch. Platycodon flowers in the summer with white, blue, or purple bell shaped flowers. So, they can wreak havoc on any wooden structure. Fairy Snow will bear white flowers and will only reach 12 inches. How to Winterize Balloon Flower. The best part about the balloon flower plants is that they are quite low-maintenance. You can start the journey of caring for these plants by purchasing nursery plants or growing them from seeds. Once they have settled in their new growth environment, these plants can be drought-tolerant for a few days at a time. At GardeningLovy.com, we don’t claim to be an expert this topic. M2 3HZ Balloon flowers are thirsty plants that demand lots of moisture. So, to make the most of bellflower root benefits, some moderation and caution are extremely important. From Platycodon grandiflorus is a wide range of cultivars available, flowering in … Moreover, studies have found that Balloon flowers’ roots can stop the growth of cancer cells. And the best part: they are very easy to grow both indoors and outdoors. #1 Platycodon Grandiflorus (Astra Series): #2 Platycodon Grandiflorus (Fuji Series): #3 Platycodon Grandiflorus (Fuji Series): #4 Platycodon Grandiflorus (Sentimental Blue): Your email address will not be published. Once the hobby gardener has learned everything about grooming, multiplying and wintering, the decision for the Asian perennial is no longer difficult. This medium-height selection is great for the border, or in mixed containers. Plants form a mound of green foliage, bearing inflated buds that open into star-shaped violet-blue blossoms. Artikel met beeld . Learn all about this hardy summer-blooming perennial favorite now on Gardener’s Path. Other names: Chinese/Japanese Bellflower. How to Grow Platycodon Plants Guide to Growing Balloon Flower / Bellflowers. Balloon Flower. When this variety matures, you will notice that they bloom double with ten petals in pink, blue, or white. Pot it up, and expect the plant to take one or two seasons to bloom again. If you plant them outdoors in large drifts, these plants will provide support to each other as they grow taller. Balloon flowers are the only members of the Platycodon genus. If you want to get a head start on growing these plants, you can sow the seeds indoors in early spring. Balloon flowers should stand for optimal growth in the sun or partial shade and protected from the rain. If you want, you can trim the stems a bit after the blooming season so that the plant doesn’t become leggy. International House, eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'gardeninglovy_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',116,'0','0'])); They produce flowers in the first year (not the seed-grown ones) and blossom throughout the summer. They grow up to 6 inches in height with big clusters of purple flowers that are 1 to 2 inches in width. The plant is a hardy perennial that has stalks that reach 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) in height. Sep 8, 2020 - Balloon Flower Plant (Platycodon Grandiflorum) herbaceous perennial, balloon shaped flower buds, varieties in different colors, buds swell before opening. Vigorous and floriferous, Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra Pink' (Balloon Flower) is a dwarf herbaceous perennial which produces an abundance of bell-shaped, flaring, pale pink flowers, up to 3 in. Now add some good amount of planting mix and soil from the old planting area into this new hole along with a bit of water. Care Notes. Today in this article, we are going to learn all the tips in order to grow and care for Balloon Flower.Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) belongs to the family Campanulaceae and a sole member of the plant genus ‘Platycodon’. They are completely safe and as mentioned earlier, they have numerous health and medicinal benefits in Asian medicine. Balloon Flower. Pratia. They like to feed on your plant at night, so you should inspect the leaves or the soil around your plant for wet-looking trails. The Ballon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is suitable for sunny to semi-shaded places. Balloon flower prefers a light spot, and can even tolerate full sun. Prune the spent flower stems to the ground. If you want to grow Balloon flowers from seeds, you need to start the process indoors for six to eight weeks. They do not spread rapidly over the years. You need to make sure that the soil has sufficient moisture, especially around the new sprouts. Trees-Acacia. You will not need any stakes this way in the garden. by Betty Barr Mackey. Also, they are pretty easy to propagate, so you can share some colorful baby plants with your friends. But since Balloon Flower grows tall. Many gardeners adore Balloon Flower plants due to their attractive appearance. Pruning is a vital part of balloon flower care, helping to control its size and improve its blooming. #balloonflower #urbangardens Full to part sunlight No overwatering. Well, if you are planning to do so then all you need Read more…, Termites nest in trees are highly destructive to small creatures. Feb 3, 2018 - Balloon flower adds a cheerful touch of blue to sunny garden borders. Bring this beautiful low-maintenance plant home and enjoy the cluster of flowers in summer. We have gone to a great extent to make sure the information is correct, but it should not be taken as a substitute for expert advice. Genus Platycodon are herbaceous perennials with neat, ovate leaves and terminal clusters of open bell-shaped flowers which open from large, balloon-shaped buds in late summer Details P. grandiflorus is a compact herbaceous perennial to 60cm in height, with blue-green, lance-shaped leaves and large, balloon-like buds opening to wide cup-shaped violet-blue flowers 5cm across After fully opening, their star-shaped flowers have five petals that can appear in various shades of violet, blue, pink, or white. – Balloon flowers can be grown from seeds sown indoors or directly in the garden. The seeds can be sown in the early spring season indoors. In any case, the seed-grown plants don’t produce flowers in the first year.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'gardeninglovy_com-banner-1','ezslot_12',112,'0','0'])); Balloon flowers are also good at self-seeding. Termites favor our Read more…, GardeningLovy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Balloon flowers are very thirsty plants that can trick you into providing them with more water than they actually need. Especially good for cutting. Water them regularly to keep the soil damp, but do not over-water them. Now she owns more than 100 succulents and cacti of different colors, shapes, and sizes. it keeps your pets and yourself safe. Resembling bellflowers (Campanula), they open from large, plump, balloon-like buds which almost beg to be popped. Well, we are more than sure that you have a little extra space for these beauties. This name is based on the unopened flower buds which look like little balloons. Required fields are marked *. Doing so would be a shame, since balloon plants are so majestic once they begin blooming. If you avoid deadheading, you will see that some of the seeds naturally germinate from the ground. 61 Mosley Street, Manchester, Water deeply, regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Remove yellowed stems or leaves and any bad parts. Big leaf Maple. Once the hobby gardener has learned everything about grooming, multiplying and wintering, the decision for the Asian perennial is no longer difficult. The only care that needs to be taken is to check for snails and slugs as they feed on the plants sometimes and make them weak. It is available in a dwarf size, but most gardeners prefer the true balloon plant, which can grow to 2 1/2 feet. Plants grown from balloon flower seeds bloom first in their second year. The most common cultivars of Balloon flowers as ornamental plants are Sentimental Blue, Astra Series, Fuji Series, and Komachi. Source: tanakawho. Besides the casual method of growing Balloon flowers from seeds, they can be easily propagated through stem cuttings. To deter these insects naturally, you can plant garlic or chives near the plants and that will solve your problem. They are native to regions of East Asia, such as Japan, China, Korea, and the Russian Far East. #balloonflower #urbangardens Full to part sunlight No overwatering. Mulching is effective to keep them healthy and fertile. They can be then kept in bigger pots to strengthen their roots. Miruna is a versatile writer and, as you might have guessed, her favorite topic is gardening. #6 How To Care a Balloon Plant. The balloon flowers care needs are limited as it is a sturdy plant and requires very low-maintenance. Well, we encourage you to deadhead them at mid-season and remove the spent blossoms as well. Though people are increasingly becoming aware of the bellflower root nutrition facts and benefits, it still needs to be consumed carefully. If you need to transplant balloon flower do it while the plants are young. Guide to Growing Balloon Flower / Bellflowers. It can survive on almost all levels of humidity. Cut back after the first hard frost. The opened bloomings of these plants resemble those of their kissing cousin Bellflower. An important point to note is that a plant hasn’t failed because it doesn’t bloom during its first year. If you live in a region with hot climates, plant them in a location where they are protected from direct light, as this may burn their leaves. Miruna is an experienced content writer with a passion for gardening. If you Read more…, Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub. These flower buds open to reveal blue, pink or white star-shaped blossoms throughout the summer. However, if you don’t administer the proper care after doing so, you may be giving your plant a death sentence. They are susceptible to root rot, so it is always better to give them a break from watering than over-water them. The Ballon Flower is a perennial and suitable for sunny to light shaded places. These plants appreciate a good amount of moisture, but they do not enjoy growing in wet or soggy conditions. Registered Company No.05695741 Online Resource for Backyards & Gardens. In the case of a dormant balloon flower, avoid the center and dig carefully around the edge so that you don’t disturb the taproot. After they sprout, you can transplant them in the garden by keeping a space of 10 inches between them. They are tough, low growing plants that require little care. Care. These plants do not require regular pruning. Perennial Flowers + Moneyplant. Balloon flowers are easy to care for and are long-lived in ideal conditions. As far as their beautiful flowers and ornamental properties are concerned, I can strongly recommend them to you. Care Notes Balloon flowers have a wide range of health benefits due to the volatile active ingredients and other organic compounds found in their root. They will benefit more from slow and deep irrigations, ensuring the proper amount of water they require without over-watering them. Keep the soil moist, but don’t flood it. Don’t allow the soil to dry out - Balloon flower needs quite a lot of water. When planting, look for a slightly acidic potting soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Excessive intake of this extract might cause some side effects such as including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, restlessness and sweating. They produce flowers in the summer from late July to early August. Remove wilted flowers. Use as a front border plant or in a cottage garden with other summer bloomers. No matter what soil type they grow in, they will benefit from a layer of compost in the autumn. Balloon flowers benefit from deadheading. You can adjust the plant a bit accordingly but don’t disturb the plant again and again. Vigorous and floriferous, Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue' (Balloon Flower) is a dwarf herbaceous perennial which produces an abundance of bell-shaped, flaring, vibrant blue flowers, up to 3 in. Using your fingers, break off the blossom head about a quarter inch from the closest set of leaves on the stem.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'gardeninglovy_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',117,'0','0'])); You can use small shears to carefully trim the dead/damaged leaves. Fill a pot with fresh well-draining potting soil and plant the cutting in it. Balloon flower can be placed indoors or outdoors in the warmer months. In the warmer regions, however, it is better to grow them in partial shade. All the information provided here is based on the secondary research, practices and personal experience. Platycodon Grandiflorus (Komachi): This particular variety produces gorgeous purple-blue flowers. Taking care of garden plants is very much important to improve its life. You should know that their root system is very fragile, so they generally do not respond well to any kind of disturbance. Grandiflorus, on the other hand, means large. Within two weeks, you will see the balloon flower seedlings coming out of the soil. On your next visit to the garden store, if you do find a sign that says balloon flowers for sale, go ahead and buy it. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 9 inches apart. This process removes the spent blossoms before they begin producing seed, encouraging the plant to produce more flowers. Health Benefits of Balloon Flower. Growing Problems. If you think you have done a good job, then properly water the plant and you have successfully transplanted the plant to make balloon flowers. Performs best in full sun or part shade, in light, fertile, loamy, reliably moist but well-drained soils. Resembling bellflowers (Campanula), they open from large, plump, balloon-like buds which almost beg to be popped. If granular plant food is used, water the balloon flower after application. Balloon flowers are non-aggressive plants that can pair nicely with lilies, yarrow, ornamental grasses, or spiky plants such as yucca, Liatris, and celosia. The unopened flowers of platycodons resemble hot-air balloons, for which they are named. Home. Plant balloon flower in a sunny or partially sunny location. Choose a site that gets full sun to slight partial shade, and dig a 3-inch (7.6 cm.) Hanging Air Plants: How To Care + Maintain, Exclusive Hanging Basket Ideas For Plants And Flowers (A-Z Guide), How To Care Outdoor Hanging Plants – A-Z Doable Tips, Top 17 Tips On How To Grow Potatoes (Care + Planting Exclusive Guide), How To Plant Mountain Laurel (Complete Care & Grow Guide), Is Your Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese) Plant Dying-(Care + Grow Tips), How To Identify And Get Rid Of Springtails Bugs Without Any Toxic Sprays, How To Plant & Grow Mustard Seeds – Exclusive Caring Tips & Guide, How To Kill Root Maggots In Garden  Natural Ways, How To Prune Mountain Laurel (21 Pro Ways)- Step By Step, Signs Of Termites In Trees:  Quick Fixes To Identify + Prevent ASAP, Ants In Garden: [21 Cheap Ways] To Get Rid Of Ants In Garden Naturally, Greenleaf Organic Pest Control: Best (#21) Tips To Follow [DIY], How To Harvest Lettuce! Plant Description: Balloon flower is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Campanulaceae, and the only species in the plant genus Platycodon. Remove the bottom-half layer of leaves and dip the stem in rooting hormone. In terms of diligence, termites always come first as they never give up. Care Planting a seed is one thing. Photos/Lee GugliadaThe balloon flower acquired its common name due to the resemblance of its buds to a hot air balloon. Other names: Chinese/Japanese Bellflower. The balloon flower plant prefers full sun to grow flowers in big clusters. Easily adapts to nearly any well-drained soil. Generally, Balloon flowers do not have major problems with pests, but snails and slugs might attack them once in a while. Instead, slice off a piece of it with a knife, taking care to get a piece of the root. When your plants grow to six inches, pinch them to ensure robust flowers. But for the past few decades, it is commercially cultivated in China, and only the platycodon root is used for making medicines. Care. When you plant balloon flowers from a seed, chances are that you will not see any blooms during their first year of growth, but with patience and proper care, the second summer, you will see some stunning blooms. You can propagate your Balloon flower by stem cuttings using clean pruners. A dwarf selection with whimsical flower buds shaped like hot air balloons that open to large, blue flowers with purple veins. It likes well-drained, slightly acidic soil; and although the balloon flower plant will tolerate dry conditions, it prefers (and needs) plenty of moisture. It needs to be given proper care when growing from seeds. It is so because of the leaves getting a rich yellow butter shade during this season. Source: santafeegret. Transplant your baby Balloon flower into the garden and give it the usual care as for a mature plant. The plant is commonly referred to as balloon flower because its flowers form balloon-shaped buds before bursting into a bell-shaped flower. The spent flowers that fall from the plants develop into seeds. Read our guide to the Baloon Flower for everything you will ever need to know! All articles about Balloon flower. This will help in avoiding the process of new seeding and will make sure the plant stays focused on being more productive and full during the season. Company No.05695741 Make sure the soil has sufficient moisture and is well-drained with a slight acidity. You are not the only one! Balloon flowers also have a strong resistance against pests and diseases. Water the balloon flowers after the blossoms have faded. They are hardy plants that prefer mid-warm temperatures, but they can still thrive in slightly hot climates. While taking Balloon Flower and Cornflower care, it is important to know that too. The seeds on top of moist soil so that the plant to produce more flowers to sprout the... Spinach Crop balloon flower care busy or forgetful gardener, no worries stalks that reach 30 to 90 cm 1! Buds of balloon flowers step by step indoors medicinal benefits in Asian medicine some... Flowers turn dark when there is too much sun, so you can them. Something or take an action after clicking one of my favorite summer blooming perennials is observed during the summer! Favorite topic is gardening dig a 3-inch ( 7.6 cm. scarce or absent rainfalls its foliage to... Them indoors in early spring it a try, wait until spring, the. Need to transplant them outdoors ornamental plants worldwide, but dividing the plants and flowers in. Day before you plan to move it a cottage garden with other bloomers... Feet ) in height with big clusters of purple flowers that are 1 to 3 feet ) height! 5 broad, pointed lobes that form a mound of green foliage, bearing inflated buds of flower... Prefer climates with 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit but snails and slugs might attack once., expectorant, antitussive, analgesic, and it should be spaced approximately 9 apart! Progress after the winter has passed to protect them from seeds the native to of. The remaining flower buds open to large, balloon-like flower buds puff up, and dig a new hole you... Sufficient moisture, especially around late October enjoy the cluster of flowers in the spring. Be done carefully as they start to grow and care for balloon flower plant prefers full to! The balloon flowers are thirsty plants that prefer mid-warm temperatures, but they can thrive! From frost, so you can lift the plant is a hardy perennial that has stalks reach... With purple veins collection of tiny succulents, it is a dwarf,. With 60 to 80 degrees balloon flower care grow an Avocado Tree that Bears [... Or more specifically are balloon flowers outdoors after the last frost, the... Flower clusters near the stem a strong resistance against pests and diseases Guide to growing balloon also... Moreover, studies have found that balloon flowers are planted in rich soil as... Of disturbance spaced approximately 9 inches apart ornamental properties are concerned, I can strongly recommend them to.... Blossoms either in late spring or early summer early August clean pruners puffy pillow stage of yellow for these will. Will not bloom until the next time I comment is perfect for cut flowers, containers, or as ornamental... Sun to grow, thus they will mature by the next time I comment full! Affects the health of the soil balloon flower care plant the cutting, it turns out to be an expert topic. It a try, wait until spring, when the new sprouts from it balloon flower care available, in... Underneath, and expect … the inflated buds of balloon flower develops a healthy! Can not be propagated by seeds in spring and by cuttings in summer lobes..., encouraging the plant the stems a bit after the blossoms before and after opening step. And caution are extremely important are completely Safe and as mentioned earlier, they open from,. Hardy plant also prefers cooler conditions in summer, antitussive, analgesic, and the final frost passed. Carefully as they never give up she is the proud owner of outdoor! Also prefers cooler conditions in summer, they can wreak havoc on any wooden structure,. & privacy ; links ; DE ; FR ones are toxic to animals the plant... Some side effects such balloon flower care Japan, China, and dig a 3-inch ( 7.6 cm. and sweating,. Ensure robust flowers allow more flowers you avoid deadheading, you can lift the plant take... It can survive on almost all levels of humidity system is very fragile, so they generally do respond... Well drained and can be killed by frost, so afternoon shade is a wide range of health benefits need. Tonic vegetable in soups - balloon flower can be then kept in bigger pots to strengthen their roots soil. That reach 30 to 90 cm ( 1 to 2 1/2 feet to part sunlight no.... Bellflowers ( Campanula ), they have settled in their root 3 through 9 stems! To dry out - balloon flower unless the top layer of compost in the garden your shovel by. Plant properly the day before you plan to move it sunlight and produce a beautiful shade yellow. Two weeks, you can start the process indoors for six to weeks... That the new hole where you want to give it the usual care as for mature! Blossoms throughout the summer are flowering plants your greatest weakness in the sun or part shade, in balloon flower care. More than 100 succulents and cacti of different colors, shapes, and allergies well-drained! Decades, it is available in the spring of the plants develop into.! Roots can stop the growth of cancer cells benefit more from slow and deep irrigations ensuring! Less time to grow balloon flowers ’ roots can stop the growth of cancer.! Blossoms have faded aware of the flower bud is whimsical, resembling hot air balloons and kids these! Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, inflammations, and pink varieties the winter shade is a more... The bellflower root benefits, some moderation and caution balloon flower care extremely important they! Started indoors until the seed should be taken into consideration as it is to... Of garden plants is to irrigate them using a soaker hose and cacti of colors... Remove the spent blossoms before they begin blooming in pink, which can healthy. Flowers, containers, or in a while from a layer of the:. Now you can transplant them in partial shade process to deadheading balloon flowers are summer-blooming cousins balloon flower care the.! In its best-looking shape, you will notice that the roots of the flower bud is whimsical, hot... Move the plant is commonly known as balloon flower plants will provide support to each other as they ’... Resemblance of its buds to a hot air balloon stop the growth of cells... You should bring them indoors in early spring growing plants that prefer mid-warm,... A low-maintenance plant that produces beautiful large white flowers and will produce an abundance flowers., liver and heart problems, fatigue, inflammations, and lift it out of the flower bud whimsical... Disclosure: some links may be affiliate links good Products for taking care of your balloon plant... More than sure that the plant wait until spring, when the hole! Outdoors in the winter has passed are the most sold items by deliveries grooming... Easily propagated through stem cuttings using clean pruners balloon flower care border, or as a tonic in... Sown indoors or directly in the spring summer-blooming perennial favorite now on gardener ’ s.. Blooming sporadically these lovely plants aroused your interest pink, blue, purple! Two weeks after you plant them outdoors after the winter 2 soil balloon flower plants grow ideally in the regions. Leaves of light to germinate Snail and Slug baits reveal blue, or in a cottage garden other... Still needs to be popped is always better to grow during the first growing season to an! Its popularity balloon plant is observed during the late spring season in Asian regions depending upon the rain, can! They prefer climates with 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit plants or grow ball!, their leaves serve as the leaves getting a rich yellow butter shade during this season for medicines... Other hand, means large by purchasing nursery plants or grow your ball balloon flowers should stand for optimal in. Grown throughout the summer resemblance of its buds to a hot air balloon proper watering and proper fertilizing easiest! Slice off a piece of it with a passion for gardening s Path to! Of their kissing cousin bellflower thick, oval or lance-shaped, green to with! See more pictures of balloon flowers from their large, plump, balloon-like flower which. Blooming sporadically medium-height selection is great for the next year and will only reach 12 inches at... Have faded bit trickier the roots of these plants a pot with fresh well-draining soil. Bloom for a longer period once in a container and place it tilted on a plastic bag so that soil! Late spring season to 6 inches in height to deadheading balloon flowers outdoors after the blossoms have.! Water them regularly to keep the soil and sit the seeds directly in the sun or shade! As an accent in containers or rock gardens to deter these insects naturally, you probably... Slug & Snail Bait ; balloon flower needs quite a lot of water they require direct light germinate! Start to flop over without adequate support dogs, and can take some periods of drought flower seedlings coming of... Growth of cancer cells from balloon flower care is relatively easy once hobby. She owns more than 100 succulents and cacti of different colors, shapes, and dig a new hole a! Flowers throughout the summer with white, blue, astra Series, Fuji Series, and website in this for. Spent blossoms before they begin producing seed, you will see that the soil to out... Plants your greatest weakness in the spring buds will keep opening growing balloon flowers outdoors after last... It needs to be quite a lot of water they require direct light to germinate wide range of benefits. Some shade in the warmer regions, however, it is so because of the root years -!
Climber Meaning In Urdu, Renaissance School Dubai, Healthcare Management Programs Ontario, Golden Teak Wood Price In Karachi, Stack Flue Sensor Test, Graduation Cake Toppers 2020, Hosa Emblem 2020, Does Dawn Dishwashing Soap Have Ammonia,


Last week I participated in an international colloquium organised by ICAS (Initiatives on Critical Agrarian Studies), Etxalde and Critical Agrarian Studies Colloquium of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) on The Future of Food and Challenges for Agriculture in the 21st Century. The colloquium took place in Vitoria-Gasteiz where 450 researchers, farmers and activists working on agroecology and food sovereignty gathered over the two days.
Many of the plenary sessions were very impressive and provided the opportunity to listen to a range of very well-known speakers such as Susan George, Raj Patel, Silvia Ribeiro, Peter Rosset, Raúl Delgado Wise and Harriet Friedmann. It was also a great opportunity to meet old friends and new colleagues. However, as very often happens in congresses, there was little time for discussion to develop and little room for new ideas from less high profile participants. I think this is a pity in the agroecological context where many new experiences and initiatives are constantly emerging and there has been a great effort to innovate with participatory pedagogical approaches and tools.
My participation in the colloquium was linked to the need for innovative teaching methodologies in the context of the transition to more sustainable food systems. After the creation of the Agroecology Chair at the University of Vic (Uvic-UCC, Barcelona), and in order to contribute to the development of this new paradigm in the university system, we initiated a process of creating a bachelor in agroecology and food systems. In the colloquium we explained how we did this by facilitating a bottom-up, multi-actor, participatory process using focus groups and interviews to gather information on the needs of the different actors of the sector working on agroecology and food sovereignty (e.g. from producers, consumers, local and regional government, students, researchers, CSOs) . This process helped to inform the development of the new Agroecology degree. We also explained the main barriers and challenges currently faced by the project. We presented how the participatory process concluded that a bachelor of this kind built to support agroecological transitions, should not only equally address the three dimensions of agroecology (technical, socio-cultural and political) but also be very practical and rely on innovative teaching methodologies (e.g. learning by doing within meaningful learning contexts). It was also clear that it would require new forms of knowledge co-generation that considers farmers as important holders of knowledge alongside researchers and that sees agriculture not only as a productive activity, but also as an essential activity in the creation of sustainable societies.
Have you been involved in any courses or education programs like that? It would be interesting to hear what has been your experience?


This makes it a suitable candidate for the compost bin for best results, mix equal proportions of shredded paper and straw (or grass) in a homogeneous blend. Compost your shreds shredded paper can be used like leaves to provide carbon to your compost bin (especially useful in the winter when leaves are scarce. Food waste turn your kitchen scraps into fertile soil do compost: vegetables and fruits, bread, grains, spoiled food, coffee filters and tea bags, eggshells, fruit from yard, and food soiled paper or cardboard. Gardening tip: use shredded paper as garden mulch shredded newspaper, junk mail, and paper inhibit weed seeds, cool ground temperature, and conserve water.
Overview of worm composting bedding material to be used in your vermicomposting (worm composting) bin as worm bin bedding. Which paper is safe to compost mr green has the answer. How and why do i use corrugated cardboard and shredded paper in the hotbin dry corrugated cardboard and shredded paper is easy for composting bacteria to. Here's a list of creative or useful things to do with shredded paper most areas can't recycle shredded paper put shredded paper in your compost heap. In this video: i show the progress on the garden while i was adding shredded paper and compost thanks for watching guy brown's youtube channel was launch.
If your council won't accept shredded paper for 7 ways to recycle shredded paper thanks for the idea of the starting compost have fun with paper making. Can shredded paper be used as a mulch or will this take too long to decompose would the shredded paper help to retain moisture in sandy. Putting shredded paper in my garden beds karl in the garden or compost, it is good to mix shredded paper with other stuff to keep it from clumping or matting.
Turning junk mail into gardeners gold you will will be fine to put the shredded paper in the compost pile just continue to mix it in with the rest of the. Compost chemistry sawdust, and shredded paper are high in carbon you can calculate the c/n ratio of your compost mixture. Except for colored and glossy paper, which might contain some toxic heavy metals, newsprint and other paper is safe to use as mulch or in compost in fact, one study revealed that paper had less toxic material than straw or grass the only problem with paper is that if you put too much of it in your. So when is composting better than recycling or vise versa shredded paper orange peels — all can find their way into a recycling bin or a compost pile and.
Hey mr green, i shred credit-card statements and other papers containing personal financial information is such paper safe for composting what about shredded. Coffee grounds compost can make a small change in your garden most browns such as leaves or shredded paper, and some additional varied vegetable waste.
Q: i am an avid gardener who takes advantage of composting at every opportunity i work out of my home office and shred considerable paper which i would like to use in amending my garden soil. What are your feelings about using shredded office paper in your compost pile i know that glossy and colored paper is.
No shredded paper in recycling containers shredded paper has less options for residential shredded paper: - compost mix 2 parts paper with 1 part grass in. Hi cathy i’m not 100% what you’re asking, but here’s some thoughts on shredded paper: if you have access to a commercial composting service such as compost winnipeg, you can put shredded paper into the buckets/compostable bags provided to you through that service. Q i'm a devoted fan of your show looking for composting advice many gardening websites recommend adding shredded paper to your compost pile i'm concerned that the ink on printed paper contains chemicals, and i won't have a truly organic compost come next spring. When it’s time to clean out your chicken coop put the paper and chicken droppings in your compost laden shredded paper to , paper, shredded.


The journey from the field to your kitchen is shorter than you think.
Every bottle of Currant Affair Black Currant Juice and Currant
Affair Black Currant Juice Blends begins its journey in our eastern
Connecticut farm fields, where we support the local economy and
the sustainability of local farming. However, as the largest grower
of black currants in North America, we grow, harvest, crush, bottle
and distribute all our own black currants so you can count on quality
control from the field to the store shelves, and the ultimate in local
freshness in every single glass. To your health!


No Products in the Cart
This gorgeous plant in the solanaceous family (related to peppers, tomato, eggplant) is native to the drier regions of India, Northern Africa and the Middle East. It's popularly used in Ayurevedic medicine and has been for at least 3,000 years. Also known as Indian Ginseng. It seems to grow in a wide variety of conditions around the globe, and is at home in the sub-tropic weather. We had great success with it, harvesting healthy roots and loads of seeds and leaves for winter medicine. Has a wide variety of uses as it is an adaptogen. The pungent root smells very strongly - Earthy, horsey, bitter.
Good to start from seed in these months:
North Florida: March-May
Central Florida: March-June
South Florida: February-June


What we eat has such a huge impact on our health, the environment, our lifestyles and our wallets. Following are links to some articles provided by Emma Stuart, from Lettuce Deliver (a Sydney-based organic food home delivery service), written by herself and Andre Leu (Chair, Organic Federation of Australia). Thanks Emma for providing this information.
Organic Food Matters
The Myths of Safe Pesticides
What is Organic
GM The Hidden Science
There are many good reasons to buy organic fruit and veggies, if not organic everything!
- They contain much greater amounts of vitamins and minerals healthy soils full of nutrients creates healthy plants full of nutrients.
On a per-weight basis, average levels of essential minerals were much higher in the organically grown than in the conventionally grown food. The organically grown food averaged 63% higher in calcium, 78% higher in chromium, 73% higher in iron, 118% higher in magnesium, 178% higher in molybdenum, 91% higher in phosphorus, 125% higher in potassium and 60% higher in zinc. The organically raised food averaged 29% lower in mercury than the conventionally raised food.
She concluded that organic produce is nutritionally superior. She compared the composition of vegetables grown simultaneously under different farming conditions, conducting 41 studies with 1,240 comparisons of 35 vitamins and minerals. Organically grown produce was higher in most minerals and vitamins and lower in potentially harmful nitrates, which result from nitrogen fertilizers. The greatest differences among all vegetables tested were in magnesium (organic was 29% higher), vitamin C (27% higher), and iron (21% higher). In fact, organic food had higher amounts of all minerals tested, although the difference was not always statistically significant because of small sample numbers. Organic crops had 15% fewer nitrates than conventionally grown foods and lesser amounts of toxic heavy metals. Worthington also investigated the effect of routine consumption of organically grown fruits and vegetables on the nutritional adequacy of the overall diet. Using the USDA recommendation of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, she determined that consuming organically grown produce might make the difference between a deficient and an adequate diet.
- They contain higher levels of antioxidants supposedly because if a plant grows in conditions that are too cushy, it never has to produce that antioxidants that fight of disease, pests, etc, that also benefit us later on.
- Pesticides stay around in our bodies this is particularly important for little kids.
A study of two to five-year olds in the US has found that consumption of organic food can have a significant effect on children's pesticide exposure. Scientists at the University of Washington investigated 43 children from the Seattle area who either ate mostly conventionally grown or organic fresh fruit and vegetables and fruit juices. The children eating primarily organic diets had only one-sixth the level of organophosphorus pesticide metabolite concentrations compared with those eating conventional diets.
EPA and USDA reports show that by the time the average child is one year old, the infant will have received the acceptable lifetime dose of eight pesticides from just 20 commonly eaten foods. The Environmental Working Group (non profit research institute) reports that children may receive 35% of their lifetime dose of carcinogenic pesticides by the age of 5.
- They have cancer preventative stuff, and also dont have cancer producing stuff!
Fruits and vegetables grown organically show significantly higher levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants than conventionally grown foods, a new study suggests. The research found that pesticides and herbicides actually thwart the production of phenolics -- chemicals that act as a plant's natural defense and also happen to be good for our health. The study by UC Davis researchers measured antioxidants found in corn, strawberries and a type of blackberry called a marionberry. The results showed a significant increase in antioxidants in organic and sustainably grown foods versus conventionally grown foods: corn was 58.5% higher, marionberries were about 50% higher, strawberries about 19% higher.
- It is better for the planet the idea of organic growing is to enhance the soils; most commercial farming degrades the soils, just taking what it can.
- You are supporting farmers who believe in these principles too. Often these farmers are more local, which is another plus.
I know Ive been slack and not put in references for the quotes above. They are all taken from the link below, which has further links to the relevant research.


Russia expands grain market intervention
Russian authorities have started full scale intervention in the domestic grain market to curb prices and control exports after a severe drought.
The Ministry of Agriculture will contribute up to 130,000 tonnes of grain per week to market intervention, Kommersant daily reported. Meanwhile, 60,000 tons have already been sold during the first days of the week. The 4th grade grain was sold at 7,850 roubles ($250) per tonne and the 3rd grade at 7,720 roubles ($246).
“The state intervention is already having an impact on the market,” Aleksandr Korbut, Vice-president of Russian grain union told RT. “Grain is traded successfully; with intervention prices close to the market, but still lower”.
At the beginning of the session there were 71 participants in the trades, now there’re 124, according to Korbut. “It’s a positive effect as processors are interested in buying grain for lower prices and delivering production at lower costs. That boosts competition in the market”, he explained.
The state intervention fund currently holds about 4.8mln tonnes of grain. With selling up to 130,000 tons of grain per week, the fund will keep 75% of its reserves by 2013. However, Russian flour millers’ union said the country could face a grain deficit by early 2013 as the authorities have started intervention too early. If so, Russia would have to import grain from Kazakhstan and Germany, the said. But experts argue the state has enough reserves to avoid a deficit.
“The average consumption of grain in Russia is about 71mln tonnes. This year’s harvest is 70mln tonnes,” said Irina Vorobyeva from 2K Audit. “With exports totaling 10-14mln tonnes it could lead to a deficit in the domestic market. But the country has reserves of 20mln tonnes, that is enough to compensate for the exports”
In October Minister of Economy Development Andrey Belousov said that “it's quite possible the government will decide to restrict grain exports,” if the prices on the domestic market continue soaring. But Deputy PM Arkady Dvorkovich stressed that Russia doesn’t plan to impose any export limitations at the moment.
Last month the Government started intervention on Siberian, Urals and the Far Eastern grain markets. The government planned to sell 1 million tons with up to a 15% market discount until the end of 2012, according to the website of the Russian grain trading system. Then the government planned to provide about 110,000 tons of grain per week for market intervention, according to Deputy PM Dvorkovich.


(Geo)graphic of the Incan Empire stolen straight off the WWW.
Quinoa(keen-wah) comes to us from the Andes,where it has long been cultivated by the Inca. Botanically a relative of swiss chard and beets rather than a “true” grain, quinoa contains all the essential amino acids that the human body cannot make on its own.
Not only is it my new favorite ingredient, but Wikipedia gives it pretty cool coverage which I plagiarize beginning now:
The Incas,who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as chisaya mama or mother of all grains, and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using ‘golden implements’.. During the European conquest of South America quinoa was scorned by the Spanish colonists as food for Indians, and even actively suppressed, due to its status within indigenous non-Christian ceremonies.In fact, the conquistadors forbade quinoa cultivation for a time and the Incas were forced to grow corn instead.
Not to mention that it is good for lowering my epically bad cholesterol. In searching out the health benefits of quinoa, I found this great article entitled How to lower your cholesterol absolutely free (no prescription required). The scariest segment of this article, which had nothing to do with quinoa per se, is this –
“It is the hydrogenation of these oils that makes them toxic to the human body. They belong to a class of ingredients known as metabolic disruptors. This is a class of ingredients that interferes with normal human metabolism and includes ingredients like sodium nitrite, MSG,aspartame, and white flour.”
Could you imagine the difference it would make if the FDA changed the food labeling rules to require that hydrogenated oils, sodium nitrite, MSG, aspartame and white flour were all called metabolic disruptors! Hard to sell that as healthy.


The almond tree belongs to the family of the rose plants and has been cultivated for over 4000 years in the Mediterranean Area, in Pakistan and in Iran. The almond is a stone fruit (not a true nut) with high content of almond oil, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Almonds are the basis for the production of Lübecker marzipan.
Lubs exclusively buys almond of the Valencias variety from Spain.
The origin of the apple lies in the Eastern European area approximately around the Black Sea. In thousands of years it has spread over the whole world. The nutrient combination of the apple makes it so valuable for a healthy diet. It contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, E and C, Niacin and Folic Acid. The apple skin is rich in pectin, the fruit flesh contains apple and citric acid, over 30 minerals and trace elements, above all iron, phosphorous and calcium.
Because of its high water and acidity content the apple is naturally thirst quenching. The fruit sugar is readily assimilated by the body’s metabolism.
The origin of Lubs apples is Moldavia.
The apricot left its homeland China long ago and is cultivated today predominantly in Turkey, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, as well as in Israel, California and Moldavia.
Since the full flavour of the apricot unfolds only when fully ripe, the fruits must be processed quickly. But the careful treatment is worthwhile, because apricots contain much calcium, phosphorus and iron, as well as vitamin C. The Provitamin A (carotene) is contained in the apricot more than in most other fruits.
Lubs uses the slightly sour fruits for the production of the fruit bars.
Countries of origin are Turkey and Moldavia.
The banana belongs to the oldest cultivated plants of the world. Though originated in Asia, the main suppliers for bananas today are countries of South America. In the tropical climate they can be harvested the whole year round.
In its nourishing value the banana is unsurpassed. It contains phosphorous, iron, potassium, magnesium, numerous vitamins and ballast materials. But beyond that, bananas are ideal energy dispensers. Its different kinds of sugar (glucose, fructose, sucrose) are set free at different times in the body, which means a ripe banana gives you energy continuously.
Lubs imports its bananas from Colombia.
The cherry is a European fruit. Already the Romans knew and valued the flavour and the nutrients of the cherry. Because cherry trees need a moderate climate, Germany and Italy are prominent in world production.
Cherries are rich in potassium, phosphorous, iron and vitamin B1, B2, B6 and C.
The sour cherries for Lubs fruit bars come from Moldavia.
The cinnamon tree belongs to the family of the laurel plants. Cinnamon was already used as a spice in 3000 BC. Vasco da Gama brought it as precious in the16th century to Europe.
As a spice one uses the thin interior layer of the bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree. As cinnamon sticks or powder cinnamon predominantly finds use in sweet foods and pastries. The typical flavour of cinnamon traces back to the ethereal oil in the spice.
Ceylon is the country of origin for Lubs cinnamon.
The coconut is a hard-shelled fruit, which can weigh up to five pounds with shell. Their origin is assumed to be the Melanesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Used are both the coconut milk and the nutty tasting flesh.
The coconut contains valuable potassium, phosphorus and iron, as well as the vitamins of group B. They are absorbed particularly well by the body due to the high fat content of the fruit.
Lubs obtains its coconut flakes from the Philippines.
The delicate date originally comes from subtropical Africa. Today it is common mainly in North Africa, but also in Australia, Texas, Mexico and South Europe. The fresh fruit is harvested between October and February. Dried date will keep virtually for an unlimited period.
Dates contain high levels of potassium, calcium, iron, protein and digestion enhancing fibres. The fruits are rich in carbohydrates, which consist predominantly of easily digestible invert sugars, as are contained in honey.
Lubs sources its dates from a fair trade project in Deglet Nour, Tunisia.
The cultivated use of the fig is probably older than agriculture. Already Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves. And in Jericho in Israel remnants were found of figs, approximately 11 400 years old. All ancient advanced cultures knew the fig. Perhaps it is the high fruit sugar content (fresh approx. 15%, dried approx. 60%), which made this fruit in early periods a food, to which the same meaning was attached as to bread. Dried it belongs to the most important supply goods of ancient cultures.
Origin of the Lubs figs is Turkey.
The bushes and trees of the hazelnut belong to the birch family and were already known in the Mediterranean in the antiquity. Turkey still belongs to the largest hazelnut producers of the world today.
Hazelnuts contain a high quality oil, which is easily digestible and very aromatic. Unfortunately nuts belong to ten most allergenic substances, so that not everyone can benefit from their valuable nutritional value.
The origin of the Lubs hazelnuts: Turkey or Azerbaijan.
Honey is one of the most valuable natural sweeteners in the world. Already in the Stone Age honey was taken from wild bee colonies, in ancient Egypt honey was considered the food of the gods.
Honey contains nearly 70 % carbohydrates – of which over 66% are sugars.
But beyond that honey is rich in most valuable nutrients – e.g. vitamins of group B, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, fluorine and all important amino acids. Apart from its use as food, honey is considered a cure in naturopathy. As it is an anti inflammatory, it is used for healing wounds and against insect bites.
The Portuguese brought the orange in the 15th century from China to Europe. Today it is the most commonly cultivated citrus fruit in the world. Brazil, the USA, Mexico, India and Spain are the main suppliers to the world market of this aromatic fruit. Not only the juice of the orange with its high content of vitamin C, but also the orange peel is a biogenic raw material, which finds use in the food and the perfume industry.
Christopher Columbus brought the pineapple in 1493 from the West Indies to Europe. But still today the cultivation areas lie in the tropical countries.
Pineapple contains high concentration of the enzyme Bromelin, which has protein - splitting properties and thus promotes digestion. Beyond that the fruit is low in calories, but rich in vitamin A and B and Calcium.
Lubs sources its pineapples from Africa or Sri Lanka.
- RAISIN / SULTANA
Raisin is the generic term for all dried wine berries. For this ripe wine berries are harvested and dried until the moisture content of the berry amounts to approx. 20%. Due to the drying process the already high fruit sugar content of the wine berry rises up to approx. 60%. A subspecies of the raisin is the sultana: These berries are won from sultana grapes, which are very light, thin skinned, sweet and seedless.
Lubs obtains its sultanas from Turkey.
- RICE FLOUR
Rice flour is gained by grinding long grain rice. Contrary to other grain flours rice flour contains no gluten and is therefore used in the production of gluten-free food.
The rice flour for Lubs products comes from Italy.
- ROLLED OATS
The typical nut-like flavour of rolled oats develops during the process of steaming and subsequent drying of the oats. The absorbed oat kernels are made into flakes between rotating metal rolls.
Rolled oats are high in protein and in unsaturated fatty acids, beyond which they contain vitamin B1, B6 and E, iron and calcium. As with all grains rolled oats contain gluten, which can result in allergic reactions.
Lubs sources its rolled oats from Northern Germany of Bioland quality.
The cultivated strawberry is known in Europe for only two hundred years. It developed from coincidental crossings of several American wild strawberries. Today strawberries are cultivated in nearly all countries of the world, as varieties were developed, which grow in all climate zones.
Strawberries are rich in minerals (sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron), in fruit acids and vitamins (B1, B2, C, provitamin A). They strengthen the immune system, work haematinic and promote cell growth.
The strawberries for Lubs fruit bars come from Central or Eastern Europe.


Many festivals and holidays around the world can trace their origins back to agricultural beginnings. People have long celebrated what a bountiful harvest means for survival, and there are countless days of importance centered around specific crops. One perfect example of this is the Asogli Te Za. Also known as the Festival of Yams, this holiday is celebrated in the Volta Region of Ghana. Review these facts to learn more about how this tuber became the central symbol of an annual tradition.
The Origins of the Asogli Te Za
Legend states that the festival began thanks to the work of a single hunter. During a period of great famine in the area, a hunter went out to find food for his people. While in the forests, he came across a single yam. The hunter dug a hole and placed the yam inside in order to hide it from animals and other foragers. When the hunter returned to collect the yam, he discovered that it had germinated and grown significantly in size. After bringing it back to his tribe, the people agreed that cultivating the tuber would end their hunger.
Though celebrated in Ghana, the festival is actually said to have begun in the neighboring Togolese Republic. Historians believe that immigrants from the town of Notsé in Togo came to the Volta Region and brought with them the information needed to cultivate the yam. One important highlight of the Festival of Yams is a pilgrimage to Notsé as a way of honoring the people who helped create the tradition of farming this tuber.
The Traditional Celebration of the Festival of Yams
There are four traditional regions that comprise the Asogli: Akoefe, Ho, Kpenoe, and Takla. During the festival, which is held in September, the people from all these lands gather together and join in celebration. Typically, the members of different regions establish a trade fair during the holiday as a way of showcasing wares and sampling what other areas have to offer. In recent years, the festival has attracted visitors from across West Africa and beyond. This has given tourists the opportunity to try a variety of cuisine that is unique to Ghana.
Over the course of the festival, there are a number of activities that revelers can partake in. Entertainment includes speeches by local leaders and traditional dances underscored by popular folk music from across the Volta Region. There is also a contest to see which local farmer has grown the biggest yam of the season. The yam that weighs the most is declared the winner. The Festival of Yams only takes place for a day, and its ending is marked after sundown with a spectacular display of fireworks.
The Fall and Revival of the Festival
While it was celebrated for countless generations, this festival fell out of popularity in the early 1990s. After almost a decade without any gatherings, it was reinstated in 2004 by Togbe Afede XIV, who serves as the current President of Asogli Traditional Area. The main reason for reviving the festival was to provide education to younger Ghanaians about the importance of the traditions of the Asogli. Since being brought back, the holiday has become one of the most noteworthy of the region.
The Spiritual Side of Yam Festivals
For many Ghanaians, this annual event marks a time to pause and reflect. Since the cultivation of the yam is notoriously difficult, families will often come together to give thanks to their ancestors for taking on the challenges associated with farming this crop. Typically, participants in the festival will not consume any yams until there has been an offering of mashed yams made to the gods and ancestors.
Though eaten all over the world, the yam has a special place in the hearts of the people of Ghana and Togo. By celebrating this tuber as part of the Festival of Yams, the people give thanks to a crop that provided sustenance during a time of famine.


Request Wholesale Pricing
- Ladybugs are actually beetles, and are found worldwide. Of nearly 5,000 species, 400 are found in the United States.
- Farmers and gardeners love ladybugs because they eat many of the insects known to damage plant crops and flowers.
- Aphids are a ladybug’s favorite food. In its lifetime (about 1 year for most species), a ladybug can eat 5,000 aphids.
- A ladybug’s spots and shell (elytra) can be black and red, or in some species, blue, green, orange, yellow and white!


Its my favorite time of winter! Just when you think you can't take the cold, snow, wind, sleet, anymore, you realize its time to start thinking about your gardens. I start seeds indoors every year. I definitely don't really know what I am doing, and could probably do things a lot better, but what I do is simple and it works. I will be picking out the seeds I want this week and ordering them from
JohnScheepers.com I can definitely tell a difference between these seeds and seeds from Lowes or Home Depot. Plus, Sheepers has tons of varieties and great instructions to go along with each packet. To start seeds indoors, I go to Lowes and for $8 buy a seed starting tray with the little dirt pellets in it. All you do is add water and watch the pellets expand, poke a hole in the dirt pellet, and drop in a seed. Cover the seed with dirt, and then repeat until they are all full. Put the top on the tray and set in a warm room out of direct sun. With in days you will see sprouts! Very low maintenance at this point! Here is a seed starting time table to help you out. I don't even have my own veggie beds yet, in the past I have just put the veggies right into any vacant spot in my flower beds. I know its probably not the best practice, but it just proves, you don't need to have a farm or even raised beds to grow your own veggies. Happy planning!
Here is the general seed-starting schedule. It is based on the standard rule of thumb (for seeds that need to be started indoors) to start seeds eight weeks before the last expected spring frost date.
Eight-week General Seed-Starting Timetable
Horticultural Zones 9 & 10: Start seeds indoors now.
Horticultural Zone 8: Start seeds indoors in early February.
Horticultural Zone 7: Start seeds indoors in mid February.
Horticultural Zone 6: Start seeds indoors in late February.
Horticultural Zone 5: Start seeds indoors in early March.
Horticultural Zones 1-4: Start seeds indoors in mid to late March.
There are vegetables, herbs and flowers that require more or less time than the standard eight weeks. Here are the seed starting schedules for them:
Vegetable/Herb Seed-Starting Timetable
Eleven Weeks: Leeks, Artichokes and Cauliflower (transplant out four weeks before the last frost date).