Today is one of the most remarkable days of the world and it is known as ‘World Food Day’ while the day is celebrated every year around the world on 16th October in honor of the date of the founding of the food and agriculture of the United Nation in 1945.
The day is celebrated with a whole lot of celebrations widely as much other organization is very much concerned with food security, which also includes the World food program and the International fund for Agriculture development.
The day has different themes every year while the theme which was chosen in 2014 was ‘feeding the world’ caring for the earth and it was ‘Social protection and agriculture: Breaking the Cycle Of Rural Poverty’.
The theme for this year is quite unique like the evry year and that is Climate Change:” Climate is Changing, Food and Agriculture must too, which is quite same like 2008, 2002 and of 1989 too. The day is basically celebrated as to end the major issues which are spread throughout the world and they are poverty and hunger.
The world food day is celebrated every year with different themes to focus on different and every possible problem and most of the themes revolve around agriculture because only investment in agriculture – together with support for education and health will turn this situation around.
The bulk of that investment will have to come from the private sector, with public investment playing a crucial role, especially in view of its facilitating and stimulating effect on private investment. World Food Day has been a tradition in the United States since the first World Food Day in 1982.
In the United States, the endeavor is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations. So Guys celebrate this day by helping those who are unable to earn their food, try to help them and feed them with enough food.


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Dispenser for releasing CO₂ with remote control and light sensor.
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AIRBOMZ CO₂ DISPENSER maintains CO₂ values at 1200ppm, which is the ideal value for the explosive growth of your plants.
Increase production by up to 50%.
Shorter vegetation cycle of your plants.
Allows your plants to withstand higher temperatures and humidity.
The battery is used for power supply, so no waste heat is emitted.
Favorable operating costs thanks to replaceable cylinder.
1 week C02 in the box
3 weeks in the replacement MAXI can


These are 10 Facts About Cassava in Nigeria That Will Impress Your Friends
This article explains the reason for decline in cassava prices in the first half of 2022.
An announcement about the Greenhills Scheme 2 Farm in Ihunbo Ogun State.
This article describes the common problems experienced by farmers in logistics management of farm harvests
GreenHills Cassava Farmstead is a sustainable agricultural initiative dedicated to cassava cultivation and we take pride in producing high-quality cassava while promoting agricultural sustainability.
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Unique Design, Adjustable, Flexible, Gooseneck arm: A flexible, adjustable arm lets you posit the light in any direction. energy saving, low heat and low power consumption,high luminous efficiency and long service life.
Emit the wavelength of light which can be fully absorbed by the plants photosynthesis, helps plant that need extra boost of light.
New Generation Lamp: Improved the head of the lamp, it thicker and smoother than used to be. You won't cut your fingers any more. Thicker cover provides better heat dissipation too.
Grow Light helps accelerate the growth of indoor plants. Emits the wavelength of light which can be fully absorbed by the plants photosynthesis, best for blooming and fruit & for promoting the leaf, can rapidly improve the health of plant and growing.
Blue light is good for photosynthesis; and help to induce Chlorophyll and Carotenoid, which are necessary for healthy leaves. Red light is best for blooming and fruits, White light can be used to ensure the plant has itself's color.
Product DescriptionGrow Light is widely used in indoor gardening and hydroponics plants, really helps when the plant need extra boost of light, or a few of sun, raining, snowing , dark indoor etc.
Ideal for all phases of plant growth, and works well with water solution culture and soil culture. Can be used in house garden, pot culture, garden, sowing, breeding, farm, flower exhibition, bonsai, garden, green house, sowing,breeding, farm, greenhouse cultivation, water soluble breeding, greenhouse cultivation, pipeline cultivation and so on
This product is suitable for bananas, flowers, dendrobium, orchids, tobacco, seaweed, green peppers, eggplant, bitter gourd, tomatoes, grapes, lettuce other vegetables.
These spectrums provide different light for different growing phases, making it easy to provide the perfect light to make sure that you have the best yield, while making sure that during the vegetative state your plants grow log and hearty, or short and bushy.
IP Level: IP40
Input Voltage: AC90-265V
Material: Aluminum/ PC
Work Current: 300MA
Type of bulb: LED
Work Environment: -20°-40° 45-95%RH
light Attenuation: 3%/kh
1. The plant light maybe can't stand up alone when you adjust the neck, if you want put it on desk, you can clip one thick book or the desk surface.
2. The Grow Light is non-waterproof, don't touch water, keep it dry to avoid danger.
3. Please cut off the power when you don't use it.
4. The work environment is 20~40℃, 45%~95%RH, kept from heat source and wet environment in order to protect the service life.


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Collecting Lettuce Seeds
|September 6, 2012||Posted by Issa under Homesteading|
In these photos, I am collecting lettuce seeds. The plants are some lettuce that I grew, that I left to bolt and go to seed. Once the stalks and seed heads are dry, I harvest them and collect the seeds. Often, the seed heads won’t all be ripe at the same time, so I don’t get even 50% yield. But there are still plenty of seeds–more than I need. I tend to collect early rather than late, because by the time the seeds have fully ripened and fallen on the ground, they’re lost. A single good wind or rain-storm can shake most of the ripe seeds loose.
Each ripe seed head has a tuft of white on it. If the tuft is pointy, like a paint brush, the head isn’t ripe yet. When the head is ripe, the tuft fans out and the seed head is brown, dry, and crumbly. Plucking on the tuft pulls out a bunch of seeds, perhaps ten or so. With the really ripe ones, I can separate the seeds simply by crumbling the seed pod between my fingers.


I will be the first to admit that going that extra distance on healthy eating is a challenge. When we look at the typical Western diet (what a cliche that’s become!), there is much about it that is more about convenience, profit or taste rather than health. Lets review for a second what we know about good food:
- Fresh is best, followed by frozen, dried and canned.
- Vegetables are the powerhouses of nutrition, and what is least consumed in a typical diet.
- Vegetables, being low in calories, should form the bulk of our diets, since we all love to eat.
- Fresh food is best locally grown, since then it isn’t wasting gas being shipped, and losing nutrients on the way.
- It is good, if possible, to avoid pesticides, and other chemicals in our diets
Knowing all this, we should all be growing as much of our own food as possible. However, once you grow all this goodness, what do you do with it? Learning about canning and freezing is it’s own field of learning. Also, what do you do with all that kale?
So that is what this blog article is about. My experiments to get as much of the green stuff in as possible. Lets start with the garden:
As you can see, you can be harvesting from your garden from early spring- don’t wait to put the lettuce, peas and spinach in, all through the summer, but much of that is just the greens. Those are the most nutritious parts, but how often can you have them sauteed or in a salad before you get tired of them? So I have been experimenting with getting ways more greens in. I have my little magic blender knock off, and I’ve been pureeing the greens and adding them to my morning oatmeal. Many people make green smoothies, blending the greens with fruit and milk. When kale is blended, it has a lovely fresh green taste, like eating summer. However, I realize that many people would not find that appealing. I’ve also chopped them and added them to my tuna or pasta salads. I think that is great, but again, I would add a little at a time, gradually increasing the amount to get used to it.
As you can tell, I’m all about grinding them up and using them as biomass. First, you can get a lot more in you in an unobtrusive fashion. If I stuff my little blender full, it grinds down to about 1/4 cup. This also gets you past the texture problem, as kale and broccoli can be a bit tough. I’m still working on how to get this mixture into other foods, to get the less enthusiastic members of the family on board. Today I tried adding it with eggs.
First, I ground the greens, then I threw them on the griddle with dried tomato and basil:Well, I’m thinking “this is not looking like a winner”. But, I persist, adding some chopped onion, egg and cheese: But, me being me, I go through with it and eat it: So this was the finished product. It tasted better than I hoped. My biggest complaint was that it was a bit dry. Don’t blend your eggs- it takes all the structure out of them, taking away that “eggy” texture. It was odd that it was dry, since you have to add some liquid to blend the kale, and veggies are mostly liquid. I probably cooked the greens too long. I will try this again, it was good enough to do that.
In other veggie cooking news, kale chips are all they are cracked up to be, and more. Very addictive. I wonder if my other greens can be cooked the same way? I’ll try and let you know.


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Currently, their are only about 500,000 Musang King Durian trees in all of Malaysia. Making Musang King Durian Investments a great opportunity.
Copyright 2020 Plantations International Holdings PTE. LTD.


Walking into the supermarket, browsing the seemingly endless rows of fresh produce and canned goods, it’s hard to fathom a food shortage. But with the current world population of 7.2 billion expected to explode to 9.6 billion by 2050, the United Nations warns food scarcity is in the wind.
Although urbanization will have gobbled up most arable land, more food will be needed. To cope with rising food insecurity, China is purchasing agricultural land throughout the world, in countries that include Russia, Mexico, Cuba and Australia.
The greatest spike will occur in developing countries, with more than half of the growth in Africa. By 2050, the U.N. reported, Nigeria’s population will exceed that of the United States, which is expected to balloon by 31 percent from 305 million in 2008 to 400 million in 2050.
“There’s a perfect storm on the horizon,” USC Dornsife Dean Steve Kay said. “We also have climate change that will stress our water resources. As we move from 2030 to 2050, it will be a challenging time for food security.”
It’s happening now in Central America, where drought conditions are wreaking havoc on crops. By early 2015, food security in four Central American countries is expected to rapidly deteriorate, according to an August alert sent out by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Famine Early Warning Systems Network.
To meet the food demand, agriculture production must at least double by 2050, the U.N. asserts, and “innovative strategies are needed to help combat hunger, which already affects more than 1 billion people in the world.”
Answering the call, researchers at USC Dornsife are finding innovative ways to feed the world. Some have built the foundation that may lead to the design of more robust crops. Others are tapping into aquaculture to bolster food from the ocean. Still others are homing in on palm oil and the small but mighty chickpea to help avert the world’s looming food crisis.
The Good Seed
The key word in the food security challenge is yield.
“How can we keep crop yields rising if traditional plant breeding isn’t working anymore?” Kay said. “We can now use genome sequencing or molecular markers to build more efficient plant breeding programs. Technology gives us a boost, but there’s absolutely no doubt in the minds of almost every expert that we will need agricultural biotechnology as well — or genetically modified foods.”
Kay, professor of biological sciences, and his research team have made giant strides toward constructing hardier crop plants — onions, beets, soybeans and the like.
In one major step, Kay and his team have created the first comprehensive library of genetic switches in plants, available for scientists to use around the globe. The collection contains about 2,000 clones of plant transcription factors, nature’s genetic on-off switches. Conducted over eight years, the research making the library possible was published in July in Cell Reports.
“They’re like smart missiles that go into the nucleus and bind to specific sequences of DNA,” Kay, the study’s corresponding author, said of transcription factors. “They will regulate genes, switching them on or off, according to how that cell needs to respond to its environment.”
Genetic switches are like turning on a light bulb so you can see in the dark. A switch will go on to allow a plant to withstand cold, for example, then go off when it’s hot.
In Kay’s library, clones of these “master switches” are contained in the “wells” of microtiter plates. The library will be sent to stock centers — or collections of living organisms — which will distribute the plates to scientists.
“We wanted to make a high-fidelity, gold-standard collection of transcription factors that’s going to serve the plant community all over the world,” said Kay, who researches circadian rhythms, or the biological clock, in plants.
The clones were taken from Arabidopsis, a flowering plant related to cabbage and mustard. The plant is used as a genetic model because it shares most of the same genes as many plants and crops.
“You can think of Arabidopsis as the mouse of the botanical world,” Kay said.
The availability of these clones has great implications for scientists such as Kay, whose research sets the stage to design a more robust plant for future food security.
“Ultimately, this collection will help us understand at the molecular level the mechanisms of how plants work,” said Jose Pruneda-Paz, co-first author on the paper. Pruneda-Paz helped to create the library as a postdoctoral researcher, first in Kay’s laboratory at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, then at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he is now a faculty member.
“By manipulating those transcription factors, we will be able to ultimately improve plant traits such as stress resistance or seed quantity and quality,” Pruneda-Paz said. “This is the larger goal.”
Kay elaborated: “Along the way we are going to understand the wiring — the instruction manual — for how plants grow and develop. From that knowledge base comes all the translational opportunities.”
The collection will help in the underfunded field of plant research. Of all biomedical research, the federal government spends approximately 1 percent on plant research.
“Given how important food is to human health, that’s rather concerning,” Kay said, adding that the goal is to build the foundation for any number of plant biology projects.
One study made possible by the library was published in Current Biology in July. In the research, Kay’s team investigated how plants regulate their gene expression in the cold. Using the library, they conducted tests isolating an interaction between two key genes — LUX and CBF1 — now known to be responsible for freezing tolerance in plants.
The research showed how plants adapt to temperature changes during the normal course of the day-night cycle, and to extreme change such as frost.
“We knew very little about how cold intersects with the clock and this really reinforced the idea that transcriptional regulation is key,” said Brenda Chow, referring to when a gene is triggered to respond to an environment. The first author on the Current Biology study, Chow recently started a position at GenBank, a genetic sequence database in Bethesda, Maryland.
“The library has been very useful across the plant community. For my project, it was a unique way to identify the interaction between CBF1 and LUX. It would have been very difficult to identify this any other way.”
Research on grasses, too, is paramount. Most human calories come from grasses — wheat, maize and corn. Kay’s team was the first to thoroughly characterize the impact of the circadian clock on grass growth.
In a study published in PLOS ONE in June, researchers from Kay’s laboratory revealed that internal cues generated by the circadian clock do not cause grasses to grow. Regardless of the presence or absence of light, grasses grow in warm temperatures.
“It’s known that things grow faster when they’re warm and enzymes work faster when they’re warmer; temperature is a catalyst,” said the study’s first author, Samuel Hazen, now a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “But the complete absence of the involvement of light/dark cues in grass growth is what we discovered in the study.”
This breakthrough is highly relevant to researchers who, as Kay said, can use the knowledge as the base for translational research. For example, it becomes the foundation for scientists to modify genes in grasses to withstand drought and other adverse weather conditions.
In two more recent studies, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Kay and his collaborators identified genes and pathways crucial for plant growth under stressful conditions, such as heat and lack of nutrients.
In one study, Kay’s team discovered a key molecular cog in a plant’s biological clock — one that modulates the speed of circadian (daily) rhythms based on temperature. Postdoctoral scholar Dawn Nagel identified transcription factor FBH1, revealing a novel role for this switch in the plant’s ability to respond and grow in warm temperatures. This discovery provides clues to managing crops under high-temperature stress.
And in collaboration with professor Nigel Crawford of UCSD, Kay’s lab identified another genetic switch, TCP20, important for how roots forage and sense nutrient levels. Understanding root growth under limited nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen, is vital for developing crops that lack this important nutrient source.
Kay also noted that while some claim genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may be unsafe for human consumption, he believes this stance is based on suspicion rather than evidence.
“It comes from a lack of understanding,” he said. “With more transparency and facts, the public will come to see GMOs as a solution.”
The United States imports 91 percent of its seafood, half of which comes from farms. While many countries are investing heavily in sustainable aquaculture, the U.S. ranks last in aquaculture production. USC Dornsife scientists are finding ways the U.S. can provide more seafood.
Angling for Answers
Moving from land to sea, aquaculture is also a way to help feed the world.
As oceans are reaching their maximum potential of wild, captured seafood, fish farming has become the world’s main way of producing species such as trout and salmon, according to the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Over the past 20 years, the world’s wild-fish catch has flattened, with the depletion and threatened extinction of some species. Meanwhile, fish farming continues to rise at a sharp rate.
Fish farming — the breeding, rearing and harvesting of plants and animals in ponds, rivers, lakes and the ocean — is now providing more than half of the world’s 44 pounds per capita of fish consumed annually. (In the U.S., annual consumption is 15 pounds per capita, compared to 110 pounds per capita of red meat).
In 2012, the amount of farmed fish produced globally was at an all-time high of 90.4 million tons. But the U.S. ranks last in aquaculture production. China ranks first, producing 59.7 percent of all farmed seafood. Indonesia comes in second with 10.6 percent, followed by India with 4.7 percent. The U.S. is responsible for 0.5 percent of farmed production, just below North Korea.
Currently, the U.S. imports 91 percent of its seafood. Looking to our own coastlines to provide seafood is economically and socially imperative, said Dennis Hedgecock, Paxson H. Offield Professor in Fisheries Ecology and professor of biological sciences at USC Dornsife. Along with Donal Manahan, professor of biological sciences and vice dean for students, Hedgecock is working on establishing a one-of-a-kind facility for complete life-cycle culture of model marine organisms at the USC Philip K. Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island.
The culture facility would become a national stock center for pedigreed lines of Pacific oysters and purple sea urchins — marine invertebrates with sequenced genomes. They may culture other species such as Kumamoto oysters, Mediterranean and California mussels, and purple-hinge rock scallops.
Hedgecock acknowledged that fish farming in the U.S. has been sorely misunderstood, with environmentalists concerned about pollution caused by on- and off-shore farms, and consumers worried about taste and nutrition. Permits can be tough to obtain.
“Aquaculture is the future,” Hedgecock said. “If there are problems, we have to solve the problems. We already get our seafood from other countries where we have no say in what environmental damage they may cause. It’s irresponsible to push off our consumption to other countries.
“Why don’t we learn this process ourselves and be leaders instead of followers?”
Along the U.S. West Coast, some shellfish farms are economically and environmentally thriving. To help promote aquaculture research, Hedgecock, Manahan and biologist Dale Kiefer have spearheaded a new initiative at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies called “Future of Food From the Sea.”
This research is unlocking many of the genes involved in oyster growth and survival, helping scientists and aquaculturists understand and improve the relationship between oyster genetics and production. Hedgecock and Manahan’s research relies on hybrid vigor — or heterosis — to produce oysters resistant to environmental stressors. In research published in PNAS and other publications, the scientists have shown how crossbreeding genetically different oysters to create hybrids increases size, yield and other positive characteristics.
Right now, Hedgecock and Manahan operate an oyster hatchery on Catalina, but aim to create a facility that can accommodate the oysters through adulthood, enabling researchers to further understand how these important species survive, grow and adapt.
Hedgecock said that while the genomes of a growing number of marine organisms have been sequenced, few have the well-developed genetic resources and methods of model terrestrial animals.
Most research on marine species relies on wild-type animals taken directly from the field, obtained from biological supply houses or the aquaculture industry. This practice contributes to variation in results among laboratories and, more importantly, prevents a sophisticated partitioning of genetic and environmental causes of variation in complex phenotypes, he said.
“Earth’s largest habitat, the ocean, is undergoing rapid anthropogenic change,” Hedgecock said. “The ocean is warming, becoming more acidic as a result of anthropogenic carbon dioxide; toxic, plastic particles and other wastes; and heavy exploitation for mineral resources and food for human consumption.”
Understanding and predicting biological stability and change amid rapid anthropogenic modifications of ecosystems is a grand challenge facing environmental life scientists, he said.
“In the short term, organisms withstand environmental stress, including disease,” he said. “In the long term, across generations, populations evolve using primarily genetic variation in traits that increase fitness. Separating nature and nurture is key to understanding the potential for adaptation to future environmental change.”
Helping to make the hybrid vigor research possible are donors including Sam King, a member of the USC Wrigley Institute Advisory Board, the USC Dornsife Board of Councilors, and chief executive officer of King’s Seafood Company. King, Hedgecock and others give talks throughout the nation on the institute’s aquaculture research.
“I think our attitudes are starting to change,” King said. “As long as we have great scientists and great science, then hopefully the minds of American people will change. Like people in other countries, they’ll learn to embrace aquaculture.”
Sergey Nuzhdin, professor of biological sciences at USC Dornsife, is working with Hedgecock on some of the aquaculture research. Nuzhdin’s laboratory has long been interested in tackling food insecurity.
In 2008, Nuzhdin received a $3.2-million National Science Foundation grant to fund a three-year study on the legume Medicago truncatula, a plant that can improve soil fertility naturally, even under saline conditions.
The species is a genetic model for crop legumes such as soybean, alfalfa, pea, bean and peanut. The principal investigator for the cross-cultural study, Nuzhdin collaborated with researchers from Tunisia and France.
From that study, other projects have evolved. Nuzhdin became a key member of the Chickpea Innovation Lab, among 23 “innovation labs” participating in USAID’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future.
The project is led by professor Doug Cook of the University of California, Davis, with major collaborators at USC, Florida International University, Turkey’s Harran University and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research.
Generating higher crop yields, genetically modified foods may be an answer to easing world hunger.
Eat Your Peas
USAID’s five-year, $4 million genetic research program — with $1 million slated for USC Dornsife — aims to expand the climatic range in which the chickpea can be cultivated. By creating more and higher yielding varieties of chickpea, the productivity of small-scale farmers will also increase.
In early 2013, Nuzhdin and his colleagues conducted research in Turkey, where some 10,000 years ago people turned wild plants into crops — the advent of agriculture.
Also called the garbanzo bean, the chickpea is extremely high in protein and its natural ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen contributes to soil fertility. In developing countries, the crop provides a crucial source of income, food security and nutrition to poor farmers.
Nuzhdin and his fellow researchers are capitalizing on the genetic potential of the wild chickpea to create traits that withstand heat, drought, frost and disease, and encourage increased nutrition.
Ethiopia, the largest chickpea producer in Africa, was chosen as the thematic focus of the project because of its history of chickpea cultivation stretching back more than 2,500 years. As a result of their religious practice of fasting, many Ethiopians have a high dependency on the chickpea as a source of protein.
Ultimately, the chickpea plants will be tested in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Turkey and Ethiopia. Nuzhdin’s research has the potential to improve chickpea breeding for the next century.
In another project, Tatiana Tatarinova, associate professor of research pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, and Nuzhdin have teamed up on research supported by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) — a Malaysian government research organization. The team will help develop tools to accelerate the interspecific hybrid breeding of oil palm trees.
An MPOB collaborator since 2010, Tatarinova was drawn to the group’s vast collection of high-quality, diverse, biological information on oil palm.
“For a bioinformatician, it’s like a trip to Disneyland,” Tatarinova said. “It’s a rare chance to get access to an unexplored wealth of data that can have immediate practical applications for agriculture.”
Oil palms produce an edible vegetable oil derived from the reddish pulp of their fruit. Palm oil has become among the world’s major sources of vegetable oil, a common cooking ingredient and butter substitute.
Nuzhdin and his team will study Elaeis oleifera, a species of palm native to South and Central America, and compare it to Elaeis guineensis, an African oil palm. In view of E. oleifera’s lack of traits linked to high oil yield and E. guineensis’ high oil yield, researchers will help to develop tools to quicken interspecific hybridization of both species.
“We’re interested in using modern genomics tools to improve the oil palm tree,” Nuzhdin said. “Artificial selection plays a central role in making those improvements. But selecting alone will be too slow for the oil palms, since they grow for 10-plus years before starting to reproduce.”
His team will use the power of biodiversity in this effort. Rather than genetically modifying an organism, they will use the tree’s genetic makeup to predict its agronomy and traits.
“We use principles of evolution and ecology to understand what is important and then enhance what is natural,” he said.
He acknowledged that while palm oil is the main component of all processed foods, cosmetics and cleaning products in the U.S., harvesting the trees to make the oil has raised concern regarding deforestation and species extinction. While the debate continues, Nuzhdin’s research will boost breeding efficiency and help make the production of palm oil more sustainable.
“Since many economies, like Malaysia’s, completely depend on oil palm production, they are not about to stop producing the trees,” Nuzhdin said.
“The only way of reducing the impact is to intensify the production on already existing fields, instead of extending to new land. Breeding the trees that can produce faster and more reliably will mitigate any damage to the environment.”
Applying the research to the real world is essential, he said.
“We have a set of deliverables,” Nuzhdin said. “Those deliverables are cultivars that will get into the hands of small farmers in developing countries.”
Senior writer Susan Bell contributed to this report.


REAP appoints Eventage as strategic partner for international trade promotion.
In a highly competitive international market, rice exporters are now focusing on untapped regions for the exports. As a step forward, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has appointed Eventage Pakistan as there strategic partner for international trade promotion. An MoU was signed between Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi – Chairman REAP and Mr. Dawar Khan – CEO Eventage Pakistan. The aim of this partnership is to facilitate rice exporters to explore new and emerging markets by participating at important international trade exhibitions. During the signing ceremony Mahmood Baqi Moulvi stated that: “This partnership will assist REAP members in expanding their businesses in diversified markets which will benefit the Rice industry as a whole. Rice exporters will be supported by government subsidy and also international trade groups to gain maximum proceeds in foreign trade earnings from markets like Russia, Africa, Turkey, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, Africa etc.”
See what Mr. Baqi Moulvi – Chairman (Rice Exporter Association of Pakistan REAP) has to say about the recent partnership.


Syngenta, a Swiss seeds and pesticides manufacturing group, one of the largest in Europe and a world leader, is all set to be acquired by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned enterprise for a record US$43 billion. One of the largest and boldest attempts to date by a Chinese firm to invest in a business abroad, it is believed to be part of China’s comprehensive strategy to ensure food security for its population in the age of climate change, shrinking and polluted open and ground water resources, degrading land quality and increasing demand for high protein foods. Syngenta’s acquisition, with its technological superiority in seed production and state-of-the-art technologies in crop protection chemicals, is potentially beneficial to China in facing challenges to its food security. Both the US and Europe approved the merger plans after considering its implications for their national security and in terms of competition. Though the merger in the agrochemical industry space is not new – the industry has been seeing consolidation with the top five companies controlling 75 per cent of the industry – acquisition by a Chinese state-owned entity raises a number of questions. No doubt, it will benefit food security-conscious China but it can also have implications for food sovereignty and security in the region. India particularly has reasons to take a long-term view of this acquisition. The entry of genetically modified foods, changing dynamics in negotiating positions in the WTO on matters related to agriculture and increased agricultural imports from China may be some of the issues that may need to be considered over the long haul.
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Inscrit le: 05 Avr 2016
|Posté le: Sam 8 Juil - 19:46 (2017) Sujet du message: The American Thresherman And Farm Power Vol 21 May 1918 C
Excerpt from The American Thresherman and Farm Power, Vol. 21: May, 1918
Seed growers prepare their land for the seed crop by cultivating the soil several times. Areas under one management, consisting of from one thousand to five thousand acres, are cultivated much as the average gardener Operates a small plot. Cultivation follows steadily, thus not per mitting weed growth to develop. The crops are produced without irrigation, except where the moisture Of the soil is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the crop. But usually, in these dark, deep soils, the moisture is sufficient.
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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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If you’re looking for plants that will thrive in South Florida’s humid, tropical climate, you’ve come to the right place. From classic favorites like hibiscus and bougainvillea to lesser-known varieties like firecracker plant and African milk tree, there are plenty of options to choose from. Keep reading to learn more about the best plants for South Florida gardens.
Succulents are a popular choice for South Florida gardens due to their tolerance to dry conditions and their ability to store water in their leaves and stems. As a bonus, succulents come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a great addition to any garden. When transplanting succulents, it is important to choose an area that will receive plenty of sunlight, as they need a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight every day to thrive.
Palms are a great choice for South Florida gardens and can provide a stunning tropical look with their lush fronds and towering trunks. Palms are relatively hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels, but they do need to be planted in an area that receives full sun for at least six hours a day.
When moving your plants, it’s important to find a moving company that can handle fragile items. Bekins of South Florida is a moving company that specializes in transporting your belongings. The company has years of experience with both local and long-distance moves. Whether you’re moving your plants from a studio apartment to a six-bedroom mansion or downsizing from a larger home, you’ll find that their movers can handle every step of the moving process with care and professionalism. They even offer storage services for short-term and long-term leases.
Another great choice for Florida is the Canna Lily. Canna lilies are tropical plants that can survive in a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels. They are very hardy and drought tolerant, making them a great choice for areas that get a lot of sun. Canna lilies have large, bright flowers that add a lot of color and texture to a landscape.
Tips to Keep Your Plants Healthy in Florida
Plants that are native to a warmer climate may not be able to survive in a colder climate. It is important to research what plants will thrive in your area before you make the move. Another factor to consider is the plant’s water requirements. In South Florida, most plants need less water than they would in other parts of the country. Make sure you are aware of how much water your new plants need and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. This area of Florida also has different pests and diseases than other parts of the country. Make sure you are familiar with the common pests and diseases in your area so you can watch out for them and treat them if necessary. Finally, give your plants time to adjust to their new surroundings. Florida’s climate is very different from most other parts of the country, so it may take some time for your plants to get used to it. Be patient and they will eventually flourish!
If you’re looking to give your friend some plants as a parting gift before you move, a plant subscription gift is a great option. You can choose plants that remind you of them, and it’s a nice way to remind them that you are only a phone call away.
Overall, plants that can survive a move to South Florida are important for creating a lush, green landscape. It is important to research which plants will thrive in your specific area to ensure a beautiful, cohesive landscape.


March 11, 2024 at 3:34 PM #12660The African MonetaristMemberLagos, Nigeria
Cocoa production in Africa wields considerable influence on the global economy, characterized by significant figures and far reaching impact. Overall the global cocoa market was an estimated $48.29 billion in 2022, with an estimated forecast of $67.88 billion by 2029.
Dominant Production Hub: Africa, chiefly West Africa, commands the global cocoa production landscape. Key players like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon collectively contribute to over 70% of the world’s cocoa output, with Ivory Coast and Ghana alone accounting for more than 50%.
Economic Backbone: Cocoa cultivation serves as a pivotal economic pillar in African nations where it thrives. This sector offers employment to millions, spanning from farmers to processing plant workers. The revenue garnered from cocoa exports substantially bolsters these countries’ GDP and governmental coffers.
Foreign Exchange Reservoir: Cocoa exports stand as a crucial component of foreign exchange earnings for numerous African economies. The revenue derived from cocoa exports significantly fuels imports, infrastructural development, and various governmental expenditures.
Global Market Influence: Africa’s dominance in cocoa production renders it a linchpin in the global cocoa market. Any disruptions in production or supply stemming from the region can trigger notable fluctuations in cocoa prices worldwide. These disruptions may arise from diverse factors like adverse weather conditions, disease outbreaks, or political instability.
Price Fluctuations: The global cocoa market is inherently susceptible to price volatility, influenced by factors such as weather fluctuations, demand shifts, and currency fluctuations. Such volatility can impact both producers and consumers, especially in developing nations where cocoa farming stands as a primary income source.
Supply Chain Challenges: Challenges pertaining to fair trade practices, child labor, and environmental sustainability in cocoa production have intensified scrutiny of the supply chain. Initiatives to address these concerns, including certification programs and sustainable farming practices, carry ramifications for both producers and consumers within the global market.
Value Addition Opportunities: Despite Africa’s significant cocoa production share, only a small fraction of value-added products, like chocolate, undergo production within the continent. This underscores opportunities for African nations to invest in processing and manufacturing facilities to capture more value from their cocoa production.
Africa should now seize the growth opportunity for processing and export presented by the AfCFTA.
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I’ve been feeling the nudge for quite some time, almost two years now, that I need to start my own garden. I failed miserably when I first started! My lettuce, onions, sweet peppers, basil and marigolds all died long slow deaths. But, hey, I’m no quitter and now, my gardening skills are improving, and I’m learning more and more as I go.
I can’t be the only one that’s noticing the food prices going up. Because of this and other uncertainties in the world that are outside of our control, it’s a good idea to learn how to grow one’s own food and to get the children involved in this endeavor.
Why not come with me on a field trip to the Rooted in Rising Backyard Garden in Modesto, CA? You just may be inspired to start your own garden! I certainly hope so!
See you on the next post!


Mangoes are referred to as King of Tropical Fruits. There are different varieties of mango in the market. Even though there are over 50 varieties of mangoes in the world, mangoes in Japan are said to be the costliest. When mangoes in a typical tropical country cost from $2-5/kg, mangoes in Japan cost as high as $2000-5000/kg. Ever wondered why?
Miyazaki Mangoes – Costliest Mangoes
Three major places where mangoes are cultivated in Japan are Kagoshima, Okinawa and Miyazaki. Okinawa is biggest cultivator of mangoes but mangoes from Miyazaki are said to be the costliest in the world.
Miyazaki Mangoes belong to the family of Irwin Mangoes. The colour of Irwin Mangoes are different from the usual mangoes. Usually mangoes have a yellowish-orange color and they belong to the family of Pelican Mangoes. Miyazaki Mangoes have a purplish-red colour which is different and very attractive.
What makes them so costly?
- Unfavourable Climate – Japan does not follow a tropical type of climate. So cultivation of mangoes in Japan is difficult. There are specific places where the climate is favourable to mango’s growth. The only period that suits the growth of mangoes are from April to August.
- Harvesting Method – Farmers in Japan use the greenhouse farming method to grow mangoes. This method is comparatively expensive than traditional farming.
- Special Attention – While growing mangoes, farmers in Japan plug the rest of the mangoes so that maximum nutrition is received by only a selected few.
- Extra Sweetness – Even though Alphonso Mango is considered to be the king of mangoes. But Miyazaki Mangoes are sweeter and are said to contain 15% more sugar than normal mangoes.
- Weight – Miyazaki Mangoes are said to be 350 g heavier than normal mangoes.
- Healthy and Nutritious – Miyazaki Mangoes contain large amounts of beta carotene, folic acid, and antioxidants which makes it healthy.
- Tradition – In Japan, giving fruits as gifts is considered to be of great value. This tradition has been folllowed from a long time.
- Packaging – Since these fruits are of high value, the packaging cost also makes it costly. They are presented as gifts and sellers make sure they look like premium fruits.
Mangoes of Japan in India?
Some years back in Madhya Pradhesh, India, a couple were travelling by train. While on their way to Chennai, they received a few saplings of mango from a stranger. They had no idea and they simply planted them in their farm. After sometime, they were amazed with the quality of mangoes the trees were bearing. Some research later, they found out that those saplings belong to miyazaki mangoes.
This news spreaded like fire in the neighbouring areas, so much so that it was all in the news. They got scared that people would steal those saplings from them. To protect the farm, the couple had to hire 4 guards and 6 watch-dogs.
When places like India are over burdened with production with mangoes, so much so that prices go as down as $0.13 per kg. Japan still sells its over expensive mangoes to the public. It is of course very difficult to curb the sales. A lot of farmers livelihood depends on such sales. Tropical countries where production is in excess should look to sell canned fruits. Canned food is a great way to increase profitability.


CyberBrain Model for Smart Farmer and Smart Community Development
The CyberBrain project was initiated by UKNOW Center, at the Department of Computer Engineering Kasetsart University. The goal of CyberBrain is to develop IT solutions, combining IT infrastructure, services, and knowledge management, to improve the quality of lives of rice farmers. The assumption of the CyberBrain project is that if the rice farmers have access to the right agricultural information and knowledge, the cultivation process will become more effective, resulting in the improvement of productivity and product quality, consequently, increasing their income. With this assumption, this project focused on developing an IT-enabling knowledge service that will deliver such agricultural knowledge to the rice farmers. Examples quoted in this section refer directly to the ideas and experiences in Thailand specifically in designing and implementing CyberBrain.
In the case of CyberBrain, the objective is to develop a knowledge bank and service that could be used to help the cultivation practices of rice farmers become more effective, which will consequently help them increase their income and improve their life quality. Four main aspects were chosen as the focus when selecting the knowledge content to achieve these objectives, which are:
- Knowledge to help reduce cost
- knowledge to help reduce risk
- Knowledge to help increase cultivation and product quality
- Knowledge to help increase productivity
The knowledge content should cover the entire life-cycle of cultivation processes, from the farm to the market; including information on what needs to be done before planting, during planting, after harvesting, and market information.


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Coffee grounds are commonly used as a natural fertilizer for plants due to their many benefits. Not all plants are compatible with coffee grounds. It is essential to understand which plants do not favor the use of coffee grounds to ensure healthy growth. Let's delve into this topic further:
Benefits of Using Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer:
- Improved Soil Drainage: Coffee grounds help enhance soil structure and provide better drainage, preventing waterlogging and root rot.
- Nutrient-Rich Soil: Coffee grounds contain essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which enrich the soil and promote plant growth.
- Natural Pest Repellent: Coffee grounds act as a natural deterrent for garden pests, such as slugs and snails, due to their abrasive texture and strong aroma.
Plants That Don't Like Coffee Grounds:
- Acid-Loving Plants: Coffee grounds are acidic by nature, making them unsuitable for plants that thrive in alkaline or neutral soil, such as certain varieties of ferns, hydrangeas, and certain vegetables like asparagus and sweet potatoes.
- Plants That Require Good Drainage: While coffee grounds can improve soil drainage, plants that prefer dry or well-drained soil, such as succulents and cacti, may suffer from excessive moisture retention caused by the use of coffee grounds.
- Plants Sensitive to Caffeine: Some plants, including certain flowering plants and herbs like basil and marigolds, are sensitive to caffeine. The presence of caffeine in coffee grounds can hinder their growth and development.
Alternatives for Coffee Grounds:
- Composting: Instead of directly applying coffee grounds to your plants, consider adding them to your compost pile. This allows for proper breakdown and decomposing, making them safer for a wider range of plants.
- Using Other Organic Fertilizers: There are various organic fertilizers available, such as composted manure, bone meal, and seaweed-based fertilizers, which provide similar benefits without the acidity of coffee grounds.
Tips for Using Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer:
- Moderation is Key: Use coffee grounds in moderation and avoid excessive application, especially for plants sensitive to acidity or caffeine.
- Composting Coffee Grounds: To neutralize the acidity and break down the coffee grounds further, consider composting them with other organic matter before using them as fertilizer.
By understanding which plants do not favor coffee grounds and exploring alternative options, you can make informed choices when it comes to using coffee grounds as a fertilizer in your garden.
Benefits of Using Coffee Grounds as FertilizerDid you know that coffee grounds can do more than just make your morning cup of joe? In the world of gardening, using coffee grounds as fertilizer offers a range of benefits. From improving soil drainage to providing nutrient-rich soil and even acting as a natural pest repellent, coffee grounds have proven to be a versatile and eco-friendly option for your plants. Get ready to discover the incredible advantages of incorporating coffee grounds into your gardening routine!
Improved Soil Drainage
To enhance soil drainage, coffee grounds provide numerous benefits as a fertilizer, contributing to improved soil drainage.
These benefits include increased porosity, organic matter, microbial activity, nutrient availability, and pH balance.
By incorporating coffee grounds, soil drainage is enhanced through the creation of air pockets and the improvement of water movement.
Moreover, beneficial microbes aid in the breakdown of organic matter, resulting in the formation of channels for water flow.
The organic matter found in coffee grounds releases vital nutrients that foster healthy plant growth and the development of robust root systems.
Coffee grounds aid in the prevention of soil compaction, thus further enhancing soil drainage.
It is crucial to use coffee grounds judiciously to prevent excessive water retention.
It is necessary to assess the requirements of your plants and the existing soil conditions when incorporating coffee grounds.
For even greater soil drainage and overall soil health benefits, consider incorporating other organic materials such as compost.
Nutrient-rich soil is crucial for the growth of plants. Coffee grounds can play a significant role in creating such soil, providing numerous benefits to a wide variety of plants. Here are some key points to consider regarding the advantages of coffee grounds for nutrient-rich soil:
- Coffee grounds contain a high amount of organic matter, which enriches the soil by adding essential nutrients. This helps improve the structure of the soil, enhances water retention, and increases the availability of nutrients for plants.
- The presence of coffee grounds in the soil leads to an increase in nitrogen levels, which promotes the growth of lush foliage and vibrant green color in plants.
- Coffee grounds are rich in various nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. These nutrients contribute to soil fertility, aiding in root development, disease resistance, and the production of flowers and fruits.
- Coffee grounds also stimulate beneficial microbial activity in the soil. This activity helps break down organic matter and release nutrients that are beneficial for the growth of plants.
- Additionally, coffee grounds slightly acidify the soil, making them particularly beneficial for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries.
- It is important to use coffee grounds in moderation to avoid an imbalance in nutrient composition or hindered plant growth due to their high nitrogen content. Aim to incorporate a ratio of 20% coffee grounds to 80% other organic matter in compost or soil mixtures.
- For a well-rounded nutrient-rich soil, it is advisable to combine coffee grounds with other organic fertilizers like compost, aged manure, or seaweed extract.
By incorporating coffee grounds into your gardening practices, you can fully harness their benefits for the creation of nutrient-rich soil. Remember to utilize them in moderation, combine them with other organic fertilizers, and consider the specific needs of your plants. Coffee grounds offer a sustainable and effective solution to improve the fertility and overall health of your garden soil.
Natural Pest Repellent
Coffee grounds act as a natural pest repellent. Here are some reasons why coffee grounds help keep pests away:
- Bitter taste: Coffee grounds have a bitter taste that pests dislike. The scent and acidity of coffee deter pests like slugs and snails.
- Abrasive texture: Coffee grounds have a coarse texture, making it difficult for crawling insects like ants and beetles to crawl over them.
- Natural chemicals: Coffee grounds contain natural chemicals like caffeine and diterpenes, which repel insects. These compounds interfere with pests' nervous systems and discourage them from feeding on your plants.
- Improvement of soil health: Using coffee grounds as a fertilizer improves the overall health of the soil. Healthy soil is less attractive to pests, creating an environment unfavorable for their survival.
While coffee grounds can be beneficial as a natural pest repellent, keep in mind they may not be effective for all pests. Some pests may not be deterred or may even be attracted to coffee grounds. The effectiveness of coffee grounds as a repellent varies depending on the concentration of grounds used and the specific pests in your area.
To maximize the pest-repelling benefits of coffee grounds, consider these suggestions:
- Mix coffee grounds with other natural pest deterrents like diatomaceous earth or crushed eggshells to create a more potent barrier against pests.
- Apply a thick layer of coffee grounds around the base of plants or create a border around your garden, creating a physical barrier for pests.
- Regularly replenish the coffee grounds as they break down over time to maintain a continuous pest barrier.
- Combine the use of coffee grounds with other pest control methods like companion planting or organic insecticides for a comprehensive approach to pest management.
Remember to use coffee grounds in moderation and in conjunction with other gardening practices. By considering these factors, you can effectively use coffee grounds as a natural pest repellent to protect your plants and promote a healthy garden.
Plants That Don't Like Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be a fantastic addition to your garden, but did you know that some plants just aren't fans? In this section, we'll uncover which plants fall into the category of "Plants That Don't Like Coffee Grounds." From acid-loving plants to those that require good drainage, and even ones that are sensitive to caffeine, we'll explore the fascinating world of plants and how they react to this popular garden amendment. So, let's dive in and discover which plants might prefer a caffeine-free environment!
Acid-loving plants, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, blueberries, and African violets, thrive in soil with a low pH level. They do not react well to coffee grounds as a fertilizer. The pH-altering properties of coffee grounds can make the soil unsuitable for these delicate acid-loving plants.
Azaleas: These delicate flowering shrubs prefer well-drained, acidic soil. Coffee grounds, unfortunately, lower the pH level excessively, which is not ideal for azaleas.
Rhododendrons: Similar to azaleas, rhododendrons also thrive in acidic soil. Coffee grounds can disrupt the soil's pH balance, creating an unfavorable environment for these beautiful flowering shrubs.
Camellias: These acid-loving plants may not appreciate the use of coffee grounds as a fertilizer. Excessive application of coffee grounds can disturb the crucial balance of the soil, necessary for the thriving of these evergreen shrubs.
Blueberries: Blueberries require acidic soil to grow properly. Although coffee grounds provide some nutrients, they can overly lower the pH level, rendering the soil unsuitable for blueberry growth.
African Violets: These delicate houseplants prefer slightly acidic soil. Nevertheless, coffee grounds can significantly alter the pH balance of the soil, leading to harm for these plants.
If you have any of these acid-loving plants, it is advisable to refrain from using coffee grounds as a fertilizer. Instead, consider alternatives like compost or organic fertilizers specifically designed for these types of plants. Maintaining the right conditions is crucial for the optimal growth and health of your acid-loving plants.
Plants That Require Good Drainage
Certain plants thrive in well-drained soil that allows excess water to flow away from the roots. If you have plants that require good drainage, here are some options to consider:
1. Succulents: Succulents, such as cacti and aloe vera, store water in their leaves and stems. These plants specifically prefer soil that dries out quickly and drains well.
2. Lavender: Lavender plants are highly sought after for their fragrant flowers and their ability to attract pollinators. For these plants to flourish, they need dry soil. Therefore, good drainage becomes essential to prevent root rot.
3. Rosemary: Rosemary is an aromatic herb that is commonly used in cooking. This plant thrives when planted in well-drained soil. It requires minimal watering to maintain its health.
4. Yarrow: Yarrow is an adaptable perennial plant that produces clusters of vibrant flowers. To avoid root rot, it is important to provide this plant with soil that drains well.
5. Agapanthus: Agapanthus, also known as Lily of the Nile, is a beautiful flowering plant that requires good drainage. It flourishes in sunny locations with well-drained soil.
6. Ornamental Grasses: There are numerous varieties of ornamental grasses, including miscanthus and fountain grass, that prefer well-drained soil. When added to gardens, these grasses contribute texture and movement.
7. Sedums: Sedums are drought-tolerant, low-growing plants that come in various colors and forms. To prevent root rot, it is crucial to provide them with excellent drainage.
To ensure good drainage for these plants, it is recommended to amend the soil by adding materials like sand or perlite to improve its structure. Raised beds or containers can be utilized to create optimal drainage conditions.
While these plants require good drainage, it is also important to provide them with sufficient moisture. Regular watering is necessary; however, maintaining a balance to avoid waterlogging is key.
By considering the drainage requirements of your plants, you can create an environment that fosters their growth and overall health. Happy gardening!
Plants Sensitive to Caffeine
- Coffee plants: Coffee plants are known to be sensitive to caffeine. Excessive caffeine can overstimulate these plants, which may result in stunted growth or even their death.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes are another example of plants that are sensitive to caffeine. It is advisable to avoid applying coffee grounds directly to the soil around tomato plants as it can have a detrimental effect on them.
- Beans: Green and broad beans can also be susceptible to caffeine. The presence of caffeine in the soil can disrupt their growth and development.
- Flowering plants: Certain flowering plants, such as roses and azaleas, may exhibit sensitivity to caffeine. The use of coffee grounds can cause the leaves to turn yellow and result in reduced flower production in these plants.
- Herbs: Some herbs, like mint and lemon balm, can be sensitive to caffeine as well. Using coffee grounds as a fertilizer may not provide any benefits for these herbs.
It is important to note that the level of sensitivity to caffeine can vary among different plant species and even within the same species. While some plants may be sensitive to caffeine, others may not show any adverse effects. It is always recommended to observe the impact of coffee grounds on plants and adjust their usage accordingly.
When using coffee grounds as a fertilizer, it is crucial to consider the specific requirements of the plants you are growing. If you have caffeine-sensitive plants in your garden, it is advisable to avoid using coffee grounds near them. Nonetheless, for plants that are not affected by caffeine, coffee grounds can still offer benefits. They can enhance soil drainage, provide nutrients, and serve as a natural pest repellent.
Remember to use coffee grounds in moderation and refrain from applying them directly to plants that are sensitive to caffeine. Instead, consider composting the coffee grounds before utilizing them as fertilizer. This practice helps minimize any potential negative effects on caffeine-sensitive plants.
Alternatives for Coffee Grounds
Looking to give your plants a boost but don't want to rely on coffee grounds? We've got you covered with some excellent alternatives. In this section, we'll explore the benefits of composting and using other organic fertilizers. Get ready to discover some eco-friendly options that will keep your plants happy and thriving. No need to depend on coffee grounds anymore - let's dive into these exciting alternatives!
Composting is a great way to use coffee grounds as fertilizer and reduce waste. Here are some key points to consider when composting coffee grounds:
1. Mix coffee grounds with other organic materials: Blend coffee grounds with fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and shredded paper. This helps maintain a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for proper decomposition.
2. Layer coffee grounds within the compost pile: Instead of adding coffee grounds in clumps, layer them to prevent compaction and promote airflow, which speeds up the composting process.
3. Use coffee grounds sparingly: Coffee grounds are nitrogen-rich, but don't overuse them. Add coffee grounds at a ratio of 20% or less to avoid high nitrogen levels that can slow down decomposition.
4. Turn the compost regularly: Regularly turning your compost helps mix the coffee grounds and other materials, ensuring proper aeration and moisture distribution to aid decomposition and prevent odors.
5. Monitor moisture levels: Check the moisture levels in your compost heap as coffee grounds are relatively moist. Add water if it becomes too dry or add dry organic materials like leaves or newspaper if it becomes too wet.
Composting coffee grounds reduces waste and enriches your compost with valuable nutrients, enhancing its fertility. By following these tips, you can create nutrient-rich compost that benefits your plants and gardens.
Composting has been used for centuries to recycle organic matter and improve soil quality. Ancient civilizations like Rome and China recognized its benefits and incorporated composting into their agricultural practices. Today, composting is widely practiced by individuals, communities, and large-scale agricultural operations. Its popularity continues to grow as people become more aware of sustainable and organic farming methods. Composting remains a natural, eco-friendly way to return organic matter to the soil, nourishing plants and supporting a healthier planet for future generations.
Using Other Organic Fertilizers
When it comes to fertilizing plants, there are alternatives to using coffee grounds. These organic fertilizers provide nutrients to the soil and promote plant growth. Here are some options:
1. Compost: Composting enriches soil with organic matter. You can create compost using kitchen scraps, yard waste, and biodegradable materials. Compost acts as a natural fertilizer, releasing nutrients gradually.
2. Manure: Animal manure, like cow, horse, or chicken manure, is an excellent organic fertilizer. It is rich in nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, necessary for plant growth. Use well-aged manure to avoid burning plants.
3. Bone Meal: Bone meal is a natural fertilizer from ground animal bones. It is high in phosphorus, promoting root development and flower production. Bone meal benefits flowering plants and vegetable gardens.
4. Fish Emulsion: Fish emulsion is a liquid organic fertilizer made from processed fish. It is rich in nitrogen, a vital nutrient for plant growth. Fish emulsion is easily absorbed by plants and can be applied as a foliar spray or soil drench.
5. Seaweed Extract: Seaweed extract is a concentrated liquid fertilizer from seaweed. It contains a wide range of nutrients, including trace elements, promoting overall plant health. Seaweed extract can be applied directly to the soil or used as a foliar spray.
6. Worm Castings: Worm castings, also known as vermicompost, are nutrient-rich waste produced by earthworms. They provide a balanced blend of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, improving soil fertility and enhancing plant growth.
When using these organic fertilizers, follow recommended application rates and guidelines. Consider your specific plants' requirements and adjust the fertilizer regime accordingly. By using other organic fertilizers, you can ensure the health and vitality of your plants without relying solely on coffee grounds.
Remember to rotate your choice of organic fertilizers to provide a diverse range of nutrients and prevent nutrient imbalances in the soil. Happy gardening!
Tips for Using Coffee Grounds as FertilizerLooking to give your garden a natural boost? In this section, we'll uncover some handy tips for using coffee grounds as fertilizer. From finding the right balance to composting techniques, we'll dive into the dos and don'ts of incorporating coffee grounds into your gardening routine. So, grab a cuppa and let's explore the secrets behind this organic fertilizer!
Moderation is Key
Moderation is key when using coffee grounds as fertilizer. While coffee grounds offer benefits to plants, excessive use can be detrimental. Here are some important points to remember:
- Proper balance: Coffee grounds contain valuable nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They should not be the sole source of fertilizer. Mix coffee grounds with other organic fertilizers or compost for a balanced nutrient profile.
- Avoiding acidity: Coffee grounds are acidic, which benefits acid-loving plants. But excessive acidity can harm plants preferring neutral or alkaline pH levels. Monitor soil pH and use coffee grounds accordingly.
- Controlling moisture: Coffee grounds retain moisture well, benefiting plants that need moist soil. Over-watering can cause problems. Ensure proper drainage and adjust watering practices as needed.
- Protecting against pests: While coffee grounds can repel pests, an excess can attract slugs and snails. Apply coffee grounds in moderation to control pests without creating an ideal environment for them.
- Promoting decomposition: Coffee grounds take longer to decompose compared to other organic matter. Compost coffee grounds properly to speed up decomposition and make nutrients readily available to plants.
Remember, moderation is key when using coffee grounds as fertilizer.
Composting Coffee Grounds
Composting coffee grounds is an excellent way to create nutrient-rich soil. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, a vital element for plant growth. When you compost coffee grounds, you improve the nutrient content of the soil and enhance the health of your plants.
To get started, simply add the coffee grounds to your compost pile or bin. It's important to maintain a proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, so mix the coffee grounds with organic materials like leaves, grass clippings, or shredded paper. Regularly turning the compost pile will help with decomposition and ensure proper aeration.
Once your coffee grounds are composted, they can be used as a top dressing for your plants, mixed in with potting soil for container gardening, or incorporated into your vegetable garden beds. Just be careful not to use too many coffee grounds, as they can make the soil too acidic.
Finding the right balance of carbon and nitrogen is essential for successful composting. The art of composting has a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations who understood the value of using waste to improve soil fertility.
Today, we can continue to benefit from this practice by composting coffee grounds. It's a sustainable way to enrich the soil and support the growth of our plants. So why wait? Start composting your coffee grounds today and enjoy the numerous benefits it brings to both your garden and the environment.
One key consideration is the acidity of coffee grounds. Coffee grounds have a pH level of around 6.0, which makes them mildly acidic. Some plants, such as azaleas, blueberries, and hydrangeas, thrive in acidic soil conditions. For these plants, coffee grounds can maintain the desired pH level. For plants that prefer neutral or alkaline soil, coffee grounds can disrupt the balance and hinder their growth.
Another crucial factor is the amount of coffee grounds used. Small amounts can provide benefits, but excessive use can lead to negative effects. It is recommended to use coffee grounds sparingly and mix them with other organic materials to avoid overwhelming the plants with too much acidity or nitrogen.
Consider the overall health and condition of the plants. If they are already struggling or showing signs of nutrient deficiencies, it may be best to avoid using coffee grounds altogether. Instead, focus on providing necessary nutrients through balanced fertilizers and proper watering techniques for their well-being and growth.
There are alternative organic fertilizers available that can cater to a wider range of plant species without the potential drawbacks of using coffee grounds. Options such as compost, well-rotted manure, or specific organic fertilizer blends can provide necessary nutrients and improve soil fertility without the risk of acidity imbalance.
Remember, every plant is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. By educating oneself about the specific needs of different plants, gardeners can make informed decisions and create optimal conditions for their plants' growth and vitality.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which plants do not like coffee grounds?
Plants that prefer neutral or alkaline soils, such as roses, lilac shrubs, mums, garlic, lemon trees, sagebrush, and Russian sage, do not thrive with coffee grounds due to their acidity.
2. Can coffee grounds reduce blooming in certain plants?
Yes, coffee grounds can make the soil too acidic for some plants, resulting in reduced blooming. This is particularly noticeable in roses and lilac shrubs.
3. Can coffee grounds be used on young plants?
No, it is important to avoid using coffee grounds on young plants or seedlings. The acidity and caffeine content may be too strong for their delicate growth.
4. How often should I use coffee grounds as a soil amendment?
For most plants, coffee grounds can be added every 3-4 months as a soil amendment. It is essential to monitor the specific plant's response and adjust the frequency accordingly.
5. Are there any plants that benefit from coffee grounds?
Yes, there are several plants that benefit from coffee grounds, including hydrangeas, azaleas, lily of the valley, blueberries, holly, roses, Christmas cactus, pothos, philodendron, African violet, cyclamen, jade plant, snake plant, and spider plant.
6. How should I use coffee grounds as a soil amendment?
To use coffee grounds effectively as a soil amendment, they can be mixed with garden soil in a ratio of 1 part grounds to 3 parts soil and added to the growing medium every 3-4 months. Coffee grounds can be added to compost bins or used as a side-dressing for plants every 2-3 months.


Footpath, Rocks, Thorns, or Rich SoilLeave a Comment
A farmer or gardener knows that placement of seed is vital to it’s growth. They take care to make sure anything that will cause damage to the growth of the plant is taken out of the environment. Providing nourishment through routine watering, plenty of sunshine, and vitamin packed rich soil, makes for the optimal growth environment.
Let’s drop our children off in the middle of the city and tell them to fend for themselves, without any prior survival training or resources to live. The environment they are dropped in makes a difference to their growth. No one in their right mind would do that. Neither would you plant a seed in unprepared ground. God wants the same for those who hear His Word.


When you think of solitary bees, the mason bee likely comes to mind first, but I find the leafcutter bee equally or even more interesting. Leafcutter bees are quite common across the US. They are wonderful pollinators, pollinating crops such as blueberries, onions, carrots, and alfalfa.
Disclosure: As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running.
What is a Leafcutter Bee?
Leafcutter bees are solitary bees that are known for cutting circular pieces of leaves to construct their nests. They are very gentle and rarely sting, and are excellent pollinators.
They differ from honey bees in that they live and work alone, not in a colony. Instead, the leafcutter bee lives in tubular cavities that she lines with leaves in which to create her brood chamber. There, she will lay one egg per chamber and provide pollen for the larva to eat when it emerges.
She will continue to construct chambers until the cavity is filled. In the spring, the larvae will have matured and will then chew through the chamber walls to exit the nest.
Leafcutter bees are around the same size as honey bees. The head of the leafcutter bee is quite large and they have a triangular shaped abdomen. Male leafcutter bees are smaller than females and have longer antennae.
Benefits of Leafcutter Bees
The main benefit of leafcutter bees is pollination. Leafcutter bees are excellent pollinators. While honey bees carry pollen on their legs, leafcutter bees carry pollen on the bottom of their abdomen. This means that pollen easily falls off to pollinate plants.
These bees are often used for commercial pollination, pollinating many crops of farmers. Leafcutter bees are also great to have in your own garden. They’ll pollinate your own fruit and vegetable gardens.
Leafcutter bees are very gentle and docile. They will rarely sting. That’s why they are great for home gardens as they are family and pet safe.
Easy to Care for
Caring for leafcutter bees is easy and doesn’t cost a lot of money. All you need to do is set up a bee house with the proper sized nesting holes (more on that below).
How to Care for Leafcutter Bees
In order to thrive, leafcutter bees need the following:
- 6 mm sized nesting holes
- Temperature of 75°F in the daytime (minimal)
- Leaves for building cocoons
- Chemical free garden with flowers that bloom in the summer, providing pollen and nectar
- Leaves for their nest – hosta, dahlia, beans, strawberries, roses, and peas make great nesting material
- A clean source of fresh water
Set Up Your Bee House
Bees use the warmth of the morning sun to get going. Take advantage of this by placing your bee house south to southeast facing. You also want the house to get ample afternoon shade, especially in hot locations.
Walls, trees, and fences are good locations to set up a bee house. Be sure to secure it well because bees do not like houses that move or swing around. Also, make sure that your bee house is close to a source of pollen and nectar.
A good height to place a bee house is about 5 feet off the ground. That will keep the bees away from predators, and is also a good height for observing them.
Leafcutter bees use nesting holes to lay their eggs in. Their preferred nesting hole size will have a 6 mm diameter opening. When placing the nesting holes in your bee house, make sure that they are of good quality. Nesting materials should be clean and replaced every year.
Place one nesting hole for each cocoon you plan to hatch. The open end should be facing outwards and the tube should be pushed against the back of the house. If you are concerned about birds, wire or cloth with ¾ inch openings may be loosely placed around the outside of the house.
Leafcutter Bee Cocoons
Now it’s time to release your leafcutter cocoons, or put them into the house. The cocoons do not need to be placed in the nesting holes. Once they emerge, they will find a nesting hole on their own.
Leafcutter bee cocoons may be released when:
- Daytime temperatures are consistently at least 75°F
- You have flowering plants with open blooms
To release the cocoons, place them in the bee house, on top of the nesting tubes. Be sure that they are out of direct sunlight. With the correct temperature, the bees will emerge in 1-10 days. If it is colder, it can take up to 3 weeks.
Now is the fun part. Your leafcutter bees will mate and then choose a nesting hole. You will be able to observe the bees flying to and from the bee house, carrying pollen and leaves.
Be patient, as it sometimes takes a couple of weeks for the bees to get settled. You’ll know that a bee has used a nesting hole when you see that the end has been capped.
Fall and Winter
During the fall and winter, leafcutter bee larvae will hibernate inside of their cocoons. You can keep them safe from predators by removing the nesting materials from the bee house and placing them in a fine mesh bag.
Keep nesting tubes stored with the capped end up in an unheated storage shed or in your garage. Leafcutter bee cocoons may be harvested during early spring.
Where to Find Leafcutter Bees for Sale
You can find leafcutter bees for sale online. They aren’t sold the same way honey bees are, rather, you will buy leafcutter bee cocoons. There are a few different websites that sell them, but I’ve had good success buying leafcutter bee cocoons from Crown Bees.
Because leafcutter bees must be released in the summer, Crown Bees ships the cocoons between May and August. Ordering online is easy – all you have to do is select your shipping date.
Remember, you want to choose a shipping date closest to when your summer garden has bloomed and when the daytime weather is consistently 75 F. Leafcutter bee cocoons have a 3 week incubation period, which is done by Crown Bees. Therefore, to ensure that you get your cocoons on time, place your order at least 3 weeks before your desired shipping date.
If you will not be home when the cocoons are delivered, Crown Bees offers doorstep delivery. This will make sure that your bee cocoons are not kept in a hot mailbox. The cost of leafcutter bees for sale is very reasonable. One package contains 200 cocoons and shipping is included.
I also like that at Crown Bees you can get a bee house kit and bee cocoons together. It’s a fast and easy way to get started in raising leafcutter bees.
Leafcutter bees are gentle solitary bees that are great pollinators. They get their name from the way they cut pieces of leaves to construct their brood chamber. You can find leafcutter bees for sale online at crownbees.com.


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Community gardens are places where people come together to grow fresh food, to learn, relax and make new friends.
Community gardeners know that sharing land to grow food and other plants builds a sense of place and community.
The benefits of community gardening include:
• easy access to fresh, nutritious food
• a sense of achievement that comes through growing some of your own food needs
• making friends with people in the neighbourhood
• learning the skills of gardening, shared decision making and cooperation, all of which are necessary to successful community gardens
• healthy outdoor exercise
• increase community pride
• improving the local environment
There are a number of community gardening initiatives happening in the city that you can be involved in.
Adelaide City Council Community Gardening Volunteer Role
Interested in helping out? Find out how you can get involved in participating in the maintainance of designated community and street garden areas.
Alternatively, you can also stop by and explore the many community and street garden areas in the City and North Adelaide as listed below.
Box Factory Community Centre
Where: 59 Regent Street South
Table gardens available for community use
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.org or 8203 7749
Common Ground Community Garden
Where: 91 Franklin St (old Bus Station)
Table gardens for Common Ground tenants only
Secateurs Community Garden Group
Where: St Andrews Hospital (South Terrace)
Tynte Community Garden
Where: 176 Tynte Street (behind the Post Office)
Raised garden beds for community use. Read about these unique raised garden beds!
No membership required
Contact: email@example.com or 8267 6813
Walyo Yerta Community Garden Group
Where: Veale Gardens (South Park Lands behind the Conservatory)
Contact: www.walyoyertagarden.org.au or 8212 3533
To find out more about other Community Gardening initiatives in Australia visit www.communitygarden.org.au


Saturday, June 8, 2013
Apple Sees Experiment!
As a fun experiment this summer I decided to try out growing some apple trees from seed. Not that I have any space for apple trees in my yard or the patients to wait up to 10 years for it to bear fruit! As I was juicing organic apples from Whole Foods this past winter after getting my Juicer I was gathering seeds. I had to remove the seeds from the apples before juicing so I figure why not save them and try to grow them in the spring. I collected a few granny smith apple seeds (my favorite apple) and some fuji apple seeds. Neither of these varieties grow well in Connecticut but this is just an experiment. Although if they were to grow and fruit, they would be safe to eat because they were organic seeds! Anyways I saved the seeds in a glass bowl on my windowsill for a few months. Then in early May when I was planting other seeds I saved, like my basil seeds, I decided to plant the apple ones just to see if they would grow. After I planted them I did some research and realized if the seeds weren't exposed to a cold dormant period they wouldn't sprout. This was a disappointment because I had kept them on the warm window sill for those few months so I wasn't expecting them to sprout. Well to my surprise every apple seed I planted has sprouted and begun to grow. Some of the apple trees are already 2-3 inches tall!! It will be interesting to see how big the trees grow over the summer and whether or not i'll have to find a place to plant them! As I write this I realize this is a perfect example of Growing from kitchen Scraps!


Since prehistoric years, Cretans were familiar with honey making and included it in their diet. For many centuries, honey was the alone known sweetening substance. Olympic Gods were nourished with nectar and ambrosia. Aristaios, son of Apollo and Kyrini, was the founder of beekeeping and had become immortal, because Earth and Hours, who looked after him, nourished him with ambrosia.
The kind of bee which is domesticated by humans belongs to Apis (species Apis mellifica). Initially, bees were kept in hampers of various types, in wooden boxes, in earthen containers, in concave tree trunks etc. The apiarist simply took certain combs, crushed them and acquired a product of medium quality.
The creation of beehives with mobile frames as well as that of artificial combs applied on the frames, brought big changes: less wasted honey, candle and work required by swarms, convenient supervising of the bee colony, fighting of illnesses etc.
Location plays a very important role on the success of an apiarian business. The ideal location would be one with abundant and continuous blossom during spring, summer and automn, so that bees can harvest high quality honey, they can renew their population and saved up enough food for the wintry months.
Crete is a place rich in plants like thyme, sage, oregano, pine trees, acacias, eucalyptus and of course the cultivated citrus fruits. Thyme honey seen as a particular category, because of its special aroma and flavour; even if thyme honey is mixed in small quantities (5%) with other types of honey, it manages to influence their perfume. Production of thyme honey is quite developed in Crete, however Cretan thyme honey is not correctly promoted or highly priced. The regions that give pine in Crete are Sfakia and the region "Selakiano” in Lasithi.
Honey is mainly produced from flowers, thyme and pine trees in the areas of “Sfakia” and "Lasithi”. Honey from olive trees is not easily collected because of the weather conditions (heat in summer, rain in winter); thus its production has been restricted in the last five years.
Usually, apiarists mix different kinds of honey; Our company’s production focuses on thyme honey without mixtures and alterations of quality, because we believe that the most important thing is to keep the quality of honey as pure as possible.
Honey: According to the F.A.O. (Food Agriculture Organization), honey is defined as a sweet product-food that is produced by bees when they collect nectar or other natural juices from plants. Bees carry nectar in their beehive and store it in their comps.
The most frequent use of honey is on the family table, but it is also used in patisserie, in pharmaceutics for medicine syrups etc.
WAX: In most regions the wax is a by-product of apiculture. Raw material is heated in 630 C, therefore wax melts and it goes up on the surface, where it is cools and hardens. It then receives further treatment in order to be used again in the production of candles of quality, cosmetics, in art and in industry.
POLLEN: A big beehive accumulates 25-30 kilos of pollen annually, quantity bigger than the one the swarm needs.
ROYAL PULP: It constitutes the only food of the queen’s larvae, and is a substance rich in proteins, with a lot of nutritious and therapeutic elements.
PROPOLIS: It is a kind of resin that is collected by the bees from various trees. It has therapeutic and antibiotic attributes, while it is also used in pharmacy.


A yarn & fibre show
with a twist....
March 2022 saw us launch an exciting new show in collaboration with the already established Fernhill Farm Open Day and Blade Shearing Tournament held at this wonderful certified regenerative eco farm on the Mendip Hills.
We brought our industry back to the farm...welcoming exhibitors with natural, low-impact plant & animal fibres, natural dyes, earthy crafts, shearing skills, sheep dog training and more.
We will be back in March 2023 at the same amazing venue -
SAVE THE DATE 18th & 19th MARCH 2023
The event will showcase the use of natural fibres alongside the wool harvesting industry with a key focus on holistic agriculture - as well as talks and workshops focussed on natural fibres of different types, we will be discussing how to rehabilitate the land with animals grazing in rotation, conserving soils and enhancing biodiversity whilst harvesting replenishing resources that can benefit water, plant and mineral cycles.
Our new dedicated Fibre Quest website is
coming soon at www.fibrequest.co.uk
Some of the best blade shearers in
the Northern Hemisphere will be
seen doing their job at Fibre Quest


As cannabis becomes more mainstream, an increasing number of people are looking to get into the hemp-growing business. This can be a lucrative endeavor, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.
Companies that help with banking for cannabis businesses can help you handle the financial aspect of your project, but there are other challenges that you’ll need to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the most common challenges that hemp cultivators need to be aware of and how to deal with them.
Though it’s a versatile plant with many applications, hemp isn’t easy to grow. Farmers who want to cultivate hemp must be prepared to face a unique set of challenges. Here are 5 of the most common difficulties associated with hemp cultivation:
Hemp is a sensitive plant that requires just the right mix of sunlight, nutrients, and water – too much or too little of any one of these elements can severely impact growth. This makes it tough for farmers to get their crops off to a strong start, and even experienced growers can find it challenging to keep their plants healthy throughout the season.
Because hemp is such a delicate plant, it’s especially susceptible to pests and diseases. Insects like aphids and mites can quickly decimate a hemp crop, while fungal diseases like powdery mildew can destroy plants in a matter of days. Farmers must be vigilant in their efforts to protect their plants from these.
Hemp plants are also very competitive, which means they can easily crowd out other plants in the field. This can pose a serious problem for farmers trying to grow other crops alongside hemp, as the hemp will quickly overtake them. Additionally, weeds can quickly take over a hemp field if they aren’t kept in check, further compounding the problem.
Because of all the challenges that come with growing hemp, the plant is quite labor-intensive. Farmers need to be prepared to put in long hours during planting and harvesting season, as well as throughout the growing season when they’ll need to tend to their plants on a daily basis. These plants can grow up to 16 feet tall, so farmers need to be prepared to do a lot of bending, stooping, and lifting.
Given how new the hemp industry is, there’s still a lot that farmers don’t know about growing this crop. They’ll need to do their research and be willing to experiment in order to find what works best for their operation. This learning curve can be costly and time-consuming, but it’s necessary if farmers want to be successful in this new venture.
Despite the challenges that come with growing hemp, many farmers are finding that the rewards outweigh the risks. This is a versatile crop with a wide range of applications, making it an attractive option for diversifying operations.
In recent years, hemp has become best known for its Cannabidiol (CBD) content. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that offers a host of possible health benefits, from reducing anxiety and inflammation to relieving pain and promoting sleep.
As a result, CBD-infused products have become increasingly popular, with sales expected to keep increasing. As the market for CBD continues to expand, hemp is likely to become an increasingly valuable crop for farmers around the world.
With proper planning and execution, growers can overcome the obstacles associated with cultivating this valuable plant and reap the economic benefits of CBD production.
When looking for a banking partner, it’s important to choose wisely. If you’re a cannabis business owner in need of cannabis-friendly banking services, look no further than Green Leaf Business Solutions. We offer access to affordable and efficient financial services that can help you navigate the complexities of the financial aspect of this industry.
With our experience and dedication, you can start your own hemp farm, a cannabis dispensary, or another cannabis-related business with ease. We’ll show how to work around the difficulties that commonly arise in running any business involving cannabis farming, sales and distribution. Contact us today to learn more about our services!


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