What is “the Barn”? “The Barn” is a sensitive renovation and extension of Brockwell Park ...
Around the garden this week there is loads to do and there’s loads going on. There is compost to shred and turn, weeding and path maintenance in the orchard, Buxus to be removed in the herb garden, transplanting and weeding the brassica bed and the upper greenhouse needs to be tidied. Later in the week we’ll […]
Anything that betters enables the public to become engaged in nature and growing their own food can only be a good thing! 6/3/2019 1:03 Looks like a well thought out plan that will benefit the community 6/3/2019 12:50 As an events organiser who has previously run shows in the greenhouse, I’m really excited about this […]
This week our main focus will be on getting the site looking its best for the RHS London in Bloom judges who will be visiting us shortly. Last year we were awarded ‘Outstanding’ in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category so we are hoping to be able to repeat this, this year. There are a few areas around the […]
When we announced our ‘Barn’ project two weeks ago quite a number of you pressed the link and voted. But if you didn’t vote then and haven’t voted at the greenhouse please vote now. We have committed to getting 2000 votes from volunteers, park users and partners so your vote really counts. Find out more […]
We have reached the time of year when keeping our plants watered is a high priority. In order to keep up with this we have installed a number of different watering systems, some automated, and others manual. If you are not sure about how any of these work ask Cat, Dafydd or Chris about them. We have […]


Published in: Kokiri Issue 22 - Paenga-whāwhā - Haratua 2011
In 2010 Te Whānau ā Apanui Fruit Growers Sustainable Labour Initiative was developed to create sustainable employment in horticulture within Te Whānau ā Apanui.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Te Whānau ā Apanui Fruit Growers Inc, the kiwifruit sector, horticulture ITOs, tertiary institutions, and orchardists with financial support from Te Puni Kōkiri and The Bay Trust.
The focus of this initiative is to create long term sustainable employment within the horticultural sector in Te Whānau ā Apanui. So far four participants have acquired full time positions within the sector and 11 have secured seasonal positions for 10 months of the year. A total of 1,050 people have received training, and by February 2012 that will increase to 3,150. The majority of them have come off the unemployment benefit and moved on to permanent or seasonal work.
The skills acquired by the students are suitable for all horticultural activities according to project manager Paora O’Brien. He says: “The ideal would be to co-ordinate the labour initiative to coincide with other produce being cultivated in the area as temporary employment before harvest in order to fill the two month gap in the season.”
Horticulture is expanding in the area with more kiwifruit orchards planned over the next three years. There will be another intake later in the year.


Welcome to the age of smart or smart homes. Houses where appliances, air conditioning systems and anti-intrusion systems connected through a web platform can be conveniently controlled remotely, with a touch of smartphones.
The future takes us all high tech, starting from the front door to our garden, where we find Rachiothe solution IoT that makes smartirrigation, taking total controlof it, avoiding waste and ensuring healthy and well-groomed plants. A very useful tool that will allow you to monitor the conditions of the soil and the surrounding environment thanks to the highest IoT technology to ensure healthy and lush plants.
In very few simple steps, at any time of the day and from anywhere, directly from your smartphone.
Rachio system forirrigation smart, will automatically calculate the right cycle of water supply, the right amount of water, minimizing runoff.
With the smart irrigation system Rachio , we can intelligently plan , according to our needs, the program that fits best. In this way we can achieve a high potential for saving time, water resource and relative costs. The system allows through thededicated application, toconfigure and monitor regularly, the irrigation system, add technical details such as the type of land present, the type of soil of plant species present, the exposure to the sun of the area and the daily duration of the area.
It references local weather stations to automatically adjust the irrigation schedule based on the gradual update of the forecast.
The Rachio Smart Irrigation Package is very easy to install, despite representing the evolution of theInternet of Things , it does not require specific skills for configuration. It connects quickly via the Wi-Fi connection system and manages to cover up to 16 different zones , this allows us to independently select the parameters for each zone different, directly from our smartphone.
The app is available in both iOS and Android versions and is able to inform us, via real-time notifications if the system has any anomalies.
It gives us the detailed report of the amount of water used, so that we can increase or decrease the flow rate according to the needs required by the ground.
The system also allows us to share access to the irrigation programme with other people, such as our gardener. Thanks to the statistics that are automatically saved, you can provide us with seasonal estimates. We are not obliged to update programs periodically, Rachio can also be autonomous.
Like all outdoor IoT technologies, the Rachio smart irrigation system is suitable for outdoor living, the outdoor cover protects the controller in all weather situations. It can also be installed inside being equipped with modern design.
Rachio is the certified and tested high tech solution for your garden and smart home. It is possible to have lush gardens saving water, work and time.


Agricultural Production Crops Email List
Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Email Lists by InfoGlobalData cover the widest range of crops and pasture-based agricultural industries from field crops, cash crops to agribusiness and factory farms. Our Industry Email List covers most of the Agriculture crops such as potato, soybean, maple syrup, fruits, flowers, vegetables, or nuts. Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Email Database comprises of contact details and recent updates about influential professionals from the Agricultural Production-Crops Industry sector. With a range of job titles and responsibilities the database can be refined to be very relevant for your campaign. These crops email lists are very responsive and potential enough to generate high leads. With Agricultural Production-Crops Mailing List, you will be able to select the best agricultural leads for your needs based on geography, practice type, practice size and more.
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|Total Universe / Base Rate||12,368||$350.00/M|
The Agriculture Industry crops mailing list is the cost-effective choice for marketers creating profitable relationships with farm owners and operators. InfoGlobalData provide perfect crops mailing lists for your online marketing campaigns. Through the agricultural Production-Crops industry mailing addresses/list you get maximum visibility and response for your direct marketing message through concentrated, highly-targeted entry to agriculture sector.
Crops Email List Based on Industry Type
|Cash Grains, Not Elsewhere Classified|
|Fruits and Tree Nuts|
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|Crop Production Advisor|
Reach Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives within industries such as,
- - Fruits and Tree Nuts Industry Email List
- - Berry Crops Mailing List
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- - Citrus Fruits Mailing List
- - Deciduous Tree Fruits Mailing List
- - Fruits and Tree Nuts, NEC Mailing Database
- - General Farms, Primarily Crop Email List
- - Food Crops Grown Under Cover Industry Email List
- - Mushroom Growers Mailing List
- - Potato Processing Mailing Database
- - Wine from Self Produced Grapes Email List
- - Fruit and Vegetable Producers Mailing List
- - Garden Design Mailing List
- - Garden Pond Services Email Database
- - Gardening Services Mailing List
- - Dairy Farmers Email List
- - Orange Groves Industry Mailing List
- - Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Vendors Directory
- - Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Contact List
- - Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Direct Email List
- - Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Telemarketing List
- - Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Sales Lead List
- - Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Decision Makers Email List
- - Canada Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives List
- - Australian Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Directory
- - United States Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Mailing List
- - Asian Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Email List
- - European Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Email Database
- - Germany Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives List
- - Scotland Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Email Addresses
- - Singapore Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives List
- - Italian Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives Mailing List
- - Japan Agricultural Production-Crops Industry Executives List
- - and more...
New to market, this email list contains highly deliverable contacts for all of your prospecting efforts geared toward Agriculture crops businesses. Information is ideal for direct mail, telemarketing, email, market research and much more. So if you're interested in growing your business, contact us today.
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Contact Name, Job Title, Company Name, Address, City, State, ZIP, Country, Phone number, Fax Number, Website, Email Address etc.....
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- The sale will be subject to Infoglobaldata standard set of terms and conditions for data sales.
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- Suppression Fee up to 100K - $250/F; please inquire for larger files Open Rates available - N/C Personalization available - N/C A/B Split - N/C; $100 each add'l. split
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Yash P Khanna


Two hundred farms disappear every week in France. Historically at the heart of agricultural life, most of the farms that line the roads of our countryside are now converted into single-family dwellings. In the villages, farmers are still driving around on their tractors, but their number is decreasing every year. In this photographic series “We All Had a Farmer in the Family” I wanted to document this endangered way of life. I wanted to understand the century-old transmission of the farm from generation to generation, which is now threatened. Their unique stories speak of the transformation of a changing agricultural world.


Educational resources to help teach kids about the importance of soil and water conservation, forestry management and pollination. Resources available include classroom and field trip programs, lesson plans, experiments, games, songs, videos, handouts and more.
Check out these resources collected from around the web.
Contact our office to schedule Classroom and/or Field Trip Programs
Both simulators are great tools to implement in learning initiatives, and because both are portable, engaging and informative we can share our environmental message through education anywhere!
International Year of Soils video topics: (click here)
Science Fair Ideas
Field Trip Programs


Sales of Scottish Gooseberries Soar at Waitrose
12 August 2008
It seems like the humble gooseberry has stepped out of the shadows and taken on the soft fruit heavyweights.
Sales of this furry fruit which is grown in Perthshire for Waitrose’s food stores across the UK, have risen by up to 91% year on year, according to the... read more
Glenlivet Scoops European Award For Excellence
5 August 2008
Glenlivet Estate has received a special award for excellence from the European Landowners’ Organisation in recognition of their holistic approach to land management. The Estate attracts around 80,000 visitors per year and plays a key role in boosting local tourism.... read more


Drummonds Feed, Seeds & Grain Merchants- supplying a comprehensive range of Feed, Fertilisers, Seeds, Crop Protection & Packaging, Animal Health & Hardware
Drummonds was founded by William Drummond in Sterling, Scotland in 1760. Originally sellers of a wide range of seeds, including flowers, vegetable and grass seeds, the company also distributed bulbs and nursery stock. Many years later the Drummond family established a similar business in Ireland with two shops in central Dublin and national distribution for all its products. In 1972, Drummonds added an agricultural division to its business based in Clonee, trading in grain, fertiliser, chemicals and agricultural seeds. The company, over time, increased its branch network, opening grain intake points at Ardee, Drogheda, Kells, Knockbridge and Navan. A seed manufacturing facility was developed at Drogheda and a ruminant feed manufacturing mill at Navan.
Drummonds was acquired by Freshmills in 2009, Freshmills is a joint venture between Liffey Mills and Grassland Fertilisers, this has added a new dimension to Drummonds business. Since the acquisition, the company has initiated a significant capital investment programme and developed the business across a more complete range of product lines, the animal feeds business has been developed and a chain of farm hardware shops added at our existing branches.
Over the years Drummonds have developed excellent relationships with animal feed compounders, oilseed crushers, flour and oat millers and maltsters, allowing the company to develop markets for Irish grain both at home and abroad Drummonds agronomists work closely with our farmer customers, advising them on all aspects of crop husbandry. This relationship facilitates the introduction of new varieties, new production techniques with the objectives of improving farm profitability and developing closer trading links with our customers.
- Animal Feeds
- Grass & Cereal Seeds
- Grain Merchants
- Agri Hardware
- Farm Inputs


Jo Handelsman likes to follow the bugs—especially those bacteria that might hide new forms of antibiotic resistance within. While the antibiotic resistance that shows up in clinical setting gets scads of attention from researchers, Handelsman’s team at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut wanted to investigate how new antibiotic resistance (AR) genes might make their way into human pathogens. In particular, in a study published this week in mBio®, they investigated an altogether different form of the farm-to-table movement.
“We were interested in the role of manure,” commonly used as a soil fertilizer in agriculture, says Handelsman, who is also an HHMI Professor. She paints a scenario where manure used on some vegetable crops contains bacteria from the cow’s gut, which could cling to root crops especially, such as carrots. The manure bacteria might then move from the produce to people, or they might transfer AR genes to bacteria that colonize humans.
“Is this a route for movement of these genes from the barn to the table?” she asks. “This was the first step, looking at the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the manure.”
Using a powerful functional metagenomics approach, her team surveyed five manure samples from four dairy cows housed at the University of Connecticut. From these samples, the researchers extracted all of the bacterial DNA present, chopped it into bits, and put each bit back into a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli bacteria.
The E. coli were then grown on plates containing four different classes of antibiotics: beta-lactams (like penicillin), aminoglycosides (like kanamycin), tetracycline, and chloramphenicol. Any E. coli that could grow on the antibiotics likely contained an AR gene isolated from the manure bacteria. The team then used third-generation sequencing to pull out the gene and its flanking DNA to identify both the gene and the likely species of gut bacteria that originally hosted it.
They identified 80 distinct and functional AR genes, 75% of which were novel—genes so divergent in sequence identity from known AR genes that some might not have been found through sequencing efforts alone.
“That was exactly the motivation behind the functional process, to deepen the pool of known genes with AR function,” says Handelsman. Also, by expressing the genes in E. coli, the team selected for genes that truly confer resistance in a species that can be pathogenic and associated with farm products.
The deep divergence from known AR genes surprised Handelsman. “From an evolutionary perspective, these are distant from the ones we see in the database, which largely represent the AR genes seen in the clinic.” That signals that cow manure bacteria may not be a major source of resistance that currently causes problems for human patients. However, as lead author Fabienne Wichmann points out, it could also mean that “cow manure harbors an unprecedented reservoir of AR genes that we should know about.”
In other words, these new AR genes could be the next ones to show up in bacteria infecting humans. There are two ways that could happen—bacteria containing these AR genes colonize humans, or through horizontal gene transfer, the genes jump to other bacteria that already colonize humans. Benign manure bacteria might transfer AR genes to pathogens at any point—in manure, soil, food, or humans.
Expanding our repertoire of known resistance-conferring genes, will help clinicians better predict which kinds of antibiotic resistance they might face in the future, says Wichmann. Studies like this will also give drug developers better information for designing pre-emptive strike inhibitors to AR genes.
This is just the first in a sequence of studies, says Handelsman. “We’re hoping this study will open up a larger field of surveillance, to start looking at new types of resistance before they show up in the clinic.”


Do you know that snail farming is an industry worth over 12 billion dollars with an annual demand of about 7.5 million kilograms in Nigeria? It’s a highly profitable agribusiness that requires little capital and no large land ownership to get started. As someone with extensive experience in snail farming, I can confidently say that anyone can start and succeed in this venture with just a bit of knowledge and a few hours of daily work.
What makes snail farming such a great opportunity is the high demand for snails both locally and internationally. You can tap into this growing market with the right techniques and approach and reap significant profits. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know to start and grow a successful snail farming business in Nigeria.
Table of Contents
What is Snail Farming?
Snail farming is the process of raising edible land snails for both human consumption and economic use. Snail farming is also called heliculture. It is known to be one of the most profitable agribusinesses in Nigeria as it requires less capital and yields a high return.
Snail is a crawling animal that has both male and female reproductive organs, which makes its breeding faster and easier. It is also known to have a lot of nutritional value as it is an important source of protein, calcium, phosphorus and iron with low cholesterol and fats. It is also used in making cosmetics.
How to Start and Grow a Snail Farming Business in Nigeria
Starting a business without proper knowledge can be risky, especially in snail farming. While it’s true that snail farming can be quite lucrative, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of the ins and outs of the business before diving in. You’ll need critical information from capital to marketing and feeding to make your snail farm successful.
Speaking of capital, the amount you need to start your snail farm will depend on the size you envision – whether it’s a small, medium or large-scale operation. To get started, you should budget between ₦60,000 and ₦100,000 for a small-scale snail farming business. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can start a successful snail farming business and reap the rewards of this lucrative venture.
In this business, the following must be taken into consideration to achieve a profitable yield at the end of the day:
Choosing suitable snail species
Choosing the right snail species is crucial when starting a profitable snail farming business in Nigeria. With several snail breeds available for rearing in the country, it can be overwhelming to determine the most suitable species for your farm. Some of the snail breeds that can be reared in Nigeria include the Garden snail (Cornu aspersum), Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia), White garden snail (Theba snail) and three African giant snail species (Archachatina marginata, Achatina achatina and Achatina fulica). However, for optimal profits in snail farming, Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina species are the most suitable options.
- Archachatina marginata
The Giant African Land Snail, also known as Archachatina marginata, is highly sought-after locally and internationally due to its exceptional nutritional value. This species has a lifespan of up to 10 years, with proper care. It is considered the best choice for snail farming because of its ability to produce numerous big-size eggs quickly and rapid growth rate.
Also, it boasts a large flesh size that can weigh up to 500g at maturity. You can identify this species by its darker head, V-shaped tail, and blueish-white outer lip.
- Achatina achatina
While African Giant Tiger Land Snail may not be as popular as its cousin, Archachatina marginata, it certainly has its unique personality. This snail is a bit of a picky eater and will only feast on certain types of feed, making it a bit of a diva in the snail world. But don’t let its selective nature fool you.
This specie is still suitable for a profitable snail farming business, as it produces more eggs than Archachatina marginata. Plus, with its distinctive pointed tip, tiger-striped shell, and silver-brown body, it’s sure to add a touch of exotic flair to your snail farm.
Housing for the snail is essential in starting a snail farming business. The size of the farm needed to start your business depends on the scale of the business. It can be inside boxes or wire gauze in your backyard, a garden or a small farm. However, it is necessary to have permanent farmland for commercial farming.
The housing can also be sorted based on the age of the snails, which are newly hatched, young and mature snails. It is important to note that snails thrive well in moist areas. Their housing should be kept away from wind exposure.
Snails are quite remarkable creatures. They are not only incredibly cost-effective, but can also thrive on a diverse range of feeds and plants. From pawpaw and banana to potato and cucumber, the leaves of these plants are all on the menu for your snails.
Regarding homemade food, snails are best fed with meals that are low in salt. And for even better results, consider using the chicken feed, as it can greatly enhance the growth of your snails. While young snails should be fed with chicken mash, pellets are more suitable for mature ones.
It’s important to note that water is crucial for the healthy growth of snails. Lack of water in their feed can cause stunted growth, so keep their water supply in check. Additionally, feeding snails early in the morning and late at night is best to ensure they get the required nutrients.
Then, consider including supplements in their feed to maintain strong shells and boost their growth. With these tips, you can be sure your snails will grow healthy and strong.
Soil type and requirements
Soil is the main habitat of snails and is needed for digging and ingesting. The soil should therefore be rich in nourishment in an accurate quantity. The soil must be rich in calcium, and other nutrients, as its deficiency may cause fragile shells. It is suggested to go for sandy-loamy soil as it is rich in organic contents.
Soil for snail farming business should have these characteristics:
- Contain organic contents like phosphorus and calcium
- pH should be neutral
- Contain less sand and clay as they leave snails dehydrated
Growth and Reproduction
Snails can be categorised into hatchling, young and mature based on their ages and sizes. Matured snails are known to lay eggs between 8-12 months, depending on the species. The eggs hatch in 4-6 weeks and mature for sale in about two years.
The hatchling should be kept in separate housing for proper growth and protection. The matured ones can be identified by the shell brim, which is thicker than the other parts of the shell.
Harvesting mature snails can be a daunting task for any farmer, but the market value is worth the wait. After two years of nurturing and caring for the snails, it’s time to reap the rewards. However, it’s important to remember that not all matured snails should be harvested for the market, as some are required for stock keeping. When it comes to the actual harvest, pack the snails in a spacious container to prevent any shell breakage.
How Can You Learn About Snail Farming Business?
Several resources are available for learning about snail farming, including online sources such as books and manuals, mentoring programs, and professional courses from institutions like the National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT) and the Snail Farmers Association Nigeria.
One helpful book I recommend is “Snail Farming in West Africa: a practical guide” by Joseph R. Cobbinah. With these resources, you can gain the knowledge and skills to start and run a successful snail farming business in Nigeria.
Challenges Encountered by Snail Farmers in Nigeria
It is important to know that the snail farming business has challenges. These challenges can reduce the farmer’s profit or even cause a big loss at the end of the day. Some of these challenges are:
- Pests and diseases
- Weather and climate conditions
- Environmental factors
- Bush burning
On this note, snail farmers should understand that this snail farming business is a lucrative farming operation that requires little attention from the farmer. Some conditions can threaten its profit if proper care is not taken. Farmers are advised to know about these challenges that can be faced in this farming business.
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Cannabis Pest Management
Cannabis is susceptible to many pests, including insects, mites, fungi or bacteria. To date, no viruses have been confirmed. The damage from pests can stunt plant growth and decrease the yield and quality of the final product. A number of pesticides are registered for use on cannabis grown commercially indoors in Canada. They are outlined in Table 1 which can be found on pg. 18. These pesticides may be considered in combination with other techniques as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program to effectively manage pests in cannabis. This document provides guidance on best practices for pest management for commercial cannabis grown indoors and in greenhouses, and outlines the available chemical and non-chemical control options for pests commonly found in this crop.
Fig. 1: IPM Components
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM is a decision-making process for managing pests in an effective, economical and environmentally sound way, which includes six elements:
1) Prevention: planning and managing production systems to prevent pests
2) Identification: identifying pests, their damage and their natural enemies
3) Monitoring: regular monitoring of pest populations, pest damage, beneficial organisms and environmental conditions
4) Action Thresholds: making control decisions based on potential damage, cost of control methods, value of production, impact on other pests, beneficial organisms and the environment
5)Management options: may include a combination of behavioral, biological, chemical, cultural and mechanical methods to reduce pest populations and damage to acceptable levels
6) Evaluation: conducting follow up evaluations to determine the effects and efficacy of management decisions
It is essential to focus on pest prevention due to the limited number of registered pesticides for commercial cannabis growers. When pest problems are prevented, the need for other control measures is reduced.
Prevention Strategy: Mother plants
When growing any crop, pest management should start in propagation. Mother plants, also called ‘moms’ or ‘mums’, are stock plants used to take cuttings for propagation. Because mother plants are generally kept longer than all other plants in production, they can accumulate pests that are then transmitted through clones or cuttings. A strong focus on keeping mother plants clean is a key pest prevention strategy.
Excerpt from "Integrated Pest Management for Commercial Cannabis in BC" Please read more at the source.


It’s been a cold Spring. Gardening will be more of a challenge this year. This is only our second year of tending to a garden. We planted tomatoes, red onions, bush beans, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, and garlic. We are container gardening again this year with the exception of the garlic and onion which are planted in our apple and cherry tree beds. Near freezing temps are predicted for tonight so it looks like we’ll be bringing the containers inside.
Apple tree blossoms
Hoping to attract more bees


Plants have evolved along with soil microbes for hundreds of millions of years. When bacteria colonized the Earth and changed the atmosphere more than three billion years ago, they created conditions that allowed the evolution of soil fungi (around 900 million years ago). You can check about plant growth promoting bacteria -growing cannabis indoors through an online search.
Together, bacteria and fungi form the structure of Earth's soil and create habitable conditions for the evolution of plants around 700 million years ago.
Image Source: Google
Soil microbes are everywhere, meaning they are abundant in most terrestrial environments.
This is important because these small soil microbes play a large role in supporting plant growth.
Bacterial and fungal species work together in groups (ie consortia) to support plant growth along the rhizosphere (ie the root zone of the soil) primarily by providing nutrition and preventing disease. For example, soil bacteria and fungi continue to increase the availability of soil nutrients by converting nutrients that are not available into forms that are available for plant absorption.
Microbes also act as biological fertilizer by releasing important nutrients when they die. Without microbes, plants will not have the constant supply of nutrients they need to grow.
Outside the nutritional cycle, microbes produce hormones and other chemicals to stimulate plant growth. Soil microbes can also prevent pathogenic infections by inducing plant systemic disease resistance and by coating the root surface to physically protect plants from being infected by pathogens.