You will be able to have a good-looking lawn if you ensure that you have maintained it perfectly and many other advantages will be on your side. You should ensure that you have used all items and services so that you can be able to keep your lawn well maintained all the time.
All of your turf chores will be conducted as required if you make sure that you have worked jointly with specialist who knows everything about lawn caring and maintenance.In this case, it will be a great idea to ensure that you have considered lawn care service in a serious manner and will see the benefit of doing that.
You will have no problems to deal with when maintaining your lawn if you ensure that you have hired a turf care service provider who is located in your area. Make sure that you have employed a turf care service giver who will be able to offer you the types of services that you want.
Finding the right lawn care company is not an easy task but you can be able to locate the one who will be able to offer you with the types of services that you want if you consider some few factors. You should make sure that you have strong minded the sorts of yard services you need so that you can be able to trace the correct lawn care business that will offer you with the same.
Experience of the lawn care service provider is something that you should look at when looking for the best turf lawn care company that is sited in your town. It will be a great idea to choose a lawn care service that will offer you with affordable services so that you can be able to avoid all cash issues that may raise when paying for the services.
Make sure that you have signed in an indemnified yard care service supplier and all of your needs will be attained easily. Ensure that you have dealt with an acknowledged turf service provider so that you can be able to maintain and keep your yard attractive all the time.
A repute lawn care service is the type of service that you should consider when maintaining your turf and many other benefits will be experienced at a great level. You should make sure that you have known the types of apparatus that a certain yard care company is employing in order for you to be able to know if you will be able to get the sorts of services you want.


by fs2017mods · Published February 2, 2019 · Updated February 2, 2019. Tractor Pack – Farming Simulator 2019. Unzip the downloaded file and place the zips into your mods folder.If you’re on our website, most probably, you are interested in Farming Simulator 17 mods.
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This time of the year, in the early fall, I love the sound of the combines taking off the soy bean fields. Its not that the actual sound of the machines sound like song birds or an angels harp, but still, there is something so soothing and comforting to me in hearing those machines purr, while they carefully go through each row of beans, early in the morning, throughout the day, and sometimes, even pretty late into the night. I even like seeing their trucks sitting on the sides of the roads, waiting for the farmers to finish up and put more beans in them to be taken on to the grain mills. The now stubbly brown field, freshly cut, left with maybe a few fallen beans, waiting for a hungry deer to come by and gobble them up, look bare, but also like an accomplishment.
I wonder if they ever think about how many products their beans are going to be made into, and where all of these beans will end up. I know I would be thinking about all that, but maybe that’s just me.
And the farmers, oh, how I admire the farmers for doing what they do. Truly unsung heroes in my book!
All farmers are hardworking people, keeping long hours in all weather, at Mother Nature’s mercy, yet, they keep on doing what they do. Some of them make farming their full time job, but many cannot afford to do that, so they keep a regular job, and then farm on the weekends or whenever they can, hoping and praying that the weather, and their equipment will cooperate with them to get the very important job at hand done, in the sometimes very small windows that they have to work with.
I don’t think that they do it for the money, as many that I know sometimes just break even when all is said and done. No, I think that they do this for the same reasons that I raise a garden each summer, regardless of how exhausting it can be. They do it as a labor of love, a comfort knowing that someone will eat because of what they did. Strangers from near and far benefit from these hard working, good people that we call farmers.


Short Business Description
The Garden Centre and Plant Shop has been a thriving, closed corporation for over 18 years. When the business was founded in 1998 our main activity was offering a wide assortment of flowering plants. Today, however, eighteen years on and with numerous changes in the direction and nature of the business, we still hold the essence of our plant shop. To provide our customers with excellent quality flowering plants and now plant products as well, for both domestic and commercial use, and soon to come vegetable plants.
Unnamed Road, Schoonord, Guyana


I have been anxiously awaiting this day for weeks now! After a very time consuming and laborious weekend of sifting my soil, I finally came to the realization that the shortcut I took last year by buying garden soil in bulk did not pay off at all!!! After all that sifting, I still had soil that was full of clay and turned into a lake of sludge when watered. So, in the end, I went and bought bagged stuff and started over...lesson learned: do it right the first time!!!! But what to my wondrous eyes should appear, but prepackaged square foot gardening mix, yippee!!! Mel Bartholomew(the creator of square foot gardening) recommends a soil mix of 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 compost which is costly and annoying to mix for 4 beds...hence the reason I bought soil in bulk. But now they come in handy, dandy premixed bags, 2 cubic feet in size and costing $12.99. I'll take it!
So soil is ready (in one bed...got 3 more to go!) I soaked it really good so that it is nice and moist for planting (and the water just seeped right in like it was supposed to, big sigh of relief!) I soaked 8 snap pea beans in lukewarm water overnight to help jump start the germination process. I made my square foot grid by tying twine to nails drilled in at one foot intervals. So now it is time to begin. My little seedlings are dying to get our of their cubicles and spread their roots!
First I made my grids of where I would be planting. I planted broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower in the single holes, spinach seeds in the square with 9 boxes. Chard, kale, lettuce and cilantro went into the 4 box squares, and carrots radishes and beet seeds went into the squares with 16 boxes. Snap peas went in a row at the top of the bed and will need a trellis to support them.
Where I planted my seedlings, I made depressions around them so water would easily absorb around the roots. Where I planted seeds, I made a 1 inch depression, filled it halfway with vermiculite, dropped in my seed and then topped it off with vermiculite. Then I lightly watered the seedlings and misted the seeds. I also planted late afternoon when the sun wasn't as hot because that can be a shock to new transplants. It is very important to keep the soil moist at all times so the new transplants don't dry out and the seeds can germinate.


Comes WIth 7.5AH Battery, Rapid Charger AND FREE STRIMMER. Cutting Width 52cms
Tom's Garden Equipment is your premier source for garden equipment, machinery & tools delivered throughout Devon and the UK. We sell a wide range of lawn & garden equipment, machinery & tools including lawn mowers, cultivators, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, brush cutters and shredders, from leading manufacturers such as Stihl, Mountfield, Flymo, Bosch, Shindaiwa, Masport, Mantis, Hayter, Husqvarna and Viking. Whatever type of garden equipment you are looking for, be it for professional or domestic use, we can supply your needs quickly and efficiently. What's more, because we have over thirty years experience in landscape gardening we know the best garden equipment, machinery & tools to recommend.


A lot has happened since we first arrived in Africa! Every day brings new experiences, lots of laughs, and crazy stories. Pole Pole (pronounced poe lee-poe lee – means slowly) we are learning our surroundings and we are thankful for the wonderful people we are surrounded by who make it easy for us.
We have diligently been working on the shamba (farm) to improve what they currently have and make plans for future expansion.
One of the first changes we made was to the laying hens nyumbani (new-m-bah-nee – home). They had a 100 hens in a large room with no where to roost and around 8-10 laying boxes on the ground.
We quickly added branches for them to roost on:
We then filled the boxes with shavings and golf balls. The locals thought we were kicha (kee-cha – crazy) but the next morning when they had doubled production… we weren’t so crazy any more. 😉
While there are still things we are learning and teaching with the layeres (like crushing up eggshells for the chickens to eat) we then moved to the garden.
The short rains have now begun and we had lots we wanted to plant before they started. Some of the things we are planting are experiments to see how well they grow before we plant for the long rains (Mar-May).
We were all celebrating when Healing Hands Int. came in and finished the drip irrigation on our 1-acre plot. We are only using 6 rows for the short rains (we have a cut off in the waterline there) because the short rains do not produce enough rain for an acre plot. We would have to supplement too much water and it would be too costly.
Here are pictures of us putting in the drip irrigation and planting beans in the 6 rows!
And then this week we were able to plant some Napier grass!
This is a big deal for a few reasons. We have moved to the ng’ombe (cows) and trying to improve their production. We met with a man in Monduli two weeks ago who really helped us a lot.
He raises dairy cattle and showed us his shamba. He explained what he does, what he would do if he could, and gave us material to read. This man even uses the manure from the cows to make natural gas to use in his kitchen. He was a huge resource. We have also been watching some videos on youtube called Shamba Shapeup. They are in English and Swahili. These videos have been a huge asset because it takes the knowledge we gained in America and transfers it over to Africa using the resources available here. Seriously, give them a look and you will get a better understanding for how things work here.
One thing this man and the videos keeps stressing is that, here, napier grass is what we need to be feeding the dairy cattle. And, this man and the videos, also stress that it is the best to make silage out of. So… we planted some napier grass thanks to a new friend of Justin’s, the local vet. He brought it to us yesterday and we quickly got it planted.
Every day is something new and we are quickly adapting. There are lots of ways for us to expand and so many opportunities here.
With all of the positives there are negatives also. Tuesday Justin received a call early in the morning that he was needed at the school. Long story short, someone forgot to lock the door to the laying hens house. The night guard forgot to check before he let the guard dogs out for the night. (The guard dogs are a huge necessity here to the safety of our animals) So, Justin arrived to find 20 of our laying hens eaten by the dogs. 5 more had to be slaughtered later that day due to injuries. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t a huge setback. We have been paying for everything we have been doing for the farm since we arrived (buying feed, buying seed, buying medicine for the animals, purchasing new broilers every so many weeks, etc.) off the eggs we sell. Losing 175 eggs a week is a big deal. Not to mention they can’t just be replaced. We would need to build an area to grow out more layers and then it would be 6 months before they start laying again. So, for the moment we are going to carry on with the current 75. There are plans to expand both the layers and broilers drastically so we will just be thankful that we only lost 25.
I want to thank all of you for your prayers on our behalf. We truly love it here and the Lord is doing great things. If you would like to help our efforts here financially here is where you can send funds:
Make the checks payable to Horton’s Chapel COC
Horton Chapel Church of Christ
925 Union Ridge Road
PO BOX 1100
Belton, KY 42324
PLEASE PUT FOR THE MAYNARDS – AFRICA.
But most of all please just keep us in your prayers, this work, and these wonderful people.


Banana leaves and other tropical leaf prints have been very popular this season, from apparel to home decor.
Want to have an actual banana plant in your house?
Here are some tips!
- According to my sources, Banana plants do very well indoors. Due to their tropical nature they like sunlight, warmth and humidity which can be found in most homes.
- These plants are nutrient rich, meaning they absorb lots of nutrients from the soil. This means they need to be fertilized often, about once a month.
- They prefer light, well draining soil as opposed to heavy potting soil or soil from your yard.
- Not a very high maintenance plant, as long as you give them consistent conditions they will thrive!


Yesterday was Open Farm Sunday. This is an annual event, organised by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) and the idea is to provide everyone with a chance to visit a working farm and ‘discover at first hand what it means to be a farmer and the fabulous work they do producing our food and managing the countryside’.
We had quite a few different events to choose from in Cambridgeshire, but we decided to visit G’s Farm at Barway, just outside Ely. This is a vast farming business, which grows a huge array of crops – most notably lettuces, celery, radishes and onions. Where we live, in the Fens, is a hugely rich agricultural area – the soil is so good, practically anything can grow. This is the heartland of large, industrial farms which giant machines and total efficiency. Maybe not the most appealing, or picturesque, side of farming, but it was fascinating to peek inside this world for a day and we were all struck by the passion and enthusiasm of the people that work there.
The main draw for the children was the huge field full of giant farm machines. Visitors were allowed to climb inside the tractors and everyone was very relaxed. The boys were thrilled to sit in a few – especially as this isn’t usually allowed at lots of events we go to! We nearly got lost in the giant iceburg lettuce processing plant on wheels – who knew such things existed?
The highlight of the day for all of us was the tour of the farm – via a tractor and trailer. We had to queue for a while, but it was definitely worth it. It was surprisingly fascinating and I leant a lot about celery and lettuce! This farm supplies Tesco with all of their British celery, and huge quantities of radishes, beetroot, asparagus and lettuce are grown every year – plus, all the other crops like wheat and rye. I was really staggered by the scale of it all. Most of the food I buy comes from supermarkets – and a good deal of it clearly comes from this huge operation.
What really struck me was the passion and knowledge of the people that work this land. Yes, it is a huge efficient machine of production, but there was also a commitment to sustainability and maintaining habitats rich in wild life throughout the farm.
All in all it was a great day, and we’ll definitely be back next year!


May be allowed ONLY if TVF&R does not have a High-Fire Danger Burn Ban in place.
Agricultural burning is limited to genuine agricultural waste. Agricultural waste is material generated by an agricultural operation that uses, or intends to use, land primarily for the purpose of obtaining a profit in money by raising, harvesting and selling crops, or raising and selling animals (including poultry), or the products of animal husbandry. Prohibited materials cannot be burned, even in an agricultural setting. (Prohibited materials are listed in the linked fact sheet below.)
Additional DEQ Information:
TVF&R does not enforce DEQ rules, however, it is very important to understand additional DEQ rules related to backyard burning to avoid fines and other penalties. See the DEQ Fact Sheet for more information.


Turn Key Organic Farm for sale, complete, Tractor and 2 Bedroom home.
The farm for sale is 3.9 HA which is just shy of 10 acres in size.
This working farm is located just 1.5 km off of the Panamerican Highway and just over 1 hour's drive from Panama City. The farm produces organic fertilzer, sheep, as well as ornamental palm trees and a variety of fruiting trees including but not limited to:
The farm for sale includes a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home complete with all the utilities including internet. Also included in the sale is a 31 HP 2008 New Holland tractor imported from U.S.
The property has fruit trees, ornamental palm trees, organic fertilizer production area, and 9 sheep. There is also live water in the form of a small creek which borders the back property line of the farm, and is available to supply extra water for the crops.
Last but not least this property is located in a very up and coming area, within 15 minutes drive of several large beach resorts and international airport which is currently under construction in Rio Hato.


We've had some above 90 degrees weather the last few days so my tomatoes are still green. My research shows that tomatoes will only produce lycopene and carotene, two substances that help a tomato turn red, between the temperatures of 50F and 85F. If it is any cooler that 50F, those tomatoes will stay a stubborn green. Any warmer than 85F and the process that produces lycopene and carotene comes to a screeching halt.
So big yet so green. Looks yummy though.
My eggplants are doing good though. For a while, the blossoms were turning brown then drying up and I was starting to worry. They call this blossom drop. Then I read up on it and the blossom is supposed to turn brown and dry up when pollinated. I also noticed some flowers were just straight up falling off when purple so I read that it was either lack of water or lack of pollination. I decided to water deeply first. I soaked each plant for about 2-3 minutes. That worked because now my eggplants are flowering and have less blossom drop. Below are two photos of my eggplants:
|You can see the purple eggplant blossoms are growing well. |
Each flower will be pollinated and become a yummy thai eggplant.
A teeny tiny eggplant can seen toward the bottom of the photo.
Here's a close up of a budding thai eggplant. So cute huh?
My thai basil and dill is coming along great. I picked some thai basil last night for chicken curry. It was so fresh.
This dill dressing recipe for salmon also sounds delish:
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons French dressing
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
YATSUFUSA: JAPANESE HOT PEPPER
My peppers are taking forever to grow. I grew some Japanese Hot Peppers- Yatsufusas type in container. At first, I added way too much garden fertilizer and the nitrogen caused a ton of green foliage but no blossoms. I kept watering my container every day to flush out the nitrogen and the soil is finally starting to normalize. Tiny white blossoms are showing up everywhere. My plant looks like this:
My plant hopefully will look like this in a month:
I have lots of updates but I cannot forget my tomatillos. I learned that tomatillos cannot self pollinate- meaning that the flowers of single plant cannot pollinate each other. Individual tomatillo plants are either female or male. So you need at least two tomatillo plants to grow fruit. Thankfully I had sown a bunch of tomatillos indoors and had four successful seedlings to plant out. The plants are about five feet tall and I support them with a cheap three-ring tomato cage. There are a ton of yellow blossoms. I keep going out to see if there are any fruit. The little balloon-lantern looking cover of the tomatillo is so small but I stare and stare at it and it looks like a tiny fruit is inside. Who knows?- a watched pot never boils. It looks like the plants pollinated and fruit is growing. I have some close photos below.
Do these look healthy to anyone? Meaning, do these look like tomatillos will actually grow? I read that tomatillos have a long growing season so I am just hoping the plant is taking a while to mature.
|Tomatillo Plant: See all the little lantern things?|
Overall, my garden is doing great. I get up as soon as the sun rises to go check on my plants. I water deeply 1-2 times a week so it takes me about 20 minutes to get to everything. I think if I expand my garden next spring, I will have to come up with a better irrigation system. I've been harvesting lots of garden beans- french filet and kitchen king. My dogs love the beans as a snack and they gobble them up like it's doggy treats. I'll be sure to update my blog regarding the tomatillos and eggplants. Happy gardening!


The world could be facing a food shortage in just 10 years, according to an agricultural data technology company.If this is correct, then soon we will all be expected to make sacrifices in order to subsidize runaway population growth in China, India, and Africa.
Gro Intelligence founder and chief executive Sara Menker says previous calculations about food supply have focused on mass and weight, not nutritional value — and this is where things become problematic.
Previously the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization has predicted that the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion by 2050 and the world needs to produce 70 percent more food to feed all these extra people.
But at a TEDGlobal event Arusha, Tanzania, Menker said if you look at the nutritional value of current food production instead, global food security is more tenuous than originally thought.
According to Quartz, Menker believes the year 2023 will be the crossover point when we will no longer be able to produce enough food to feed a growing population.
She has estimated that by 2027, there could be a 214 trillion-calorie deficit, which is the equivalent of 379 million Big Macs.
Demand will be driven by population and economic growth in China, India and African countries.
It makes more sense to isolate those countries. Stop sending them food and technology, and stop allowing them to export their population problems. They will eventually learn to solve their own problems.


Yes, you’ve read the heading right! Organic gardening and Red Wiggler Worms can go hand in hand. Now if you’re not into worm composting yet, then you should know that you haven’t experienced and seen your garden at its best. So if you want to get more out of your garden, then you must have a try on some red wiggler worms castings. Castings, also known to many as compost from worms, are full of nutrients and minerals. You can use this to feed your garden soil and plants. mykindredlife
When you start feeding your garden with worm castings, then you’re definitely nourishing them with more than they can ever produce on their own. You should know that worms only eat organic stuff, so you can be assured that what they excrete is all-natural (it has been recognized as the richest kind of natural fertilizer). And unlike other types of manure, their castings are odorless (has an earthy smell to it). But besides that, using worm compost as a fertilizer becomes a better alternative to chemical fertilizers. Fertilizers that are made organically are a lot safer to use around humans and pets, and are also safe for the environment. So if you’re growing vegetables and other aromatic plants in your garden, then you can be guaranteed with a safe intake of these.
You can reap a lot of benefits by just using red wigglers compost on your garden. Not only is this natural fertilizer valuable to plant and soil life, it is also acts as a supplement. You can definitely count on these worms castings to provide your garden (especially when it comes to a plants growth) with some nitrogen, carbon, potassium, calcium, and other more essentials minerals. diagnozujmy
In an organic herb gardening that uses nothing but organic fertilizer, also boosts the microbial life in the soil (especially where the roots are). So when there are a lot of beneficial microbes present in the system, then there’s a lesser chance for your plants to experience diseases. Other than that, a fertilized soil also helps a worn-out soil get back into better shape. Soil erosion can be avoided, and the water retention capability of the soil will also improve (nutrients will also be absorbed more).
When it comes to organic gardening, you can continue to provide your plant, vegetable or herb garden with a continuous supply of worm compost by trying to raise your own red wiggler worms. You can do this at home, without much fuss as you can use recycled materials for a worm bin set-up (you can use Rubbermaid containers with lids). And since you generate a daily amount of household wastes, then you no longer have to worry about your worms bedding and food source. Your kitchen scraps and garden wastes can help fill this for you.


Our outdoor space has become more important than ever to us during 2020.
Many of us have caught the gardening bug and discovered a love of planting, designing and growing our own fruit and veg, with more time spent at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, with winter fast approaching, it’s time to pull on our wellies and tackle those important jobs to make sure our gardens are in the best possible shape for spring.
- Tidy your borders. Rotting and finished plants can retain pests, diseases and funguses, and they also make your garden look untidy.
- Weed-out those weeds! Weeds can often thrive during the winter. Most can be removed without the need for chemicals – be sure to take up the roots!
- Spruce up your soil for spring. Early winter is the perfect time to prepare your soil. Dig the soil over and spread some well-rotted manure, compost or leaf mould, mixing with the soil to give it the best chance of being spring-ready.
- Plant cover crops. Cover crops are plants which protect and improve the ground for crops in the future. Covering soil during winter also gives weeds less chance to grow ahead of spring planting.
- Prune perennials. Once they’ve finished flowering, pruning allows perennials to look tidy and improves flowering for next time.
- Divide and plant bulbs. As plants mature, bulbs often divide and spread on their own, and crowded bulbs are likely to flower less. If this happens, dig up the bulbs and divide them to encourage continued growth and flowering.
- Plant evergreen shrubs. Warm soil and cooler temperatures make autumn a good time to plant some hardy evergreens for some much-needed winter interest. Do it before the frost sets in.
- Replenish mulch. Mulch helps to repel weeds, regulate soil temperatures and retain moisture. Some breaks down within the year, but some can last up to five years, depending on weather conditions. Replace or replenish if required.
- Prep bulbs and layout for spring plants. While most spring and summer-flowering bulbs should have been planted by now, Tulips can be planted in November and you can position bulbs to bring bursts of colour to your garden.
- Lift tender plants and store for winter. Tender plants need protecting from frost and can be cut back, lifted and stored in a semi-dormant state, or protected with mulch, during the colder months.
- Mow your lawn one last time with the cutting height set high. November will more than likely be the last regular cut of the year. Try to avoid walking on your lawn too much during winter to ensure it’s perfect for spring.
And finally, give your tools some TLC. Before locking up your shed for winter, clean and sharpen your tools so they’re in top working order for spring.
Sam Theakstone, our Interior and Landscape Designer, said: “Your garden is an extension of your home and should be treated as another room, designing and tailoring every inch to suit your taste.
“It can be just as beautiful during the colder months, with a good range of evergreens you can enjoy the preparation work and planning for spring and look forward to what’s to come!”
We offer buyers a unique service to landscape their garden with our design expert Sam helping to make the most of their outside space.
We’re here to help our customers create their dream home, inside and outdoors!


Development in the Potomac Region Fragments Forests and Consumes Farm Acreage
E. coli and carcinogens and mutagens such as endocrine disrupting compounds from antibiotics, herbicides, and pesticides can be lessened with adherence to best management practices.
In this report, Potomac Conservancy highlights the value of our natural and working landscapes, as well as the pressures facing both from man-made causes, primarily development. This report makes the case for placing a high value on forested lands, and also appropriately scaled and well-managed farms, by recognizing the value of such lands when compared to developed or built environments. We highlight the importance of rural lands in this developing watershed, and discuss the stressors that are currently affecting the health of lands and waters in the Potomac region.
The potential for significant pollution from agricultural lands does not diminish the cultural and economic importance of farming. Pollution from nutrients, disease-causing organisms such as
The 2010 "Potomac Agenda" promotes regulations and funding to preserve our forests and better manage our farmlands in a sustainable fashion. The agenda provides recommendations for state and federal government agencies to collaborate on more cohesive regulations and practices that will protect our water supply. Click here for the Potomac Agenda.
- What's going on in the Potomac (a Land Use Map) (pdf)
- Growth Scenarios in the Potomac Region (chart)
- Is there a factory farm near you? Find out with this interactive factory farm map.
- Conservancy President Hedrick Belin writes to the managers of Trump National Golf Course about their tree cutting on the shores of the Potomac. Click here for the full letter.
Thoughtful land use practices, such as strategic green infrastructure plans, will address many of the problems in the watershed. Collectively, county-level planning efforts can build to a network of forests, farms, and natural areas that will sustain the health and ecosystem functions of the Potomac River region as a whole. Illustration of green infrastructure.


Collection: Medicoir Premium Coir Open Top Containers (OTCs)
Medicoir Premium Coir Open Top Containers (OTCs) provide an alternative to buying bulk coir blocks and hand filling containers. The Medicoir Premium Coir OTC comes with the plastic container and a compressed coconut coir block included designed for quick hydration and planting. Medicoir Premium Coir is a cocopeat blend that comes standard washed and buffered with calcium nitrate. This product can be used in large scale hydroponic grow operations with quick set up, hydration and consistent growing environment for the plant. Bulk coir pricing is available. Contact Doublethumb Growing Solutions, a coir importer into the USA for Botanicoir and Medicoir for additional options.


Estimation of water requirement and water use efficiency in typical dairy farms in Bangladesh
Water use in typical dairy farm
Keywords:Typical Farm, TIPICAL model, water use efficiency, Bangladesh, milk production
The objective of this study was to estimate the different ways of water use to calculate water use efficiency (WUE) in dairy production system and to identify the main drivers of water use efficiency (WUE) in Bangladesh typical dairy farming system. The International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) methodology. The IFCN method consists of three pillars: Typical Farm Approach (TFA), Technology Impact Policy Impact Calculations (TIPICAL) model and Networking approach. Using the IFCN panel approach, two typical farms were selected: BD-2 cow farm (Bangladesh 2 cow farm) and BD-14 cow farm (Bangladesh 14 cow farm). These two typical farms were modelled using the IFCN global water footprint model, the water footprint model is built within the TIPICAL model. The results showed that average water requirement for one kg milk production is 2400 liters of which 98% of the water use used through feeds and fodder. About 2% water is used through drinking water and service water. the water use efficiency of BD-2 and BD-14 are 0.22 and 0.26, respectively. Finally, small-scale production farm (BD-2) needs more water requirement/kg of milk as they rear small number of animals with low productivity than large scale typical farming system (BD-14) with high productivity. The finding of this study clearly revealed that increasing milk productivity and effective use of the feeds and fodder are the main ways to be efficient in water use and thus can reduce the pressure on water for milk production.
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2022 Journal of Innovative Agriculture and Social Development
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


In a world where more than , it’s an awful shame to throw away food…
Especially when, globally, we produce to feed every single soul! This is one of the reasons we’re on a mission to reduce food waste at IQS – we know that global food waste habits are seriously hurting people (not to mention ).
But what do you do when food scraps seriously need to be binned? Well, the next best bet is to compost them – sustainability starts at home, people!
What is composting?
Compost bins allow organic matter (fruits, veg and even ) to decompose into garden-loving goop. They allow you to dispose of scraps and , and in doing so, reduce strain on the environment. The waste sector (AKA landfill) in Oz produces around each year. And this waste just keeps on giving! What’s sent to landfill today will create carbon pollution for as the material (very slowly) decomposes.
Why should I compost?
Composting is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint! Each tonne (that’s 1000 kgs!) of organic waste that goes to landfill . Methane is a greenhouse gas that is than the infamous CO2 we’re so used to hearing about. Composting organic matter doesn’t release methane, which means less entering our atmosphere! And just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade, we know that ‘greenhouse gases = bad’ because – and surely we all know what that entails!
How do they work?
Most composts rely on a combo of air, moisture and microorganisms – and it’s these three elements which provide the conditions necessary for the decomposition of juicy fruit and veggie scraps. This organic matter is then broken down into (certainly not to be confused with that delicious dip made of blended chickpeas). Humus helps to make soil fertile and rich, which your garden will absolutely love!
Okay, let’s go!
You have two main options when it comes to composting: hot or cold. You can make a “cold compost” in your garden simply by creating a big pile of organic matter (grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit and veggie scraps) and leaving it to do its thing. Many people keep their pile nicely contained in a big bin, drum or even a compost tumbler, which can be turned easily. Cold composting is a good option for people who don’t want to tend to their compost too often, however, it will take longer to decompose than hot composting. If you don’t have a tumbler, speed up the process by turning the compost over every few days with a shovel or pitchfork.
is for the more “green thumbed” among us. It requires knowledge of temperatures, ratios of carbon to nitrogen and layering of different organic materials. So, best to visit your local garden centre to get started! If you can spare the time and energy, hot composting is faster and results in richer “humus”. Here’s of things you can confidently compost – you might be surprised!
Have you considered starting your own compost? Please, lettuce know!


- Is it worth paying for lawn care?
- Is it rude to mow your lawn on Sunday?
- Can you not mow your lawn?
- What is the point of mowing the lawn?
- How often should you mow grass?
- What is the difference between lawn care and lawn maintenance?
- What happens if you don’t mow your lawn?
- Is lawn mowing a good workout?
- How much should I pay a teenager to mow my lawn?
- Does frequent mowing thicken grass?
- How do I make my lawn thicker?
- How much should you get paid for mowing a lawn?
- Is it ever too early to mow the lawn?
- What does lawn maintenance include?
- What is the difference between lawn care and lawn service?
- Is 7am too early to mow lawn?
- When should you not cut your grass?
- How do you price lawn care?
- Can a 9 year old mow the lawn?
- Do tenants mow lawn?
- Will grass spread to bare spots?
Is it worth paying for lawn care?
Many companies will give you a free quote if you let them know the size of your lawn and what services you require, so it’s definitely worth asking as you have nothing to lose.
So in response to the question ‘is it worth paying for lawn care.
‘, the answer is definitely yes..
Is it rude to mow your lawn on Sunday?
On a Saturday, 9am is a safe start time, but on a Sunday you should wait until 10am. In terms of a cut-off time, 6pm on either weekend nights is about it. You’ve had eight or nine hours to do your garden chores. Don’t punish others for your bad planning.
Can you not mow your lawn?
Few of us would go as far as Gul, but there are practical, financial and legal consequences if you don’t mow your lawn as required by local ordinances or homeowner association covenants. You could be fined. A lien could be placed on your property. In extreme cases, you could be foreclosed on or even go to jail.
What is the point of mowing the lawn?
The primary purpose of mowing a lawn is to improve its appearance. Proper mowing technique, equipment, fre- quency and height of cut will improve the quality of a lawn while also increasing the health of the turfgrass plants and decreasing weeds.
How often should you mow grass?
Normally weekly mowing is the rule, but some lawns need cutting more often. Other lawns will grow more slowly and might need cutting only once every ten days or two weeks. Generally, don’t cut off more than one third of the grass blade. More than that may harm the grass.
What is the difference between lawn care and lawn maintenance?
A lawn care company will fertilize, replace sod, perform pest control, and seed. They do other things, but these are just a few examples. A lawn maintenance company also takes care of the existing yard, but by mowing, trimming, and weed eating.
What happens if you don’t mow your lawn?
Your lawn becomes patchy Due to a high growth rate and lack of nutrients, not all areas of your turf will get the right feed. Because of this, you’ll notice that grass will grow at different heights. This will also cause brown patches to appear and possibly create dormant areas in your lawn.
Is lawn mowing a good workout?
Exercise-wise, operating a riding mower isn’t much better than watching grass grow. But mowing the grass with any type of push mower counts toward the 150 minutes of moderate physical activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity) you’re supposed to accrue each week.
How much should I pay a teenager to mow my lawn?
You can spend $20 or $40 for a teenager to mow your lawn. However, you won’t get the professional trimming, edging or clean up that you would with an actual lawn mowing business.
Does frequent mowing thicken grass?
Mowing actually helps make your grass grow thicker because the tip of each blade contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you cut the lawn, you remove these tips allowing the grass to spread and grow thicker near the roots.
How do I make my lawn thicker?
Improve Your Soil. To get the most out of every step to a thicker lawn, take a tip from lawn pros and test your soil. … Overseed. Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick—or keep them from getting thin. … Fertilize. … Boost Your Lawn. … Irrigate. … Mow Properly. … Control Weeds.
How much should you get paid for mowing a lawn?
Residents in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia are paying approximately $45/hr for the same service. In the Australian Capital Territory, lawn mowing businesses typically charge an average rate of $47.50/hr. New South Wales, on the other hand, has an average cost of $50/hr for lawn mowing services.
Is it ever too early to mow the lawn?
If one starts mowing too early in the season, one can run the risk of compacting the grass or of killing new roots before they have a chance to mature and cultivate. This can cause grass to grow in patches or to not fully turn green. Putting the lawn mower away too early has its consequences as well.
What does lawn maintenance include?
Lawn care generally refers to maintaining the health, color and vitality of existing lawns through the years. Some services that fall under lawn care are pest control, weed control, fertilization, soil testing, aeration, seeding, deep root feeding for trees and shrubs and irrigation.
What is the difference between lawn care and lawn service?
Lawn service differs from lawn care in that a lawn service company maintains your lawn and landscape by mowing, edging, line trimming, and pruning. … In order to perform lawn care, the company must be properly licensed in their state to apply fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides.
Is 7am too early to mow lawn?
It’s not too early for your grass, but it may be too early for your mower, especially if the grass is wet with dew. It may also be too early for your neighbors who are trying to sleep and may be awakened by the noise of your mower. Try to be considerate of the people who live around you.
When should you not cut your grass?
If the weather is warm enough, grass keeps sprouting. Generally, the cutoff point comes when temperatures drop below 50°F during the day. Usually, that’s late October or early November, but some warm areas may push that date back to the beginning of December.
How do you price lawn care?
If the average price per cut in your area is $35 for an average sized lawn, say a 50 X 75 foot lot, then what that means is that you have to figure out how much of your time you can spend for $35. You do that like this: You divide that average price by your man hour figure and then multiply by 100.
Can a 9 year old mow the lawn?
A: Lawn mowers are one of the more common lawn care tools and need to be handled with safety in mind. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises that children younger than 12 should not use walk-behind mowers.
Do tenants mow lawn?
Although it is generally a tenant’s responsibility to maintain the lawn and garden, their struggle to do does not necessarily make them a ‘bad’ tenant. As a landlord, you may be completely happy with your tenant except for the fact that they struggle to keep the lawn and gardens maintained to an adequate standard.
Will grass spread to bare spots?
Many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don’t spread, so you’ll need to reseed to get grass to fill in. Consider perennial ryegrass, chewings fescue or tall fescue, all bunch-type cool-season lawn grasses that can be used to fill bare spots.


Jamie Cross – Emergency Programs Officer
On February 10, 2019, the United Nations recognized the first annual World Pulses Day. This day built off of the success of the International Year of Pulses (IYP) 2016 and is used each year as an opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of growing and consuming pulses. Pulses are more than just a nutritious addition to a healthy diet; they promote sustainable food systems and help contribute to a #ZeroHunger world.
What are pulses?
Without realizing it, you are likely incorporating pulses into your diet already! Pulses are the edible seeds of plants from the legume family. There are 11 categories of pulses but hundreds of varieties to choose from. Some common varieties include black beans, red kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils.
Pulses are packed with nutrients and have a high protein content. They are also low in fat and high in soluble fibre which all combined makes them an excellent choice to include in your regular diet.
Pulses also have many environmental benefits. Their nitrogen fixing properties improve soil fertility, increasing and extending the productivity of farmland. They can also help reduce the dependency on synthetic fertilizers which are used to introduce nitrogen artificially into soil.
Pulses in Canada
Over time, Canada has developed a multi-billion dollar pulse industry. In 2017, Canadian famers produced more than 7.1 million tonnes of pulses, making pulses Canada’s fifth largest crop overall. Canadian pulses meet the needs of 130 markets around the world and Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of lentils.
How does GlobalMedic use pulses?
When we were creating our Emergency Food Program, one of our three guiding goals was to create a meal that would contribute to a nutritious diet. In our Emergency Meal created for our response in Syria, green lentils are a primary ingredient. They provide the meal, Mujaddara, with an excellent source of protein, are a familiar ingredient to the families receiving the meals, and simply taste great.
This World Pulses Day, GlobalMedic volunteers will be packing Emergency Food Kits to support Syrian families affected by ongoing conflict. Since December 2019, increased aggression has caused the displacement of an additional 586,000 people. 200,000 people were displaced between January 26, 2020 and February 2, 2020 alone. The number of people in need is growing, and the Emergency Food Kits packed this World Pulses Day are an important aspect of GlobalMedic’s ongoing response in Syria.
Whether the idea of pulses is new to you or they are already a part of your regular diet, we encourage you to celebrate World Pulses Day on February 10, 2020. Perhaps try a new recipe which includes a bean you haven’t tried or grab your favourite crackers and some hummus. While you’re eating pulses of your own, consider donating to GlobalMedic to help support our Emergency Food Program and get nutritious meals that include pulses to the people who need it most.


Good water solubility, cost savings, precision fertilization
NPK Compound Organic Fertilizer
20000 Ton/Tons per Month
Packaging & Delivery
5kg/10kg/20kg per bag or according to your request.
Tianjin & Qingdao
npk fertilizer 12-12-17
Water-soluble fertilizer refers to the compound fertilizer that can be completely dissolved in water containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, trace elements, amino acids, humic acid and alginic acid. From the form of solid water-soluble fertilizer and liquid water-soluble two. From the nutrient content of a large number of elements of water-soluble fertilizer, the amount of elements in water-soluble fertilizer, trace elements, water-soluble fertilizer, amino acid water soluble fertilizer, humic acid containing water soluble fertilizer, organic water soluble fertilizer.
1. 5kg/10kg/20kg per bag or according to your request.
2. Shipping:7-10 working days after payment.
1.Quality: We have strictly quality control department, do the best quality for our customer.
2.Service: Our Sales will response your question within 24 hours, and solve your problem at the first time.
3.Delivery: We have fixed transportation system. and quickly production ability.
Jinzhou City Jinchangsheng Chemical Co. Ltd is a high-tech company. It is established in May 2006 with an investment of 100 million RMB. We are engaged in the development and manufacture of Sulphate(Copper Sulphate, Ammonium Sulphate), Sodium Formate, Formic Acid, Fertilizer(Nitrogen fertilizer, Water Soluble Fertilizer, Organic Fertilizer), Amino Acids and Nonferrous Metal. They are used in medicine, agriculture, feed additive and production of organic chemicals.
Jinzhou City Jinchangsheng Chemical Co. Ltd is located in Jinzhou City, Hebei Province Chemical Industry Park. The Research and Invention Center’s area is 2000 sq.meters. And the Production base’s area is 86700 sq.meters. Our production capacity is sizable. Copper Sulphate annual production is 30,000 MT. Each Amoni Acid annul production is 20,000 MT. Formic Acid annual production is 30,000 MT. The Fertilizer annual production is 300,000 MT. Antimony Ingot annual production is 30,000 MT. And Antimony Trioxide annual production is 30.000 Mt.
Jinzhou City Jinchangsheng Chemical Co. Ltd had passed ISO9001 Certification in 2008 and had established a complete quality control system. We have independent import and export rights.
Friends at home and abroad, welcome to our company. Our serve concept: Quality-oriented, integrity is gold.
Let us hand to hand advance together, altogether creates magnificently.
1, Are you a trade company or factory?
We are a trade company and we have our own factory.
2, How do you control the quality?
We control our qualiy by the factory testing department. We also can do FDA, BV, SGS or any other Third-party testing.
3. How long time you will make shipment?
We can make the shipping within 7 day after confirm the order.
4. What documents you provide?
Usually, we provide Commerical Invoice, Packing List, Bill of loading, COA , Health certificate and Origin certificate. If your markets have any special requirements, let us know.


Seed Starting (I hope it's not too early)
Earlier this week we finished planting most of our indoor seed starts. I still plan on starting some leeks, squash, pumpkins, and melons-the last three planned for mid April. This year we started them according to the moon. From what I have read, most plants (not bulbs or tubers) do best when started when the moon is in a water sign and in the first quarter. We started ours in Pisces just before the new moon. We did some moon planting last year which seemed to have decent results (perhaps it was just luck). Still, to me, it is interesting to keep track of the moon cycles and feel with the rhythm of the earth. My only hope is we didn't start the plants too early. Afterall, there still is over a foot of snow on the ground and although the days are noticeably longer, I look at the newly sprouted tomatoes and think "wow, am I really going to be able to plant these this year?" It really has been a long winter.


Native to Asia, the hazel shrub was known in ancient Rome, where twigs were given as gifts in the hope of bringing happiness, whereas in Germany it was considered a symbol of fertility. For the Druids, religious leaders in ancient Celtic culture, the hazel was sacred. Other bygone civilisations also celebrated its miraculous properties. Throughout history its use is broad - Moses’ staff, magic wands, the caduceus (the symbol of Hermes and of medicine) and even divining rods are all said to have been made of hazel wood.
This tree with its flavoursome fruit found its ideal habitat in the Mediterranean basin. From there it spread to Turkey, Spain, France and, of course, to Italy. Italy cultivates two varieties of hazelnut: elongated and round, of which the Tonda Gentile Trilobata variety is considered the most prized.
The best round hazelnuts come from the Langhe, in the provinces of Cuneo and Asti. Cultivated
according to precise regulations, they have a spherical shape and a tender, fragrant flesh.
In 1993, the Tonda Gentile delle Langhe was granted IGP (Protected Geographical Identification)
certification, through the broader definition of the
The history of hazelnuts in Piedmont is relatively recent: before the Second World War, the Langhe was largely dedicated to the production of fodder, wine, cereals and fruit. Hazelnut groves being reserved only for the most inaccessible land. At this time, hazelnut oil was used locally rather than olive oil because it was cheaper and more readily available.
In 1942 the explosion of hazelnut cultivation in the area was largely due to Pietro Ferrero who opened a pastry shop in Alba. He chose to use hazelnuts as the key ingredient in his products because of their abundance and, at the time, low cost. The exponential growth of the Ferrero confectionery company, now a worldwide giant, has undoubtedly contributed to the development of hazelnut groves in the Bassa and Alta Langa.
In the years following, the market for the PGI* Piedmont Hazelnut has expanded thanks to artisans in
the confectionery sector, to pastry chefs and to ice cream producers. Switzerland, a leading
chocolate producer, is also now a major user.
The Piedmont Hazelnut
remained a niche product until the 2000s, when the vicissitudes of the wine and livestock sectors pushed small Piedmontese
entrepreneurs, and also those outside the ‘area of origin’, to abandon their vineyards and stables and to plant hazelnut groves.
Not all of the Tonda Gentile growers in the Langhe were able to join the PGI register when it was started,
but the quality of their product - the same cultivar - can still be found today under the name Tonda
* (Protected Geographic Origin, in Italian IGP)
The enlargement of the hazelnut production area to include the whole region had a negative impact as
inferior products were included under the umbrella of the PGI Piedmont Hazelnut. These products do
not represent the same high quality due to different climatic conditions, soil composition and
susceptibility to disease
Recently, in a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry communique dated 19 September 2019, the European Union definitively approved an amendment to the PGI Piedmont Hazelnut specification, with the introduction of the name "Langhe" exclusively for hazelnuts grown in this specific area. As a result it is now possible to differentiate by using the name "IGP Piedmont Hazelnut of the Langhe" only for hazelnuts, and products containing them that come exclusively from the Bassa and Alta Langa. This is an acknowledgement of the superior quality of the original product.
The round nuts are protected by a hard shell. The serated leaf that wraps around the shell is called a bract and the hard, compact fruit is wrapped in a brownish skin that adheres to the seed. The ripe hazelnuts are harvested in late summer, stored in temperature controlled silos and come to the market in autumn. To fully appreciate their taste, hazelnuts should be consumed within a year of production and stored in a cool, dry place. Hazelnuts can be found on the market whole, with or without the shell, roasted, in pieces and as a paste: the latter is increasingly used by ice-cream makers, especially the Piedmont Hazelnut.
Hazelnuts are excellent in confectionery and in savoury dishes, both natural and roasted. They are extremely versatile - perfect for coatings, sauces (for pasta dishes or otherwise), fillings for meat, fish and vegetables, in salads and much more. Belonging to the family of oily nuts, hazelnuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals and thus are a source of energy with remineralising properties.
The hazelnut shrub is planted between the end of October and the beginning of November. Having carefully assessed the soil suitability the seedling is planted when dormant, that is when it’s not sprouting and it has lost all its leaves. It is important that planting takes place before heavy frosts. Once the rooted suckers have been taken from the nursery, they should be planted within a couple of days so that the roots do not suffer. Usually, the plants are sown at least 5 metres apart in a north-south direction.
This provides more space for the movement of machinery during harvest, it ensures that the plants gets as much light as possible, it helps the hazelnuts ripen and it improves pollination. In order to optimise pollination, late flowering varieties are planted in 2-3% of the hazelnut grove.
The hazelnuts are usually harvested between mid-August and the end of September, when the Langa is warmer than in other summer months. The hazelnuts (in the shell) drop off the shrub when ripe. The low humidity and the arid, hot ground helps to dry the nuts. The year of 2011 was particularly hot and the crop ripened at the beginning of August. As a result the hazelnuts were very fragrant and full of flavour, but also much drier than usual and therefore more prone to breakage during roasting. In normal years, once they have fallen, they are harvested. However, if there is rain during the harvest, collection is delayed until the ground has dried. As almost all hazelnut groves are situated on an incline, water run-off during rainfall can lead to both quantitative and qualitative losses. The hazelnuts are collected by machine or by hand with rakes and transported to the farmhouse. Traditionally they are then laid out in concrete courtyards so that they can dry in the sun. Alternatively they are placed in modern dryers. When the hazelnuts are adequately dry they are stored in sacks, large bags or metal boxes. Regardless of container used, the product should always be raised off the ground to allow air to circulate avoiding any problems with mould.
The hazelnut is a fruit bearing tree or large shrub, recognisable by its grey-brown bark and oval, serrated leaves. It belongs to the Betulaceae family, which includes many different species, the most widespread is undoubtedly the common hazel (Corylus avellana L., 1753).
The fruit of this tree - the hazelnut is widely referred to as the 'fruit of happiness' due to its many benefits and culinary versatility. The sale of hazelnuts is quite widespread, particularly in the confectionery industry where they are marketed roasted, caramelised, chopped or in the shell.
The Tonda Gentile del Piemonte hazelnut is certainly among the most popular varieties in Italy.


Why Study Agricultural Business?
Located in the nation’s most productive agricultural state, California’s San Joaquin Valley is the single richest agricultural region in the world. The Agricultural Business degree from CSU Bakersfield is a home grown opportunity to become a leader in the agricultural industry.
The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business is a '2+2' program that combines core upper division undergraduate courses in agricultural business at CSUB, with lower division agricultural science and agricultural business foundation courses completed at a community college. This degree enables students to enhance their foundation agricultural courses, completed at a community college, with upper division knowledge and skills so as to better prepare them for entry-level management positions in the agriculture and food sector.
Students learn the fundamentals of planning, organizing, marketing, financial management, and trade policy with an emphasis on California’s agriculture and natural resources.


Seeds, seeds, seeds! Holiday cards are being replaced in the mailbox with an influx of seed catalogs. I get more than a dozen, though I generally find what I need from just a couple sources.
If you’re green warrior new to gardening, there are a few things you want to keep in mind while slogging through the many different seed companies and their offerings.
A big thing nowadays is deciding whether to avoid genetically modified (GMO) seeds. We are all allowed our own opinions, but I do prefer to avoid them. Considering humans have bred plants for certain characteristics (pest resistant, drought tolerant, more productive or flavorful) for not just hundreds but thousands of years with good results, I see no reason to use a questionable science and technology that could have detrimental effects down the road.
If this is your thinking too, it can be overwhelming when researching the companies that use GMO and how far-reaching their influence is. Some big companies own an obscenely large percentage of the seed companies and retain the company names, making it difficult to tell which “small” seed companies are independent or owned by a larger corporation known for GMO seeds and other practices that Green-minded folk often like to avoid.
There are three companies well known for selling heirloom varieties (which really cannot be GMO) and for NOT being owned by such a company:
Many seed companies have signed the Safe Seed pledge, which means they “do not knowingly buy, sell or trade genetically engineered seeds.” Of course, that does not mean that they may not unknowingly do so, but it does show a level of commitment to stay GMO-free. The list of these companies can be found here.
As of the last time that I checked the list, you will not find Burpee here – and they are probably the most recognizable store brand of seeds. Though they have released statements saying they do not sell GMO seeds, their absence from the Safe Seeds pledge is notable. So you may have to shop online, through catalogs, or at smaller garden centers to find seeds that are not GMO.
Practical seed considerations
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen novice gardeners excitedly selecting their seeds, including things like tomatoes and rosemary, and talk about getting them into the soil. Sometimes I have warned them and sometimes I just mind my own business, depending on the vibe I get from them. The fact is that some seeds are really tricky to start from seed – even for experienced gardeners. Often, you need special grow lights, starting medium, and near-perfect conditions to get them to not only germinate but thrive from seedlings to starts that are garden ready.
Here are some easy starting plants: Corn, beans, cucumbers, melons, many squashes, lettuce and greens, radishes, carrots, and parsley are all pretty easy.
While different plants need varying soil quality and environmental conditions to thrive, these are all pretty easy to start and grow.
Sadly, some of my favorite garden plants are more difficult to start from seed, such as tomatoes, peppers, and the herb rosemary. Even experienced gardeners will usually start rosemary from small clippings or by rooting a couple branches from an existing plant.
When it comes to tomatoes and peppers, I almost always buy starts because I don’t have a good setup to start these at home from seed. To avoid the GMO issue, I look for heirloom varieties, which tend to taste better anyway (though they can be more touchy to raise). Another great solution would be to barter or trade plants with a friend who is farther along in gardening skills and does start these from seed.
It’s always a learning experience
And remember, even if you try a seed and don’t succeed in getting it to survive and thrive, it’s usually a cheap experiment as most seeds only cost $1 to $3 a packet. Chalk it up to experience, write down what you learned in a gardening notebook, and perhaps seek out someone experienced for some tips before you try those seeds again. Success is often the fruit of failures that we have learned from.
Garden on, green warriors!


64th Street Specialties
Gastronomy With A Flair
A Purveyor of Top-Shelf Gourmet Specialties
Chile Cultivars of New Mexico State University Released from 1913 to 2008
This ornamental chile has fruit color that ripens from purple to yellow to orange and lastly red (Bosland & Iglesias, 1994). The various
fruit colors enhance the cultivar’s value as commercial greenhouse potted plants, and ‘NuMex Twilight’ is well accepted by the potted plant
industry. Unlike standard chile cultivars that have a dichotomous growth pattern, the polychotomous branching of the basal branches makes
these ideal for container production. These semi-compact plants were developed for growing in small containers, but are suitable for
cultivation in a formal garden bed. ‘NuMex Twilight’ has a white flower and green leaves, as compared to the purple flower and purple
foliage of ‘NuMex Centennial.’ Also, the yellow fruit color stage is more pronounced in ‘NuMex Twilight.’ This cultivar has erect flower
pedicels at anthesis, and fruits are upright and smooth with a cup-shaped calyx. Flowers begin to open at 120 days after sowing, and fruits
mature to red in an additional 96 days. The plants grow erect and have stems with no pubescence. Leaf texture is smooth. Heat level and
flavor were not evaluated. Seed of ‘NuMex Twilight’ was originally from Jalisco, Mexico, and the cultivar was derived from selection within
the original population. ‘NuMex Centennial’ and ‘NuMex Twilight’ have been grown commercially in New Mexico as potted plants. Greenhouse
growers have noted that, along with the polychotomous growth habit, the four stages of fruit color serve as important marketing traits.
‘NuMex Twilight’ also has become an important source of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) resistance for plant breeders.


Andrew Dewing - Chairman
Andrew established Dewing Grain in 2006 to provide farmers and processors of combinable crops with a locally based grain merchant. Based in Aylsham, the agricultural heartland of Norfolk, Dewing Grain has grown into a well-respected independent grain trading business managing over 250,000 tonnes of grain annually, with a turnover in excess of £30 million.
Andrew’s diversification of his business interests to include property development is in keeping with his determination to maintain the balance of the rural economy and to ensure that village development is sustainable and environmentally sympathetic whilst providing affordable homes for Norfolk people.
Over the last few years Andrew has undertaken a number of one-off private developments and is keen to scale up this area of interest with the launch of Dewing Properties.
Ian Webster - Director
The son of a Norfolk farmer, Ian brings to Dewing Properties both knowledge of the local farming community and a background in property.
After graduating from Bristol University Ian moved back to Norfolk and worked as a trainee chartered surveyor with Savills. He joined Dewing Grain as a trader in 2009 and is now Trading Director of the company. Ian has undertaken a number of small developments personally, but is keen to use his surveying background to grow Dewing Properties into a respected local development company.


27 Apr Right Now // Bee Happy
Right now this makes us happy.
A honey harvest means healthy honeybees, which is vital to California agriculture. In 2013, Purple Wine + Spirits partnered with Project Apis M whose mission is to fund and direct research to enhance the health and vitality of honeybee colonies while improving crop production and mitigating Colony Collapse Disorder.
We’re thrilled to do our part. Raeburn Winery teamed up with local beekeepers from Partners for Sustainable Pollination to create a viable habitat for honeybees and experiment with early blooming plants to feed the bees. We donated use of a two-acre lot near a creek and surrounded by willows – ideal for honeybees as willows bloom early and are a major source of food for pollinators in the winter. Stay tuned for more news!


Oyster mushrooms are among the easiest selections of mushrooms to expand and knowing just how to grow mushrooms can bring you virtually limitless supply of the mushrooms at your table. Although oyster mushrooms grow in timbers, there are other expanding media that you can utilize in raising them. Consider straw as well as sawdust, they are much easier to gather than logs.
Oyster mushroom looks like oysters, and also they have an abundant culinary as well as medical history to flaunt. Chinese medicine, from some 3 thousand years back, utilizes oyster mushrooms as a tonic to improve immune system. It has ergothioneine which is a phenomenal antioxidant that can protect the cell. Even if oyster mushrooms are prepared, the antioxidant degree stays the very same. The mushrooms have actually been verified to have anti-bacterial homes also. Oyster mushrooms have substantial degrees of potassium, iron, zinc, vitamin C, calcium, niacin, phosphorus, vitamins B1 and B2, as well as folic acid. The research exposed that consuming oyster mushrooms contributes to suggested nutritional requirements.
Readily prepared mushrooms have pesticides as well as various other chemicals in them to make them nice and their shelf life longer. Although mushrooms can add a lot in making you healthy, the existence of dangerous chemicals in them could make your life much shorter. The remedy? Find out exactly how to grow mushrooms as well as enjoy its numerous fantastic advantages.
Prep work for your Mission on How to Plant Mushrooms
For this job, you will need 2 tiny cardboard boxes buy spores online or milk cartons for sawdust to load them in; 2 cups coffee premises or entire grain flour; spawn of oyster mushrooms. If sawdust is not offered or if you discover it difficult to gather sawdust, after that you can always utilize straw as a substitute (although sawdust is better).
You can begin with a kit if you desire, however if you wish to start from scratch, then oyster mushrooms can offer you a great margin to do well in your endeavor over various other mushroom varieties. Oyster mushrooms have lots of ranges to pick from as well as you can consult your provider for the best selection that is proper for your place. Many oyster mushrooms expand in position where the temperature level ranges from 55 to 65 levels Fahrenheit.
The Actions you Required to Follow in Discovering How to Plant Mushrooms.
The actions to adhere to in exactly how to grow mushrooms are not complicated, actually they are easy to understand and also follow. It does not need you to be a brilliant in order to expand some mushrooms.
You need to reduce packages that you are going to utilize to also height or same dimension. In the sides of both boxes or cartons, punch several holes (little in dimensions however not as small as a pin).
If you decide to utilize sawdust that is pre-inoculated with spawn, after that do not decontaminate the sawdust due to the fact that it will eliminate the spawn. If you are using fresh sawdust, then you could intend to sanitize it first. You can steam, boil, or microwave the sawdust. You can steam or boil the sawdust for few minutes, and after sanitizing you can turn off the warmth as well as keep it covered. Let it cool down at space temperature level before continuing to the next action. If you opt to microwave, after that you need to obtain a microwave-safe dish as well as put the sawdust in along with the flour or coffee premises. Fill it with sufficient water until the mixture looks like a wet sponge. When the water begins to steam, it will certainly eliminate the microorganisms that you want to remove. You may need to repeat the procedure in microwave to finish every one of your sawdust.
Use non-chlorinated water to wet the sawdust. See to it that it is completely wet. Very carefully assimilate your spores.
Firmly pack the wet sawdust into packages or cartons and leave them in a basement, garage, dark closet, locker, or storage. You can cover plastic underneath the container as well as cover them with plastic with some cooking oil splashed onto them to catch pests if there are any kind of.
Keep the sawdust damp with non-chlorinated water and in few months you will certainly reach appreciate the fruit of your work. When collecting, see to it to twist the mushrooms gently to stay clear of damaging the stem.
Knowing how to grow mushrooms can be an enjoyable family activity also that will profit all in the long term.


We're making some headway on the agricultural projects. The piggery and poultry buildings are almost complete (though construction is taking longer than expected) and we've gotten in touch with some pig suppliers. Next week we will be taking our veterinarian to visit a piggery project in Luwero. If the piglets available for sale get a clean bill of health, we will purchase 30-40 piglets and transport them back to Busia. If we aren't satisfied with the quality of the piglets in Luwero, we will head to another piggery project in Kumi that was recommended to us.
We will be placing an order for 500 chicks tomorrow--they should arrive in a couple weeks.
We're still researching options for purchasing cattle. We still have a couple months before we can actually move in the cows since we have to wait for our grass (cow-feed) to grow.
We've secured approximately 10 acres of land for the sweet potato farm and we've started preparing it for the coming rains. Our target is 15 acres, but we have to move quickly since the rains are coming. It's key to have the land fully prepared (cleared and plowed) when the rainy season begins. Once the rains come, we will plant immediately to maximize the harvest. This is easier said than done since the rains in recent seasons have been erratic at best. Timing is key and very difficult to do well.


Nettlebed Creamery is an award-winning, artisan cheese business in South Oxfordshire.
Our goal is to improve lives with food:
- First, through getting the sheer pleasure that comes from eating well;
- Second, by making food that’s good for you (we have a very good working knowledge of microbes, and are proud to contribute to good gut health);
- Third, through leading conversations about farming and all that goes with it: ecosystems, carbon sequestration, pasture, cows, cowpats, worms and soil
Nettlebed Creamery was founded by Rose Grimond. Having cut her teeth selling produce from the Orkney Islands at Borough Market and to top restaurants in London, Rose moved to the family farm in South Oxfordshire when pregnant with her first child and started to research how to help the farm diversify by turning its superlative milk into cheese.
Three years later, in January 2015, the Creamery took its first delivery of organic milk from the dairy herd.
AWARDS & ACCREDITATIONS
We are proud of our awards…


Insurtech BeeHero, an insurer-investor backed data-driven technology company mitigating pollination risk to address global food security, has raised $42m in Series B funding.
The round was led by Convent Capital, with participation from General Mills, Cibus Capital (formerly ADM Capital), Rabobank, MS&AD, Firstime, J-Ventures, Plug&Play, iAngels, Gaingels, UpWest, and more.
As the global population increased, more food will need to be produced. BeeHero said that to accomplish this will require a 70% increase in the global food supply.
Already nearing the limits of available arable land, this increase in productivity must come from improved yield.
Bee Hero added that, as noted by the UN, the demands of feeding a growing global population are compounded by the increasing bee mortality rates that threaten the production of 75% of the world’s food crops, including most fruit, vegetable, seed, nut, and oil crops, that are vital for nutritional security.
BeeHero said its research into bee health and welfare and managed pollination play a pivotal role in addressing this problem.
To date, BeeHero has raised $64m. The company said round of funding will enable it to accelerate the growth and adoption of its Precision Pollination Platform.
Using advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and low-cost IoT sensors, BeeHero aims to bring transparency and efficiency to the complex logistics of commercial crop pollination. According to BeeHero, its Precision-Pollination-as-a-Service results in better crop yields and increased profits for commercial crop growers and agribusiness stakeholders.
The funding will also provide further investment in BeeHero’s R&D, essential for generating more data and insight into the Sustainable Agriculture Ecosystem it is building to address the issue of global food security.
by Peter Sonner


AGRITURISMO PARADISO - Via Paradiso, 47 - Meledo di Sarego - Tel. 0444.820814 - Fax. 0444.823117 - P.Iva 01883520247
AGRITURISMO DI QUALITA' DELLA PROVINCIA DI VICENZA
For children in nusery and primary school we can organise study activities or tours in the spring period with max of 50 children.
The aim is to introduce the rural environment with its crops linked to the seasons, animals typical of a farm Venetian, and encourage manual dexterity.


Got weeds? There are three key weeds that are a constant presence in Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida landscapes. Be on the lookout for these weeds and if you see them creeping into your landscape, call your lawn care service provide straight away before they get too prevalent.
- Yellow Nutsedge
This weed looks like a pale green grass seedling. But, don’t be fooled! Yellow nutsedge is hard to control because the tuber (their roots) keep the plant healthy. A poorly performed herbicide application won’t stop yellow nutsedge. Therefore, when looking to control yellow nutsedge, call in the experts!
According to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “One crabgrass plant, left unchecked, can produce more than 50,000 seeds in one season!” Unfortunately, crab grass also grows quickly in early and mid summer.
The easiest way to deal with this pesky weed? Applying a pre-emergent in February and early March is the easiest fix, but if it’s too late additional pesticide applications can be made to control the plight.
- 3. Spurge
When summer heat appears, so does spurge. You’ll find it thriving in weak areas of your lawn, sidewalks and gardens. Keep an eye out for spurge before it starts to produce seed and when they appear, hand pull the weed or use an herbicide.
Call us today to get rid of any weeds:


A lawn tractor is a type of grass-cutting equipment similar to a riding lawn mower, where the person operating the equipment is seated on it. The primary difference between a lawn tractor and a riding lawn mower is the location of the cutting deck (mechanism that houses the cutting blades). On a lawn tractor, the cutting deck is located in the center of the machine, whereas on a riding lawn mower, the cutting deck is located in the front of the machine.
Common Lawn Tractor Repairs and Maintenance
Standard maintenance for lawn tractors is quite similar to maintenance requirements for a riding lawn mower, so many of the common maintenance and repair items will sound familiar to those who have previously owned or used a riding lawn mower. Of course, always review your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommended maintenance items and how frequently they should be done.
In general, common lawn tractor maintenance and repairs to expect are:
How often should your lawn tractor be serviced by a professional?
At minimum, it's ideal to have your lawn tractor professionally serviced prior to each new cutting season. However, like any kind of power equipment, the more frequently it's used, the more frequently it should be serviced. Your owner's manual should provide guidelines on what is considered average use to help you gauge if your use is average or above average. Another important part of caring for your lawn tractor is properly winterizing it to protect during the colder months while it's not in use. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your use and ideal maintenance schedule, the professionals at Grand Strand Power Equipment are there when you need them, and they service almost every brand of lawn tractor around.


Recently I had the privilege of traveling to Des Moines, Iowa where nine loverly food bloggers, from across the country, and I had the pleasure of embarking on Iowa CornQuest 2013 together. The mission of this trip was to unearth the a-MAIZE-ing story of corn as well as uncovering a few other Iowan gems along the way!
I don’t feel like I have fully absorbed all that I learned and experienced while in the ♥ of America. I need to review my adventure to help it sink in. Join me as I relive my adventure and incorporate a few of the facts I learned about Iowa agriculture along the way!
Fasten your seat belts here we GO!
Pssst…yes that’s me on the far left, I’m not really that great of a jumper I’m just slow and jumped late…lest you were thinking dang white girls can jump! Well then there’s Sandy in the orange pants and well yes that white girl can jump!
Our CornQuest adventure officially began as we ventured outside of Des Moines to St. Charles, Iowa, destination Madison County Winery, our hosts were winery owner Doug Bakker, the Iowa Corn Growers Association, and Iowa Pork.
O man where do I begin? Our evening at Madison County Winery and Twisted Vine Brewery was spectacular in every sense of the word! Doug (the owner) gave us a tour of his family owned winery and brewery. After which we were able to enjoy wine and beer pairings with various charcuterie (a.k.a. cheese and cold cuts 😉 ).
Fact: Yes this is THE Madison County, remember the book The Bridges of Madison County? It is also the birth place of John Wayne. Madison County also boasts that it’s the birthplace of Apple Pie!! No wonder I loved it there so much!!
The evening did not end there, after a brief walk out side to watch the sunset is was back inside to a scrumptious dinner, inspired by Iowa Pork and Corn, prepared for us by a local chef. Even the dessert incorporated corn, Chocolate Raspberry Cake with Homemade Iowa Sweet Corn Ice Cream, it may sound weird but it was really good! After our ah-maize-ing dinner, we moved to the fire pit to relax and further enjoy our time together. Upon leaving, Madison County Winery presented us each with a bottle of wine that they had labeled for CornQuest 13!
The next morning we were up and out bright and early to enjoy breakfast at the Gateway Market, there Vachel White and Roger Zylstra joined us to answer any questions we had about Iowa farming and agriculture.
Iowa’s nickname is the “Corn State”, rightly so! Because for the last two decades it has produced the largest corn crop of any state. In fact, on an average year, Iowa produces more corn than most countries! In 2012, Iowa corn farmers grew almost 1.88 billion bushels of corn on 13.7 million acres of land.
The corn you commonly see in fields like this one isn’t the corn one would boil up and eat slathered in butter, called sweet corn. The variety of corn we see in fields, such as the one above, is called field corn and has literally thousands of uses. Corn is used in the making of more than 4200 different products we use everyday. Some examples of products corn can be found in are shaving cream, rayon, pet and livestock food, sweeteners, cardboard, it can even be found in cosmetics!
Our next destination was smack in the heart of Iowa, Couser Cattle Company owned by Bill and Nancy Couser. Did I say in the heart of Iowa? The Cousers, have a huge heart for Iowa and our country, I’ve met many passionate farmers in my journeys but none quite like the Cousers. Their third generation cattle ranch won the environmental stewardship award for 2010. Achieving this award is no small task. If you would like to know more about the Cousers this website will give you the scoop! We were also blessed to meet Katie who’s family owns and operates a turkey farm in the area. Did I say that the lunch we were served was beef from the Triple U Ranch, Elaine the owner of Triple U took the time to come meet with us despite her farm being hit by a tornado only a few days before! Nothing stops a farmer, they just keep on keepin’ on!
We headed out to another part of the Cousers farm where they were finishing up harvesting the corn crop. We saw first hand how this farm runs a full sustainable circle! They grow corn, harvest the corn, feed the corn to their cattle, and use the manure from the cows to fertilize their crops. Round and round it goes!!
Uh did I mention that we were riding in style…like rock star CornQuester style. Oh yeah baby….
Corny fact: Corn is a grass native to the Americas and is thought to have been first grown in central Mexico. Corn is now grown all over the world and on every continent except Antarctica. The US produces more corn than any other country and Iowa produces more corn than any other state in the US.
Next stop Iowa Speedway!
48% of all the corn grown in Iowa is used to make Ethanol. How does that compare with the nation over all? The US produced 10.7 billion bushels of field corn in 2012 and 3.5 billion went toward the production of Ethanol. Ethanol has less impact on our environment than gasoline, is renewable, and is made in the USA!
Learn more about Ethanol = fuel made with corn HERE.
So our next stop was the race track. I grew up within ear shot of a race track, but have never been to a actual race. I know, I know, it’s craziness. Watching it makes me dizzy and it’s loud. I’m a wuss. Regardless of my wussiness I was excited for the opportunity to ride in one of the Iowa Speedway pace cars. I nearly wussed out, but I’m sure glad that I didn’t. It was crazy! Riding in that pace car for only 5 laps made me realize how hard it is to be a race car driver. I had never really given it any thought….dang you’ve got to have some serious concentration skills to whiz around that track going 50mph faster than we were (we topped out at 117mph….I was screaming or the driver might have gone faster) and with 40 other cars on the track!! I could never do it. It was just as I feared too loud for me and I got sick to my stomach going in circles. Did I mention the Iowa Corn Growers Association is an official sponsor of the Iowa Speedway?!
Corn is cool…just thought I’d share that.
Despite my motion sickness the Iowa Speedway was one of the highlights of my CornQuest trip!
After our afternoon of mock speed excitement we had time to relax and tidy up a bit before heading out for dinner at the Iowa Historical Society Building, which just so happened to have a gorgeous rooftop view of Iowa’s capitol building. We shared appetizers and dinner with Iowan farmers and they had a chance to share their heart for the farming industries of Iowa. Listening and learning about how hard our farmers work each and every day 365 days, nope not even Christmas off, always fills me with a sense of overwhelming thankfulness and pride for the country I live in. We have some really amazing people working hard everyday to make our everyday happen! Have you hugged a farmer lately?
Fact: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports the vast majority of farms and ranches in the United States are family owned and operated – in fact, 96 percent of the 2.2 million farms in the United States are family farms. You can find more facts on the Common Ground website.
The loverly lady in the above picture is my friend Nikki from Seededatthetable.com. Nikki is a Mitten girl, but now lives in Mississippi, she was in Grand Rapids visiting her family, so we were able to travel from Grand Rapids to Des Moines Iowa together. We had a blast, this girl is like a sister to me, I sure wish she lived in Meechigan!
In case you didn’t know Foodies never stop thinking about food. We never ever…I mean never miss a food opportunity, and by that I do not mean we are gorging ourselves all day everyday….well maybe somedays, by this I mean if we’ve eaten dinner, and we happen by a place called Zombie Burger we don’t just keep walking. We stop. We investigate. We eat…..again. It’s not in our genetic makeup to pass this sort of opportunity by. On this occasion we even coerced Dick Gallager a farmer who had traveled from the outskirts of Iowa to meet and share with us, we told him when in Rome….eat….. Zombie Burger? Dick was a good sport! So the next time you are in Des Moines don’t leave without going to Zombie Burger. The cereal shakes are pure brilliance!
It’s not over there’s still more….
Day three started out with breakfast and a round table open forum discussion with Dr. Ruth MacDonald a professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University. Our questions were many and varied, and not one of them went unanswered, it was a highly informational morning. If you would like to know more about our discussion or have question you would like answered please don’t hesitate to ask.
I mean the prop room alone!
Having the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see where one of my first and most used cookbooks was developed took my breath away….no seriously I was a little light headed! I know I’m a geek. Thank YOU Meredith Corporation for giving us this unique opportunity!
Hold your horses there’s still more….
After our tour of Meredith Corp. it was off to cook or be cooked…we were not sure what was going to happen. We had been told that our CornQuest adventure might end in the kitchen, however what this meant or what was in store for us was not made clear. I of course had my full on Food Network imagination going….Chopped we were going to do Chopped corn style, NO maybe Iron Chef corn style, or maybe a trip back to the Cousers Ranch to film our CornQuest version of The Pioneer Woman…nope wrong again. Instead we headed to the test kitchens for Hy-Vee grocery store in Des Moines where we were given a cookbook that included a cornilicious recipe from each of our blogs and from that we prepared the food from our blogs to share with each other for lunch. I may have built it up on my mind a bit too much in advance (I tend to do that), but really it was a blast! No pressure pure fun!
This was the perfect way to end an A-maize-ing trip, in the kitchen with nine fantastic bloggers who I can now call my friends.
Our menu was creative and delicous it covered, as you can see, everything from cookies to cocktails below I have linked all the scrumptious recipes from my CornQuest companions blogs. I encourage you to visit their blogs, say howdy, tell them I said howdy too!
(pssst Sommer of Spicy Perspective had to leave early and could not join our cooking party, wah!)
Thanks for taking the time to read all about my Iowa CornQuest adventure! I am very thankful for the many food related travels, I would definitely put Iowa at the top of my foodie adventure list. Who knew? Next time you have the chance stop in Iowa don’t just drive through, take time to explore and get to know the lovely people at the heart of America!
Lastly and certainly not least I would like to thank the Iowa Corn Growers Association (Janet, Mindy and Shannon) as well as CMA (Roxi and Hana) for putting together this incredibly well thought out trip for us. I will never forget my time in Iowa!
I-O-Wahhhh I miss you!!
Disclaimer: The Iowa Corn Growers Association payed for my traveling expenses. I was not compensated for writing this post, all thoughts are my own.