- Why are fingerling potatoes expensive?
- What do fingerling potatoes taste like?
- Can I grow fingerling potatoes?
- How do you store fingerling potatoes?
- Can you eat green fingerling potatoes?
- Where do fingerling potatoes come from?
- What can I use instead of fingerling potatoes?
- Are fingerling potatoes seasonal?
- Do fingerling potatoes taste different?
- How long will fingerling potatoes last?
- What kind of potatoes are fingerling?
- Do you have to peel fingerling potatoes?
Why are fingerling potatoes expensive?
Due to their size and heirloom status, these potatoes are more expensive than other potato varieties and are commonly either halved and roasted in a side dish or used for salads..
What do fingerling potatoes taste like?
Fingerlings are two to three inches long and thin (finger-shaped, duh) with thin, buff-yellow skin and light yellow flesh. Their flavor is mild, nutty and earthy, and their texture firm and moist. They’re great for boiling, baking, roasting and potato salads, and bad for soups.
Can I grow fingerling potatoes?
Fingerling potatoes can be planted whole or cut into smaller pieces, each with one or two stem bud eyes. If cut up, allow the seed pieces to dry two or three days to heal over before planting in cool, wet soils. Plant two or three inches deep, a foot or so apart in rows, hills, raised beds, or containers.
How do you store fingerling potatoes?
Fingerling potatoes are less tough than other varieties as their skins are more delicate, so keeping them in the fridge can actually encourage them to absorb the damp and go off more quickly. Ideally, keep them in a brown paper bag in a dark cool cupboard and they should stay fresher for a bit longer.
Can you eat green fingerling potatoes?
Although the green color itself is not harmful, it may indicate the presence of a toxin called solanine. Peeling green potatoes can help reduce solanine levels, but once a potato has turned green, it’s best to throw it away.
Where do fingerling potatoes come from?
The fingerling potatoes are long, finger-shaped potatoes. They are thought to be some of the most ancient varieties. Like many of our potatoes they are indigenous to the valleys of the Peruvian Andes. In the 16th century, they were discovered by Spanish sailors who introduced them into Spain.
What can I use instead of fingerling potatoes?
Small waxy potatoes like New Potatoes, baby potatoes, Red Bliss or Yukon Gold potatoes are all excellent substitutes for fingerling potatoes. If your potatoes are unusually large/thick, instead of halving them, cut them into quarters so that all the potatoes are cut in to a similar size.
Are fingerling potatoes seasonal?
Here’s how to cook new and fingerling potatoes, in season in June. New potatoes are a springtime treat. Harvest from the soil before they reach full maturity, they are tender and creamy, with a thin skin. They’re small, which makes them ideal for roasting whole or slicing in half and pan-frying.
Do fingerling potatoes taste different?
Fingerlings are an actual variety of potatoes. They’re long and slender, and they get their name from their shape and their size. … Others look more like tiny versions of regular potatoes, and they all have a creamy texture and a sweeter flavor than if they were fully matured.
How long will fingerling potatoes last?
Potatoes Expiration DatePotatoPantryFridgeFingerlings last for2-3 Weeks2-3 MonthsSweet Potatoes lasts for3-5 Weeks2-3 MonthsSliced Potatoes or French Fries last–1-2 DaysCooked Potatoes last for–5-7 Days7 more rows•Apr 21, 2015
What kind of potatoes are fingerling?
A fingerling potato is a small, stubby, finger-shaped type of potato which may be any heritage potato cultivars. Fingerlings are varieties that naturally grow small and narrow. They are fully mature when harvested and are not to be confused with new potatoes.
Do you have to peel fingerling potatoes?
Most fingerling recipes will take advantage of the variety’s small size and distinctive shape, serving fingerlings either whole or halved lengthwise. Typically, you should not need to peel fingerlings; just give them a good scrub. Potatoes should be firm and blemish free.


Farmers for the future
Evidence keeps rising that our agriculture and food system is out of balance. On its turn, Europe has understood a different and better plan is needed. The making of the EU’s new Common Agricultural Policy is in full swing. The question remains whether it will pose a solution to the real challenges of the agricultural sector today.
In the last fifty years, modern agriculture has boosted beyond imagination: the output per hectare has risen spectacularly, industrial farms have transformed the farmer profession and the food market is now organised on a global scale. This very system of modern agriculture meanwhile has created serious threats. It is a global market that paradoxically generates hunger and proves incapable of giving farmers a fair income – not in Europe, and even less so elsewhere.
The Doha Development Agenda, created by the World Trade Organisation, has been locked up for years due to disagreement. The pressure is high to continue opening markets for food, but development countries on their turn have learned to put their demands on the table and refuse to participate in a market that handles double standards.
Out of balance
The production system has become extremely dependent on fossil fuels, putting huge pressures on the environment and ecosystems by means of greenhouse gases, use of water and soil erosion. An impressive seventy percent of biodiversity loss is being attributed to agriculture. This type of agriculture is also responsible for depleting water supplies, for seventy percent of worldwide water use goes to agriculture. Indeed, this is a socially and ecologically unsustainable system.
Furthermore, the two recent food crises – in 2008 and 2011 – have demonstrated how our current agricultural system is also economically unsustainable. The Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef illustrated this well on democracynow.org. In southern Chile, milk products of a very high quality are being produced. Yet at the breakfast table of a Chilean hotel, Max-Neef was served butter from New-Zealand.
Max-Neef argues: ‘And why? Because economists don’t know how to calculate real costs, you know? To bring butter from 20,000 kilometers to a place where you make the best butter, under the argument that it was cheaper, is a colossal stupidity, because they don’t take into consideration what is the impact of 20,000 kilometers of transport? And in addition, I mean, it’s cheaper because it’s subsidized.’
The imbalances seem even heavier to take, considering the serious challenges which agriculture is facing. On top of a growing world population (nine billion people by 2050), we are observing increasing urbanisation. More than half of the world’s population today is living in an urban setting. Moreover, consumption is rising in a number of growing economies. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation is expecting the demand for food to rise by seventy percent by 2050. In the meantime, the conditions that are needed for food growth are deteriorating. Dropping water levels and shrinking supplies of raw materials pose problems, which are in turn topped by climate change messing with ancient agricultural cycles.
In short, our agricultural system and the way we organise our food supplies, need to be revised deeply. Publications on the future of agriculture are popping up and transition studies reveal pathways to a new agricultural models. Looking at these new ideas, two insights show up. Firstly, agriculture is no longer an issue that only concerns farmers. For tomorrow’s agriculture will determine our natural landscapes and the way we deal with raw materials. Secondly, governments will put agriculture back on top of their strategic agendas in the coming years. In the European Union too, we are seeing fierce debate on the future of agriculture. By 2013 the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be updated, followed by a change in legislation.
After a first series of debates, European Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Ciolos published his proposal in November 2010, called The Common Agricultural Policy by 2020. Answers to future challenges concerning food, raw materials and territory. Ciolos distinguishes three strategic goals: the CAP needs to guarantee food safety for European citizens, it should deal sustainably with the landscapes’ natural resources and help to battle climate change, and there has to be ‘territorial balance’.
The latter means that rural development should also gain opportunities in less productive areas. The European Parliament, granted more decision power since the Lisbon Treaty end of 2009, has added an impressive 1260 amendments to Ciolos’ draft proposal. These have lead to the publication of the Dess repport, named after Member of European Parliament Albert Dess, who composed this memorandum.
Amongst others, a point of discussion is the size of the total agricultural budget. Great-Britain has been demanding a strong reduction, France on its turn would not hear of that. Eventually, they decided to stagnate the share of agriculture in the total European budget after 2013. It concerns 371.72 billion euro, spread out over a seven year time period. This amounts to just more than a third of the total EU-budget.
Also, they agreed to stop indexing the amount. Another point of discussion for some countries constitutes the ‘fairness’ of the agricultural policy. Commissioner Ciolos is considering a limit to the income support of big receivers. The production support to farmers – more production means more subsidy, hence the butter mountains and milk lakes – has long been replaced by direct income support. Until recently, this was however linked to historical rights, with the largest producers continuing to guzzle the lion’s share of the pie.
Quite often these are food processing companies, even members of the nobility or financial institutions. Europe now wants to set right these skewed proportions.
‘Fairness’ also means that the gap between the old and new member states needs to be bridged, with Eastern European countries receiving more. At this moment, a Greek farmer is receiving 500 euro per hectare, a Lithuanian one 100 euro. Proposition goes to guarantee to all farmers a minimum wage equal to 271 euro per hectare – a whole lot less than the 460 euro which each Belgian farmer receives today.
Chair of the Farmer Union Piet Vanthemsche says: ‘Redistribution means winners and losers. Internally speaking this is posing a very difficult discussion, but as an agricultural organisation we must be looking forward. We demand a sufficiently long transition period, so that farmers can adapt to the new situation.’ At last, the draft proposal emphasises the importance of diversity in agricultural models and states explicitly that ‘not a single option should be excluded’, referring both to GMOs and agro-ecology.
The subdivision between the first and second pillar remains for the total EU agricultural budget. Seventy percent of the total budget goes to the first pillar, which stands for production support, hence the money for direct income support to farmers. Twenty percent goes to the second pillar, destined for supporting rural development. The remainder goes to export subsidies and mechanisms which support the market. In order to make the new CAP more green, some are calling for devoting thirty percent of the first pillar to biodiversity management and the ‘greening’ of agriculture.
Think of a more efficient use of water, less use of pesticides, land fallowing, crop rotation… . However, this proposal is being met with considerable resistance, such as from the European farmer federation Copa-Cogeca. They consider it an expensive burden to the farmers. Chair of the Farmer Union Vanthemsche too shows reservations: ‘This could work to the extent one can interiorate such greening rules into the farm’s business model, provided that the economic sustainability is preserved.
Farmers are not the only members of society causing the loss of biodiversity. It is not at all self-explanatory that farmers should take up this task. Moreover, Flanders is densely populated and strongly industrialised. Agriculture faces difficulties in such an environment. We want to ask Europe to give us credit for such a disability.’
On October 12th the legislative proposals for the CAP reform will be proposed. On October 20th and 21st the European ministers of agriculture will discuss them for the first time. By the second half of 2012 – with Cyprus then chairing the EU – the legislative procedure should be rounded up. The ultimate deadline is the first half of 2013, under Irish presidency. The entire reform package indeed should be finished off in 2013 in order to take effect in 2014.
Question remains whether the reform of the agricultural policy, as it is now on the table, will provide an answer to the current bottlenecks and future challenges. In the European Parliament, the Greens have been advocating a greener CAP for years. Are they satisfied? Member of European Parliament Bart Staes (Groen!): ‘It means a green step in the right direction, but whether this reform will be historical, largely depends on the concrete interpretation.’ Staes shows enthusiasm for the broader attention for the climate, however fears the fact that these thirty percent resources for green measures will not be binding.
The Greens were unique in the way they pledged a more ecological and social agriculture, lead by protagonists such as José Bové. According to the Greens, followed by a majority in the European Parliament, the CAP’s reform could at least reduce our dependency on protein crops coming from the South, being mainly soy from Brasil. These crops can also be grown in Eastern European member states, which harbour enough space for this. It would also be an important step in curbing land occupation in the South.
At the moment, Europe is using millions of hectares elsewhere destined for food consumption inside Europe. Not tackling this problem, means a missed opportunity and significant void that keeps us from getting to a socially just and ecologically sustainable system, critics argue.
In Commissioner Ciolos’ draft proposal, sustainability and competitiveness are also presented as an inextricable whole. Fear is stated that the need for higher production will undermine sustainability. UN reporter for the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, marks that such an assumption is far too one-sided. Food safety, he argues, is not just a matter of supply and production. It is truly a matter of a sound distribution system, social justice and human rights.
Another aspect of this ‘productionist’ thinking is the prominence of waste on the food market. Estimates read that a third of global food production meant for human consumption is being lost or thrown away – about 1.3 billion tons a year. Different consumption habits could partly improve this situation. About half of the corn production goes to cattle feed. Another diet could indeed curb this growing demand considerably.
A radical turn
For many years, agricultural and food organisations have been crying for a more sustainable and just model of agriculture. Last summer they crossed roads in Austrian Krems at the Nyeleni Forum. At this spot, they launched a common declaration, calling for food sovereignty in Europe and demanding a radical turn in production and consumption patterns. This call is trickling down into the academic world, too.
The European Commission charged a team of scientists, one of whom was agricultural economist at the Catholic University of Louvain Erik Mathijs, to draw up future scenarios for European agriculture. The results are listed in the so-called SCAR report (Standing Committee on Agriculture Research). The researchers conclude at a point far beyond the proposals currently stated in the European proposal as discussed above.
Production and consumption should be confronted as one whole, the researchers argue, with efficiency and resilience as preferable priorities next to productivity. The researchers state that the necessary transition cannot be achieved by the common story of continuous rise in production. In order to set up a sustainable model, we need just food models and sufficiency.
Researcher Mathijs thinks that a robust agricultural model is only possible seated within a robust society model. It is not enough to just add some green corrections. The whole cluster of raw material and energy flows need to be redesigned, added by a change in our diet. ‘An agricultural model based on agro-ecology is only possible when society too is structured differently,’ Mathijs concludes. Measured by this benchmark, European agricultural policy has a long way to go.


SAP Young Thinkers, Urban Thinkers Campus 2017, Room 52/53
SAP Young Thinkers – Snap! Gardening
In the near future, agricultural food production will face an increasing number of challenges. According to United Nations’ Population Division, the world’s population might reach the 10 billion mark by 2050. Thus, the overall food production has to be increased significantly. In contrast, the awareness of environmentally harmful processes during food production has risen. More and more consumers ask for organic agriculture with less land consumption, using less pesticide and transportation resources. This requires improvements particularly in respect of food transparency which can at least partly be addressed via IoT. This is why SAP’s Young Thinkers Community together with SAP d-shop, decided to develop a smart gardening module for schools.
Combining interdisciplinary topics as food security, plant physiology, business processes, coding and IoT the module builds a bridge from a single plant monitor to a greater context. Using Snap!, a graphic programming language, together with SAP technologies as HANA Cloud Platform and UI5, this module is convenient for beginners as well as professionals and can inspire people from 9 to 99.
If you are interested in the future of food production or just need a smart way to keep your pot plant alive or want to contribute to a green city of Mannheim, sign in for this workshop. The participants can keep the working kits after the workshop.
09:30 am Start
12:30 pm End


Gardening and growing since 1973
What a great idea! Wish I'd thought of that ...
Here is a collection of tips and advice from our garden information exchanges and links to helpful websites.
Some gardeners have reported that their plants, especially beans, have rather pale to yellowish leaves after just emerging. It turns out that if Fall leaves spread on garden beds are not thoroughly dug in at the beginning of Spring, the beans (which have long roots) and other veggies will have a hard time getting enough nitrogen. This advice is from Borden Mercantile. They recommend blood meal, which has a very high nitrogen content, to give the plants a boost (it works).
As berry harvest season comes around, you may need to protect your berries from the ravenous birds (and other critters). Aside from the usual netting over the bushes here are a couple sites that might help:
Although it looks like lovely white Morning Glory, Bindweed is a highly invasive plant that will gradually take over your garden unless you deal with it quickly and thoroughly. As it grows, its roots grow down deep into the sub-soil and its vines weave around your delicate vegetables, slowly choking them out. Bindweed is extremely difficult to remove once the plant is fully grown because the deep roots also branch sideways, breaking off as you pull them out and starting plants from each side branch. Yes, it really is just like the sorcerer apprentice's enchanted broom, each piece becoming another whole plant. Add to that Bindweed's great ability to spread seed everywhere ... well, it truly is aiming to take over the world, or at least your garden!
Complete removal of fully grown Bindweed can take several years of persistent work. The best way to get rid of it is to cut it off at soil level and patrol carefully for baby plants as they sprout. Don't bother pulling it up; it will just re-sprout wherever you tore the roots. By continually cutting it off at ground level, you will eventually starve the plant (since it is unable to photosynthesize) and it will die.
A word of advice in Spring: if you have a lot of Bindweed in your garden, don't rototill unless you want to have twice as much Bindweed as you had before!
What is Clubroot?
- Clubroot is an infectious plant disease that affects members of the cabbage family, e.g. cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, radishes, arugula, mustard, wallflowers, stocks, and cruciferous weeds. Cabbage, Chinese cabbage and Brussels sprouts are the most severely affected.
- The pathogen that causes clubroot is Plasmodiophora brassicae, and there are various strains of it.
- The name Clubroot comes from the characteristic galls produced on the roots of infected plants.
- Clubroot can be spread by infected plant parts and infested soil
- Clubroot is generally favoured by acidic soils so using lime or wood ashes can help.
- Abundant soil moisture is required for infection, especially early in season.
- It takes about six weeks from the time of infection to full-blown symptom development. Characteristic symptoms are wilted or stunted plants and multi-lobed root galls containing large quantities of resting spores.
- Resting spores may survive in soil for up to 20 years; however, their half-life is about 4 years.
- Plasmodiophora brassicae is primarily a soil-borne plant pathogen.
- It can spread via movement of infested soil from farm machinery, vehicles, tools and footwear, soil erosion and water run-off.
- Infected vegetable transplants can also spread the clubroot pathogen. Capital City allotments were almost all infected from gifts of seedling brassicas from a generous member.
Best Management Practices
- Remove soil from tools and machinery prior to moving it out of infested plots. Hot water and bleach can clean tools and rototillers, however, this would be difficult to do at Agnes Street Gardens.
- Use long rotations between successive crops of brassicas.
- Use direct seeding or minimum tillage where possible.
- Plant clubroot-resistant vegetable varieties. West Coast Seeds sometimes sells resistant seeds: Rescue cabbage (10 seeds for $5) and Crispus brussels sprouts (10 seeds for $7.79).
- Some Agnes members grow crucifers in large bottomless plastic pots of good soil.
David Stott, a fellow Agnes Street gardener, has considerable knowledge of composting. In a presentation on May 9/15, he discussed the basic components of compost:
- green matter - grass clippings, disease-free plants
- brown matter - leaves, straw
- and activators - manure, soil, seaweed
Coffee grounds are an excellent additive to a compost pile or box. Small amounts of shredded newspaper (no high-gloss paper) are fine as well. He does not recommend composting diseased plants or pet waste because smaller composting efforts cannot achieve high enough temperatures to kill all pathogens.
To build a compost pile, he recommends equal parts greens and browns plus an activator with ~6" of largish plant stems at the bottom of the compost pile to provide air circulation, which is critical for successful composting.
The Compost Education Centre website at http://compost.bc.ca has tons of information on composting. Click on LEARN > Factsheets. Compost bins + compost bin parts are available for sale at the Centre.
Some years there are a few sightings of cougars in the region (some quite close to the Gardens). Gardeners are reminded to keep an eagle-eye out for these big cats especially if you garden early or late in the day. Here is an excellent B.C. site about cougars: Ministry of Environment, Cougars
George (a long-time gardener and garden mentor on the east side) recommends planting buckwheat as a summer-early cover crop after some areas of your garden have been harvested. It's a quick-growing plant which should be dug under after flowering. The bees love this plant. Follow this up with hairy vetch and/or fall rye.
See these sites for more information:
Deer are a regular pest that many Victoria gardeners have to cope with. So far Agnes Street Gardens have escaped a deer invasion. We suspect the dog walkers that routinely go through the gardens may scare off the deer because they do not like the scent of dogs. Long may that continue. Please report any sightings of deer or damage to any member of the executive.
A few gardeners have asked about grass clippings and how to use them. ASGA executive has arranged for some lawn service companies to drop off grass clippings. None of the grass clippings we get are from lawns that have had herbicides or pesticides applied on them.
A Google search for information on grass mulch suggests that on balance grass mulch is good for vegetable gardens with a few caveats: applied too thickly it can get slimy in wet weather, and too much nitrogen is added particularly if the gardener uses additional nitrogen amendments.
The advantages of using grass clippings are:
- They are a fantastic weed suppressant. Most gardeners don't relish hoeing and weeding their plots over and over again during the growing season. We've got better things to do!
- They help retain moisture so watering is kept to a minimum.
- They are a great compost for your garden.
- They are particularly effective when you use minimum tilth methods. Some Agnes gardeners only hoe and dig areas that will be planted with crops. I've subscribed to this method for the past 4 years with great success.
The disadvantages of using them are:
- They sometimes introduction weeds.
- They can add too much nitrogen to the soil.
- They can attract pests.
Here are some pointers for growing potatoes successfully at Agnes Street Gardens.
- It's probably best *not* to grow potatoes in raised beds. They need a continuous supply of water (~1" per week) and raised beds tend to dry out more quickly.
- Potatoes do not like lime, so when planning your garden for the following season, do not lime that area once you have harvested the crops.
- Spacing for potatoes that works well: 1 yard or a meter between rows, and 12" between potatoes in each row. Unless you love digging deep trenches, use lots of mulch (mainly grass clippings and leaves) to "hill up" the potatoes. I make the row 4-6" deep.
- I work in an organic fertilizer mix and green sand into the bottom of the row before planting the potatoes. I cover the potatoes with soil and tamp down. The fertilizer mix and green sand are available from Borden's -- where we get 10% off with our garden card. :-) Green sand is an ocean sediment that is high in iron, potassium and magnesium.
- Minimum temperature of the soil for planting: 6C (43F).
- Do NOT water until the potatoes start to emerge -- usually in a couple weeks. Keep water off the leaves when you do water. Do not overwater.
- It's important to water your potatoes during the flowering stage - that's when the potatoes start forming. I usually reduce the watering once the flowers have finished. Note: my plot tends to be on the wet side, so I probably don't water as much as other gardeners further up towards Agnes Street do.
- Let the foliage totally die down before harvesting (for potatoes you want for winter storage). Of course you can "fish" some potatoes out by hand beforehand -- that's always fun.
- By planting the seed potatoes relatively shallow and hilled up with some soil and mostly grass/leaves, I generally do not have to dig deeply to find potatoes.
- Potatoes can be hit by early and late blight (the late blight is more devastating than early blight). For that reason I usually purchase varieties that are mid-season and resistant to blight. So far I haven't had a problem.
- I always purchase organic seed potatoes -- usually from West Coast Seeds. Their catalogue has excellent growing instructions. Last year I grew "Orchestra" and "Satina" (on the advice of West Coast) because they were out of "Sieglinde", my preferred potato. "Orchestra" is an excellent storage potato and heavy producer. We're still having some of the "Orchestra" potatoes in February.
- West Coast Seeds advise that if your seed potatoes are sprouting too early before planting, leave the sprouts until it's time to plant. Do NOT remove. If the sprouts are long, cut back some at planting time. Those potatoes with longish sprouts should be planted deeper.
Source of information on potatoes, website of West Coast Seeds, Grow Guides: How to Grow Potatoes
Written by Barbara Irwin, Director of Special Events and Education, February 2017
From Wikipedia: "Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants. Powdery mildew grows well in environments with high humidity. Infected plants display white powdery spots on the leaves and stems. As the disease progresses, the spots get larger and denser, and the mildew may spread up and down the length of the plant."
At one of our Garden Information Sessions, a gardener recommended a video on YouTube: search "Zero Blight Horsetail". Another gardener recommended the following formula found in ABCs of West Coast Gardening by Mary Palmer:
- 15 mL (1 tbsp) baking soda
- 5 mL (1 tsp) of vegetable oil
- 3 drops dish washing soap
Mixed ingredients into 4 litres of water. Spray weekly until the problem is resolved.
Not a nice subject, but these critters can do a lot of damage to our garden supplies, which are often stored in tool boxes, and our crops. Please report any sightings of rats (or damage) to any member of the Agnes Street Gardeners Association executive (ASGA).
Marika Smith, Executive Director of the Compost Education Education Centre, sent us this email about rats and compost bins.
"Rats are fairly active at this time of year and are generally looking for a safe, enclosed habitat to nest in away from hawks and other predators versus just looking for a food source. It is a common myth that composting alone attracts rodents as they already exist in our neighbourhoods and we actually hardly see them for how many there are!"
"Below are some best practice tips for rodent prevention:
- Buy or build a rodent resistant composter. When purchasing a composter, ensure that there are no openings greater than
inch (0.64 cm). Check to see that it comes with a secure lid and base so that rodents cannot tunnel under the bin.
The Compost Education Centre sells the Earth Machine, a composter made of durable recycled plastic. It comes with a lockable
lid and a perforated plastic base plate which allows for drainage and "compost critter" access, but blocks the entry of tunneling
If you are making your own bin out of wood, line the sides and bottom with strong, inch (0.65 cm) wire mesh and put a solid lid on the top. The Compost Education Centre has free plans for the construction of a one or three bin composting system at their resource centre, 1216 North Park Street, Wed-Fri 10am-4pm.
- Locate your bin away from bird feeders and areas of rat refuge. Another easy way to deter rodents is to site your composting system in the open, away from what we call "rat refuge." Rats enjoy visiting bird feeders where they can get a quick meal. They also like hanging out around lumber piles, shrubbery, sheds and fences from which it is convenient to dart quickly to your composter. Instead of concealing your recycling system, celebrate it by putting it where you can see and appreciate it.
- Manage your bin appropriately. Rodents will be less interested in your compost if you don't cater to their feeding and nesting habits. They love bread and grains, greasy foods, or those containing animal products, such as meat, fish, or dairy products. They are less likely to be attracted to the premium compostables, which include fresh fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, teabags and rinsed eggshells. Cover these kitchen wastes with a "brown" material such as leaves, straw or shredded newspaper, regularly aerate your pile, and keep it about as moist as a wrung-out sponge. An active pile makes an unwelcome home and also produces compost quickly and efficiently!"
Thank you, Marika!
The following tip is from Brian Minter, a B.C. Master Gardener expert:
"If you are having problems with your raspberries, there are two issues that should be checked.
- Wet feet - their roots do not like to be wet - root rot could be the problem
- Cane borers - look at the bottom of the canes to see if there are any lesions. If yes, cut out the canes. Any dead canes should be cut back and then feed the remaining good ones."
Here is a great site dedicated to all things rhubarb. It's a labour of love and truly amazing. Check it out: Rhubarb-Central
A number of Agnes gardeners have successfully grown sweet potatoes. They are a little tricky however. Helen Chestnut gives excellent instructions on how to grow them in one of her recent columns in the Times-Colonist. See: Helen Chestnut, Times-Colonist, June 3/14
The syrphid fly (or hover fly) is a beneficial insect, consuming hundreds of aphids in its larval stage. They are commonly considered to be the most important aphid predator in vegetable crops. As adults, they are also important pollinators to a wide range of flowers.
The adult flies are usually yellow and black and resemble bees. However, unlike bees, they only have one set of wings. The eggs resemble a grain of rice and are often laid singly on leaves. The larvae are frequently confused with common caterpillar pests that feed on vegetable crops.
Being able to identify the syrphid fly larvae is crucial as you make decisions about pest management in your garden. Luckily, there are a few simple features that will allow you to distinguish between syrphid fly larvae and caterpillars. The first thing to look for is whether or not the insect has legs. Syrphid fly larvae do not have legs and move in an undulating manner. Caterpillars have legs. If you are unsure if an insect has legs, try getting it to move. The legs will be apparent on a moving caterpillar. Syrphid fly larvae have nondescript heads, no eyes, and no chewing mouthparts. Impressively, these blind legless larvae manage to consume entire aphid colonies!
You can make your garden more hospitable for syrphid flies by planting flowers that provide nectar for adult flies, such as sweet alyssum. For more information about the flies, you can start by watching this Washington State University video.
During Winter, weeds can really take off in your garden. Chickweed and red dead nettle especially thrive and are lush, in full bloom, and ready to go to seed first thing in Spring. The best way to get rid of of unwanted weeds is to cover your plot with black plastic or landscape cloth. Cover the garden in early November or after you've finished your harvest and cleaned everything up in Fall. Our experience with this method is that it is extremely effective! It spells the end of unwanted weeds and saves a lot of back-breaking work.
Covering with a thick layer of mulched leaves Saanich brings to the Gardens every fall works a treat also. But just make sure to turn the leaves under early in Spring so they have a chance to break down before you plant (see comments under Anemic-Looking Plants).
Wireworms are the larvae of click beetles and can be a serious problem. These beetles lay their eggs underground and hatch into wireworms, a short, thin gold-coloured worm which can decimate young transplants, especially lettuce. The beetles love grassy areas, particularly those spots that have just had sod turned, but the grassy walkways also provide an ideal venue. One solution which works well is to bury bait -- old potatoes skewered on a wood or metal stick. Every few days pull up the stick and dispatch the wire worms that have collected on the potato and replant the bait. This method works a treat.
Here's one website about organic wireworm control: Wiley Wireworms


Británicos son dueños de 275.000 km² de tierras en Australia, una superficie mayor que el mismísimo Reino Unido (242.495 km²).
"Overview of Australia's trade with the United Kingdom". Parliamente of Australia. Citando a "Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Submission 21, p. 2." https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/tradewithUK/Interim_Report/section?id=committees%2Freportjnt%2F024101%2F25066 "The relationship is also supported by strong, long-standing agricultural investment. The UK is the largest foreign owner of Australian agricultural land, with assets comprising 27.5 million hectares, or over 52 per cent of total foreign owned land."


How to get an affordable carbon offset on your land
By BRIAN WALSHA | The Jerusalem TimesBRIAN WEBERLE: We’re talking about a carbon offset.
We’re going to take an amount of carbon that’s going to be put into the soil and use that to offset the amount of greenhouse gases that’s being emitted into the atmosphere by human activity.
That’s a lot of money, and it’s something that’s actually been around for a while.
But this is the first time that it’s been done at the scale that it will.
And it is a significant amount of money.
There are a lot more companies in this market than there used to be, and I think it will be a boon to the farmers and farmers’ markets that are in this area.
It’s also an opportunity for the people that want to buy it.
It will be the easiest way for them to buy carbon offsets on their land.
And there are other incentives as well.
We have incentives for farmers who want to invest in their properties.
We also have incentives in the form of subsidies.
So we can have a lot going on.
We can also provide some tax relief on the carbon offsets that are being created by these companies.
I’m not really sure what the exact number will be.
There’s also a carbon credit.
This is a kind of rebate that farmers can get for a certain amount of their carbon.
And that rebate is a lot larger than the amount that would be offset by the carbon offset that we’re going in this program.
But I think we’ll be able to get a fair amount of that rebate.
We’ve got a program that’s been on the books for a long time.
It has been a success.
And we’ll see how it plays out.
It is not a program we’re very familiar with, but I think that we’ll find that it has been quite successful.
I don’t know how much it’s going through at the moment, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
We’ll be happy to share more information.
It looks like the amount the company will be able, and the total amount of the carbon credit that it is going to provide, is going into the land.
It seems to be an interesting program, and we’ll hopefully be able do some more work with it.
BRIEN WEBER, BRIARMAN PRODUCTS, INC.: So, how much of the value of that carbon offset is going back into the environment?
A: Well, the carbon is the primary source of energy for the crops and the animals.
So, the amount it’s used to offset is quite small.
The value of it is much higher than that.
It depends on how the farmers use it.
Some farmers, particularly those in rural areas, have an interest in not putting any more carbon into the ground than they’ve already put in.
So they’ll use it to offset their carbon offset, and then use it in the future to offset any additional carbon that they’re going be adding in.
And then, as the crops get older and the cows get older, that’s where the value comes from.
And so, it’s a way to make money from the land that’s already been created.
And the amount we’re looking at here is going right into the forest and the land behind the farm.
It doesn’t seem to be used in the way that it was intended.
It really is just an additional source of carbon, which is what you want to have in the ground.
Q: And how will the carbon that you’re using be transferred to the environment when the land is in the process of being planted with that crop?
A. The carbon is actually transported through the soil, through the roots, through various kinds of organic matter, and through the atmosphere.
And how long does it take to create that carbon?
A.: It takes time, but you’ll get a lot out of it.
When it’s created, it takes a long, long time to produce it.
The plants are not growing very fast.
But you will get a tremendous amount of benefit from the carbon you’re putting into the earth. Q


Honduras Spring Break Update 4
Posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2019
As we are nearing the midway point of the trip, we’re becoming more and more aware of the work that God is doing here in Honduras. The more places we go and the more people we meet, we’re reminded of how big God’s Kingdom is and how beautiful the Church is as it connects all of us.
Today we went to another mountain village, Las Botijas, where more of Hill Climber Coffee is farmed. We severed alongside Rony (the farm manager) and other locals to help move several projects forward for the farm. Our team was split into a few different groups—some mixing concrete, some digging and carrying dirt to level a floor, some building a bathroom, and some digging holes for coffee to be planted this Spring. During our lunch break Rony shared more about the farm and the process all of the coffee goes through, from the plant to the cups of coffee that we drink. We were all blown away to learn just how much work and time each coffee bean goes through. Rony moved to the area to manage the farm, but as he built relationships with the farm workers and began sharing Christ with them, there grew the need for a church. So right on the property of the farm they’ve built a church and several of the farm workers now attend and Rony is the pastor. As Rony talked about the church it was so easy to draw the connection—the farm isn’t just about the coffee; it’s a means to give people jobs, build relationships with them, and share the Gospel. Rony’s heart isn’t to grow the coffee farm into a big business, it’s about growing the church and leading people to Jesus.
Though today we did a lot of hard work with Rony and the others, we left with more than just #####, sweating clothes and a few sunburns. We walked away being encouraged of seeing yet another glimpse of how the Spirit is moving here. What an honor and privilege it is to be a part of the Church.


Lilies as analogues for farming
by Ken Myers
“Our fields speak a language, which, as the psalmist tells us, is a language of praise (see Ps 19:1–4). Instead of the language of industrialization, which is the language of efficiency and control, we should learn to speak the language of praise. And that means a move toward agricultural practices that exhibit what Liberty Hyde Bailey, in his 1915 book The Holy Earth called earth righteousness.
“I said earlier that Jesus didn't have any explicitly agrarian advice, but perhaps there’s one exception. Jesus told his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry, then added something that provides an imaginative leaping point for much of what I wish to say below. ‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow,’ he said, ‘they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these’ (Mt 6:28–29). Jesus used this example about clothing, and why his disciples shouldn’t worry about what they wear, but I take his words here also to be a kind of agrarian directive: consider the lilies, how they grow. Look at the created order God has established. You will never do better than this. So trust in this order and imitate it. Neither Solomon in all his glory — nor, we might add, Monsanto or Archer Daniels Midland or Cargill and their fertilizers or pesticides or genetically modified seeds — can out-create what God has created.
“For ten thousand years we have tried to outdo creation in our attempt to grow food, trusting in our own ingenuity. We have mostly failed. Modern agriculture is a zero-sum game in which we steadily, as Wes Jackson says, ‘contribute to the drawdown of the capital stock of the planet.’ Yet it need not be. Indeed, as Jackson and other practitioners of the consider-the-lilies approach an approach I will call regenerative agriculture tell us, we can use nature as analog rather than antagonist. Consider the lilies of the field turns out to be sound agriculture advice.
“Around the world there is a growing movement among agriculturalists to look to nature as a model for how to practice agriculture. Wes Jackson and his fellow plant breeders at The Land Institute, which Norman will describe later in the book, are some of the biggest proponents of this practice — what poet Alexander Pope called ‘consulting the genius of the place.’ But there are others. Instead of imposing our own agricultural scheme, most often monocultures of annual crops, we should look at how lilies grow. They don’t grow in monocultures, but in polycultures; that is, they grow mixed with other plants. Some of those plants fix nitrogen, fertilizing their neighbors. Lilies don’t need someone to plant them every year; they are perennial. Our monocultures of annual crops exact a heavy toll on the land; if we’re to practice agriculture in a way that conserves life rather than degrades it, we will need to depend much more on perennial polycultures for our food supply.
“Yet we still must eat annual crops, and forms of agriculture such as biointensive mini-farming use God’s creation as a model for such crops. Using conventional agricultural practices, it takes just over an acre of land to feed one person in the United States for a year, and far more energy and topsoil are wasted than are produced in food calories. Using bio-intensive methods, you can feed ten people for a whole year on that one acre, and you can build soil fertility while doing it. That same acre, by the way, would feed one cow for a whole year, or it would fill up the gas tank of your car with ethanol exactly twice.
“The list of other types of regenerative agriculture is long: permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, agroforestry, Farming God’s Way, Fukuoka no-till farming, and rotational grazing livestock systems, among others. In the sustainable agriculture world, some of these names can become mirages of their own, a territory to be policed and defended by practitioners as the answer. But we need not get too hung up on names or programs, and no one system need dominate; food growers in the abundant kingdom can learn from all of these bodies of knowledge. The underlying idea to remember is that the ecosystems in which we find ourselves — created by God and deemed ‘very good’ — are far more adept at growing things than we are. Making ourselves students of those ecosystems is what it means to serve and preserve the fertile soil God entrusted to our care (see Gen 2:15). Our role is not to outdo creation or copy it verbatim, but to use it as an analog, a controlling metaphor, for how we tend our own fields.”
— from Fred Bahnson, Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation (InterVarsity Press, 2012)
Fred Bahnson was a guest on Volume 116 of the Journal.


I had mentioned in my last post about my adventure growing Rajnigandha (Polianthes Tuberosa). I had received a complimentary basil seed pack with lots of tiny seeds in it along with Rajnigandha (polianthes tuberosa). This is my first time growing Basil & just the second plant that i tried growing in my entire existence.
I had many plastic transparent glasses, normally used as disposable glasses during small gatherings. Took 6 glasses drilled small holes at the bottom of each glass, filled them half with coco peth, poured water & let it drain and then sprinkled some seeds of Basil in each glass.Some seeds germinate faster, some take time & some don’t respond.
Below is the pics of the seeds germinated after a week.
The below pics is around after 25-30 days(not sure of the time line),
Care needs to be taken after the seeds germinate and till true leaf appears.
I had keep the seedling in some shade till true leaf appear, just wanted to protect it from harsh sunlight. I am not sure about how much sunlight the seedling needs to be exposed to, just went with my hunch and my observation of the plants health.The plant is now more than a month old, 5- 6 leaves on the baby plant and the leaves really smell good.
will transplant the plant from the plastic glass to a small plastic pot & will add some compost to see how it grows.
Fellow bloggers Please feel free to share your experience with me.Need a lot of tips.


Transform a harmful plant into a source of energy? This is the successful challenge of the Higher Institute of Technological Education of Rosso in Mauritania, the Diawling National Park and a French development NGO, GRET. These three actors received the Convergences 2015 prize at the beginning of September. Each year, it rewards projects with a strong social or environmental impact.
Originally, there is the Typha, an invasive and harmful plant that carpets at great speed to the mouth of the Senegal River, for fifteen years. Not only does it affect the quality of water, it also prevents the growth of other plants, reduces areas of agricultural production and causes pockets of stagnant water for the proliferation of mosquitoes and many other parasites. Impossible to stop the invasion: it repels even if it is torn, cut or burned. Failing to eradicate it, the researchers racked their brains to find it useful. Bingo. They have developed a method to turn this plant into bio-coal. A fuel that reduces the production of greenhouse gases, since the CO2 it releases is partly reassimilated by the environment. Not insignificant when we know that 90% of Mauritanian households use charcoal for cooking.


4th January 2021
This is the time of the year of “not quite ready” – tomatoes fattening but still green, sweet corn fattening but not yet fully filled and ready to cook, peaches, apples and pears swelling gently, but a long wile to go before harvest, runner beans starting to wind their way up the poles, but a while before flowering and cropping, winter savoy and Brussels sprout plants still young, but growing more sturdy each day.
On the other hand – large spring and Chinese cabbages ready for the kitchen, along with a healthy crop of early potatoes, that only need a gentle wire wool scrub under the kitchen tap to be ready for boiling and adding to summer salad mixes and hardboiled eggs – this time of warm daytimes and still comfortable nights, and shorts, sandals and tee shirts.
The wise gardener knows that after the seeds are sown, Nature takes over from then on. The rain, the power of the sun and the amazingly complicated micro-life of the soil feeding the plants. He or She knows that no gardener has ever ‘grown’ a plant, that after tending to the soil, bringing it back to a healthy thriving form and sowing the seeds – plants know how to grow themselves. This is the time to stand in awe at the workings of Nature.


DUESSELDORF, Germany, June 8, 2015
- Textile Exchange names C&A as the world's largest buyer of
- In 2014, C&A sold more than 130 million products made from organic cotton and is working to increase this further.
- C&A; supports the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on building a prosperous organic cotton market that benefits everyone from farmers to consumers.
C&A is leading the 2014 Textile Exchange's Organic Cotton ranking of "Top 10 Users by Volume". The results were published last week in the latest Organic Cotton Market Report. C&A has used more than 46,000 tons of certified organic cotton in the 2014 fiscal year, more than any other retailer globally. The report also states that C&A came fifth in the "Top 10 Users by Growth" category.
"C&A's commitment to drive meaningful change in organic cotton is unbroken," says Liesl Truscott, European & Farm Engagement Director of Textile Exchange. For many years, C&A has played an important, industry-leading role in promoting the use of certified organic cotton. Most importantly, the company's commitment goes far above and beyond simply selling the final product."
"Being the world's largest buyer of organic cotton is a positive signal that C&A's long-term sustainability efforts are heading in the right direction," states Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at C&A Global. "Since 2004, C&A has been committed to supporting the development of organic cotton production, and we remain on track to reach our goal of sourcing our entire cotton collection from sustainable sources by 2020."
To further develop organic cotton, C&A together with C&A Foundation is working on implementing various social and environmental programs that encourage the production of organic cotton and to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers. The company together with other brands and stakeholders including Cotton Connect, Textile Exchange and C&A Foundation is a founding member of the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA). Launched in 2014 OCA is a multi-stakeholder initiative which aims to increase the adoption of organic cotton production and its uptake. The idea is to build a prosperous and resilient organic cotton sector that benefits all from farmer to consumer. It will do so by building a Fund that unlocks finance for farmers and processors at the same time improving the traceability and transparency across the sector.
Diversification is a key priority
C&A currently receives almost 90% of its organic cotton supply from India. With a global supply crunch in organic cotton forecast in the near term, C&A is exploring new opportunities to source organic cotton from suppliers in China, Pakistan and Africa.
"Progress continues to be made and C&A is steadfast in its commitment to strengthen the use of organic fibers and other sustainable materials and products," Hogue continues. "Exploring new sourcing markets to meet these needs is a priority. We aim to offer durable and high-quality products, made of organic materials and with transparent production processes that protect natural resources, are safe for people and satisfy our customers' needs. In parallel, our commitment to farmers working in this sector is also important."
Today, organic cotton represents close to 40% of C&A's total cotton sales.
For more information on organic cotton at C&A and the brochure "Let's take Bio Cotton to everyone every day", please visit Canda.com/BioCotton. Find more details on our sustainability engagement in the C&A Europe's 2014 Corporate Responsibility Report at Canda.com/Sustainability.
About C&A Europe
With more than 1,575 stores in 21 European countries and more than 35,000 employees, C&Aamp; Europe is one of the leading fashion retail businesses in Europe. C&A Europe welcomes and provides more than two million visitors per day with good quality fashions at affordable prices for their entire family. In addition to our European stores, C&Aamp; also has a presence in Brazil, Mexico and China. >
For more information, see CANDA.com
About Textile Exchange
Textile Exchange (TE), founded in 2002, is a global non-profit organization that works closely with all sectors of the textile supply chain to find the best ways to minimize and even reverse the negative impacts on water, soil, air, and the human population created by this $1.7 trillion industry. TE accomplishes this by providing the knowledge and tools this industry needs to make significant improvements in three core areas: Materials, Integrity and Supply Chain. A truly global organization, TE is headquartered in the United States with presence also in Europe, Latin America, India, China and Africa.
For more information, see Textile Exchange.org
Wanheimer Strasse 70
Head of Corporate Communications C&A Europe
Source: C&A Europe
Copyright (c) 2015 PR Newswire


"This tractor’s serial number is FR138. The R stands for research. According to Frank Peacock, the late zone manager for International Harvestor, this tractor was put out on a farm in Calhoun County, Mississippi in 1937, two years before they came on the market. The serial number of all production models begins in 501. This tractor is real unique in that it has an outlet for a hydraulic pump on the motor that’s the same as the Super C. Of course, you’ve got to remember that these tractors didn't come out until ’39, so that’s the reason for the unusual things about it."
"The right blue lever you see is-I’m not sure what it goes to. I think it goes to a rear-mounted two-pan, pull-type breaking plow, semi-mounted. The tall right blue lever goes to a disc breaking plow that goes between the front and back wheels, and you set the right front wheel out so that it runs in the previous furrow and the right rear wheel runs in the new furrow. I bought this tractor in 1964 for $300 for it and all the equipment from Rev. Grover Perkins. He bought it from W.M. Hardin, better known as Jack Hardin up at Caledonia (Mississippi). Jack Hardin got it from up at Calhoun County, maybe from the original owner that got it when International Harvestor never came back and got it."
"I restored this tractor back in the winter of 2009 just like it---it’s probably done its last day’s work."
"So they put this on a farm and they never came and got it. "(Missy)
"There's also a B Farmall with a cotton picker on it that I’ve got pictures of –same deal---in Calhoun County. Who knows why."
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About Life Scientific
We specialise in bringing high quality off-patent crop protection products to market. Our goal is to give our customers better options to meet their plant protection needs.
We can do this by being first to market with an off-patent alternative, or by designing innovative versions of current off-patents.
Our scientists navigate complex organic and analytical chemistry and regulatory requirements to develop optimised formulations. Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Our holistic approach and smart working practices ensure our products stand up to the most rigorous scientific and regulatory standards.
So if it’s under the Life Scientific brand you can be confident it’s as effective as the current leading standards in the market, if not better.
We are passionate about being the best at what we do. We believe in partnering only with the best. The success of our business is based on honesty and integrity in all our working relationships.
Why Choose Life Scientific
Check out our video below to understand why Life Scientific products are identical to those of the market leader.
PRESS RELEASE: Trials look at cost-effective spring weed control
PRESS RELEASE: New Technical Manager for Life Scientific Ltd.
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We aim to continually add to our portfolio of product registrations in new markets. Click the map below to see our current distributor network and be sure to check back for our latest additions.
Our business model is based on exclusive relationships with key distributors in each of our target markets. A co-operative approach ensures our product development pipeline is driven by our distributors’ feedback from farmers and growers on the problems they face and the solutions they need most. In this way, we work together with our distributors towards the best possible outcomes for all.
We are passionate about being the best at what we do, and working with the best in the crop protection industry. We partner with distributors who, like us, value integrity, and believe in always delivering for their customers.
Our new Headquarters at Belfield Office Park
We’ve moved! But not too far…
Having been based at NovaUCD, the innovation hub at Ireland’s largest University (University College Dublin) for many years, our ongoing growth and development has lead us to a brand new headquarters location. Our new home, spread over three floors of bespoke laboratory and office space, is located right beside the University campus, so the collaborations we’ve built up and the unique access to state of the art technical and scientific resources will continue.


India is popular for its rice cultivation all over the world. As per the statistical analysis, rice production in India covers around 46% of the total food crop production. It is also seen that other countries also have demand the rice from India. Hence, starting a rice export business would be a profitable and feasible business option. In this article you will learn how to export rice from India including steps and procedures.
Rice has been a major element in the exports from India all these years. In the year 1999, around 25% of the total agricultural exports in India were rice. Countries like Myanmar, China, Japan, Vietnam etc also are some of the rice production giants. However, the ever-growing demand for the rice across the globe gives a good scope for the rice export business from India.
India primarily focuses MiddleEast and African countries for exporting its non-basmati rice. The major markets for the basmati rice from India are European countries and USA. Some other major countries who import rice from India are Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, etc.
Grown only in Himalayan Region of India and nurtured by snow fed rivers, Basmati is without a shadow of doubt the King of all Rices in the world. Its long slender shape and an unmatched fragrance and aroma are reflective of the age old civilization that cultivates it.
A rice of the connoisseurs, Basmati is non-glutinous and has a fine, smooth and silky texture. The rice has been favored by emperors and praised by poets for hundreds of years. In the older times, Basmati could only be grown in the special fields for the kings and was always treasured and guarded by nobles. Ordinary people were not allowed in the vicinity of the fields and taking Basmati grain was a punishable offence.
The supremacy of Basmati over other varieties is predominantly due to its unique and delicately balanced combination of a number of characteristics such as superfine (long slender) kernels, exquisite aroma, sweet taste, soft texture and delicate curvature, all of which makes it excellent for cooking. Its nut-like flavor and aroma is unique in the world. Like all naturally beautiful products Basmati Rice cannot be artificially created. It is Mother Nature (the soil and climatic conditions of the Himalayan foothills) that itself provides for its unique aroma and taste. There is no surprise that Basmati world over draws the highest premium because of its special characteristics. So it is said that - "Basmati is to rice what Champagne is to wine and Scotch is to whisky". With the passage of time, several varieties of Aromatic Rice have been developed but the mystique of Basmati remains eternal.
Indian tea is among the finest in the world owing to strong geographical indications, heavy investments in tea processing units, continuous innovation, augmented product mix and strategic market expansion. The main tea-growing regions are in Northeast India (including Assam) and in north Bengal (Darjeeling district and the Dooars region). Tea is also grown on a large scale in the Nilgiris in south India. India is one of the world’s largest consumers of tea, with about three-fourths of the country’s total produce consumed locally.


Two weeks ago, while on a Target excursion, my son Aidan and I spied these cute little seed pots at the front of the store in the $1 section. They included a tiny 2" plastic pot, a handful of seeds and one of those sponge-like soil discs that expand when you soak them in water. He picked out a pine tree variety and I grabbed the sunflowers. When we got home, we excitedly opened the package and started soaking our soil pods, which became an adequate little scoop of soil to put into our respective pots. Next, we opened the seed packs and lightly sprinkled them atop the soil, then watered it as directed and put it in the kitchen windowsill.
I felt as though I was in kindergarten again. Like when we stuck toothpicks through an avocado seed, submerge it in water and wait for the roots to grow. It was so exciting! For nearly a week, we waited... and THEN both little pots started sprouting. I knew that this would happen. I mean, it's a seed in soil, that's what it does, right? But Aidan and I were so stoked about each little baby step that our baby plants were making. Today is our two week mark and this is how far we have come. Aren't they awesome? In another week or so, we might need to transplant them into larger pots. As long as we keep them alive and thriving, I think I shall update with progress photos. In the meantime, here is a little information about how seeds become what they become; and a rad time lapse video of radish seeds germinating and sprouting.
*Time lapse sequence shot using Pentax K110D and Harbortronics DigiSnap 2100 set to take a frame each 14 minutes 24 seconds. The time lapse spans 9 days. Two 90 watt compact floresecent lights where used for both the camera shooting light and the grow lights. The lights were set on a timer for 18 hours on and 6 off (for the health of the plants). The jump in the video is the 6 hour gap in the darkness. Amazing how fast the radishes grew. Music by Roland White - Gaieté Acadienne [CD-Trying to Get to You].


The 2008 Global Development Marketplace (DM2008) is a grant competition held in collaboration with the Agriculture and Rural Development team of the World Bank entitled “ Sustainable Agriculture for Development,” and it is supported by the Global Environment Facility ,International Finance Corporation and other Partners.
The competition is looking towards three sub themes includes-
a) Linking small scale farmers to input output markets.
b) Improving land access and tenure for the poor.
c) Promoting the environmental services of agriculture in addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.
In this event called DM2008 Marketplace Event,among the list of 100 finalist across 7 regions Naandi is in the list of South Asian region contenders. Naandi has achieved this position for its Organic Coffee Cultivation in Araku Valley . Its attempt to empower the tribal people of Araku has really proved to be successful.
The 100 finalists selected on June 23rd ,2008 were invited to the World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. On September 24-26th,2008.
This competition will provide a big platform to turn an innovative idea for sustainable agriculture into reality. A huge grant funding of around US$200,000 which will be funded for 2 years to the best innovative idea based on selection will be decided by a bank of jury comprising of International Development Experts.
So,its time for Naandi to turn its idea into reality,moreover - an idea can change lives,and
Naandi has always a better idea.
The list of the South Asian Contenders are given below and Naandi is marked-
|No||Country||Proposal Title||Organization Name|
|4277||India||Seawater Greenhouse For Arid Regions||Seawater Greenhouse Ltd|
|4893||India||Waste To Wealth By Incubating Mini Cold Storage Technology Ventures In Ppp Model||Trec-Step|
|5108||India||Promoting agriculture systems resilient to climate variability and change by creating self adjusting community institutions enabled through use of ICT in coastal Gujarat||Winrock International India (WII)|
|5401||India||Internet Kiosk-Community Radio Stations In The Mountains,Joining Local Farmers To Global Markets||Umeed|
|5610||India||Farmer's Commodity Exchange||i4 INFOTECH PVT LTD|
|5775||India||Sampark-Kranti: Creating Opportunities For Assured And Remunerative Horticulture Marketing For Small And Marginal Farmers In Central Uttar Pardesh, India||Sampark Samaj Kalyan Sansthan|
|6240||India||Demonstrating “Collective Land Ownership Models” Of Panchayat Land That Reflects“ Collective Entrepreneurship” To Improve Economic Outcomes For Socially Excluded Women||Manav Seva Sansthan "Seva"|
|6258||India||Aeinex - Agro Enterprise Information Exchange||Community Enterprise Forum International|
|6259||India||Improving Livestock Health For Small Farmers Through Market Linkages And New Technologies: Applying Move (Market Oriented Value Enhancement) Through A Vet Net Portal||Best Practices Foundation|
|6440||India||Sustainable Livelihoods For Tribal Farmers In Araku Valley Through Organic Coffee Cultivation||Naandi Foundation|
|5414||Nepal||Dignifying High Altitude Agriculture through Gravity Ropeway||Support Activities for Poor Producers of Nepal|
|6252||Nepal||Riverbed Farming For Landless In Nepal||Helvetas|
|6261||Nepal||Developing Market For Carbon Sequestration In Agriculture||People's Agriculture Research And Development Center|
|6875||Nepal||Promotion of Rice Husk Stoves in Nepal||National Agricultural and Environmental Forum|


The ventilation system within any greenhouse plays a pivotal role in plant health and crop production. Not only are ventilation systems vital to maintaining environmental conditions but they also directly influence a plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis, uptake essential elements and complete pollination. Maintain plant health with the proper circulation and exhaust with mg4155电子游戏 ventilation systems.
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There's not much that can rival the amazing flavor and versatility of fresh garlic. Our Organic Garlic Plugs are ready for planting!
Plant four to six inches apart in each direction. Garlic plants are very easy to care for and need very little attention during the growing season. Water if weather is dry and keep the spaces between rows well weeded.How to Harvest Garlic:
Harvest your garlic when leaves have begun to turn yellow in the Summer. Ease bulbs out of the soil gently. Dry bulbs out somewhere warm and with plenty of air. Once dry, brush off remaining soil and cut off the leaves. Store your garlic bulbs in a cool, dry place. Garlic bulbs should store for at least three months, if you don't eat them first!


Landscaping is the activity that alters the visible geographies of a land area. Having a land look more attractive is the main aim of landscaping. It’s the desire of most people to have a piece of land that they own look more appealing and presentable. That need makes people invest in various ways to see that materialize. To make land look more attractive, there are different ways to make that happen. Some ways that are used to landscape are planting flowers, having a sod lawn and adding ornamental structures. A sod is already planted grass. The sod is also called the turf grass. Sod is grass and soil beneath it that is usually held together at its roots. There are several benefits that are associated with the use of sod for landscaping. Read more here to acquire more info regarding this benefits.
The benefit of using a sod for a landscaping is that it is instant. When installed the sod transforms a bare patch of land into a lawn that is grass covered. An individual acquire instant satisfaction from having a yard green. The sod is a quick way to have grass on a lawn when one does not have the patients to wait for seed grass to grow. The sod is also described as attractive and appealing. The sod offers a quick fix to a landscaping need. A benefit of using the sod to landscape is that it needs less irrigation. Once a sod is installed, it requires less maintenance. To have the sod moist, it required frequent irrigation. Until when the sod becomes established firmly in the area, the sod requires to be moist. The sod is capable to not drying up faster than a seed grass area. Having not to irrigate the sod frequently means that water is saved. It also means that the workload for tending to the new grass is reduced. You can find more info here.
The Sod lawn can be used faster. Having the grass on the sod grow means that it is ready for use, when the installation is done. The sod is ready for use at a quick rate because it has a growth head start. Within weeks the roots of the sod are usually established. When the roots of the sod develop it is ready to be used, which is quicker than the seeded lawn. This is an advantage because the landscaping effect is achieved at a faster rate. Soil protection is achieved by the use of the sod lawn. The sod is an established grass that makes a thick mat. the soil is completely covered by the sod lawn. The sod lawn also keeps the soil in place. Having the soils covered means that people carry less dirt and mud around the area. Just call us now for more info.


“My baby is all green..in what she eats, in what she wears and hopefully in what she learns at home. We use only organic food and skin care for our baby. Her diapers and wipes are always organic. For her clothing also, we try to choose organic whenever we can. We also try to do some kitchen gardening every summer. Excitingly, since last two years, we have even started growing our own seedlings at home by the end of spring, using the seeds that we save from organic vegetables we use for cooking everyday. My baby is 8 months now, and I can’t wait when she will be part of our little garden nurturing the plants with her own little hands!”
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Last year, my husband and I subscribed to a season’s worth of produce from a local farm. Every Thursday one of us went over to collect that week’s pickings. In the beginning weeks we made a lot of jokes about bok choy and greens we’d never heard of. It had been two generations since people like us were relying on local food.
But by the time Thanksgiving came, and the frost was visiting that farm’s rows, we were attached to our routine of seeing what was growing that week. We were telling everyone we knew about Jerusalem artichokes—incredible nutty, crunchy roots native to southern New England—and relishing the last of the heirloom tomatoes, blackberry preserves, autumn olive jam (yes, made from the fruit of the invasive vine that chokes our highways) and—yes—bok choy.
When Connecticut’s local food movement started picking up steam only a few years ago, I wondered if it would only last a short time, or be a hobby for the rich. I was wrong. Each year more farms crowd the list of local growers and although Connecticut is not to the point where it could feed its population with local food, many thousands now are doing so. Community gardens and backyard gardens are on the rise, too.
Local food is good for society. It is fresher and therefore contains more vitamins and minerals. It reduces the numbers of trucks and planes importing food from afar. Food grown locally keeps more land in farming. It would be a dead state where the land is all lawns and buildings and asphalt. Finally, local food ensures that a critical mass of people understand how to feed ourselves even if an emergency blocked highways.
The state’s farms account for about 7 percent of the land, but farming acres increased slightly from 2002 to 2007 (according to the United States Census of Agriculture). An increase sounds promising, but some of that increase came from how shellfish beds are calculated, Connecticut’s Working Lands Alliance said.
The subscription produce my family ate last year came from a “CSA,” a farm that sells shares called Community Supported Agriculture. We joined dozens of others who helped keep that farm going with our installment payments. Every county has CSAs now—some more than others—and they are inspiring more people to grow vegetables, now that they know what they look like. At my house, I grow blueberries, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. This year I will experiment with all manner of greens because our CSA farmer has inspired me. I haven’t planted Jerusalem artichokes yet, but when the tubers can be bought in the fall, I’m putting in a patch.
Not all Connecticut farms are organic, and those that are organic sometimes choose to forego the onerous federal organic certification program. So, if you are unsure and want to know whether a farm uses chemicals or has certification, ask the farmers.
Madison Farmers’ Market
Friday, 3-6 pm., May 7-October 29
Madison Town Green
27 Meeting House Road
Dudley Market at the Dudley Farm
June 5-October 23
Corner of Routes 80 and 77
2351 Durham Road


Welcome to the Carroll County Soil Conservation District!
Carroll County Soil Conservation District was first organized in 1950 and has been serving area landowners of Carroll County for more than 68 years.
The main objective of CCSCD is to encourage landowners both rural and urban to wisely use and conserve the natural resources in the county. This is accomplished through proper planning in the use of soil, water, plants, woodland and wildlife resources in order to create a desirable environment for people to live, work, and enjoy life. The district is supported by several NRCS employees to help us help the people help there land.
Soil health is the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains and improves the living condition of plants, animals and humans. The Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are partnering to provide answers to the most frequently asked soil health questions. We are very Proud of this partnership and look forward to meeting Conservation needs of our county for years to come.


Realizing the full potential of Blockchain In Agriculture
Blockchain technology has proven its utility in the IT, financial services and the crypto industry. However, it has several other use cases other than being the underlying technology for leading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Various firms around the world have harnessed this emerging technology and leveraged it to enhance supply chain management, identity management as well as healthcare. Blockchain’s use cases in the agriculture sector are less heard of, but the technology has demonstrated its utility in this $2.4 trillion sector as well. According to ReportLinker, the blockchain in food supply chains and agriculture ecosystem was estimated to be USD 60.8 million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 429.7 million by 2023.
Blockchain’s Use Cases In Agriculture
Like many industries, the agriculture sector consists of several steps between farming and product packaging that make up its supply chain. The involvement of multiple steps raises the need for traceability and transparency in order to ensure the safety of crops. This is where blockchain technology comes into play. Blockchain’s ability to store and manage data enables traceability, which helps in the development and implementation of intelligent farming and index-based crop insurance systems.
With collaboration from stakeholders involved in the supply chain, blockchain technology can be used to improve traceability, efficiency, food safety and quality control. Farmers can use this tech to ensure that their crops are sustainably produced and delivered to the end user. Meanwhile the end users can depend on blockchain technology to make sure that the quality of the crops is up to the mark and trace the supply chain to ensure that it wasn’t tampered with. In addition to that, blockchain technology may also be used to facilitate payment between the parties involved in the supply chain, including farmers, wholesalers, retailers and customers. This leads to fair prices by eliminating the need for middlemen.
Firms Offering Blockchain Solutions For Agricultural Sector
Blockchain technology is yet to revolutionize the farming industry the way it has taken the financial services sector by storm. However, those involved with agriculture have started to realize what this emerging technology can offer in terms of smart contracts for farmers, farm management and data sharing, supply chain financing, as well as certification and standards compliance. While the potential benefits of blockchain in agriculture are promising, it’s important to note that implementing blockchain solutions requires careful consideration of technical, regulatory, and organizational challenges. Additionally, scalability, interoperability, and data privacy are key factors to address for widespread adoption of blockchain technology in the agricultural sector.
This is where heavyweights like IBM come in. The tech giant is one of the few mainstream corporations that have subsidiaries directly involved with facilitating blockchain solutions for the agricultural sector. IBM Food Trust is a collaborative network of growers, processors, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers, and others, enhancing visibility and accountability across the food supply chain. Built on IBM Blockchain, this solution connects participants through a permissioned, immutable and shared record of food provenance, transaction data, processing details and more.
AgriDigital is another blockchain solutions firm based out of Australia, that caters to clients in the agricultural sector. This company enables farmers to manage their supply chains, from planting to harvesting, by digitizing the process and providing real-time tracking of inventory, pricing, and logistics. AgriDigital also offers a blockchain-based platform for grain trading, which reduces the likelihood of fraud and malpractice by eliminating the need for middlemen. AgriLedger, Ripe.IO and AgriChain also offer blockchain solutions for the agricultural industry. These solutions revolve around enhancing traceability and transparency of the supply chain.
Barriers To Using Blockchain In Agriculture
A report published by Forbes earlier this year cited research conducted by business advisory firm McKinsey while stating that agriculture could realize $500 billion in additional value by 2030 through increased use of connectivity and technology. According to the report, blockchain can only deliver increased optimization and transparency in food and agriculture if the sector embraces data sharing. The success of blockchain in agriculture largely depends on farmers sharing their data with agribusinesses that develop digital technologies. The World Economic Forum (WEF) believes that blockchain technology will eventually become an important element of the agricultural sector if it addresses the growing demand for transparency. “This can be done by validating the source of the inputted information and increasing automation to lessen the risk of human error and prevent data from being deleted,” the WEF added.
Concerns regarding the misuse or misapplication of blockchain technology have also been raised, with respect to the agricultural sector and food security. For instance, privately held blockchains may be vulnerable to hacks or malpractice. There may also be a gap in awareness and education about this technology among small-scale farmers. In order to ensure the success of blockchain in this sector, its implementation would have to be decentralized to accommodate small scale farmers. Additionally, those lacking the digital literacy required to engage in blockchain technology must be educated to ensure that everyone is able to leverage this tech for their agricultural business.


Preserving cannabis seeds is a crucial step in ensuring their viability and germination potential. Poor storage can lead to seed degradation, reducing quality and affecting the resulting plants. In this article, we explain how to store your seeds optimally and the mistakes to avoid.
Key factors to consider.
To preserve the quality of cannabis seeds, several factors need to be taken into account: temperature, humidity, light and airtightness. By controlling these elements, you can ensure the longevity of your seeds and increase their chances of germination. Discover our complete guide to cannabis seeds our complete guide)
Cannabis seeds are sensitive to temperature variations. So it’s important to store them in a cool, stable environment. The ideal temperature is between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius. To achieve this, you can store them in a refrigerator or freezer (but beware of humidity).
Too high a humidity can cause seeds to germinate prematurely, while too low a humidity can dry them out and reduce their germination potential. The ideal relative humidity for storing cannabis seeds is between 20% and 30%. To control humidity, dehumidifier sachets or silica gel capsules can be used.
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage cannabis seeds. So it’s essential to protect them from direct sunlight. Use opaque packaging or keep your seeds in a cool, dark place.
Prolonged exposure to oxygen can also impair the quality of cannabis seeds. To avoid this, opt for airtight packaging that prevents air from coming into contact with the seeds. Ziplock bags or metal tins are commonly used options.
The best preservation methods
Now that you know the key factors to consider when storing your cannabis seeds, here are some effective methods:
- Use airtight containers: As mentioned above, ziplock bags or metal tins are ideal for storing seeds. Make sure the container is completely sealed and airtight.
- Storing seeds in a refrigerator: The temperature and humidity of a refrigerator are generally suitable for storing seeds. However, take care to avoid condensation by placing your seeds in an airtight bag with a dehumidifier or silica gel.
- Use a special seed box: There are boxes designed specifically to store and protect cannabis seeds. These boxes offer optimum protection against light, humidity, temperature and oxygen.
Errors to avoid.
To store your cannabis seeds correctly, it is important to avoid the following common mistakes:
- Don’t use clear containers: Clear glass containers don’t protect seeds from UV rays. Instead, opt for opaque containers or place them in a dark place.
- Forgetting to check humidity regularly: Humidity can vary over time, especially if you store your seeds in a refrigerator. Check the humidity regularly and adjust it if necessary using dehumidifiers or silica gel.
- Don’t label your seeds: It’s essential to label your seeds with their name and harvest date to ensure you’re using the right seeds at the right time. Cannabis seeds can keep for several years if stored correctly, but their germination potential diminishes over time. So use the oldest seeds first.
By following these tips, you can store your cannabis seeds optimally and preserve their quality for successful germination. Remember to take into account key factors such as temperature, humidity, light and air-tightness, and avoid common mistakes to ensure the longevity of your precious seeds.


It can at times be difficult to grow a lawn that is exceptional. In an effort to have the best lawn you possibly can, you should follow a certain procedure that will maximize your chances. The techniques that proceed this paragraph will certainly aid you to do this. Clearly some grass lawns are so bad off that only a specialist will be able to help.
Trimming your property more than once per week is something you shouldn’t do. It is usually bad for the grass each time you choose to cut it. Often it is more beneficial if your grass is longer. The lawn will look healthier and more alive if you choose to let the grass grow a bit. Your lawn will stay longer if you stay away from the shortest settings for your lawn mower, which may be bad. The less you trim your lawn, the better likelihood you have at succeeding.
On the subject of weeds, once your lawn is more healthy and fuller the weed problem should reduce itself. Trimming the lawn helps with eliminating weeds. When the blades are kept on the higher setting, the top of each weed will be mowed off. This is really an alternative way to overcome your weeds. The weed tip is critical to its growth, consequently eliminating the weed if you get rid of it.
An additional thing you don’t want to do is to hydrate your lawn too much. When you’ve got a great deal of water it helps weeds grow plus it can cause damage to your lawn. Irrigating your lawn ought to only use an inch per time. The surface roots tend to be watered as it absorbs farther into the ground. The yard will become less damaged by the outside conditions.
Having a mulching lawn mower may be very useful. The grass trimmings are often swept away by people after they mow the lawn. However, the lawn can utilize these clippings to get vital nutrients that feeds them and allows growth. The clippings of your mulching lawn mower are spread out across the lawn and helps make your grass look very uniform and clean.
One more trick for your needs. As it pertains to fertilizer for your lawn you must only apply it in the spring and fall. There is no purpose to use fertilizer all through the year. Chemical fertilizers can be quite harmful to your grass, even killing it if you use it excessively. An organic fertilizer is definitely far better than a chemical fertilizer if you have the choice. Other people will be envious of your lawn after they see how good it looks following all the previous tips.


Animal Feed and Healthcare
The basic composition of feed for animals is plants, cereal grains and vegetable derived proteins. Most commonly used feed additives are cereal grains and lignocellulosic materials which are primarily composed of Starch, Non-Starch polysaccharides (Hemicellulose matter such as Beta-Glucans, Xylans / Arabino Xylans, Cellulose etc) and Proteins. Monogastric animals are unable to facilitate complete digestion of these items due to anti-nutritional factors, which in the case of animal feeds would be Non-starch Polysaccharides (NSP) due to their soluble nature which causes swelling and increases the viscosity in the intestine of the animals. This also blocks the access to nutrients in the feed causing adverse effects such as slow intestinal passage, fewer intakes of nutrients while also affecting digestibility.
Addition of enzymes such as B-Glucanase, Xylanase and Cellulase / Hemicellulase in animal feed enables breakdown of these NSP elements solving the above problems faced by feed industry. The benefits achieved are increased Metabolizable Energy and access to proteins in the feed, enhancing protein utilization. Enzymes such as Alpha Amylase, Lipase and Protease further break down the starch, lipids and proteins in the feed to smaller molecules facilitating better digestion. Specifically for Poultry feed which compromises of Barley, addition of Beta Glucanase to the feed mixture solves the problems of wet droppings and enables healthy growth.
Another problem faced by the feed industry is of Phytate present in feedstuffs of plant origin, which is poorly digested by non-ruminant animals such as poultry. Phytate (or Phytic Acid) is found majorly in feedstuff of plant origin and contains Phosphorous which is the most important mineral required by poultry for their bone and muscle development. Phytic acid also forms complexes with Proteins and minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium thus acting as an anti-nutritional factor. The output of undigested Phosphorous into the environment causes algal bloom, thus further causing Eutrophication.
Supplementation of Phytase Enzyme in the poultry feed enables efficient breakdown of Phytate complexes present in the feed liberating Phosphorous, minerals bound to the complex such as Calcium and Magnesium along with Proteins thus providing for a diet rich in nutrients. Phosphorous, Calcium and Magnesium uptake by poultry provides for healthy skeletal development while the liberated proteins allow for muscular growth. Also the excretion of phosphorous into the environment is eliminated thus solving the posed environmental issues.
Noor Enzymes is a Manufacturer and Exporter of a wide range of Animal Feed Enzymes such as Phytase Enzyme, Beta Glucanase Enzyme, Cellulase / Hemicellulase Enzyme, Xylanase Enzyme, Protease Enzyme and Lipase Enzymes for the animal feed industry.
The enzymes are available as individual concentrates for formulation of synergistic blend of Feed Enzymes and are also available as custom made blend of enzymes depending upon the end use in the Feed Industry.


We take pride in partnering directly with farmers to bring you the best organic ingredients we can find.
Slow Fermented Sourdough
With freshly milled flour by Central Milling Organics, family-operated for over 150 years.
Organic Plum Tomatoes
Packed within hours of harvest by Dinapoli in California.
Cheese from Grass Fed Cows
With year-round access to pasture courtesy of the Rumiano family.
Sonoma Sea Salt
Naturally filtered into salt ponds along the rocky coast of Northern California.
Mushrooms & Organic Herbs
A generous amount of mushrooms and a sprinkle of oregano.
Organic Sunflower Pesto
Made in-house with handfuls of fresh basil and nutrient-packed sunflower seeds.


For more than 45 years, Profile Products have been extensively researched, tested and widely used by horticulturalists, professional landscapers, golf course superintendents and groundskeepers to improve their soil and grow grass and wild flowers. Profile Soil Conditioners instantly modify any soil structure, including hydroponic mediums, creating a more balanced and efficient growing environment. Profile turf blankets and mulching granules protect seed & soil and help seeds to germinate faster. Now for the first time, these soil and turf establishment products are available to everyone. Take your grow to a professional level!


Horticulture is one of eleven player Skills. It is related to the art of growing and harvesting things.
Horticulture Skill Attributes
Raising this skill allows:
- ability to plant better bulbs
- higher chance of recouping bulbs when harvesting with a spade
Unlock Additional Abilities
- Different levels are required to place certain bulbs. More info needed.
- The higher your horticulture skill level, the more likely you will be to recoup a bulb while harvesting it with a spade.
- The better your spade, the higher your chance of recouping a bulb when you harvest.
Max Level: 13
Horticulture Skill (10) + Onyx Rake (3)
The horticulture skill was introduced in early 2015, along with several new bulbs. As of March 2015, there are no new achievements associated with this skill, however rumor has it that a Master Horticulturist achievement is in the works.