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Proper plant growth is dependent upon a number of factors. In the lack of proper growing conditions with regard to temperature Danny Welbeck England Jersey , light and water requirements, plants may fail to develop.
Factors affecting plant growth
The key factors responsible for plant growth include:
Light is the most important factor that affects plant development. For proper plant growth, it is important to ensure that they receive proper amount of sunlight. For plants grown in interiors, artificial lighting may fail to be a substitute for the sunlight required by the plants. The food production by a plant is dependent upon the amount of sunlight it receives.
Hence for interior plants, usage of incandescent or plant growth lamps are highly recommended to ensure proper growth of plants in areas which lack proper sunlight. The following symptoms may occur when the plant receives inadequate light:
• Lack of growth.
• Longer internodes on new growth.
• Smaller size of new leaves.
• Lighter colour of new leaves.
• Dying out of older leaves.
Most plants may require moderate temperatures for growth. Extremely high or low temperatures may restrict their growth. Most summer plants thrive well in temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees F whereas winter plants may grow between temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees F.
For interior plants Danny Rose England Jersey , the temperatures may be controlled by adjusting the temperature and usage of air conditioning and thermostats.
Different types of plants may require variable amount of water for growth. Excess water may suffocate the roots of the plant and low water levels may cause the plant to die. The appropriate amount of water required by plants depends on the following factors:
• The type of plant.
• The plant size as larger plants may require more water.
• The amount of moisture present in the soil.
• The amount of light received by the plant.
Water quality can also affect the plant growth. Water, which is high in fluorine and chlorine content, may restrict the plant growth. It is advisable to allow the water to stand for a few days before using it to water plants. This can eliminate the excess fluorine and chlorine from it.
Fertilizers may help in plant growth provided they are used in appropriate quantities. Over fertilization may damage the plant roots and hence restrict its growth. Different plants may require fertilizers varying in minerals and nutrients. It is hence important to use the right type of fertilizers in appropriate quantities to support plant growth.
While growing plants, it is advisable to ensure that the soil is aerated and drained. This increases its capacity to hold nutrients and water and hence supports plant growth.
Growth of plants can be enhanced by ensuring proper supply of essential nutrients, water and sunlight.
Basketball the ever popular sport came into being in 1891. Designed by Dr. James Naismith Danny Drinkwater England Jersey , the game of basketball keeps players fit and can be played indoors when weather prevents outdoor sports.
A popular sport in schools and college basketball is now played professionally and the NBAs are popular world wide. The game is fast and vigorous and involves shooting, passing and dribbling. The game of basketball is regulated by rules with no disruptive physical contact and violations applicable to ball handling.
Players train hard throughout the year and teams plan strategies so that they can win competitions. Here are a few insights that can make you a winning player:
1. Run like the wind. Outrunning your opponent will give you an edge. So practice being quick on your feet and get a few moves that will guarantee you fast breaks.
2. Passing is the key. Learn to pick up a ball mid-dribble and pass it in a fluid movement to an open perimeter player.
3. Keep you mind on the game and learn how to vision movements on the court even before they happen. This will enable you to get ahead and pas sthe ball to open teammates.
4. Conditioning is important. Introduce basic conditioning drills to get in shape and keep in shape. Adopt weight training and exercises like lunges.
5. Keep an eye on nutritional aspects of the sport. To be in top condition you need to eat the right foods and regulate water and fluid intake. Avoid colas and coffee and drinks plenty of water and eat foods that provide balanced nutrition and minerals and vitamins.
6. Improve basketball performance by using age-old proven techniques like focus and mind training. Learn how to keep in control and think ahead.
7. Offense and defense are important. According to the gurus while offense can win games it is defense that will win your team a championship. So create a team that has strengths in both offense and defense.
8. Ball handling skills need to be perfect at all times. Dribble the ball through the day and practice different moves including the time-tested figure eight. Learn how to control the ball between right and left hand.
9. Learn all winning defense moves. Watch your opponent and try and b between him and the ball at all times. Learn how to move even before he moves.
10. Be a learner. Study the basket ball court, its physics, and layout. So basketball conditioning four squares. This will intensify your training level.
Basketball is not just about shooting hoops. It is a game of strategy and sports management. Planning, training Daniel Sturridge England Jersey , and commitment make a winning team. So be a learned sportsman and study the game. Read the history, plays of winni. Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys
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As suggested by India to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2023 the International Year of Millets.
Millets are a type of coarse grain that is high in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet), korra (foxtail millet), arke (kodo millet), sama (small millet), bajra (pearl millet), chena/barr (proso millet), chena/barr (proso millet), chena/barr (proso millet), chena/barr (pros (barnyard millet). Millets were one of the first meals mankind discovered. With urbanisation and industrialisation, however, they were replaced by wheat and rice. With a market share of 41%, India is the largest worldwide producer, and the global millet industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 percent over the next decade.
What are the benefits of using Millets?
The government established a goal of mixing 20% ethanol with gasoline by 2025, which was announced in June 2021. Sugar molasses and maize are used to make most bio-ethanol in India. However, a study of farmers in Madhya Pradesh found that bio-ethanol can be made from sorghum (jowar) and pearl millet (bajra), and that this fuel can cut carbon emissions in half. Millets, according to estimates, can produce higher returns than maize while using 40% less energy to process. Millets are also a more cost-effective feedstock for bio-ethanol production than maize. Adaptability to Climate Change
In India, land degradation has long been a serious issue, resulting in enormous economic losses year after year. Drought-tolerant crops with little reliance on chemical inputs, such as millets, would place considerably less strain on ecosystems. Intercropping millets with other crops is especially useful because millet plants’ fibrous roots improve soil quality, control water run-off, and promote soil conservation in erosion-prone locations, restoring natural ecosystems.
They can endure severe temperatures, floods, and droughts since they are robust crops. They also assist to reduce the impacts of climate change by having a low carbon footprint of 3,218 kg CO2 equivalent per hectare, compared to 3,968 kg and 3,401 kg, respectively, for wheat and rice on the same scale.
Millets have the potential to play a part in India’s environmental policy initiatives. Millets’ impact on energy optimization, climate resilience, and ecosystem restoration has been shown by recent study findings. Millet cultivation has also resulted in women’s empowerment. 7.2 million women become ‘agri-preneurs’ as a result of the Odisha Millet Mission, for example.
Millet cultivation has a long history in Indian culture. In Telangana, organisations such as the Deccan Development Society have created women’s collectives to promote millets using a culture-centric approach. This type of crop sensitization has also spread to urban areas. Restaurants in Bengaluru used millets in meals like risotto and pizza as part of the #LetsMilletCampaign in 2018.
What are the drawbacks of Millets’ growth?
The demand for millets has decreased as earnings and urbanisation have increased. Government policies that are insufficient. Farmers face unfair pricing as a result of middlemen. Input subsidies and pricing incentives are lacking. Farmers have switched from millets to rice and wheat as a result of the PDS’s procurement and subsidised delivery of these commodities. Millets are used for a variety of reasons besides eating.
What are the Next Steps?
Intercropping with millets (two or more crops planted side by side), as well as crop insurance and storage facility support, can help to increase income and food security.
Millets, which have a lot of promise, may be an important gear in the country’s sustainable development wheel provided policies that encourage their production, motivate farmers, and enhance market links are in place.


Modelling tree development : overview of open questions specific to fruit species
Evelyne Costes (September 27, 2010)
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AbstractFruit trees present developmental characteristics which are similar to other perennials, such as the existence of ontogenetic gradients and dependencies between consecutive growth. However, because of their agronomical use, fruit tree species also raise specific issues. For instance, the practice of grafting on dwarfing rootstock considerably reduces the juvenile period during which trees do not flower. During the mature phase, flower formation is often instable from one year to the next, leading to an irregular fruit bearing. This represents a major disability for fruit production that is usually prevented through a large number of manipulations such as grafting, pruning, chemical applications for fruit thinning, water and nitrogen supply. Presently, fruit production is facing a number of new challenges such as climatic changes or the necessary reduction of incomes in orchards, which may endanger its performance. A deep renewal of practices has to be engaged, involving a large set of competences. Indeed, numerous factors (genetic, climatic, abiotic and biotic stresses) interacting in a complex network must be optimised to find innovative answers to the current economical and environmental challenges. The role of modelling will thus be crucial in the formalisation of this complexity and the exploration of innovative scenarios. In this talk, we will attempt to highlight key ideas and concepts that underline our research and that aim to face the different levels of complexity. We will also submit our current open questions for discussion.
Our approach consists in the exploration of plant structure from cellular to whole plant scale, taking into account one or several scales depending on the target question. For the exploration of tree perennial development over several years and dependencies between consecutive growth, macroscopic scales of description, such as annual shoots or growth units, are usually considered. Mixed probabilistic/structural models have been built in which a decomposition approach was applied to separate the growth components due to ontogeny or environmental factors in the measured plant development. Their application in apple tree has led us to identity unexpected patterns, in which two successive phases corresponding to different patterns of alternations between flowering and vegetative growth units were identified. The current challenge concerns the analysis of the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the development of perennial plant structures over several years.
Such mixed probabilistic/structural models have also been combined with different physical and eco-physiological models (carbon acquisition, transpiration, carbon and water transport, effect of gravity, etc.) in fruit tree simulation systems. However, the integration of different sub-models, either mechanistic or stochastic, into a global simulation model has generated new issues due to the high complexity of the whole system which needs to be carefully addressed. Moreover, due to the large number of potential sources of variation (parameters, environmental variables, sub-model choices, ...), exploring the behaviour of such models is not possible analytically, and in silico experiments combined with sensitivity analyses are required. However, the strategy and intermediate objectives that must be defined to progress towards the build of efficient and integrated perennial plant models at macroscopic scales remain open questions.
At the microscopic scale, the understanding of the relative contribution of mechanisms at different scales, from molecules, cells and organs to the construction of individual plant structures, is a major challenge for biologists. Following pioneer studies on model plants, projects have recently emerged for agronomic species. After having demonstrated the genetic control of architectural traits in segregating populations of apple, we have engaged in the description of the cellular patterning of apple tree organs, internodes and leaves, in different allelic combinations. The relative contribution of the number of cells and cell size to the final internode shape was shown to be genotype-depend and affected by a period of soil water deficit. Similarly, the relative contribution of the number of cells and cell volumes in apple leaf histogenesis is currently under study. The large databases generated by these studies will be presented and are likely to lead to new 3D modelling developments with the objective to link cellular to organ scale.


A Grain Marketing Plan helps take the emotion out of marketing. It’s very easy to get emotional and sell at the wrong time.
For example: If corn prices look like they’re going up, you wonder what you might be missing, so you put off a sale. Then corn prices go down. Now you’ve missed the selling price you wanted and your plan is out the window. A great marketing plan doesn’t include finding the highest price.
We believe the opportunities and risks for grain marketing have never been greater. There are variables you can’t control
- Weather patterns can make for widely varying yields.
- Foreign grain production can affect our markets.
Throwing in the roller coaster demand from one year to the next for grains both here in the United States and from other countries, it’s easy to see how emotions can influence grain marketing decision making.
We work with farmers and farm families that produce grain on 2,000 acres, all the way up to 20,000 acres. Our Grain Marketing Specialists at Swenson Commodities have years of grain marketing experience and have an honest approach when working with farmers and a low pressure process of sharing what we do.
Swenson doesn’t have a cookie-cutter Grain Marketing Plan. Each farming operation is unique. Some rent land while others own land. The break-even grain prices vary from field to field because it depends on what is paid for the land or what the land is rented for. Input costs from farm to farm vary dramatically when you start scrutinizing machinery costs, seed, fertilizer, and chemical input.
Our Grain Marketing Specialists don’t focus on guessing the market highs. We focus on knowing what your per acre break even is and then aspire to sell at profitable levels.


Today, Friday 16 October, we celebrate the World Food Day, with the claim “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.”
The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) proclaimed this day to raise awareness of the problem of food in the world and the need for greater efforts to combat problems such as hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
From Social Promotion Foundation we join this celebration and pay tribute to the #FoodHeroes, to all the people who with their hard work, manage to bring all kinds of food on our table, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the occasion of the World Food Day, we want to put face and pay tribute to all the rights holders of our AECID-funded agreements on agricultural development, in the West Bank and Gaza in Palestine such as Rehab, Omeida and Mohammed, and in the Somali region in Ethiopia such as Asha.
They are true heroes and heroines and motors of development in the rural areas where we work, despite the great challenges they face and the context of the pandemic.
They are the protagonists, within the framework of our agreements, in the fight against hunger, the improvement of food security, the transition towards a sustainable agriculture and the resilience facing the climate crisis.


On this week's episode, we talk with John Bourne, VP of Marketing at Cerus Imaging, a venture-backed agriculture technology company with a mission to help farmers be better stewards of the land while increasing farmer profitability. Topics include the unique needs of farmers, the challenges in measuring advertising efficacy in this particular industry, marketing R & D, niche communities, and a lot more.
Connect with John on LinkedIn:
Connect with host Brandon Kidd on LinkedIn:
Last but not least, be sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!


When Hackney Nursery Company was started in Quincy, Florida in 1991 the goal was to provide a quality plant at a reasonable price, coupled with customer service never before seen in the wholesale nursery business. It is with these ideals that we still operate today.
At Hackney Nursery, we specialize in the production of a wide variety of woody ornamentals and perennials, ranging in sizes from four inch to 15 gallons. Recently, we started carrying "Proven Winners" varieties of perennials and annuals as well as joining the "Novalis" group, which allows us to provide many unique and diverse plant varieties under the "Plants That Work"® campaign. We are also licensed growers of the "Gardener's Confidence Collection" introduced by Dr. Michael Dirr and the University of Georgia.
We are constantly striving to provide our customers with the newest and most versatile varieties of green goods that can take your garden center or rewholesale yard to the next level.
Please feel free to contact us or stop by for a visit and tour. We look forward to supplying you with all of your plant needs. Thank you for your interest in Hackney Nursery Company.


During the working trip of the Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sheralizoda B.A. to the Sughd region, he visited a workshop for the processing of household and municipal waste in the city of Kanibadam.
This workshop was built by entrepreneur I. Kodirov and put into operation at the city dump on an area of 2 hectares. The main activity is the collection and separation of different types of waste. On average, 23-30 tons of waste is sorted by type per day.
The company’s management intends to expand its activities in the future and build a new workshop for processing waste and residues for the purpose of their use in agriculture.


Move Your Trellises
Do you have a vision for your garden or other outdoor living space and need it to be moved into a different location? If it doesn't include one or more trellises, you could be missing out on a classic, attractive, and very affordable way to add beauty and ambience to your new location and outdoor space. And practically anything can serve as a trellis, whether you use an old ladder or a structure made specifically for the purpose. The garden trellises we move at midnightsting.com are carefully moved with our Outdoor Furniture & Specialty Garden trucks. Your full ranges of trellises are shipped across the nation. We also provide custom trellis-work for a wide range of residential and commercial clients in the area.
Check out the benefits of garden moving a trellises with us...
Create an Attractive, Living Barrier within Your Space
Adding trellises is a great way to add partitions and barriers in an attractive way. Trellises can be used to either divide your garden into specific areas, enclose your outdoor space partially or completely, or to provide additional cover along an existing partition such as a fence or a wall. The plants grown on a trellis are not only a way to provide privacy, but can also shield an outdoor space from animals and wind. Having a trellis can also allow you to have plants in your space that may not have previously done well via other means of growth or cultivation.
Thanks to Hawk Movers for helping us move our equipment from Dallas to Fort Worth Texas.
Discover Vertical Vegetable Gardening with Trellises
A trellis doesn't only have to be for the flowers in your garden; it can also be used to cultivate healthy fruits and vegetables. We don't only move trellises, we at Midnight Sting also offer trellises specifically for vegetables and legumes - check out our wide range of bean and cucumber trellises. Trellises are especially useful for those with smaller garden spaces, as they eliminate the need for lots of space. Those vegetables which tend to take up a large amount of space on the ground, such as cucumbers, melons and pumpkins can actually do very well when grown and cultivated on a trellis. Plus, trellis gardening is much easier on your back than the constant stooping required with traditional gardening.


Orange County Programs
The Water Quality Program partners with a multitude of groups and agencies in order to accomplish the goal of improving water quality in urban Orange County.
The trained volunteers of the UC Master Gardener program extend the ability of local Cooperative Extension offices to provide practical scientific horticulture and gardening information to the citizens of California.
Through applied research and educational programs, provides practical information on ornamental, vegetable and fruit tree culture.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
Whether youth participate in clubs, after school programs, day camps, or in other program settings, the 4-H Youth Development Program's mission and goals remain the same... to help youth develop to their full potential!
UC Cooperative Extension
7601 Irvine Boulevard
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 653-1809
Fax: (949) 653-1800
Darren Haver, Ph.D.
Hosted by UC ANR South Coast REC, Cooperative Extension, and the Orange County Farm Bureau, programs that provide agricultural education to an increasingly urban population, local high school students participated in workshops at the South Coast REC...
Thanks to the abundance of rain received this past winter and spring, your landscape may be like mine, flourishing with vegetation that I did not plant. In other words, weeds, plants of no value growing vigorously in my garden, some even...
In collaboration with TAPS Brewery and Barrel Rooms release of ‘My Zest Friends' IPA, UC ANR Staff with assistance from UCCE MG, Greg Rager hosted an intimate evening with patrons discussing citrus – everything from the different...
On April 26th, UC ANR South Coast REC hosted students from the FFA Statewide Conference visiting from across the state. South Coast REC staff, assisted by UCCE Master Gardener volunteers, provide a tour of the Center followed by a walk through...
|Snail and Slug Management: Agricultural Growers||5/22/2019|
|2019 IPM Training for Professional Landscapers||5/23/2019|
|Landscape Design Basics Workshop Series||6/1/2019|
|Practical Composting in Small Spaces Workshop||10/26/2019|
Have a Gardening Question?


Urban Farming Workshop and Consultations
Everyone’s a farmer whether it’s 3 pots on your porch, 3 square feet in the yard or 3 acres I can help you get started with your own urban nano farm.
Need advice on how to prepare soil, types of seeds, what vegetables to plant where and when, kinds of mulch, when to water and best of all when to harvest?
Want to raise chickens or keep bees?
I can help you get set up with the all equipment, coops, hives, feed, etc. that you’ll need.
You can raise 10 chickens in Colorado Springs, but unfortunately no roosters. Chickens are curious, smart, loving, whimsical and of course lay amazing tasty eggs!
Chicks will be arriving soon. Buckley’s Homestead is a perfect place to find the chicks to start your flock. 719.358.8510
It may be too late to order bee packets this year, but hurry and give John Hartley a call 719-495-1251. They usually arrive in May for their new home at your home. You may even have a little honey harvest this September, remember the girls need to the honey to get through the winter so you want them to settle in this year for a bountiful harvest next.
Let’s get together soon, it’s never to early to start planning your nano farm or setting up a home for your chickens and bees.
719.985.1556 or schedule a time through http://rivermossreiki.com/schedule-an-appointment/
More information coming soon…


Innovation, Sustainability, & Quality
Heartland Chia offers the first and only chia grown in the Midwest!
Our chia is 100% non-GMO and grown using sustainable production practices on family farms in the United States. We hold the exclusive license to the only chia seed that can grow in the midwestern United States, and since 2011, we have been working to develop and expand the production of chia with farms across the U.S.
Our chia comes with quality certifications and testing to meet U.S. food-safety standards and is 100% traceable to the field it was grown in.
You can even meet the farmer who grew it!
Unless otherwise specified when ordering, our chia has been through a natural "Kill Step" process to reduce the possibility of pathogens. Heartland Chia is low moisture to extend shelf life and prevent spoilage. This also means that it can be consumed straight from the bag with no further processing or cooking, making it ideal for use in smoothies and other liquid applications.
U.S. grown chia is truly sustainable and even a restorative crop that can help heal the land and environment!
Chia has much lower input needs compared to conventional crops as it needs less water, uses much less fertilizer, can be grown using no-till, and brings biodiversity to crop rotations, which breaks disease and insect cycles naturally without having to use pesticides.
Chia is a pollinator crop that benefits the bees and the butterflies.
Chia helps family farms by offering a better opportunity for both profitability and environmental stewardship.


Abstract submissions are required along with registration. Notifications regarding the acceptance of the abstracts will be sent. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations should be maximum of 300 words (A4 size, 12 Times New Roman font). Please, attach your files in PDF format in the registration form. Please indicate the session (listed below) of interest.
Oral presentations will be limited to 20 minutes, including 3-5 minutes for discussion. The Scientific Committee may invite a speaker to extend the length of a presentation, authors will be contacted in advance. The customary audiovisual: notebook and multimedia projector will be available. If other facilities would be required, please notify local organizers in advance, so perhaps we will be able to assist you with our help. For the online presentation, an individual link will be generated for each participant.
1. Challenges and prospects - genetic resources and biodiversity.
2. Improving acclimation to abiotic stress.
3. Improving resistance to biotic stress.
4. Increasing quantity of biomass and grain yield.
5. From lab to field - breeding and biotechnology.
6. Crop management - agronomy, plant protection, marketing policy, socio-economic issues.
7. Farm to fork - nutritional value, food and feed products, industrial uses.
FULL PAPER AND ABSTRACT FOR PUBLICATION:
We invite you to publish your scientific article free of charge in the scientific journal Plant Breeding and Seed Science from the topics presented at the conference.
free of charge,
double blind peer review,
special post-conference issue.
Applications should be sent until 1st July to the journal website: http://ojs.ihar.edu.pl/index.php/pbss/about/submissions


About the Company
With almost 30 years of global experience in the field, Adritec has at all-time maintained its current customers' loyalty, and continues to win the trust of a growing client base. Its steady growth, up-to-date technological development, and its presence in over 70 export markets in five continents, stems from a simple yet deep-rooted belief, we offer our customers what they need, and we offer it their way. Therefore, whatever your irrigation requirements are, we offer you the most suitable irrigation solution to suit your budget, your farm... Your Way.


Coleman Engineering designed and provided construction engineering services for a 1,000 gpm municipal well with a depth of 380-feet and a diameter of 16-inches to provide a clean water source to serve the irrigation needs of the Cannery development. Eaton Drilling was the drilling contractor on this well.
The well features a submersible pump and is located outside so that it is easy to maintain. Discharge is directly into the irrigation system which uses a hydropneumatic tank to control pump motor cycling. A pilot well was drilled so that cuttings could be obtained and an e-log could be performed. Both were used to produce a final well filter pack and screen design based on site specific conditions.
February 14, 2022


Val do Xuliana, Albariño
Val do Xuliana Albariño is made with grapes from our best plots, located near the river Miño. This wine expresses the essence of the area and the care with which our wine growers tend the vines.
The Bodega has 50 hectares of vineyards, of which 20 are directly owned and the other 30 belong to its 105 partners. In fact, the land ownership dispersion serves to guarantee a balance between quality and unrestrained growth is maintained.
The vineyards are nestled on the slope of hills around the “Concellos” de as Neves, surrounded by three rivers the Miño, Termes and Xuliana. Its climate has a strong Atlantic influence. During the winter the Gulf Stream brings cold fronts from the Tropics resulting in heavy rainfall with moderate temperature and little difference between day and night time temperatures. Springs comes early with no frost. The summers are dry due to the Azores anticyclone, with temperatures maintained at moderate levels due to the proximity of the Atlantic. Soils are of granite origin and relatively sandy, rich in organic material and acidic.
Vineyard practices: The vineyards of the winery and its partners are subject to integrated management which are monitored regularly by the agronomist, Francisco Arenas. The vines are trained and pruned to 8 buds per spur. Picking is done by hand in small boxes to avoid damaging the fruit and subsequent oxidation.
Val do Xuliana Albarino – A fresh and zesty nose of peach and grapefruit follows onto the palate, with a racy lemon sherbet twist and a minerality on finish. The perfect partner to seafood dishes.


Comprehensive fungicide program development with emphasis on turf disease control
Site visits to identify causes of unhealthy turf, and advice on tactics to mitigate current damage and to avoid similar issues in the future
Seminar topics and agenda tailored to client requests and prospective audiences
For industry sales representatives and field staff, turf managers and assistants, and university extension staff
Online decision-support for fungicide and chemical program development
Location-specific disease threat forecasts for Dollar Spot, Brown Patch, and Pythium Blight
Dr. Rick Latin is a professor emeritus of plant pathology at Purdue University, where he was a member of the faculty for more than 37 years. Dr. Latin’s research focused on turf disease control and factors that influence fungicide performance.
Rick has contributed educational seminars at GCSAA annual meetings since 2009. In addition to participating in local and regional conferences in the United States and Canada, Latin has lectured in Europe and Asia on the principles of fungicide action on turf. He authored many research papers, and the industry standard textbook, A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides—with the second edition due in early 2020.
In 2018, Dr. Latin was honored with the GCSAA Col. John Morely Distinguished Career Award and was recognized as a Scientific Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society. In 2019 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation.
Dr. Latin earned his B.S. degree at Waynesburg College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Penn State University.
Rick Latin, Ph.D.
President | RL Turf, LLC
Professor Emeritus | Purdue University
Rick Latin, Ph.D.
For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:


I haven’t had a veggie garden since I was a child living in Blauvelt, New York. Most years, some time around Memorial Day when we hoped we had experienced the last frost of the season we would plant tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and peppers in a modest 3 foot by 5 foot space in the corner of our backyard. I was kid and only remember how much fun it was to watch the plants grow and the thrill of harvesting what we planted.
Fast forward and here I am in a whole new world where I inherited a large ( 24 ft x 56 ft) garden from the previous owner. When we moved into the house the plants were already in place along with deer fencing and an entry gate. How lucky was I? But on day 2 of our move I very inconveniently realized that the 16 tomato plants were not tied up to the stakes that stood vacant alongside them. Deliciously large tomato plants heavily burdened with fruit were growing along the ground which even I knew was so not good. In addition there were zucchini and cucumbers by the dozen that were surely going to rot if I didn’t pick them. So in the middle of the moving chaos we rounded up the veggies and hauled them over to the local food bank which was a good end to a hard day of work.
It is amazing…the garden. Five large stoically tall sunflowers overlook the eggplant, peppers, radishes (that have gone to seed), carrots, beets, onions, 3 varieties each of tomatoes and squash as well as cucumbers and chives. On a daily basis I am overwhelmed and humbled by the beauty of the garden and all that I don’t know! What do I do with the plant remains at summer’s end? Do I need to prep anything prior to winter? When do I harvest the carrots? Do I mulch and with what?
On that first day I couldn’t even identify many of the plants and had to reach out to friends for help. Benjamin can attest to my ignorance as he made his morning shake with what I called spinach that actually turned out to be swiss chard (no wonder he kept saying his shake was a bit “bitter”). Shortly after that I learned that the striped variety of squash I picked was actually butternut squash that had not yet turned that awful”band aid tan color” so it was all picked too soon! Grrrrr. It made us both laugh so hard at our “farming” shenanigans. Oh and have I mentioned the weeds? If the weed in question bore fruit I could feed the world! Definitely need to know how to get it under control next year! If you know how to control it please comment. (photo below directly under tomato photo…what the heck is this?)
Now that the moving boxes have dwindled, I’ve been busy making lots of ratatouille, roasting and freezing tomatoes for future use and zucchini bread has been on the menu too. B and I drove a bunch of the veggies over to the previous owners who are only blocks away. Seemed only fitting since she planted all of the seeds. I am only harvesting the fruits of her labor.
Aside from the physicality of the garden work it is truly a moving meditation. I am totally present in the moment when I am in that space. What surprised me was how when overcome by the familiar smells and visuals of the garden and the landscape I find myself relaxed and memories of all sorts/ ideas/emotions seem to come out of nowhere. A testament to the space we can create in our heads when we can just “be” and get rid of some of the senseless noise that usually occupies our minds.
Marking time in the natural rhythm of the seasons is something I am appreciating getting used to again and there is so much to learn. A beautiful, artistic high school classmate Betsy (who seems to have an affinity for gardening based on the photos I have seen) recently replied to me in a FB posting saying, “I always say I’ve learned how to garden by killing everything first.” which of course made me laugh as I realized that might be my fate as well. In the meantime patience, a sense of humor and a large dose of trial and error will get me through. So thankful for this gardening experience and yes Google is my new best friend!


Where: Browsers are located nibbling on gardens, tender perennials and young trees. Dollar Location. Where: A disease of intently mowed lawns. Appears as brown spots the dimension of a silver dollar. Earwig. Where: Leaves, bouquets and shoots of most vegetables, flowers and ornamentals. Fairy Ring. Where: On lawns all through spring and summer time months. Rings seem as dim eco-friendly bands. Fire Ant. Where: Identified in thirteen southern states.
Recognised for their agonizing sting and intense habits. Where: In and all around properties in which they feed on humans, animals and other animals. Where: One particular of the most commonplace of all traveling insect pests uncovered all over the planet. Grasshopper. Where: Just one of the most harmful insect pests attacking little trees, shrubs and gardens. Gypsy Moth. Where: A person of the most detrimental pests of hardwood forests and urban landscapes. Japanese Beetle. Where: In the course of the eastern United States on lawns, trees, https://plantidentification.co/ shrubs, bouquets and foliage. Leafhopper. Where: Located on a variety of fruit and vegetable crops through North The usa. Leafminer. Where: Amongst the higher and decrease surfaces of leaves. Typical in greenhouses. Mealybug. Where: Leaves, stems and fruit of quite a few flowers, fruits and decorative crops. Where: In lawns and landscaped areas the place they dig tunnels and drive up mounds of earth. Mosquito. Where: Around the world, specifically all-around damp parts. Identified to transmit human illness agents. Sawfly. Where: Leaves of mountain ash, hawthorn, cherry, plum, pear, quince and cotoneaster. Scale Insect. Where: Yard orchards, greenhouses and indoor gardens during North The united states. Slug and Snail. Where: In moist, shady places feeding on dwell and decaying plant substance. Snow Mould. Where: Turfgrasses exposed to moist, cool springs and gradual-melting snow. Sod Webworm. Where: Lawns and turfgrass throughout North The us.
Feeds on grass in close proximity to the soil floor. Sowbug and Pillbug. Where: On decaying make any difference often on seedlings, new roots and decrease leaves. Spider Mite. Where: Indoor and out of doors gardens and can be incredibly destructive in greenhouses. Springtail. Where: These small, wingless, dampness-loving creatures request moist soils outdoors and in. Tent Caterpillar. Where: Larvae create unsightly webs, or tents, in the crotches of tree and shrub branches. Thrips. Where: On the leaves, fruits and flowers of several greenhouse, ornamental and vegetable plants. Where: Uncovered throughout the world, ticks transmit a wide wide variety of human pathogens. Whitefly. Where: On the leaves, flowers and fruits of quite a few indoor and outdoor plantings. Yellow Jacket. Where: Pestiferous about picnics, trash cans and hummingbird feeders. Garden Pests. One bug does not make a dilemma! In character, there are always some backyard garden pests chewing on crops which is just the way it is. Even so, not all pest injury is major plenty of to warrant motion.
Exactly how do you determine herbal treatments?
Even the healthiest gardens come across bugs at a single time or an additional, yet they continue to produce a gorgeous harvest. As gardeners, we should each and every take into account the level of pest activity that we are keen to tolerate.


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Sustainable agriculture stands at the forefront of addressing the growing challenges faced by the global food industry. As the world population continues to burgeon, the demand for food production is escalating, necessitating innovative approaches to ensure ecological balance and long-term viability. In this dynamic landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a game-changer, offering solutions that not only enhance productivity but also promote environmental stewardship. This article delves into the pivotal role AI plays in revolutionizing sustainable agriculture, paving the way for a future where technology harmonizes with nature.
AI’s Impact on Precision Farming:
Precision farming has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, leveraging AI to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impact. Short, precise sentences define the essence of AI in precision farming. From autonomous tractors using GPS technology to AI-powered drones monitoring crop health, these technological advancements enable farmers to make informed decisions, resulting in efficient resource allocation and minimized waste.
Enhanced Crop Monitoring and Disease Detection:
Transitioning smoothly, AI’s role in sustainable agriculture extends to crop monitoring and disease detection. Short sentences emphasize the immediacy of this impact. AI algorithms analyze data from sensors and imaging devices to detect early signs of crop diseases or nutrient deficiencies. This allows farmers to intervene promptly, preventing widespread crop damage and reducing the need for excessive pesticide or fertilizer use.
Optimizing Resource Management:
Transitioning seamlessly, AI is instrumental in optimizing resource management, a critical aspect of sustainable agriculture. Short sentences highlight the precision and efficiency AI brings to this realm. AI algorithms process data related to soil quality, weather conditions, and crop health, providing insights that help farmers tailor irrigation, fertilization, and pest control strategies. This not only minimizes resource wastage but also enhances overall crop yield.
Smart Irrigation Systems:
In the evolution of sustainable agriculture, smart irrigation systems powered by AI play a pivotal role. Short sentences convey the essence of this technology. AI algorithms process real-time data on soil moisture levels, weather forecasts, and crop water requirements. Consequently, irrigation systems adjust automatically, delivering the precise amount of water needed. This not only conserves water but also promotes optimal crop growth.
Crop Yield Prediction:
Transitioning smoothly, AI contributes to sustainable agriculture by predicting crop yields with unprecedented accuracy. Short sentences underscore the reliability of these predictions. By analyzing historical data, current conditions, and various environmental factors, AI models forecast crop yields. This empowers farmers to plan their harvests efficiently, reducing food wastage and enhancing overall agricultural sustainability.
AI in Sustainable Livestock Management:
Seamlessly transitioning, AI extends its influence to sustainable livestock management. Short sentences emphasize the transformative impact of AI in this domain. From monitoring animal health to optimizing feeding schedules, AI systems enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. This not only ensures the well-being of livestock but also contributes to sustainable practices within the agricultural sector.
Market Trends and Consumer Demand:
The agriculture industry is witnessing a shift in market trends, driven by increasing consumer awareness of sustainability. Transitioning smoothly, short sentences highlight the significance of this trend. Consumers are increasingly demanding products that are not only ethically produced but also environmentally sustainable. AI in agriculture aligns with these expectations, providing farmers with the tools to meet market demands while fostering responsible and eco-friendly practices.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations:
In the discourse of AI and sustainable agriculture, it is essential to acknowledge challenges and ethical considerations. Short sentences succinctly address these concerns. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the potential displacement of traditional farming practices must be navigated responsibly. Striking a balance between technological advancement and ethical stewardship is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture.
Empowering Farmers with AI Literacy:
As sustainable agriculture embraces AI, it is imperative to empower farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills. Short sentences emphasize the practicality of this approach. Training programs that focus on AI literacy, data interpretation, and technology integration are essential. By ensuring that farmers are well-versed in AI applications, the agricultural sector can maximize the benefits of these technologies while mitigating potential challenges.
In the grand tapestry of sustainable agriculture, AI emerges as a transformative force, profoundly shaping the future of food production. Short sentences encapsulate the essence of this conclusion. Moreover, from precision farming to smart irrigation and livestock management, AI contributes to efficiency, productivity, and environmental stewardship. As we navigate the complexities of feeding a growing global population, the integration of AI in agriculture offers not only a promising path towards a sustainable and resilient future but also a necessary evolution. Furthermore, embracing these technologies responsibly, coupled with a focus on education and ethical considerations, ensures that AI becomes more than just a tool; it becomes a catalyst for positive change in the realm of sustainable agriculture.


The Dawtona brand encompasses a very wide range of vegetable and fruit products, all of which are based on the highest quality natural ingredients and modern production technologies. Our advantage are the three production plants (in Błonie and Leszno near Warsaw, and in Lipno near Toruń), equipped with the most modern production lines, our own farmland located near the Kampinos National Park, as well as continuity and security of IFS/BRC certificate-based production system.
We ensure the highest quality of our products by controlling the process of their creation at every stage of production, from planting through harvest, ending with the processing of vegetables and fruits. We constantly monitor the farmland and the state of crops and select the appropriate pesticides. We carefully select the type of seeds and their varieties. We decide on the date and method of harvest. Harvested vegetables and fruits are stored in our specially prepared warehouses, which comply with the highest EU standards for ventilation, indoor temperature and humidity control systems. As the result, our packaged fruits and vegetables retain their flavor and fresh appearance for longer. Straight from the warehouse, the harvested fruits and vegetables hit the production lines, where professional workers aided by the latest machinery create the final product.


As a consequence of these temperature levels there was an early start to root activity, and as a result guttation was already being observed in better-exposed vineyards in mid February.
Bud break took place between 24 March and 6 April, almost a week earlier than the average period for this phenological phase.
Spring was completely regular, both in terms of temperature and rainfall, as compared to recent years when the passage from winter temperature levels to summer temperatures had taken place abruptly. This meant that shoot growth was gradual and constant, without any slowdowns or sudden spurts. Flowering began around 25-26 May, when minimum temperatures had already stabilised above 10°C for a few days. At the beginning of June a rapid increase in temperatures was observed, reaching over 30°C every day from 6 to 13 June. This would turn out to be one of the hottest weeks of the year.
The high temperatures of this period led to contemporaneous flowering, even in vineyards with different exposures. The flowering process was brief, and was already complete by around 10 June throughout all the vineyards.
The first two weeks of June, which had seemed to signal the onset of summer, were followed by a period of marked instability, characterised by abundant rainfall, which continued until the end of July. Over 100 mm of rain fell in June, and temperatures were average for the period. In July, the weather was even more unusual: as well as the frequent and abundant rainfall that led to a monthly total of 100 mm, average maximum temperatures were decidedly below the long-term average maximum: 26.8°C against a long-term maximum average of around 29.7°C. The following month of August was also cooler than normal, with average maximum temperatures of 27.7°C against a long-term average maximum of 29.5°C. However, August experienced only brief and scattered showers (30 mm in total). The month of September was characterised by temperatures in line with the long-term average, and some days of rainfall concentrated in the second week.
In June and July the vines exhibited constant vegetative growth in response to these weather patterns, forming an impressive leaf canopy. This growth in turn demanded a significant commitment from winegrowers to keep it in check, in order to protect the grapes (primarily, preventing the onset of downy mildew), and to aerate the bunches by thinning and stripping the vegetation.
Veraison began and ended within the first three weeks of August. As with the flowering, the process was uniform and contemporaneous. The subsequent maturation of the grapes (sugar accumulation, acid degradation, polyphenol accumulation and so on), on the other hand, was slower than usual, owing to a combination of factors: the continuing availability of water led to a marked increase in grape size (around 25% larger than average), entailing a proportional dilution of the pulp; and the low brightness of a few days in September drastically reduced the vines' photosynthetic efficiency. It wasn't until towards the end of September that the Sangiovese grapes reached the level of maturity required to allow the production of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The grapes were harvested in the last week of September and the first ten days of October.
The 2014 wines are generally of a high quality. At the first tastings, following malolactic fermentation, they were appreciated for their very lively colours, decisive fruity notes, and medium body supported by a light tannic frame. From an analytical viewpoint, alcohol levels are between 13% and 13.5% ABV, with acidity and total polyphenol content within the average. To sum up, these are fine, elegant wines, promising greatness if they are finished with care, but they will not be of great longevity
last week of March - first week of April
25 May - 10 June
The year began with a winter characterised by spells of rainfall that were abundant and consistent enough to replenish and guarantee excellent water reserves in the soil. Spring 2013 was characterised by quite peculiar conditions: temperatures were around the average and there was abundant rainfall, but there were reasonably long dry periods between the spells of heavy rain, allowing producers to carry out the necessary work in the vineyards in good time. At the end of March recorded temperatures were average for the time of year, and the Sangiovese started bud break in the first three weeks of April. The subsequent growth of the shoots proceeded more or less as usual at this time.
Beginning in the month of May, we experienced temperatures below the average for the period, with frequent and abundant rainfall, causing all the development phases of the plants to slow down, so much so that the flowering and subsequent fruit setting took place about a week later than the average. This tardiness in the vegetative phases also allowed producers to keep the health of the vineyards in check relatively easily through July and August. The summer months weren't too hot and dry, and there were sporadic storms, some of which were very turbulent.
Veraison was noted from the beginning of August and over the following three weeks, putting progress back on course with Sangiovese's usual tardive nature. Development had been ten to twelve days behind the average, but this was made up for with the excellent weather conditions recorded in the month of September. Daytime temperatures of 28-30 degrees and favourable temperature ranges during the night meant that the ripening of the grapes proceeded at an accelerated pace, in terms of both sugar ripeness and phenolic ripeness.
Thus, by harvest time, the grapes had a reasonable sugar concentration, good acidity, and a good phenolic structure. The harvest began around the 20th of September, and continued into the first week of October.
In conclusion, this is a late vintage compared to the harvests we have become accustomed to recently, but not too late for an innately tardive vine variety like the Sangiovese.
On the whole, this was a demanding vintage from an agronomic point of view, and also from an enological point of view. Carefully evaluating the best time to harvest the grapes was critical: each vineyard's grapes were ripening at different rates depending on their location, exposure and terrain. Grape samples from each vineyard had to be separately evaluated to establish the optimum harvest time for that vineyard, and the harvest was organised accordingly.
At the moment the wines are very intriguing, with average alcohol levels and good acidity with slightly elevated pH levels. The colours are excellent, the aromas are good and the wines are also decently structured, with quite soft tannins. Cellar procedures are also very important, especially regarding maceration times. The 2013 vintage wines are elegant and fragrant, with good acidity and reasonable alcohol levels: there is a notable presence and persistence of the olfactory characteristics typical of the vine variety.
L’Anteprima del Vino Nobile 2017 è un evento organizzato e promosso dal Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Per maggiori informazioni vai su: www.consorziovinonobile.it


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The dinner meeting was informative and very inspiring for making green improvements, with good food too. Jamie was an enthusiastic and convincing consultant. The installation crew was quick, efficient and respectful, thanks Chris and Aaron.
We had a good "free" dinner with their presentation. The representative that came to the house was thorough and explained the costs and benefits well. The installers did a good job, were polite, and cleaned up well. The products are performing as promised. We had crawl space insulation, a crawl space solar fan, and a roof solar vent/fan installed.


New study on Common Agricultural Policy and jobs
In cooperation with the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) of the University of Gloucestershire OIR has completed a study on “The Role of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy in Creating Rural jobs” for the subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural development of the EU Parliament. The project has been coordinated by Bernd Schuh. The aim of the study was to carry out an analysis of the contribution of the EU’s CAP to the creation of rural jobs across the EU, in order to support MEPs in preparing an own-initiative report. The study consists of a literature review accompanied by member State analyses and several case studies. It has been published on the website of the EU Parliament. In April 2016 the authors had the opportunity to present the results at the Parliament sub-committee meeting followed by a very vivid debate with the MEPs. The web-stream of this meeting is available via this link.


“When I bought my brother’s half of the farm, the water rights came with it, so he has to hand them over.” Which case won?
Two brothers co-own rice farm
A husband and wife began farming in the 1950s.
Over several decades they purchased four farms and involved their children in a family farming partnership.
Two of their children, brothers G and M, co-owned one of the farms, growing irrigated rice.
Brothers co-own shares in water utility
G and M also jointly held shares in the utility that regulated the supply of irrigation water to their farm. The shares had water rights associated with them.
After the introduction of the market for water rights in 2007, a substantial value could be attributable to those shares.
G sells his interest in rice farm to M
In April 2000, the family had a conference to discuss dissolving the family farming partnership.
As part of these discussions, it was agreed that M would buy G’s interest in their farm.
In June 2000, G sold his interest in the farm to M for $250,000. The family also signed a deed of dissolution of the partnership.
M paid a deposit of $25,000 and granted G a mortgage of $225,000 to secure the balance of the purchase price.
Shares and associated water rights remain in joint names
When the sale was completed, the land title to the farm was transferred into M’s name, but the shares in the water utility remained in joint names.
After that point, M conducted the farm’s operations without any communication with G, except in relation to the mortgage.
In September 2008, G wrote to M, offering to sell his interest in their shares in the water utility to M at their current market value.
M took issue with this, believing that he had already purchased these shares in the land sale, although the shares had yet to be formally transferred.
G commences legal action to sell shares in water utility
G commenced legal action in the Supreme Court, seeking the appointment of a trustee to sell the shares in the water utility and to divide the proceeds of sale between G and M equally in accordance with their co-ownership of those shares.
In response, M asked the court for an order requiring G to transfer his interest in the shares to M.
It was up to the court to decide whether M had purchased not only the legal title to the farm, but also the shares and associated water rights.


Bernama, Apr 16, 2015
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist bikku (monk) Thich The Tuong has been working hard to turn his one hectare farm into a bamboo conservatory on the Son Tra Mountain, which is the home for over 110 bamboo species including the four considered on the verge of extinction in Viet Nam.
The garden, located on the Son Tra mountainside, eight kilometres from the city centre is open to all visitors, who wish to see bamboo conservation in a rural setting, along with a fishing pond and a stone installation.
"It has been a long and hard journey since I planted the first bamboo. I loved gardening since I left my native village of Vy Da to enter religious life at a small pagoda in Con Hen in Hue," said Tuong.
"I left the pagoda after my master died and found the Quan The Am Pagoda in Da Nang to continue my religious life."The garden was donated by a farmer in Son Tra after he became too tired to plant any trees. I worked the land and grew different bamboo species that I had collected from different provinces," he recalled.
"I have collected a third of the total 300 bamboo varieties in Viet Nam. Bamboo plantation has grown over the past decade, dotting the sloping hills of the Son Tra Mountain."
He said he had named the garden Son Tra Tinh Vien (Son Tra Tranquil garden).
A CONNECTION BETWEEN BAMBOO AND BUDDHISM
The 48-year-old monk said he had settled down in the area and started looking after thegarden as he wanted to continue with his religious work and preserve the bamboo gene at the same time. "I studied literature at HCM City's Social Sciences and Humanities College, so I found a connection among bamboo, literature and Buddhism," he explained.
"The Bamboo garden is my effort to preserve nature on the Son Tra Mountain, which has been recognised as a nature reserve. It would help protect the evergreen peninsula in the tourist city in the future," he said.
"Bamboo has inspired me to compose poems and literature, as well as lead a religious life. I have also created a tranquil corner in the garden for religious meditation," he said.
Four bamboo species feared on the verge of extinction are growing well in the garden.
THE MONK'S GARDEN A BAMBOO GENETIC POOL
Meanwhile, Le Thi Thoa, an ex-student of biology and environment at the Da Nang's Teachers' Training college, said the garden was literally a bamboo genetic pool.
"I spent two years working on a thesis on bamboo, and the garden was my approach for research. The monk assisted me considerably in my study of bamboo," Thoa said.
"It is a precious garden of bamboo genes in Viet Nam as bamboo forests on the upstream have been over-exploited or destroyed. Bamboo is rare in villages as the local people prefer to grow CASH crops or profitable plants," she said.
Thoa, who is a teacher at a junior secondary school in A Luoi District of Thua Thien-Hue, said she had proposed the idea of growing bamboo in environmentally polluted areas in Da Nang.
"I had read a document saying that bamboo reduces the content of dioxin in soil or air. Other plants cannot grow because of the chemical contaminating the air or land, but bamboo can develop well anywhere," she said.
The 25-year-old teacher said the development of more bamboo conservation centres would help protect valuable sources of flora and their genes in Viet Nam.
"Bamboo also plays a role in biodiversity, along with other plants. It is a source of food for animals in the forest. Bamboo can slow down heavy floods upstream and smooth downstream flows," said Nguyen Thi Tinh, a biologist from the Frankfurt Zoological Society of Germany.
"Land for bamboo in rural villages has been reserved for farming or urban development. So, the ever green plant has gradually disappeared," she said.
She said bamboo was also symbolic of the vitality and power of Vietnamese culture and its people.
BAMBOO IS VERSATILE
The monk said he had brought species from Japan, Thailand, India and Africa, whenever he visited these countries. "Bamboo can be grown as bonsai in a family garden or can be sold in the market. People just think bamboo is for construction of cottages, but it can be a source of craft in rural areas," he explained.
"Bamboo is also used as raw material for production of bamboo charcoal-based toothpaste or tooth brushes in China and Korea," he said.
The monk is worried that he will not be able to preserve the garden as the city plans to convert the farm into a tourist resort.
"I had proposed better alternatives for the bamboo conservatory, but the city's departments or agencies are yet to respond," he said.
"The directorate of the private Duy Tan University had asked me to move the garden to the university village as a field research project for students. However, I am still hesitant as I am waiting for a decision from the city authorities regarding the garden," he said.
"I will devote the garden to Da Nang as it could promote the city as a bamboo conservation centre in Viet Nam," he said.
The garden is a favourite photography spot for young people on the weekends, since it is still rare to find a precious bamboo genetic garden in the central region.


Black pepper or black peppercorns is a well-researched dried fruit of the flowering piper vine. It is well known for the piperine it contains which is responsible for that pungent taste it has. Piperine has been strongly associated with reduced inflammation and oxidative stress and its many benefits in the fight against diseases such as cancers have been studied. Piperine when combined with curcumin (bioactive compound in turmeric), makes curcumin more bioavailable. Together, they form a powerful combo of antioxidants.
Black pepper (piper nigrum) is native to Kerala in South West India though it grows well in the tropics. However, Vietnam happens to be the largest producer and exporter.
In Africa, we have a specie called the Piper guineense. it is also known as West African Black pepper, Benin pepper, Uziza seeds, Ashanti pepper, false cubeb, and Masoro. Unlike Piper nigrum, Piper guineense is native to central and west Africa.
You would find Uziza seeds readily in the markets in Nigeria particularly in the South.
How Similar are they?
Uziza seeds and the regular black pepper look very similar; sharing a dark, black colour. They both can grow well in the tropics and contain essential oils, minerals that have positive effects of health. In terms of what they can do, both seeds contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.. They have both been used as insecticides.
What is the difference between the regular black pepper and Uziza seeds?
Some characteristics set them apart.
The aroma of Uziza seeds is milder than the black pepper. This is expected as piperine content of Uziza seeds is lower than that of black pepper. Piperine is responsible for that spicy flavor that the black pepper has.
Uziza seeds on the other hand contains higher levels of volatile oils particularly the linalool, which is responsible for the pleasant floral aroma. This Aroma is absent in the regular black pepper. Instead, the black pepper has a spicy and woody aroma.
To put this in a general summary, the aroma of the seeds sets them apart.Also, the chemical composition of the regular black pepper and Uziza are different, while containing similar components, they vary in terms of the amount of each of the components (which invariably sets them apart in taste and possibly in their activity in the body).
In a Nutshell:
These spices are both beneficial to the health. Adding either the black pepper or the Uziza seeds to your meals daily adds not just some spark to your meals in terms of flavor but also provides some small amounts of antioxidants and elements that have ability to protect your body. Uziza can be used as a substitute for the black pepper.
It is important to note that piperine is easily lost when subjected to heat and pressure cooking causing the greatest loss.
Juliani, H. R., Koroch, A. R., Giordano, L., Amekuse, L., Koffa, S., Asante-Dartey, J., & Simon, J. E. (2013). Piper guineense(Piperaceae): Chemistry, Traditional Uses, and Functional Properties of West African Black Pepper. African Natural Plant Products Volume II: Discoveries and Challenges in Chemistry, Health, and Nutrition, 33–48. doi:10.1021/bk-2013-1127.ch003
Jirovetz, L., Buchbauer, G., Ngassoum, M. B., & Geissler, M. (2002). Aroma compound analysis of Piper nigrum and Piper guineense essential oils from Cameroon using solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography, solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and olfactometry. Journal of Chromatography A, 976(1-2), 265–275. doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(02)00376-x


China Doll was one of the first packagers of rice and dried beans in consumer sizes. This was over 80 years ago and at that time rice and beans were handled from bulk containers. The measuring and sacking of rice using hand scales was usually done by the “free labor” of relatives of the grocery store owner and the cost of packaging was never considered.
The founder of China Doll was farsighted enough to recognize that mass production in individual retail packages would be very advantageous, however, it was very difficult to convince the store keeper that he should pay someone to package for him when he had the free services of his family.
After packaged rice was successfully marketed, over 20 different varieties of dried beans were added to the company portfolio to complement the existing six varieties of rice.
With improvements in packaging, storage and transportation came the opportunity to increase the scope of operations and China Doll Products were soon available throughout the Southeast United States.
In 2008, China Doll Rice and Beans Inc. purchased the Dixie Lily brand and added some of the South’s favorite products to its already impressive portfolio.
In 2011 W.M Meador Inc. became part of the China Doll Family. W.M. Meador Inc. is a supplier to the food services and institutional market throughout the Southeast. The addition of W.M. Meador adds the Big Bill Brand to the China Doll mix.
We are proud that all of our products are grown, sown and milled right here in the United States and have been since our founding.


If you love aqua-scaping and you do not have much time to spend on what you love. This may not be good because owning a tank means you need to take care of fish, so you need to adjust your time to accommodate time for your fish and tank in general. If this does not still suit you, then you may want to set up a low tech planted tank.
Setting up a low-tech planted tank may seem to be a changeling task to you. There is lots of information streaming on the net, and you may find it tough to make a decision or which guide to follow.
However, while you are seeking valid information on setting up a low tech planted tank, and you just stumbled on this article, read through, and see for yourself a lot of information to grab.
What is Low Tech Planted Tank?
This is the first question to answer here because not everyone knows the actual definition of what a low tech planted tank is; these planted tanks are typically tanks that are not infused with a gas known as Carbon dioxide (CO2). Because of the absence of Carbon dioxide (CO2), these tanks, however, do not need all the expensive and complicated equipment that CO2 tanks require.
They make use of low light levels; plants that grow in low tech plants grow 5-10 times slower compared to plants in CO2 infused or high-tech tanks.
The setup tank method you want to keep depends on some factors such as your effort, time, goals, and the cost of resources on budget. Each of these setups still has its upsides and downsides.
Let us sail through the advantages and disadvantages of setting up a low tech planted tank.
Advantages of Low Tech Planted Tank
- This tank does not require changing or testing the tank water more often. This means that you can leave your tank for weeks, and it will still be as you left it.
- Due to the slow growth of plants, they require low pruning.
- Low tech planted tanks do not need many doses of fertilizer.
- There is no risk for asphyxiating (Depriving Air) fish no overdosing of CO2.
Disadvantages of Low Tech Planted Tank
- Due to the slow growth of your live plants, you might find it boring and annoying; this is worse if you love planting and pruning. You will have to wait for a longer period, which may be boring for you.
- Because of the absence of CO2, you will not be able to grow some type of plants that require high levels of CO2.
- However, there are plants you can grow in your low-tech planted tank they include; HC and glossostigma; these plants are referred to as ‘High-light” plants.
How to Setup A Low Tech Planted Tank for Beginners
Setting up a Low Tech Planted Tank is simple in a sense compared to the High Tech Planted Tank.
The following step will explain in brief how a Low Tech Planted tank is setup from start to finish and the things you need from substrate, lighting, plant, filter, fish, etc.
Substrate for Low Tech Planted Tank
An aquarium substrate is essential, and the first to consider in any type of aquarium you are setting up.
For this technique, you need a preamble substrate with increased cation exchange capacity. Examples of substrates are Eco-completes, ADA soil, fluorite, onyx- sand, and other substrates. These substrates are ideal because they are rich in granules and nutrients that will make your live plants thrive.
However, people with a low budget, prefer to use soil and gravel as a layer in the low tech aquarium. While doing things, you should be careful because things can get messy and out of control. If I, during the long run, need to uproot/ remove a matured plant during the long run, the soil will be pulled out and raised to the top of your tank, leaving your tank muddy.
Instead of using topsoil, it is advised to use aqua soil, this soil is durable and welcomes re-using even if you want to upgrade or change your tank. This helps you save enough money and avoid the complications that come with using topsoil.
While choosing a substrate, ammonia is an issue to be considered. Increased vapor can lead to the harmful growth of algae that can damage your plants.
Lighting for Low Tech Planted Tank
Light has a huge role to play in any planted tank you are setting up. Lights are essential to plants because they are one of the vital factors involved in photosynthesis. This is quite different from in high planted tanks because of the presence of CO2, and you will not need to introduce much light.
While choosing the type of light for your low tech planted tank, picking a fancy light is not required. All that counts is you use strong, powerful lights. If you do so, you may find out in a short while that there is already a growth of algae in no time.
The lights should be kept below 2 watts per water gallon, for some species of fish; you may need to turn off the light for some hours daily.
LED Plus Light for Aquarium
Plants for Low Tech Tanks
Plants are the main element of this tank; they are a planted tank, so plants are inevitably involved. While setting up this tank, you should pay close attention to the type of plant you are selecting. However, the plants you need are low light plants; they need a limited amount of light to grow. That is why they are recommended.
After introducing the plants, watch them grow carefully and take off the plants that grow easily because they can turn into a problem at the wrong run. These plants need a high level of biomass to thrive, avoid the growth of algae that can cause your plants harm; these algae will take on the essential nutrients required.
You should go for plants that don’t require much maintenance, make your substrate filled will plant, cover at more than 75-80% of the substrate; this gives room for the right about CO2 to enable your fish to thrive. Although this may cost you more than your budget, it is worth the money.
Firstly, select a lot of cheap and fast-growing plant stems and introduce them into your tank. Start this plant selection and introduction with at least 60% of fast-growing plants.
The reason is that fast-growing plants will absorb the nutrients in the tank and help the faster cycling of your tank; they will also use up the waste and matter that has been deposited by the fish. After this is done and the plants are healthy and doing well, you can now replace them with low-growing plants and discard the ones you choose.
Taking up the outlined guidelines will help you secure an algae-free tank.
Here a list of suitable and best plants for low-tech planted tanks.
- Java Fern
- Marimo Balls
- Floating Moss
- Amazon Sword
- Water Hyssop
- Round Bella
- Madagascar Lace
- Red Repens
- Amazon Frogbit
- Java Moss
- Brazilian Pennywort
- Red Root Floater
Filter for Low Tech Planted Tank
A filter is essential for the purification of your tank. A filter with a constant flow will do good work of maintaining your tank by purification. Ensure you install the filter perfectly and avoid using a filter with activated charcoal but instead foam, especially if you want to add fertilizer into your planted tank.
Maintaining a filter is not as difficult as all, so make sure you keep it clean. Ensure you clean it every once in a while.
A good filter should have a constant flow of at least 10-15 times the tank’s volume per hour. Ensure that the water then flows out of the filter flows without interruption; this will help create a balanced circulation in the tank, and nutrients will flow evenly through the plant’s uneven distribution of filtered water in the tank and will cause death in the plants. There will be an increase in algae.
Fish for Low Tech Planted Tank
Your tank is ready at this stage, and you may be excited to put in your fish. Watch your tank and see if all the plants are growing and doing well, also check out the water parameters to know if they are balanced.
If your tank is an overstocked planted tank, you can introduce some algae eaters into the tank. Algae eaters help keep your tank clean by feeding on the algae, which will go a long way toward limiting algae growth.
An excellent example of algae-eating fish in the Otos. The Otos good algae eaters, so trust them to take on those algae.
People may have a bad feeling about adding their fish to the tank because it is uncycled, and yes, adding your fish to an uncycled tank will result in the growth of toxic ammonia.
However, if you have an overstocked tank and healthy and blooming plants, the plants will cycle the tank by absorbing all the ammonia present in the tank.
After about three weeks, your plants are healthy and growing as it should, you can now add the other fish. Fish will bring more life to your aquarium and will also promote the development of your plants.
Below are some fish that great for a planted tank:
- Rainbow Fish
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Panda Cory
- Swordtail fish
- Cherry Shrimp
- Amano Shrimp
Dosing Fertilizers for Low Tech Planted Tank
Don’t forget that your tank is a low planted tank, so you will need high-quality fertilizer to replenish the absence of co2. You should introduce the fertilizer depending on the size of your tank.
With that, you can easily tell the dosage of fertilizer for your aquarium. You can find fertilizers in every fish store. They are also available online, and you can always order them.
Plants need to absorb excess nutrients from their substrate; this will help limit the growth of algae. To achieve this, you should take off fertilizer from your plants to welcome natural growth.
Maintenance for Low Tech Planted Tank
Maintenance of any tank is essential, but a low tech planted tank may not need much of your attention. Below are a few guidelines to take
- Give you plants doze fertilizers a maximum of once per week.
- Skipping the fertilizer dose can adjust the nutrient levels in the ecosystem.
- Always practice occasional pruning of plants to ensure healthy circulation.
- Occasional clean the substrate to take off the excess waste and matter waste.
- Always feed your fish every day.
- When you do a great pruning that has to involve the uprooting of plants and taking off the substrate, ensure you change the tank water.
Setting up a low-tech planted tank is easier for anyone to try out. This is because it does not require much maintenance, so you need a lot of equipment or a complex combination of plants, once you have your lights, substrate, plants, and other essentials, you are good to go!
If you got to the endpoint of this article, rest assured that you have almost all the information you require to set up a low-tech planted tank.
Don’t forget that you should keep your fish away from the tank a few weeks before the introduction. As soon as you have everything prepared, you can now relax and watch your fish and plants thrive.


If it looks like yellow where green ought to be at Bakker Crossing Golf Course all of a sudden, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. That’s the first step toward bringing the course back to its roots, with fescue replacing other grasses in the rough.
“Many years ago, we had a lot of fescue here, and it highlighted the holes,” general manager Jason Crisp said. “As you get deeper into the rough, this taller, lighter fescue will become more prominent in the course.”
Crews are applying a chemical solution to the existing plants and will shave the treated areas down to between one-quarter to one-half inch and then plant fescue seed.
They’re doing almost 20 acres this year on the course south of Sioux Falls and will do the remaining 20 acres next year.
What are the benefits?
There are several.
“It’s more aesthetically pleasing, more well-defined target areas,” Crisp said. “When you’re standing on the tee, you can see where you want to hit it.”
Fescue also is a cold-weather, hardy plant that requires little maintenance. That frees up staff to focus on maintaining the greens, tee boxes and other areas.
“It also will be easier to play out of,” Crisp said. “The old rough is bluegrass and ryegrass mixed, and it gets really thick. If there’s any moisture, it’s hard to find your ball, and if you do find it, you’re taking a wedge and hacking to get it out. Because fescue is a lighter and thinner plant, you’ll be able to play it out and advance your ball much more easily.”
How long will it take?
Before the end of this year, you’ll start to see fescue growth on the course. The rest of the fescue will be planted next season, so it likely will take until the following year to really see the results.
In the meantime, the course will stay open throughout the planting.
“We’re having an awesome summer,” Crisp said. “We’ve always done well, but since becoming part of GreatLIFE, we’ve gone from about 25,000 rounds a year to 43,000. The course is always busy. We’ll still get you in, but summers go quick.”
This piece is presented by SiouxFalls.Business and the original post can be found here.


Photo by The Bee Guardian
Honey bee on
Photo by The Bee Guardian
Bee weathering a rainstorm
Kids caring for the bees
Image created by VisionShiftStudios
Pollinators are "the heart of the biosphere"
~Edward O. Wilson
Photo by Jon Sullivan
Bee Pollinating Flower
Important Breaking News:
After much effort to bring to light the inexcusable failings of the EPA tp protect the nation's top pollinator, the honey bee, we are excited to announce that a national press release came out this past week proving that the EPA knowingly approved the use of a lethal pesticide (clothianidin) that kills honeybees.
Take Action Now!
Tell EPA Bayer’s bee-killing pesticide has to go. Now!
People are outraged and have been asking us what they can do to help. You can sign the petition, forward it to friends, post it and the story on your blog or FaceBook, write to your local paper. The short answer to “what can I do?” is make noise and keep this story in the public eye.
From WikiNews: Honey bee decline spreading globally
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Scientists working for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported Thurdsay that the collapse of honey bee colonies is becoming a world wide phenomena and will continue unless humans work to restore habitats for bees. The insects are necessary for pollinating crops and the report calls for profound changes in how humans manage the planet.
The decline in managed bee colonies, first noticed in Europe and the U.S., is now seen in China and Japan, and there are signs of colony collapses in Egypt. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, honey-producing colonies in the U.S. have declined from 5.5 million colonies in 1950 to 2.5 million in 2007. A co-author of the report, Peter Neumann, said changes in rural areas during the past 50 years have contributed to decline of wild bees and other pollinators. Additional factors include the declines in flowering plants, the use of harmful chemicals and insecticides, the increase in air pollution and a worldwide trade system that spreads bee pathogens and pests.
The world's growing population means more bees are needed to pollinate the crops to feed more people. According to the U.N. report, of the 100 crop species that supply 90 percent of the world's food, bees pollinate more than 70 percent. Noting that humans seem to believe that they can operate independent of nature through technological innovations, Achim Steiner, the executive director of the UNEP said, "Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less dependent on nature's services in a world of close to 7 billion people."
The report calls for such measures as incentives for farmers and land owners to encourage them to restore habitats that are friendly to pollinators.
- Michael McCarthy "Honey bee decline now global phenomenon" — Independent Online, March 10, 2011
...collapse of honey-bee colonies is becoming a global phenomenon, scientists working for the United Nations have revealed.
Declines in managed bee colonies, seen increasingly in Europe and the US in the past decade, are also now being observed in China and Japan and there are the first signs of African collapses from Egypt, according to the report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
“The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.
- The Associated Press "World’s bee hives to decline without human changes" — Los Vegas Sun, March 10, 2011
"Human beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature," said Achim Steiner, the executive director of the U.N.'s environmental program. "Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less dependent on nature's services in a world of close to 7 billion people."
The bees are needed to pollinate crops that feed the world's growing population. Of the 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the world's food, more than 70 are pollinated by bees, the U.N. report said.
Help bring this issue to the forefront by clicking on the artcles and COMMENTING at the end of the articles!
Timeline of a Bee Massacre: EPA Still Allowing Hive-Killing Pesticide
Beekeepers across the U.S. are reporting record low honey crops as their bees fail to make it through the winter. One-third of American agriculture, which relies on bee pollination, is at stake. And the problem may be at least partially attributable to clothianidin, a Bayer-branded pesticide used on corn and other crops.
By Ariel Schwartz
Read Full Article
Leaked Memo Shows EPA Doubts About Bee-Killing Pesticide
Over the concerns of its own scientists, the Environmental Protection Agency continues to approve a controversial pesticide introduced to U.S. markets shortly before the honeybee collapse, according to documents leaked to a Colorado beekeeper.
By Brandon Keim
Read Full Article
Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide despite own scientists’ red flags
"The Environmental Protection Agency now has some explaining to do, too..."
Grist Magazine, Inc.
by Tom Philpott
Read Full Article
Beekeepers Ask EPA to Remove Pesticide Linked to Colony Collapse Disorder, Citing Leaked Agency Memo
by Pesticide Action Network and Beyond Pesticides
Read full report
For background, beekeepers available for interviews and more, go to Beyond Pesticides' Pollinators and Pesticides page: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pollinators.
EPA Buzz Kill: Is the Agency Hiding Colony Collapse Disorder Information?
NRDC Forced to Sue to Get Public Records on Bee Mystery
WASHINGTON, DC (August 18, 2008) – The Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit today to uncover critical information that the US government is withholding about the risks posed by pesticides to honey bees. NRDC legal experts and a leading bee researcher are convinced that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evidence of connections between pesticides and the mysterious honey bee die-offs reported across the country. The phenomenon has come to be called “colony collapse disorder,” or CCD, and it is already proving to have disastrous consequences for American agriculture and the $15 billion worth of crops pollinated by bees every year. Read More
San Francisco Chronical
(08-18) 18:37 PDT -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is refusing to disclose records about a new class of pesticides that could be playing a role in the disappearance of millions of honeybees in the United States, a lawsuit filed Monday charges. Read More
What is a Bee Guardian?
One who is committed to serve and shelter the bees as a species on the planet in a time when this most valuable species is endangered. A Bee Guardian is interested, in aiding bees as a species in order to recapture their genetic vitality and diversity. Bee Guardians oversee the local environment, ensuring it to be safe for the bees.
A Call to Action
Become a Bee Guardian in Your Community
- Commercial crop production has been effected in a reported 35 States. This is a highly significan and threatens not only US and global food supplies, but left unchecked, may soon prove to have devastating consequences for the delicate balance of the Biosphere itself.
- As such, becoming a Bee Guardian in your community may prove critical to ensuring pollination of plants and vegetables in your local area, while safe guarding a wholesome habitat for the honey bee. Being aware and active of the issues surrounding pesticide abuse will help sustain the critical and delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystem, food chain, and Biosphere.
- Take action and help combat this silent crisis, please join the growing movement of Bee Guardian’s who are becoming agents of change in communities across the nation, and around the world. Bees are the heart of the biosphere!
Contributing to BeeGuardian.org helps support; research, workshops, pollination efforts, public out reach, education in schools and dissemination of sustainable Bee Guardian methods at a national and global level. Learn More
Crops Dependent on Honey Bee Pollination
Click on your favorite food
to see how it is pollinated:
Citrus- (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, etc.)
(beans, peas, lentils)
This is a partial list.
is essential for some crops, while for others it raises yield and quality.


Toxicity of Some Plant Oil Nanoemulsions to Black Cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
1 Department of Insect Population Toxicology, Central Agricultural Pesticides Lab, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt,
2 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of agricultural, Benha University, Qalyobia, Egypt, (M.M.A.), (A.M.S.E.D.)
* Correspondence: , Cell: +020237602209 or +020237616858
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanotechnol. Agric. Food Environ. 2019, 1(1), 1; doi: 10.34195/nafe.2019.09.001
Received: 4 Feb 2019 / Revised: 3 Sep 2019 / Accepted: 2 Jul 2019 / Published: 23 Sep 2019
The insecticidal activity of some botanical oils on the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was evaluated in laboratory assays. Oils of jojoba, garlic, and pumpkin plants were prepared in the form of nanoemulsion. Second and fourth instars larvae were treated with original oils and their nanoemulsions via the leaf dipping technique. The results revealed that 5% nanoemulsion oils were significantly more effective than original forms. The average size of the nanoparticles of effective nanoemulsion oils was 185.4, 362.9, and. 281.5 nm for jojoba, garlic, and pumpkin, respectively. The obtained data indicated the nanoemulsion of jojoba oil was the most effective against 2nd and 4th instars larvae, causing 100% and 60% mortality after 2 days of the treatment at concentration of 5% for 2nd and 4th instars larvae, respectively. It was concluded that the formulated nanoemulsion of these botanical oils can be used as an effective alternative to commercial pesticide formulations to control A. ipsilon larvae. Full article


The Gathering (Réttir) -
In Autumn farmers head out to gather their flocks that have been grazing in the wild mountain pastures of summer. This event is called Réttir or the Gathering. Most people use the traditional method of horseback riding to round up the sheep along with the enthusiastic help of their well trained sheepdogs.
The process can take up to a week. During this time, participants stay overnight in mountain huts located throughout the highlands. Each sheep farmer has his own earmark in order to identify his livestock.
After the gathering, the sheep are all sorted into designated pens, according to earmarks. Many people, farmers or not, come to watch or take part in this event on the last day, which is usually followed by a big celebration the same night. This is a tradition cherished by Icelanders.


$18,000 to be shared across three innovative projects that support coffee farming women in Nicaragua, Rwanda, and Ecuador
After much deliberation, the JavaJog Grant Review Committee selected three projects to receive funds collected through the 2017 Seattle race. The projects support the creation of an organic farmers market in Nicaragua, a coffee seedling nursery in Rwanda, and a coffee processing and distribution center in Ecuador.
The 2017 Grant Review Committee recommended the allocation in funds in line with JavaJog’s Grant Protocol, which requires separation of the project review and evaluation process from the JavaJog Organizing Committee. The members of this year’s committee were: Charlene Lewey of King Arthur Flour (formerly of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters), Ben Schmerler of Root Capital and Katherine Nolte of Sucafina. The proposals are scored along six key criteria.
JavaJog 2017 is please to recognize the three winners!
- In Nicaragua, the SOPPEXCCA coffee cooperative is embarking on an ambitious new venture: to bring organic vegetables and fruit grown by women cooperative members to the residents of Jinotega, Nicaragua. This first-ever organic farmers market, run by SOPPEXCCA, will provide a healthier alternative for the 100,000 people living in the area, while delivering opportunities for coffee farmers to diversify income and improve nutrition for their own families. JavaJog has allocated $7500 to Food 4 Farmers to implement this project in partnership with SOPPEXCCA.
- The Rusave Coffee Cooperative in Rwanda will receive $5096, to work in collaboration with The Kula Project to build a seedling nursery to house and cultivate 35,000 coffee tree seedlings, and distribute coffee trees to 150 women coffee farmers, as well as provide agricultural training on the planting and maintenance of coffee trees.
- In Chaucha, Ecuador, El Grupo de Mujeres (EGM) or ‘The Women’s Group’ aims to increase the economic resiliency of the residents by supporting a collaborative, community-wide and women-led project of income generation and job creation. JavaJog has awarded $5404 to The Chain Collaborative (TCC) to support EGM to build a processing and distribution center for quality coffee that will provide farming income to residents of Chaucha and surrounding communities and build job security for women and youth for years to come.
The 2017 JavaJog was made possible by the support of generous sponsors: especially our Platinum Sponsor, Metad and Gold Sponsor, Baratza. Other sponsors included: Equal Exchange, Cascade (Silver), and Marco, Equator Coffee and InterAmerican Coffee (Bronze). Sponsorships cover 100% of the costs for the race and a professional race organizer to ensure a high quality experience for the participants. This way, 100% of race registrations and funds raised can go directly to the JavaJog cause of supporting the efforts of coffee farming women around the world.
More than 120 runners and walkers gathered along the shore of Lake Union on Friday, April 21st for 5K and 10K races. In all, race registrations, individual fundraising efforts (top fundraisers were Elizabeth Goldblatt ($3315), Baratza ($1425) and Kimberly Easson ($900)), and a generous $3000 contribution by Starbucks brought the total amount of funds to be awarded to $18,000.
JavaJog will be providing progress reports on the projects as they get underway.
Thank you everyone for your hard work to make this possible!
Stay tuned for more details about the 2018 Race planned for Seattle Expo!