MARMOLEUM: Made of 97% natural raw materials
Marmoleum is a floor covering by Forbo. It is made from natural, rapidly renewable, raw materials. The weighted average of Marmoleum product range is CO2 neutral (cradle to gate) without offsetting, meaning that the CO2 emission is reduced by taking other initiatives, like planting trees to compensate for the emissions.
In simple terms, the CO2 produced in the extraction, transportation and manufacturing process of Marmoleum is balanced by the removal of CO2 through the growing of its natural ingredients such as flax, jute and rosin.
Marmoleum is also phthlate free and allergy UK approved, contributing to a healthy and sustainable indoor enviroment.
How it is made:
Flax seed oil: The main ingredient in Marmoleum is flax seed oil, produced by pressing the seeds of the flax plant. The flax plant is an easy-to-cultivate species delivering annual crops of flax seed as well as fibres for the textile industry.
Wood Flour: Wood flour is obtained from the waste material of the timber industry. The wood of roots and branches are finely ground and used in linoleum. No tropical hardwoods are ever used.
Pine Rosins: Pine rosins are mixed with the vegetable oil pressed from the flax seed to produce a flexible binder. The pine trees, from which the rosins are extracted, come from controlled forestry locations throughout the world.
Jute: The reverse side of Marmoleum is made from woven jute. Jute (also known as hessian or burlap) is a natural and important eco-friendly vegetable fibre. It is produced from the stalks of the jute plant. Jute is plentiful and highly renewable.
Limestone: Limestone is one of the world’s most abundant resources. After sand, it is the most available natural material in the world.
Pigments: When it comes to our beautiful colours, only ecologically friendly pigments are used.


back at work
I managed to plant some Gladioli on Thursday afternoon, the only trouble is I am not sure where. I dug a nice little patch for them, but when I opened the bag, I really had to struggle and they pinged all over the garden so I am not sure how many ended up planted where I wanted and where the others went. But I don't like a garden too neat and uniform.
I had to go away for the weekend but went up the allotment this morning before the rain started again, it's amazing how good the rain has been for the weeds. I know I mustn't grumble.
No, it's not my garden but I could only wish


Contributed by Bill Redford, DLC Resources Field Manager
Typically, Arizona receives about half of our yearly rainfall totals during the monsoon season in mid-June through September. But with last year’s extreme heat and drought (frequently called our “nonsoon”) fresh in our minds, many people are wondering what this year’s summer will hold in store. And how will that affect our landscape?
Monsoon season brings, on average, 2.7 inches of rain to the valley. In 2019 and 2020, we received only 1.6 inches combined! This devastating difference, in combination with 2020’s hottest summer on record, caused many trees, palms, saguaros and plants to fail. While nature is never predictable, there are a few things to keep in mind to know how to react when we (hopefully) receive those summer rainstorms.
- Check your soil
Even if we receive a lot of rain, it might not be soaking into your yard for plants to access, particularly if your yard is sloped. Test your soil’s moisture levels¬ by using a soil probe or a long screwdriver. If the screwdriver goes in at least 6 in., there is plenty of moisture for most plants and turf. Larger trees such as palms require deeper watering; ask your local nursery or hardware store for recommended amounts.
- Adjust your irrigation controller
Learn to adjust your irrigation controller. Water the correct amount for your plants and schedule for nighttime watering to avoid excessive evaporation. As a general rule, for every ¼ inch of rain received, you can turn off your irrigation system for one day. A rain gauge or local weather info can help you determine how much rain was received. (Also, remember to check your soil!) Cacti shouldn’t need water unless the summer is excessively hot, and then only enough to wet down to the roots.
- Understand plant loss happens
Unfortunately, it’s essential to realize that plant loss can occur if our rainfall totals are extremely low. Even in a normal year, plants and trees can fail because they are complex organisms and need a correct balance of water, sunlight and nutrients. When these elements become unbalanced, or pests or fungi attack, it may not be possible to save every plant.
How DLC responds
DLC’s Water Department regularly assesses rainfall, humidity and temperature information to alert our irrigation crews to adjust the system as needed. Our remote access controls allow us to easily change settings to account for big rainstorms.
Of course, we follow our own recommendations and frequently check soil samples to tailor water delivery to each area in a Community. Specialized irrigation techs in the field are highly trained and experienced in reviewing the effectiveness of systems. DLC is proud to combine data AND skilled field knowledge for a responsive approach to irrigation that protects the health of plants without wasting water.Although no one has a crystal ball, we hope these tips will help your plants make it through monsoon season, whether we receive a good amount of rain or not! Learn more by visiting the DLC Learning Center.


Homeowners like a nice looking lawn, but not everyone enjoys spending the hours it takes to keep a yard looking great. Hiring a professional ensures that you’re getting the best care possible while giving you more free time. Our partners at We researched the best lawn care services in Kansas City to help find reliable companies you can trust.
When it comes to keeping your lawn looking immaculate, Kansas City residents can take the DIY approach or hire a professional. If you go the DIY route, there are many different tasks, including trimming bushes, mowing the yard, treating for insects and weeds. These tasks are time-consuming, and it’s possible to buy the wrong equipment or make a mistake that affects your lawn’s appeal.
By hiring a professional, you can have all your lawn care handled at once. There are a few types of lawn care companies, including basic lawn mowing services and lawn treatment companies that handle pest control, aeration and cleanup. Landscaping companies provide gardening services and install sprinkler systems or other forms of irrigation. Many landscaping companies in Kansas City also perform lawn care.
Here are a few benefits of hiring a lawn care professional in Kansas City:
Not many people want to spend their Saturday afternoon mowing and trimming their lawn. For most areas in Kansas City, people need to mow their lawns at least twice a month — and often weekly — to keep up with the growth.
The average yard size in Kansas City is more than 6,000 square feet, which can take two hours or more to mow and remove weeds. Residents in suburbs such as Overland Park or Parkville are likely to have even bigger yards that require more work, including pruning bushes. The time it takes to maintain your lawn adds up quickly and keeps you from other things you enjoy doing.
It can be difficult to properly care for your home’s lawn. The type of grass, the area in which you live and type of pests in your neighborhood all affect the approach you need to take. Hiring professionals ensures the right materials and techniques are being used, which provides better results.
With Kansas City’s brutal weather changes, lawn care professionals can also do the following maintenance year-round:
Kansas has a pesticide law that all companies must follow. The law ensures companies are qualified to use the pesticide and are doing so correctly — another benefit of hiring a professional instead of going the DIY route.
Lawn aeration is important when maintaining a healthy lawn in Kansas City. The city’s soil contains an abundance of clay, which is easily compacted and makes it difficult for growing grass to absorb nutrients and water. If you, like many homeowners in Kansas City, find that your lawn browns earlier than it should, you may need to hire a company to perform lawn aeration.
Other neighborhoods with specific lawn issues include those near lakes, including Raintree, Lakewood and Platte County. The soil in these areas is often wetter and more susceptible to weeds such as sedges, chickweed and knotweed.
While the upfront cost of lawn services make it seem like it’s cheaper to handle it yourself, there are hidden costs involved in DIY lawn care. A trained professional spots and diagnoses problems immediately and knows the correct solution and equipment to use. Untrained homeowners often misdiagnose problems and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars without finding the proper solution.
The average price for mowing a lawn for Kansas City, Missouri is around $45, and the average cost on the Kansas side of the city is close to $40. The total expense depends on several factors, including the size of your lawn and how often you have it mowed — many companies offer discounts for more frequent service.
Average cost for lawn mowing services in Kansas City
Twice a month
Most homeowners in Kansas and Missouri have their lawn mowed every other week, but your needs and overall preference should guide your choice. Additional services such as fertilization, aeration and leaf removal are typically an extra cost, but many companies perform these services at affordable rates.
How to hire lawn care in Kansas City
Professional lawn care companies do not need a license to operate in Kansas City, but both Kansas and Missouri may require landscaping contractors to be licensed for specific projects. Verify any company you hire is registered in Missouri or Kansas, depending on where the company is located.
To make sure you’re working with a reputable company with a track record of strong customer service, read customer reviews of multiple companies before hiring one. Ask the company if they charge hourly rates — most lawn care companies in Kansas City do — and see if there are complaints about the company taking longer to perform the work than expected.
Look for reviews from repeat customers, which shows a company is consistently reliable. Most homeowners prefer to continue working with one lawn care company.
TruGreen offers a variety of services, including weed control and full-yard fertilization, as well as regularly scheduled lawn plans for homeowners with any size of lawn. The company advertises hassle-free lawn plans and offer 50 percent off the first service to Kansas City residents. TruGreen’s specialists offer care suggestions and maintenance between visits as well.
Gunter Pest & Lawn
Gunter Pest & Lawn has helped more than 100,000 Kansas city residents since 1950. The company offers monthly, full-service residential lawn care packages that include pest control, making it easy and affordable to get the lawn treatment you need. Kansas City residents praise the company’s thorough, knowledgeable service.
Ryan Lawn & Tree
Ryan Lawn & Tree is a full-service lawn care company in Kansas City that offers lawn care programs, tree and shrub care and sprinkler systems. Ryan Lawn & Tree recognizes that lawn care is not one-size-fits-all and promises specialized service for all customers. Reviews from Kansas City include many long-time customers who praise the company’s quality work.
Benjamin Lawn & Landscape
Offering full-service lawn and landscaping care all across Kansas City, Benjamin Lawn & Landscape has been named one of the top companies for lawn care in the area. Benjamin Lawn’s affordable services come with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, and Kansas City customers report the company’s employees are courteous and prompt.


Production of baled hay uses a large amount of your resources: land, labor, seed, fuel, fertilizer and equipment. The way you store your hay after baling can have a large impact on hay quality and quantity. Hay stored unprotected will be damaged by rain, snow, wind, and ice during fall and winter. The average round bale loses around 25% of its original nutrients when stored unprotected outside. Markets that demand top quality hay will also require hay storage buildings that offer full protection from weather. Cleary offers a wide variety of options for hay storage and will design your building specific to your needs. The two primary options for hay storage are fully enclosed and “roof only” structures. Fully enclosed structures can be open at one end for ease of filling and to allow for adequate natural ventilation. Roof only structures are professionally designed by Cleary engineers to maintain their strength in all types of weather conditions.


It’s no secret that farming is difficult in the Valley’s desert climate. The choking summer heat and lack of rain aren’t exactly the most favorable conditions for growing plants.
However, one local has found a way to bypass Phoenix’s harsh environment by growing plants in an environment he can control—a freight car.
How does it work?
Mark Norton of Phoenix wanted to find a way to help people improve their health while also helping the environment, so he bought a refitted freight car from Boston-based Freight Farms for $85,000. He is one of two freight farmers in the state, according to an AZ Central article.
The car uses hydroponics technology to grow leafy greens without soil and with little water. Red and blue lights inside the car encourage photosynthesis, and water and nutrients are automatically delivered to the plants when needed. The plants are grown vertically, which allows for the water that drains through them to be recycled and used again the next time they need watered. This process uses 90 to 95 percent less water than traditional farming. The automated process is recorded on a phone application that the farmers use to track their plants’ growth.
What’s different about these plants?
Norton emphasizes that his plants are not grown with genetically-modified (GMO) seeds or any type of pesticide or herbicide, simply because they don’t need to be. They don’t face the same problems as other crops grown in harsh outdoor conditions would, such as destructive insects, invasive weeds or lack of fertile soil.
Norton also claims on his website that because the plants are grown under such a controlled environment, “there is little risk of poor crop quality or quantity,” and they should stay fresh for two weeks. Because freight farmers can control the amount of water and nutrients getting to the plants, as well as the amount of light, humidity and heat they are exposed to, positive results can be consistently expected.
The plants can also be grown year-round since they don’t depend on climate. Once a plant is harvested, another is immediately put in its place to maximize the farm’s output.
Another plus to this type of farming is its contribution to local business. Because the plants are grown right here in the Valley, they don’t need to travel long distances to get to customers, which saves on carbon emissions. The system of recycling water also prevents the production of polluting runoff, which is beneficial for the environment.
How can I buy freight-grown produce?
Norton grows kale and lettuce, then sells the produce online through his business, Picked Fresh Farms. Customers can purchase one box at a time, or they can sign up for a four-week or eight-week subscription plan. Once customers order their produce, they can pick it up at one of five Scottsdale and Arcadia locations.
The farm also runs Facebook and Instagram accounts so customers can see how the process works and what plants are being grown.


Editor - Carleen Madigan
Before becoming an editor at Storey Publishing, Carleen Madigan was managing editor of Horticulture magazine and lived on an organic farm outside Boston, Massachusetts
Have you ever dreamt of having your very own place that resembles what our grandparents and great grandparents thought was a "normal" lifestyle? Growing and preserving food that you have carefully raised will put you in touch with the Earth once again. This comprehensive guide to homesteading provides all the information you need to grow and preserve a sustainable harvest of grains and vegetables; raise animals for meat, eggs, and dairy; and keep honey bees for your sweeter days. With easy-to-follow instructions on canning, drying, and pickling, you’ll enjoy your backyard bounty all winter long.
Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.


We get it: San Diego has perfect weather. It’s almost obnoxiously perfect to those who yearn for autumn leaves and spring rain, but it’s anything but obnoxious to the over 5,000 farmers who call it home. With a growing season that lasts all year round, an abundance of local produce consistently makes its way to local farmers markets, restaurants, and yes—bars.
We are always up to something! Stay in the loop by checking out our recent blog posts or following us on social!


You can enjoy hydrangea flowers by fertilizing well
- Nathaniel Chalobah
The hydrangea is probably the most popular plant in European gardens. Of course, this has a lot to do with the inflorescence of this special bloomer. Nowadays there are hydrangeas in all kinds of colors and amount of flowers. A hydrangea not only belongs in every garden, but is always an asset to a terrace or balcony. How do you care for a hydrangea? When should you fertilize a hydrangea?
Caring for a hydrangea is not particularly difficult, but you should pay attention to a few things and sort them out before planting. Good soil, timely pruning and sufficient water are important. Protection against late night frost is also a must, otherwise you run the risk of getting fewer flowers afterwards. You can read all about fertilizing below. If you are going to plant a hydrangea, you can do this in a pot or in the ground. Remember that the plant must get enough sun otherwise it will not flower profusely. If the hydrangea is in full sun, it needs regular extra water. Before planting, always put the root ball in a bucket of water for a few minutes. That way it can suck up well.


Two weeks ago, I wrote about the 2023 farm bill, which stands to be reauthorized by Congress this fall. The bill, I argued, amounts to unnecessary corporate welfare for large industrial farms who do not need the assistance. Legislators should therefore implement sensible payment caps for farm bill programs to prevent needless and unfair spending. In this article, I want to situate the farm bill within our local New England agricultural context, and in doing so, add more detail to the arguments from my previous piece. Though New England-local agriculture is smaller and less productive than its counterparts in the middle of the country, it offers non-economic benefits to the community it serves that should be supported by the farm bill.
Though the farm bill is a piece of national legislation, it is oriented towards the highly productive farmland in the Midwest, where large industrial farms produce staple crops like wheat, corn and soybeans. These farms are responsible for the U.S.’s global dominance in agricultural commodity markets, and they provide the foundation for national and global food security. Soybean farms also provide the massive amounts of feed required to operate the industrial cattle ranches in the Mountain West.
These large farms are so successful because they possess what economists call “economies of scale.” As farms increase their acreage, they become more productive per acre. This occurs because farming is capital-intensive, meaning that it requires lots of expensive machinery and specialized technology. A farmer who owns this kind of capital is incentivized to farm as much land as possible, in order to make the best use of these expensive purchases.
Faced with these incentives, farms across the country have grown in acreage over the past several decades. Soybean farms, for example, have more than doubled their average acreage since 1978, growing from 114 acres per farm to 297 acres per farm in 2017. Even more striking is the concentration of productivity among the largest farms. Though large farms with acreage greater than 250 acres account for only one-third of all soybean farms, they contributed 81% of the 2017 soybean crop.
The incentives resulting from economies of scale have concentrated agriculture revenues with the largest U.S. farms, who have used their economic power to lobby for favorable federal agricultural policy. As I explored in detail in my article from two weeks ago, several farm bill subsidy programs determine payments based on productivity per acre, which means that the largest and most productive farms — concentrated in the Midwest — receive most of the payments.
This policy paradigm causes trouble for New England agriculture because the landscape and climate do not allow for the same economies of scale. New England’s soil is rockier, and the region’s hillier topography does not allow for the perfectly rectangular — and highly efficient — expanses of agricultural plots common in the middle of the country. New England land prices also tend to be higher because of higher residential and commercial demand, which prevents farmers from expanding their operations and cashing in on economies of scale.
This unique ecological environment ensures that New England farms cannot cash in on farm bill subsidies like their highly-productive counterparts in the middle of the country — and rightly so, some argue. The policy rationale for the farm bill rests on the idea that the most economically productive farms should receive the greatest benefit from the federal government.
Unfortunately, this rationale is backwards. The most productive farms should require the least federal help because they are so productive. And smaller, less productive operations, like those in New England, should receive a greater share of the benefits because they provide non-monetary benefits to their communities.
In the language of economics textbooks, the small New England farm offers positive externalities — that is, benefits that are external to the market — to its neighbors. It does also offer internal benefits: a certain quantity of food, supplied at a certain price, though usually a smaller quality and a higher price than a larger industrial farm could offer. But these small local farms offer so much to their local communities beyond internal market efficiency. When consumers can purchase their food from farms they know personally, they have much better information about the quality and safety of their food.
The dangers of factory farming and food packaging — both to animal wellbeing and human health — are well-documented and longstanding. More than a century ago, Upton Sinclair published his groundbreaking book “The Jungle” to expose the horrendous safety standards in Chicago meatpacking plants. The book prompted a series of reforms in the United States Department of Agriculture to enforce safety inspection for all meat sold in the U.S. Before the industrialization and globalization of food production, safety standards were socially enforced at the local level, by friends and neighbors in close proximity.
Beyond the immediate benefit of food safety, I wrote last year about the broader social benefits offered by tight-knit, self-sufficient local economies. In today’s tenuous international climate — where globalization is no longer the rule — returning production and consumption to close proximity will strengthen local communities against the increasingly harsh winds of international trade and establish vibrant socioeconomic life at a small scale. These are the kind of social benefits that local agriculture can offer — and the kind of benefits that the current farm bill does not encourage because of its biased subsidy structure.
Unfortunately, this bias in the farm bill is structural, a result of political reality and unlikely to change soon. There are, however, opportunities for moderate change within some farm bill programs that can accomplish these local priorities for New England farms. The three largest environmental incentives programs in the farm bill — the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program — distribute subsidies based on faulty formulas that do not account for populations that stand to benefit from environmentally-friendly farm management in New England.
CRP, for example, does not account for the millions of people who live in close proximity to New England farms along the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers who stand to benefit from water quality improvements caused by better farm management upriver. Instead, the CRP concentrates on preserving arid Great Plains land threatened by erosion and habitat destruction — a noble goal, to be sure, but arguably, not as important as improving drinking water quality for the millions who live near New England farms.
CSP and EQIP suffer from the same bias by indexing their payouts to state-level measures of farm activity. Consequently, most of these programs’ money goes to the agricultural centers in the middle of the country. All three of these programs miss out on high-impact conservation opportunities because they do not account for impacts on population centers, and they are biased towards states with high aggregate farm activity.
Despite their small size, New England farms provide invaluable services to their communities in the form of local socioeconomic vitality. The farm bill should make changes to its subsidy distribution system to reflect these non-economic benefits.
Opinion articles represent the views of their author(s), which are not necessarily those of The Dartmouth.


For thousands of years across the entire North American continent, from the Iroquois nation of the northeastern United States to the native people of Mexico, farmers planted corn, beans, and squash together. For the Iroquois, these were the “Three Sisters,” who provided the tribe with food all winter long. The three sisters grow perfectly together. The tall corn supports the beans that use the stalks like a pole. The beans provide important nitrogen to the soil, and the squash helps keep weeds and insects away. Although all three plants could survive if they were planted alone, it would take a lot more work to keep them alive. The relationship between the corn, beans, and squash show how all living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of an ecosystem are connected. When the ecosystem of the garden or farm goes out of balance, it affects not only the plants, but all of the people and other animals who depend on the garden for food and shelter.
In my work as an environmental scientist, I explore what happens to both the environment and people when traditional methods of farming are no longer used. For example, during the last 50 years in Mexico, farming practices have changed greatly. Instead of planting beans, corn, and squash together, farmers began planting a monoculture—only one crop at a time. Farmers started growing a single crop for a variety of reasons. In the 1950s, new types of seeds, pesticides, and herbicides were developed, which allowed farmers to grow large quantities of one crop instead of smaller quantities of many. The new seeds often produced more food per acre, and the new chemicals helped control pests and weeds, but there were also drawbacks. The new way of farming used more water and chemicals, and it also affected the health of butterflies, bees, birds, and people. It also changed the economy, because instead of lots of small farms growing many different crops, the farms became larger with fewer people working the land. Because of trade policies, Mexican subsistence farmers could no longer support their families by growing the corn, bean, and squash intercrop. Many were forced to leave their native villages and search for work in the United States.
It is this work of looking at both people and the environment that gives us a clear understanding of cause and effect, and a way of coming up with realistic solutions. It also gives me a way to help the natural world, a world that I have loved since I was a little girl. I grew up in the 1950s in San Bernadino, California, when it was still just a small town surrounded by miles of hills and wilderness. I used to run wild in those hills! My love of the outdoors was an early clue about my love of science. After I graduated from high school, I majored in biology at the University of California, Riverside, and then got my master’s degree in biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 1969, I was hired as a biology instructor at San José City College. I became the first woman biologist of Mexican descent to teach college in California.
Although teaching helps students on an individual level, I wanted to do something to help on a community level. I decided to combine my love of science with a desire to help the Mexican farm workers both in Mexico and the United States by getting a Ph.D. in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2002, I became the first American Latina to graduate with a Ph.D. in the field of environmental studies, and the first person in my family to earn a Ph.D. With my degree, I hope to continue my research and promote the creation of healthier farms and safer working conditions for the people who work the land.


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Why not come see us at the RHS Garden Harlow Carr Summer Garden Show 24th- 27th June 2021.
We will be there all all weekend with our fantastic water butts up and running in a real life situation. You can see how just how easy they are to set up as well as the key features that make them very different to the average water butt.
Our small friendly team will be there happy to answer any questions you may have.
Posted in award winning water butt, exhibition, garden show, harrogate flower show, rain barrel, rain butt, rainwater terrace, rhs shows, spring flower show, water butt, water butt at harrogate flower show
After a busy 4 days at the Spring flower show in Harrogate we are back in the office. We enjoyed answering all your questions about the Rainwater Terrace water butt.
If you didn't get chance to come see us at the flower show our next show is the Great Yorkshire Show which runs from 12th - 14th July at the Yorkshire show ground in Harrogate.
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© 2022 Rainwater Terrace®. Rainwater Terrace is a Design 4 Plastics Product


Tap in to the existing resources in your community, whether you are looking for a kitchen to process food from your garden, seeds and tools to share, or a network of people interested in healthy food access in Saint Paul.
Have extra food from your garden you want to preserve for the winter? Want to make jam? Check out the Saint Paul community kitchens inventory
to find a kitchen near you. Click here
for a PDF version. The inventory is a work in progress--if you know of any kitchens you think should be added to the list, please contact Mark Granlund at
. If you are interested in selling home-processed or home-canned foods, click here
to learn about the Pickle Bill.
Gardening Matters is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving community gardening across the Twin Cities by connecting gardeners to each other and to the communities in which they reside. They provide training and resources to support community gardeners in achieving community gardens that are successful and sustainable.
Saint Paul-Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission
The Food and Nutrition Commission is a forum for public and private stakeholders to assess how local food systems are operating and suggest policies, share information and plan for increased access to safe, affordable and nutritious foods. The Commission will create an action plan laying out a comprehensive vision of Ramsey County's future in terms of access to healthier foods and sustainable local food systems for food production, distribution and consumption. To attend a meeting, contact Julie Sieber at 651-266-2515.
Local Food Resource Hubs Network
Hubs are neighborhood networks of gardeners who come together to support each other in growing, cooking, preserving and composting their own fresh produce. Gardeners pay a small fee to become members of the Hubs Network and receive seeds, seedlings, access to tools, low-cost workshops, and become part of a dedicated and supportive community of people growing their own food. In 2012 Saint Paul started their first resource hub in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood
. To join a hubs network or to start a new hub in your area, contact Gardening Matters
Sister's Camelot distributes free, fresh organic produce and whole foods through their Food Share program in the metro area.
Frogtown Gardens' mission is to make the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul healthier and greener. They recently implemented three new gardens in the neighborhood.
Healthy Eating Minnesota Network
The Healthy Eating Minnesota Network is based on the idea that in-person and online collaboration can catalyze knowledge exchange, networking, and coalition building around healthy eating and healthy food access in Minnesota. Explore the network, share your ideas, and connect with others across the state who are working to create healthier food systems.
The Minnesota State Horticultural Society's Minnesota Green Program began in 1988 and has been serving the greening efforts of thousands of volunteer gardeners throughout the state. Minnesota Green offers free plants for community gardens on public spaces.
University of MN Extension Ramsey County Master Gardeners
Have a question about how to grow broccoli, or how to grow the best tomatoes? Get your questions answered by a Master Gardener.
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA)
The purpose of MISA is to bring together the diverse interests of the agricultural community with interests from across the University community in a cooperative effort to develop and promote sustainable agriculture in Minnesota and beyond.
Land Stewardship Project
The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1982 to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and to develop sustainable communities.
Urban Roots is a Saint Paul-based organization whose mission is to build vibrant and healthy communities through food, conservation and youth development.
Local Foods Partnership U of M
Learn how communities are partnering with the University of Minnesota to strengthen the local food economy.


HOLIDAY PLANT SALE!
Get jolly and support the Goodnoe Garden; the Goodnoe Garden is hosting their annual Holiday Plant sale! All proceeds will directly fund the spring planting needs and maintenance of the lovely Goodnoe Garden this school year. The sale ends Tuesday, November 27, so get your order in today!
sale ends Tuesday, November 27
All plants are provided by Gasper Home & Garden Showplace. Visit them HERE.
*Please note that the plants are not allowed to be transported on the buses, so you must pick up your order on Friday, November 30. Your plants will be available for pick up at full-day and kindergarten drop offs and dismissals on Friday, November 30.
Questions? Please contact GoodnoeGarden@gespto.org


To start the day in Annecy, your host takes you to discover the city with a scooter rally. Equipped with a roadbook and riddles to solve, you will discover “the Venice of the Alps” in a fun way.
Right after, we will offer an aperitif followed by lunch along the lake.
Then, accompanied by mountain experts, you will discover what makes Haute-Savoie one of the most beautiful regions of France.
Depending on the time of year, you will harvest wild garlic or fruits and learn how to turn them into a wonderful pesto or delicious jam!
To continue this “nature and discovery” themed day, put your boots on and live the life of farmer for a few hours!
Get ready for a new experience!
Welcomed by the farmers, you will participate in the various jobs of the farm (milking the cows, feeding the calves, making some white tomme cheese, etc.).
You will end this total immersion with dinner with the farmers. And, guess what? Taste the white tomme cheese you just made!
Finally, to finish this beautiful day of varied activities, we reserve you an overnight stay in a Campsite near the farm! Whatever the time of year, continue your evening closer to nature.


Treating every blade of grass as if it were our own. Coastal Property Management gardeners are proficient with all the tools of our trade, including both push and ride on lawn mowers, meaning there is no garden too big or too small for us to cut and maintain to your exact specifications. From weed and feeds to re-seeding or turfing, Coastal Property Management can help!
We also provide hedge clipping, cutting and maintenance, tree maintenance and management as well as the management of planted areas to ensure the proper growth of all that grows in your garden.
Coastal Property Management can provide our services for both front and back gardens, pathways and any grass or garden area of your property, maintaining a high standard in each and every area and showcasing your property as well as it should be.
Whether you need our services for a holiday, residential or commercial property, call on Coastal Property Management today for all of your gardening service needs.
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Black teas are often attributed specific names depending upon the region where the tea plants are grown and the resulting tea leaves produced.
What is black tea?
Black tea, like all teas, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Black tea leaves differ from their green, white, and oolong counterparts due to the level of oxidation in the leaves. Once plucked from the tea plant, the leaves begin to oxidize, and the oxidation is only halted once heat is applied. To be considered a black tea, the leaves must be 80% or more oxidized. In order to achieve near full oxidation more quickly, tea producers often macerate, tumble, or roll the leaves.
As the oxidation in the leaves occur, the level and content of polyphenols change. Black tea tends to have more thearubigins and theabrownins than other types of tea. The result is darker leaves, which often yields a reddish brown liquid once steeped. The taste of the cup is often described as malty, fruity, and sometimes smoky as well.
Where is black tea from?
Though tea plants are now grown around the world in many different climates and regions, most of the more common teas you would drink come from Southeast Asia. Today, there are hundreds of cultivars and hybrid plants based on the Camellia sinensis plant. However, there are two main, or more popular, cultivars from which our tea leaves are harvested: Camellia sinensis sinensis and Camellia sinensis assamica.
Native to China, the Camellia sinensis sinensis plant yields smaller leaves and is typically used to make white or green tea. The plant itself is more tolerant to the cold and tends to grow in dry, sunny regions. This plant is often found in China, Japan, and Taiwan.
Having originated in Northern India, the Camellia sinensis assamica plant yields larger leaves typically used to make black tea. The plant thrives in subtropical forests and does well in warm, moist climates. The leaves are great for yielding the maltier, stronger cups of brew that black tea is known for. This plant is often grown in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Argentina.
What's in the name?
Some of the most popular black teas in the world are often named after the region in which the tea leaves are grown and produced.
The Assam region in India has a rainy, tropical climate and is home to the largest tea-growing region in the world. The Camellia sinensis assamica plant got its name from the Assam region, as this is where the plant originated. Most likely due to British influence, Assam black teas are often used in breakfast and other common flavored blends, like English Breakfast and Earl Gray. The malty, bold flavor holds up to the addition of milk and sugar.
From another region in the country of India, we get Darjeeling. The name is reserved for teas grown on specific plantations that meet several criteria to earn the Darjeeling label, including location and altitude. The resulting flavor profile of the tea is often described as softer and more floral, sometimes spicy.
Teas grown in various regions of Sri Lanka are called Ceylon. Though the flavor of the tea is often described as strong and brisk, the teas may vary significantly depending on where they grow. The climate of Sri Lanka's many tea gardens range from cool and mountainous to humid and tropical. Those black teas grown at a higher elevation tend to be lighter in color and milder in flavor, while black teas grown at lower elevation tend to be a darker, with a reddish-orange color and bolder tasting notes.
Keemun tea comes from the Anhui province, China. Though still described as malty, the flavor of the resulting tea tends to be lighter with a sweet finish. This specific black tea often yields cups with stone fruit flavors and is slightly smoky. The resulting brew is sometimes even described as containing hints of cocoa. Keemun is the most popular of black teas produced in China.
These are just a few of the more popular black teas consumed around the world. Remember, though black teas tend to be darker in color and bolder in flavor than other types of tea, the flavor profiles of each tea may vary significantly. The region in which the tea was grown, what crops were near the tea plants, the variation in climate during the growing season, etc. may all impact the flavor of the resulting cup of tea in the end. We invite you to try a few of these different types of black tea and explore the resulting diverse range of colors and flavors in your steeped cup of tea.


Established from a partnership project between the University of Hawaii (UH) and Southern Christian College (SCC) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Higher Education and Development (HED) organization, the CAFE was formed by the UPLOAD JOBS for Mindanao project in 2013 where project goals targeted the out-of-school youth in Central Mindanao and the faculty and staff of Southern Christian College. The project’s sustainable goals and achievements included enhancing the institutional capacity of SCC in community extension and rural livelihood development of out-of-school youth through agri-entrepreneurship training of standard business and soft skills, essential for market integration and competitiveness, to increase individual opportunities to be employed and self-employed.
Participating municipalities of the UPLOAD JOBS for Mindanao partnership activities in Cotabato: Alamada, Carmen, Libungan, Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, and Esperanza
Through this partnership, the CAFE was able to reach over 200 out-of-school youth and support the start-up of over 20 small business plans.
The CAFE aims to continue to inspire and support the innovators and entrepreneurially inclined within Central Mindanao bylinking existing agri-entrepreneurship resources, programs and networks to continue to support the specific needs and address the challenges associated with starting up a new venture to support local economic growth!
To find out more about the UPLOAD JOBS for Mindanao project: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ctahr/uploadjobs/


Myco-Fusion Green 150 by Santiam Organics - 35 lbs
We compared price of Myco-Fusion Green 150 by Santiam Organics - 35 lbs across hundreds of online stores. We found Myco-Fusion Green 150 by Santiam Organics - 35 lbs in 1 store with lowest price $966.23 in GrowersHouse.com. For detailed price comparison of Myco-Fusion Green 150 by Santiam Organics - 35 lbs check table below.
Myco-Fusion Green 150 by Santiam Organics - 35 lbs description from GrowersHouse.com
Myco-Fusion Green 150 was formulated with the indoor gardener in mind. Delivering multiple endomycorrhizal species and a variety of compatible bio-based organisms in one power packed product is the result of over 17 years in the business of commercially producing mycorrhizal fungi. No other group in the U.S. has a longer track record. Green 150 is a dry inoculant that can be used in soil or as a dusting agent prior to planting. Application Methods and Rates: This product is designed to be used in soil system as a dry application. Endomycorrhizae have been shown to benefit over 90% of all plants. For a complete list of plants and their mycorrhizal associations, contact the manufacturer. For Transplants: Apply product directly in contact with plant roots. For trees and vines, apply 2 tablespoons (30 ml) per plant. For vegetables, strawberries, and other row crops, apply 1 teaspoon (5 ml) per plant. For Planting Seeds: Apply product in the furrow beneath the seed at the rate of 1 tablespoon (15 ml) per row foot, or broadcast at the rate of 2 tablespoons (30 ml) per square foot and rake into the upper soil layer before planting. Cultural Conditions: This product contains living micro-organisms that are sensitive to certain cultural practices. To avoid inhibiting or killing the organisms, do not use high rates of inorganic fertilizers, especially those with a high proportion of Phosphorus (P) . Avoid application of fungicides with PCNB, thiophanatemethyl, or soil fumigants. For technical information contact the manufacturer. Storage Conditions: Store in a cool dry place with prolonged temperatures not exceeding 90F (32.2C) . Avoid direct sunlight. Product should be used in a well-ventilated place. MYCO-GREEN CONTAINS NON-PLANT FOOD INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredients: Glomus intraradices...104 propagules/gm Glomus deserticola... 9 propagules/gm Glomus etunicatum... 9 propagules/gm Glomus clarum... 9 propagules/gm Glomus
I had several grocery & gourmet food from , but Myco-Fusion Green 150 by Santiam Organics - 35 lbs seems the high-grade!


Learning how to treat coco peat is essential to prevent poor germination due to the scorching effect caused by excess sodium in the medium.
Cocopeat is treated by first soaking it in water to hydrate it after which fertilizer such as calcium nitrate that can replace the sodium salts is introduced. This reaction takes about 24 hours and helps to remove the unwanted salts. It is then and rinsed several times. Finally, the water is drained, and EC measured to ensure it is within the pH range required.
The media is then potted in seedling trays or pots. Seeds are then sowed singly and put under a shade or a greenhouse.
Step by Step Procedure on How to Treat Coco peat
- Soaking in Water
Soak coco peat in water for 15minutes to hydrate it. This also loosens it.
2. Add Calcium Nitrate
Add calcium nitrate in the mixture solution at a rate of (1 spoon ful) for every 5kgs then stir the mixture and leave it for 24hours. A displacement reaction will take place.
3. Wash coco peat 5-7 times with clean water
Once 24 hours has elapsed drain the water and wash the coco peat 5-7 times to remove any traces of sodium salt. The pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of the media are then measured. Ideal pH should be 5.6-6.5 while the EC should be 1.6-2.0
4. Potting of the media on seed trays or planting bags then sowing.
5. Commencement of nutrition regime
Two weeks after germination, nutrition programme begins.
Call +254748246998 to place your order
Swift delivery within Kenya. Huge price (KES) discounts on large orders


What is NDVI?
NDVI stands for, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. It is a simple graphical indicator that can be used to analyze remote sensing measurements, typically but not necessarily from a space platform, and assess whether the target being observed contains live green vegetation or not. Of course, with the wonderful changes in technology these days, these measurements can also be gotten with the use of an Unmanned Aerial System, or drone.
As the drone flies over the prescribed area it travels on a very specific path and at a specific altitude, all the while taking a photograph every 2 seconds. The result is a large, very high resolution 2D image that is stitched together to create a very useful overview of the entire property. At that point we can generate the NDVI so the farmers can see what is happening with their crops so they can determine what to do to increase their yield, and their profits!
Below, the enlarged photo on the left is the actual photo taken by the drone. The photo on the right is the same photo after it has been run through our software program. As you can see by the red vs. green areas, it has not only picked up the spot where no seed was dropped, but it also shows the inconsistency of the height of the corn rows, which in this case is being blamed on the ground being too wet when the farmer planted.
Depending on the size of the fields, we can normally have the results back to the farmer the very next day.
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- Germany’s agricultural minister mentioned Ukraine wants to be stocked with weapons to stay away from a world wide famine.
- Foodstuff Minister Cem Özdemir urged Western nations to improve arms to Ukraine, for every German information outlet WAZ.
- He explained Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a “hunger method” on the agricultural landscape.
Germany’s agricultural minister warned of the prospective for a world wide famine if Ukraine does not acquire additional weapons from Western nations.
In accordance to Food Minister Cem Özdemir, Russian troops are wreaking havoc on the world’s agricultural source, he instructed the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ), a German newspaper, in a report printed Sunday.
“Russia’s war versus Ukraine is progressively turning out to be an attack on the worldwide neighborhood,” he mentioned. “That’s why it really is so significant that the West supports Ukraine with far more, a lot more efficient weapons — and Germany should not be exempt from that.”
Özdemir instructed WAZ that Germany has obtained see that Russian troops, at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s command, are “intentionally destroying agricultural infrastructure and provide chains.”
If they carry on to demolish the agricultural landscape in Ukraine, there could be devastating penalties on the planet source chain of foods, he reported to WAZ.
He characterized the procedure to wipe out Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure as Putin’s “hunger tactic,” and urged worldwide corporations, these as the United Nations Globe Foodstuff and Agriculture Committee, to back again him.
“Listed here we have to concur on fundamental, structural issues of agricultural and food items plan around the world,” he stated, in accordance to WAZ.
Russia and Ukraine play pivotal roles in the grain sector. Ukraine is a major exporter of both wheat and corn, accounting for 12% and 17% of world wide offer, respectively. And Russia’s wheat exports account for pretty much 17% of international source, Insider’s Urooba Jamal notes. Given that Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, foods prices have started to soar.
“Shortages of these commodities and wide-centered boosts in prices could increase to inflation pressures and food insecurity,” a World Bank spokesperson informed Insider.
The possible outcomes have nervous economists in the United States, who are paying close awareness to any reverberations from the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association, for illustration, explained to Insider he is seeing out for how barley will impact the beer source in the US.
“Ukraine and Russia together produce about a fifth of the world’s barley,” Watson mentioned in an interview with Insider.
Craft brewers in the US are not majorly dependent on Ukrainian barley. “But these are worldwide marketplaces,” Watson stated. “So what occurs to the sector when the international locations that would typically obtain these exports from individuals countries won’t be able to, is the large mysterious. Are they capable to pivot to other goods or resources?”
Supply website link


This page will be a work in progress and I will keep updating it so come back regularly for new plants and flowers.
Grows everywhere in the UK, we class it as a weed but for many centuries as far back as 659 AD it was used as a medicine against diabetes, prostate cancer, jaundice, bladder infections, antioxidants, high blood pressure, etc.
Dandelion is a very rich source of beta-carotene which we convert into vitamin A. This flowering plant is also rich in luteolin, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus.
Dandelion’s flower from February through to November. Every bit of the plant is edible raw or cooked: the young leaves can be used in salads (if you’re planning on eating the ones in your garden, you could blanch them by putting a pot over them to make the leaves pale and less bitter) or steamed as a vegetable or boiled to make a tea. In autumn, when the roots are fat, they can be scrubbed, dried, roasted and ground to create a powder for making coffee. The flower can be used to make cookies, risotto’s, etc.


R&D Green Mart is part of the R&D Innovative solutions which aims to develop commercial agro entrepreneurs by providing training, consultation and mentor farmers. In addition, R&D group is the publisher of Commercial Agricultural Magazine named “Krishak Ra Prabidhi”.
R&D Green Mart provides local green vegetables, fruits and dairy product at a reasonable price in Kathmandu and its surroundings. These shops are a solution to replace the regular agro chain where many middle men benefit from great market margin at the expenses of the farmers. Therefore, there is a need to address this situation linking farmers to market directly, which is the main objective of the R&D Green Mart. This new chain excludes middle men and thus helps the farmers as they are now paid at a fair price.
Furthermore, R&D owns a 200 ropani farmhouse and work with 40 families. In those farms they encourage the use of cheap and local technologies, such as homemade composts, to reduce the costs of the production and to respect the environment. This implies that the Green Marts are able to sell their products at a cheaper price in comparison to the local market.


Last spring the kids got the idea that they were Natural Born Gardeners, and they were going to grow ALL our veggies for the year. Fantastic I thought, think of the money we will save, so we got some raised beds to start them off. Like any self-respecting homeschool mum I also got some books to help the kids in the garden, not that my green fingered boys needed any help 😉
I had great plans of companion planting, neat rows, and staggered harvests. But when it came time to plant, the boys were having so much fun with it I let my plans slide and it became…’Boy Style Gardening: Lets plant these seeds in the most haphazard way possible, and see what happens’.
It was a great experience for the boys. The ran out every morning over the summer to water the plants, and check for slugs. I thought it was a 10 minute job, but they assured me they weren’t dragging it out to near an hour to avoid school work. So I believed them 😉 Soon came the strawberry harvesting. Well harvesting might be an overstatement, but we did get a strawberry a week for months, and we were still eating them six months later! Dividing a strawberry six ways is a life skill.
The carefully NOT planted carrots were tiny, maybe the size of your pinkie. Boys loved pulling them up and eating them au naturale. They tasted delicious, and left us wanting more. Funny how a packet of 100 seeds only produced about 20 baby carrots. I suspect it was the planting style.
Various traps were laid for the slugs, including egg shells and saucers of beer, and the old-fashioned way; hand picking. We still don’t know how to get rid of them without chemicals. Any ideas welcome.
The tomato plants didn’t do well at all. They shriveled up at the bottom, and fruit production was dismal. I took this picture the other day. In the middle of the winter our tomato plant has some fruit. I don’t think that’s normal but still…. We are Tomato Growers. ** Cheering from the crowd in my head. (Can you hear them too?)
So what we have learned:
- Slugs are relentless. They just keep coming back.
- Kale with slug bites tastes the same as kale without slug bites.
- Gardening is hard work, but rewarding.
- If you don’t water plants they die.
- If you over-water plants they die.
- We spent a lot more than what we saved. Boys need to pull up their socks to produce all our veggies needs.
Do your kids help out in the garden? Are they little-hindering-helpers like mine?


Sprinkler System Winterization!
Protect your sprinklers and irrigation system from freezing and expanding water with our Sprinkler Winterization services.
Winterizing your lawn sprinkler system can eliminate costly repairs and headaches in the springtime. Water left in the pipes of your sprinkler system can freeze when temperatures dip causing damage to the entire system. Winterizing your lawn sprinkler system involves removing any water from the pipes so they cannot expand and cause damage when freezing temperature hit. Sprinkler winterizing is often called blowing out the sprinkler system or irrigation blow out.
When should you turn off your sprinkler system and have us blow out the sprinklers? The best time to schedule your yearly sprinkler system winterization service is when you are done watering for the season and before the temperatures start to drop.
Need your sprinkler system winterized? The professionals at TWS Plumbing can handle sprinkler winterizing and all your sprinkler system needs.
- Removal of backflow device
- Drain service line to backflow
- Blow all water out of the sprinkler system
- Regulate air pressure not to exceed 50PSI
- Use large volume air compressors
- Walking the system as we winterize to inspect for any needed repairs that will be noted on your invoice for spring repairs.
- Deactivation of pumps if used on system
- Each zone will be activated a minimum of two times with a rest period between


Coffee Cherry Harvesting
What we refer to as coffee beans are in reality seeds from cherry-like fruits. Coffee trees create cherries that start yellow in colour they then turn orange and ultimately to bright red after they are ripe and prepared for choosing.
Coffee cherries develop along the branches of trees in clusters. The exocarp is the skin with the cherry and is bitter and thick. The mesocarp will be the fruit beneath and is intensely sweet having a texture substantially like that of a grape. Then there's the Parenchyma, this is a sticky layer pretty much honey-like which protects the beans inside the coffee cherry. The beans are covered in the endocarp, a protective parchment-like envelope for the green coffee beans which also have a final membrane named the spermoderm or silver skin.
On average there's one coffee harvest per year, the time of which is dependent upon the geographic zone on the cultivation. Countries South from the Equator are likely to harvest their coffee in April and May whereas the nations North on the Equator usually harvest later within the year from September onwards.
Coffee is normally picked by hand that is carried out in one of two approaches. Cherries can all be stripped off the branch at as soon as or a single by one making use of the strategy of selective picking which ensures only the ripest cherries are picked.
Coffee Cherry Processing
As soon as they've been picked they should be processed quickly. Coffee pickers can pick between 45 and 90kg of cherries every day nonetheless a mere 20% of this weight could be the actual coffee bean. The cherries could be processed by one of two procedures.
This is the easiest and most economical choice where the harvested coffee cherries are laid out to dry in the sunlight. They're left in the sunlight for anywhere involving 7-10 days and are periodically turned and raked. The aim getting to minimize the moisture content with the coffee cherries to 11%, the shells will turn brown and the beans will rattle about inside the cherry.
The wet method differs for the dry strategy inside the way that the pulp in the coffee cherry is removed in the beans inside 24 hours of harvesting the coffee. A pulping machine is made use of to wash away the outer skin and pulp; beans are then transferred to fermentation tanks where they're able to stay for anyplace as much as two days. Naturally occurring enzymes loosen the sticky parenchyma in the beans, that are then dried either by sunlight or by mechanical dryers.
The dried coffee beans then go through one more procedure referred to as hulling which removes all of the layers. Coffee beans are then transferred to a conveyor belt and graded with regards to size and density. This could either be accomplished by hand or mechanically using an air jet to separate lighter weighing beans that are deemed inferior. Coffee harvesting countries ship coffee un-roasted; this really is known as green coffee. Around 7 million tons of green coffee is shipped planet wide annually.
The coffee roasting procedure transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans and is where the flavour from the coffee is fulfilled.
Green coffee beans are heated utilizing huge rotating drums with temperatures of around 288°C. The rotating movement in the drums prevents beans from burning. The green coffee beans
turn yellow initially and are described as obtaining the aroma an aroma comparable to popcorn.
The beans 'pop' and double in size right after about eight minutes that indicates they have reached a temperature of 204°C, they then start to turn brown as a result of coffee essence (inner oils) emerging. Pyrolysis may be the name for the chemical reaction that produces the flavour and aroma of coffee because of the heat and coffee essence combining. Anyplace amongst 3 and five minutes later a second 'pop' occurs indicative on the coffee being totally roasted.
Coffee roasting is an art form inside itself, coffee roasters use their senses of smell, sight and sound to ascertain when coffee beans are roasted completely. Timing is fundamental within the coffee roasting method as this impacts the flavour and colour in the resulting roast. Darker roasted coffee beans will have been roasted for longer than lighter coffee roasts.
When roasted, coffee is packaged in a protective atmosphere and exported globally.


Welcome to 32.6°S, 149.6°E
First Ridge's strengths are its aspect, its vineyard management and the wonderful rocky ridges that are perfect for growing Italian varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Fiano,Vermentino, Barbera and Sangiovese.
With an elevation up to 580 meters the vineyard is positioned on rolling ridges facing all points of the compass.
Our soils are extremely suited to viticulture, being generally volcanic; they vary from shallow topsoils with basalt and quartz rock to deeper loams over neutral clays. Moderately fertile, the soils are very friable and well drained. This produces fruit with great depth and flavour.
The climate in spring and summer can be categorised as mild with cool summer nights. This extends the ripening period, producing fruit with good acid and rich varietal flavours as opposed to the sugar ripeness experienced in warmer climates. Humidity is low and sunshine hours are high, which gives our wine incredible colour and mouth-filling flavour.
First Ridge planted the Italian Sangiovese and Barbera varieties in the late 1990s. These grow along hard, rocky ridges on the highest hills of our estate to produce lower-yielding vines with intense varietal flavour. In 2013 we grafted Vermentino over our Cabernet Block. More recently we grafted Pinot Grigio and Fiano on the North facing hill to maximise air flow from the valley below and to reduce the effects of the summer afternoon sun.


Libation Espresso is a rotating seasonal espresso created specifically to present a juicy, fruit-foward espresso experience. Winey, even. Spring 2018 Libation: Burundi, Kayanza This coffee comes to us from remote coffee lands of northern Burundi in the heart of Africa. Specifically, it comes from the Heza washing station, one of two relatively new washing stations in the high hills of the Kayanza region. Built in 2013 and 2014, these washing stations may seem like simple stopping points for coffee along its journey to your cup, but their importance shouldn’t be understated. These washing stations or wet mills were built by the Carlson family as part of the Long Miles Coffee Project, an effort to improve coffee quality through intensified sorting throughout the milling process. In addition to several quality sorts, the coffee is also sorted by the distinct hill on which it is grown. This coffee was grown above 1,900 masl on Nkonge Hill, where 1,400 families are part of the Long Miles Coffee Project. The project also seeks to facilitate direct connections between farmers and roasters (like us!) as it improves the livelihood of local coffee farmers…all while giving the world the gift of delicious coffee from Burundi.


What is sustainable agriculture?
Project week on sustainability in science, studies, profession and everday life
27th – 30th March 2023
From 2023 onwards, the project week formerly known as “Spring Days of Sustainability” will bear the new name Spring Academy Sustainability and have a different focus each year. The programme from 27th – 30th March 2023 will revolve around the question "What is sustainable agriculture?".
Climate crisis impacts such as increasing extreme weather events, a dooming hunger crisis and the consequent pressure on land use and food production are challenging agriculture. A scientific assessment and discussion of pros and cons regarding alternative production methods and land use forms are especially important. How can we produce foods sustainably, nourish the world population and reduce malnutrition at the same time?
The Spring Academy Sustainability starts with a public keynote speech (in German) on Monday, 27th March 2023 at 6pm by Prof. Dr. Dr. Urs Niggli, president of the institute for agroecology in Switzerland and pioneer of organic agriculture, in the KIT Audimax. Afterwards, the sustainability forum will provide the opportunity to connect with numerous research projects, initiatives and companies in the domain of sustainable agriculture.
During the project days in between, students and interested guests who registered can inform themselves and get to know different perspectives in the current discourse through more than 30 parallel workshops and excursions about the topic "What is sustainable agriculture?" that are divided into diffrent categories: Food and Consumption, Society and Agriculture, Land Use, Planetary Boundaries, Bioeconomy and Technology, Urban and Rural Practice.
On Thursday, 30th March 2023 at 6pm the Spring Academy Sustainability will be closed with a panel discussion (in German) about the topic: The future of agriculture - how can productivity and sustainability be reconciled?
The opening keynote speech and concluding panel discussion, both in German language, are public and can be attended without registration.
Attention: These two programme parts and the introductory lecture are only offered in German. Workshops and excursions in English will be marked as such.


Tags: cattle panel, hay, home made, winter
Hey folks. Here’s a quick pic of my home-made round bale feeder that I made for the 2009 fall/winter goat/sheep pen. It works pretty good – so far. It’s so light weight that I take it out of the pen and place it around the bale before bringing the bale into the pen. I’m not real sure if I could easily get the feeder in place if the goats got unruly. This way I don’t have to worry about it. Here the bale & feeder is setting on the bale fork, waiting to be brought to the goats & sheep. Look closely… you can see where I made openings for the animals to stick their heads through – one up high and one a bit lower. Click on the feeder openings so see a close-up.
my homemade round bale feeder made from a single cattle panel


While not sharp, the seeds and stalks are abrasive, so you might want to wear gloves if you’re likely to process a good deal. If you aren’t lucky, you must use the seed that has a potential of producing THC levels. Cannabis seeds can be useful if they should be utilized as medical marijuana and so all you have to do is get right ahead and know things in the line.
The dispensary has different forms of cannabis oil. Because marijuana is excellent for a very good laugh and to relax and revel in it together with friends. You can be certain to locate a large variety of cannabis and Cannabis related products which will satisfy your marijuana needs on our online cannabis shop in addition to recreational marijuana dispensary. Cannabis can be useful if there’s a patient of depression or anxiety and if you have regular need of cannabis then it is advisable to grow your own cannabis plants. For highest quality cannabis, you need hand-selected and lab tested cannabis seeds which are easily available at One Million Seeds.
Here at One Million Seeds, you will be able to find very good quality of cannabis seeds. From plenty of different categories, you can select the most suitable product for your needs. Basically, you can select or buy marijuana seeds online with no hassle and most common categories of seeds may involve:
- Auto-flowering seeds
- Feminized seeds
- Regular seeds
- Medical seeds
All the above mentioned categories seeds has plenty of different seeds ideal to your distinct needs. If you are looking to buy marijuana seeds online then make sure you prefer One Million Seeds. It is known for quality seeds supply and all the different type of seeds can be grown easily in any season. These seeds are lab-tested and will definitely work over your needs. Apart from this, you can easily save your time and money by purchasing your cannabis seeds from One Million Seeds.
What is the purpose of your car? This may not be something that you spend a lot of time thinking about, but it is fair to say that there are many distinct reasons to own a car or even pass your driving test. The cost of driving and owning a car means that people need to be motivated to drive, own a car and then ensure that this car remains in excellent condition. It can be helpful to remember why you drive, as this will provide you with the impetus to ensure that you care for your vehicle.
Some of the key reasons why people have a car include:
- Needing a car to get to and from work
- Needing a car for their work
- To care for their family
- In case of emergencies
- For the fun and freedom that comes with owning a car
These are all fantastic reasons to have access to a car, and if you don’t have a car, you will find that your life becomes harder to organise and run. Therefore, you need to know how to keep your car in the best possible condition, but the highly-technical nature of modern cars means that many motorists are unable to care for their vehicles in the manner they would like to. This means there is a need to call on experts for support and if you are looking for the best standard of garage Crawley motorists can call on, you will find that Revs of Horsham is the garage for you.
Revs of Horsham has developed a sterling reputation amongst the driving community in and around Crawley. The firm can provide a wide range of diagnostic tests and if you are looking for dependable services, you will find that this is the garage you can trust.
Book the best MOT Horsham has to offer
There is a great deal to be said for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your car is in fantastic condition. There are so many components in a car that impact on its performance, it is best to leave the care and maintenance of these parts to specialists who have experience in dealing with these matters.
Of course, you need your vehicle to be in a roadworthy condition. If you are looking for the best standard of MOT Horsham motorists can call on, you will find that Revs of Horsham is the company to trust. The firm is well known in the local area for offering affordable and dependable MOTs, making them a smart choice for local drivers.
No matter what reason you have for driving, be confident on the road by calling on the best garage. For more detail visit at: http://revsofhorsham.co.uk/mot-horsham/
Raw Cannabis seeds endorse health
There is huge benefit in health with Raw Cannabis Seeds. They have higher value of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) which gives strength to bones and increase energy. It is very good for people of all age level.
Helps in Weight Management
You can easily increase, reduce or maintain your weight by eating lot of Cannabis seeds regularly. These seeds are super tasty. So people who want to be on diet, they can take this energy rich seeds and can easily skip their food, whereas people who want to gain weight, they can add these seeds in there wood, which will give them energy as well as will help them to gain weight. Marijuana is not just a food; it is super Food.
Do you forget things often? Do you think with age you are becoming weak and forgetting things? Then Raw Marijuana seeds are for you. They help brain muscles to remain fresh and grow well. Lot of medicines we use nowadays; they have part of Marijuana in it. I would suggest to try Blue Dream Auto flowering Seeds for all Memory related problem.
This is specially for girls or females, If you have any problem with Skin, Marijuana can help you. You have to eat it as well as apply the Oil from Marijuana seed to you skin. It will fix most of the problems very quick.
Above are few of benefits, There are lot more, we will cover them in next article. Now, let’s understand How to Buy Cannabis Seeds. As we know, It is illegal in lot of states of United States, and wherever it is allowed, it is not necessary that we can get good quality seeds from there. I would suggest to Buy Cannabis Seeds Online from some reputed store. There are many stores, which shows very low price, just to get some quick sales and make money. But before making a selection, Go for quality as well as genuineness of Seeds. We have tried One Million Seeds and found excellent quality of there Seeds. So whether you need Auto Flowering Seeds, Feminized or Medical Seeds, go with One Million Seeds.
Hemp seeds are used in the medical field to make medicines. There are wide varieties of the cannabis seeds available in the market. This caters to satisfy the needs of the various patients like provide solution to the Aids patients, vomiting and nausea due to hunger. There is wide variety of the cannabis seeds but to have right kind of yield you need right kind of seeds. Few of the varieties of the cannabis seeds are:
- Auto-flowering cannabis seeds
- Feminized Seeds
- Regular Seeds
- Medicinal cannabis seeds
There are various types of medicines which are made from the cannabis and it is helpful for recreation and other purposes also. So here is a good idea to have cannabis available all the time. Yes, you can grow your own plants of cannabis to meet all your future needs. This is the plant that needs attention of sowed and requires proper time and cost in order to grow it properly. This plant can be grown indoor as well as outdoor. One must choose the best fertilizers, proper sunlight and water to grow the plant properly. Some of the breed of the plants helps to develop small size plants while others develop long plants. Aura indicia are the smallest plant of this category. B-52 is the best plant which is known for flower plants.
There are lots of companies in the seed market. In the ancient time, only seed industry is limited to the some area and at some seeds. But with the enhancement in the technology, not only the number of seeds is increased but also there is also change in method of purchasing the seeds. In the ancient time, it is purchased from the nearby seed shop but no one can purchase seeds from anywhere at any corner of the world. The next question that comes in the mind of the some person is that from which online store one has to buy cannabis seeds.
The best and renowned in this category is the One Million Seeds. In this online store, there are one million seeds are available. They have made name and fame in the seed market because of the huge collection of high quality seeds. This ensures the greatest productivity of output. They are selling Marijuana Seeds Online at very affordable prices. Don’t forget to buy cannabis seeds from Buy cannabis seeds, Marijuana Seeds Online.
Our main objective is maximum customer satisfaction which is possible by providing high quality seeds. You can buy cannabis seeds from the following category:
- Auto-flowering seeds:- There are five types of seeds under this category AK47, Amnesia, Blue Dream, Blueberry, Sour Diesel:- AK 47 is very popular as it is very easy to grow. Do not get misunderstood by its name as it makes you feel relaxed. Amnesia has a very pleasant fragrance and can be used for medicinal and pleasure purpose. It makes the user relaxed, uplifted, energetic, euphoric and happy and it also helps reduce stress, lack of appetite, pain, headaches, fatigue and depression. Blue dream, blueberry and sour diesel also helps to reduce stress, pain, headache, fatigue and depression.
- Feminized seeds:- The following are the types of feminized seeds: Green crack, OG kush, Purple kush, train wreck, white widow, Bubba Kush CBD feminized seeds.
- Regular seeds:- Afghani, Northern lights and original skunk are some of the types of regular seeds. The name of Afghani has come from its native place Afghanistan. The plant of Afghani has broad leaves and grows wide instead of tall. It makes the user relaxed, hungry, uplifted and happy.
- Medical seeds:- Pain killer, remedy are the types of medical seeds. Pain killer is used to fight with cancer and chronic muscle pain. Remedy is taken at night by teenagers and people of age between 40 and 60 for relaxation and reduced anxiety.
Our customer service is available 24/7 as we care for our valued customers always. We are dedicated to deliver a very good range of marijuana seeds to our customers who want to grow their own marijuana plants. We have huge variety available in Feminized, Auto Flower, Regular and Medicinal cannabis seeds. You can buy these marijuana seeds online at affordable prices and from our store.
Cannabis is used for a range of purposes and every time you need to buy them from market which is difficult thing. If you often need cannabis for any of purpose then it is good option to grow your own plants of cannabis. When it’s time to grow your own plants of cannabis then you may struggle in selecting the right kind of seeds. However, there is wide variety of cannabis seeds available but growing feminized seeds can be advantageous option. There are number of reasons why feminized seeds are good choice for farmers and for those who want to grow for enthusiasm.
Although, there are huge varieties of feminized seeds such as: Green Crack, OG Kush, Purple Kush, Trainwreck, White Widow etc. but you need to consider their specifications before purchasing. Generally, to grow feminized cannabis plants, you need very little quantity of seeds and small area to grow and even you can grow them in the pot instead of whole garden. Here are the most popular feminized seeds which you can choose:
OG Kush Feminized Seeds
OG Kush feminized seeds can be grown both indoor and outdoor. They are used for a range of purposes including medicinal and enthusiasm. Consumption of OG Kush Feminized seeds will make consumer sleepy, peaceful, happy and euphoric. People use it to get relief from stress or anxiety.
Purple Kush Feminized Seeds
Purple Kush feminized seeds are also good to grow and they are also suitable to grow indoor and outdoor. It can be used to create medicines and it is good choice to reduce stress, joint pain, insomnia and depression. You can grow and make purple kush available anytime you need.
If you want to buy good-quality and hand-selected feminized seeds online then One Million Seeds is the best source. It deals with high-quality seeds uniquely collected from sources of origin. All kind of seeds it provide are available at very less price range and are perfect to meet your different needs.
Cannabis is used for various purposes and they have great significance for development of medications. People utilize it for a number of reasons but to buy it every time from the supplier is not right decision. Every time you need to find the supplier who can provide you the right product at right price so it is highly recommended to grow your own cannabis plants for your own needs. Yes, you can grow your own plants of cannabis and can make the cannabis available all time for your future needs. Growing your own plants of marijuana is good decision as you can make the cannabis available for all your future requirements.
Where to buy high-quality, hand-selected and great value cannabis seeds online?
When you decide to buy cannabis seeds then choosing the right source is most important thing. Achieving the right outcome is merely possible with right kind of cannabis seeds and you can buy cannabis seeds online. There are number of providers of seeds who can provide you the seeds but finding the right one will help you get the best possible outcome. Whether you’re leading farmer or just want to grow them first time in the extra free space in your garden but make sure you are growing the quality seeds with full potential.
If you are looking for the leading and trusted supplier of high-quality marijuana seeds for sale then remember One Million Seeds is the best source. It has wide selection of cannabis seeds involving: Auto flowering cannabis seeds, Feminized cannabis seeds, Regular cannabis seeds, and Medicinal cannabis seeds. All these four kinds of seeds have many other types to choose from and they are ideal to different growing conditions. You can select from the plenty of cannabis seeds available in huge variety to choose from. If you are ready to buy high-quality and hand-selected marijuana seeds for sale then look no further than One Million Seeds.
Marijuana seeds are used for different purposes so it is one of the good decisions to grow your own marijuana plants. Growing your own marijuana will be good decision as it will help you make marijuana available anytime you need. It is long-term solution for all your needs for marijuana and you don’t look to look for the supplier in market. To buy marijuana from market will be extremely costly as compared to growing your own plants. Apart from this, having your own plants will give you assurance of high quality that is probably the most important thing you need to know.
If you have interest or space to cultivate some plants then you should prefer to marijuana and for marijuana seeds in Brampton, you should prefer to the leading seeds provider One Million Seeds.
Why finding right seeds provider is important?
When it’s time to grow your own marijuana then you need to buy high-quality marijuana seeds and buying online can be good decision. When you purchase marijuana seeds online then it will be easy for you to make seeds available anywhere. You just need to know your actual requirement so that you can select the seeds as per your own needs or can cultivate the healthier plants.
To have high quality, lab tested and genetically certified marijuana seeds in Calgary or in surrounding areas, if you are looking for the supplier then make sure you contact to One Million Seeds. It is the leader in marijuana industry now takes pride in ensuring highest quality of marijuana seeds available for sale. All the seeds are priced competitively and are assured for superior performance. Apart from this, One Million Seeds provide all the seeds at the minimum price in industry to get maximum customer satisfaction.
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“The Agropreneur” is an agricultural based television reality show.
The show shall focus on raising agro entrepreneurs from our farmers and those intending to go into farming.
It shall bring farmers and agriculture to the front line where they truly belong, it shall create jobs, empower the farmers with the basic modern tools required to excel in his field.
It is a contest with a difference that shall have what I call “agropretainment”; a blend of agriculture, entrepreneurship and entertainment.
It promises to be informative, educative, exciting, adventurous and entertaining
Participants shall receive training on various areas of agriculture and shall be turned from being just farmers to being “corporate farmers”, what I also call “Agropreneurs”. There shall be a little mix of entertainment so the show is not boring and to attract the attention of the youths to the show.
To change the focus of the Nigerian youths and the older citizens from oil to agriculture and make the nation green again
To turn the Nigerian youths from white collar to green collar jobs
To bring agriculture and farmers to the fore
To provide funding for the farmer through partnership
To provide training & Mentorship
To promote organic farming and discourage the use of GMOS
To showcase Nigeria’s rich Agricultural heritage/ potential to the world
To showcase Nigeria as the next Agricultural haven to the world
To provide a lead for the Nation out of recession
To create jobs
To reduce the crime rate in the country
To create wealth
To increase the GDP of the nation
To encourage every Nigerian to own a farm either as a means of livelihood or to feed his immediate family
FORMAT OF THE SHOW
Thirty (30) Nigerians drawn from the six (6) geo political zones of the country shall make it to the house; five participants from each zone shall emerge after a thorough scrutiny from a panel of foremost agriculturist.
They shall live in a farm house for 30 days
They shall be engaged in large mechanized farms across the country
They shall be engaged in the plant a tree campaign, the green revolution
They shall be given various individual and group tasks to undertake. And that would form the bases of their eviction
Through a steady process of elimination, contestants shall be eliminated on the bases of their performance
Five (5) contestants shall make it to the grand finale, out of which 1st and 2nd runner up would be named and awarded. The climax shall be the crowning of “The Agropreneur”.
All the other contestants shall have access to interest free Agric start up loans
A one (1) hour television reality show based on the activities in the academy shall be televised for the viewers in Africa, Nigeria and indeed the world.
The show shall be anchored by a television personality and
MODE OF APPLICATION
Interested participants are to make payment of #5,000 into designated account either online or through bank teller. Access to the registration form will be granted once payment is confirmed.
Completed forms are to be submitted online to designated email addresses; depending on the geopolitical zone you reside, along with your agro business plan
Applicants must be Nigerians; home or abroad
Must be 18 yrs and above
Must have interest in starting and developing his agro business in Nigeria
Should have a good business plan
Can be an existing agro business person needing funds and support or one interested in venturing into agriculture
Suitable, interested, intending farmers & agro dealers who have applied shall be required to submit their business plans
A panel of agriculturist shall do a thorough scrutiny of all submitted business plans at the various zones
The panel and crew shall visit the 6 geo political zones to scrutinize applicants from the zones
Those selected shall make it to the house, and be admitted into “the Agropreneur Academy”
5 persons shall make it to the academy from each zone
The winner shall be awarded the sum of ten million naira (#10,000,000),
A brand new SUV and a Farm Simulator
The 1st runner up shall be awarded the sum of three million naira (#3,000,000) and a Rice Miller
The 2nd runner up shall be awarded the sum of one million naira (#1,000,000)
There shall be lots of prizes to be won by the viewers at home as well as the studio audience
It shall be an annual show.
Application opens 1st of August, 2017 and closes 31st of October, 2017.


Who Says Composting Isn't Sexy - How Does Getting 20% Off of The Top Rated Tumbleweed Composter Make You Feel?
Although you may not believe it, Spring is fast approaching and the time to gear up for composting is here. If you are concerned about the effects of toxic pesticides on your health and environmental health, worried about the landfills overflowing or simply need to replace your old composting bin, you will really be interested in this deal. Hey composting may not be sexy, but it sure makes you feel good! When I began choosing green products for the Environmental Booty OpenSky Shop, one of the first products I offered was the Tumbleweed Composter. Just in time for planting season, I am giving you the hottest, green deal you will find on the number one composter on the market.
Not only is the Tumbleweed Composter recommended by the National Home Gardening Club, it is the one that my family has. It is easy to put together and use. My girls have been involved in our composting efforts from the beginning and even helped me put the Tumbleweed together. They love to give it a spin every couple of days and check the progress on our organic compost.
When the compost is ready, we use it in our flower beds and, when we are growing one, in our garden. Check out my favorite Tumbleweed Composter and hot, green deal HERE. To take advantage of the 20% off, at checkout use code COMPOSTER20. Hurry, this coupon is only good until Friday, March 5 at Midnight! Enjoy!


Soil Sulphur 50 lbfertilizer
Soil Sulphur, 50 lbs.
Helps create acid soil conditions and also acts as a soil conditioner. Helps lower pH in excessively alkaline soils. Is slow acting but long lasting.
Application Rate: Mix into soil at rate of 1 to 2 lbs. per 100 sq. ft
Read and follow label directions.
Product Number: 33685
Size: 50 lbs.
UPC Number: 7-32221-33685-8


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STUDY ON THERMOPHILES REVEALS THE PRESENCE OF ACTINOBACILLUS LIGNIERESII IN CATTLE COMPOST
Gagandeep Singh Saggu1* and Divya Shrivastava2
1 Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India
2 School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
*Corresponding Author email: firstname.lastname@example.org
Introduction- Moderate environment is important to sustain life any environment condition that can be perceived as beyond the normal acceptable range is extreme condition and if we are talking in the terms of temperature than its called thermophillic environment. Aim & objective- The study was designed to study the diversity of thermophiles present in compost and characterization of the properties which are responsible for their adequate nature to sustain high temperature. Material and method- Microorganisms were isolated from cattle compost and initially screened by biochemical tests to characterize till genus level. Confirmation of Actinobacillus spp. was done by fermentation reactions of nine carbohydrates and amplification of 16S rRNA region. Results- Isolates from compost showed wide range of growth temperatures which suggest their important activity during the whole composting process. This study initially designed to study the diversity of thermophiles in compost which turned specifically to A. lignieresii.
Key Words: compost, thermophiles, Actinobacillus, biochemical, molecular analysis.


By: Kara Flannery
Since you have received your seeds, hopefully they will have germinated by now and the seedlings may be about 3-5 inches high. If you haven’t planted them yet, don’t worry, you still have time, the seeds can be planted well into June. Just put a single seed in a small pot with a hole in the bottom, (don’t forget the compost!) Yogurt cartons are perfect for this.
Don’t forget to water every day.
The seedlings need to remain indoors and preferably on a sunny window-ledge. It’s too cold outside at the moment (early May).
If you placed multiple seeds in a tray or pot and the seedling are a few inches high and have four leaves, separate them out, make sure they are placed in individual small pots. You need to gently pull the seedling from its base.
As the plants starts to grow, you will need to put them in a bigger pot each time (probably 3 different size pots by the time they can go outside). How you know when to move to a bigger pot is to look at the base of the pot and if you see roots sticking out, it’s time to move them on.
Once the plants become tall, maybe 2ft or so, they may need staking with a bamboo stick, they tend to fall over.
Hopefully by June they can be planted out. Sunflowers, as the name suggests, love the sun and generally need full sun. Not necessarily all day. They are happy in a big pot (about 40cm width) or plant them in a flower bed.
They should flower around July and can flower well into Autumn.
I leave the heads on when the flower has died back and the birds and squirrels love the seeds.
Fact 1-Did you know there are around 70 types of sunflowers, they can be giant, dwarf and multi-coloured.
Fact 2- Sunflowers originated from North America and were grown as a crop by indigenous tribes over 4,500 years ago.


CLIMATE change is a huge threat to farmers in the Mediterranean climates of Australia, but for subsidence farmers in Africa, India and Latin America a small change will not merely threaten their livelihood, but their lives themselves.
A report commissioned by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has found scores of climate ‘hotspots’, where a shift towards hotter and drier conditions could jeopardise hundreds of million of people below the poverty line in less than 40 years.
The major problem areas are likely to be in Africa and the subcontinent, however parts of China and Latin America could also be under threat.
CGIAR commissioned the project in response to what it said was an urgent need to focus climate change adaptation efforts on people and places where the potential for harsher growing conditions poses the gravest threat to food production and food security.
The researchers pinpointed areas of intense vulnerability by examining a variety of climate models and indicators of food problems to create a series of detailed maps.
One shows regions around the world at risk of crossing certain “climate thresholds”—such as temperatures too hot for maize or beans—that over the next 40 years could diminish food production.
Holger Meinke, based at the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR) and part of the project as a member of its independent science panel, said the problem was complex and could not be solved by addressing just one facet.
The major staple crops studied were maize, various legumes and rice.
Prof Meinke said simply focusing on germplasm improvement would not provide a solution in itself.
“Improved varieties will certainly help play a role, but it is only one piece of the puzzle.”
He said there needed to be further work done in order to get farmers to adapt the technology and varieties that became available.
“Many of the farmers are illiterate and it is a huge challenge to get them to change their practices.
“We really need to do more work on how we get that knowledge out there and put it in a format that farmers able to act on it.”
He said along with these issues, poor infrastructure meant much grain was lost, because it could not be moved, and due to poor grain hygiene.
“Varietal work is useful, but education and hands on training is the important aspect.
“We also need to work to ensure there are sustainable rotations rather than a focus on one particular crop.”
Prof Meinke said in spite of the challenges, there were also potential growth.
“Africa, for instance, has huge potential.
“It is nutrient limited, but if you could fix those nitrogen and phosphorus issues, you could quite feasibly triple the production.”
But there are big challenges, particularly when many areas will be confronted with a five percent decrease in the length of the growing season over the next 40 years according to current warming trends.
The added heat will also push beans off-limits in some areas, with the legume unable to tolerate growing season temperatures in excess of 30 degrees.


|Home||» Products||» Soil Testing Equipment||» Liquid Limit Device(With counter)|
Liquid Limit Device(With counter)
Liquid Limit Device(With Counter) is widely required for determining the moisture content of clay soils that passes from a plastic to a liquid state. The design of this equipment has removable brass cup, adjustable crank, cam mechanism and blow counter. Hence, our device is available as mechanical form known for performing liquid limit method and used for numerous soil mechanics. The data of soil obtain with Liquid Limit Device(With Counter) is proven to be useful in correlating mechanical property of soil like compressibility and lower shear strength.
- Simple working
- Good accuracy
- Easy to use
- AN ISO 9001:2008
- Contact Details
- RELIABLE LAB EQUIPMENT CO.


Biodynamically grown and hand harvested grapes. For the fermentation process a part of the grapes are mashed and the rest remains in full bunches. After fermentation the wine spends 16 months in 40-year-old oak casks where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation.
Recommended drinking temperature: 12 - 14°C
Name fact: Ponzichter (from the German Bohnenzüchter) was a name for the German-speaking minority of winegrowers in the Sopron region in Hungary, due to them growing beans in the vineyard.