Individuals have been trying to develop a full, rich and greener lawn for years. You will find some very easy guidelines you can use to actually give you grass a fighting chance and start getting the lawn you have always dreamed of. By simply following the simple guidelines below, you may be able to take care of the entire method yourself. Occasionally a lawn is beyond repair and warrants a professional to help restore it.
Mowing your grass more than once a week is something you shouldn't do. It can be bad for the grass whenever you choose to cut it. Sometimes it is better when the grass is longer. The lawn looks healthier and more alive if you decide to permit the grass grow a bit. So when you mow your grass keep your mower's adjustment higher than you normally would, this will help make sure your grass is longer. So start mowing your lawn just once every week and a half to two weeks.
The weeds probably are not an issue anymore once you start taking good care of your lawn properly. Undesirable weeds are eliminated after you mow the lawn. The top of each weed will likely be cut off every time you mow the grass. To manage your unwanted weeds, this approach is very effective. The weed will die once the tip is cut because it needs it so that it will grow further.
Watering your yard is one thing also you should watch out for. Not simply can water destruction occur if you use too much water, weeds might be more of a problem. An inch of water is a reliable practice when watering your grass. The water enables the grass to grow longer because it descends into the roots of the grass. This little trick can make your grass much more resistant to the elements.
A mulching mower is an excellent addition. Many people many times bag the clippings or rake them up as soon as they are finished mowing. Grass clippings are one of the greatest ways to maximize your growth because of the vital nutrients. If you get a mulching mower the cuttings will be spread all over the lawn and you won't see all those outlines of cut grass everywhere.
Let me suggest an additional tip that may help you. Fertilizing your yard is best carried out in the early spring and fall. There isn't a reason to use fertilizer all year long. The most serious example of chemical fertilizers is the fact that you possibly can destroy your grass if you use too much. Using a fertilizer created with natural or organic ingredients is a good idea and viable option. Everyone else is going to be envious of your lawn after they see how good it looks following all the previous tips.


Kiwiberries are perfectly adapted to the temperate growing conditions of many parts of Europe. They are an excellent alternative to their bigger green (A. deliciosa) and gold (A. chinensis) kiwi relatives for a variety of reasons:
Kiwiberries can be produced locally = low “food miles” (distance from producer to consumer), fresher fruit
Kiwiberries are grown in open air = reduction in energy use and decrease in associated costs for heating and artificial illumination
Kiwiberries have a low disease pressure = less or no pesticides have to be used
The introduction of the commercial kiwiberry production in Flanders was supported by a grant from the Belgian Province of East-Flanders for projects focusing on “Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Horticulture”.


Nothing says Autumn like a fun day on the farm! From apple to pumpkin picking and cider donuts to hayrides, welcome in the cooler days of fall with an outing to one of these fantastic locations:
An apple- and pumpkin-picking favorite, Lookout Farm is one of the oldest continuously-working farms in the United States, established in 1651. You can spend a whole day on the farm picking apples and pears and enjoying a flight of hard cider, homemade American BBQ, live music, a Farm Stand with cider donuts, local honey, farm-made jams and jellies, and Lookout’s own produce, a play area for the kids, and—new for 2023—a corn maze. Lookout Farm’s wide variety of hard ciders and beer brewed on site include their unusual Pumpkin Patch pumpkin hard cider, Hold Your Horses New England IPA, Farmhouse hard cider, and others.
Visit Hanson’s Farm, a historic working farm established in 1715 with a lot of fall fun to offer over 200 years later. Dubbed Tom and Matt’s Excellent Adventure, the corn maze at Hanson’s Farm is a big draw for those all over Massachusetts. After you find your way through the winding corn stalk paths, snack on a delicious, fresh apple cider donut under the farm’s giant tent, wander through the pumpkin patch to pick your jack o’ lantern, and visit with their chickens, horses, turkey, and sheep. If you’re interested in something a little more harrowing than a corn maze and sunflower field for your autumn fun, visit at night for their Haunted Hayride, available every Friday and Saturday night in October, an homage to Americans’ love of Halloween.
Make a day of it on the farm at Tougas Family Farm in Northborough! Pick your own apples and pumpkins, visit the barnyard, indulge in a cider donut or other goodie from the farm store, play on the playground, and take a wagon ride around the orchard.
Dowse Orchards offers a wide variety of apples to pick, plus a well stock farm stand that sells not only pumpkins, apples, apple cider, and veggies, but also hay bales, corn stalks and hardy mums for creating your own colorful fall cornucopia of decorations.
Fairmount Fruit Farm in Franklin offers apple picking (until they run out!), plus great special events throughout the season, such as their PumpkinFest on Oct 21 with pop-up vendors, live music, food trucks, mining sluice, face painting, cider & donuts, and Beer Garden by JK Catering (21+)!
Tangerini’s Farm in Millis offers Fun on the Farm weekends through the end of October, with hay rides, pumpkin picking, apple cider donuts, and much more.


The Pucketos (Poe-key-tos) Garden Club was created in 1933 in New Kensington, Pa., at the suggestion of T.H. Hurt, the president of a men’s garden club that was disbanding. Forty women attended the first meeting on September 14, 1933 and elected Mrs. H. Burns Smith as the first president. The club adopted its bylaws and constitution on October 2, 1933. Membership ranged from 80 women to around 60 today.
The name “Pucketos” developed as a tribute to their local history. It comes from Puckety Creek, which enters the Allegheny River, and the Pucketa Indian Trial, which runs from Export, Pa., to present day New Kensington. The activities of the club are outlined in their constitution: “to encourage the planting of gardens, to study methods of plant cultivation, to stimulate interest in cooperative gardening, to aid in the protection of wild flowers and birds, to cooperate in neighborhood betterment." Specifically, the club members participated in field trips to different gardens around Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, flower shows presented by the Pucketos and other local garden clubs, state competitions, and planting projects throughout the New Kensington area.
During the second half of the twentieth century, the club placed an increase focus on environmental protection. In 1986, Ruth Barkley, the club’s Litter Awareness Chair, created the People Against Litter program that was active through the 1990s. The focus on environmentalism continues today as multiple committees report on environmental concerns.
The Pucketos documented their activities primarily through scrapbooks of photographs and newspaper clippings, as well as yearbooks and administrative papers.


99 Sightseeing Farm Open Daily - Café closed Mondays. For further info, to book your tour or to make a reservation at the Café: Tel: (246) 433 9806 firstname.lastname@example.org | www.pegbarbados.com PEG Farm & Nature Reserve “All about P eople E nvironment G rowth” Breathtaking views, countryside walks, guided tours, farm fresh meals and overnight camping are some of the delights at PEG’s unique farm. PEG Farm introduces an exciting combo of agriculture to the island - biodynamics, free range animal husbandry, permaculture and holistic management. Join knowledgeable, local tour guides on an all inclusive breakfast, lunch or teatime ecotour exploring every aspect of the farm. Learn about their farming principles, traditional uses of various medicinal plants on the island, seeing and interacting with free range animals such as cows, chickens and pigs, and find out how the farm is operating to create a more sustainable Barbados. Afterwards, indulge in a delicious farm-to- table meal and their signature rum punch and fresh juices at PEG’s Farm to Table Café , overlooking the vegetable gardens. The campsite, fully equipped with compost toilets, showers, a BBQ grill and campfire areas, allows you to experience the beauty of the stars at night and wake up to a breathtaking view from Hackleton’s Cliff in the morning with breakfast served in the café.


Our clients are:
– Pegging their washing out in their wellies through the summer.
– Unable to let their children or dogs on the lawn at all because it’s wet through, slippery and sometimes under that much water it’s a danger.
The lawns are wet through, the water un-able to drain away naturally and this is due to poor soil quality in most cases. Quite often the ground is clay like and full of rubble and bricks on the new build estates.
In some cases there are land drains installed but installed incorrectly so they aren’t working.
At MPR Landscapes we understand that if a job is being done, we do it properly so it stays working for years to come. Here is the process we follow for land drainage:
– Remove current water logged lawn and poor quality soil.
– Dig the land drainage channels to the correct depth and width.
– So the drainage stays working we add 20 mm limestone to the base of the channel so the pipe always stays clean.
-Place in the land drainage perforated pipe and pipe to appropriate drain.
– We then top the piping with more 20 mm limestone so the pipe is protected from the new soil and stays working for years to come.
– Excellent quality top soil is then added and leveled.
– The garden is then beautifully turfed.
If you have any questions about land drainage or what you can do to improve the use ability of your garden then don’t hesitate to get in-touch.
Please take a look at these image galleries so you can see the process in which we follow.


Skip to main content. Bringing Engineering to Life. Soil is the thin skin covering the land; clean water is becoming more valuable every day. Find out how engineers help conserve these two essential resources as you study the interactions between soils, plants, and water that influence the way these resources are used in planning irrigation systems, tillage and cultivation practices, conservation buffers, and animal production facilities. Apply engineering and design skills to improve water quality and minimize pollution from nonpoint sources.
Students can develop irrigation and drainage systems as well as methods to control the pollution and erosion of streams, rivers, and lakes.
Department of Earth Sciences
They also learn to use biological systems as cleaning systems, namely bio-filters and constructed wetlands for the purification of air and water. There are many applications for this career field, and if you want to play a role in improving and protecting the agricultural environment, and get some hands-on experiences, this is the field of study for you!
Recommended Classes:. Soil and Water Resources Engineering Introduction to soil and water resources and the engineering processes used to analyze watersheds. Soil water relations, evapotranspiration, precipitation, runoff, erosion, flow in natural waterways and through reservoirs, wetland and groundwater hydrology, and water quality. Geographic information system utilized to develop maps and analyze watershed characteristics. A selected watershed is investigated.
Groundwater Engineering Application of engineering principles to the movement of groundwater. Analysis and design of wells, well fields, and artificial recharge. Analysis of pollutant movement. Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Engineering Identification, characterization, and assessment of nonpoint source pollutants; transport mechanisms and remediation technologies; design methodologies and case studies.
Animal Waste Management Characterization of wastes from animal production. Specification and design of collection, transport, storage, treatment, and land application systems. Air and water pollution, regulatory and management aspects. Irrigation and Drainage Systems Engineering Analytical and design consideration of evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and water movement as related to irrigation and drainage systems; analysis and design of components of irrigation and drainage systems including water supplies, pumping plants, sprinkler systems, and center pivots.
Emphasis Areas Machine Design Engineering Invent, design, or improve the machines used by agriculture, heavy construction, industry, and households. Soil and Water Resources Engineering Develop irrigation systems, methods to control erosion, and practices for pollution prevention.
Test Engineering Evaluate the functional performance of machines and equipment through study of test procedure standards, measurements, and data acquisition. Follow Agricultural Engineering.
Upcoming Events. Full Month View Submit an Event.Soil and Water Conservation within the Watershed Management approach. Soil and water conservation are those activities at the local level which maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the land including soil, water and vegetation in areas prone to degradation through. These activities are to be selected and implemented according to the respective local conditions; i.
Soil and water conservation is an integral part of Watershed Management. Although Watershed Management was formerly considered to be nearly synonymous with soil and water conservation, it goes far beyond it today, comprising a variety of further activities that attempt to improve the living conditions of the people living within the respective watershed e.
Introducing soil and water conservation in the Gina River catchment may further the sustainable utilisation of natural resources for the benefit of local people as the overall goal of Watershed Management. Its success will depend on the participation of local people with their traditional knowledge.
After the detailed analyses of the watershed they will together select, implement and carry out the soil and water conservation measures suitable for the natural and human conditions of the Gina River catchment.
Some economic, institutional and political aspects have to be considered as well. What participation means and why it is essential in Watershed Management you can learn now. Springe direkt zu Inhalt.
Introduction to Soil and Water Conservation. Soil and water conservation are those activities at the local level which maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the land including soil, water and vegetation in areas prone to degradation through prevention or reduction of soil erosion, compaction, salinity; conservation or drainage of water and maintenance or improvement of soil fertility WOCAT Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks.
Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one of the most difficult and pressing problems before man. Both engineering and biological methods have been used to check the soil erosion but it is still without a plausible check.
Vast tracts of fertile land are rendered useless on account of industrialisation and development. In India, we are aware of advancing deserts of Rajasthan and erosional losses, floods etc.
The problem has received the attention of forest ecologists, soil scientists and engineers only recently. It is practiced in the hilly regions or on the slopes. In such areas the ram water is absorbed in very little amount because of its quick downward movement on the slopes.
If these sloppy areas are ploughed up and down the slope, the heavy rainfall may cause gully development.
Taking into consideration this defect, the sloppy areas are ploughed and seeded against the slope, i. This process is termed as contour farming. The contours circular or peripheral furrows catch the downwardly moving water until it is absorbed in the soil. The ridges reduce the flow of water. The circular rows of plants across the slopes check the soil erosion.
Thus, contour farming reduces run off, saves more water for crops, reduces soil erosion and increases the yield of crops Fig. There are several diverse opinions as to whether deep ploughing gives good result or shallow ploughing. A number of researches support the view that in dry areas, shallow ploughing gives comparatively good crop yields Shallow ploughing removes the weeds and enables the soil to absorb water.
Deep ploughing of en leads to soil erosion but in the areas where rainfall is sufficiently high, deep ploughing upto cm deep is effective in removing weeds and increasing crops yields.
If the land is left uncultivated and sheep, goats and other cattle are allowed to graze and sit over it for some time, the soil becomes fertile. Though this practice is useful yet it is not possible in the countries like India where exists severe problem of cereals because of thick human population.
The soil loses its fertility even after the use of fertilizers and ultimately erosion sets in. Rotation of crops is an important method for checking erosion and maintaining productivity of soil.Soil and water conservation engineering.
Download PDF. Recommend Documents. Soil erosion and conservation. An analysis of the joint adoption of water conservation and soil conservation in Central Chile. Ecological engineering and nature conservation. Conservation tillage and biochar improve soil water content and moderate soil temperature in a tropical Acrisol.
Conservation laws for a class of soil water equations. Soil conservation and social stability. Schwab, D. Fangmeier, W. Elliot and R. Frevert, Wiley and Sons, Inc. Looking at an 'old', new book is always a gratifying experience. This one provides the reader with a well-written and thoroughly edited book as well as an updated one.
This edition is the fourth of this book. Its content has been thoroughly checked, revised and brought up to date. In the previous editions, engineering approaches to soil and water conservation formed the skeleton and its content. In this edition, the text addresses the interactions and impact which soil and water conservation methods and practices have on soil, water and air quality and on the entire environment.
The major purpose of this book, as was the case with its previous editions, is to provide a basic textbook for agricultural engineers, soil scientists and other professionals interested in soil and water conservation.
The book includes twenty-one chapters, nine appendices and an index, a list of abbreviations, signs, symbols and Imperial to SI units conversion tables. Each chapter is well-illustrated, includes several worked examples and an updated bibliography.
The first two chapters cover precipitations and conservation-environment interrelations in general and emphasize their implications on small and large area scales. Problems directly connected with hydrology, namely infiltration, evaporation and transpiration Chapter 3runoff and surface flow Chapter 4 are well-explained in details and illustrations.
In the following chapters the problems of water and wind erosion Chapters 5 and 6 are dealt with and control practices are discussed. Conservation measures, such as tending waterways Chapter 7 and terracing Chapter 8and structures especially constructed for conservation, such as earthworks, dams and flood control, are dealt with Chapters 9 through Land forming, surface drainage and other methods for draining agricultural land and large areas are discussed at length Chapters 12 through In Chapters 16 through 21, pumping, quality of water for irrigation, water supply, principles and method of irrigation are discussed in a very rigorous, technical language and the illustrations and examples are most enlightening to the reader.
The appendices include compiled equations for determining runoff, flow in pipes, conduits and channels, drain design, conversion constants, generally useful formulae and design of filters.Watershed development activity was taken up in the country prior to independence in the state of Maharashtra then Bombay state as a scarcity relief work during drought years in which contour binding programme for conservation of moisture and control of soil erosion was mostly undertaken, After independence, during the second five-year plan, soil conservation research, demonstration and training centers were established in different agroecological zones.
A watershed is a geo-hydrological unit, which drains into common point. The watershed approach is a project based ridge to valley approach for in situ soil and water conservation, forestation etc. Unit of development will be a watershed area of about hectares each in watershed development projects. However, the actual area of a project may vary keeping in view the geographical location, the size of village etc. The Watershed Development Programme is the basic need for integrated development and management of the land and water resources which provide life support for rural communities.
Thus the prospects for agriculture in the dry land areas are severely constrained by the specific feature of their natural resource endowments and the changed context. In a situation of low pressure on resources, viability was possible through traditional land cultivation practices.
Watershed Development Programme ensures supply of water to every field, removes hunger and poverty from poor areas, provide green cover over denuded areas, bring in more rains and improve the environment. Watershed Development Programme is also described as a programme that holds the key to solve problems of employment, economy, ecology, export and equity.
The approved plan shall be the basis for release of funds, monitoring, review, evaluation etc. During the Sixth Five-year Plan the department of Agriculture and cooperation launched a pilot project for propagation of water conservation and harvesting in rainfed areas in 19 watersheds located in 15 states.
The main objectives were water harvesting and water conservation. Besides, the Ministry of Rural Development selected 23 watersheds in drought prone areas for soil and water conservation. These projects showed the potentials of vegetative conservation measures to support biomass production. Integrated Wasteland Development Programme IWDPa centrally sponsored programme, has been under implementation sinceand was transferred to the erstwhile department of Wasteland Development now Department of Land Resources along with the National Wasteland Development Board in July,From 1st Aprilthe programme is being implemented through watershed approach under the common guidelines for Watershed Development.
The development of wastelands and degraded lands under the programme is expected to promote the generation of employment in the rural areas besides enhancing the participation of people at all stages leading to sustainable development ofland and equitable sharing of the benefits. As per old guidelines of Employment Assurance Scheme EAS50 Per cent of the funds released under Drought prone Area programme and Desert Development Programme and upto 40 Per cent of the funds released under Employment Assurance programme were supposed to be spent on watershed development projects and other related activities.
Many Stats following it and a certain portion of the funds was spent on watershed development projects. These states have, in the meanwhile, created a liability for completion of watershed development projects under Employment Assurance. The total area taken up under Employment Assurance prior to Soil Resources and Conservation. Soil is a fundamental resource required for all agriculture. It is nonrenewable on a human time scale. We have to use it in a sustainable fashion if we are not to negatively impact our ability to grow food.
Inappropriate use of soil also leads to other environmental problems, including air pollution, water pollution, and flooding. Controlling soil erosion helps control many of these other problems. Soils: Structure and Types. Soil is a complex mixture of regolith weathered rockhumus organic materialair, water, and living organisms.
It takes natural processes thousands of years to make and is, therefore a nonrenewable resource. Soil composition and characteristics change with depth.
Divided into layers or horizons. A typical or average soil profile contains from the top down :. O Horizon - Leaf litter; decomposing organic material. A Horizon - Topsoil; organic rich; controls fertility. It is usually full of small, burrowing organisms. They help break down complex organic molecules to simpler forms, which are then taken up by plants through their roots.
This horizon also needs to hold water effectively. Color depends on the exact mix of humus dark and regolith light. This horizon controls the flow of nutrients to plants and is, therefore, critical in determining the fertility ability to support plant growth of the soil. B Horizon - Less organics, more regolith. Compounds leached from A Horizon zone of leaching often deposited here zone of accumulation to form a hard caliche deposit.
Not all horizons are always there or fully developed. Many different types of soils are recognized, depending on local climatic environments and parent rock type. Most agriculturally productive types are grassland and deciduous forest soils. Best type is a loama mix of clay, sand, silt, and humus. Loam has a good combination of nutrients, water holding and infiltration capacity, oxygen, and workability. Soil Erosion and Loss. Soil erosion is the loss of soil, particularly the O and A horizons, due to the action of the wind or water.
May be caused or increased by various human activities. Most natural systems have a balance between rate of soil loss and rate of production. Many human activities enhance or cause soil erosion, including farming, logging, construction, overgrazing, off-road vehicles, and slash-and-burn agriculture.
Leave soil bare and unprotected by vegetation and its roots. Soil particles removed by running water most effective and wind. Water erosion occurs as sheet erosion wide surface flowrill erosion narrow rivuletsand gully erosion wider and deeper ditches. Process tends to progress from former to latter over time with increasing amounts of soil being removed.
Loss of eroded particles makes remaining soil less fertile, clogs lakes and streams, pollutes these bodies of water, causes eutrophicationand increases flooding. Global and U. Soil Loss. Globally, losing soil in agricultural areas at times the rate it is being made.Water Conservation and Management Strategies
Each year, we have to feed approximately 90 million more people with about 30 billion tons less soil.These lecture notes are the original material of Professor Charles Ladd, who taught the class every year from untilrefining the notes each year. Starting in the spring ofthe class was taught every other year by Professor Andrew Whittle and Dr.
Lucy Jen. They have added their own materials and methods to teaching the class, but these lecture notes remain the foundation of the teaching materials.
In the table below, the topics column lists the subject of each lecture session, and the lecture notes link to that session's handout.
Don't show me this again. This is one of over 2, courses on OCW. Find materials for this course in the pages linked along the left.
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AGEN - Soil and Water Resources Engineering
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Made for sharing. Download files for later. Send to friends and colleagues. Modify, remix, and reuse just remember to cite OCW as the source. Lecture Notes. Course Home Syllabus Calendar Readings Lecture Notes Download Course Materials These lecture notes are the original material of Professor Charles Ladd, who taught the class every year from untilrefining the notes each year.
Course lecture notes. Need help getting started?


" The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on. "
Saturday, 21 December 2002 08:45
Just outside of Wichita, a 21-year old farm boy was driving a grain
harvester across his winter wheat field to collect the crop. This particular piece of farm equipment has huge rotating blades that cut down the wheat stalks. At some point during the harvesting, the driver's cowboy hat was blown off by the wind and hurtled some distance in front of the blades.
Thinking that the tractor was not moving fast enough to warrant stopping -- or perhaps just not thinking at all -- he jumped down and ran in front of the tractor to collect his hat. It was still being blown around by the wind, and after chasing it for a bit, he finally caught up with it. Meanwhile, the harvester had caught up with him, and his body was found scattered across the wheat field.
Local authorities were contacted by a neighbor who noticed the tractor crossing Highway 96 with no driver.
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Where does the coffee you're drinking come from? These countries are the origins you're most likely to come across when enjoying your morning coffee.
Coffee Growing Regions + The Bean Belt
Coffee is only grown under certain conditions and in specific environments around the world. Most of the coffee you’ll come across in the specialty coffee world will be a product of a region within the “bean belt”. The bean belt is an area north of the Tropic of Capricorn and south of the Tropic of Cancer - with most of the coffee producing regions falling along or near the Equator. It is definitely possible to grow coffee in other regions but the majority of specialty coffee (Arabica Coffee) is grown at higher elevations in these areas. Some of the most coffee producing regions are listed here:
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- DR Congo
Asia + Oceania
- Papua New Guinea


Welcome to the MV Agricultural Society
The Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society was established in 1859. It promotes the pursuit of agriculture, horticulture, land conservation, youth activities, mechanic and domestic arts and encourages the raising and improving of plant and animal stock and the sale of island-grown produce and flowers at local farmers’ markets.
The Society, which has over 1000 year-round and seasonal members, is perhaps best known for its annual Agricultural Fair, which attracts thousands of islanders and visitors each summer.
In 1993, to meet the growing needs of its membership and the public, the Society sold its Agricultural Hall to the Town of West Tisbury and purchased the 21-acre site at the Panhandle.
The Fair Book is here. Click the link below to download. See you at the Fair!!!
ATTN: 2015 PULLORUM TESTING INFORMATION
MDAR staff will be on Martha’s Vineyard for one day only on Tuesday July 21st, from 8am to 4pm to test poultry. For scheduling purposes, requests for testing should be made no later than Friday, July 15th. We cannot guarantee that requests received after July 15th can be accommodated.
***THERE ARE CHANGES THIS YEAR TO THE TESTING PROCEDURES***
Poultry testing this year will be done at the fairgrounds. Due to limited staffing, we will not be able to visit each locatin to test your flock. If you are showing birds at the fair, you will have to bring your entire flock to the fairgrounds to be tested. The flock owner must be present and be available to handle their birds and assist the inspector.
Please contact Megan Megrath at 617-626-1798 or email@example.com to schedule testing.
By Author Susan Klein and Photographer Alan Brigish
. . . .
News coverage for Bountiful celebrates
Come to the Fair!
Come to the Fair!! Rides, games, shucking and fiddle contests, skillet toss, horse pull, woodsmen competition, fiber-arts tent, dog & livestock shows. The 154th Martha’s Vineyard Livestock Show and Fair will be held August 20-23, 2015. The fun begins Thursday and runs for 4 days from 10am to 11pm on the fairgrounds in West Tisbury (August 23rd 10am to 7pm). It’s a real old-fashioned Agricultural Country Fair with Mid-Way sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society. Click here to learn more!
Grants and Scholarships
The purpose of the grant program is to assist and perpetuate agriculture on Martha’s Vineyard. The society was organized in 1858 and is funded by contributions from its membership as well as annual community events. The Society has also, for many years, offered a scholarship to graduation seniors. Click here to learn more!


Andaman Discoveries Blog
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Homegrown is better
Vegetables and herbs are expensive in Ban Lions, as they are typically brought over from the mainland at high markup and transport cost. To demonstrate that locally grown gardens are feasible, over 20 villagers gathered together to clear and till the land for a community garden. Several bags of high-quality soil were brought in from the mainland and mixed in with the sandy local soil. A shade cover was erected to protect the plants from the harsh conditions of the dry season.
The garden will provide herbs for the villagers and color sources for such as turmeric for the tie-dye group. And the mulched remains of plants used for tie-dyeing are used as compost for the garden. Plants in the garden include: lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, long bean, chili, galangal, kariyat, and elephant ear Watering in the dry season will be overseen by the tie-dye group.
Before work on the community garden began, 5 elementary age kids and 5 preschool age kids participated in a “competition” to draw the garden of their dreams and explain why. The children then joined the adults to clear the area, till the soil, and plant the seedlings. After a follow-up weeding session with the Naucrates turtle team, the kids were rewarded with an evening party with project staff and foreign volunteers.
Thanks to Planeterra, Mangrove Action Project, and Naucrates for their partnership on this project.
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How can we improve the health of our food system?
A sustainable solution for a changing economy. Here in the “Breadbasket” of the Midwestern US, we provide grains, meats, dairy, and produce for people around the world. Yet increasing the consumption of locally produced foods can work directly to strengthen and diversify local economies. In supporting local growers, and supporting regional businesses like restaurants and food processors that source their meats, dairy, grains and vegetables from regional suppliers, we can do much to create a more balanced, sustainable food system for our area.
The local foods movement is gaining traction alongside growing interest in related topics: Organic farming, sustainable farming, farm markets, urban agriculture.
What are the benefits of local foods?
For farmers. The local food movement helps agricultural growers and producers find new markets for their food products. The scale is everywhere from the individual family farmer selling direct to consumers at farm markets, to the large-scale distribution of regionally grown food ingredients sold by regional restaurant chains, grocery stores, beer makers, bakeries, and area food processors.
For new and expanding markets. Local foods provide new opportunities to capture entertainment and tourism dollars. Farms can open up to agritourism; restaurants can create exclusive and unique menus with any combination of local, sustainable, and organic foods. Shifting the focus to local and regional food sheds can also cultivate a wider variety of foods that are indigenous to the local land and culture.
For consumers. The local foods idea is equally important for consumers. Locally produced food can offer residents young and old, from rural to urban communities, with greater access to fresh and healthful food; the potential for greater food safety; and a stronger connection to the land.
Where are we helping grow these ideas?
Vandewalle & Associates is involved with local foods in communities around the region–on scales from regional distribution all the way down to product development. Here are some of the places we are working to bring local food to the table:


Ondo: FG, IFAD train farmers in agricultural production
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The Federal Government in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta has trained no fewer than 1,180 farmers in Ondo State this year.
It was gathered that the project, tagged, IFAD/LIFE-ND was designed to support Nigeria’s agricultural policy and the strategic framework for youth empowerment and job creation.
Speaking at a media round table held in Akure, the state capital on Friday, the Ondo State Coordinator of the IFAD/LIFE-ND project, Mr Adewale Ademola, said the project took place in 10 local government areas of the state with youths and women being the beneficiaries.
Represented by the State Rural Institution Gender and Unit Officer of the project, Mrs Bola Ajibade, the state coordinator also stated that the beneficiaries were youths and women drawn from rural areas in the 10 local government.
According to him, the local governments where the project took place include; Owo, Akoko South- West, Akoko North-West, Akure North and Idanre Local Government Areas.
Others are, Ondo East, Irele, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Areas. He said each of the council areas had 10 communities where the project took place.
According to him, the 920 beneficiaries farmers have duly completed their legal agreement between them and the project.
He said, “We have trained and empowered 260 youths and women on agricultural products such as livestock, aquaculture and crops productions.
“Presently, 920 beneficiaries have enrolled with the project and they have been trained. Very soon they will move out from the IFAD centre to be empowered by the project.
“So, if you add the previous 260 beneficiaries with the new beneficiaries of 920, it shows that a total of 1,180 youths and women that have benefited from the IFAD/ LIFE-ND Project in Ondo state this year.
“This is the major achievement that we have recorded as far as employment of beneficiaries in Ondo State 2022. So, the IFAD/ LIFE-ND is not only about youths empowerment but also to improve food security in the society, increase income generation and economy diversification, among others.”
Ademola noted that some of the incubatees (also known as trainees) empowered had started their own businesses and have become flourishing entrepreneurs but he noted that the project team in the state still carried out monitoring visits to their project sites.


The vineyard is situated on a unique, rare, and non extensive land called Sables Fauves (tawny sands). These soils are well known for producing Armagnac because they are the land of choice of the Bas-Armagnac region, but the Laballe estate was the first to produce wines in this region.
The Sables Fauves, gently slopes of silty clayey sediments, have the particularity of containing iron oxide, which brings minerals and freshness to the wines and Armagnacs. From the vineyard and soils work to the winemaking and aging, everything is done to extract the maximum of this specific geographic area.
The Sables Fauves are the original entity of the Château Laballe.
If made on this thin strip of tawny sands on which the Laballe estate is located, the wines can have two names: Terroirs Landais (name reserved for the sands’ vineyards wines only) or Côtes de Gascogne (common name of the southwest’s wines and which covers a larger area). There is a range of wines for each of the appellations.
Today, the estate is about 17 hectares, but to expand it and to extend the ranges of liquors, Cyril Laudet also works closely with the neighbouring vineyards. He monitors and manages the winemaking as for his own cellar.
The Laballe’s types of vines are:
-Ungi blanc and Baco for Armagnacs
- Colombard, Ugni blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon gris, Gros manseng, and Chardonnay for dry white wines
- Petit manseng and Gros manseng for sweet white wines
- Cabernet franc for rosé wines
- Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon, and Tannat for red wines.


I am quite excited to get outside to try the new tractor. It should have no trouble eating up those leaves. There are so many leaves that I am going to also have to manually dig them out of my gutters and drain pipes. Oh well, better now before the weather turns colder.
I have grown weary of the discussions about whether Columbus actually discovered America or not, and the Native Americans saying that they mourn Columbus Day because they have been treated so badly. I agree with their assessment that they were treated badly, I really do. Don’t think I’m saying otherwise. I just am tired of the discussion. The point has been made! So many employers nowadays don’t give their employees the day off for Columbus Day, I don’t really think it is a holiday anyway! Just another excuse to run some sales, and for schools to close for a day.
Where ever Columbus actually landed, after his long voyage, I have to say that one thing is likely to be very true – the sailors must have been very excited when they spotted land – wherever it was!
This camp would also be a great location to hunt. There is an abundance of moose here as well. I love moose. There is nothing like a charbroiled moose burger. Maybe I can find some moose meat from last year to bring along. The guys would like that.
I will be pulling up the tomato plants and cucumber plants. Unfortunately, I had slight tomato blight on my tomatoes. It turned the leaves yellow and essentially killing the plant before the fruit was ready. I was able to get some fruit out of it but it was limited. Next year hopefully they will have discovered a better preventative for this disease.


A cereal company is giving away 100,000 million flower seed packets to Canadians in an effort to encouraged the grown of more wild flowers across Canada to help restore the natural habitat of bees.
As part of its “Bring Back the Bees” campaign, General Mills has offered free seed packets.
Emma Eriksson, Vice President of Marketing for General Mills Canada , the manufacturer Cheerios with honey and walnuts said:
“Last year we distributed three times as many seeds as we originally planned, and we have offered 100 million wildflower seeds to Canadians of all ages. This year we hope that Canadians will help us plant 100 million new wildflowers across Canada to help bring the bees back.”
Despite the success of the companies wildflower planting efforts last year, bee populations throughout North America remain unstable and work remains to be done. Without the presence of healthy and vigorous bee colonies, one-third of the food we consume may disappear. Food crops, from fruit to walnuts to coffee, depend on the pollination work done by bees.
“The fruits and vegetables that form the basis of a good diet are at risk if we do not maintain healthy and stable bee populations,” says Marla Spivak , a recognized bee specialist and professor of entomology at the University Of Minnesota . “Planting wildflowers is a simple but extremely important way for Canadians to help preserve and develop the natural habitat that bees need to survive. ”
WILD FLOWER SEEDS FREE OF CHARGE
Once again this year, Canadians can purchase wildflower seeds free of charge at www.ramesonbeats.ca . To promote this call to action, Cheerios with honey and nuts has once again removed his beloved mascot, Buzz the Bee, from his cereal packs for a limited time.
This year, the Beekeepers campaign focuses particularly on children. “Last year, the children wanted so much to help us that they wrote letters, produced videos and some even sent us the contents of their piggy bank in hopes of helping to save the bees,” said Hannah Alper , a 14-year-old environmental activist and young ambassador for the Beat the Bees campaign. “I am very pleased to lend my voice to this year’s campaign to explain to children how important it is to make a significant difference by planting wildflowers outside their homes. We truly hope that the next generation of Canadians will be aware of the need to care for bees. That will make all the difference. ”
What Life Would Bw Like without Bees
To further encourage Canadians to plant wildflowers to help bring back the bees, Honey and Walnut General Mills and Cheerios will launch experiential activation in downtown Toronto . It will provide consumers with an overview of the grocery store of the future in a world where we would have failed to act – where we would not have favored the return of our bee populations – and will present the irreplaceable role that these Insects play to provide farmers and families with the food we all need to live.
Third generation beekeeper Andre Flys of Nobleton’s Pioneer Brand Honey, is pleased to see an entity like General Mills Canada addressing bee wellbeing.
“I’m happy that they’re promoting bees; that they’re promoting pollinators; if it benefits them, that’s fine with me; it’s getting the word out there; people are talking about it; they’re handing out seeds.
“No one thing here is going to save the day, but the more ears that get tuned into the situation, the more likely we’re going to end up with a better situation.”
critics denounced the fact that the seeds were genetically modified, because of the supposed relationships between Veseys and Monsanto . John Barret quickly returned to these accusations: “We are fighting rumors that tell us close to (…). We do not use genetically modified organisms. ”


The “Sharing” Garden at Eastminster
Written by Marsha MacKinnon, Webmaster for the Presbytery of Lake Erie
On a hot and humid August Sunday afternoon members of Eastminster Presbyterian Church of Erie and residents from the neighborhood gathered to celebrate the success of a revitalized community garden.
Dedicated as the “Sharing Garden,” Eastminister received a $2,000 grant from the Presbytery of Lake Erie to upgrade the soil, erect a fence, construct raised beds and provide vegetable plant seeds. The garden began some years ago and the produce was donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Yet over the years the soil depleted and needed restoring. Overtime and with new neighbors; a new vision of what the garden could become evolved and along with it a new mission.
More than seven years ago, refugees from Bhutan entered Nepal and eventually arrived in Erie. Several of these families live near the church. Since then these refugee families have settled into life in America, but they miss their deep-seated connection to the land. As farmers in their native Bhutan, they missed the opportunity to not only work the soil to produce vegetables for their tables but their fulfill calling to till the soil.
Many of these families live at the ErieHousing Authority facilities off East Lake Road. The Housing Authority has a policy that residents are only allowed to “garden” a patch of soil three feet by one foot. That isn’t enough space to plant a productive vegetable garden. As neighbors got to know neighbors, members of the Eastminster church expanded its outreach to this community of new comers and today a highly productive vegetable garden is growing beautifully. Today fresh produce is not all that is growing on this plot of land.
Chaya, Bishnu and Talashi (pictured left to right) are among the gardeners who care for the various raised beds in the “Sharing Garden.” Church members discovered it was better for all concerned if each family who wanted to participate, was assigned a raised bed. So, a lottery was held to assign the beds. The sweat equity the families put into the garden allows them to benefit from the harvest. There are also some general community raised beds. Henry Johnston, a member of Eastminster Presbyterian, recruited his mother – Bonnie Rafferty, who is a Master Gardener, to help the church revitalize this garden. In addition to the raised beds, vegetable seeds, and fencing the garden area; mushroom mulch replaced the depleted soil. At first the gardeners weren’t convinced this was the best idea for growing vegetables. But as the seeds grew into strong and productive plants, they became believers.
Between these hard-working neighbors, assistance and guidance from church members and funding from the Presbytery of Lake Erie, this partnership has produced a bountiful garden that includes potatoes, a variety of tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, beans, corn, eggplant, zucchini and squash. One of the prized crops in this garden are the assortment of peppers as some are from their native Bhutan. These specialty items are not available at local grocery stores.
The photos tell the story. During the extreme drought this summer in our region, these refugees have tended the garden daily; watering, weeding, fertilizing and caring for each plant. The benefits are numerous. The fresh produce from the “Sharing Garden” helps feed these refugee families and others and provides an opportunity for them to contribute. This section of east Erie is a grocery desert. The nearest grocery store is miles away. So, the produce from this garden becomes even more important by assisting these neighbors in putting food on the table. The “Sharing Garden” is also serving as an example of learning to share with others. The Eastminster church property needed landscaping assistance to clear a back section of the property that had become wildly overgrown. Many of the church members at Eastminster are past the age of being able to do such labor. The Bhutanese neighbors came over and got to work, clearly the back of area of the property and making it manageable again. The Bhutanese gardeners shared their skills with their church neighbors.
When asked about why she likes working in the garden, Bishnu said “ (the garden) makes me happy.” Perhaps this is the ultimate prize that this garden grows. It’s not only about sharing our bounty with others, but also by working together we are building community, broadening our experiences, and to “love thy neighbor,” the ultimate command for all Christians. This is what is growing in the “Sharing Garden” at Eastminster.


Save My Garden 2
Save My Garden 2 Game Description:
Save My Garden 2 is a tower defense game which returned with a second part of the game. In this part your main goal is the same. You have a nice garden with vegetable which needs to be defended by all those bugs. But this time, is more important than ever, so that no bug would get into your garden. The garden was chosen for a contest, which can be won only if it looks perfect. And of course that a perfect garden does not include ugly bugs which destroy it. So set up some towers along the way which leads to the garden so it would destroy all the bugs which are trying to pass by. Don’t let any of the bugs escape alive!


Where to Buy Marijuana Seeds
Marijuana cultivation has gained significant popularity over the years, with more and more enthusiasts embracing the art of growing their own cannabis plants. Whether you're a seasoned grower or a curious beginner, finding a reliable cannabis seed bank is crucial for a successful and rewarding cultivation experience. In this guide, we'll explore the essential factors to consider when shopping on cannabis seed bank websites, ensuring you make informed decisions and obtain high-quality seeds.
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A reputable seed bank forms the foundation of a successful cultivation journey. When choosing where to buy marijuana seeds, consider the following:
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Look for Seed Banks with a Proven Track Record: Seek seed banks with years of experience and a strong reputation in the industry. Established seed banks have a higher chance of providing reliable genetics and exceptional customer service.
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The key to a successful cannabis garden lies in the quality and variety of seeds available. Consider the following aspects:
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Characteristic of crop and farming system affecting irrigation management
1. PRESENTED BY
Ph. D. Scholar
Department of Agronomy
CHARACTERISTIC OF IRRIGATION AND
FARMING SYSTEM AFFECTING IRRIGATION
INDIRA GANDHI KRISHI VISHWAVIDYALAYA RAIPUR
College of Agriculture, Raipur
What is Irrigation
Factors to consider when selecting and planning an irrigation
Irrigation methods and Characteristics
Farming System affecting Irrigation management
Basic components of farming systems affecting irrigation
Selection of crop
Selection of livestock's
3. What is Irrigation ?
Irrigation is artificial application of water in crop field to fulfill
the water requirement of crop; supplementing effective rainfall,
soil profile and groundwater contribution to meet the crop
water requirements for optimum growth.
Irrigation is the application of controlled amounts of water to
plants at needed intervals.
Irrigation helps to grow agricultural crops, maintain
landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soil in dry areas and
during periods of less than average rainfall
4. Factors to consider when selecting and planning an irrigation
Slope and topography of the field;
Crops to be grown - water requirements, tolerance to salt, moisture stress,
wetness of surface, water logging, value of the crop, crop height, and
Field size and shape;
Soil texture, structure, depth, infiltration characteristics, water-holding
capacity, erosivity, and variability within a field;
Soil and water salinity;
Availability and quantity of water, and availability of time;
Amount and intensity of rainfall;
Economics - initial costs, amortized costs, operating costs (fuel, labor, water
maintenance), availability of capital, marketability of crop, and net
Farmer, social, and institutional constraints.
5. Irrigation methods and Characteristics
1. Surface - water is spread over the land surface;
2. Manual irrigation
3.Drip, Sprinkle or Low Volume Irrigation - water is applied as
4. Automatic Irrigation
5.Sub-irrigation - water is supplied to the root zone of the crop by
maintaining a high water table.
6. I. Surface irrigation
Widely used and well-known.
Can be operated without high-tech applications but it is labour
Proper design of irrigation area (e.g. size, slope, levelness) and
knowledge about soil type (e.g. texture, intake rate). (HILL
Capital costs (levelling fields, construction of reservoirs) might
be expensive. Operational costs are low.
Irrigation efficiency – 60-65%
7. Basically three systems:
Basin Irrigation System
Field must be levelled and encompassed by a dyke.
It is favoured by moderate to slow intake soils and deep-rooted, closely
Effective method of leaching salts from the soil profile into the deeper
Can be automated with inexpensive flow controls at the basin inlet.
Dikes must be well maintained to eliminate breaching and waste.
It is difficult and often infeasible to incorporate the use of modern farm
machinery in small basins (hand or animal cultivation).
8. Border Irrigation System
Expansion of basin irrigation for crops, which do not tolerate
Long, rectangular or contoured field shapes and longitudinal
but no lateral slope.
Field is divided into strips (width of 6 to 30 metres) separated
by border ridges.
Stripes between ridges are flooded during irrigation.
Used for tree crops or crops as alfalfa or small grains.
9. Furrow Irrigation System
Constructing small channels (furrows) along the primary
direction of water movement.
Can be used in conjunction with basins and borders to
overcome topographical variation and crusting.
More labour intensive than border or basin systems.
Smaller wetted area can reduce evaporation loss.
Salinity hazards, limited machinery mobility and increased
Well adapted to row crops and orchards or vineyards.
10. Manual irrigation
Basic Irrigation Principles
High labour input and high self-help compatibility
Require no technical equipment, therefore they are cheap
Low-Cost Drip Irrigation System
Porous and Sectioned Pipes
Perforated Plastic Sleeves
11. Water Cans
Very basic and creates a lot of work on large fields, but widely
Water can be added on very specific points.
Carry poles across the shoulders and a water can at each side
facilitates the irrigation work.
A rose added to the water can creates a sprinkler effect (see
Low-Cost Drip Irrigation System
Low-cost plastic pipes laid on the ground and irrigate crops.
Small holes in the pipes allow a water to drip out.
A water tank on a higher level distributes water by gravity.
No waste of water (e.g. evaporation, wind), specific irrigation
at the root zone.
12. Pitcher Irrigation
Placing porous clay jars (or pots) in shallow pits and soil is packed around.
Water can seep slowly out through the porous walls and reach the roots of
Jars can made locally or sweet monkey orange fruit after drying can be
Jars should be filled regularly and have to be replaced if there are big cracks
Similar to pitcher irrigation.
The bottle is first filled and than place up side down next to plant.
Water is released slowly directly beside the roots.
No evaporation or water loss due to wind
13. DRIP IRRIGATION
Water is conveyed under pressure through a pipe system to the
It drips slowly onto the soil through emitters or drippers which are
located close to the plants.
Only the root zone is wetted.
There are very technical systems but also self-made designs.
It requires relatively small amounts of water, but it is very
Pre-treated waste water or urine can be added as a fertiliser.
Used in highly technical and industrial farming.
Filters are installed to prevent clogging.
Fertiliser and chemicals often are mixed into the irrigation water
The system can be flushed to clean it.
Irrigation efficiency- 90-95%
14. Sprinkler Irrigation
Widely used and well-known.
Water is distributed through a system of pipes (usually by
pumping) and spray heads at the outlets distribute the water
over the entire soil surface.
This system, especially large ones, are mostly automated.
It can be found in small vegetable gardens up to large crop
fields. Therefore several systems were developed:
Travelling Big Gun
Irrigation efficiency - 80%
15. Types of sprinkler system
On the basis of arrangement for spraying irrigation water
1. Rotating head (or) revolving sprinkler system
2. Perforated pipe system
16. AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION
Once it is installed, the irrigation system has not to be
controlled all the time.
Modern big scale systems operated by one (skilled) labour.
Very technical components required. There even high-tech
solutions using GIS and satellites to measure water needs.
Time Based System
Volume Based System
Open Loop Systems
Closed Loop Systems
Real Time Feedback System
Computer Based Irrigation Control Systems
There also simple methods such as clay pot irrigation networks.
17. Sub surface drip irrigation
Is conveyed under pressure through a pipe system and applied
to the roots below soil surface.
No surface crusting or evaporation loss, thus highly efficient
Fields can still be worked when irrigation systems are installed
and application of fertiliser can optimise plant growth
18. Farming System affecting Irrigation management
Farming system represents an appropriate combination of farm
enterprises (cropping system, horticulture, livestock, fishery,
forestry, poultry) and means available to farmer to raise them
for profitability. it interacts adequately with environment
without dislocating the ecological and socioeconomic balance
on one hand and attempts to meet the national goals on the
19. Basic components of farming systems affecting irrigation such as
Selection of crop
selection of livestock's
Fine textured soil have more water holding
capacity than course textured soil, hence irrigation
methods will vary according to soil texture.
21. 2. Structure
Different soil structure have different infiltration rate i.e. platy
soil structure have lower water infiltration rate than crumb or
spherical soil structure.
Topography is the slope of the ground and how much
uneven or leveled it is and which method of irrigation
should apply on field totally depends upon the topography
of particular given area.
If the slope is from 0.4 to 8 percent, corrugation surface
method is suitable. If the slope is more than the above
limit, sprinkler method has been considered more suitable
for soils which are shallow and permeability is fast.
Drip or sprinkler system is more appropriate irrigation
method than basin or furrow method of irrigation in
23. Water resources
The sources of irrigation and the chemical composition of the
water also affect the irrigation method. At the time of irrigation
by tube wells, the sprinkler method or drip irrigation method is
suitable, but in canal irrigation, flood method is selected.
Water conservation is the demand of the day when the whole
world is facing water crisis. Hence, such a method of irrigation
should be adopted which uses minimum water but provides
maximum humidity to the plants. Sprinkler method and drip
irrigation method are the best from the view point of water
24. Selection of crop
The irrigation method is selected according to type of crops
and pattern of its sowing.
Different crops require different quantities of water. Growth of
plants and their height are also affected.
In taller plants, check basin irrigation method is more suitable
as compared to sprinkler method.
26. Selection of live-stocks
Flood irrigation methods can give the benefit of taking other
farm enterprises such as duckery or fisheries in the same field.
So, if integrated farming is practiced, surface method of
irrigation can be adopted as it will give benefit to both
Also the waste of one enterprise can be effectively utilized by
other, thus makes an efficient utilization of irrigation system
27. Labour availability
Availability of labour is an essential factor in selecting an
As compared to sprinkler or drip irrigation method, check basin
method of irrigation requires more labour.
So, depending upon the availability of labour, a particular
irrigation method is adopted along with other factors.
So, if there is shortage of labour, mechanised or hi-tech
irrigation methods can be selected, provided money is not an
28. Economic condition
While selecting any method of irrigation, the economic condition must be
kept in mind as many irrigation methods require heavy initial investment
but lesser investment later on.
A Farmer’s economic condition is the prime factor which affects on
adopting a particular irrigation management system.
Generally poor or small scale farmer’s fail to adopt machine driven
irrigation systems due to high cost and thus they depend more on cheaper
methods as manual or surface methods in their small farms. Wells, ponds
and rivers are the major irrigation resources.
However, a large scale farmer adopting large scale enterprise of farming
system selects sprinkler or drip irrigation system as they have sufficient cost
of production and monetary resources are available to him and thus gains a
long term profit through good quality and higher productivity.
Surface irrigation methods require continuous investment
1. Sarkar, D. and haldar, A.1997. Applied pedology, pg-151-152.
2. Gupta U.S (Ed.) Production and Improvement of crop
3. Mishra, R. R.&Ahmad,M.1987. Manual on Irrigation and
Agronomy, Oxford IBH.
4. Singh, S.S. 2006. Principle and practices of Agronomy.


IMPROVING Philippine agriculture, which includes fishery and forestry products, has been a persistent major issue since much of the 20th century. Unfortunately, we still continue to struggle to come to grips with it.
While agriculture is a small component of the Philippine economy, it is from where a greater proportion of our citizens make their living and where the poverty incidence is higher—34% for both farmers and fishermen in 2015 when the overall poverty incidence was 22%. It is therefore imperative that the government must devote an urgent and resolute attention to agriculture.
The problems in Philippine agriculture can all be summed up as a condition of low productivity. Agriculture economists use a measure in tracking productivity called Total Factor Productivity or TFP. This measure is derived by taking the growth rate of the agricultural sector output and deducting from it the growth rate of the related inputs.
The World Bank report attributes the Philippine slow growth to low rice yields and failure to shift to high value crops (HVC) despite the passage of the High Value Crops Development Act in 1995. The share of HVC in total agriculture output had just slightly increased from 19.6% in 2000 to 22.9% in 2019, a period of 20 years.
If I were the next president, I will devote close attention to transform our agriculture for the benefit of this sector's stakeholders which naturally translates to the well-being of the whole nation.
‘To help navigate the important issues and identify the proper solutions, I will add to the government structure a new body, the Council of Agricultural Advisers. It will not be an executive entity. The implementation of all decisions will be executed by the Secretary of Agriculture under my direct guidance, as it must be.
The first item that we will decide on is to remove the present concentration of attention and assistance on rice production and instead give the same treatments to all crops. This will mean that government assistance now given only to rice will also be given to all crops.
Moreover, we will change the present assistance to farmers from providing free inputs, which are considered expensive, to “decoupled payments” in cash computed based on farm area which is practiced in other countries, as pointed out in the World Bank report.
In this way, the farmer has free choice on what to plant and which is not necessarily rice. Irrigation will be provided to all crops and not only primarily to rice as is presently done. These changes are geared towards diversifying Philippine agriculture and increasing the production of HVCs. We will push much of the expected increased production of HVCs, and consequently processed foods, towards export.
We will increase irrigation infrastructure systematically and methodically and put the overall scheme into a long-term plan. Irrigation water has to be paid for to minimize wasteful use.
Similarly, we will develop a long-term plan for building farm-to-market roads all over the country by identifying their locations and establishing a construction time schedule. We will start building as the plan is being developed and put priority to rural areas that are beset by insurgency.
We will review the effectiveness of extension service and consider turning it towards a demand service rather than a supply service and also make use of private service providers, as suggested in the World Bank report.
In doing all the foregoing activities, we will make use of plans that may already have been developed. We will work collaboratively with the local government units (LGU) as they have better knowledge of the problem details. But more than this, under the local government decentralization law, the LGUs are responsible for the development of irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and extension service in their respective geographic areas and the funds to cover the expenditures for these development projects are included in their IRA.
Nevertheless, we will work out with them a joint funding arrangement. We will review the present status of land reform which reportedly is nearing completion. We will wind it down as soon as it is possible to do so, but we will continue to pursue all pending cases. At the proper time, I will declare that the social amelioration objective of land reform has now been fulfilled. It is a necessary step to take to enable us to pass a law to increase the size limit in owning land to a multiple of the present 5 hectares per individual. Land consolidation can then be done through sale.
There are other ways of consolidating land for farming. Lease and joint farming are the recognizable ones. In addition, there are novel practices that have been implemented in other countries as indicated in the World Bank report. We will undertake a campaign to encourage the farmers to consolidate their land for farming and provide them with information of the various ways of doing so, including novel ways that are suitable to Philippine conditions and culture.
Recognizing all these complexities, we will provide resoluteness of purpose and management effectiveness in putting the necessary changes in place and making those changes work for the benefit of all of our people.
As published in Mindanao Times, dated 09 August 2021


Yay for me posting regulary again and double yay for me posting my Farming On The Four's posts!! I vowed to finish this post up so it'd get posted on time, sorry it's a day late but hey, it's still close enough in my books!!
This is one reason I started my bloggy blog. Because I really wanted to keep tabs on our farming operation and how things will continuously change over the years.
This past Monday we finished up our final field of anhydrous fertilizer. We were actually done quite awhile ago but Trav lucked out and picked up some more ground this past year and they didn't have a closing date on the field until that day. Luckily that meant he could get out there and finish up the field and then unhook the tractor and return the empty anhydrous tanks to the local COOP.
Anhydrous is not something to mess with. For those of you who have never been around the stinky, moisture sucking death trap of a fertilizer consider yourself lucky. Anhydrous is used to replace the nitrogen lost from the previous years crops. Just like trees produce oxygen for us the soil needs to produce nitrogen for the plants to get their nutrients. Without anhydrous we'd see stunted plant growth and the yields would drop significantly.
The downside of it is that it's extremely dangerous to work with and a lot of meth makers need the product to create their drugs. I actually had a neighbor that had an entire tank stolen when I was in high school costing over $1,200 out of the farmers pocket to pay the COOP for the loss. Not something you want to have to pay for as an added expense to your farm operation. Another reason it's so dangerous is because anhydrous is so deadly as it's sucks any and all moisture that it is exposed to. That means if you are around it it'll suck the moisture out of your body which can kill you.
Another fun thing that happened was last Sunday, the 6th, we weaned off calves. I'm not sure it's my favorite thing in the world but hearing the mommies and babies whine/bawl for a few days can really annoy the crap out of you. I wasn't aware until later that evening but Travis said one of the calves kicked him, hard, in the back of the thigh. I'm hoping that it's nothing major and he said he could still feel it a few days later... Here's to hoping it bruises and goes away and doesn't become a problem for him.
Cattle are animals that you need to be alert when you're around. With a 300 pound animal walking around you really need to focus on watching them to make sure they're not feeling threatened. Travis is extremely careful around cattle and accidents do happen but if you can imagine being around eighty 300 pound calves plus their 1,200 pound mama's, things can get hectic quick. Better watch your back boys!!
The same day we weaned off calves we also picked up the rest of the fence and it was quite the family event. Dan was busy pushing all the manure on the field into a pile so we could spread it on other fields. Travie, Bubba and me were busy picking up the last of the electric fence on the farm and all of us were enjoying the glorious sixty degree weather that we had.
Planting season will be here before we know it and that means even less time seeing each other and more time working late into the evenings. I know we are very blessed in that we have an operation that allows us to work hard and produce crops for a profit but sometimes the emotional toll of not seeing each other and
Picking up sticks has been a fun little project that we've come to endure throughout the years. Last year we cleared out an entire section just to farm a little more and this year we did the same. Luckily for the boys (and me) they hired the 4H kiddos to come pick up most of them. We still had a small patch we cleaned up ourselves but that for sure saved our backs and a solid two days worth of work!
Also, the weather has been amazing lately! We've been lucky with a few days of 80+ degree weather and we're loving it. The only downside is the boy seems to be stressing out a little bit. He's got a tractor he just finished putting back together for a customer and he still needs to get a lot of field prep work done along with spraying and getting the planter ready to roll all within a short span of a week or so.
Along with the amazing weather comes Mother Nature's bi-polar days. Like a few days ago, we had amazing 60 degree weather mixed with rain and that evening there was snow coming down. As you can tell we had a great 1.2" rain but you can also see little flurries in the picture. Yucky stuff!!
The farm life is amazing and I'm really hoping to continue to keep updating you on life around here. That's really my goal's for my blog, to get back to the solid things I started this little adventure for! Wish me luck and until the next "four" keep on keepin up!!
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Locally Grown: Tuscaloosa strives for tradition over trend at farmers markets
By Lauren Lane
Tuscaloosa has served homegrown tomatoes and grass-fed meats to its residents long before eating local became a hashtag. The city lies in an agricultural haven, as it resides at the bottom of the Appalachian Mountains, between acres upon acres of fertile farmland, and beside the roaring Black Warrior River. Farming and fresh food have been a way of life here for centuries, and farmers have always provided the city with the freshest and cleanest food possible.
“We’ve been doing farm to table since before it was popular,” said Jason Greer, executive chef at Chuck’s Fish. “That’s just what’s always been done here in the city for the most part. We’ve got great farmers around here, and so that’s just what people did. It’s what got me into cooking.”
Greer grew up helping on his grandpa’s farm outside the city and learned how to pickle, can and cook at an early age.
“Mom cooked every day and a lot of that was the vegetables grandpa grew, and I knew the value of what it takes to get everything to the table to eat,” Greer said.”I understood the value of something that came out of the garden and onto the plate, and that’s just something Tuscaloosa does really well.”
Chuck’s Fish serves freshly caught fish from the Gulf Coast and a host of Alabama’s own produce.
“If a customer asks where we get things from, we will tell them but there’s no reason to scream it’s farm-to-table,” Greer said. “When you do it right, people figure it out.”
James Hudson is one of the farmers who provides fresh produce and meats to Tuscaloosa. Hudson Farms has grown everything from sweet potatoes and beans to lambs and chickens for generations.
“Tuscaloosa has been holding farmers markets since the ‘60s,” Hudson said. “I’m glad people are gaining more knowledge about what’s going into our food, but this is how it’s always been with us.”
Hudson has lived off the land for his whole life and said there are many people who do not truly know what food is supposed to taste like because they’ve been eating solely from supermarkets their whole lives.
“We pick our tomatoes pretty much ripe, and when you go to Wal-Mart, they are pretty much green and weren’t ready yet to be picked,” Hudson said. “They are put in a warehouse where they shoot ethanol gas into them, and they still aren’t even ready to eat. Taste is the biggest difference, I would imagine, because everything better when it’s picked properly ripened.”
Hudson said he has enjoyed watching the farmers market grow as he sold his family’s goods since the market started over 30 years ago. Hudson said Alabama is fortunate to have an agriculture that can sustain and grow just about anything, and that we should strive to eat off the land.
“People want clean food – and you can’t totally eat clean nowadays – but you can try to cook things and find things as best you can,” Hudson said. “You can’t totally get away from it when we are feeding half the world. People like us down here, we can’t grow enough to feed the city if it took all of us, so you’ve gotta balance where you can.”
Brooke Brown is a University of Alabama nutrition major who works at a local juice bar. Brown said eating locally not only tastes better but also makes her feel better.
“Educating ourselves on where our food comes from is so important,” Brown said. “The (farm-to-table) movement is based on adding integrity to our food choices while also sustaining the environment, all the while supporting local farmers.”
Cravings, a specialty grocery store, is one of Brown’s favorite stops for local food, as it provides a host of local meats, cheese, and house-made items. Brown appreciates the efforts made by the city to provide local food to residents and to have these resources while still in college.
“Educating ourselves on where our food comes from is so important,” Brown said. “This way, we can be sure that it isn’t filled with damaging artificial ingredients and also be sure that unsustainable practices were not used in its making. This is what is going to be vital to our future health and economic impact.”


Months of lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions plus a long Quebec winter have cultivated my growing obsession with gardening and subsistence farming. I spent early winter on my couch watching countless YouTube videos, reading articles and joining Facebook gardening groups.
By mid-January, I was raring to garden NOW even though it was -15 C outside and I live in a small urban apartment. I started researching the most economical ways to grow indoors, with a goal of growing salads and herbs to eat this winter and starting seedlings to transplant outside in the spring.
After some intensive research, I went with this indoor gardening setup, which is simple, built to last, cheap and requires almost no skills to put together. My salads and herbs are looking great and my seedlings are all growing strong.
This is what I did:
I ordered these shelves from home depot
These shelves are large (4 feet wide x 6 feet high), inexpensive ($134 CAD) and have plenty of vertical real estate for plants. They are sturdy, easy to assemble, you can adjust the shelves to the desired height, and easily hang lights to the wire frame. Plus there is airflow, which is important to prevent mold, overheating and insects. You can also choose to omit some of the shelves if you want to use them for taller plants.
I was easily able to assemble and install the shelves in my spare bedroom.
I got these LED shop lights from Amazon
To grow veggies indoors, you don’t need fancy expensive grow lights, but there are specs to keep in mind. You a need a light that has between 1600-3000 lumens and 4500-6000 kelvins. The wattage is less important. T5, T12 and T8 fluorescent or LED shop lights work well for growing plants indoors, especially with a setup using shelves.
Four-foot long shop lights were an elegant solution as they fit perfectly in the shelves, have integrated fixtures and are very light. I chose T5 LED lights from Amazon, because they are cheap ($70 CAD for a 6-pack), long-lasting, and I can change them easily if they burn out. LEDs also don’t give off much heat and use less energy than fluorescent lights. You can also easily daisy chain the lights together (these ones have 20-inch long connectors, which is perfect for shelves) and plug them all into one electrical socket.
I hung the lights up with wire and S-hooks from the dollar store and put my seedlings about 3-4 inches below them.
Recycled containers and sterilized soil
I originally planted most of my seedlings in toilet paper rolls and cardboard egg cartons with seed starting mix. They began getting too big, so I then transplanted the seedlings, with the toilet paper rolls/egg cartons and all, directly into the new pots with potting soil. This avoids disturbing the roots and shocking the plant while the cardboard decomposes naturally in the new pot. I used recycled food-grade containers for all the transplants.
I realize why using large seed starting trays from the get-go is a smart choice, because transplanting and managing all these different sized recycled containers can really be a time waster and super messy indoors. But you live, you learn.
IMPORTANT TIP: Always sterilize your soil when planting indoors to prevent insects from invading your plants. Use boiling water to wet the seed starting mix, let cool and plant seeds according to seed pack instructions. You can also microwave moistened potting soil to sterilize it, or even bake it in the oven on a cookie sheet. I also have seen many times online the recommendation to stay away from Miracle Grow and Jiffy brand soil because of bugs. Also stay away from dollar store potting soil – also bugs. If you get any insects, don’t panic, there are ways to manage and eradicate them, but it can be a lot of work.
I watered daily, keeping the soil moist but not damp (overwatering is a killer!) and provided about 16 hours of light per day.
Reflect the light but maintain airflow
The last thing I did was add some reflective Mylar sheets on the front and back of my shelves, leaving the sides free for air circulation. Option to add a fan on the side, but I haven’t found it necessary so far.
I bought a 4-foot x 10-foot long roll of mylar sheets from Amazon for $30 CAD. I had originally put just aluminum foil in the back but it was a bit too flimsy. I can reuse this sturdy mylar for years to come.
Fertilizing seedlings with kitchen scraps
I did not fertilize the seedlings until at least 2-3 sets of true leaves came in. It’s always better to under than over fertilize.
I’ve only used kitchen scraps from around the house to fertilize the plants so far:
- Crushed eggshells mixed into the soil (for all transplanted seedlings)
- Banana peels (dried in oven and ground up and mixed into the soil; for all transplanted seedlings)
- Banana peels soaked in water (once every week or two)
- Potato and carrot peels soaked in water (diluted for seedlings; no more than once every week or two)
- Used tea leaves and coffee grounds (only occasionally for some plants that tolerate it well like tomatoes)
- Epsom salt (1 teaspoon per gallon of water once every week or two)
The potting soil I used also comes with some fertilizer in it, which should help until they are transplanted outside with a nice layer of compost. Looking forward to that!
I’m starting to eat the herbs and salads now, and will get to transplanting the seedlings onto my balcony after the last frost. I’m also going to sow some beans, carrots and cucumber seeds directly outside in May.
I’ll be experimenting with making my own soil in totes on my balcony in the meantime.
Stay tuned for more gardening blogs!
Wow! I’m impressed! You’ve put a lot of thought and effort into this Annie.
Now, with your cottage, let’s see what you can do outdoors this Summer!


desk and tab stack
The box will be a balanced mix of what is in season. More salads and leaf crops in the spring and summer, such as lettuces, spinach, herbs and tomatoes. In winter the addition of root crops, such as potatoes, celeriac and carrots and the all important brassicas.
The cost of the produce is £35.
Collecting produce from Fern Verrow
Produce boxes may be collected from the farm on Tuesday or Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
Orders for Tuesday collection must be with us by Saturday night.
Orders for Friday collection must be with us by Wednesday at noon.
To have the box deliverd
In summer and spring an overnight delivery to anywhere in the UK is £15.
In autumn and winter when the crops in season weigh heavier the delivery charge is £25.
Please place any order by Saturday night for delivery on the following Wednesday.


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Consisting of 4.05 hectares/10 acres of land, excellent location and 315 meters of road frontage.
- 4.05 Hectares/10 acres of agricultural land
- Excellent location
- 315 meters of road frontage


It was planting day at We Sow We Grow, one of the smallest farms in the state of Illinois. We Sow We Grow occupies a single vacant lot at the corner of 120th Street and Union Avenue, in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side. A dry cleaner once did business there, but it went the way of most businesses near this corner, demolished years ago.
Natasha Nicholes, the founder and mistress of We Sow We Grow, was dressed for farm work in pink overalls. Nicholes examined a pile of compost, black as burley tobacco, and tried to calculate how many raised four-by-eight foot beds they’d have to fill to plant her Home Depot-bought sprigs of cabbage, brussels sprouts, oregano, thyme, and dill.
“What do you think, four of these?” she asked her husband, Shomari, who was holding a pitchfork.
“Five or six,” he estimated.
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Nicholes burbled. “I might cry! This feels a lot like it did when we first started. We literally dug everything up.”
Nicholes tore her rotator cuff while shoveling mulch last fall, so she left the heavy farming to Shomari and two volunteers. They heaved the compost into a wheelbarrow, dumped it in the beds, smoothed it with rakes. It was sweaty, medieval, pre-industrial farm work, all done by hand, without tractors, or even plows.
“Commercial farms, they’re using equipment,” Shomari said. “In a small bed, that won’t work. Everything has to go back to roots.”
If We Sow We Grow were the subject of a sitcom, it would be called Green Quarter of an Acre. Unlike gentleman farmer Oliver Wendell Douglas, Nicholes never dreamed of returning to the dirt when she was growing up in East Garfield Park. After graduating from Lincoln Park High School, she studied biology in college, then served six years in the Navy, at Naval Station Great Lakes. In 2010, when she learned she was pregnant with twins, she started a blog about domestic life, Houseful of Nicholes. In 2014, she and Shomari moved from East Garfield Park into a Habitat for Humanity house they’d helped build in West Pullman. Right across the street, they saw the vacant lot.
“I got started because this was an ugly plot of land,” Nicholes declared. “It was covered with grass. There were huge divots. It was a dry cleaners. They tore it out and left the basement. It was a concern.”
Nicholes decided to start a farm there. The only problem: she knew nothing about growing crops. As a child, she enjoyed eating okra and picking tomatoes from her grandmother’s kitchen garden, but her thumb was so brown that even attempts at backyard gardening failed: “I think I grew cherry tomatoes. Our broccoli grew up well, but I didn’t know when to harvest it, so it went to flower.”
But city girls can become farmers. Before We Sow We Grow planted its first crops in 2016, Nicholes researched small-scale farming in books such as The Lean Farm and Compact Farms. In 2019, Nicholes signed up for a six-month master urban farmer program through the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, learning “soil remediation, water retention, everything you would need as a farmer.” The city owns the land, so We Sow We Grow partnered with then-Ald. Carrie Austin. Starting each July, when the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, watermelons, cantaloupe, honeydew, zucchini, pumpkins, squash, okra, cauliflower, eggplant, and sweet corn begin to ripen, We Sow We Grow sells produce to the neighbors.
On this farm in the city, the calls of mourning doves, cooing in trees across the street, were drowned out by ambulance sirens. During the planting, one of those neighbors wandered over from her own Habitat for Humanity house on Union Avenue, looking to help.
“This place was pretty much a forgotten spot,” said Ida Alkadi, a Muslim woman in a hijab. “Natasha deserves praise to God our creator, that he gave her the strength to do this. Emotionally and psychologically, it enhances your life, just seeing that little bit of growth. You see watermelon, it’s beautiful.”
Having mastered farming in a single lot, Nicholes has ambitions to expand. This year, We Sow We Grow added a chicken coop, housing 40 hens who each produce an egg a day, which the farm sells for $5 a dozen. (Most of the money to fund We Sow We Grow comes from grants, such as $150,000 from Chicago Beyond!, and from volunteering to sell concessions for Aramark at sporting events and concerts. They worked last weekend’s Taylor Swift shows. It’s such a small operation that the Nicholeses ran a hose from their house across the street to water the mulch.) Next, she wants to start farming in the vacant lots across the street, establishing West Pullman as an agri-neighborhood.
“We want to take over all four of the lots on this corner,” Nicholes said. “We want to build a food forest that adds to the beauty of the neighborhood. We have more than enough vacant lots in West Pullman.”