Application is based on four types of plywood design, which include: structural, exterior, interior, and marine. Rubber mulch is available in natural shades to provide the look of shredded wood or wood nuggets, and it's less likely than wood mulch to blow or float away. First the positive. It lacks the pleasing appearance of other mulch and isn't a top choice for landscaping, but as a garden mulch, weed-free straw helps protect plants from rot caused by fungus and disease. The mulch’s ability to retain moisture cuts your water bill and keeps your lawn damp for longer periods of time. 2. This effect even works overnight. You can find shredded wood mulch made from a variety of tree species. Wood mulch has a visually pleasing texture and color. Available in brown, black and red, this mulch can create eye-catching combinations in your landscape. Some are from the species Juniperus or Thuja. Cedar mulch is a great addition to your yard because: A layer of it keeps sunlight and wind from reaching the ground, meaning that water in the soil wonât evaporate as quickly. Pea straw mulch is ideal for roses, flowers, vegetable gardens, trees, shrubs and fruit trees. Most popular bark includes shredded, chipped, chunks, or nuggets of cedar, cypress, pine, and many others. There are two types of mulch to choose from: organic and inorganic. Mulch installation prices typically range from $0.20 to $0.60 per square foot, depending on the type, or an average of $0.35 per square foot.The cost of mulch for an average-sized garden of 500 square feet will run you around $175, with most homeowners spending between $100 and $300.This includes a three-inch layer of mulch, as well as the labor for installation. The 3-foot model will flat-lay plastic mulch on a flat surface and bury the edges (in other words, the 3-foot model is NOT made to work in conjunction with raised beds)â¦however, the 4-foot model is designed to lay plastic mulch over a 30â raised bed if desired (it can also flat-lay as well). Check the label of the type of mulch you purchase and ensure you buy the right mulch. Types of mulch include nuggets, which are … Water and nutrients have nowhere to travel into compacted soil. Made from the wood of cedar trees, this mulch is stocked with natural oils and chemicals that turn pests away. You can combine it with amendments like fertilizer so that rain naturally disperses the nutrients evenly over time. And when water has nowhere to go, you get puddling and standing water, which can drown your whole garden. Red Cedar is quite tolerant to heat and salt, and thus thrives in a diverse variety of soil types. Hereâs why we saved the debris from earlier. Many types of cedar mulch are not made from true cedars (species Cedrus). It is then aged six months so it gets enough nitrogen to begin decomposition. Cedar mulch and other wood mulches help improve the structure of the soil, while keeping the beds warmer and hindering the growth of weeds. 8 Organic Mulch Types for Your Garden 1) Bark. Anything you plant in it gets the strong feeling of intentionality, and the overall effect is one of meticulous planning. Cedar chips and pine bark are broken up pieces of cedar and pine bark. Cedar mulch suppresses the growth and germination of weeds, additionally the light color and texture of this mulch helps with water retention and regulating ground temperature. It doesn't compact as much as other types of mulch, allowing water to reach the soil more easily, and its sponge-like consistency helps retain moisture. Juniperus virginiana, known as red cedar, eastern redcedar, Virginian juniper, eastern juniper, red juniper, pencil cedar, and aromatic cedar, is a species of juniper native to eastern North America from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and east of the Great Plains. Theres no recycled wood or contaminates in this mulch. Every gardener knows the pain of soil compaction. Naturally, the good looks come at a price. If you are less paranoid and intend to let mulch come into contact with the cement of your foundation, then limit the depth of the layer of mulch to about two inches (in fact, even if kept further away from the house, a mulch layer in a foundation bed should not be much deeper than this, with four inches being maximum depth). Cedar Mulch. Grab a power edger or an edging shovel and define your gardenâs boundaries. Leaves have 50-80 percent of the nutrients of the tree when they fall, so when leaf mulch decomposes, it gives your garden a shot in the arm for the next growing season. Evergreen trees offer year around color in your landscape. If the seeds canât reach the soil, they wonât grow. The top layer will decompose much faster than the wood chips, so your only upkeep is replacing the top layer each season. Then, you can make an informed decision about what type of mulch is best suited for your garden space. Cedar mulch gives off an aroma that repels insects, so you donât have to worry about an influx of termites or centipedes in your garden. Cedar mulch. More Details Sized to fit neatly atop our 2' x 8' Elevated Cedar Raised Bed, this attractive cold frame may also be used on the ground to start seeds, harden off transplants, and grow greens and other cool-season crops. Black material blocks light, while transparent material allows light through and can allow weeds to germinate and grow under the surface. You need 1 cubic yard for every 108 square feet. Cedar mulch offers an excellent option when it comes to perennial flower beds and other landscape gardens. Like pine bark, theyâre a good choice for use around plants that need more acidic soil. Some natural mulch will make your soil more acidic. These chips provide a soft basis for swing sets, slides, jungle gyms and other equipment. Mulch keeps a garden healthy and plants happy by providing a ground cover to retain moisture, tamp down weeds. 3. It prevents the extremes of weather from affecting your plants too much. Cedar is a great mulch to have in your garden. Finally! So keep reading to learn: what mulch is, which types of … Apple scab. New grass has started to grow and the property looks 100% better. Affordable, attractive, and easy to apply, pine needle mulch -- also known as pine straw -- has a multitude of benefits in the home garden. Some types can aid your gardens and lawns by deterring pesky insects. It's good for long-term use, but be sure to remove any weeds that grow on top of it as soon as you see them. On top of the wood chips, lay down double-shredded hardwood leaf mulch. It decomposes relatively slowly so it's long-lasting, but slow decomposition means it won't add nutrients to the soil as readily as some other types. Anyway, I sweep that aside, put down the walnut mulch (which has some maple leaves in it too), then sprinkle the old cedar mulch on top to hold it down until it settles and give a uniform look to the beds. It allows air and moisture to enter the soil and reach plant roots. Its abundance of benefits makes it one of the most popular landscaping products we deliver. Some types are made from organic material, such as wood chips and grass clippings that break down over time. It also deters insect pests from laying eggs and is good for winter protection of perennials, strawberries and small plants. Mulch your way to prettier, healthier plantings. Pine, cedar, and hemlock mulches are good alternatives to cocoa bean mulch if you have pets.However, keep in mind that dogs can choke on mulch and must still be supervised. Most evergreens appear about the same color in deep winter or in summer heat. Leaf mulch, for example, decomposes into a natural soil conditioner, returning valuable nutrients to your garden and lawn. It decomposes quickly, so you need to replace it more often than other mulch. Moths, roaches, termites, beetles, Argentine ants and house ants all hate cedar mulch. You can create walkways with mulch. Red Cedar Trees are particularly tolerant of various soil types but prefer dry soils over moist soils. The needles interweave, helping to keep the material in place and making it stable in heavy rain. We know cedar: scientifically proven to have superior resistance to aging, insects, rot, cracking, shrinkage, heat and cold when compared to pine. 3. This can later be turned into compost or mulch. The set-it-and-forget-it formula also aids in retarding pesky weeds. Weâll use some of it later. After all that toil, you donât want to watch rain and foot traffic quickly press the soil back into a compacted mass. Plus, it keeps the hoses from sight, giving your garden a finished look while protecting your irrigation system. Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your soil and plants. Bark is a derivative of the lumber and paper industries. It comes from a variety of sources, including cedar trees. What types of mulch are there? Some shredded-bark products are byproducts from other industries and are considered environmentally friendly. Uncovered irrigation systems risk UV damage and are exposed to the elements and foot traffic. The strict demarcating line between yard and garden gives definition to your landscape. The depth you need varies by the mulch type and how you use it. Encourage Growth With Mulch. It is a budget-friendly option you can till into the soil if you redesign your landscape in the future. The shredded nature of this product makes it one of the most wind resistant mulches. In an effort to serve our community, we are currently taking call-in orders for mulch only to be delivered. Can plywood be recycled? Some types can aid your gardens and lawns by deterring pesky insects. You can rake it loose as the pieces are much larger than soil. The most common benefits of mulch are available with any type: If you also want mulch to benefit your plants as it breaks down, find an appealing organic mulch that works with your plants and landscape. You will commonly find this sold as “nuggets”. Learn about different organic and inorganic types of mulch, mulch colors and how to find the best mulch for your garden or landscape. The narrow footprint makes it ideal for setting up along your driveway or walkway, or install it next to your house. Mulch that touches stems and trunks can cause rot and provide shelter from which pests can feed. This unique design includes 6â x 6â posts, crisscross trellis joists to add strength and style, and is built with 100% FSC certified Cedar lumber. Mulch helps conserve moisture, reduce weeds, moderate soil temperature, and beautify your yard. NuScape 37.5-cu ft Red Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), NuScape 75-cu ft Brown Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), NuScape 75-cu ft Black Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), NuScape 75-cu ft Red Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), Long Leaf Pine Needles (up to 3200 sq ft Coverage), Long Leaf Pine Needles (up to 1500 sq ft Coverage), NuScape 75-cu ft Green Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), NuScape 37.5-cu ft Brown Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), NuScape 37.5-cu ft Black Bulk Rubber Mulch (Ipema Certified), Scotts Color Enhanced Mulch 1.5-cu ft Classic Black Blend Mulch, 2 CF cypress blend Mulch 2 -cu ft Shredded, Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page. Alternatives for more tips on how to choose the right one for your landscaping beds plus, made! Seed from birds and rodents to estimate the amount of mulch with no damage the... Durable mulch on sidewalks, driveways, patios and pools to set your edges 6 to 8 inches from! 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Can you use ethanol for plant extraction? The answer is yes! Ethanol is a great option for extracting oil from plants. Ethanol for plant extraction is common in a variety of different oil extraction processes including CBD oil, CBDA, olive oil, seed oils, and more. There are a few reasons why ethanol for plant extraction is a great option. Most importantly ethanol is both highly effective and perfectly safe to use for plant extraction. Ethanol will retrieve a large amount of oil from the plant and then completely evaporate. This results in the maximum amount of product from your plant that is safe to use in both food grade and consumable goods.
Benefits of Using Ethanol For Plant Extraction
Safe – Ethanol is a safe option for plant extraction due to the fact that it leaves behind a safe to use, non-toxic oil product. For this reason ethanol is preferred by the FDA for food products. Ethanol can be safely used in plant extraction to produce cooking oils and oils for personal care and cosmetics.
Effective – Ethanol is widely used in oil extraction for its ability to extract a potent amount of oil. Ethanol is very effective in separating oils from the plant material, resulting in large extraction quantities.
Bulk Availability – One major benefit of using ethanol for plant extraction is that it can be purchased in convenient bulk sizes. Ecolink offers Ethanol in 5 gallon buckets and 55 gallon drums to meet our needs. In addition to affordable bulk sizing and pricing, Ecolink also offers expert advice to ensure you find the best chemical or solvent for your needs.
Need To Find An Ethanol Supplier?
If you are looking for a reliable, responsible, and knowledgeable provider of high quality ethanol for plant extraction, contact Ecolink here! Ecolink is a trusted provider of bulk chemicals and solvents. Call today to speak to an expert!


It is not difficult to imagine what our food without bees, our diet would be dull and devoid of nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of our body, we must take into account that 84% of plant species and 76% of production European food depends on pollination by bees.
Disappearance of Bees
Bees are a concern for many people, and it is no wonder, in fact, according to Google Trends, last year the question what would happen if there were bees? It was among the first 10 of a list of questions about “what if …?”. The truth is that for years spoken of bees, especially since the population began to decline drastically, the interest is in this role that pollinators in agriculture and food production. Many experts have sounded the alarm that their disappearance would have disastrous consequences, assuming a huge challenge for mankind, biodiversity, food production and the economy would be seriously affected.
Currently the EFSA (food safety agency of the European Union) is evaluating the risk posed to bees using three neonicotinoid pesticides, plant protection products the Agency has confirmed that they are a risk to pollinators. Also in the United States has recently carried out an investigation in order to assess the situation of bees and their habitats, this study was initiated following the memorandum issued by the White House in which he warned that in the last decades had suffered a great loss of pollinators, noting that these insects were conducting a multimillion dollar contribution to the US economy, the concern is evident, we talked about it here.
The bee pollination is closely linked to food production, they are essential for the development of numerous plants and trees, also, in many cases there is a total dependence on bees. To this we must add that produce a highly valued food, honey, unfortunately every year the number of colonies and therefore honey production is reduced. Speaking of Europe, 84% of plant species and 76% of European food production depend on pollination by bees, according to data from then, the bee colony had been reduced by 30%, so in the 2011 the European Parliament passed a resolution that the European Union would increase the budget for research and development of new drugs that might protect bees from certain diseases, although there was talk of how they affected pesticides and other plant protection products to these insects.
Disappearance of bee colonies
If we ask the question how would our food without bees ?, could be extremist and respond phrase attributed to Albert Einstein: “If the bees disappear, mankind would be left four years of life.” It may not be so, but its disappearance would be profound change, food security and diversity would be seriously threatened, it would produce a loss of biodiversity and affect the ecological balance, the food prices would increase significantly, disappear honey … These are just some of the consequences of the disappearance of these little pollinators.
Greenpeace is aware of the importance of bees and it takes some time fighting to protect, as is protecting biodiversity and food, may recall that in 2014 the Greenpeace launched a campaign called Greenbees, which had as committed to gather as many signatures as possible in order to influence governments and companies that acted and saved them the bees, then you can see the cute video of the campaign in which it is shown how bees are mobilized to protest against pesticides, They are acting as if they were activists of Greenpeace.
To ensure the food supply in the coming decades is necessary to fight against the reduction of bee colonies, something that many countries are becoming aware. Returning to the question before done, says Greenpeace our diet depends heavily on pollinators in Europe, 84% of the 264 crop species and 4,000 plant varieties exist thanks to insect pollination, production of some foods as apples, peaches or courgettes not be viable without pollinators, would be necessary to resort to manual pollination, leading to eat these foods were a luxury.
Would enjoy a fairly boring diet and also lacking the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of our body, the picture you can see below is quite explicit, it would come to this regrettable situation. We speak of the power of human beings, but also suffer the consequences of the disappearance of bees other living beings, which would likely increase the number of species that are extinct.
Extinction of bees
Greenpeace continues its campaign of awareness and requested our collaboration, we can become partners to support the work undertaken by the organization or can sign the petition to save the bees, it is requested that the Government of our country to establish a timetable for the ban of the most harmful pesticides (imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, fipronil, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin and cypermethrin). A comprehensive plan of action to protect bees and other pollinators, establishing a roadmap so as to increase to 7.6 million hectares the area devoted to organic farming by 2020 is also requested.
So far over 200,000 people have signed this petition in our country, but many more signatures are needed, we invite you to read this article by Greenpeace about what might happen if bees disappeared.
Photo | PaulSteinJC


Christy Cusick writes:
I am going to try my hand at having an urban farm stand this Friday from 1-5pm at my place. I will have Red Russian Kale, collard greens mustard greens Spinach, radish, cilantro, Swiss Chard and quail eggs. Feel free to stop on by. More to come as the weeks go on. I see lots of tomatoes in our future this summer. 🙂 If the time to pickup does not work for you and you still want to support my urban farm stand let me know what you would like and I will do my best to set some aside for you.
Her place is located at 1423 NE 113th Street.


THU Van and her family have grown their market garden footprint significantly since moving to Perth in 1997, aged 21.
After working as a labourer then leasing land, Mrs Van bought her first 4ha farm 17 years ago and has grown that landholding over time.
She now owns about 18ha in Mariginiup, 4ha in Gnangara and is setting up another 28ha farm in Carabooda.
Those properties produce about 400 to 500 crates of vegetables a day, including spinach, bok choy and spring onions.
Over the past five years, she has received extra support from vegetablesWA’s Vietnamese industry extension officer Truyen Vo, who helped growers and the association overcome language barriers.
“I see a good future for this farm because they have a second generation with her daughter and son-in-law getting involved as well,” he said.
“It’s rare to find the younger generation to get involved in the family business.”
About 60 per cent of vegetable growers in the City of Wanneroo are first or second-generation Vietnamese, and language has traditionally been a barrier for engagement with the association.
Since his appointment Mr Vo has helped more than 120 Vietnamese growers in the region access the organisation’s programs and initiatives.
Chief executive John Shannon said the Vietnamese expat had been a valuable resource since his appointment, which followed an extensive career as a research scientist with Vietnam’s Southern Fruit Research Institute and working with Land Care Research in New Zealand.
“Truyen’s engagement with the community and ability to provide translation services has played a vital part in building relationships with non-English speaking growers in the area,” Mr Shannon said.
“His professional and academic experience, along with his fluency in Vietnamese, has resulted in a large proportion of our Wanneroo growers being able to make the most of the services available to them, as well as actively participate in industry meetings.”
With English as his second language, Mr Vo understood firsthand the challenges facing many Vietnamese growers.
“It can be difficult to participate in research or benefit from research outcomes and advances in technology when English is not your first language,” he said.
“By speaking the language, I can more easily introduce and guide growers through the research that is being undertaken by vegetablesWA.”
Mr Vo also guided growers through workshops, gave advice on water efficiency and biosecurity, helped them work with government agencies and provided translation services at meetings.


Down on the Farm
Antioch College’s Global Seminars sit at the center of its new general education curriculum. Focused on the areas of food, water, energy, health, and public policy, the Global Seminars provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to examining critical issues. They are, for all intents and purposes, the academic medium through which Antioch College chooses to address what has, in the last decade, grown into a social justice issue of our time: sustainability. And the campus farm provides a living lab.
Clockwise, from top left: Kat Christen, David Kammler, Anne Simonson, Nick Boutis, Lewis Trelawny-Cassity, Brooke Bryan, and Louise Smith. Photo by Diane Chiddister, courtesy of the Yellow Springs News.
“The particular challenge for this generation of Antiochians will be to discover new and better ways of living that treat the health of the planet as our core priority,” Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt said. “The signs are all around us that we have passed a tipping point in terms of human and environmental health.”
To bring these issues into closer focus, the College is working to integrate sustainability across the curriculum, said Nick Boutis, director of the Glen Helen Nature Preserve and coordinator of College sustainability initiatives. Where appropriate, sustainability becomes a topic of conversation in the classroom; but more importantly, College leaders are seeking ways to make sustainability a part of how life is lived on the campus in Yellow Springs. The first step in that direction is the development of the Antioch College Farm.
“We’re establishing what we’re doing from the get-go, and we have an opportunity to design our initiatives right into the fabric of the institution,” Boutis said.
- Volunteers work the land on the new Antioch College Farm. (photo: Dennie Eagleson ‘71)
- Volunteers work with Kat Christen to ready the Antioch Farm. (photo: Dennie Eagleson ‘71)
- College staff and village volunteers develop the Antioch College farm. (photo: Dennie Eagleson ’71)
- Farmer Kat Christen explores securing this mobile chicken coop from predators. (photo: Dennie Eagleson)
Preparing the Site
Situated on the thirty-five acre former golf course on the southeast side of the campus, the farm is to be both a working laboratory and a way to provide experiential learning in organic farming and sustainable food practices.
The College hired Kat Christen, a local organic farmer, to get the farm up and running. Christen runs Smaller Footprint Farms with her husband, Doug, a graduate of the naturalist training program at the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in life science education from Ohio University and was previously an urban naturalist for the Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton. The Christens founded Smaller Footprint Farms six years ago.
Working with volunteers from the campus and village communities, Christen has built twenty raised beds for planting. Produce includes beets, spinach, Asian greens, lettuces, and other cold season crops. There will also be herbs, such as cilantro and dill. All purchased seeds are organic when available, untreated, and non-genetically modified organisms, Christen said. The plan is to plant twenty beds this fall and to build fifteen to twenty more for spring planting. Christen is also working on planting a food forest, a food production and land management system that is based on using trees, bushes, and shrubs that have yields directly useful to humans.
“We’re planting persimmons, berries, apple trees, plus a really unique variety of things, such as paw-paws,” she said. “They’re a native plant of Ohio, and they taste like banana-mango custard.”
“There’s this idea that being green means you’re not a humanist. But sustainability is actually treating people equally. Environmental justice ties in very closely with social justice.”
Lewis Trelawny-Cassity, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
The campus greenhouse, which sits adjacent to the Science Building, has been repaired, which will allow for an expanded growing season, Boutis said.
Antioch College would, of course, not be the only small liberal arts college with a farm. Hampshire, Sterling, Warren Wilson, Evergreen, and Oberlin all have farms. Antioch College’s new faculty members were scheduled to take a college farm tour in late August. Among other locations, Boutis had scheduled a trip to Oberlin’s George Jones Farm and Nature Preserve, a 70-acre farmstead operated by the New Agrarian Center as a cooperative farm incubator and educational center. The farm combines production areas for vegetables, fruit, composting, and free-range livestock with efforts to restore natural habitat.
Antioch College proposes to add chickens and other animals to its farm operation. In late summer, ten chickens were brought onto campus in a mobile coop. Most were killed by a neighbor’s dogs soon after arrival on campus. Christen and other members of the farm committee are devising a plan to better protect animals when they are reintroduced to campus. This fall, a community that includes students will share the responsibility of caring for the animals and harvesting crops.
“It won’t be long before those chickens are generating eggs,” Boutis said. “Even in at times of year when we aren’t picking anything out of the garden, we’ll still be able to reap some bounty from the birds.”
Boutis said Christen is primarily responsible for prepping the canvas, so to speak. “One month after we started the farm enterprise, faculty joined our community and we are able to bring their interests to bear on the work we’re doing,” he said. “Similarly, once students start, we’re going to want to factor in their views. If we have students with certain dietary interests or limitations, we’ll be able to factor that into the crop design.”
It’s all part of the process of building a farm that is designed to be a center of learning for students, Boutis said. The farm will provide students an opportunity to find out what sustainable agriculture means and what they can do to improve current practices.
“If we’re doing this wisely, we’re thinking about how sustainability becomes an integrated context for learning about the campus—how we build in opportunities with the Office of Community Life, how we design coursework, how we design the system of campus governance,” Boutis said.
A New Frontier
Students may be able to work full time on the farm during the spring co-op, said Susan Eklund-Leen, dean and professor of cooperative education. Additionally, all students must work ten hours a week during study terms, so a part-time job on the campus farm is also a possibility for those who are interested.
A tremendous number of students in the new class have already done some work in sustainability. Their biographies include stints farming in developing countries, working in agriculture and biodiversity, village construction and environmental conservation in Central America, and organic farming in South America.
Anya Gandy, for example, says organic farming is the lynchpin to finding ways to remedy pressing global concerns, such as climate change. “We need as many people as possible to grow food,” she said. “We have to make more of a transition to organic, local farms to combat climate change and other [issues].”
Gandy and her classmates had an opportunity to engage on these issues at their orientation in September. The 10-day program included a community-wide discussion of Paul Hawken’s Blessed Unrest, an examination of the worldwide movement for social and environmental change.
“We’re talking a lot and working through a lot here,” philosophy professor Lewis Trelawny-Cassity said. Trelawny-Cassity is a member of the farm committee and was on the committee that selected Blessed Unrest as a common read for incoming students.
“There’s this idea that being green means you’re not a humanist. But sustainability is actually treating people equally. Environmental justice ties in very closely with social justice,” Trelawny-Cassity said.
Over the summer, Trelawny-Cassity brought his two young sons to campus to assist with the development of the farm. Tilling soil, clearing weeds, and planting greens is a practical exercise that he appreciated, he said. “I put in ten hours a day putting together bibliographies. Going out, just making sure the chickens have water, is very practical and hands-on,” he said. “It’s a welcome, invigorating break.”
Antioch College will never be an agricultural school, he adds. “But getting students to do work with their hands empowers them. We want to radiate optimism, and give people a way to make things better. The farm is a small way to do that.”
Christian Feuerstein ’94 is a writer, editor, and production manager living in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Gariot P. Louima is the chief communications officer at Antioch College.


Children's Climate Change Project
5-10 yrs (Junior)
With funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we’ve set up a children’s climate change project #Letsgrowtogether. Children aged 5-10 yrs will be able to attend 17 free gardening workshops, led by Amie Lock, designed to promote the values of sustainable living through growing vegetables and the vital role that pollinators play in producing our food. As well as enjoyable gardening activities at our Centre’s climate change garden, the children will be able to take a fun activity back home to complete. Every season, at two of our events a recipe card will be included in each pack to promote healthy eating which has been provided by Cardiff resident, Michael Bell - a Brand Marketing manager and food writer. (see website) The gardening workshops will run from 24th April to 29th January 2022, on the last Saturday of every month during term time and weekly on Wednesday mornings 10.30-12.30 during school holidays. If the weather is poor a takeaway option is available.
Our second gardening workshop - Sunflowers is on Sat 29th May,
10.30 - 12.30!
Our first gardening workshop - Supertato starts on Sat 24th April,
10.30 - 12.30!
Our Supertato Workshop!
Saag Aloo is the perfect way to bolster a serving of potatoes with vibrant and nutritious vegetables and spices. A more authentic recipe would call for cumin seeds, mustard seeds and sometimes fenugreek but I’ve tried to make this as friendly as I can for a quick midweek nip to the shop. It’s traditionally presented as a side dish, so I like to serve this with nothing more than a simple dal and a bowl of rice, but I have also eaten it on its own after a quick zap in the microwave the next day for a work lunch.
The only thing I ask is that when cooking this recipe (or any recipe that contains turmeric) please use a rubber spatula. Turmeric is a notorious troublemaker and will have your wooden spoons looking Simpsons the minute they meet in the pan.
Oh, and with any potatoes you peel – do not throw away the potato skins! Wash them, dry them, put them on a baking tray salt them, and roast them in an oven heated to 180°C for about 20 minutes. Homemade crisps and no waste!
• 1kg potatoes – peeled and cut into small chunks
• 1 tbs vegetable oil
• 1 white onion - cut into slices
• 1 clove garlic – minced or finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 220g spinach leaves
A healthy recipe card found inside your eco bag provided by Michael Bell - Food writer
1. Fill a deep pan with cold water and drop in your peeled and cut potatoes.
2. Put the pan on a high heat on the hob and once the water comes to a boil, add a generous pinch of salt, and allow the potatoes to boil for 8 – 10 minutes.
3. After the potatoes have had their boiling time, drain them into a colander but before you do, remove a small cupful of the salty, starchy potato water, and put to one side. Leave the potatoes to sit in the colander while you make the rest of your dish.
4. In a deep saucepan with high sides, heat the oil on a medium heat and add the onion with a small pinch of salt and fry for about 10 minutes until the onions start to soften.
5. Add the garlic and gently cook for a further 10 - 15 minutes until the onions start to go slightly golden and caramelised.
6. Now add the cumin, mustard powder and turmeric and stir into the onions and garlic, cooking for about 2 or 3 minutes just so the spices can heat up.
7. Add the cooked potato chunks and the small cup of potato boiling water you reserved earlier.
8. Carefully stir the potatoes into the onions and spices - the starch from the potato water will help thicken the liquid which meld with the spices and onions to create a golden sauce, which will help with coating the potatoes.
9. Now add in the spinach leaves and turn off the heat as the spinach will wilt down in the residual heat from the pan of ingredients. It may look like the pan is very overcrowded but do not worry, the spinach shrinks down. There’s room at this party for everyone.
10. Once all of the spinach is used up, taste for seasoning and serve.


Latest version: 1.7
Farm crops and expand your farm to get more and more coins!
- Expandable land
- Multiple foods (more coming soon)
- Windows XP or above (or Linux with Wine)
- DirectX (any)
- A mouse
Download FARMING for free below!
Download FARMING 1.7
- Brand new, easy-to-use market!
- New loading screen
- Land is centered at start
Looking for an old version?
Download FARMING 1.1


The organic farm “Il Gobbo” comes from the union of desire and possibility. The land we have has been used for centuries in the production of oil. It is reminiscent of a tradition that reflects the will to keep alive a story that tells itself in the generous green hills. Our desire is in fact to offer high quality and biological products, in respect of the land and the new demands of agricultural sustainability. All our fruits are grown and sold under the brad ICEA. The choice to engage in a diverse and modest cultivation reflects in every aspect our will to follow carefully the stages of production. Love and respect for nature are the foundations of our company, the opportunity to experience agriculture as development, not only of the land but also of the link between the land and its seasons.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The 1200 olive trees of the company are situated on the hills adjacent to the small villages of Segromigno in Monte and S. Peter a Marcigliano. The old trees, looked after by many farmers over time, retain the memory of an ancient tradition and today raise the possibility to obtain excellent quality olive oil without the use of manual fertilization or additional treatments.
Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil wins the Silver Award at the New York International Olive Oil Competition 2014. See how we make it!
The interest in acorns was born about three years ago when, during a walk in the company grounds with Dorotea (my Cinta Senese), we stopped under an oak. My passion for spontaneous harvesting, which has always been the protagonist of my work, combined with the enormous amount of acorns that I found under my feet resulted in a simple question: what could I do with all these fruits? Yes, because the acorn is a fruit – the fruit of the oak!


NEW YORK & CHEYENNE, Wyo.–BlockApps, the leading enterprise blockchain platform provider, has launched its newest offering with Genesis – Blockchain for Beef. This comes on the heels of last year’s launch of TraceHarvest in partnership with Bayer Crop Science, which traces the full lifecycle of agricultural products starting at the seed source. Leveraging TraceHarvest, Genesis – Blockchain for Beef brings the same accountability and value TraceHarvest brought to seed provenance to the sourcing of animal products.
All cattle in the food production chain generate data elements that add value to the beef being produced. Historically, it has been challenging to track and present data that validates treatments, vaccine use, and production practices used in each beef operation. This information is valuable for everyone from ranchers, feed yards, and packers to retailers and consumers. Blockchain technology enables producers to reliably track data from beginning to end, flow that data through the supply chain, and include third-party verification for continued validation of production practices. The nature of blockchain means that the data is contained in a decentralized network, making each participant the owner and manager of their data.
“The beef production space has a great story to tell about decisions that producers are making every day. By grounding ourselves in data and now being able to flow information through the supply chain, we are driving value into our processes and optimizing our end-product,” said Hannah Garrett, founder


Welcome to the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission Website
The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission (OSCC) was formed in 1989 by a majority vote of cherry growers in the state. The purpose of the commission is to coordinate assessment revenue collected for research to improve agricultural practices and cherry production and to participate in promotional efforts to increase cherry sales domestically and internationally.
This website is being set up as a centralized contact point for OSCC activities and to help share industry information with cherry growers around the state. Please feel free to contact the OSCC office with your suggestions and comments.
Future Meeting Note: The next OSCC regular meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2015 in Meeting Room at the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Research & Extension Center, 3009 Experiment Station Dr., Hood River, OR 97031. The agenda will be posted under the OSCC Board tab 2 weeks before the meeting date. See the News tab for other upcoming industry meetings.
2015 Willamette Valley Cherry Pest Guide available now! Click on the link below.
2015 Willamette Valley Cherry Pest Guide


The Giant Panda and the Gardener
The players take the role of courtesans of the Nippon emperor and take on the role of caring for his Giant Panda by growing a bamboo plantation.
Their mission: to farm parcels of land, irrigate them, and grow green, yellow or pink bamboo. In turn, they see what the weather brings and perform two actions from among those offered to them: get a new plot of land or irrigation channel, grow bamboo, feed the panda or draw an objective card.
The game ends when a player has completed 7 to 9 objectives (depending on the number of players). The player who gets the best score by adding the total value of their completed objective wins the game.
– A modular board to keep games fresh every game,
– The perfect balance between tactics and theme,
– High quality material and artwork
– 28 tiles (plots),
– 90 bamboo sections,
– 20 irrigation channels,
– 9 landscaping cards,
– 46 objective cards,
– 4 individual boards,
– 8 action tokens,
– 1 weather die,
– 1 panda figurine,
– 1 gardener figurine,
– 1 rule book.
From : 13 years
Gametime : 45 minutes


We are now accepting members for the 2019 CSA season! Take a look at CSA Information HERE for the details or Shop HERE now.
We are located in the heart of the Wenatchee Valley. We raise a variety of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, chickens, and bees on 5 acres of sandy Loam soil above the majestic Columbia River. Browse our website to learn about our bountiful farm CSA program, find information about the vegetables we grow, and explore newsletters and recipes straight from the farm!
You can find us at
Saturdays from 8am-1pm
Thursdays from 4pm-8pm


Strawberries taste great, but they're often associated with lots of chemicals used in farming. This paper looks at the health and environmental dangers linked to these chemicals found in non-organic strawberries.
Strawberries are irresistible beyond just their bright red color and delicious taste. However, beneath this exterior lies a less savory truth: an extensive dependence on chemicals to ward off their many pests, resulting in significant residue concerns.
Learn more: Arbor Vitamins
A Deep Dive into Pesticide Concerns
Dominating the Dirty Dozen
Prominently featuring on the EWG's "Dirty Dozen" list, strawberries have become a symbol of the pitfalls of modern farming practices.
Beyond Single Chemicals
The presence of multiple pesticides in strawberries is concerning. We don't fully understand how these chemicals affect human health, so we need to investigate thoroughly.
Zooming into Health Implications
A Hormonal Minefield
Pesticides not only pose an immediate threat but also quietly interfere with the endocrine system. This can cause various health problems, from reproductive anomalies to metabolic disorders.
Neurological Red Flags
Organophosphate pesticides are under scrutiny for possibly causing brain development issues, especially in young children exposed over time.
Certain chemicals used in strawberry farming have been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers, making it imperative to understand long-term consumption repercussions.
Echoes in the Environment
Ravaging Soil Health
The relentless application of pesticides tampers with soil microbiota, undermining its fertility and posing challenges for sustainable farming.
Threatening the Pollinators
The decline in bee populations and other vital pollinators can be linked to specific chemicals used prolifically in strawberry cultivation. This poses dire consequences for global food security.
Paving the Path for Conscious Consumption
While opting for organic strawberries is a direct action against chemical exposure, it is equally crucial to advocate for more transparent and sustainable farming practices.
Strawberries represent the complexities of modern farming. By learning more, consumers can enjoy strawberries while making informed choices about their food.


Grow Your Own Food Series: The Farm is the Pharmacy
Bookmark the course so that you will receive notification(s) if there are new runs for this course.
Plants have a marvellous way of healing and we benefit from their healing power. This programme will explore plants that are beneficial to include our diet based on science and traditional medicine. Participants will learn the beneficial uses of fruits, vegetables and herbs and share how they have been consuming these plants.
Nett Fee after Government subsidy S$23.80
Edible Garden City Pte Ltd
3 hours over 1 session
Course information is accurate as provided by course provider on 23 June 2023. For more information, please contact the course provider.
Sivagami is an Urban Farming Educator with Edible Garden City and has a BA in Psychology as well as Diploma qualifications in Special Needs. She taught in the SPED sector for over 10 years, working with both children and youth.
Debra enjoys learning, and sharing all that she has learnt with others. She believes in growing her own food & spending time outdoors.
Dorothy is passionate about nature and gardening and believes in lifelong learning. She has designed and conducted learning journeys and programmes to inspire interest in edible gardening for all walks as an educator with Edible Garden City.
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The leaves are falling and many trees are bare, but, that doesn’t mean the trees are inactive. Most deciduous trees are devoting energy to root systems at this time. They are investing in roots for winter storage as well as in expanding the root network to exploit opportunities for nutrient and water uptake.
Since the trees are still growing, albeit underground and unseen, we can still make positive contributions to their health condition to make them more tolerant of freezing winter conditions and better prepared to begin above ground growth in the spring.
Watering is probably the most critical care option for trees overwintering in Minnesota. Soil moisture allows for continuing root growth and storage, and nutrient and water uptake. In addition, well watered root systems are better able to handle the many winter stresses including root desiccation.
For evergreen trees and shrubs (spruce, pine, arborvitae etc.) watering in the fall is very important (Figure 1). Since these trees retain their foliage throughout the winter, they are much more prone to issues with winter desiccation. Conifers going into winter with a dry root system will experience more issues with winter injury, including salt damage leading to needle drop and even death of terminal branches. Keeping irrigation on or watering up until the ground becomes frozen will help these plants hydrated through the winter (Figure 2). Heavy snowfall helps protect the roots of trees from desiccation. With snow on the ground, winter injury is more related to structural damage due to weight of snow.
Amending soils in the fall with prescriptive organic matter will also help root systems by creating more pore space for water and nutrient holding (Figure 3). The soil microorganisms that feed on the organic matter are literally soil builders. They will remain active until the ground is frozen and during that time they will naturally till the soil and reduce the bulk density of heavy clay soils. In sandy soils, the organic matter will help hold water and nutrients in the profile where the tree and shrub roots can access it this fall and into next spring.
Fall is also a great time to treat for insect scale problems on trees (Figure 4). Horticultural oils applied to branches and twigs in the fall will suffocate most overwintering scales. There is no risk of foliar damage on deciduous trees, because the foliage is gone. These treatments can however remove the bluish sheen from evergreen plants with blue characters such as Colorado blue spruce, concolor fir and some junipers.
In the winter, deer, rabbits and voles can cause significant damage to stem and trunk tissue on trees and shrubs. Putting metal window screening around the base of newly planted trees and shrubs or those with a history of damage will prevent rabbits and voles from getting to the delicate trunk tissues. The metal screens should be at least four feet tall and should be between 1-1/2 to two inches away from the bark of the tree. This prevents rabbits and voles from reaching over or sticking their noses through the wire to nibble. Metal screening should also be buried at least two inches into the soil to prevent burrowing beneath the screen. Chicken wire and other large gap screens are not effective at preventing access to the bark tissue.
Voles especially need cover from predators. They can become a problem if snow banks go up and over the wire mesh and the voles can tunnel through the snow to get to the bark. They also like the cover of mulch. Having mulch piled up against the trunk of trees is not a good idea in general, but with voles it provides a sanctuary from predators so they can feed on trees unabated. Pulling mulch away from the trunks of trees with about a foot of open clearance between the trunk and the mulch is enough to make voles feel uncomfortable.
Paper-based tree wraps, paints and sprays tend to not be as effective as the wire mesh physical barriers for rabbits and voles. Of course no one makes a screen large enough to prevent deer damage.
Deer do prefer saplings and young trees with big tasty buds. Often they will even reach their neck over fences to rip off the succulent tissues. The key with deer repellents is that by using them you make the plant less attractive than other plants in the vicinity. Thus, even plants treated with repellents can be fed upon if the deer are very hungry or if there aren’t any better feeding options for them in the area (Figure 5).
Most deer repellents contain putrescent egg solids as their primary ingredient. Think stinky sulfur egg smell. The best repellents are those that stay on the bark tissues even after a rain or snow event. Unfortunately, even those repellents will wear off over the winter. Repeated treatments are needed when and if the temperature rises above freezing throughout the winter to keep the trees stinky. An alternative that has shown some success is the use of capsaicin tablets that are formulated to be dissolved in the soil and taken up from the roots of trees into the tissue that is fed upon by deer. These tablets however require an active xylem stream within the tree to get the capsaicin where it will be effective. That’s probably not going to happen this late in the season, but planning early for to apply them in September of next year is certainly an option.
Dr. John Lloyd, Ph.D. of Plant Health Doctors, LLC contributes to the Ostvig Tree Care website blog. He is also available through Ostvig Tree Care to answer questions on tree care and plant health issues. Feel free to send any questions you may have about this blog or any other tree issues to firstname.lastname@example.org.


Today we said goodbye to the remaining members of crew 134. Then I got familiar with the greenhouse and sowed the lettuces seeds which I will use for my experiment. The air is so dry here, relative humidity stays between 15 and 20 %. I can feel it on my skin and on my cracked lips. So I covered the lettuce seeds I planted with a transparent plastic lid in order to leave them in an environment close to 100% humidity, which will make germination easier.
With the whole team we checked that the mock spacesuits and the ATVs were in good working conditions and we did an inventory of different equipments.
We have decided to eat only things which are likely to be eaten by astronauts on Mars, that’s to say mainly ice-dried food and some fresh vegetable (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots) that we could have grown in the greenhouse.
The day ended up with the writing of daily reports to mission support. A successful misison is ahead of us!


Get Rid of Weed in Your Yard
There are a number of different ways to get rid of weed in your yard, and it is important that you choose the right one for your situation. This article will provide an overview of several options with pros and cons as well as specific information about how each method works below:
Controlling weeds with chemicals~
Pros – Weed-killers made from chemical sprays can kill most types of broadleaf plants including dandelions, clover, thistle, or crabgrass
Cons – Be sure to follow label instructions carefully when using them on non-edible vegetation because they could harm people or animals if not used properly. Also, be aware that some herbicides have been known to contaminate groundwater so use only where there is no risk of it running off into creeks or lakes.
Controlling weeds with landscape fabric~
Pros – Place a layer of plastic mesh over the soil to block weed seeds from sprouting and you will not have as much trouble with them growing in your yard
Cons – This is only temporary because eventually the plastic sheeting breaks down and allows those same seeds to germinate once again so this method should be used for at least one year before switching to another option. If using landscaping fabric, do not leave any bare ground uncovered where weeds could grow through since that would defeat its purpose entirely!
Controlling weeds by covering lawn areas~
Pros – Lay down newspaper sheets on top of the grass instead which suffocates existing plants while also preventing weed seeds from growing
Cons – The newspaper needs to be covered with a layer of mulch or topsoil for it to work properly and if the sheets are not anchored down, they could blow away in high winds.
Controlling weeds by smothering them~
Pros – Organic matter like grass clippings and compost can cover up weed patches while also nourishing the soil below so nothing will grow there again
Cons – This method should only last about one season since you would need an extremely thick layer of organic material on top which is difficult to accumulate enough of before autumn arrives. Also, be aware that this method does not kill off existing plants as much as prevent new ones from sprouting but if those same weeds return then it may take even more work to get rid of them again the following year.
Controlling weeds by digging them out~
Pros – This is an excellent way to remove stubborn plants that are growing in particular areas because it does not require any extra materials or tools besides your own hands
Cons-You may need a shovel, trowel or garden fork for this task so be sure you have one on hand before starting work. This method also takes more time than others which means you should only do it when other options will not work or there is no chance they will return anytime soon since dealing with persistent weed growth can become quite frustrating!
Controlling weeds by smothering and pulling them up together ~
Pros – This process combines two methods into one for a faster and more effective way of getting rid of weeds in your yard.
Cons – You will need to do this twice each year when spring arrives because weed seeds sprout much earlier than other plants so that means two separate digging sessions. Also, be aware that smothering them with mulch or compost is not enough on its own but must also include pulling up any remaining root systems by hand which may require extra effort depending upon how deeply embedded they are.
Controlling weeds using steam~
Pros – This approach kills off existing weeds while preventing new ones from germinating since high temperatures interfere with their growth cycle Cons -This method requires a specialized piece of equipment called a “weed burner” which costs quite a bit, plus it only works for very small areas and can only be done during the summer months.
Controlling weeds with boiling water~
Pros – You do not need to use any tools or equipment other than a pot of boiling water and it works especially well on young plants which have just begun growing Cons -This method is very time-consuming since you would spend hours over an open fire then wait for more weed seedlings to emerge before repeating this process again, plus there is always the risk that your house could catch fire if you are not careful!
Controlling weeds by spraying their leaves with vinegar ~
Pros – White distilled vinegar can be used as an organic herbicide that will kill off existing plants but it should never touch any vegetables, fruit trees, or other edible plants since the acidity could damage them so only use this method on things like dandelions and clover! Cons -This approach requires more time than others because it alone does not prevent new sprouts from growing back after old ones die off so using multiple applications may be necessary depending upon weather conditions during the year.


welcome to our site
(989) 846-4565 ext. 5
Truax Drills are designed to plant grasses and legumes on a variety of site conditions.
Rental agreement is listed below. tree planters need a 3 point hitch to operate.
Tree Planter Agreement
We need to have this agreement before you may pick up the drill along with payment
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COMPUTER MODEL SUGGESTS FUTURE CROP LOSS DUE TO POTENTIAL IN
by Goddard Space Flight CenterMore articles in Satellites
An increased frequency of extreme precipitation events has been observed over the last 100 years in the United States. Global climate models project that similar trends may continue and even strengthen over the coming decades, due to climate change. Now, a study using computer climate and crop model simulations predicts that U.S. agricultural production losses due to excess rainfall may double in the next 30 years, resulting in an estimated $3 billion per year in damages.
Cynthia Rosenzweig and Francesco Tubiello, researchers at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University, New York, and the other authors of this study, found that current assessments of the impacts of climate change on agriculture have not accounted for the negative impacts on crops from increased precipitation and floods. In an effort to close this information gap, the researchers modified an existing crop computer model to simulate the extent to which excess soil moisture from heavy rain might damage crop plants.
"The impacts of excess soil moisture due to increased precipitation need to be taken into account because of associated crop losses and potential financial damages," Rosenzweig said.
The researchers argue that while droughts receive the most attention when it comes to assessing the impacts of climate change on agriculture, excess precipitation should also be a major concern. The 1993 U.S. Midwest floods, for example, caused about $6 to 8 billion in damages to farmers, accounting for roughly half of the total overall losses from the flood, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Overall precipitation and extreme rain events are projected to increase in the future because of stronger water cycle dynamics associated with global warming.
Global climate model simulations used in the study project increases in total precipitation and in the number of extreme precipitation events in the Corn Belt and on average for the continental United States. Over the Corn Belt states, the average number of extreme precipitation events was 30 percent above present levels in the 2030s, and 65 percent higher in the 2090s. The same climate projections were used for a 2001 U.S. national assessment report on potential consequences of climate change.
The researchers also modified an existing crop model, called CERES-Maize, in order to simulate the effects of excess soil moisture from heavy precipitation on corn crops. The model calculates plant development, growth and final yield based on weather, crop genetic traits and management practices. The researchers modified CERES-Maize by adding in a function that limited the simulated plant's ability to grow roots after three consecutive days of soil saturation. The model simulated corn growth in nine U.S. Corn Belt states, including Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin, which represent 85 percent of total U.S. corn production.
The modified model showed that the probability of crop damage due to water-logged soils could be even greater than the projected increases in heavy precipitation - corresponding to 90 percent more damage in the 2030s, and 150 percent more damage by the 2090s, compared to present conditions.
To relate the climate and crop model results to economic losses, Rosenzweig and her colleagues used USDA economic data to estimate that damages to U.S. corn production due to excess soil moisture currently amount to about $600 million per year.
The researchers then estimated that potential future damages to major U.S. crops due to excess soil moisture could lead to total losses of up to $3 billion per year by the 2030s, on average.
The study appears in the current issue of Global Environmental Change. The research was conducted at the Climate Impacts Group of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies at the Earth Institute at Columbia University and was supported by Environmental Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency.


This cute little chap is Harvey, a robotic shifter of pot plants. Pot plants need to be moved around a lot within nurseries as they grow, for instance to allow the right spacing between them. It is tedious, time-consuming work, but Harvey doesn’t mind. Using sophisticated on-board sensors and simple programming, he can reliably shuffle his charges from here to there and back again. And again… And with a price tag of $30,000, the manufacturers are confident he will be cost-effective for many growers.
The management of pot plants is not the most obvious application of the emerging robotics industry to agriculture, nor will it be the biggest. Weeding is a massive problem for most horticulture, and it won’t be many years before we see troops of specialised robotic vehicles patrolling fields, interrogating each plant to determine whether it is a crop or a weed. “Are you a cabbage? You don’t look like a cabbage. And you’re growing 10cm due south of where my database tells me the cabbage seed was planted. Pardon me, but I’m going to have to zap you.”
Some farmers in the US are already buying automated low-flying drones to sow and fertilise their fields rather than buying the next tractor.
Robots in factories, homes and farms will be one of the canaries in the coal mine – one of the signals that alerts a wider public to the fact that artificial general intelligence is on the way. Initially it will be easy to dismiss the robots as dumb brutes, but as each year’s model becomes smarter than the last, more and more people will ask themselves where it all ends. The immediate worry is, what work will be left for humans to do when robots can do almost everything we can? But the bigger worry is what we will do when they can do everything that we can – and better?


We offer services to clear out snow and ice from your walkways, that way you'll have a safe and clear path on your way out the door.
We offer landscaping services to install your dream design, so that way you don't have to worry about doing the work yourself
Designing landscapes and features is our specialty! We'd love to help you get started with your next outdoor project
In order for your plants to get the most out of their area, we can change the levels of soil to allow drainage or functionality.
Whether you need regular lawn care services or a one-time job, we go the extra mile to make sure your lawn is healthy and beautiful.
Mulching provides many benefits for plant life, including keeping the soil moisturized while preventing weeds from growing.
Sometimes your plants need a little helpful push to get growing. We offer a wide range of mulch products for you to choose.
Weeds can destroy any landscape or garden - which is why we offer services to remove and prevent further growth of these plants.


There was an article today on the BBC telling us that drug resistant infections will kill more people than cancer in 2050.
Part of the reason for this increase is the over use of antibiotics for both humans and animals.
A team of researchers are discussing what can be done to prevent catastrophe in the coming years. Their response was to look at:
- how drug use could be changed to reduce the rise of resistance
- how to boost the development of new drugs
- the need for coherent international action concerning drug use in humans and animals
Antibiotics are widely given to farm animals as a preventative measure. This helps to keep our animals healthy and the price of meat low. But are our farming practices contributing to the rise in drug resistant bacteria?
As mentioned in my last post, there is no need for antibiotics in insect farming. If we could encourage a change in meat consumption habits, perhaps we could slow the bacteria problem, giving scientists more time to develop new or better drugs.
Interestingly, the problem is a global one; we are a species that travels internationally, so resistant bacteria in one part of the world can easily spread to somewhere entirely new. If a change in food choice is part of the solution, then the problem remains that cattle will inevitably be intensively farmed and pumped with antibiotics in a different part of the world. As with many of life’s problems, there is never one simple solution!


There are several banana plants growing in my backyard. A little over a couple months ago, one of them started to grow bananas. I’ve been taking pictures every week to show their progress. They did not get as large as the bananas found in grocery stores around here, but some bananas are small. Unfortunately, their time to grow was cut short by the storm that came through this past Sunday. I found the plant leaning Monday morning. By the time I returned home from work on Tuesday, the plant had fallen over. I’m going to try to get something edible out of what I got, but I don’t know how well it’ll turn out.
Here are a few of the pictures:
There are more pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/JeffJackowski/Bananas.


As residents of a metropolitan area in a 1st-world country like the United States, many of us are unfamiliar with the basic tenets of food production. To us, food is something that comes from a grocery store, often processed and wrapped in brightly-colored plastic. Vegetables have been coaxed and pruned to uniformity, fruits are polished and waxed to a high shine, and meats bear little resemblance to their pre-mortem selves.
Where does the food we eat come from? Has it travelled across state lines, or countries, or oceans? Who grew it in the first place? By what means is it produced?
These are all questions I find myself asking while browsing the produce aisles at Berkeley Bowl (which fortunately labels country of origin for all its fruits and vegetables). In this blog, I intend to address an important method of food production which brings many of these questions closer to home: urban agriculture.
Urban agriculture: the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities. It’s not a new concept, but it’s arguably never been more important than right now. The Bay Area is home to many examples of urban farming, and I’ll be discussing these ventures here.
Hey there. I’m Kyle. I’ve created this blog not only to meet course requirements for Living in a Media World 1, but also to discuss the urban agriculture scene. I’m really into the notion of growing food and raising livestock in non-traditional settings and methods.


Since about 10 years I manage the garden of my parents. So I'm used to have different kinds of mowing machines. Since about 4 weeks I'm the proud owner of my own garden and of course we have to mow the garden as well. Due to this fact, there would be no time to manage the garden of my parents any more. I would use and test the new product in the garden of my parents. With the 70 square meters this garden is the perfect testing areal for the Gardena SILENO city. It has a banking and flat parts, new seeded grass and parts with moss, sun and shadow... I'd be very happy if you choose me to test the Gardena SILENO city and wait impatiently for your response.


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Pesticides & herbicides
- What are pesticides and herbicides and what do they do?
- These are chemicals that are used to control weeds and insects and are widely used in farming, by organisations such as councils and also by the general public in their homes and gardens. The use of these substances is governed by regulations and codes of practice issued by Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).
- Can pesticides and herbicides get into my water supply?
- Although the use of pesticides and herbicides are strictly controlled in the UK, small amounts can enter rivers and streams or find their way into underground water sources.
- All raw water sources such as rivers, reservoirs and boreholes are monitored for the presence of these compounds, though at most sources we can detect no traces of them. At those sources where we can detect traces, treatment has been put in place to remove them.
- The UK standard for pesticides and herbicides is very stringent at 0.1 micrograms per litre (0.1 parts per billion) for individual pesticides or 0.5 micrograms per litre for total pesticides. All of our supplies meet this very strict standard.
- How are you trying to reduce the levels of pesticides and herbicides entering raw water sources?
- We are actively working with the local farming community to encourage more effective use of pesticides and herbicides to reduce the levels that may enter the rivers and underground water sources.
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What's a crop without onions?
Many amateur gardeners grow onions in their garden! There are many varieties of onions, but the most commonly planted are onion sets!
Any summer resident knows how to plant onion sets, but for a beginner this can be a problem!
To begin with, I'll tell you about the conditions in which the onion sets will grow faster and require less effort in care:
1. This is loose soil, and you need to loosen it at least once every two weeks, so that more air and heat come to the bulbs!
2. Be sure to make sure that there are no weeds!
3. Thorough watering is needed!
4. The place for planting onions must not be shaded! The more sun the better!
Sevok is sown in early spring, for this you need to prepare the seeds in advance. For about 5-6 days, onion seeds need to be soaked in water!
The planting must be dense enough! It is advisable to plant in rows every 10 centimeters apart. For one square meter, it is worth sowing up to 15 grams of onion sets, so it will be most comfortable for him! And if the weather is warm and there is abundant watering, then from each meter you will receive up to 2 kilograms of onions!
Have a nice harvest!


The history of the world has a lot to do with triticum or as it is commonly known as, wheat. This crop allowed the development of the first empires in what is now Iraq and the Levant. Egypt's history with wheat goes back to the Pharaohs. They were able to build the pyramids based on its economic value.
The Roman empire depended on the wheat from Egypt to feed the Romans by dishing out the dole through wheat rations. The loss of Egypt's grain for the Byzantine Empire when the new Islamic caliphate conquered Egypt really affected the ability of Byzantium to survive.
One of the reasons the German army invaded Russia in world war two was to get access to the large wheat fields of the Ukraine to help feed its population. When the wheat crop failed in the mid-west USA in the 1930's, it affected the livelihood of millions. Wheat is as important to western culture as rice is to eastern cultures.
Egyptians depend on wheat as a stable food. Science has enabled wheat to grow in tougher conditions and survive disease. The ability to grow such quantities of wheat has allowed a population explosion in Egypt and surround countries. However the grow of the population has well exceeded the ability of Egypt to feed itself with wheat. It needs money to buy in extra wheat to feed the population. It doesn't have that money.
Now this is where world history begins to take shape. When people start to go hungry they have nothing to lose. When people have nothing to lose they are willing to take on the status quo. The French Revolution is a perfect example of what happens when people are left without choice. The price of wheat is rising. The Egyptians are depending on aid from oil rich gulf countries to sustain it but how long before those countries are not able to sustain this aid?
Throughout history the migration of people has precipitated new historic paradigms. If the people of Egypt start to move east or west looking for food, then you will see new conflicts arise that will test people's ability to live by principles they hold dear. History has been full of shocks. The future is no different. There will be shocks. The price of wheat will be one of those shocks. The consequences are already been felt. There is no reason to believe the consequences will not continue to reverberate around the world.


Acting as host for a forthcoming women with autism conference: http://www.brookdalecare.co.uk/Women_with_Autism_Conference
I wanted to introduce the day in a thought provoking way and ventured into the parrallel world of writing parables:
Just by putting on this conference we are part of a rising tide of people challenging a key assumption that autism is male. Female autism is important because as our recognition grows we can see more clearly where we get it wrong and more clearly how to get it right.
An old farmer grows fruit; apples, oranges, pears and plums on a remote hillside. He knows what kind of fruit they are by their colour; his apples are red, his oranges orange, his pears green and his plums purple.
This is important because it makes a difference where he plants them and what he feeds them on. He has also published a book on the subject ‘How to tell your apples from your pears’.
One day when he is at market he is approached by a stranger who tries to sell him a green apple tree. He puts the man straight and tells him it is not an apple it is a pear, but buys it anyway and plants the apple tree in his pear orchard and uses his special pear fertiliser on it. The result is disappointing and he notes this variety as problematic.
His expertise with ‘normal’ apples continues unabated as does his reputation with ‘normal’ pears. However his strange green pear tree, well it goes from problem to problem.
Our belief systems helped create socially constructed androcentric diagnostic tools which chiefly recognise males, which in turn then reinforce our belief that autism is de facto male.


Wooden crate planter measuring 41x50x31cm. These are so versatile and fab for planting up flowers and herbs. Im using mine to grow my tomatoes in and lined with empty compost bags. I also have one as a side table in my garden and indoors I use as a toy box... A very handy item to have!
(Please note this does not include plants.)
Wooden Crate Planter
Local delivery to Horsham, Dorking, Leatherhead, Reigate and places inbetween these towns. If you are further afield please contact me as Im happy to help where I can.


We can’t deny it. We are in extreme weather. Climate change is here and may be here to stay. And in California that means drought. It also means drought in parts of Colorado and the Pacific Northwest – all legal cannabis states.
“Nations have delayed curbing their fossil-fuel emissions for so long that they can no longer stop global warming from intensifying over the next 30 years, though there is still a short window to prevent the most harrowing future, a major new United Nations scientific report has concluded.”
“In recent years, scientists have also been able to draw clear links between global warming and specific severe weather events. Many of the deadly new temperature extremes the world has seen — like the record-shattering heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest in June — “would have been extremely unlikely to occur without human influence on the climate system,” the report says. Greenhouse gas emissions are noticeably making some droughts, downpours and floods worse.”
“Drought is not unnatural for California. Its climate is predisposed to wet years interspersed among dry ones. But the climate crisis and rising temperatures are compounding these natural variations, turning cyclical changes into crises.”
As a society everybody has to do their part to conserve water and be mindful of use. Agriculture is 80% of water use in California. One might ask what that industry is doing to conserve water. There are crops that require excess amounts of water like rye, almonds, and alfalfa.
In an analysis done on the most water intensive crops in California the results are as follows:
“A Pacific Institute analysis of California Department of Water Resources data sheds light on the state’s top 10 water-intensive crops in 2015, the most recent year for which the department has published water-use estimates. The department grouped crops into 20 categories when reporting water-use data.”
“On average, California crops used 2.97 acre feet of water per acre that year, the data show. An acre foot is equal to about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover an acre of land 1 foot deep.”
“The analysis ranked pasture first among California’s top 10 most water-intensive crops, in some cases grouped by categories (in average acre feet of water applied per acre in one growing season), followed by nuts and alfalfa:
- Pasture (clover, rye, bermuda and other grasses), 4.92 acre feet per acre
- Almonds and pistachios, 4.49 acre feet per acre
- Alfalfa, 4.48 acre feet per acre
- Citrus and subtropical fruits (grapefruit, lemons, oranges, dates, avocados, olives, jojoba), 4.23 acre feet per acre
- Sugar beets, 3.89 acre feet per acre
- Other deciduous fruits (applies, apricots, walnuts, cherries, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, prunes, figs, kiwis), 3.7 acre feet per acre
- Cotton, 3.67 acre feet per acre
- Onions and garlic, 2.96 acre feet per acre
- Potatoes, 2.9 acre feet per acre
- Vineyards (table, raisin and wine grapes), 2.85 acre feet per acre”
Cannabis is not on the list. The Department of Water Resources did not track cannabis in this analysis but “The Washington Post reported in 2015 that the crop uses 1.4 acre feet per acre”. It seems that weed is not as thirsty as other crops. But it is thirsty and does use water.
What is noteworthy is that indoor cannabis producers are taking matters into their own hands in conserving the water they do use to grow the sacred bud. Indoor growers are “implementing water-efficiency technologies that maintain enough water for their growing season while ensuring they are responsible stewards of the environment”.
“Adopting long-term water-efficiency measures must be the answer to show leadership in an industry that – right or wrong – has had a reputation for water overuse.”
““We’re building (production technologies) so we’re prepared, from both a fiduciary and a corporate responsibility standpoint, if there’s an issue with water use,” said Jigar Patel, co-founder and CEO of San Francisco’s NorCal Cannabis.”
One method of conservation the indoor growers are implementing is called retention ponds. Retention ponds “secure quality groundwater that can be cleaned and recycled”.
There are two types of ponds that hold water: retention ponds and detention ponds. Both have different functions. One is short term and the other is long term.
“Two different kinds of ponds are often used for flood control and stormwater runoff treatment: wet ponds and dry ponds. Both systems function to settle suspended sediments and other solids typically present in stormwater runoff. Wet ponds are also called retention ponds and they hold back water similar to water behind a dam. The retention pond has a permanent pool of water that fluctuates in response to precipitation and runoff from the contributing areas. Maintaining a pool discourages resuspension and keeps deposited sediments at the bottom of the holding area.”
“Detention ponds are more common in the arid west and serve as important flood control features. They are usually dry except during or after rain or snow melt. Their purpose is to slow down water flow and hold it for a short period of time such as 24 hours. Urban areas rely on these structures to reduce peak runoff rates associated with storms, decreasing flood damage.”
The drought not only affects “access” to water it also impacts the “quality” of the water.
“Drought not only threatens water access but also impacts water quality, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and California Water Resources Control Board, which published a joint study this month reviewing 30 years of data from California’s agriculturally dense Central Valley.”
“Researchers found that because water in aquifers is accessed more often during drought, shallow groundwater – which is often contaminated by agricultural runoff – is pushed into the aquifers, and the cycle continues as drought intensifies.”
For those readers who do not remember their 7th grade earth science an aquifer is porous rock or sediment that holds groundwater.
“To secure quality groundwater that can be cleaned and recycled, while mitigating dependence on groundwater, cannabis producers are increasingly using ag retention ponds.”
According to a study on retention reservoirs released this week by Ohio State and Clemson universities, these resources are effective for:
- Extending water resources.
- Reducing adverse effects on the environment.
- Capturing stormwater to water.
- Reducing reliance on surface and groundwater.
- Mitigating contaminants in water before discharge.
However there are jurisdictions that restrict businesses from collecting rainwater. When that happens the business has to get inventive and turn a retention pond into a detention pond. Here is one business in Colorado that did just that:
““When we did our expansion of the greenhouse, our county no longer allowed retention ponds, so we had to change and rebuild our pond to be a detention pond,” said Aaron Van Wingerden, CEO of Dutch Heritage Gardens in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which produces hemp genetics and young plants and got its start in ornamental plants.”
“Dutch Heritage Gardens pumps water from an aquifer, then uses a detention pond to supplement its water supply. (A detention pond is different from a retention pond because it holds water only for a short period of time.)”
“The detention pond also helps to reduce peak storm flows and flooding and prevents runoff.”
““Anything the plants don’t use, we have concrete and webbing of PVC into the concrete that diverts all the unused water into a series of concrete chambers,” Van Wingerden said. “We clean it and then recycle it and reuse it again.””
“The system has increased water efficiency by 30%, he said.”
Other methods of water conservation are automated irrigation systems which include “ebb-and-flood floors which water the plants from below”, “run-off recycling systems which are water and fertilizer filtration mechanisms that clean water and reduce pathogens”, and “capturing condensate”.
““With ebb-and-flood floors … you’re adding at least $4 or $5 more per square foot greenhouse, but it gives you that freedom to push water back out into the bays and flood the floors,” Van Wingerden said.”
“NorCal Cannabis, which operates six indoor cultivation facilities between Santa Rosa, California, and San Francisco, has invested in technology that reduces its water use by an average of 30%.”
“Netafim’s NUF runoff recycling system, a water and fertilizer filtration mechanism that cleans water and reduces pathogens, allows NorCal to reuse wasted water and any fertilizer present, which also helps decrease the company’s fertilizer use by 50%-70%, according to Patel.”
“But a technology under development in NorCal’s new 70,000-square-foot facility in Santa Rosa will drive the company’s water efficiency to another level, creating a closed loop by capturing the condensate from the operation’s dehumidifiers, Patel said.”
““Between the two technologies, we believe we can get somewhere between 80% and 90% reuse of the water,” Patel told MJBizDaily.”
When plants are irrigated, the system captures at least 30% of the runoff that comes off the plants, but the new technology also allows NorCal to capture the humidity that the plants transpire.
And of course there is cannabis cultivation software to remind the grower when to water the thirsty plant if they don’t want to set the timer themselves.
“In addition to recapturing and reusing water, NorCal uses a crop-steering production platform called Aroya, which allows growers to create recipes and use sensor technology to better understand when the crops need water, Patel said.”
Now wouldn’t it be great if we could set the timer on when it would rain. Wishful thinking.
Author: Sherri Margolin (Dark Matters)


Assembly Coffee is a multi-award-winning specialty coffee roaster based in London. The Brixton-based roasters take great care in selecting only the best beans and brewing them to perfection to produce some of the greatest coffee in the country.
To keep on top of their game and ensure that the coffee they make is of the best quality, they collaborate with other top roasters. They provide insight into the world of coffee and aren't scared to reveal any secrets. For our Roaster of the Week segment, we got our hands on three of their current roasts, so keep reading to find out what makes these folks so great.
Limited Editions — Rare coffees
Limited Editions are special releases of uncommon coffees that we think are exceptional. They handpick distinctive coffees that highlight farming innovation and, most importantly, give unique flavor experiences.
Because they are small lots with limited quantities, the coffees are distributed first to their mailing list.
Latest Limited Editions
There are currently two limited editions available. It is the culmination of eight years of scientific investigation. And the Panama Summer Geisha, the newest gorgeous coffee from Finca Santa Teresa, one of their long-term producer partners. Below is further information on both.
Limited Edition: Panama Summer Geisha
Finca Santa Teresa's summer plot, located on a steep hillside at 1500–1600 masl, provides shade-grown coffee from 12 year-old Geisha trees. Between February and April each year, the trees flower 3-5 times per harvest. The Panamanian sun helps the lot to ripen evenly, and the abundant sunshine is then used for post-harvest processing.
This Geisha was harvested and laid out on elevated beds within hours for a 30-day slow drying period before being processed in a controlled environment to maintain consistency.
This coffee contains pronounced red fruit overtones and rose tea scents in the cup, according to tasters. A Geisha who is perfectly poised.
Limited Edition: Edgar Robinson Conilon
With increasingly regular catastrophic weather occurrences, shifting seasons, and the devastating study papers that make sense of them, the full magnitude of the damage the human species has done to the earth over the past few centuries is becoming obvious.
According to scenario modeling published in January 2022, rising temperatures, greater rainfall, and resultant changes to the PH and texture of soil might result in the loss of 50% of land suitable for coffee production by 2050.
Around one-third of the world's coffee is produced by Brazil's 250,000 coffee farmers. Coffee producers are adapting to the changing climate in order to secure their livelihoods and meet market demand.
Professor Lucas Louzada and his team at the Instituto Federal do Esprito Santo have spent eight years refining a method for improving the quality of Conilon, a Canephora genetic group.
It is proposed that high-quality, high-yield Conilon be used to augment less resilient Arabica varietals threatened by climate change, so bringing tens of thousands of Conilon growers into the specialty market.
Lucas' crew traveled a total of 15,000 kilometers during the harvest season in 2021, sharing their observations and recommendations with coffee producers around Esprito Santo. In the first year of the initiative, 91 percent of farms using the enhanced carbonic maceration procedure had Conilon coffees with cup ratings of 84 or higher.
Early indications are positive: Conilon may be able to safeguard the speciality coffee industry's future.
A major amount of the proceeds from this limited edition will be donated to the Instituto Federal do Esprito Santo to help fund the program's continued development.


Why do tree leaves turn red in fall?Posted: September 29, 2011
Here in North Texas, we don’t start to see the leaves change (usually) until well into late October and November. But changing leaves are a key indicator to students of the changing seasons. The folks at Earth & Sky address the science behind the color change:
Bill Hoch is a plant physiologist at the University of Wisconsin. He’s especially interested in red leaves. He said:
Nature is very efficient, and doesn’t just do something for no reason. So we figured there had to be some purpose for the production of these pigments in autumn.
For much of the year, green leaves help convert sunlight into food. In the fall, trees break down the green pigments and nutrients stored in the leaves. As the leaves of the tree begin to change, nutrients are shuttled into the roots for reuse in the spring. Hoch suspected that some trees produce red pigments as a kind of sunscreen, protecting leaves from sunlight while the tree stores nutrients.