Recover lost profits
Grapevines infected with disease produce lower quality wines and can cost a winery up to $40,000 per hectare in lost profits.
Prevent the spread of disease with early identification of symptomatic vines, geo-referenced for targeted follow up, testing, and removal.
Our disease detection technology is 100x more efficient, significantly more accurate, and more reliable than highly-trained experts scouting on the ground.
Using a hyper spectral camera and proprietary algorithms, we are able to detect leafroll virus which is difficult to see and identify from the ground.
A snapshot of the vineyard to identify red leaves, which could highlight disease, nutrient deficiency, mites, girdling issues or other concerns that need addressing.
Canopy Water Content
Make informed irrigation and cover crop management decisions as we measure the actual amount of water within the canopy, allowing you to only apply water when and where needed.
Grape growing regions across the world are affected by grapevine
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Grapevine diseases can spread at a rate of 10x per year if
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After several years of using hand held sensors for vigour measurements in our clients’ vineyards, we were amazed at the...


Bamboo is probably not what you think of when you are considering a new financial endeavor. But maybe it should. It is an amazing plant that is not just sustainable, it is lucrative. Bamboo can be used in so many different ways. The possibilities are nearly endless. You can begin with cultivating bamboo if you’d like, you don’t need much land to do so. The reasons you invest in bamboo are limitless, read on to find some good reasons to get into the business of bamboo and how to get started.
Bamboo is a Renewable Resource
Bamboo is known for being a near-completely renewable resource. It can be harvested in as little as one year while most hardwoods take much longer. Oak can take up to forty years before they can be harvested. Bamboo is one way to combat deforestation and reduce greenhouse gases. It can be a terrific substitute for hardwoods, offering the ability to reduce negative environmental impact and provide a sustainable material that is a versatile resource.
Bamboo Has Near-Unlimited Uses
It is uncanny that bamboo has more uses than so many other plants. Bamboo can be eaten. It is a healthy ingredient that provides key nutritional value. Bamboo can replace woods for paper, flooring building materials, furniture, charcoal, and more. Bamboo fibers are much stronger than the fibers in hardwood trees, making them much less likely to warp from changing conditions in their atmosphere.
Bamboo Wastes Very Little
Every part of the bamboo plant can provide something that is useful. It can be used to make a host of various products—from mulch that is soil-enriching to furniture, all the way down to chopsticks. If you choose to cultivate your own bamboo, you can gain something from every part of the plant, which makes its ability to cultivate it even more lucrative.
Bamboo is Easy to Cultivate
Not only does bamboo not require fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Bamboo doesn’t require any chemicals or fertilizers, unlike most cash crops. Cotton is the most intensely sprayed crops in the world and rapidly depletes the nutrients in the soil. Bamboo sequesters nitrogen and protects the soil in a way most crops don’t.
Erosion inevitably happens when the topsoil’s nutrients are washed away by rain. The eroded soil clogs rivers and streams, affecting the lives of both the people and animals downstream. The roots of bamboo remain in places after harvesting, preventing erosion and helping the soil retain nutrients. As time goes on, you will have even healthier soil and healthier bamboo. Bamboo can also grow in a wide variety of environments where there are droughts and preserves moisture in the soil. Bamboo thrives in a wide range of climates that include higher elevations in the mountains and lower elevations in the wetlands.
Bamboo Can Lead to Economic Development
Bamboo is going to be a plant of the future. It isn’t currently used in the West like it is in Asia, but this will change over time. Bamboo production and manufacturing of its products provides sustainable jobs and opportunities that require social and economic stability. The business model of bamboo can also extend to other materials. The zero waste store Seek Bamboo also offers products like wool dryer balls that cut down on use of electricity.
Get Started on a Bamboo Business
As you can tell, bamboo can be a very profitable business if you commit yourself to it. You can grow your own bamboo and/or use it to create bamboo-based products. While it is one of the most highly used plants, it can still provide much more to those who get into the business. Around half the population of the world uses it in some way, but with so many benefits the uses can be expanded. You can get your bamboo business started for around $800. This will provide the ability to make around $72,000 with only a quarter acre of space. With this land, you can propagate 2400 containers.
However you look at it, these plants can be sold or used to make a nearly unlimited range of products. If you are looking for a new way to make money, you can find a lucrative business that will provide a sustainable, eco-friendly, and forward-thinking endeavor.


We are thankful for Sadie Jenkins who came to the farmers’ market with her resume looking for work. We hired her one week later. She has been great. Very knowledgeable.
We are thankful for discovering Dan Kittridge and the Real Food Campaign classes. We have received so much information from these two classes and have incorporated them into the farm. Last year we could get nothing to grow. This year, it is amazing and very abundant. We are looking forward to our delivery of 25 tons of composted seaweed and crushed clam shells this week along with Nemitodes this week to combat the grubs and Japanese Beetles.
We are thankful that our neighbors are allowing us to lease their 3 acre field next door so we can really expand our vegetable production again next year.
And finally, we are blessed with our customers who continue to support us and provide us with amazing feedback on our vegetables.


Agriculture has been the foundation of human civilization, and it has undergone various transformations over the centuries. From the domestication of crops to modern biotechnology, each revolution has had significant effects on food security, societal structures, and the environment.
Plant lights are among the recent innovations that are poised to redefine agriculture. By merging photonics and farming, plant lights are designed to produce food more efficiently and sustainably.
1. The Science Behind Plant Lights
Before delving into the applications of plant lights, it’s essential to understand how they differ from sunlight, which plants have evolved to utilize. Plants require specific light wavelengths for photosynthesis, growth, and reproduction.
Modern plant lights, as described by Boyagrowlight, are designed to emit these exact wavelengths, often in adjustable ratios to tailor the light environment to a crop’s specific needs. In other words, plant lights are engineered to provide the optimal lighting conditions for plants to grow and thrive.
The science behind plant lights is fascinating. Plant lights use a variety of different technologies to provide plants with the specific wavelengths of light they need to thrive. One of the most common technologies used in plant lights is LED lighting. LED lights can be designed to emit specific wavelengths of light, making them ideal for plant growth.
Other technologies used in plant lights include fluorescent lighting and high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting. Each of these technologies has its unique advantages and disadvantages, and researchers are working to refine them to make plant lights even more effective.
2. Transforming the Parameters of Agriculture
Traditional farming is limited by seasons and diurnal cycles. Plant lights decouple these dependencies. Batagrowlight showcases innovations where farms are no longer restricted to sprawling fields. Urban vertical farms, using layers of plant lights, turn skyscrapers into productive farmland. This not only reduces the carbon footprint linked with food transport but also ensures year-round production.
The use of plant lights in agriculture can help to revolutionize how we grow and produce food, making it more accessible and efficient than ever before.
It’s not just urban farms that can benefit from the use of plant lights. Traditional farms can also use plant lights to improve crop yields and reduce the environmental impact of farming. For example, plant lights can be used to grow crops in regions with limited sunlight, such as areas with high latitudes or limited exposure to the sun.
Plant lights can also be used to grow crops in regions with extreme weather conditions, such as deserts or areas with harsh winters. By using plant lights, farmers can produce crops all year round, reducing the need to import food from other regions.
3. Bridging Tradition with Technology
While modern technology paves new avenues, it’s crucial to respect and integrate time-honored farming wisdom. Agriculture requires a holistic approach, merging technological advantages like plant lights with traditional knowledge.
Farmers Classic emphasizes the importance of integrating soil health, water management, and pest control with advanced lighting solutions, ensuring crops receive well-rounded care. The use of plant lights can help farmers to improve crop yields, reduce the environmental impact of farming, and ensure the sustainability of agriculture for future generations.
It’s important to note that the use of plant lights should not replace traditional farming methods but should be integrated with them. By combining traditional farming methods with modern technologies like plant lights, farmers can improve crop yields while reducing the environmental impact of farming. Plant lights are just one of the many tools that farmers can use to improve the sustainability of agriculture and ensure food security for future generations.
4. A Beacon for Specialized Agriculture: The Case of Hemp
While plant lights offer broad utility across various crops, their impact on certain specialized sectors is worth highlighting. Hemp cultivation, for instance, is a burgeoning industry with specific needs. According to Hempful Farms, controlled environments with tailored lighting significantly boost hemp yield and quality.
Plant lights facilitate year-round cultivation, enabling consistent quality and aiding research into hemp’s diverse applications. The use of plant lights in specialized agriculture sectors can help to improve the quality and efficiency of crop production, enabling farmers to meet the growing demand for diverse crops.
It’s not just hemp cultivation that can benefit from the use of plant lights. Other specialized agriculture sectors, such as aquaponics and hydroponics, can also benefit from the use of plant lights. By providing plants with the specific wavelengths of light they need to thrive, farmers can improve crop yields while reducing the environmental impact of farming.
5. Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
A discussion on plant lights in agriculture wouldn’t be complete without addressing environmental implications. Plant lights, particularly LED-based systems, consume significantly less power than older lighting technologies. As renewable energy sources become more prevalent, the carbon footprint of plant light-driven agriculture diminishes. Moreover, indoor farming reduces the need for pesticides and herbicides, leading to less environmental contamination. The use of plant lights can help to reduce the environmental impact of farming while making it more efficient and sustainable.
The environmental impact of farming is a significant concern, and the use of plant lights can help to reduce it. By reducing the need for pesticides and herbicides, farmers can reduce the amount of environmental contamination caused by farming. Additionally, by using renewable energy sources to power plant lights, farmers can reduce their carbon footprint and make farming more sustainable.
6. The Road Ahead
As with any technological revolution, challenges coexist with opportunities. Research is ongoing to refine the spectral outputs of plant lights, reduce their energy consumption, and make them more affordable for farmers worldwide. Combining plant lights with other technologies, like automation and AI, could lead to farming systems that optimize plant growth in real-time, based on the plants’ immediate needs.
The use of plant lights in combination with other technologies can help farmers to streamline their operations, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
The future of agriculture is exciting, and the use of plant lights is just one of the many innovations that will revolutionize how we grow and produce food. As research continues, the spectral output of plant lights will be refined to make them even more effective. Additionally, the use of automation and AI will help farmers to optimize plant growth and reduce costs. The possibilities are endless, and the use of plant lights is just the beginning.
The introduction of plant lights into agriculture represents more than just another tool in a farmer’s shed. It’s emblematic of a broader shift, where boundaries between fields like physics, biology, and engineering blur, creating integrated solutions to age-old challenges.
As we look towards a future where the global population continues to rise and arable land becomes scarcer, innovations like plant lights will be at the forefront of ensuring food security and sustainability. The use of plant lights in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize how we grow and produce food, making it more accessible, efficient, and sustainable for generations to come.


Growing up, my grandmother Ethel grew the biggest zinnias I'd ever seen. Following in her footsteps on top of my lifelong passion for gardening and flower farming, I strive to do the same by providing the highest quality cut flowers. As a biologist, my focus is ecocentric - my processes are all sustainable and chemical free. Scientist by day, mad gardener by night and happiest when I’m playing in the dirt.
Our goal is to provide local and sustainably grown, chemical free flowers to our community. I practice no till gardening and other organic bio-intensive growing methods increasing soil biological diversity. Those processes provide deep rich soil, high in natural organic matter, perfect for flower farming, increasing yields and quality greatly over traditional field crop methods.


Drought conditions are continuing to increase across the Carolinas, and the bad news is rain is not in the forecast.
Most of central NC is currently in stage D1 drought, which is a moderate drought. This area continues to increase because we have not had any major rainfall the past few weeks. Also, much of NC is under a D0 drought, which is abnormally dry conditions.
The bad news is with the continued northerly flow bringing cooler than average temperatures to the Carolinas, the chance of rain remains low. I expect the drought conditions will continue to worsen through the first part of January.


Pints For A Purpose – Beers for Bees!
The frost is on the pumpkin, and winter is upon us. At Standing Stone Brewing Company that means that it is time for Pints for a Purpose, our annual season-of-giving, where we choose five local non-profit organizations to each benefit from a night of glass-raising, awareness-raising and fund-raising for a good cause.
The first of our Pints for a Purpose benefit evenings will be on Tuesday November 27. For every beer that we sell that that evening, $2 will be donated to The Bee Girl Organization.
The Bee Girl Organization is a nonprofit with a mission to educate and inspire communities to conserve bees, their flowers, and our food. The Bee Girl Organization will use Pints for a Purpose funding toward running their two biggest projects: “Kids & Bees”, an educational bee-centered summer camp aimed at 3rd graders, and “Regenerative Bee Habitat”, which includes pollinator habitat research and floral preference surveys to develop seed mixes for both farmers and gardeners that benefit all of our bees.
While preparing to write this Blog post I visited The Bee Girl Organization website https://www.beegirl.org/. I found such a wealth of information there! There is information about beekeeping, about planting flowers that bees love, about habitat restoration and about teaching kids to love bees and honey.
I learned that honey is not ‘bee puke.’ “It’s flower nectar, which worker honey bees collect from flowers. They store it in their “honey crop.” This is like a chipmunk cheek. The bee stores the honey, like a chipmunk stores nuts and seeds for its nest. When the worker bee arrives back at the hive, she passes the nectar off to another bee, through their proboscises. The bee inside the hive puts it into a honey comb “cell.” It’s still not honey, though. Bees add enzymes to the nectar, and evaporate over 80% of the moisture off of the nectar (using their wings as a fan). When it’s the right consistency, the bees seal it with wax”. This is a quote from a lesson plan aimed at teaching elementary school students to appreciate bees and honey.
Promoting knowledge and appreciation of the value and the work of bees is something that SSBC supports completely. Bees pollinate our plants to insure productivity and bio-diversity. Healthy plant communities are crucial to the health of our livestock and to the basic local ingredients in our food and beer. Another win-win-win situation.
Please plan to come on out and join us on Tuesday, November 27 between 5 and 10 pm. Enjoy some delicious, locally grown and produced food and raise a pint of local brew to The Bee Girl Organization.


2 edition of Urban farming in the West found in the catalog.
Urban farming in the West
Robert M. Carriker
Includes bibliographical references and index.
|Statement||Robert M. Carriker|
|LC Classifications||S441 C35 2010|
|The Physical Object|
|LC Control Number||2009044483|
The sands of time
Mio, my son
The worlds fastest motor cycles
Sex slave bride
Handbook of phenomenology and medicine
Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Mythology
Forest statistics for Arkansas counties, 1988
For Families Only
Annual Report & Accounts.
The magicians own book, or, The whole art of conjuring
The Anthropological Study of Human Play (Rice University Studies : Volume 60 No 3)
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1991
Church in action against liquor traffic
These settlements were designed to combine the benefits of rural and urban living by offering part-time farming, uplifting social functions, and inexpensive homes.
Four were located in the West: in Phoenix, Arizona; El Monte and San Fernando, California; and Longview, by: 6. The Essential Urban Farmer guides readers from day one to market day, advising on how to find the perfect site, design a landscape, and cultivate crops.
For anyone who has ever grown herbs on windowsills, or tomatoes on fire escapes, this is an invaluable volume with the potential to change our menus, our health, and our cities forever/5(31).
These settlements were designed to combine the benefits of rural and urban living by offering part-time farming, uplifting social functions, and inexpensive homes. Four were located in the West: in Phoenix, Arizona; El Monte and San Fernando, California; and Longview, Washington. Urban agriculture, urban farming, or urban gardening is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas.
Urban agriculture can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agroforestry, urban beekeeping, and activities occur in peri-urban areas as well, and peri-urban agriculture may have different characteristics. Will Allen appears in the documentary film, Fresh.
The film refers to Allen as "one of the most influential leaders of the food security and urban farming movement." Will Allen is the co-author, with Charles Wilson, of the book The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People and Communities, published by Gotham Books, a member of Penguin Education: B.A.
Physical Education. Urban Farming in the West. A New Deal Experiment in Subsistence Homesteads In the case of the subsistence homesteads' impacts on the urban West, or the urban "anywhere" for that matter, a large-scale expansion of part-time gardening homesteads would only have multiplied urban sprawl and its concomitant troubles.
(This book, however. Get this from a library. Urban farming in the West: a New Deal experiment in subsistence homesteads. [Robert M Carriker] -- "[Author] examines for the first time the intricate histories of these subsistence homestead projects, which have long been buried in bureaucratic records and clouded by misunderstanding, showing.
Urban Farming Organics. likes. We aim to provide high quality, affordable produce to local restaurants, farmers' markets, and grocery stores in Phoenix, as well as educational resources.5/5(1). Rooftop Gardens Are Turning the Urban Shopping Scene Green.
Organic retail farming is popping up in cities around the world, from Melbourne to Tel Aviv to Paris and beyond. Host Greg Peterson, along with his wonderful array of guests, provides a new interview and a subsequently new perspective on urban farming in every episode.
You will learn the ins and outs of beekeeping, bartering, composting, backyard chicken farming, permaculture, plant breeding and just about everything in between. The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century, Dickson Despommier: Despommier is considered the father of vertical farming and this is the book that got many people started in this movement.
After reading this, you’ll fantasize about skyscrapers feeding cities and know where to look for further research.
Justin Vandenbroeck, the co-founder of Fleet Farming Oakland, harvests at a farmlette in West Oakland, California, on Tuesday, Octo “There was a.
Canadian urban farmer Curtis Stone (no, not the Australian colesworth pin-up chef, this guy represents the opposite of that kind of food system) is a man on a mission, and a good one too.
Farming as a livelihood. It’s no small task. And therefore, many aspects of this book are about how to make a profit. Planting the Seed of Detroit Urban Farming If you look around, you’ll see there’s already a bounty of great urban farms, green spaces and events cropping up all over the city as enthusiasts, resident “farmers” and volunteers work to make Detroit a more attractive, healthier and safer place to play, work and live.
Urban Conversion looks back at Season 1, released in Spring of on PBS and the Create Channel. Eps. 1 Backyard Farm with Sundari Kraft | Denver, Colorado Eps.
2 Burbs and the Bees with Corwin Bell | Eldorado Springs, Colorado Eps. 3 White House and Monticello with Sam Kass | Washington, Read More about Season 1. Robert M. Carriker’s Urban Farming in the West: A New Deal Experiment in Subsistence Homesteads offers the most thorough account to date of this program’s western operation.
Whereas previous considerations of the subsistence homestead projects have dismissed the DSH’s work as an “utter failure” (), Carriker demurs, providing a Author: James E. McWilliams. Banyen Book Store – West 4th Avenue, Vancouver He is one of the pioneers of small-scale urban farming, growing quality food for urban communities.
He has worked through the challenges inherent to urban farming and is a premier trainer in the industry. Farming less than half an acre on a collection of urban plots, Green City Acres grows vegetables for farmers markets, restaurants and retail outlets.
After five successful seasons, Curtis has demonstrated that one can grow an extraordinary amount of food in a backyard, and make a good living doing : New Society Publishers. City Farming: A How-to Guide to Growing Crops and Raising Livestock in Urban Spaces is both the personal story of The Micro Farm Project and a compilation of anecdotes from a variety of urban farms around the country.
It contains some of the best urban farming solutions in practice today and is the guidebook for starting or improving a city farm. The WV Urban Agriculture Conference & Community Expo is hosted annually by West Virginia State University Extension Service, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of West Virginia.
The event began in as a collaborative effort between these two agencies, along with several partners. In this excerpt from The Urban Farmer, courtesy of New Society Publishers, Curtis Stone offers an innovative approach to urban backyard farming for profit — one that doesn’t require starting.
Urban farming is hard work in Rhine’s neighborhood or any, whether raising livestock or heirloom squash, whether in the city or a developing town like Queen : Chris Malloy. The holidays kick off at Greensgrow Farms & Greensgrow West on November 30th.
Christmas trees are have arrived. This year we’re bringing you low spray Pennsylvania grown Fraser Firs, Turkish Firs, Nordmann Firs and Douglas Firs grown on a small family farm in Carbon County, Pa. We’ll have wreaths, garlands, decorative greens and branches, pine cones.
Farming the City is a welcome attempt to both inspire and document urban food projects and ideas that are continuing to develop. As well as unpicking the incredibly diverse academic research being done on urban food - from edible landscapes to food poverty - the book showcases 35 urban farming projects from around the world.
This coming Thursday evening, Lori Eames will be sharing photos and stories from her new “Backyard Roots” book. The book has beautiful snapshots of urban farms all along the West Coast, with many familiar Bay Area locals featured.
Kitty Sharkey, whose urban farm is in East Oakland, will be bringing two of her Nigerian dwarf Read more». GSDR Brief Urban Agriculture million people in West • UA is located in close proximity to populous change,71 Singapore is investing in vertical farming to feed growing urban populations 72 Overall, potential returns of CEA are higher crop yieldsFile Size: 1MB.
Aja Yasir stands in the front yard of her home on the block of McKinley St. in Gary, which she has transformed into an urban farm, prompting complaints from. Is urban farming a marginal activity practiced for survival by the poor and a relic from rural habits, or is it a modern economic activity with major significance for food security, stable family incomes and a livable urban environment.
That is the question explored by the book: Urban Agriculture: Food, Jobs and Sustainable Cities. Welcome to the Urban Farming Revolution. My name is Greg Peterson, and for the last 40 years I have been practicing urban farming.
It all started in when we moved into the Weldon house, a 1/2 acre property with this magical thing called flood irrigation. I was 14 and when we arrived mom said to me "Greg, see the right half of the back yard. Book Review – The Urban Farmer: Growing Food for Profit on Leased and Borrowed Stone, New Society Publishers, $ January Curtis Stone wrote this valuable book after only about 6 years as owner/operator of Green City Acres, a small commercial vegetable farm in Kelowna, British Columbia, supplies fairly high-end.
The Urban Farmer is all about urban farming. We don't just talk about urban farming, we actually make our living at it. Curtis Stone is the owner of Green City Acres, a. agriculture and urban farming, the Guidebook authors consulted urban farmers and municipal staff in the communities of Campbell River, Kelowna, North Vancouver, and Vancouver.
Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook. Urban Farm Business Plan Worksheets. What is an Urban Farm. An urban farm is a part of a local food system where food is cultivated and produced within an urban area and marketed to consumers within that urban area.
Urban farming can also include animal husbandry (e.g., breeding and raising livestock), beekeeping. "Urban Agriculture is part of a local food system where food is produced within an urban area and marketed to consumers within that area.
Urban farming can also include animal husbandry (e.g., breeding and raising livestock), beekeeping, aquaculture (e.g., fish farming), aquaponics (e.g., integrating fish farming and agriculture), and non-food. Urban Farming is the adopted charity of Atlantic Records that is ending hunger globally by planting food in food deserts.
Win to End Hunger in the Urban Farming Global Games. Urban Farming intends to eradicate hunger while increasing diversity, motivating youth and seniors and optimizing the production of unused land for food and alternative mission is to end.
Who’s teaching these Urban Farming classes. Ethan has been living on a farm since he was 5 years old. He’s a great friend, and fun to laugh with. He’s also one of the best “chicken wranglers” around and can catch a chicken faster than you can say, “cluckity cluck”.
Lydia has been living on a farm for most of her life. – Urban Farming is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ‘eradicate hunger while increasing diversity, motivating youth and seniors, and optimizing the production of unused land for good and alternative energy. Their website lists Programs.
educational opportunities, news and other resources. – Start a Farm in the City is a joint. - Buy The Urban Farmer: Growing Food for Profit on Leased and Borrowed Land book online at best prices in India on Read The Urban Farmer: Growing Food for Profit on Leased and Borrowed Land book reviews & author details and more at Free delivery on qualified orders/5().
“ Seattle Urban Farm Company (SUFCo) recently built and installed nine raised beds for our garden on Phinney Ridge.
In what seemed like no time at all, they removed our existing sod, constructed nine attractive, well-designed beds, filled the beds with organic planting material and when finished, cleaned up remarkably thoroughly. Urban farming isn’t easy, but if you have the drive to do it, there’s so much opportunity to succeed – and you don’t need to own land to do it.” While the city offers alternatives to the conventional farm model, the more insidious gender stereotyping about “who can farm” still remains rooted in societal attitudes.


The Holiday farm is directly linked to the family farm: 80 hectares of crop land, orchards, vegetable gardens and poultry breeding.
The countryside of Mamma Maude offers excellent PDO (protected designation of origin) potatoes as well as white and yellow onions that are cultivated with the QC Method. Hard wheat, vegetables, apricots, peaches and plums are also produced according to season.
Mamma Maude sells its products directly and ships them, if requested.
The farm has been operating for over 80 years in the agricultural sector. Grandfather Mario initially worked as a sharecropper and would breed livestock and farm in the province of Bologna.
Today the farm continues to operate with the same passion and values of the past.
Codice CIR: 037030-AG-00004


Story by Tiziana Onstead
Video by Luke Barber
Not far from the beaches and metropolitan areas of Jacksonville is a small countryside that’s only minutes from downtown. Urban Folk Farm is the home of 40 rows of crops, chickens, a dog named Jack, and owners, Alina Gonzalez and Simon Hoek Spaans.
Gonzalez says she’s a city girl who wants to serve nutritional and valuable food to the urban people, “hint the name.” The husband and wife left Miami’s white sandy beaches for a backyard with a red barn and seven acres of greenery back in 2014, and their farm’s gates have been open ever since.
“I love it! I was born to be a hostess,” Gonzalez said. “I love to have people around, and this place is incredible.”
Farming, hosting events and field trips, selling at farmers markets, and holding daily stands and visits at the farm, this couple isn’t short on any work.
“We worked very hard at growing, high quality vegetables with a very high freshness factor because we harvest our vegetables as they’re ordered,” Gonzalez said.
The farm is pesticide free, and it’s something the couple take pride in, especially since they do it all by themselves. Gonzalez said she and her husband feel everyone should have access to local organic produce, but not at the organic price.
Urban Folk Farm also contributes to several farm-to-table restaurants in Jacksonville, such as This Chick Can Cook, Beachside Seafood, and 904 Restaurant.
“We want this place to be a place for the community, not just for us,” Gonzalez said.
This natural oasis was created to enrich guests’ visits, showing them the farm’s fresh ingredients that stretch across the land while providing them an experience they won’t get anywhere else.
Urban Folk Farm provides people with moments they won’t get at the grocery story, like seeing the very first fruit budding on an orchid tree or eating a sorrel weed and realizing it’s a delicious citrus element for a homemade vinaigrette.
“We want people to be educated on the food that they’re eating, and how they can grow it, what’s good, what’s in season,” Gonzalez said. “And just to experience the ambience too.”
In addition to Urban Folk Farm, Celestial Farms, Fresh Start Hydroponic Farm, Braddock Blueberry Farm, Harrietts Bluff Farm are open to visitors and host tours and events for schools and businesses. Farmers markets, such as Riverside Arts Market and Beaches Green Market, are another great way to meet farmers and taste a glimpse of the fresh experience the farms offer.


Why do we strive to do coffee so well?
At Grounds and Gold, we strive to serve the best quality coffee by being intentional about brewing. This means our focus is on highlighting the time and effort that goes into our specialty coffee before it ever reaches our hands.
All great coffee starts with farmers. These people and their families dedicate their lives to perfecting their approach to farming the highest quality coffee possible. In order to really understand the value these farmers hold in the specialty coffee process; you must first understand where the coffee bean comes from.
Coffee starts off as a seed in the middle of a cherry found on a coffee plant. As stated, before coffee can only be grown in select altitudes and climates. These plants will be nursed for years before ever reaching their first harvest and once they reach ripeness the farmers will handpick each plant. It should be noted that each coffee plant produces about one pound of green coffee beans. The coffee will then be processed and while there are various ways to do so, the most common ways are, washed, natural, honey, anaerobic, swiss water decaf and ethyl acetate. The process type really depends on the countries and their access to water. Countries who have water sources can use a variety of processing methods while other countries
that lack easy access to water tend to use a natural process where the cherries are laid out on beds to dry up by the sun.
These farmers are diligent about the coffee process because, for them, it is quality not quantity that is the most important consideration. That is why it is imperative that they connect with quality-minded buyers who understand their labor and can ensure a higher profit option which supports individuals, families, and communities around the world.


The harsh winters can inflict plenty of damage on your Memphis lawn. Other lawn issues like thatch are also a problem. Not to mention our dry, hot summers.
Your lawn is important in regards to improving the total appearance of your home. Here are a couple things to bear in mind when picking a Memphis lawn maintenance
company to ensure your lawn is actually a well-kept garden of green.
Memphis Lawn Maintenance Tip #1 – Pick A Pro
In regards to lawn maintenance, you can get excellent service at affordable rates. In the entire process of choosing a Memphis lawn maintenance
expert you should scrutinize the reviews online. There are many other services to consider like chemical treatments, extra landscaping, plus much more. Don’t limit yourself by including services besides lawn care within the title because you may discontinue those services at an ensuing date.
Memphis Lawn Maintenance Tip #2 – Use The Correct Equipment
Make sure the company you hire has the proper and best lawn equipment possible to guarantee a superior job.
If you’re a Memphis resident frustrated with the status of your own lawn maintenance, do not be discouraged! Now you know the top tips for your keeping a beautiful lawn, you are prepared to take charge with finding the perfect Memphis lawn maintenance service.
from Blogger http://allstatepestlawn.blogspot.com/2016/07/memphis-lawn-maintenance-top-2-tips.html
via Memphis Pest Control Network


Cognac, renowned for its elegance and complexity, is a spirit that owes much of its character to the grape varieties used in its production. Among these, the Ugni Blanc grape stands out as a cornerstone in crafting the fine nuances and flavors that define this exceptional French brandy. In this extensive exploration, we'll unravel the mysteries of Ugni Blanc, delving into its origins, characteristics, and the profound impact it has on the world of Cognac.
Ugni Blanc: A Grape with Heritage
Ugni Blanc, also known as Trebbiano in Italy, has deep historical roots in the Cognac region. Initially cultivated for its high acidity, this grape found its way into Cognac production due to its resilience in the Charente-Maritime climate. Historically, the grape's use dates back centuries, with records indicating its presence in vineyards as early as the 16th century.
The majority of Cognac vineyards are dominated by Ugni Blanc, constituting approximately 98% of the total grape variety. Its prevalence can be attributed to its ability to thrive in the chalky soils of the Cognac region and its resistance to common vine diseases.
Characteristics of Ugni Blanc
One of the defining features of Ugni Blanc is its high acidity. This characteristic is crucial in Cognac production, as it contributes to the freshness and brightness of the eau-de-vie during the initial stages of fermentation and distillation.
Neutrality and Versatility
Ugni Blanc is known for its neutral flavor profile, allowing it to serve as a canvas for the intricate alchemy that occurs during the distillation and aging processes. Its versatility makes it an ideal grape for creating a wide range of Cognac styles, from lighter and floral expressions to more robust and complex blends.
The Role of Ugni Blanc in Cognac Production
Acid Preservation in Fermentation
During the fermentation process, the high acidity of Ugni Blanc plays a crucial role. It acts as a natural preservative, preventing the grape must from succumbing to unwanted bacteria and fostering a clean and stable environment for the development of the eau-de-vie.
Ugni Blanc's high acidity also impacts the distillation process. The eau-de-vie derived from Ugni Blanc tends to have a lighter and more floral character due to the preservation of delicate aromas during distillation. Distillers often appreciate the grape's ability to produce a spirit with a subtle and refined aromatic profile.
Barrel Interaction and Aging
As Cognac matures in oak barrels, the characteristics of Ugni Blanc continue to influence the final product. The grape's neutrality allows for a harmonious interaction between the eau-de-vie and the wood, resulting in a Cognac that carries the nuanced flavors of the barrel without overpowering the inherent grape qualities.
Ugni Blanc in Cognac Blends
While Ugni Blanc is typically used in blends to create the diverse range of Cognac expressions, some producers release single-varietal Cognacs to showcase the grape's unique characteristics. These offerings provide enthusiasts with an opportunity to explore the pure essence of Ugni Blanc in its unblended form.
Master blenders artfully combine eaux-de-vie from different grape varieties, including Ugni Blanc, to achieve the desired balance and complexity in Cognac blends. The grape's ability to integrate seamlessly with other varietals ensures a harmonious final product.
The Global Landscape of Ugni Blanc
Beyond Cognac: International Cultivation
While Ugni Blanc is synonymous with Cognac, it is also widely cultivated in other wine-producing regions globally. Italy, particularly in Tuscany, and parts of California have embraced the grape for both wine and brandy production.
Climate and Terroir Impact
The expression of Ugni Blanc varies based on the climate and terroir where it is cultivated. The grape's adaptability allows it to showcase different characteristics influenced by the nuances of soil, temperature, and regional factors.
Challenges and Innovations in Ugni Blanc Cultivation
Climate Change and Adaptation
As global climate patterns shift, the Cognac industry faces challenges in maintaining the traditional grape varieties, including Ugni Blanc. Winemakers and researchers are exploring adaptive strategies, including changes in cultivation practices and exploring new grape varieties, to ensure the resilience of the industry.
In response to environmental concerns, some Cognac producers are adopting sustainable and organic practices in their vineyards. These practices not only contribute to the preservation of Ugni Blanc but also align with broader efforts towards environmental conservation.
Ugni Blanc, with its rich historical legacy and unique characteristics, stands as an integral player in the artistry of Cognac production. From its origins in the vineyards of the Cognac region to its global presence, this grape has left an indelible mark on the world of brandy. As we navigate the complexities of Cognac, understanding the significance of Ugni Blanc unveils the intricate dance between grape and craft, resulting in the timeless elegance found in every sip of this exceptional spirit.


Droughts have plagued North America cutting corn output to a 16-year low, while monsoon rainfall has been 12% lighter in areas of India and even more in other regions. But in Brazil, even though excessive rains pushed harvesting back, the 2012 yield still rose to 571 million metric tons. Estimates peg next year’s crops as being bigger than ever, due to the same unusually rainy conditions. The harvest season ending in 2010 saw yields of 541 million, and in 2011 yields grew slightly, to 557 million metric tons. But next year’s yield is being forecast to be even larger – 5.4% larger – at 602 million metric tons.
Also in Brazil, Coca-Cola contracted JBF Industries to produce ethylene glycol in Araraquara, Sao Paulo, for partially bio-based PlantBottle PET. JBF will build a new plant starting at the end of 2012 and will produce 500,000 metric tons/year; it will take two years to complete.
But aside from the feedstock and materials developments, there’s money flowing, too, in Brazil. Brazilian national development bank, BNDES, and research-financing agency, Finep, have earmarked $988 million for bio-based chemicals and biofuels investment to be placed this year ($148 million), 2013 ($345 million), and 2014 ($493 million). They emphasize only “several projects” will be pursued. Dow Chemical, Braskem, and DuPont each passed the initial selection phase for their proposals to build projects collectively worth more than $1.5 billion. DSM has already been approved to receive funding for succinic acid from sugarcane. Previously, the two organizations contributed $493 million to research on cellulosic ethanol production, gasification, and other value-added derivatives of sugarcane.
For any that doubt, Brazil’s sugarcane continues to put it on the map of bio-based chemicals and biofuels production hotspots, although a recent conversation highlighted that, ironically, corn was less exposed to food price increases than sugarcane, since sugarcane prices track with sugar, a commodity more tightly linked to food price trends than corn, which is largely used for feed and ethanol. Brazilian government support for sugarcane production and downstream conversion activities is strong, and the Brazilian bio-chemical industry has a reputation for translating technology into commercial successes well. Whether it be to keep tabs on a formidable competitor or to understand the landscape in Brazil to explore forming a valuable partnership to secure feedstock or to access sugarcane-derived material, clients are advised to monitor Brazil’s sugarcane harvest and consider it when making decisions about feedstock supply. Though this year’s droughts are not expected to repeat next year, contingency plans for less likely – and even more unlikely events – are advised, as volatility in weather yields volatility in crop yields.


Task force to Address Water Scarcity in Southern Europe.
INNOGREEN experts participated in the task force of EIT-KICs (Climate-KIC, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials). This Body of Knowledge works on finding innovative solutions for water scarcity in Southern Europe.
Water plays a central role in how societies mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. A holistic approach considering water, the biosphere, and the anthroposphere is required to provide sustainable agricultural and economic systems that will allow us to decelerate climate change, protect us from extreme events and adapt to the unavoidable at the same time.
Main problems to tackle:
- mitigating water scarcity and drought situations,
- reducing the over usage of water,
- wasting less water with the existing resources
In order to have a wide representation of knowledge, representatives from different sectors, including policy, industry, civil society and research and innovation participate in the process to support in the knowledge sharing and through innovation across the South of Europe.


Producer Alexander Sancho has been growing coffee for 25 years and part of the Asorcafe group for 14 years. Asorcafe was founded to help these small producers become organised to sell their coffees as specialty but also provide a framework and structure to further their education and improve their economic and social conditions. These small producers work on plots of land between 1.8 – 2 ha in size and farm coffee up to altitudes of 2100 masl. Once harvested the coffee is then pulped and fermented for between 20-40 hours, washed and then it is dried for between 8 – 15 days weather depending in parabolic driers. Bonkers, but brilliant.


I would like to share with you Call for Abstracts for the event the Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative, SIANI is co-organizing together with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU in Uppsala, Sweden. Agricultural Research for Development, Agri4D is a bi-annual conference, and this year’s focus is on Rural Transformation and Urbanization. We especially encourage younger researchers and practitioners to apply to present their work and come network to Uppsala. You can find more information about the topics of the sessions as well as submission guidelines and the information about the deadlines here : http://www.siani.se/event/ Agri4D2017
Hopefully this is of interest to you, your partners and stakeholders !
We would be very grateful if you help us to spread the message about this call.
Communications Officer & Editorial Assistant
Stockholm Environment Institute
Linnégatan 87 D
115 23 Stockholm
Mobile : +46703884830
Email : ekaterina.bessonova@ sei-international.org
Skype : katebessonova
Twitter : @SIANIAgri – top 10 influential Twitter accounts about food security & sustainable agriculture as seen on the Guardian.
Personal Twitter : @KatjaBessonova


The Ursa Maior microbrewery is 100 percent powered by the sun. At the moment when the production of electricity from the sun exceeds the demand of devices in the building, it is transferred to the local power grid. There is a special label to recognize that beer has been produced thanks to solar energy. The power of the photovoltaic generator is 50 kWp. The brewery uses energy-saving power receivers, LED bulbs and pumps. Special procedures used in the production of beer allow you to save up to 50% of electricity, water and gas compared to the standard consumption in industry. 20 solar panels heat up 4000 liters of water used for production and by Ursa Maior guests at one time. This provides about 80% of the total need for hot water. Approximately 500,000 liters of rainwater is collected annually, which is introduced into the ground around Ursa Maior, used for watering plants and trees of old varieties and water replenishment in ponds for marquise trees. About the same amount of water for beer production and other purposes is drawn from the own well next to the building. 100% of water from the production of beer, kitchens and bathrooms is recycled in two own Garden Wastewater Treatment Plants. The plants growing in them, combined with natural microorganisms, make it possible for the water to be reintroduced into the ground near Ursa Maior. This is a unique Plant Water Recycling System that mimics natural processes. All beers are 100% VEGAN beer - their production does not use ingredients of animal origin, i.e. honey, lactose, karuk, gelatine, etc.


Hydroponics Systems & Hydroponic Grow Kits. Hydrobuilder.com has complete hydroponics systems & complete hydroponic grow kits at the best prices online. We choose industry leading hydroponic system manufacturers that produce DWC systems, Hydroponic Drip Systems, Ebb & Flow Systems and many more.
Hydroponics Starter Hobby Kit s ideal for hydroponics beginners. The kit has seeds, netpots, LECA, LushGro hydro A and B solutions and instruction manual. Hydroponics grow systems are the easiest way to get incredible grow results. Everything you need to start indoor growing is included. To help you find the best hydroponic grow kits we’ve researched 20 new and bestselling models and picked the top 10. So if you’re looking for a great hydroponics system to buy, we’ve got your back. In the reviews below you’ll find setups for beginners ...
Hydroponics offers amazing flexibility, so even if you’re experiencing some troubles, you should have no problem correcting them and getting your plants back on track. All Articles About Hydroponic Systems. If you want to read more about hydroponic systems, have a look at everything else I’ve written about them on the site:
DIY Hydroponics gives you full step-by-step instructions for 18 projects to get your indoor harvest growing. Learn how to get started in the field of hydroponics with projects that range from beginner to fully automated watering systems with grow lights. HYDROPONIC KITS: EBB & FLOW. Ebb & flow systems are hydroponics at it's classic best; the "workhorses" of the hydroponics industry. Simple, reliable and prolific, they provide periodic flooding of the plant roots with nutrient solution, followed by draining back into a reservoir for re-use. Hence the name "Ebb & Flow" or "Flood & Drain". Hydroponic growing takes less space. Plants don't need to grow extensive root systems to obtain the nutrients they need, so they can be packed together closely—another advantage for those who must garden indoors. Water is saved. The reservoirs used in hydroponics are enclosed to prevent evaporation and the systems are sealed.
The hydroponic garden system should also have the ability to hold up to 15 gallons of water while the nutrient reservoir should hold another 15- 20 gallons. Best Way to Cut The PVC Pipes. A homemade hydroponic systems PVC pipes should be cut nice and straight into 7 FT 6inches long making sure that none of the pieces are longer than the other. Malaysia Hydroponics is a leading hydroponics solution provider in Asia solving the needs of sustainable farming using modern technology and best practices. Established in 2013, we have successfully completed multiple sustainable food projects which includes customize vertical farming, food farm, ... Hydroponics grow systems are the easiest way to get incredible grow results. Everything you need to start indoor growing is included. To help you find the best hydroponic grow kits we’ve researched 20 new and bestselling models and picked the top 10. So if you’re looking for a great hydroponics system to buy, we’ve got your back. In the reviews below you’ll find setups for beginners ... Hydroponic price, harga in Malaysia - * hidroponik - List of products for sale, auction, wtb or wts for our supplier / seller. ; Cari barangan untuk dijual, di jual atau bidaan dari penjual/pembekal kita. Suitable Hydroponic Systems and Growing Mediums. Among the most successful systems for organic hydroponics are aquaponic systems. If the system is run with the correct fish-to-plant ratio and a good rate of mineralization carried out by specific bacteria, aquaponics is one of the easiest approaches to organics.
Malaysia hydroponics is a leading hydroponic solutions provider in Asia, solving the needs of sustainable farming using modern technology. Our business is focused on urban and commercial solution ranging from greenhouse construction to complete farming system construction such as Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Urban farming, organic farming, modern agriculture, Internet of Things integration farming ... Feb 25, 2019 · Hydroponic Kit Malaysia 0 Malaysia hydroponics is a leading hydroponic solutions provider in asia, solving the needs of sustainable farming using modern technology. our business is focused on urban and commercial solution ranging from greenhouse construction to complete farming system construction.. Malaysia Hydroponics, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. 5.8K likes. Malaysia Hydroponics is a Malaysia online hydroponics store providing nation wide home delivery and professional services. It sells market... Nov 04, 2018 · Hydroponic Kit Malaysia Hydroponics in malaysia, indoor vertical farming, urban farming, hydroponics supplies, vertical farming in malaysia, agrotech cityfarm malaysia is an organization whose objective is to inspire more city farmers with the ability to grow locally from anywhere for a more sustainable future of food production. keep in touch..
Malaysia, Hydroponic, Malaysia, Hydroponic, Nutriet Fertilizer, Grow Media, Tester Unique among sprouted fodder systems, our technology was specifically developed to address several challenges which are frequently encountered where hydroponic fodder has been introduced into farming operations. These include mold growth, labor costs, scaleability and yield. Give us a call, we'll show you the FodderTech difference!


The three basil ladies you see here started out in life from a very tough place. The attending gardener was doing his best to kill them. I had placed them in a gallon jug container outside with the micro-nutrient mixture I use for my hydroponic efforts. The jug was just a discarded water container, made of plastic, of course, and mostly clear. Me neglecting to darken it so that the algae would not grow was a big mistake. Algae is an amazing organism in that, with a little water and sun, its abundant and rapid growth is virtually guaranteed. I would imagine that the high nutrient content in the water did nothing to help that situation, as well.
By the end of the first day, the algae was already growing in the jug, which was probably no big deal for the moment, but the basil were noticeably suffering, probably mostly from the shock of being separated from the parent plant abruptly, by way of my scissors. I think a lot of it had to do with the way in which I cut them, leaving absolutely no root growth for them to begin life in a new environment with. By the end of the second day, I counted the experiment as all but dead in the water (literally and figuratively).
However, life will find a way, and so it went with these three little ladies. I transferred their lifeless and wilted bodies into the three jars you see here, filling each about a third full with clean gravel, then another third of the way with the same micro-nutrient mix I was using outside (not the same stuff…it had been overtaken by the algae…just the same mixture). I placed them in my windowsill, and within a couple of days, they had bounced right back (the aluminum keeps the algae from getting a foothold). You should see the root system on these plants now! Hundreds of tiny roots growing out of the portion of the plant that I initially cut from the parent. It’s really kind of amazing.
The peppers you see on the table beside the basil are also products of a hydroponic effort and with many more still on the way from the same plant, growing in nothing but expanded clay pellets for support, and the micro-nutrient mixture in which the pepper plants roots are quite happy.
I can safely say that, between my soil-based efforts versus the hydroponic-based planets, the soil-less stuff is winning magnificently. Not to mention that it’s just plain fun!


Plants in a greenhouse can be adversely affected by uncontrolled increasing humidity levels.
When the SWiDGET Temperature and Humidity Sensor registers a humidity increase above a certain percentage, one or all of the following measures can be automatically implemented to reduce the humidity to safe levels:
Overhead fans can circulate the air to vent moisture away from plants.
A space heater can be turned on to raise the temperature.
A dehumidifier can be turned on until the optimal humidity is reached.
15A Outlet, 20A Outlet or Switch.
Temperature/Humidity or Temperature/Humidity/Motion Insert.
Any Overhead Fan, Space Heater or Dehumidifier.


A company working towards revolutionizing the Nepali agricultural sector.
Scope of work
Brand Guidelines Creation
Social media content
Tattva Foundation was established in response to issues including the underserved agricultural sector, underutilized labor pools, pervasive unethical behavior, and the underrepresentation of farmers and rural residents in the formal economy. Tattva Foundation was established in 2022 with the goal of improving our nation's agroindustry and farmers.
The company is beginning its journey toward revolutionizing the Nepali agricultural sector. Through financial literacy, they want to empower farmers while also uplifting rural communities and youth. Therefore, require all the tools necessary to enter the market and build brand awareness and identity.


The many Goji berry benefits for improved health are now just recently being discovered by people in the western half of the world where the nutrient rich fruit is commonly known as the wolfberry, but widely marketed as Goji berries.
Growing on evergreen shrubs within warm, temperate climates such as Tibet's Himalayan Mountains and in portions of Mongolia and China, Goji berries resemble shriveled, red raisins and are quite possibly the fruit with the most nutrient-rich content in all the world.
Belonging to the nightshade or Solonaceae family, they have a slightly sour, tangy taste to them. Because of their great fragility, Goji berries must be harvested gently by hand and are usually found dried.
The many Goji berry benefits to be had begin first with their intricate collection of molecules, including polysaccharides, which are sugar molecules believed to support the body's immune system. Polysaccharides are also known to be a great source of probiotic fibers, which are the fermentable portions of soluble fiber that are processed into SCFAs, or short-chain fatty acids, within the intestines. This then provides beneficial nutrients for the probiotics within the intestinal tract to aid the body with vital functions like digestion and the absorption of nutrients.
They are also considered to be a tonic in that they help to keep vital organs and energies in balance.
In terms of the circulatory system, Goji berries play a rather important role and they also contain a large concentration of the mineral iron. Widely regarded as one of the nation's natural treasures in China, Goji berries are now becoming increasingly popular in the western world.
Predominantly grown in the northwestern portions of Tibet and China, which boast some of the purest soil in all of the world, they come from the Lycium plant, an evergreen bush with vines that may reach as high as 10 to 15 feet. Truly a food to marvel at, Goji berries are relatively small, growing only as long as one to two centimeters, and having a taste that's been described as both sweet and sour. Often used in teas, soups, and rice meals, they are also sold fresh throughout the temperate regions of China where they grow wild.
Goji berries are well entrenched in traditional Chinese medicine, and rightfully so. They are relatively low in calories and fat, yet rich in vitamins A (beta-carotene) and C. They are becoming extremely prized for their high antioxidant content.
Goji berry benefits are numerous and this is why they are regarded by many to be the single most healthful product in the world that has magical properties associated with it.
Because of their super fruit status, high antioxidant concentration, and reports of research that's uncovered the multiple health benefits to be had from consuming the berry, their demand is expected to grow by leaps and bounds, possibly reaching the billion dollar mark in just a few short years by 2011.
Since the delicate Goji berry must be harvested by hand and must then be turned into liquid form within the first one or two days following harvesting, the process of producing the juice is a time consuming one, however, Goji berry benefits are many and are well worth the wait.


Thursday, 31 October 2013
A Weekend Introduction to Permaculture
Thinking about joining the Spring into Action! Permaculture Design Course but want to test the water first?
Claire White and Graham Burnett will be teaching a 2-day Introduction to Permaculture at Spitalfields City Farm on the weekend of January 25/26 2014.
This amazing course will cover origins, ethics & principles of permaculture and focus on how working with nature is a viable solution to environmental problems. Permaculture uses wholesystems thinking to create productive environments that work with ecology & community. You will take away a rounded understanding of what permaculture is and be able to apply permaculture methods to home, work, garden or community projects. No experience necessary!
The weekend will be a lively, participatory and thought provoking experience with Graham Burnett & Claire White forest gardeners & permaculture teachers. The course will take place in the inspiring setting of Spitalfields City Farm.
For more info & booking contact Claire: firstname.lastname@example.org


RBTI Agriculture Text
This book is the source text for all serious students of Reams's Biological Theory of Ionization as it applies to farming and soil chemistry.
BIOLOGICAL THEORY OF IONIZATION AS APPLIED TO FARMING AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
This book is the source text for all serious students of Reams's Biological Theory of Ionization as it applies to farming and soil chemistry. It is based totally on Dr. Carey Reams's technique of using his approach to mathematics and physics for ideally managing soil chemistry and energy to regulate plant growth and development in order to produce the highest quality food possible for human consumption. The only text of its kind.
Among many new things, you will learn about:
- frequency and why it is so important in dealing with how soil and plants interface during the growing process.
- the secrets of RBTI energy as Reams discovered it and how it can determine the type of growth the farmer wants and needs to create production and quality.
- real meaning and ramifications of soil pH.
- the rules that are basic to understand why RBTI science is the only one of its kind whether used in soil, animal or human science.
- why so called “organic” growing methods fall extremely short when it comes to producing highly nutrient dense food.
- the right way to soil test.
- how to design and implement a soil program.
- what it means to tip your soil energy in the direction that will give you maximum growth and production.
- how to actually predict what your yield potential will be before you even put your seed in the ground.
- the right way to foliar feed and how to custom make the exact foliar formula your crop needs to get the maximum result.
- why and how RBTI soil and plant science works under the same rules as RBTI human science.
- MUCH, MUCH MORE!
|Individual shipping cost||$15.00|


Founded in 1937 as the “South Huron Farmers’ Co-op”, Hensall District Co-operative, Inc. (HDC) operates 25 locations and has 5000+ members who realize the importance of local control of a high-volume agri-business. HDC continues to grow and consolidate its operations in larger feed mills and elevators. The Sebringville location, purchased by HDC in 2014, was a surplus to its needs.
Homestead Organics and HDC have been in discussions and have agreed upon a private purchase transaction; the details, value, financing are all confidential.
Homestead Organics started in 1988 and is a family business that focuses on the mission “to serve and develop organic agriculture.” Tom Manley, Isabelle Masson and their team make it their personal business to do organic agriculture properly. The company currently operates two plants at Berwick and Morrisburg in Eastern Ontario. Homestead Organics intends to convert the Sebringville feed mill to manufacture certified organic feeds and to distribute organic feeds and farm supplies in the south western regions of Ontario.


Perfectly straight and symmetrical rows upon rows of rubber trees line the countryside in Thailand. Once they are tall enough, the trees are scored in a coil down the tree and a small bucket is placed at the base to capture the rubber as it slowly descends. This is called rubber tapping. There are latex vessels within the bark that contain the rubber. They can be tapped every two days and yield about 50 g of rubber latex.
It takes seven years for a rubber tree to grow so it can be used for extraction. Wild rubber trees can grow to be 100 feet but when farmed they do not get as tall and they produce rubber worth harvest for about thirty years after which time they are cut down and new trees are replanted. The logged trees are used to build furniture or burned.
The rubber from these trees is used to make first aid gloves, tires, balloons and condoms.
Thailand is tied with Indonesia as the world’s top growers of rubber trees and top global exporters, as well. Since 2011, however, there has been an increase in supply as Southeast Asian countries have swamped the market and many rice paddies in Thailand were replaced with rubber trees. Now, there is an oversupply and demand has dropped significantly and as such so has the price given to rubber farmers. For a few years the government subsidized the price of rubber but now the government is encouraging farmers to switch to Palm oil tree plantations instead.
Slowly, or not so slowly, palm oil plantations and exporting is taking over as a farming industry in Thailand. The success of the Palm industry in Malaysia and Indonesia have caused this shift of industry in Thailand. Additionally, it only takes about four years for Palm trees to grow to a harvestable age. Compared with the seven of the rubber tree, this is a much smarter business investment. The plantations are scattered now through most Thailand and while the industry is just starting, the demand for Palm oil for cooking especially in third world countries has experts predicting a demand that will triple in the next thirty years.


Effects of altering DAF-16a dosage on lifespan. (A) Expression levels of daf-16a mRNA in various daf-16(mgDf50); daf-2(e1370); daf-16a::gfp strains were compared to that of daf-2(e1370) worms. The graph is plotted on a log2 scale. Error bars represent standard deviation (S.D.) from two independent repeats. Statistical values are given in Additional file 1: Table S2. (B) Lifespan of daf-16(mgDf50) worms carrying various daf-16a::gfp transgenes as well as low-copy daf-16d/f::gfpHT. Three high-copy daf-16a transgenic worms live longer than wild type. daf-16a::gfpHT worms lived shorter than wild-type, while the lifespan of the daf-16d/f::gfpHT strain is comparable to wild type. (C) Lifespan of daf-16(mgDf50); daf-2(e1370) worms carrying various daf-16::gfp transgenes. daf-16a::gfpHT worms lived shorter than the daf-2(e1370) mutants. daf-16(mgDf50); daf-2(e1370); daf-16a::gfpGR worms had the shortest lifespan among the high-copy daf-16a transgenic strains. daf-16d/f::gfpHT transgene alone fully rescued the lifespan extension of daf-2(e1370) mutants. One lifespan experiment is shown from a total of three repeats; each with similar results. All lifespan data are shown in Additional file 1: Table S3.


As spring arrives, our local farmers' markets and grocery stores are beginning to stock their shelves with a variety of delicious fruits and vegetables. From March to June, Switzerland shows an abundance of seasonal products that are both flavourful and healthy.
Eating seasonally is not only a great way to support local farmers and reduce your carbon footprint, it's also a way to enjoy the freshest produce at the right time. Our needs for vitamins, nutrients and energy vary according to the time of year. Seasonal fruit and vegetables play an important role in filling these gaps and providing our bodies with what they need, when they need it.
Here's a quick overview of what you can expect to find on your plate during this time of year:
Early spring is a great time for root vegetables like carrots and beets; you can also find fresh greens like spinach or chard. For fruits, look out for apples, kiwi, and rhubarb. Fill up on vitamins!
As the weather starts to warm up, April brings an even wider selection of seasonal produce. This is the time of year for asparagus, which is a popular vegetable in Switzerland. You can also find fresh herbs like chives, parsley, and dill. Other vegetables that are in season include lettuce, radishes, and snow peas.
So, next time you're at the farmers' market or grocery store, be sure to take full advantage of the delicious fruits and vegetables that Switzerland has to offer in the spring season!


Brian Goodacre Agricultural Contractors Leicester is an agricultural contracting business with over 35 years of experience and a solid reputation in delivering a wide range of agricultural contracting services, specialising in road restoration and soil stability.
In addition to our contracting work, we supply a comprehensive range of agricultural equipment and machinery for hire. Tools and equipment available include tractor, hedge trimmers, toppers and much more. All machinery for hire can be supplied with, or without operator depending on your level of experience or specific requirements.
We have an extensive array of machinery and can fulfil all of our customers’ requirements, from road restoration, light haulage and distribution to hedge trimming, mowing, digging, hedging and land clearing solutions.
Our comprehensive grassland management service covers everything from small equestrian paddocks, to large fields and parks with grass and verge cutting, spraying, fertilising and harrowing.


Extreme weather takes its toll on finches, over the past two weeks South Africa has seen temperatures rising as high as 38oC. During these conditions be sure to add moisture to the air via your irrigation system to keep the temperatures to a manageable level.
You can quickly see if your finches are taking strain. This Diamond Sparrow is trying to cool down via a gaping beak. They tend to succumb to exhaustion quite quickly in dry heat.
Luckily the extreme heat has been alleviated by rain of just over 100mm in the past week and temperatures rising moderately to 25 – 28oC.


Another goal was to gather molecular data to help www.selleckchem.com/products/Imatinib(STI571).html us position fertilized and unfertilized FIS class mutants on the maternal paternal spectrum. We found that fertilized fis1 mutant seeds have Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries similar transcrip tional profiles to seeds with paternal excess, showing that the shared phenotypes are underpinned by similar pat terns of gene expression. To learn more about regulation of seed size, we filtered our data for sets of genes strongly associated with enhanced or inhibited seed growth. Our results illustrate the molecular link between paternal excess and FIS class mutations, and potentially provide tools for altering seed size.
Results and Discussion Generation of samples and hybridization Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries to arrays To explore the patterns of gene expression underlying the phenotypes of seeds generated by interploidy crosses and FIS class mutants, Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries we performed two independent microarray experiments using biological replicate sam ples and different array platforms to increase confidence in the results. Other cross platform comparisons have been successful in Arabidopsis. For our first experiment, RNA was extracted from siliques at 5 DAP resulting from the crosses 6xX2x and 4xX2x, 2xX2x, 2xX4x and 2xX6x, and fis1 meaX2x, and hybrid ized to custom Agilent 22K two dye arrays inc. com. For the second experiment, RNA was extracted at 5 DAP from two further independent biological sam ples of the crosses listed above, and also from unfertilized siliques of male sterile msi1 mutants at 7 days after floral opening, and hybridized to Affymetrix ATH1 full genome chips Thus, our experiments incorporated seeds from inter ploidy crosses generating both viable and lethal parental imbalance, a fertilized FIS class mutant that develops with a phenotype resembling lethal paternal excess, and an unfertilized FIS class mutant that develops with no paternal contribution.
The phenotypes of all crosses are illustrated in Figure 1. At 5 DAP, seeds with the normal balance of maternal Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries to paternal genomes typically contain a heart stage embryo, peripheral endosperm which has begun to cellularize from the micropylar pole, a compact chalazal endosperm, and endosperm nodules. In seeds with paternal excess there is no cellular endosperm at Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries this stage, and the chalazal endosperm is enlarged. fis1X2x seeds likewise contain only free nuclear endosperm, and in common with 2xX6x crosses, the endosperm never cellularizes and the seeds abort.
Fertilized fis1 mutants also produce greatly enlarged endosperm nodules. Therefore the characteris Tipifarnib cancer tic phenotypes both of paternal excess and of a fertilized FIS class mutant include overproliferation of endosperm and delay or failure of cellularization. At the other end of the phenotypic spectrum, seeds with maternal excess produce small endosperms that cellu larize precociously, and tiny chalazal endosperms with no associated nodules.


The farm encompasses about an acre, shaped like a turkey and surrounded by a bamboo fence, which gives the space a protected feel, says Camilla.
I asked her if the city kids are eager or afraid of getting dirty. There’s a misconception about city kids not wanting to get dirty, in her experience, Camilla says. “Some of them love it, some of them don’t, just like kids in the country,” she says. “It’s a real mix,” she says. Some of the private school kids with country homes love to garden; others don’t.
“The kids love the worms,” Camilla says. “I have to hide them; they get so distracted. One girl had never seen a worm before, she adds. “This one girl came to the farm, she was probably six, and she had never seen a worm before. She was kind of shocked, I mean, she was scared,” she continues. “But then I picked it up and held it out to her and said, ‘Come here, come look at it, this is a worm.’ She knew what a worm was; she had just never seen one. She actually kind of ended up liking it. …Even the ones who are initially grossed out by the worms, eventually, once they see the other kids touching them, and they see that it’s okay, they just love them.”
In addition to educational programs for kids, the farm gives all community members the chance to come out and volunteer for a day, or on a regular basis. Short-term opportunities are important because they let people try it out, Camilla says. In the project’s first year, half the space served as a community farm, and the other half became adopted plots where individuals, families, or businesses could grow their own food. They’re phasing out those plots to make the whole space an educational community farm, she says, to make sure the space is used to its maximum potential.
I asked Camilla about the challenges she dealt with in the farm’s first year. “The rats were a problem,” she said. “And because I was the only paid employee—I had ten interns—because I’m the farm manager, and it’s kind of my responsibility to deal with the rats, it’s hard for me to make the unpaid workers do it.” They had a powdery mildew issue and a few minor crop diseases, but nothing major.
The city is planning to install a bike path through the farm in the coming year, hopefully after the growing season, Camilla says. However, they’ll move the farm to another, permanent location, taking a year off during the construction phase.
Originally the farm was just a one-year project. That has since changed. “We’re going to make it permanent,” she says. “And that’s a really incredible thing, and it just shows what happens when people really come together.”
This means a lot to the kids, she says. “They get really proud of it. That’s a big thing. They’ll always bring their parents and say, ‘This is my farm.’”


Beccles Free School Awarded For Healthy Food Achievements
Beccles Free School has been awarded the Food for Life Bronze award for its healthy and climate-friendly food culture.
The school is working with Food for Life to enhance the school’s food culture and that of its local community, by connecting students with climate-friendly and healthy food.
As part of the Bronze award scheme, the school serves seasonal school meals, freshly prepared by school chef, Sonia Rodwell and her team. The school also gives every student the opportunity to visit a farm, cook and participate in food growing activities during his or her time at school, and students are involved in making improvements to the school’s menu and dining experience.
As well as this, the gardening enrichment club have been planting seasonal produce which is then used in the kitchen, and so students can so the full food life cycle.
Food for Life is a Soil Association programme, bringing together the practical expertise of national partners Focus on Food, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.
To find out more, visit www.foodforlife.org.uk


Spain has the world’s largest area under vine, however due to its dry, infertile soil and the fact that the vines are widely spaced producing smaller yields, its presence on the international market remains limited. Although there are over 600 indigenous Spanish varieties planted throughout, 20 of them make up the majority of the Spanish exports. With the easy ability to ripen grapes Spain has been able to keep their wines competitive in the international market.
In Spain the winemaking philosophy is to elaborar (to elaborate) rather than fabricar (to produce/make) the nature of the grapes and the wine they produce.
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Pedro Ximémez, Albariño , Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Monastrell
Rioja, La Mancha, Jumilla, Ribera del Duero, Priorat
Reserva is aged for at least 3 years, 1 in oak barrels, and 1 in bottle. Gran Reserva is aged for at least 5 years—at a minimum of 2 in oak and 3 in bottle


Do you throw away your eggshells? They are a wonderful addition to your garden in the form of homemade eggshell powder, which doesn’t take long at all to make.
The perfect way to use up kitchen scraps to benefit your garden
We no longer live in our RV full time, which means I am all about planning the garden these days. I’ve really gotten into reading about regenerative farming, and finding ways to replenish the soil, rather than to deplete it.
Creating your own fertilizers and soil amendments is something I am trying to absorb as much information on as I can, before the garden season starts ramping up. Making the fertilizer is something that can take awhile, especially if you aren’t running a breakfast restaurant and are cracking hundreds of eggs each day.
Calcium carbonate is an important mineral for gardens. We often think of fertilizers as containing only NPK – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, since that is all that is labeled, but a healthy garden needs a lot more than just those three elements.
Calcium helps to build strong bones in humans, and plants are much the same, it helps to build strong cell walls. Healthier plants are more resistant to disease and to bug infestations. Eggshell pieces also can help to repel certain bugs, if left in small pieces, since they are sharp. Some do say that this does not deter certain bugs though, so you’ll have to try it out for yourself.
If you have chickens, crushing up the eggshells and giving them back to the chickens in the form of a powder will also help them to grow healthier eggs, since laying so many eggs will deplete them of calcium, if they do not take in enough through their diet. But be sure to powder the eggshells before feeding them to your chickens, so that they do not get in the habit of eating eggs right after laying them.
How to create eggshell powder for use in your garden
There are a few different ways to go about making eggshell powder. After making eggs, I usually rinse off the eggs, to ensure the eggs are clean and there is no egg white left behind. If you are only cracking a few eggs at a time, you can then add your eggs to a bag and place them in the freezer. When you build up enough to make the process worth the time, allow them to thaw at room temperature, and then proceed as follows (or you can skip the storage step if you have enough eggshells):
Crush the eggshells and spread out into a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place into a preheated over set to 225F (110 C). Bake until dry, approximately 25 minutes. Flipping them half way through helps to dry them out faster.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. Pulverize the eggshells using a mortar and pestle, food processor or coffee grinder. If you are like me, then you usually use the mortar and pestle to grind it to small chunks.
Store in a jar. If fully dry, the eggshell powder should last a very long time. I like to gather my eggshells year round, so that when garden time comes around, I have lots of calcium ready to use.
When I go to use it, I will then decide if I want to grind the eggshells down further, and if so, I will put it in the coffee grinder at that point. The smaller the pieces, the quicker it will break down. Sprinkle a bit around the base of your plants, especially tomatoes and peppers, to help prevent blossom end rot.
What is the shelf life of eggshell powder?
As long as the powder is allowed to fully dry, it should last a year long time (multiple years). I recommend keeping it in an air tight container, away from any moisture, heat or light. If stored well, it should keep for 3+ years.
How much should I add to my plants?
I usually add about one tablespoon into the soil and mix it in when I plant my vegetables, particularly around tomatoes, to prevent blossom end rot. You can add more as the season progresses, as a top dressing, if it seems like your plants could use an extra boost. As the plants grow larger, they will require more nutrients, so if I’m adding it later in the season, I usually add double the amount at that time (two tablespoons).
What plants benefit most from the additional calcium?
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants benefit from a decent amount of calcium, as it helps to prevent blossom end rot. Leafy greens also benefit from a good dose of calcium. With that being said, all plants need some calcium to grow, so if your soil is depleted, adding extra in will benefit most plants!
And if you are blessed with a huge garden harvest as a result of this, please try some of the following recipes!
- Simple Tomato, Onion and Cucumber Salad
- Tomato, Basil and Spinach Calzones
- Balsamic Chicken with Asparagus and Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad
- Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Breakfast Skillet
- Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
- Eggplant Pizzas
- Roasted Red Pepper Eggplant


If you don’t like cannabis you’re definitely not going to like that it will be legal to grow cannabis in Ontario come 2018.
That’s right! The Ontario government must have come to the realization that prohibiting the right of Ontarians to grow cannabis would be at worst unconstitutional, and at best, really lame.
The times they are a changing, and whether you think these policies are just a bunch of hot air blowing in the wind, one could make the argument premier Wynne truly believes everybody must get stoned.
Putting aside the Bob Dylan puns, provincial legislation will be in in line with the federal Cannabis Act and each residence will be allowed to grow four cannabis plants, indoors or outdoors.
What a time to be alive.
Should the government allow you to grow more than four plants? Obviously yes, but legalization is a long process and I’ve learned to be happy with the little wins while continuing to fight for sensible cannabis policies.
So grab your grow-tents, high-pressure sodium or LED lights, nutrients and the like, and get ready to start growing!
This news is such a big deal for the cannabis community – and Ontarians alike – because in September it was reported the province of Quebec had chosen to follow Ontario’s decision and ban home cultivation. The only problem was Ontario hadn’t a ban on home cultivation….
I began a two month quest in which I sought to determine whether premier Wynne was seeking to prohibit your right to grow cannabis and began reaching out to the Office of Hon. Yasir Naqvi, the Attorney General of Ontario, asking whether home cultivation would be permitted, and after a few months of pestering (or persisting!) I received my answer:
“In regards to home cultivation of cannabis … individuals 19 and older will be permitted to cultivate cannabis plants inside or outside of their dwelling (i.e. house, residential home, property, etc.),” says Andrew Rudyk, Press Secretary, Office of Hon. Yasir Naqvi, adding that a maximum of four cannabis plants would be allowed per residence, that plants must originate from a licensed seed or seedling supplier, and that organic solvents couldn’t be used in making cannabis products.
If you’re interested in cultivating your own cannabis, you’ll be able to head to the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC) store to purchase your seeds and starting materials, in addition to dried and fresh cannabis, and cannabis oil.
Unfortunately for cannabis lounges and head shops which selling bongs, pipes, rolling papers & the like, the Ontario cannabis store will also be in the business of selling “cannabis-related items” according to Naqvi’s office. It’s pretty depressing that not only did the government not allow for private sales of cannabis by Ontario businesses but that the government also intends to compete with existing business: really not cool.
Interested in cannabis edibles and concentrates? You’ll have to wait one year following legalization before they’re rolled out to consumers for purchase.
“I am glad to hear that the Ontario government will follow the federal recommendations that allow people to grow,” said James Marcoux, proprietor of The Urban Green House, a store specializing in what’s needed to grow cannabis. “It’s a plant that has many uses and it can be grown by just about anybody. It’s rightful place is in anyone’s home or backyard that wants it to be there.”
Marcoux has been involved in the cannabis community as an activist and proprietor for over a decade and he’s both happy and excited with the proposed legislation. “As a business owner who is reminded almost daily of people’s continued struggles regarding lack of support and facing certain stigmas, I realize that there is a lot of work and conversations that still need to happen.”
The only reason cannabis is being legalized and people have the right to grow cannabis is through continued civil disobedience against unconstitutional laws, says Marcoux.
“A ban would not have stopped home cultivation but instead would have made otherwise law-abiding Canadians into criminals,” he said, adding that he intends to provide customers a relaxed atmosphere where they can learn about cannabis cultivation once the substance is legalized.
“There is a lot of information online but what works for one grower doesn’t necessarily work for another grower and there are many different approaches to growing cannabis. As demand increases, we will continue to stay up to date on current growing methods, products and trends.”


Industry Tour – Winton MFG Compost Works
Join us for a tour of Winton MFG Compost Works, the regions newest composting facility. Walk through the process with Robbette Schmit as she explains the process and technology used to make compost out of the areas food and yard waste. Expect a hands on experience and beautiful views as you learn about this facility and the organisms that help transform the areas waste into a soil resource. Expect to leave with a greater understanding about why food and yard waste composting is so important to the sustainability of the region.
All participants will receive a bag of compost to take home that was made at Winton with food and yard waste from the surrounding towns and businesses.


- ADVANCED SEARCH
- Our own production
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Zetor 25 ‘Agricultural Version ’ 1/72Art.No.: 129-MV129 Product number: 8595593129174
|Product||Full resin kit|
The Zetor 25 tractor was among the first products of the post-war Czechoslovak industry and also the very first tractor to be manufactured by the Zetor company. Up until 1961 when the production line stopped, almost 160 000 of them had been produced and nearly 100 000 examples also sold both in Europe and Asia. Our model features the agricultural version of the tractor. Contains a decal sheet and a fret of photo-etched parts.


The Grain Elevators
We drive by them every day and perhaps our entire lives without giving any thought as to their present day value. I’m not talking about their lumber value either. Towering above most buildings set against the backdrop of a lush rich valley are our grain elevators located in the heart of town and on the outskirts of town and in the satellite community of Wynndel.
They may not be covered bridges that are prized by easterners and their visitors. However, they are our western heritage, proudly standing out as reminders of those people who worked the soil to produce nourishment for our country’s people.
Grain elevators are a reminder of a town – our town, whose people quietly went about taking care of each other and the land. These elevators represent the values still found in our community, values that support the family, community, nature and individuality. Very few of these icons in Canada have survived. Our elevators still stand. It says something about us. I believe it tells of our resilience and of a way of life that is inherent in our cherished lifestyle. Yes, times have changed and so will the use of these grain elevators in order to continue standing as symbols of our heritage. Next time you drive by our grain elevators proudly nod in acknowledgment of their important role within our community. Also, promise to assist in their preservation, because in doing so you are agreeing to help preserve our community’s lifestyle.
Tammy Hardwick manager of the Creston and District Museum shared the following information with me via email: “The grain elevators were built in 1935 and 1936, with the red one being the first. The Wynndel grain elevator was built at about the same time, 1936 or 1937. They were built to accommodate the wheat and grain crops expected from the Creston flats once they were reclaimed, a project that also took place in 1935. Farmers sold their grain to the elevator, which then distributed it to markets in other parts of the country and probably around the world…essentially, the same principle as any of the local packing sheds. The Canadian Wheat Board set quotas for the wheat farmers; they could only sell a certain number of bushels per acre to the elevators. Unfortunately for local farmers, the yield per acre was usually far higher than that quota, which meant they had a lot of wheat that they had to sell locally, or not at all. This prompted many farmers to switch to other crops – White Dutch Clover, alfalfa, etc The Christensons built their own elevator in response (that’s the one on Devon Street, below the Museum).”
In a telephone conversation I had last November with Irmi Critcher of the B.C. Grain Producers Association I learned that the old style grain elevators are declining at a rapid rate across the country to be replaced by “state of the art” buildings. She said there are only a few regions in BC that had grain elevators. Irmi said it seems that the grain elevators that survive do so because the community values them and people find ways to change their use to something that is needed in the community. Dawson Creek has renovated their grain elevator into an art gallery and the other is part of a historical park.
Taken from Louis Post
Kansas City Star
”As everyone who has driven across the Great Plains remembers, the elevators are the lighthouses of the prairies, the visual parentheses that bracket each stage of the journey. Leave one small town and look ahead to the next grain elevator, miles away. Arrive there and, almost reassuringly, another elevator materializes in the distance. Then another and another. Linda Laird and her husband, Larry Haney, have a passion for grain elevators. They collect them – on paper and on film. Traveling from Texas to the Canadian border, Missouri to Utah, they’ve taken 1,500 photographs, talked to hundreds of people, dug deep into old records.”


I am lucky enough to live close to chestnut and wattle woods and capture this delightful moment of the year, when green sprouts and white buds paint the wood with sparkling colours.
Back in the kitchen, I managed to re-create this 'nature-blooming-in-a-bottle' effect by growing homemade alfalfa sprouts. Not only it is a surprisingly easy and pleasant activity (highly recommended for children, though M. was not very interested I have to confess) but also rewarding: alfalfa sprouts are the richest and most nutritious sprouts. They contain a complete range of vitamins and minerals as well as high quantity of proteins, so grow your own sprouts and you'll have super natural and nutritious salads every day!
alfalfa sprouts seeds
Always use orgainc seeds packaged for sprouting and do not choose seeds meant for planting (they are often treated with chemical pesticides, etc. etc.).
For a small-sized jar (250-400 ml), put one tablespoon and a half of small seeds in the sprouting jar. I used very small jars so I put approx. 2 teaspoon each. Cover top of jar with muslin cloth and fix with a rubber band. Rinse the seeds with water, drain and refill. Let the seeds soak 8-12 hours.
Rinse 2 to 3 times per day for 3 to 4 days, by turning the jar upside down on the kitchen sink.
After 3 or 4 days the sprouts should be filling up the jar.
I have to tell that I expose the sprouting jars to indirect sunlight, even though it is not suggested (almost forbidden!). Most sprouts will be fine if they get indirect natural light though, there is no need to keep them dark. For more practical ingormation and tips, visit here
When the sprouts are ready rinse them with cold water to remove hul.
Sprouts will keep for about a week in the refrigerator if you rinse them once every day or two.