This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro.
When I was growing up, my mother and grandmother had a flower and vegetable garden in our backyard. I spent countless hours outside with them, watching them as they planted different flowers and nurtured their growth. It was a lot of fun and an awesome bonding experience, one I’ve long hoped to be able to continue with my mom and Annabel. Annabel is ALL ABOUT flowers, and really wants to start a vegetable garden. There’s just one problem: Annabel is a flower-killer.
All the visions of my mother and me planting flowers alongside Annabel have flown out the window, because all Annabel wants to do is PICK flowers. Obviously, picking flowers in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, it’s just the EXTENT that Annie is picking them: constantly.
If she’s outside, she’s plucking flowers off their bushes and jamming them into her pockets, her hair, her arms. I’m serious – give Annie five minutes and she could completely prune any bush in any yard of its flowers – I know, because she’s done it in our yard! When our flowers started growing enmasse a few months ago, I knew things were going to have to change, because I really want Annabel to appreciate flowers so we can grow some of our own.
I came up with a plan. I told Annie we were going on an adventure and took her on a trip to our local garden center. At first, I just let her run around and marvel at all the flowers.
At one point I started talking to her about how you grow and care for flowers. I told her how sometimes you grow them from seeds, and sometimes you buy “baby flowers” that you take home.
I told her that seeds and baby flowers have to be potted with a special kind of dirt called soil that has all sorts of important nutrients that make the flowers strong and beautiful, and I showed her the bags of Miracle-Gro my grandmother used to use. She made the connection that soil = food.
She remembered that watering flowers is also important, and I confirmed that was true. I told her that all of these things, along with sunshine, are necessary for beautiful flowers, but most importantly, growing flowers takes TIME. I told her we can’t just pluck them the second they sprout, and we can’t pluck every flower we see because then all our hard work was gone.
I said, “Annie, do you want to help me take care of our flowers?”
For the last few weeks, Annie has watered our flowers every day. She LOVES it.
We also reached a deal – she can pick three SMALL wildflowers a day. Our bigger flowers can only be picked for special occasions, with permission from me or Mike. She usually gives the flowers she picks to her teachers, coaches, or friends. I love her sweet heart.
I think that Annie is ready for that garden. My mom and I are going to take her back to the garden center, and we’re going to pick out some new flowers and vegetables. I can’t wait to create these memories with her like I have from my own childhood. She’s going to have so much fun getting her hands dirty and growing her very own garden.
Prepare for your home and garden for spring with HGTV. Check out Miracle-Grofor all your gardening inspiration needs including planting, potting, harvesting and growing. Share the reasons why you garden with Miracle-Gro, and your story could be featured.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro. The opinions and text are all mine. The opinions and text are all mine.
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FALLING INTO PLACE
Get Your Garden Fall Ready With DGC
As the fall weather sets in, it’s time to start thinking about the garden again! During fall you can expect to see pansy lined tables, mums by the dozen, shelves of funky (and traditional) pumpkins, bulbs (ornamental and edible), and tons of trees and shrubs eager to root before winter. Everybody, grab your Pumpkin Spice Lattes and meet us at the store. If you love fall as much as we do, you will not want to miss this! As always, we are family and pet friendly!
Make your garden stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want a whimsical cottage garden or a fresh modern landscape. Maybe you want to grow your own food or create a woodland habitat for local pollinators and wildlife. Maybe you want turn a hobby into something more. At Durham Garden Center we can help you make these ideas come to life.
Now that your idea has blossomed, pick from our carefully curated selection of houseplants, annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, soil amendments, fertilizers, pottery, and anything else you may need to have the garden of your dreams! We are consistently bringing in new inventory, stay updated by signing up for our monthly newsletter!
This is the tough part. Much of gardening is about trial and error. Perhaps the soil had too much clay in it or the plants accidentally missed a watering on a hot summer day. Maybe a few aphids took up residence on your new plants. No need to worry, we are here to answer any and all gardening-related questions you have. We care about your success!


Geography and Demongraphics
Between the year 1000 and 1300 A.D., the population of Europe grew from 38 to 74 million. The growth of population was caused by a fertility rate that far outstripped the mortality rate. The population increase was also due to the lessening of warfare and a sense of added security.
To make this population increase possible, a parallel increase in agricultural production was necessary. This occurred because of two factors: a slight climate change that brought somewhat warmer weather to Northern Europe creating a longer growing season; and an improvement in the technology of agriculture, meaning the widespread use of iron implements, particularly the iron plow.


In an essential step towards eco-friendly chemical manufacturing in today’s severe global warming, researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) have come up with a groundbreaking method to produce succinic acid from sugarcane.
How is Succinic Acid from Sugarcane Produced?
This advanced method holds the potential to reshape the landscape of industrial preservatives. Succinic acid – a pivotal industrial chemical used in various applications – has previously posed challenges in its production. Considering this, researchers from the University of Illinois and Princeton have paved the path to cost-effective, end-to-end solutions. The entire production pipeline is economical and efficient by engineering powerful acid-resistant yeast, thus eliminating expensive downstream processes.
Researchers from various fields, including chemical engineering, environmental science, and bioprocessing, contributed to this transformative project, showcasing the power of collaborative innovation. The success of this research not only signifies a milestone in sustainable chemical production but also underlines the importance of sustainable land use. “This [research] will serve as a blueprint for all the other metabolic engineering products in CABBI,” said Zhao, one of several CABBI principal investigators on the project.
What Is The Key Element?
This breakthrough becomes even more significant considering the diverse applications of succinic acid from sugarcane, ranging from food and beverages to agricultural and pharmaceutical products. The key to this innovation lies in the unconventional yeast – Issatchenkia orientalis – known for thriving in low-pH environments. This yeast doesn’t require neutralization additives, significantly reducing production costs. “The organism lives happily at a pH of 3 to 4, so the additives are unnecessary. In the end, that significantly reduces costs.”
The researchers carefully rewired I. orientalis’s metabolism, enabling it to produce succinic acid from sugarcane at higher levels than previously achieved with other organisms. The team also conducted rigorous scaling experiments, showcasing the potential of this method for large-scale production.
Remarks of the Researcher
The co-author of the research also emphasized the environmental benefits of this approach, confirming that this new process emits fewer carbon dioxide emissions than traditional petroleum-based chemical processing methods. It is also noteworthy that sugarcane plants act as carbon sinks, reducing overall carbon footing. “It’s definitely more environmentally friendly. That’s the premise for all the research in CABBI: using renewable resources to make chemicals and fuels,” Zhao said.
As the world continues to seek eco-friendly solutions in the face of climate change, this succinic acid from sugarcane-powered innovation stands as a beacon of hope. It exemplifies the possibilities of utilizing nature’s resources efficiently and sustainably, ushering in a new era of responsible chemical production.


Milton Lawn Care Experts
When you need exceptional maintenance for your lawn in Milton, GA, call our experienced team at Seasonally Green Lawn Care. Our team focuses solely on homes and businesses in the north Atlanta area, specializing in improving the health of our clients’ lawns. We approach lawn care with a biological edge – we start with a thorough analysis of your lawn and create a customized program to improve the beauty and health of your lawn while performing your regular yard maintenance.
Effective Weed Control
One of the components of a healthy lawn is keeping weeds under control. If you have problems with broadleaf weeds like dandelions or you are finding patches of grassy weeds like crabgrass, your lawn needs weed control. Long-term weed control is more than just using herbicides to kill weeds; you need to improve the health of your grass and limit weed growth for effective weed control. We handle both aspects when we care for your lawn in Milton. We analyze your soil, grass and weed issues to create the right lawn wellness program.
Pre-emergent Herbicide and Fertilizer
All lawns are not the same and each one needs different fertilizers to maintain health. We do a soil analysis to determine your pH balance and what your soil needs to feed the grass in your yard. Fertilization improves the health of your grass so it can fight off weeds. In addition, we use targeted pre-emergent herbicides to fight weeds before they take hold of your lawn. These herbicides work to stop weed seeds from growing roots, preventing further weeds in your yard.
Seasonally Green Lawn Care is the premier lawn service in the Milton and north Atlanta area. We offer customized lawn care for home and business owners, with excellent customer service. Contact us today for your free quote.


NITA-U has developed an e-licensing system for tree farmers which has been handed over to the National Forestry Authority to enable their registration and licensing. This system is unveiled at a time when many government agencies have started to digitize many of their operations and the services they provide to the public.
The e-licensing system handed over to the National Forestry Authority has features that will enable dissemination of information to farmers, will allow farmers to monitor their harvest, monitor acreage, and make online applications for tree planting. A number of other things this new system will enable include access to information about their application status; make online payments and access payment information among other features according to New Vision.
The automating of most of these processes, which were formerly done manually as NITA-U has developed an e-licensing system for tree farmers will improve tree farming with increased efficiency for farmers and provide a more convenient environment for them to work in.
NITA-U has developed an e-licensing system to improve service delivery
During the unveiling that NITA-U has developed an e-licensing system, NITA-U Executive Director Hatwib Mugasa said, “I would like to thank the Management and Staff of NFA for trusting us as your partners in this digitization effort. You have set an example that all government entities must emulate. Let me take this opportunity to encourage all government institutions that have not yet fully embraced digitization to join the digital revolution. As NITA-U, we are ready to journey with you.”
He further explained that this e-licensing system is expected to improve service delivery and boost the performance of the forestry sector.
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) Executive Director, Tom Okello Obong, said the new system has been designed to allow back end approval processes, provide a dashboard for management and a range of reports.
“When we started this project, our goal was to facilitate tree farmers in accessing services from NFA online and provide real-time information about farmers for better management. I’m glad to announce that as we speak, we are migrating and updating existing farmers into the system. Farmers will now be able to apply from anywhere and at any time, “he said.
This boost for tree farmers in Uganda as NITA-U has developed an e-licensing system for them will not only improve service delivery but in turn increase forest coverage in Uganda which has reduced over time.


It seems to be that fashionable organic clothes for kids just do not appear to exist. lots of ultra-modern natural clothes are the equal of a burlap sack and plenty of mother and father could be difficult pressed to need to challenge their infant to that irrespective of what the benefits are of having natural garb. luckily, there had been outstanding strides in sustainable era that makes it viable for children to wear pretty much whatever that can be made through traditional fabrics. nevertheless, it’s far an uphill warfare to steer parents to make the switch, no matter how gradual, to natural apparel for kids.
The phrase “organic” contains quite a few admire, despite the fact that dad and mom do no longer understand what it takes for an article of garb to be taken into consideration “natural.” as an example, conventionally grown cotton is mistakenly assumed to be natural on the grounds that it’s far grown from the soil and cultivated in farms. however, that is rarely the case. Conventionally grown cotton uses a disproportionate amount of insecticides and pesticides in its cultivation. This huge amount of pollutants cause irreparable damage to the surroundings, let alone the fitness dangers to the farmers who work the fields, the flora and fauna that stay around these farms, and in the end on your children, as they are those who wear the clothes. to give you an concept of ways staggeringly disproportionate the toxic consumption is, cotton crops absorb about 2.5 percent of all cultivated land in the world yet it makes use of about 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and about 10 percentage of the world’s pesticides. The dependency on those poisonous chemical substances is the motive why it’s so vital to support organic farms and organic products.
natural garments to your children is a notable start for this assist seeing that your youngsters will advantage substantially and right away. The environmental advantages apart, your youngsters will no longer be uncovered to the cruel chemical substances conventionally grown cotton uses that are left in the back of at the garments. consistent with Rachel V. Birchler of Mooi, an natural children’s clothing boutique in Pittsburgh, “all through the conversion of traditional cotton into garb, severa toxic chemicals are added at each degree – harsh petroleum scours, softeners, brighteners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde – to call only a few.” With the tremendous quantity of chemicals which might be used for clothes, you could be sure that your youngsters could be tons more secure with natural clothes, especially in case your children have pores and skin hypersensitive reactions or skin that is fairly sensitive.
organic garments to your children may be fashionable and you do not should sacrifice style for protection. increasingly more groups are contributing to the increase of natural garments and it’s far useful for each person as well as the environment


Reference no: EM13815901
Potato farming (like farming of most agricultural products) is highly competitive. Price is determined by demand and supply. Based on U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, U.S. demand for potatoes is estimated to be Qd = 184 – 20P, where P is the farmer’s wholesale price (per 100 pounds) and QD is consumption of potatoes per capita (in pounds). In turn, industry supply is Qs= 124 +4P.
a. Find the competitive market price and output.
b. Potato farmers in Montana raise about 7 percent of total output. If these farmers enjoy bumper crops (10 percent greater harvests than normal), is this likely to have much effect on price? On Montana farmers’ incomes?
c. Suppose that, due to favorable weather conditions, U.S. potato farmers as a whole have bumper crops. Sketch the demand and supply curves before this change, and on the same graph, after this change. Clearly illustrate the old and new equilibrium prices and quantities on your graph.
d. Now suppose given the favorable weather conditions mentioned in part c), the total amount delivered to market is 10 percent higher than that calculated in part (a). Find the new market price. What has happened to total farm revenue? Is industry demand elastic or inelastic?


1 edition of Intensive animal production in developing countries found in the catalog.
Intensive animal production in developing countries
Includes bibliographical references and index.
|Statement||edited by A.J. Smith and R.G. Gunn.|
|Series||BSAP occasional publication -- no.4., BSAP occasional publication -- no. 4.|
|Contributions||Smith, A. J., Gunn, R. G., British Society of Animal Production.|
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||481 p. :|
|Number of Pages||481|
Improving Farming in Developing Countries. As such, helping these small farmers in developing countries increase production and sell more crops is the best way to combat global hunger and poverty. The difficulties in increasing production for these farmers include unproductive soil, plant diseases, pests, and drought. The increased attention given to farm animal welfare in the West derives largely from the fact that the relentless pursuit of financial reward and efficiency has led to the development of intensive animal production systems, that challenge the conscience of many consumers in those countries. In developing countries human survival is still a.
The new books on intensive farming, meat-consumption and vegetarianism released by (42 kg) or with consumption in the developing countries (31 kg). This has less to do with an ex-cess of livestock in this country (**) and more to do with the fact that far too many animal prod- regions where intensive animal production is practised are. W.J.A. Payne, "The desirability and implications of encouraging intensive animal production enterprises in developing countries, " from IntensiveAnimal Production in Developing Countnes, A.J. Smith and R.J. Gunn, eds. Occasional Publication Ho. 4, British Society for Animal Production,
This book will help in bridging the wide gap between developed and developing countries, in the development and use of gene-based technologies, and to elucidate the current and future roles of such technologies in the developing world. It is a good reference . (broilers) in developing countries. They buy day-old chicks from chick breeders who may be far away and usually sell them live after weeks. They also buy their feed in from the nearest feed mill. This may be a long way away and this will mean that feed is expensive. .
Plant for the planet
The man in the moon, 1638
Functional gaging of positionally toleranced parts.
Atlas of the newborn
Magruders American Government, 1992 (Magruders American Government)
Adult numeracy instruction
Reasons to be glad
Catalogue of the very choice collection of pictures of the late George Field
Beyond the Beeches
Pesticides in ground water--Park County, Wyoming, 1997
OECD health systems
The runaway summer of Davie Shaw.
Autobiography of O. H. Longwell
Wrens vision of St. Pauls.
Undercooling in steam nozzles.
The history of Sir Charles Grandison
Intensive Animals Production in Developing Countries [Anon] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying : Anon. Intensive animal production in developing countries. This book comprises the proceedings of a symposium held at Harrogate, UK, in Novemberand organised by the British Society for Animal Production.
Intensive poultry production systems where meat birds are raised in large flocks at high stocking densities have the most efficient feed-to-gain ratios of any animal production system and thus can provide cheap, high-quality animal protein for people in developing countries.
Such intensive production systems, however, can only be implemented Author: Board on Agriculture, Division on Earth. In fact, intensification of animal production over the last five decades was dominated by developing countries (FAO, ).
For example, chicken production in developing countries increased % from towith the most rapid growth in Asia, the Caribbean, South. Intensive animal production systems are commonly associated with high income, industrialized societies.
These systems are seen by many as indicators or even causes of a widening gap in living standards between developed and developing countries (Aziz, ; George, ). Intensive animal farming is a relatively recent development in the history of agriculture, and the result of scientific discoveries and technological tions from the late 19th century generally parallel developments in mass production in other industries in the latter part of the Industrial discovery of vitamins and their role in animal nutrition, in the first two.
At present, only a small proportion of livestock in developing countries are kept on cultivated pastures (Williamson and Payne, ). This paper is therefore more concerned with the intensification of the pasture production and the levels of animal production which may be achieved.
The development of intensive livestock production in industrial countries over the past 30 years has become synonymous with single purpose breed specialization; consequently, Holstein Friesians for milk production and continental beef breeds such as the Charolais, automatically spring to the minds of livestock development planners throughout industrialized Europe, America and Australasia.
3 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY 24 Sector Contribution 24 Livestock Products 27 Foods 27 3. Materials 29 Manure Work, Animals - Reproduction and Growth 35 3.
3 Production and Productivity by Ecological Zone 36 4 LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Blueprints for Tropical Dairy Farming provides insight into the logistics, infrastructure and management required for the development of small and large dairy farms in tropical developing countries.
Farmers will learn how to improve the welfare, milk quality and productivity of their dairy herds. This book complements author John Moran’s five previous books on the principles of tropical. “modern” systems of animal production and efforts to provide animals with acceptable conditions of wellbeing.
In the developed countries, legislations meets with the sympathy of the public, however it has encountered opposition from those sectors that have transformed intensive animal production into a multimillion dollar business.
Intensive animal production in developing countries: proceedings of a symposium organized by the British Society of Animal Production and held at Harrogate in November (Book, )  Get this from a library.
Intensive agriculture, also known as intensive farming (as opposed to extensive farming) and industrial agriculture, is a type of agriculture, both of crop plants and of animals, with higher levels of input and output per cubic unit of agricultural land area.
It is characterized by a low fallow ratio, higher use of inputs such as capital and labour, and higher crop yields per unit land area.
Developing countries are also establishing more intensive commercial systems to meet their growing need for animal protein. Intensive livestock production in such countries has the potential for. Sheep and goats in developing countries. (A World Bank technical paper, ISSN ;) Bibliography: p.
Sheep--Developing countries. Goats--Developing countries. Winrock International Livestock Research and Training Center.
Series. SFD44S54 '' ISBN in the developing countries; the greatest population of poultry (33%) is also found in these regions.
Most sheep and goats in the developing countries are found in Africa (10, 11). On average, one quarter of the gross value of agricultural production is attributed to livestock production (Table 1). Table 1. This book is designed for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses related to agricultural policy, agricultural economics, or rural development in developing countries.
It will also be. Animal Production Research and Reports Through various market and animal research programs and reports, USDA has developed biotechnological methods and gathered data and statistics to demonstrate the great development of animal productivity in the United States and foreign markets.
Proponents argue investments are driven by demand and need to alleviate malnourishment in developing countries. invest public funds in intensive animal.
The production and consumption of livestock products in developing countries: Issues facing the world's poor 1. The production and consumption oflivestock products in developingfuture: Production systems for the countries: balancing trade-offs between food production, efficiency, livelihoodsworldsenvironment Issues facing the and the poor Nancy Johnson, Jimmy Smith, Mario.
Of primary importance is the decision whether to eat animal- or plant-based foods. HOW EATING ANIMALS AFFECTS HUNGER IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. Surrounded by a host of factors, there are four primary ways food choice affects hunger and food security in developing countries—all negatively impacted by the demand to eat animals.
1.Purchase Intensive Beef Production - 2nd Edition. Print Book & E-Book. ISBNIt is particularly valuable in the way that it clarifies the manner in which this form of animal production can be markedly increased in developing countries, as well as in the temperate zone. It is a book to be highly recommended.
Fourth, there is reduced methane production from ruminant animals feeding in the system. Intensive silvopastoral systems produced 12 times more meat than extensive systems, and times more meat than ‘improved’ pastures. Methane emissions increased in a lower proportion: and times, respectively.


California ends cannabis cultivation tax
Some relief is coming to cultivators in California! No, it’s not rain, but equally as important for the licensed growing community.
On June 30th, Californian Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed the new state budget, which notably excluded cultivation taxation, and capped cannabis excise taxes at 15% (for the next three years).
This move to eliminate certain taxes will benefit the everyday consumer, growers, and retailers alike. By removing cultivation taxes the Californian community should see a decrease in the overall cost of cannabis, as growers will have the ability to price accordingly – without having to factor in cultivation taxes.
While the funds generated from cultivation taxes were earmarked for youth organizations, a guaranteed level of support will continue.
In addition to helping cultivators enjoy a sense of financial stability, this move will help reduce California’s thriving illicit cannabis market. As growers can more appropriately price their cannabis, so can retailers, helping to put pressure on the black market by creating a more competitive landscape for quality cannabis.
To read more about these monumental changes, check out the original article here: Ganjapreneur


Influence of low-protein diet with different levels of amino acids on laying hen performance, quality and egg composition. Box , Zagazig, Egypt. A total of Lohmann Brown laying hens at 18 weeks of age were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups. The majority of egg quality traits were not significantly altered by dietary treatments. It could be concluded that the best production criteria could be obtained by using 0. The first an important step to optimize performance and production in poultry is proper nutrition. Increasing egg yield profits is mainly depending on flock performance, feed and egg prices as well as farm management Alagawany et al.
Martens, E. When human data were not available, predictions for humans based on data obtained from growing pigs or rats were used, and then followed by digestibility coefficients for growing pigs or rats. A Bonferroni correction was applied so all effects are reported at a 0. A diet based on the Giordano-Giovannetti concept of low total protein, high essential amino acid content to permit nitrogen equilibrium in uremic patients has been developed for use in maintenance hemodialysis. A study on the energy and protein requirement of Mamoura local strain chickens during laying period. Asian J Anim Vet Adv So the present investigation designed as an attempt to reduce nutrient oversupply through decreasing dietary crude protein level and trying to compensate amino acid deficiency by supplementing graded levels of total sulphur amino acids. This group showed better performance in increasing serum albumin levels and dry body weight and has a lower transfusion requirement and less pruritus. People with kidney-related health conditions may need to follow a low-protein diet. The Monte Carlo method was applied to estimate the significance of the Mann-Whitney tests. In: Horwitz W, editor.
Faseb J. Mean protein intake was calculated as the sum of protein intake from meals and from snacks [ 9, 10 ]. Energy utilization of low-protein diets in growing pigs. The amino acid methionine is now available at competitive prices. Journal of Cellular Physiology. The diet is palatable and imposes no economic stress on the patients. Cell Reports. Permissions Icon Permissions. Effect of growth potential and dietary protein input on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen output in growing-finishing pigs. If the kidneys are not functioning well, urea can build up in the blood and cause fatigue and a loss of appetite. Anyone considering this type of diet should consult their doctor first.


Getting Back to Our Root Cellars
BY CLARA SILVERSTEIN / PHOTO VISUSCHKA (SHUTTERSTOCK)
Last winter, when Cheryl Wixson of Stonington, Maine, wanted to make dinner, she popped a trap door in the kitchen floor, climbed down a ladder and opened tubs in her root cellar. She sorted through Red Delicious apples and carrots before selecting red cabbage for slaw.
Wixson’s reliance on a root cellar for fresh vegetables in the depth of winter connects her back to her heritage as an 11th-generation resident of Maine. The self-described “food engineer” and chef refers to a photo of her extended family in rural Aroostook County at the turn of the 20th century.
“There were seven children, and they understood how to grow food and how to put things by. That’s what we all did. There was no supermarket,” she says.
Part of “putting food by” for Wixson’s family—and thousands of other New Englanders—was a root cellar, an underground room that uses the earth’s naturally cool temperatures to preserve foods. These cellars are usually located underneath a home or dug into the side of a hill, though one enterprising farm in Maine used to store vegetables in an empty crypt at the local cemetery. In North America, root cellars date back to Colonial days but went out of favor when electric refrigerators became widespread in the 1920s and 1930s. Now they are making a comeback, thanks to renewed interest in preserving and eating food grown close to home.
At one time, root cellars helped people survive in a harsh climate. “Beginning in the early 1600s in New England, house cellars were used amongst other things to store root crops during the winter,” writes James Gage in Root Cellars in America: Their History, Design and Construction 1609–1920. Inventories also showed that people stored milk, preserved meat and kept their beer in root cellars, according to Northeastern University professor Elizabeth Collins Cromley in The Food Axis. Though New England’s short growing season made root cellars especially useful, they could be found in other parts of America—in homes both grand and humble. At Monticello, former president Thomas Jefferson’s home in Virginia, excavations at the site of slave cabins uncovered brick-lined root cellars used for food storage.
In 19th-century New England, people planted their gardens with root cellars in mind. The Old Sturbridge Village Cookbook states, “It is little wonder that root crops were grown in such abundance … they were by far the easiest to preserve. Stored in root cellars, potatoes, turnips, beets and carrots could be kept for months in barrels of sand.” In Root Cellars in America, Gage mentions that 19th-century farmers also used their root cellars to store food for dairy cows, beef cattle and sheep. Responding to market forces, farmers also stored crops “until mid-winter or later when much higher prices could be commanded.”
As food distribution became more widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people didn’t need to rely on their root cellars as much. Home construction changed, too, making traditional cellars with dirt floors and stone walls—a space with naturally steady, cool temperatures and good ventilation—a relic.
Nowadays, people who create or use existing root cellars are more interested in returning to traditions than in profiteering. The motivations are also philosophical. “A good cellar is the gateway to experiences and a food philosophy that’s more important to some of us than 24/7 wall-to-wall convenience,” Steve Maxwell and Jennifer MacKenzie write in The Complete Root Cellar Book. Margaret Christie, special projects director of Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, elaborates. “Root cellars are, of course, a low-tech and energy-efficient way to store products harvested in the fall in order to expand the range of seasonal products available in the winter. Those attributes make them a good fit with the goals of sustainable agriculture. They allow the serious gardener or homesteader to eat homegrown food all winter without the time and energy required by many other storage methods, such as canning and freezing, or to supplement canned or frozen products.”
The proliferation of how-to guides since Mike and Nancy Bubel published their classic Root Cellaring suggests growing interest in root cellars. Wixson teaches a workshop in root cellaring during the Common Ground Country Fair hosted each fall by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and says 50 to 60 people have attended each of two sessions. Jennifer Megyesi, owner of Fat Rooster Farm in Royalton, Vermont, and author of The Joy of Keeping a Root Cellar, says she fields inquiries about root cellars from people all over the United States and Canada.
Megyesi’s interest in root cellars is personal—she grew up with one—as well as philosophical. This fall, she filled her cellar with crops including winter squash, apples and potatoes. In the colder part, she put cabbages, kohlrabi, carrots, celeriac and celery. She expected onions kept in a dark spot to last up to 11 months. “Instead of purchasing [vegetables] in the dead of winter that come from outside of the United States, I have a ready supply to eat from my own land,” she says.
The Joy of Keeping a Root Cellar explains how to create a root cellar and also how to fill it. Charts give practical advice about which vegetables to store and the best ways to store them. The book also covers other preserved foods, including pickles and home-canned goods. Megyesi uses her cellar as a curing area for sausages, pancetta, pastrami, prosciutto and homemade juices and wines. Two other how-to books, Root Cellaring and The Complete Root Cellar Book, contain practical building and storage advice as well as recipes to make from foods stored in the cellar.
Wixson says that a root cellar can be practical even for people who don’t have time to grow their own food. She recommends stocking up with food grown by local farmers because it supports the local economy and keeps food from traveling hundreds of miles from farm to table. She follows her own advice. “Certain crops don’t grow well where I am, so I get them from other farms,” she says.
One somewhat hidden challenge for those who own a root cellar is keeping an eye on produce to make sure it doesn’t spoil. Theodore Roethke, a poet whose family owned a greenhouse in Michigan in the early 20th century, describes what can happen if someone abandons the food that is stored. In his poem titled “Root Cellar,” Roethke writes, “…what a congress of stinks!— / Roots ripe as old bait, / Pulpy stems, rank, silo-rich…”
Checking on the crops in the cellar, even after they are packed away, helps avoid this situation. Wixson makes it sound like fun. “Visit your roots every day. It doesn’t do any good to put them away and never look at them.”
The reward for the work of creating a root cellar and tending the vegetables in it is fresh produce in the dead of winter, something our forebears relied on for survival in New England, and something we can appreciate to this day.


Professional and college reporters training collaboratively for the future of Bay Area journalism. Bay News Rising is a project of the Pacific Media Workers Guild made possible by the labor and contributions of its members.
By Elisabetta Silvestro, Bay News Rising staff reporter —
During a rare hot summer day in San Francisco, farmers’ stands fill United Nations Plaza. “Dollar a pound, mix and match!” some yell. It’s a typical Sunday at the Heart of the City Farmers Market. The low prices and abundant produce make it easy for a shopper to forget that a four-year drought is threatening the future of agriculture in California.
But you don’t have to remind Grace Teresi, who has to count every drop she uses on her San Juan Bautista farm not to run out of water.
Like Teresi, many farmers are simply irrigating less. Some are leaving their fields fallow or letting them dry. This means fewer jobs, less produce and higher prices.
“We are in trouble, aren’t we?” Teresi says.
California produces 70 percent of the value of all of the fruit and tree nuts produced in the U.S. During the past year, this production dropped by an estimated 20 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
With less and less surface water available, farmers have no choice but to pump groundwater, using costly wells they have to drill on their land. The main providers of surface water, the State Water project and the Federal Central Valley Project, which normally provide water to almost 4 million acres of agricultural land, have in the last two years pumped no more than 5 percent of the water farmers usually buy.
Teresi, of Miramonte Farms, about 20 miles from Salinas, considers herself lucky to have paid $40,000 for her 1,000-foot deep well a few years ago. Now she would have to pay double for the same job and farmers need to drill deeper and deeper to find any water.
“It was a good investment,” she says.
With depths ranging between 100 feet to 2,000 feet or more, a well today can cost as much as $1 million dollars in Fresno County.
Because it has a viable well, Teresi’s farm is not affected by the drought as badly as others, even though Miramonte no longer gets surface water. Those who can only count on surface water are out of business by now, she says.
Instead of raising prices, Miramonte Farms opted to become smaller and plant less. In place of watering three times a week, as it has for years, Miramonte only turns the sprinklers on every seven days. As a result, the fruits and vegetables are firmer and less juicy, but as good as before, if not better, because they are more concentrated, Teresi says.
But they do look a bit different. Teresi scrubs a peach clean with the rag she has tied around her waist. The peach’s skin is so dry it resembles a crust. But, like people, peaches shouldn’t be judged from their appearance, Teresi says.
The drought and the warm weather accompanying it, Teresi says, “messed up” all their crops. With a rainless, warm winter, the trees skipped their dormancy period, the plant equivalent of hibernation.
“They don’t know if it’s summer or winter,” Teresi says.
Her garlic and oranges were “horribly small.” The apple trees, which usually don’t need any irrigation other than rain, last year needed water for the first time, she says.
June was the hottest month on record in California (about 10 degrees above normal), according to the USDA, boosting irrigation demands. Rainfalls during the past year, have been 70 percent of the historical average, while the snowpack, as of April, was 5 percent of the historical average, according to the state Department of Water Resources.
Less service water means higher prices
Teresa Martinez needs a new well. Hers, at Martinez Farms in Fresno, is drying up. But farmers have to wait two or three months for a well driller, which will cost $50,000 to $70,000. It’s a lot of money, and to make up for it, Martinez Farms will have to increase its prices at the farmers market, she says.
Martinez is one of the many farmers who don’t receive any surface water from the state or federal projects. She could, but she says it’s not worth it. Even if she applied, they only would deliver her $5,000 worth of water, which is not much these days.
The Federal Central Valley Project, which usually supplies water to nearly a third of California’s agricultural land, allocated zero water this year and last, leaving 3 million acres dry.
Water allocation works on a seniority level, so the first farmers to see their water supply cut were those with the most recent contracts, or junior rights holders. As of June, for the first time during this drought, senior water rights holders had their supply curtailed as well.
Packing up after a busy day at the Alemany Farmers Market, Lujan Farms manager Tony Ramos says his farm paid $75,000 to drill its well. Water prices went up two years ago, he says, and it now costs $7,000 to irrigate 10 acres.
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” employee Armando Vazquez says. They either pay, or let more trees dry. The farm already sacrificed many of its orange trees.
Two years ago, to have good fruit they would irrigate their crops seven times. Now they can afford to do it only twice. Vazquez says their fruit was better before.
“You treat your trees good, they give you good fruit,” he says.
Even if the farm has a well, Vazquez says they need to be careful not to pump too much, because there’s no way to tell when the water will run out.
University of California, Davis hydrogeology professor Graham Fogg said hundreds of thousands of wells have been drilled in the Central Valley, creating a risk of overdraft, which is when the pumping exceeds the rate of replenishment, worsening the condition of an already overtaxed aquifer system.
An aquifer in overdraft can lead to many negative consequences. In the worst cases, the aquifer simply dries. Even if there is some water left, the quality may deteriorate and the land around may sink, a phenomena already seen around the Central Valley, says Fogg.
Efficient irrigation benefits farmers and environment
Mark Bartle of organic Two Dog Farm says the drought hasn’t affected his operation. He practices “dry farming” so water has never been a problem. Four-fifth of his acreage is already dry. His irrigation technique is very different from what others have been doing simply to save water.
To dry farm, a farmer needs the right soil, the right weather, the right product and the right market, Bartle explains.
“It’s a lot harder than watering a little less,” he says. It’s a matter of managing the soil, using systems to trap the moisture already in the soil.
“On his dry fields, Bartle relies on winter and spring rains to saturate the soil. One inch of rain is enough. Then he tills the soil smooth to maintain the moisture.”
The water Bartle uses comes from the State Water Project, so, even if his farm is doing fine, every year he wonders if his water supply is going to be shut down.
“Well water is our back-up plan,” Bartle says.
If farmers employed more efficient and modern irrigation technologies, agricultural water use could be reduced by 17 percent to 22 percent, or 5.6 to 6.6 million acre-feet of water annually, according to the Pacific Institute. An acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover one acre, about the size of a football field, to the depth of a foot, about 326,000 gallons.
In 2015, the drought reduced the availability of surface water for farmers by about a quarter, or 8.7 million acre-feet, resulting in groundwater pumping increasing by an estimated 6.2 million acre-feet of water, for a net loss of 2.5 million acre-feet. By way of perspective, that’s about the amount of water that 2.5 million suburban households would use in a year.
If all farmers applied efficient irrigation methods, the gap could be closed, decreasing the need for groundwater pumping.
According to the California Department of Water Resources, in an average year, agriculture irrigates about 9.6 million acres using 34 million acre-feet of water. That is about 80 percent of the state’s developed water supply.
If 2016 is another dry year, there will be more cuts to the agricultural water supply, and those who will suffer the most will be farmers and farm workers, UC Davis professor emeritus Richard Howitt says.
While consumers might find their fruit and vegetables smaller and perhaps 10 percent more costly, a continued drought will add to the toll of 17,000 farm jobs lost in 2014. It would lead to additional overdraft of aquifers and lower groundwater levels, drying up wells, increasing pumping costs and sinking land.
Howitt says the state needs to get better at managing water to survive another year of drought. A place to start would be replenishing the groundwater. It needs to be put back, Howitt says, “It’s like a bank account.” Without replacing the groundwater, the water table will keep on falling.
Teresi is hopeful but cautious. Even if it starts raining again, she says it will take many years to get the water table back where it was.
“We are all in this together,” she says. “We are going to figure this out.”
Elisabetta Silvestro can be reached at: email@example.com or Twitter @elisabetta_silv


Do you enjoy the refreshing, minty taste of peppermint? Did you know that you can grow and make peppermint at home? In this guide, we'll take you through all the steps required to grow your own peppermint plant, harvest the leaves, and store them for later use. Follow these steps to make your very own peppermint at home!
Understanding the Peppermint Plant
Peppermint is a hybrid plant that is a cross between spearmint and watermint. It has a unique flavor and aroma that makes it a popular ingredient in many foods and beverages. Understanding the basic botany of the peppermint plant is essential to growing and harvesting it successfully.
Peppermint plants are known for their strong aroma and are commonly found in gardens and farms around the world. They are easy to grow and maintain, making them a popular choice for home gardeners and commercial farmers alike.
The peppermint plant is a member of the mint family, which also includes other popular herbs like basil and oregano. It is a perennial plant, meaning it will come back year after year if properly cared for. Peppermint plants can grow up to three feet tall and produce small purple flowers in the summer months.
History and Uses of Peppermint
Peppermint has a rich history, dating back to ancient Egyptian times. It was widely used in traditional medicine for its healing properties and was also used as a flavoring in food and drinks. In modern times, peppermint is used in many products, including candies, teas, and even toothpaste.
Peppermint oil is also a popular ingredient in aromatherapy. Its invigorating scent is believed to help with mental clarity and alertness. When used in massage, peppermint oil can help relieve muscle tension and soreness.
Types of Peppermint Plants
There are several varieties of peppermint plants, each with its own unique features. The most common types of peppermint are black peppermint, white peppermint, and chocolate mint. Each has its own distinct flavor and aroma.
Black peppermint, also known as "Mitcham peppermint," is a popular choice for commercial growers due to its high oil content. White peppermint, on the other hand, is known for its mild flavor and is often used in teas and other beverages. Chocolate mint, as the name suggests, has a chocolatey aroma and is a popular addition to desserts and other sweet treats.
Health Benefits of Peppermint
Peppermint has many health benefits, including relief from digestive issues, headaches, and cold symptoms. It's also a natural breath freshener. With its cooling sensation, peppermint can help with muscle relaxation and even help with stress relief.
Peppermint tea is a popular home remedy for digestive issues like bloating and gas. The menthol in peppermint can help soothe the digestive tract and promote healthy digestion. Peppermint oil is also used in many over- the-counter remedies for headaches and migraines.
Overall, the peppermint plant is a versatile and useful herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine and cuisine. Whether you're growing it in your garden or using it in your favorite recipes, peppermint is sure to add a refreshing and invigorating touch.
Gathering Your Supplies and Ingredients
Before you start growing peppermint, it's essential to gather all the necessary tools and equipment. Here are some things you'll need:
- A pot or container Potting mix
- A peppermint plant
- A watering can
- Pruning shears
- Gardening gloves
Now that you have all the necessary supplies let's move on to choosing the right peppermint plant.
Choosing the Right Peppermint Plant
When it comes to growing peppermint, choosing the right plant is critical. You can find peppermint plants at your local nursery or garden center. Look for plants that are healthy and have vibrant leaves. Avoid any plants that show signs of disease or damage.
Peppermint plants are known for their strong and refreshing aroma, which is why they are so popular in the culinary world. They are also easy to grow and care for, making them a great option for beginner gardeners. Once you've chosen your plant, it's time to move on to the essential tools for growing.
Essential Tools for Growing Peppermint
Aside from the peppermint plant, there are a few essential tools you'll need to ensure your plant grows strong and healthy. These include a watering can, pruning shears, gardening gloves, and fertilizer. Consider investing in a good quality potting mix to provide your plant with the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Peppermint plants require regular watering, but be careful not to overwater them. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Use pruning shears to trim back any dead or damaged leaves or stems to promote new growth.
Now that you have your tools and peppermint plant, it's time to talk about soil and fertilizer requirements.
Soil and Fertilizer Requirements
Peppermint plants require well-draining soil that's rich in organic matter. Consider adding some compost or worm castings to your potting mix. This will help improve the soil's texture and provide your plant with the nutrients it needs to grow strong.
It's important to fertilize your plant regularly to ensure it's getting the nutrients it needs. Use a balanced fertilizer, following the instructions on the package for the correct dosage and frequency. With the right supplies, tools, and knowledge, you'll be on your way to growing healthy and delicious peppermint in no time.
Planting and Growing Peppermint
Now that you've gathered your supplies and ingredients, it's time to start planting and growing your peppermint plant!
Selecting the Ideal Location
Peppermint plants require lots of sunlight, so choose a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you're planting your peppermint in a container, select a pot that's at least 10 inches in diameter and has adequate drainage holes.
Planting Peppermint from Seeds or Cuttings
You can grow peppermint from seeds or cuttings. If you're using seeds, sow them in your potting mix about ¼ inch deep and keep the soil moist. If you're using cuttings, dip the ends in rooting hormone and plant them in your potting mix.
Caring for Your Peppermint Plant
Peppermint plants require regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist. However, be careful not to overwater, as this can cause root rot. Prune your plant regularly to keep it healthy and bushy.
Pests and Diseases to Watch Out For
Peppermint plants can be prone to pests and diseases like spider mites, aphids, and rust. Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or disease, and treat them promptly to prevent them from spreading.
Harvesting and Storing Peppermint
Congratulations! Your peppermint plant has grown to maturity, and now it's time to harvest the leaves and store them for later use.
When to Harvest Peppermint
Peppermint plants are ready for harvest when they have grown to a height of at least six inches. Harvest the leaves in the morning when the essential oils are at their highest concentration.
How to Harvest Peppermint Leaves
Use pruning shears to cut the leaves from the stems. Cut just above the node to encourage bushy growth. Be sure to only harvest about a third of the plant at a time to avoid damaging it.
Drying and Storing Peppermint
To dry your peppermint leaves, tie them in small bunches and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place. Once they are fully dry, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Your dried peppermint leaves can be used in teas, baked goods, and other recipes!
Growing and making peppermint at home is a rewarding experience that can save you money and provide you with fresh, delicious peppermint leaves for use in a variety of recipes. With the right tools and techniques, anyone can grow peppermint at home. Follow these steps, and you'll be enjoying the refreshing taste and aroma of peppermint in no time!


This report analyses the adaptive capacity in agricultural water management, adaptation in agriculture to water variability and extreme events, (floods and droughts), mitigation, (water and energy) and uncertainty about further climate change.
This title belongs to OECD Report Series.
ISBN: 9781780406619 (eBook)
ISBN: 9781780406602 (Print)
- Water Resources / Environment
- climate change
- © IWA Publishing 2014


Topic: How To Grow And Care For Cherry Blossom Trees
One of the earliest harbingers of spring is the cherry blossom tree, which bursts into pink and white clouds of cotton candy blossoms in March and April. They’re celebrated at cherry blossom festivals around the world where people flock to the grasses beneath their branches to marvel at the frothing blooms. There are over 100 varieties of beautiful and stately cherry blossom trees, several of which grow well in the South. This medium-sized tree grows 15 to 30 feet tall and debuts showy white or pink single, semi-double, or double flowers. In late summer, pea-size fruits make an appearance. Early fall is the best planting time for bare-root flowering cherry trees, while container-grown specimens can be put in the earth during fall or after the last spring frost. The tree grows moderately, between 2 and 4 feet a year. One warning to keep in mind for pet owners: Seeds, leaves, and stems of cherry blossom trees are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Ornamental cherry trees are bred more for the lovely blossoms than for the edible fruit. These trees still produce fruit in the summer months, but it’s usually so sour that only animals eat it. Most cherry trees that produce edible fruits are too difficult to grow in the South. That’s because they need cool temperatures to thrive, and the Southern climes don’t reach or stay at the temperatures they require to blossom. Contrary to popular belief, most cherry blossoms do have a light fragrance. Cherry blossoms bloom in several shades. Many are light pink, while others have darker pink flowers or white flowers, depending on several factors. Some have yellow-green or white-green blooms that turn pink as they age. The trees grow and establish themselves relatively quickly, but they don’t last very long. Their life spans are usually 15 to 25 years long, though in optimal conditions, they have been known to reach 30 to 40 years of age. On the other hand, some (like black cherry trees) can live much longer. Black cherries have been known to reach 250 years old under the right conditions. Although the blossoms look so delicate, you can actually grow them for yourself, assuming that you place your cherry blossom trees in a location with full sun and well-drained soil. Well-draining soil is key, as cherry blossoms don’t like to sit in water and let their roots get soggy. Some gardeners find that sandy or clay-enriched soils can work for cherry blossoms and aid in drainage. However, many gardeners believe that loamy soil is best for growing cherry blossoms because it is rich and well-draining.
Topic Discussed: How To Grow And Care For Cherry Blossom Trees


One of the things that excited me most about buying a house was having the space to plant a garden. I’ve been so excited for Graham to build raised beds, and for me to fill them with plants.
He built the beds a few weeks ago, but due to fickle weather and a slightly spur of the moment trip home, we just got around to filling them this past weekend.
I know NOTHING about gardening. The last time I tried to grow anything was at our house in Arkansas. I planted a cherry tomato plant, a basil plant, and catnip. The catnip and basil thrived. The tomato plant produced a handful of tomatoes.
Given that failure, I probably should have started smaller, with my garden here… I’ve planted a few tomato plants (both heirloom tomatoes and cherry tomatoes), bell peppers, one jalapeno plant, cucumbers, zucchini, okra, lettuce, and spinach.
Bed #1 has the peppers and the tomatoes. I may end up moving some of the tomatoes… In all of my research I couldn’t get a definite answer on how far apart the plants needed to be. Some sites said 12-24″, some said 18-36″. In their rows, the two plants are spaced about 18-20″ apart. Hopefully that’s sufficient… I still need to get cages for them as well, but I’m guessing that isn’t needed until they’re a little bit bigger. Bed #2 has cucumbers, the lettuce, the spinach, okra and zucchini. We’re going to make a trellis once the cucumbers start growing, so they can grow up the trellis. I read that doing that enables you to grow them closer together, and grows a larger, healthier crop. We’ll see…I planted everything on Sunday, and took these photos on Monday. I wish I had actually measured the plants, so I could see if they’re actually growing, or if it’s just wishful thinking. They do look a little bigger already though…
Along with the beds of vegetables, I also have two planters of herbs. This is the basil planter, and has purple basil, sweet basil, and Thai basil. Not going to lie, I bought the Thai basil because the little flowers were so pretty… The larger planter has spearmint, oregano, cilantro and rosemary. A friend told me that mint helps keep mosquitoes away. Right now, this pot is on the edge of our patio. If the spearmint grows and keeps bugs away, I might buy more and move it to a large pot of its own.
Other than things we’re trying to grow, the stuff that was left for us is blooming and so pretty. Our yard is full of mature azalea bushes. And while part of me wishes they had all bloomed at the exact same time, part of me likes that the bushes are taking turns. We’ve had a ton of color in our yard now for almost 2 months, and I love it! And this plant growing in the barrel was a mystery to us. One day it was a tiny thing, and the next day it looked like this. I asked on Facebook what it was, and someone told me a weed… When we went home a couple of weekend ago, I noticed one planted at G’s parent’s house, and asked my mother-in-law about it. It’s supposed to bloom in the summer, and attract butterflies, so I’m pretty excited about that.
I also couldn’t help myself when I saw these pink hydrangeas at Whole Foods. I bought them, and the jasmine plant below, and crossed my fingers that I wouldn’t kill them. The hydrangea struggled a bit at first, but moving it to a sunnier spot and watering it more seemed to revive it.
And a picture of a creepy munchkin for you… She loves observing her yard from the kitchen table. Although when I looked up from taking a picture of the hydrangea and saw this, I screamed. If she could look a little less evil, I’d appreciate it…


Tony Day Chairman of Quattro Ports said that it was a major milestone for Quattro to appoint its first employee. “The role of terminal manager is critical to Quattro’s success as it provides the face of the organisation to customers and stakeholders. The Quattro Board is delighted to have found someone of Dene’s calibre and experience.”
Grain growers are set to benefit from Quattro’s new grain export terminal at Port Kembla which will provide more competition along the grain supply chain throughout the grain growing regions of New South Wales.
The significant investment in Port Kembla demonstrates Quattro’s commitment to building infrastructure to provide an efficient pathway for Australian grain to the world.
Quattro Port Kembla will be an open-access terminal which will provide grain export opportunities to all grain traders and exporters in the New South Wales grain market. The Quattro facility is specifically designed to receive grain by rail and will utilise the existing Inner Harbour rail sidings. It will have the capacity to handle in excess of 1.3 million tonnes of export grain per annum plus the ability to also handle import cargo.
The project includes an upgrade to berth 103, construction of new grain bulk storage and rail discharge facilities, conveyors and a mobile ship loader. Construction is well advanced and due to receive first grain during the 2015 harvest.
In addition Quattro’s innovative design will allow for other agri-products be both imported and exported through the facility. The facility is being constructed by Kerman Contracting Pty Ltd and includes significant input from local Illawarra and NSW sub-contractors.
Construction of the facility and berth extension has created 75 new jobs during construction and Quattro will employ around 10 staff when fully operational.
The project involves:
- Construction of eight x 10,000 tonne and nine x 2,000+ tonne capacity vertical silos
- Dredging of approximately 120,000 cubic metres to increase berth depth to 14.5m
- Extension of berth 103 to handle vessels up to 225 metres in length
- Installation of rail receival hoppers and an overhead covered conveyor to link the existing rail siding to the new silos
- Installation of a 1,500 tonne per hour capacity out loading conveyor to connect to a mobile ship loader.
Quattro Ports is a joint venture between Noble-Agri, Qube, Cargill and Emerald Grain.
Simon Barney, Chairman Quattro Ports M: 0409 361 407 E: email@example.com


This paper presents a new type of water measuring device, the portable triangle-throated measuring flume, which is suitable for small flow conditions and easily to be manufactured and installed. The hydraulic performance of a prototype flume is tested under free flow and submerged outflow conditions at 9 flow rates such as 0.90, 1.44, 1.88, 2.36, 2.84, 3.36, 3.92, 4.57 and 4.90 L/s. The flume is located in a U-shaped channel that is similar to a field irrigation ditch in cross-section, and the water levels at 13 control sections are measured. The hydraulic performance variables such as water surface line, Froude number, critical inundation degree, and measurement accuracy were analyzed. There is a good exponential relationship between the flow rate and the upstream water depth with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 5. A formula for flow rate in terms of water depth is obtained by curve fitting under free and inundation flow conditions. Compared with the experimental flow rates, the average and maximum errors are smaller than than 5%. The change rules of Froude number are analyzed, and the specific position for the critical water depth is determined, which is downstream the throat within a distance of 334-355 mm from the flume inlet. The critical submergence of the long triangular-throated flume is stable, ranged from 0.80 to 0.86. The suitable range of flow range is 0.90-5.00 L/s for a single flume.
XUE Cheng,WANG Wen-E-*,HU Xiao-Tao. Experiment on hydraulic performance of portable triangular-throated flume for field ditch flow measurements[J]. Journal of Drainage and Irrigation Machinery Engin, 2018, 36(11): 1104-1108.
COX A L, THORNTON C I, ABT S R. Supercritical flow measurement using a large parshall flume[J]. Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering, 2013,139(8): 655-662.
吴彩丽,黄斌,谢崇宝. 灌区量水技术与设备研究发展概况[J]. 中国水利, 2006(7):68.
WU Caili, HUANG Bin, XIE Chongbao. Research and development of water measuring technology and equipment in irrigation district[J]. China water resources, 2006(7):68.(in Chinese)
LIU Xiaofei, FEI Liangjun, SUN Jingsheng, et al. Experiment on soil evaporation of summer maize in furrow irrigation[J]. Journal of drainage and irrigation machi-nery engineering, 2016,34(4):332-338.(in Chinese)
MANEKAR V L, POREY P D, INGLE R N. Discharge relation for cutthroat flume under free-flow condition[J]. Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering, 2007,133(5): 495-499.
HU Han, HUANG Jiesheng, QIAN Zhongdong, et al. Hydraulic analysis of parabolic flume for flow measurement[J]. Flow measurement and instrumentation, 2014,37:54-64.
WU Di, MENG Weichao, BO Xiaodong, et al. Effect of different surface irrigation methods on yield and water use efficiency of maize for seed[J]. Journal of irrigation and drainage, 2014,33(3/4):185-188.(in Chinese)


Leucospermum "Tango" growing at Elkhorn Farm
In 1996, two cousins, born and raised in South Africa, started a 40-acre farm in California’s Central Coast to grow the stunning wildflowers they grew up with—proteacea. One of these cousins—Pierre Taljaard—already had a successful protea farm in South Africa's Western Cape Province where these flowers also make up the native vegetation adjacent to his farm. Pierre's cousin—Jan van Greunen—was a civil engineer living in San Francisco and was also interested in growing proteacea to sell as cut flowers.
In finding the correct location for their farm, they searched for farmland with just the right soil composition and acidity. Their search led to a former strawberry farm in the Elkhorn highlands near Monterey Bay. Pierre then imported plant material from South Africa to California to start the farm.
A view of native fynbos in the Tradouw Pass, South Africa.
Many of the South African flowers and foliage we grow at Elkhorn Farm are part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom known in South Africa as “fynbos.” Fynbos means “fine bush” and consists mainly of members of the Proteacea and Erica (heather) families, which are generally hard-leaved shrublands and heathlands found in the coastal plains and mountains of the southwestern and southern cape of South Africa. More than 7,700 plant species are found in the fynbos biome. Much of the fynbos grow predominantly on well-leached, infertile soils. The best known representative of the protea family is South Africa’s national symbol--protea cynaroides or king protea.
Like California’s maritime chaparral, fynbos are drought-tolerant and grow in one of the earth’s five mediterranean climate ecosystems. Mediterranean ecosystems cover less than 3% of the earth’s land surface, yet contain 20% of the earth’s plant biodiversity. Due to living in a climate characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and cool, but mild, rainy winters, California maritime chaparral and fynbos share similar characteristics:
Rare Pajaro Manzanita Chaparral plant community adjacent to Elkhorn Farm.
Elkhorn Farm is located on a hillside near the protected Elkhorn Slough tidal wetlands ecosystem and is surrounded by native oak woodlands and the rare Pajaro Manzanita Chaparral plant community habitat. Like the mediterranean climate found in South Africa's Cape Province, the climate of coastal California is well-suited to the drought-tolerant flowers, foliage and olive trees we grow. The well-drained and relatively infertile sandy soils of our hillside are also well-suited to fynbos.
Equally important is these characteristics of our flowers, foliage and olive trees, and the fact that these shrubs and trees are productive for a number of years, makes these a much better crop for our highly erodible hillside farm than a crop requiring lots of water and replacement every year or two, such as strawberries.
Our "About" page header photo shows Leucospermum "Spider" blooming at Elkhorn Farm.


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Near-Natural Landscapes Through Extensive Farming Practices
Wet Meadows in Plottendorf
Wet meadows are located in floodplains on fresh to moist or temporarily flooded areas. Extensive (gentle) management supports the development of biodiverse valley meadows, which are one of the most versatile habitats for birds and insects.
The wet meadows in Plottendorf are part of the Pleiße river floodplain and are located to the west of the Gerstenbach stream, between the villages of Treben and Plottendorf. The approximately 11 hectares include grazing areas with ponds, thickets and wet meadows. The meadows are part of the conservation area called ‘Haselbacher Teiche und Pleißeau’ and are also partly located within the special protection area (SPA), ‘Nördliches Altenburger Land’. Additionally, the wet meadows border on the neighbouring nature reserve, ‘Haselbacher Teiche’.
Comparison of Intensive and
Extensive Land Use
The floodplains of the Pleiße and Gerstenbach rivers are valuable habitats for insects and amphibians. However, the biodiversity has decreased sharply due to the intensive use of fertilisers and meadow management with very frequent mowing.
Together with our partners, the Nature Research Society of Altenburg (NfGA e.V.), we pursue the goal of applying extensive farming practices to the wet meadows as well as year-round grazing and/or hay production. The extensification will lead to the settlement of typical animal and plant species, shrubs and the development of near-natural habitats. Existing structures will be enhanced, and new ones may arise in order to promote the priority species in this area (dusky large blue, Maculinea nausithous, and its fodder plant, the great burnet, as well as the crested newt, Triturus cristatus). In particular, the establishment of the great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) as a forage crop species of dusky large blue is anticipated to create more stepping habitats and to support further spread.
Historical and ecological forms of land use have been shown to be successful in nature conservation projects. The extensive grazing of sheep is a way of structurally improving land use intensity, generating a manifold mosaic of different meadow areas. This variability (different grass heights, interruptions, etc.) creates ecological niches and thereby promotes biodiversity.
Leine sheep are an old, robust and regional sheep type in the German federal states of Thuringia and Lower Saxony, and they are now grazing on the wet meadows in Plottendorf. The breed is listed on the ‘red list’ of farm animals
by the German Society for the Preservation of Rare Breeds e. V. (GEH) and is considered extremely endangered. Therefore, the 'original type' was selected as ‘Vulnerable Farm Animal of the Year 2013’.
Great Burnet with Dusky Large Blue
The wet meadows project in Plottendorf is supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) program ‘Development of nature and landscape’. The Upper Nature Conservation Authority in Thuringia provides funding for the project.


ABOUT THE FILM
This film tells the uplifting story of Eastie Farms, an urban farm in East Boston, and its founder, Kannan Thiruvengadam. We follow the construction of a groundbreaking geothermal greenhouse from its inception to the opening celebration.
About the Director
Sam Rothmeyer is a recent graduate of Boston College and an aspiring documentary filmmaker. He created this short documentary as part of one of his classes. The film was selected by the Boston College Arts Department for the documentary film award. Farming our Future tells the story of Eastie Farms, an urban farm in East Boston, through the voice of its founder, Kannan Thiruvengadam, from its inception to its recent groundbreaking, constructing a first-of-its-kind geothermal greenhouse.
NO TICKET THURSDAY SHORTS BLOCK:
(Free to attend - no ticket or pass required)
Thursday, October 26, 1:00 PM
SCREENS WITH THE FEATURE FILM:
Friday, October 27, 1:00 PM
Sunday, October 29, 1:15 PM
On-Demand (Worldwide). October 30 - November 5


STAMFORD, Conn. — Jay Nathans, a landscape designer with Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses in Greenwich, is worried that the irrigation ban in effect in the area will hurt his business in spring.
“This concerns everyone within our field. Landscape design build is a huge part of our business. If we do a landscape design and people want to implement it, and if we have a [watering] ban, they won’t do it,” Nathans said at a drought forum Monday at UConn-Stamford.
If people would just shut off their lawn sprinklers and instead use drip irrigation — which is for plants — this would save a lot of water, he said.
The forum, attended by over 100 people, was provide an update on the irrigation ban that remains in effect in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan and Stamford due to the ongoing drought.
The area has received 14 inches less rain than normal in the past 12 months.
“We need an inch of rainfall a week just to stay on average ... and there is no rainfall in the forecast,” Jeff Ulrich, director of supply operations at Aquarion Water Co., said at the forum.
The situation is extreme, he said. “This is scary to us. We are well below drought levels from what we have seen in the last 100 years," he said.
Past experience shows that voluntary water bans do not work — only mandatory bans have proven successful, Ulrich said.
Reservoir levels are low. As of Feb. 17, the Greenwich system was 68 percent full, while the Stamford system measured 61 percent full. These systems are typically 88 percent full this time of year.
Stamford Mayor David Martin said the state has to step in and develop a common set of regulations for water use during a drought. “We have to work collectively together in regulating irrigation and landscaping policies across the towns.
“The state needs to form a task force for irrigation and landscaping," Martin said.
Michael Sullivan, golf course superintendent for the city golf courses in Stamford, said golf courses have been proactive in response to the water ban.
“I cut my water usage last August and September when they first came out with the robocalls [which asked people to reduce their water usage] by 75 to 80 percent. We stopped all watering on the fairways."
The public needs to be diligent in their water use, Sullivan said. “You see systems running in the rain. This is a serious concern. All citizens should be involved.”
Oscar Melchor, a contractor at Turning Green Plant & Lawn Health Care in Norwalk, said the forum was educational.
"I don't think it will affect my business. Also, what we are doing is good for the environment."
Martin hopes contractors will work together to make their clients adhere to any watering bans.
"I don't pretend that I know exactly how to enforce regulations," he said. "We are depending upon your voluntary efforts to educate your customers."
If the ban is lifted, a twice-weekly watering schedule will go into effect for Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan and Stamford:
- Even addresses: Sundays and Wednesdays
- Odd addresses: Saturdays and Tuesdays
This would apply to automatic and buried irrigation systems as well as hose sprinklers. It would not apply to handheld watering, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses.
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Whenever it happens that I think about greener grass, I also consider the headaches that come along with it. What happens if it fades and turns yellow? What about invasive weeds? And, what happens when the neighbor’s unsupervised dog decides to use it as a toilet. (One man’s treasure, some dog’s urinal) Maybe then, after much anxiety, you decide to put up a big fence just for peace of mind.
There’s not much to worry about with a yard full of weeds and bald patches. The dog manure may even help. But the appeal of a perfect lawn can be great. So great in fact, I almost sprung $2000 for one a few years back before realizing that I could grow my own for about $300. And so I did. The result was a casual sun-and-shade mix with a few stubborn thin spots. It’s not a perfect lawn, but it’s a lawn that makes me happy and free from many other anxieties.
I reflected on these thoughts while walking through my neighborhood after a 5k run, and was reminded of two important things I had learned over the years. The first was something my dad once told me: if you can’t afford to replace the new Porsche you just bought, you can’t afford at all. The second came from someone who felt guilty about his desire for greener grass and for abandoning his previous yard for the lush green garden that is his current life. Knowing full well the depths of his past struggles, I simply replied, “The yard you had before didn’t even have grass to begin with. It’s okay to want grass.”


May 08, 2012 journal, the bees are dying and Chase Bank just lost 2 billion trading stock. This is an emergency for Chase but the honey bees all dying does not get their attention. Monsanto, Bayer and Dow Chemical do not get the message that honey bees pollinate most of our food supply. They are dying even in the hives because of their insecticides. But, like the autistic children, it will never be blamed on the deadly vaccination industry. IG Farben Bayer G. E. NBC has a new pesticide out more deadly than them all drifting over our honeybees. I can obviously see our humger in the future for us all but the people cannot see and the TV news conspiracy is not about to tell us the truth of these dangers. So many food items have already doubled in price within the last year. A crisis is coming. Check online for the dangers of Monsanto's roundup weed killer to the nervous system. BuzzFlash at Truthout has periodically written on the increasingly perverse profiteering of big agriculture (Big Ag), particularly its toxic threat (most recently about Monsanto and the dying of bees). In fact, it is an ominous evolution that chemical companies have - through GMO seeds and herbicides - become the most powerful force in Big Ag. What are companies associated with the likes of Agent Orange and Dioxin (and there are more than just Monsanto and Dow in the chemical company takeover of Big Ag) doing controlling large swathes of crops throughout the world - and building a cycle of toxic dependency on their products? In an article in 2010, BuzzFlash at Truthout pointed out how Dow chemical was creating a new corn seed that would be resistant to an herbicide that contained chemicals used in Agent Orange. Of course the next step is to then use a toxic Agent Orange variation to spray on the GMO corn seed Dow has developed. The reason for this potentially poisonous business "innovation" is, in large part, that adaptive weeds have become resistant to Mosanto's Roundup, which was touted as the cure all for killing off weeds in the first place. Nature has a way of evolving around even potent toxic chemicals. Of course, Monsanto and Dow claim that their herbicides will not cause cancer or other diseases in humans, but we've heard that line before. Furthermore, both Monsanto and Dow have, as Jim Hightower points out, created a multi-billion dollar dependency on their genetically modified seeds and matching herbicides. Dow is hardly alone in pursuing its happiness at the expense of others. Indeed, rather than finding ways to cooperate with the natural world, America's agribusiness giants generally reach for the quick, high-tech fix in a futile effort to overpower nature. Their attitude is that if brute force isn't working, they're probably not using enough of it. Monsanto, for example, has banked a fortune by selling a corn seed that it genetically manipulated to produce corn plants that won't die when sprayed with a toxic weed-killer "Roundup." Not coincidentally, Monsanto also happens to be the maker of Roundup, so it has profited from the seed and from the surge in Roundup sales that the seed generated. Slick. Hightower suspects that Dow's genetically engineered corn will receive government approval and it will mean a fortune for the company and its stokcholders, but as Hightower notes: Not so happy, though, for consumers worried about the untested long-term health consequences of the altered corn and the carcinogenic possibilities of ingesting more 2,4- D. Also, when sprayed, this herbicide can vaporize and spread for miles, killing crops that are not immune, poisoning the surrounding environment, and endangering the health of farmers and townspeople throughout the area. Indeed, for all practical purposes we've witnessed the morphing of Big Ag into a chemical industry food production line dependent upon increasingly dangerous weed killers that actually result in the development of more resistant super weeds. As Monsanto and Dow engage in this noxiouspesticide/GMO seed scheme, the irony may be that that the ever-adapting weeds may outlive humans." The new Israeli nation and Star of David are Zionists from Russia, not at all Israelites. They are not Israelites seed of Abraham, nor Edomites but Khazar converts to Judaism. they're not the Edomites from Esau as I thought, they are from southern Russian Khazars. The New Testament declares all non Christians as being the Antichrist. Books of John We can expect another government (FED) bailout of Chase Bank for their trading losses.


We recently held a meeting with Zambia's High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba. Talks were about the possible fresh produce market construction in Zambia. Keep viewing our website for an updateon this project.
Due to the lack of a market, pineapple growers in Mwinilunga, Zambia, are turning to maize growing, meaning the district risks losing its status as Zambia's main pineapple-producer. Market challenges mean farmers have been avoiding the fruit in recent years. Most farmers in the area have stopped growing pineapples due to market challenges.


Just How to Purchase Landscaping Mulch If you are thinking of growing a garden this year, you might be questioning how to get landscaping compost. There are several points to consider, such as rate, distribution, and the quantity of compost you’ll require. If you are planning on acquiring a huge quantity, bulk compost might conserve you cash. Many landscaping compost suppliers will certainly sticker price online and also supply a very easy way to compute the overall price. Ensure to include shipment costs when you determine your overall. Some firms may show distribution charges on their websites, while others might require a call to determine shipment fees. The quantity needed depends on the location covered by the compost. To determine just how much you need, increase the square footage by the wanted depth and also add one to 3 inches to your dimension. Include the two amounts with each other as well as assemble to get the complete square video of the area. When you’ve determined the location, it’s time to purchase landscape design mulch. Compost is available in bags or mass, so you’ll require to take some measurements in advance. If you don’t recognize just how much mulch to get, you might wish to acquire a larger volume. Mulch is available in various selections as well as styles, and also you’ll want to think about which one suits your requirements as well as your budget. Select compost that is suitable for the environment and for your particular plants. It will maintain weeds as well as other undesirable weeds from expanding. It also minimizes water loss and also boosts soil high quality. Mulch additionally provides aesthetic appeal. It additionally stops weeds and enhances the look of your yard. On top of that, mulch additionally assists keep soil temperatures also, so your plants will expand healthy and balanced and also prosper. Take into consideration whether you wish to cover the ground with landscape fabric or plastic. While some individuals think black plastic will aid keep weeds controlled, it might be harmful to the soil as it will prevent the natural mulch from penetrating the ground and also will create overflow of water. If you do, make certain that the compost is natural. If it is not, you may have to buy landscape fabric rather. It is a lot more efficient than landscape fabric. Despite its several benefits, compost is not just good for your grass. It additionally has aesthetic value. Pick mulch that matches the color of your residence. For instance, brownish/red want compost will certainly match the brick of a home, while dark mulch contrasts with flowers. Select compost that praises the total motif and setting of your garden and also your residence. You can also include ornamental touches to the surrounding location by selecting a compost that has a darker shade. Shredded hardwood is the most prominent sort of mulch. It can be spread out easily as well as last for years. It is constructed from numerous types of wood and also is particularly helpful for slopes and alkaline soil. You can acquire it in nuggets or shredded type. While pine needles are light and cosy, they often tend to compact and remain on the surface longer than shredded compost. Additionally, pine needles have a tendency to stay in location during hefty rainfalls and slopes.


August 13, 2005
Drumstick for the World!
Drumstick farmer puts Indian village on global map
An enterprising farmer from a village in Maharashtra's Nashik district has begun exporting drumsticks to far off places in the world via online.
Balasaheb Marale is the drumstick king of Maharashtra! A poor and unknown farmer who supplied to the local markets for years, now he has gone online and international.
Marale gets his orders at
and supplies to NRIs the world over - from his village Sinnar to Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Kuwait. And even to Pakistan.
Thiru Murugan Ponnusamy
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Launching Lam Dong Tea WeekUnder Blog
The 5th Lam Dong Tea Culture Week 2014 was launched in December 21st at BaoLoc City, Lam Dong Province with the theme “Tea Flavor on Lam Dong Plateau”.
The Lam Dong Tea Culture Week is one of the province’s key cultural events aiming to honour tea growers and processors.
The Tea Culture Week contains a festival honoring B’lao tea, a contest of picking tea, a tea trade fair, and an exhibition on tea products.
The Tea Culture Week happens mainly at BaoLoc City, in addition with Di Linh, Bao Lam and Da Lat City. During the week, there are a lot of interesting tours to visit tea fields, discover tea making process and procedures, etc.


Ending Hunger with Farming Bots
Bongani Ricky Masuku is a Zimbabwean inventor and runs Rera Digital, a start-up that provides automated feeding systems for small- to medium-scale chicken farms in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Bongani was invited as a workshop leader of the Hackers & Designers Summer Academy 2017. His visa request was rejected twice without reason. He was not allowed to travel to the Netherlands and therefore could not lead the workshop. Bongani did, however, participate in the exhibition at Mediamatic. In discussion about Rera Digital, he shared the intricacies of scale and location of being on and off the grid.
Anja Groten asked Bongani to expand upon his background, project, and hopes for its development for the On &/ Off the Grid Publication.
"I’m the founder of Rera Digital, where we aim to ease the burden of feeding chickens and offer better tracking and monitoring of feeding activity with an integrated mobile app.
Feeding costs contribute to approximately 60-70% of the overall production of cost-per-chicken raised. Farmers tend to spend a lot of time on frequent fowl run visits in order to inspect the chickens and check on stock feed levels. This is due to the varying appetites of chickens, which are determined by age, number of chickens around them, and weather conditions. During batch progress, the farmer refills a 200kg stock feed storage unit.
A feeding robot is programmed at an hourly interval to automatically collect stock feed from the feed outlet point. It refills the empty feeding troughs hung underneath the feeding runway. When using the smart chicken feeder, the farmer simply inputs data regarding the number chickens and their ages, from which it then computes the daily stock feed limit to be distributed to the chickens. When the daily stock feed limit is reached, the feeding bot goes into sleep mode and resumes the following day. The daily stock feed limits itself by working in increments according to the age of the chickens. This saves the farmer 2 x 50kg of stock feed per batch of 100 chickens.
The smart chicken feeder is ideal for farmers who can't afford the expensive feeding equipment on the market. They usually have to rely on manual feeding when rearing 50 to 10,000 chickens. Lack of feeding control makes the production per chicken expensive and results in low sales for the farmer.
The smart chicken feeder is powered using a 100 watt solar panel. It is built with a battery stand with a duration of up to three days. This means that the farmer doesn’t have to worry about electricity costs, unlike the existing chicken feeding systems on the market.
I started Rera Digital in 2013 during my second year of college. I came up with the concept to help farmers and to maximize their production while working on an assignment to make a community project. I got help with presenting my first prototype and showed it in a congress that is held every two years. I was only a second year student and I was presenting to master students and PhD students - it was a great opportunity. I was happy to take it to the next level and make it into a start-up. It moved from being just academic research to being a tangible business. We are still at the first prototype of the machine and the system, but we should be done by July 2018. We're a team of five people. Some of us do the financial analysis, some work on the code, and some work on the machine.
Currently, we are not funded. There are no institutes here that would fund such a project, so what we do are crowdfunding campaigns. We try to raise money to buy our components and to push the start-up forward to launch. 60% of the material we use is locally-sourced. It's a way of cutting down costs. We recycle material, especially metal. We buy sensors and electronic components from China because it is the cheapest.
The chicken feeder is the core of the project but there are other applications in the agriculture context. What we want to try to do is a blockchain of small-scale farming. There's also the Roko project, which is based on water pumping. It's a solar powered mechanism that automates access to underground water. In Africa, handpumps are the conventional means of accessing underground water for small-scale farms - the irrigation of lands and the water of live stock depends on them.
Roko is designed to produce a linear movement to hand pumps integrated with a solar panel unit. It uses solar energy for powering the pumping mechanism up to four hours. You can schedule the irrigation through a small computer box. The total amount of underground water in Africa is ten times more than the surface water. With the help of Roko, easy access to clean water for rural areas can be implemented for improving sanitation and farming activities.
The vision is that anyone could become a farmer in an efficient way with these tools. If you look at the conditions now for this type of farming, it's quite difficult for someone like you and me to spare the time to do it. The motivation behind the concept of the workshop was what if we could create a farming experience that can do the farming for us.
To me it's liberating. Liberating in knowing that you have your own security in your immediate production, but also because there's an issue with money here. If you put your money in the bank it's often corrupted, so people want to invest in their land and in farming. If it can become more efficient it's good. I believe that we can really make a difference.
Our prototypes also show that this difference is not so consistent. For example, not all of our resources and tools that make resources function in a way that is useful are local, and may have questionable ethics - like, ordering pieces from China. But, this is a part of hacking for me.
I take hacking from a visionary perspective where you break down and rebuild and try to come up with something totally different, unpredicted, but functional. H&D were actually the first ones to call me a hacker, maybe because of the reuse of materials. I would say that I'm more than that.
I grew up in one of the crappiest societies so inventing things took me away from that world and absorbed me to another one where I could do something good and positive. There isn't some consistent ethical approach to doing something good and positive. Maybe this is something that can help grow the idea of hacking. That material conditions, the conditions of life, require you to carve out what your priority is - you must focus on one impact. Realizing that there are limits to what you can do and being content with that decision."
Find more about Rera Digital here!