Large Weed Control Fabric Membrane For Heavy Duty Patios & Pathways
Prevent Weeds with weed control fabric from Garden Mile.This is regular spunbond weed control fabric, sometimes known as terram, mypex, geotextiles, groundcover, weed barrier, weed membrane, weed control fleece and weed control fabric.
The weed control is 17grm per sq.m. and can easily planted through the technology allows it to be cut without fraying. Don’t forget you can purchase the pegs for holding the weed control fabric tight to the ground on our website.Weed Control fabric only lets water and nutrients through to your plants, whilst suppressing the growth of nasty unwanted weeds. Using weed membrane also helps to keep the ground moist and protects from extreme temperatures, whilst reducing the need for watering of plants.
Professional quality weed control fabric / membrane.
Lets water and nutrients through to the ground.
Reduces light so weeds cannot grow
Does not fray
Easy to cut and wrap around existing plants
Simple to plant through – just cut a cross with a knife or scissors
UV protected, so will last for years
Cover with bark, mulch, pebbles, slate, gravel etc
Our excellent weed control fabric is lightweight and durable. It designed to inhibit the growth of annoying weeds.
It works by letting water and nutrients through to your plants and suppressing the growth of weeds – keeping the ground moist and protecting against extreme temperatures.
Experts from around the globe have designed this material to be used in light weight applications such as borders and flower beds – under bark or light weight gravel.
And the Heavy duty Weed Control Fabric will not only stop weeds from making an appearance in your outdoor paradise, but it will ensure stable growth of your favourite flowers. It designed to be porous, breathable and hard-wearing.
Letting nutrients through whilst inhibiting the growth of weeds, it keeps the ground moist and protects your plants from extreme weather conditions.
This weed fabric or weed control membrane at it is sometimes called is perfect for challenging projects – such as under decking, patios or pathways.
Its also highly effective under bark and decorative gravel.
Specially designed for heavy duty applications, such as under patios and driveways, this material provides unbeatable drainage.


SUMMER TOUR STOP 4: SONOMA
I have family in Sonoma and, like many San Franciscans, have spent enough time in wine country to know there's plenty to love. I'd underestimated how much I would delight in living there during harvest season, though. The plums, the mulberries, figs, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs... the spectacular bounty that came straight from the property brought me so much joy.
One night, we brought such a feast to the Sebastiani winery concert series that we had to extend to a second table before we could go shake it to the rockabilly cover band.


Eva Orchids Nursery temporary closed . Please note that new orders or messages will not be processed until our return. Shop and online shop will be reopen on 20th May.
Orchids are easy to grow don't be told otherwise, you just have to remember that the majority of orchid types which are cultivated do not grow in soil. They are epiphytic (grow on the branches and crotches of trees) or lithophytic (grow on rocks) and have a greater part of their root system exposed to light and air. For success these conditions must be copied in cultivation. To do so plants can be grown on slabs of tree fern, cork bark, coconut shell or husk etc. or planted in pots or baskets with a coarse potting mix, this ensures a high volume of air within the pot and free drainage of water.
Water- during the warm months (spring, summer and early autumn) water can be given freelly, especially through summer but care must be taken to ensure the plants do not remain sodden for days on end. On hot days plants will benefit from occasional misting, this helps to keep temperatures down and raise humidity. More care must be taken during winter months and water is best given on fine sunny days as early as possible to allow the plants time to dry off before nighfall. A dry plant is far less likely to suffer damage due to cold than a wet one.
Light- most orchids enjoy good light but require shelter from the strong late morning/early afternoon sun. Try to give your plants as much light as possible from late autumn through winter as this helps to mature and 'harden' the seasons growth making for stronger more productive plants.
Fertilser- when using fertilser it is good practice to thoroughly water your plants then apply the fertiliser. This ensures distribution of the fertiliser throughtout the pot and removes any risk of damage to the roots which can happen if food is applied to dry plants.
Re pot- would be a good practice to re pot your plant every second year. Change to a one size bigger pot, rather than too bigger pot, that plant will quickly re establish in the new pot and send flower spikes quicker too. Recommend to use special orchid bark.


As you know, I love food. It isn’t just fancy meals with locally grown and sustainable ingredients made by famous chefs or Top Chef Cheftestants. I love everything about food- from planning a meal that uses a new recipe or ingredient to harvesting items from our backyard garden, I’m always trying to learn new things to expand my culinary horizons.
Through Twitter I met today’s Tech Savvy guest and fellow blogger and foodie, Daniel Koontz. I’ve enjoyed Daniel’s popular food philosophy blog, Casual Kitchen, because he teaches his readers how to cook more, think more and spend less.
Today Daniel is here to share how to Get the Benefits of Organic Foods–Without Paying Organic Prices.
Nearly all frugal cooks struggle with whether organic food is worth the extra money. But did you know that you can capture almost all of the benefits of going organic without having to pay inflated organic food prices? All you have to do is make a few minor changes in how you purchase and handle the produce you already buy. Here’s how:
1) Don’t think organic, think local.
When we think about the benefits of organic food, the environmental impact of pesticides usually comes to mind first. However, there is an even bigger negative environmental impact embedded in your produce that most shoppers don’t even consider: transport costs. Transport costs drive up the both the price and the carbon footprint of your food. If you can source a meaningful portion of your food from farms within 100-200 miles of your home, you’ll save money and help out the environment at the same time.
2) Don’t assume that food lacking an organic label is grown unethically or unhealthily.
Many farmers find it extremely burdensome to meet all the government requirements to qualify for organic labeling. If you take a bit of time to visit with the growers and vendors at local farmer’s markets in your area, you may find they grow their food more sustainably and responsibly than the letter of the law.
On the other hand, if you insist on having an official-looking little “organic” sticker on your produce, you’ll quite often pay a 50-100% premium, and yet your food may still be trucked in from thousands of miles away with a significant and unnecessary carbon footprint. There’s no need to fixate on a little magic sticker. Instead, find opportunities to buy local and support responsible food growers in your region.
3) Local means in season and cheap.
Everybody knows that the cheapest produce is whatever is in season at the time you buy. Which brings us to an enormous and underappreciated advantage of going local: when you buy your produce locally, you’re guaranteed that all your fruits and veggies will be in season–because that’s the only time they grow! Best of all, your produce will be at its cheapest and most plentiful.
Consumers are growing increasingly conditioned to see tomatoes, apples, citrus and many other fruits and vegetables shipped to their grocery stores year round. And consumer who fixate on magic organic stickers and who insist on buying out of season produce are simply asking to be separated from their money.
Don’t get fooled by the artificial reality of your grocery store. It’s not normal, quite frankly, for a North American shopper to buy apples in the spring and citrus fruit in the late summer. Instead, take advantage of your community’s seasonal foods as they occur over the course of the year. You’ll pay a lot less and enjoy healthier, higher quality food.
4) For many fruits and vegetables, the benefits of going organic are negligible.
Many fruits and vegetables, because of their fundamental structure, are equally healthy whether they’re grown organically or not. Fruits and vegetables with thick rinds or peels (melons, grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, bananas, etc.) will be well-protected from any pesticides because you remove the rind before eating. Likewise, fruits and veggies that you peel or husk (potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, corn, onions, garlic, etc.) will have several layers of protection between the food and any pesticides. You can eat these types of fruits and vegetables without worrying about ingesting any toxins.
Furthermore, many sturdy vegetables (turnips, beets, collards, kale, parsley, etc.) don’t require much in the way of pesticides, simply because they are already bug resistant and extremely hardy.
Finally, with fruits or vegetables where you eat the skin (apples or green bell peppers, etc.), just take care to wash the produce carefully with a scratchy sponge and warm soapy water. This will eliminate any potential pesticides from the food, allowing you to eat it entirely safely.
Don’t buy organic just to buy organic! You can get most of the benefits–and avoid all of the extra costs–by following these four simple tips!
To cook more, think more, and spend less, visit Daniel’s Casual Kitchen blog.
Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!
Original post by Tech Savvy Mama


NEW FRUIT FOOD
IMPORTING EXOTIC FRUITS
New foods is a specialist in importing Exotics Fruits from all over the world. New Food stands for high quality products
New foods gives you the best of two continents with an International staff speaking over 6 lang all together . We build relationships between growers and suppliers
we provide full door to door delivery.
If we do not have it we find it for you.
A lime is a hubris citrus fruit, which is typically round and green. The size is 3-6 centimetres and containing excellent source of vitamins. Limes are often used to accent Flavours of Food and beverages. They are grown Year around in tropical Climates.
We import limes from Brazil and Colombia.
The mango is a juice stone fruit. The ripe fruit varies in size, color and varieties. There is many different varieties each having there Own specific characteristics like color outside , shape , fruit flesh inside and fibre texture. The main varieties we import are Kent, Keith and palmer
We import mango from Brazil , Peru and Africa.
The passion fruit is a Sweet exotic fruit. The fruit has a round shape with hard leathery skin, which starts to weinige after Some time. When wrinkled this fruit is perfectly ripe. The small purple edellieden variety is most wanted passion fruit. It has most rich aroma and flavour.
We import passion fruit from Colombia and Africa
Avocado’s are round to pear shape fruits that have a relatively hard skin. The color of the skin varies from green to almost black. On the inside the flesh is yellow/green flesh and has a creamy , nutty flavour. The avocado contains oleic acid fats ( Healthy fats ) meaning they are very good for you.
We import avocado from Colombia, Brasil and Peru.
New foods has a dedicated procurement team at source. Growers are approved at various levels. Our goal is to send products directly to our customers world wide. We have a network in major Ports in Europe that can handle, customs clear and deliver to any city within reach of the port. If necessary New food can take care of warehousing and distribution as well.
New foods prides itself to it.s day to day trading Operation and continues to grow together with the clients in each product Desired by them.


To mark an Indian wedding, people waste tonnes of rice to shower newly-married couples as part of rituals. To check such wastage of rice, S.B. Harishchandra, Dean, Faculty of Business Studies at Master of Business Administration, Sharnbasva University, has come out with a new initiative even while preserving the sanctity of sentiments associated with marriage. Instead of tossing rice over newly-wed couples at weddings, he urged people to make use of his invention — paper rice.
Dr. Harishchandra, who came up with an idea of producing paper rice, explained that paper rice is made up of waste paper, cardboard and flowers. He collected waste paper and flowers that were then turned into smaller pieces to make liquid paste. Even straw, sugarcane, jute fibre can be used for producing paper rice. The liquid or paste is filled between rollers of a rotary die to produce rice seeds. It takes hardly an hour to prepare 10 kg of paper rice, but the seeds take a longer time to dry. He said that about one lakh weddings take place in India every year, and at least 10 kg of uncooked rice is wasted in every wedding; so around 10,000 quintals of rice are wasted in a year. According to a recent survey by the Union government, approximately 2.5 tonnes of rice are going waste every year in India as a part of the wedding culture, he added.
“It requires 1 kg of raw material to produce 5 kg of paper rice. We can produce 1 kg of paper rice in just ₹ 2 and the produce can be sold at ₹ 5 a kg. And, we are not using plastic for paper rice; hence, it is environment-friendly and free from any kind of toxic. It is non-hazardous to nature,” Dr. Harishchandra said.
“Instead of using rice for showering rituals, the same amount of rice can be used to feed the poor and the needy as the country is still grappling with poverty and hunger. A large population of the nation is undernourished and it dies due to hunger,” he said. Dr. Harishchandra has entered the India Book of Records for his innovative Paper Rice and also Herbal Drinking Water. He has been conferred with Academic Excellence Award 2019 by International Association of Research and Developed Organisation, Mumbai, and Young Scientist Award by International Association of Research and Development, Goa.


Rajamahendravaram: The skyrocketing prices of rice is giving shock to the consumers of both Godavari districts, who were already burdened with increased rates of vegetables and pulses. The rate of rice was doubled in the last week, which was increased from Rs 5 to Rs 8 per kg. Traders are hinting that the rates may further go up in a few days.
Earlier, 26-kg bag of Sonamasuri variety of rice used to cost Rs 1,040. Now, this has gone up to Rs 1,140 at rice mills. When it comes to the open market, the price will be Rs 1,250. It is customary for retailers to sell a bag of rice at a higher price of Rs 50 to Rs 100. A 26-kg bag of HMT-type fine rice used to cost Rs 1,250, now it has increased to Rs 1,350.
Wholesale and retail traders alleged that rice millers across the State along with joint Godavari districts have formed a syndicate and increasing the prices. Narayana Rao, who sells rice on the main road of Rajahmundry, said that the recent imposition of a 1 per cent cess on a bag of paddy grain by the State government is the main reason for the increase in prices. Rice millers initially opposed the cess but agreed after the syndicate assured them that Vigilance and Civil Supplies would not raid, he said. Millers have transferred cess burden to dealers and wholesale shopkeepers and the traders have passed this burden to the consumers.
But the millers said that most of the grains were rain-soaked and damaged, hence the prices were rising. But people complained that this situation of price rise never happened in the past even when more heavy rains occurred.


FleurHerbia has been created in 2012 with the love to nature and the idea to supply products from the farm to the Zambian and International market.
At about 1130m altitude we grow flowers and vegetable seed crops, we produce vegetable seedlings and herbs, we distill essential oils, we make our own honey and we create tailor made wedding decorations.
We have a team of 24 workers who daily put their full effort into our different products. For our seed production, our main activities evolve from February until November; the most beautiful time during the African winter, from May – August. Our honey usually gets harvested twice a year.
Wedding decorations can be done all year round with seasonal influences and themes.


The tulip bulbs are cooled. After cooling we place them onto small spikes in crates. Then they go to the rooting cells.
Here we let the crates fill up with water. As one crate overflows, the excess water flows into the next one. This process continues until the water has flowed right down to the bottom layer and the last crate has been filled. The bulbs remain here for about 2 weeks until the roots grow.
Multiple layer system day 1
When they leave the rooting cells the tulips go directly into the multilayer system. This area is kept at 17ºC; the ideal growing temperature. The tulips stay here for 1 week. We operate a ‘first in first out’ system, so as soon as 1 crate enters the bottom rack, 1 container exits at the top and goes into the greenhouse. This allows us to give the bulbs fresh water every other day, which is important for the growing process.
Multiple layer system day 7
After 6 days the crate on the top layer is passed under a suction system which removes the caps. At the same time the bulbs are again given fresh water. On day 7 we bring the crate down and transfer it to the greenhouse.
Greenhouse day 1
In the greenhouse, the bulbs are given fresh water and as much fresh air as possible. When the sun shines, the greenhouse screens open to enable the tulips to grow as well as possible.
Greenhouse day 14
After 2 weeks the tulip has grown enough to go to the picking hall. This decision is made manually as we want to assess the ripeness of the tulips as well as possible.
The tulips stay in the picking hall for about 3 days before they are picked. The picking hall can be cooled if necessary.
Usually we tie the tulips into bunches of 10. We make sure that the flower heads are all even so they look their best when they are in the vase. The flowers then go either to the flower auction to directly to the traders.
Come and have a look
If you would like to know more about our nursery, please feel free to pay us a visit. We would be happy to give you a guided tour. Call Michiel Kruijer on +31 (0)6 133 809 13 or email him at email@example.com to make an appointment.


Beautiful, right? These roses are technically titled "The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild," and were planted bareroot only six weeks ago. They don't have nearly the peony-sized blooms we'll see in years to come, and the raspberry scent isn't quite as strong as it will be, but they're amazing nonetheless.
As promised, here's the tutorial on planting bareroot roses. In picture A., you'll note the obvious--prepare by having either a beautiful planter picked out, or a sunny place in your garden--roses love full sun, even in our Zone 9. Besides decent soil and some rose food, picture B illustrates everything else you'll need--a watering can filled with water and root stimulator, and the roses themselves. Note that the roses arrive with roots that are longer than the branches, which have been trimmed severely back for shipping. In this picture the roots are dark because they've been soaking in a bucket of water overnight to rehydrate them; this is a crucial step, and you should rehydrate this way for at least several hours. When ready, prepare the planter (or a hole you've dug to approximately twice the width of the root ball) with good garden soil mixed with a good handful or two of rose food as seen in picture C. From that point, place your roses and begin alternating between loosely adding more soil and watering it in with the root stimulator so that the soil moistens and you eliminate any air pockets. Your result should look something like picture D, where you'll note we've added even more rose food before mulching. Roses are heavy feeders, so you'll want to continue to feed them every month or so.
As always, we recommend David Austin Roses for the best English roses, which blend wonderful size, color, and scent, and repeat bloom constantly throughout the summer. Click the logo below to visit the David Austin site.


Tips to Maintaining a Beautiful Garden
Whether your green-fingered or not when the sun is shining there’s nothing better than doing a spot of gardening. But unfortunately given our busy lifestyles, finding the time to maintaining a beautiful garden can be difficult. However follow our handy tips to helping you maintaining a tidy garden.
1. Keep flower beds evenly moist, especially during bouts of consistent sunshine. Watering daily
2. Water plants in the evening or early morning, allowing plants to soak up moisture before the hottest part of the day
3. Avoid wetting the plant’s leaves. wet leaves can easily lead to mold or rot
4. When the hot weather strikes, make sure you keep your lawn healthy. Temperatures o up to 26°C will promote the growth but anything above 30°C will stunt growth. If the temperature does rise, then it’s best to avoid cutting the grass too short and try to maintain a height of about 5cm, to protect it from the sun and essentially prevent the soil from drying out.
5. If your working away are going on holiday in the summer, why not set up an automatic watering system, with a water timer fitted to an outdoor tap and a micro-irrigation system. Water seeps out of small holes from pipes or from nozzles placed in pots exactly where it’s required.
6. Kill weeds at their roots but leave the soil and dormant weed seeds – largely undisturbed.
7. The use of mulch prevents weed seeds from sprouting. Mulch benefits plants by keeping soil cool and moist and depriving weeds of light.
8. When you can’t remove weeds, then the next best solution id to lop of their heads which reduces reseeding.
9. Need some ideal garden storage solutions to store all your gardening paraphernalia, we just have the solution with our handmade redwood garden store units. Stylish and durable and the perfect place for you to store all gardening tools and accessories.


The subsidiary company PapasMel EAD is producing high-quality natural flour and wheat bran, without adding artificial improvers.
The mill is located in the town of Byala Slatina and offers wheat flour:
- Type 500
Zagorka white flour from soft wheat for production of various kinds of goods.
- Type 700
Dobrudzha flour for Dobrudzha bread production.
- Type 1150
Brown flour for production of low-calorie bread and bakery goods.
- Type 1850
Whole wheat flour richer in nutritional and bioactive substances than fine flour.
- Wheat semolina
Environmentally-friendly product from high-quality wheat, suitable for production of baby foods.
The products are completely natural, GMO-free, and do not contain additives, enzymes, artificial improvers and preservatives. Their production and storage is in compliance with all directives of the Bulgarian and European legislation.
The waste product is bran which is used in the feed industry or to feed domestic animals.
The plant has a laboratory with advanced equipment and qualified specialists.


In The Garden
Post Holiday Vegie Patch
I was also very relieved that the vegie garden had looked after itself whilst we were away it is always a worry during the heat to leave it to it's own devices, but it seems to have coped. I will need to get busy over the next few days to deal with the over sized zucchinis and the apricots look not far off either and I am very curious about our purple capsicums. Check back to my blog around Melbourne Cup weekend ( November ) to see how much the garden has grown.
Today I also went to an open garden which was a permaculture food forest and boy was I enthused after that. This year I also want to enlarge our food garden and learn a whole lot more about permaculture and preserving foods. Both of my girls love to cook and DD16 especially is into healthy food and enjoys picking straight from the garden and cooking it.
Thanks for dropping by, until next time,
In the Garden Today
Well last year I got a book form the girls called " Grow something to eat everyday" and I am trying this on for size also, except I think I will outgrow my little greenhouse very quickly. Yesterday I sowed seeds of silverbeet, zucchini, yellow pear tomato, kohl rabi ( have never eaten this let alone grown it), beetroot and lettuces many varieties. I also decided that I should also use some of the many flower seed packets I have collected so I sowed sweetpeas and sunflowers. Today I added capsicums, larkspur and pyrethrum.
Melbourne Cup Weekend
Melbourne Cup weekend was also a big weekend in the garden for me as I began the planting of vegies in our rearranged beds the aim is to now keep it going all year around. I feel a steep learning curve coming on but with prices the way they are and ever increasing this is a great way to supplement the menu. I had already started some barrels and pots with lettuce, silverbeet, spinach and herbs and both my girls, who are keen cooks, have been out there scavenging for bits and pieces to cook up. They have also been requesting for additions so that should keep me busy. I must say I love it when I see them heading out the back door with a pan and saying over their shoulders "what's for dinner Mum?"
Here are some photos so far.
As you can see I also grow other things like pussy cats, this is Tuppy or Tuppence when naughty.


This video shows how the Digital Green approach is being implemented in the Ethiopian context. In order to effectively test the feasibility of the Digital Green approach in multiple geographies, Digital Green Foundation initiated work in Ethiopia in 2012. In Ethiopia, Digital Green partnered with International Development Enterprises (iDE), Oxfam America and Sasakowa Global 2000 to facilitate the use of participatory, locally relevant, mediated, instructional videos to promote key agricultural behaviors to farmers. By working with Ethiopian government and non-profit extension systems, Digital Green aims to improve livelihood opportunities and the food security of rural poor households.The video shows experiences and testimonials from farmers, extension agents, government extension leaders and NGOs,
For more information and related videos visit us on http://www.digitalgreen.org/
Help us caption & translate this video!


We don’t water our plants with any ‘ole water. Learn about the water filtration techniques we employ for our plants, along with electric conductivity, water pH, alkalinity values, bicarbonates, and view lab test results!
Once we have our seed selections worked out we have to add the next crucial component of any crop – water! It’s not an exaggeration to say that water management is one of the most important parts in hydroponic cultivation. Understanding the water quality and how to manage it, is a crucial part of our overall cultivation process.
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water. Depending on the purpose of the water usage, there are many different treatments and different standards of water quality evaluation. For hydroponic irrigation water, it is important to know the chemical characteristics as it greatly affects nutrient availability and plant health.
Water quality can be very different depending on the areas and water sources. Irrigation water can come from sources like a river, well, pond, rain water, and tap water, and each has its own chemical characteristics.
Our water quality process begins with municipal water from the tap as our source water. We then get testing performed both right from the tap, and after an extensive reverse osmosis (RO) filtering system. This way we know exactly what managing steps we must take to make our water perfect for fertigating our plants.
Many governmental and private laboratories conduct water quality analysis for different purposes, and one can simply send a water sample to the lab and pay to obtain the reports. The testing lab we currently use is JR Peters based in Pennsylvania. They provide great value in terms of cost, turn around, reporting, and services they offer. We’ve discovered they provide the best service we could find despite having local testing labs and having to ship out our samples to them on a regular basis.
Once the water quality pattern is established (we receive the lab results), we can begin to determine what will be needed to condition the water for cultivation purposes. For our irrigation water, we are concerned with the must-know water chemical characteristics:
1. Water Electric Conductivity (EC)
EC refers to the electrical conductivity of the water solution. When the water is pure without any dissolved solutes, it conducts electricity naturally. The amount of electricity that can pass through water is influenced by how many ions are dissolved in the water solution. By measuring EC, we can get an idea of how much ionic nutrients are in the water. For example, seawater’s conductivity is one million times higher than pure (deionized) water, because there are a lot of ions dissolved in the seawater, especially sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), magnesium (Mg), sulfate (S) and calcium (Ca).
The value of water EC can be obtained with an electrical conductivity (EC) meter. EC meters are relatively simple and stable, and can be purchased from most hydroponic shops. The higher the EC, the more solute salts and ions are in the water. Many horticultural guidelines provide the upper acceptable EC level for various plants depending on the species and growing stage. For example, the EC level for irrigation seedlings shouldn’t be higher than 0.75 dS/m, but for older crops in general, it can be up to 1.7 dS/m. For hydroponics, water EC provides an important indication of the amount of nutrients dissolved in the water solution.
In our process we measure the EC value of our source water to see the quality of the water, then after we run the water through a reverse osmosis unit which works on taking out dissolved salts in water.
In our case, the lab results (listed below) have our source water EC value at .77 dS/m before the reverse osmosis system, but afterwards we have a pretty clean value of .05 dS/m. The end goal is to take out as much of the salts out of the municipal water source then be able to add in exactly which macro and micro nutrients are needed for optimal plant growth. This process will be covered in a future nutrients blog post.
2. Water pH
pH = H+ and OH-
The pH is a measure of the concentration of the hydrogen protons (H+) and hydroxide (OH-) in a solution. If hydrogen protons predominate, the solution is acidic. If hydroxides predominate, the solution is basic. The pH is a numeric scale from 0-14 to determine the acidity and basicity of the water solution. The pH of pure water is neutral, pH=7. Solutions with pH less than 7 are acidic and solutions with pH more than 7 are basic. For example, the pH of lemon juice is around 2 and the pH of sea water is around 9. pH is measured in “logarithmic units”, meaning each number represents a 10-fold change in the acidity/basicness of the water. Water with a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than water having a pH of 6.
The pH of the solution plays an important role for plant nutrient uptake. Water pH affects essential nutrients’ availability; in other words, when the water pH is out of range, plants cannot absorb nutrients even when there is plenty in the water. The desirable water pH for a hydroponic system is 5.6-6.2.
When the water pH is higher than 6.2, the availability of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) decrease. When the water pH is lower than 5.6, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) become unavailable. The pH of the nutrient solution has to be monitored constantly, as it only takes a short time for a pH that’s out of range to have a drastic impact on plant growth, especially for fast growing plants.
We use a variety of acids such as nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid depending on the growth cycle of the plants to lower the PH of the feed water during the fertigation and carbonates and bicarbonates to raise the PH of the water.
Alkalinity refers to the capacity of water to neutralize acid, which is also commonly known as “buffering capacity”. This capacity is mainly influenced by how much carbonates and bicarbonates (H2CO3, HCO3, and CO3) are in the water solution. The main source of alkalinity in water is calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which are derived from carbonate rocks (limestone).
Water alkalinity has a significant effect on the pH of the water. If the water alkalinity is high, it is very difficult to adjust the water pH to the right range, because the buffering capacity of the water itself is very strong. In such conditions when alkalinity is high, growers will often have to inject a large amount of acid to bring down the water pH to the optimum range. Acids are usually in the form of a mineral such as phosphorus, nitrogen, sulphur, etc. this means more acid added to a fertigation solution can throw off a balanced nutrient profile given to the plants.
In truth, water pH, water alkalinity, and the pH of the growing mix are closely connected. Over time, all three factors affect fertility. For example, high or low soil pH values usually produce minor element deficiencies or toxicities. Of the two, water alkalinity is more important than water pH in influencing media pH. Water with high pH but low alkalinity will have little effect on media pH over time. However, highly alkaline irrigation water, regardless of its pH, may have a profound effect on media pH. Water pH is a poor indicator of the capacity of water to modify the pH of the growing mix; alkalinity, however, is an excellent indicator. Growers who intend to manage media pH must know the alkalinity of their water. Water pH can also affect the stability of some pesticides and growth regulators.
In sum, alkalinity is a measure of the water’s ability to neutralize acidity. An alkalinity test measures the level of bicarbonates, carbonates and hydroxides in water. The results are expressed as ppm of calcium carbonate (CaCo3). Levels between 20 and 55 ppm are considered optimum for most plants.
The lab results (listed below) have our source water alkalinity value at 241.64 ppm – this is not optimal! There is too high of a concentration of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for any sort of container crop. However, after running the water through the reverse osmosis system we get a very agreeable value of 23.53 ppm – which is a great number to work off of to start building a nutrient fustigation program.
5. Specific elements
In some cases, too many specific elements may have a negative impact for plants; this is especially true for hydroponic cultivation. Despite these elements being essential for plant growth, plants only need them in such miniscule amounts that it’s very difficult for growers to adjust them during application. This is one of many reasons why we choose to use a reverse osmosis (RO) system to get rid of all the dissolved ions to start from scratch as much as possible. However, even with extreme filtering some specific elements such as Calcium (Ca), Nitrate (NO3), Ammonium (NH4), Magnesium (Mg), etc. are still present. We must take these trace amounts into consideration when building up our water quality and nutrient profile which is best suited for our plants to maintain optimum growth. This in turn leads to excellent cannabinoid and terpene content and profiles.
The following is a post of our lab results out of the tap and before the reverse osmosis system:
The lab results after the reverse osmosis system:


To date, genetic engineering has been used to increase crop yields. Most biotech crops are used to feed livestock. Genetic engineering has not been widely used to nutritionally enhance human foods."Some 10.3 million farmers in 22 countries grew engineered crops on 252 million acres last year, a 13 percent increase over 2005. About 9.3 million of those people were considered subsistence farmers." "In the United States, 80 percent of soy and a similar percentage of cotton are genetically engineered. Some 80.5 million acres of biotech corn are planted. 80.5 million acres represents about 40 percent of the country's crop." "In all, about 136.5 million acres of the nation's 445 million acres of farmland was under biotech cultivation last year, an increase of 10 percent over 2005 plantings."
Creator: Gerald D. Thurman
Created: 20 January 2007


Fence them in! Did you know that we carry fencing supplies? Whether you're fencing a corral, a garden, or a dog run, we have supplies for that. We carry both light and heavy duty cattle panels and clips, barbed wire, t-posts, and Sakrete. Our Canton, Marion, and Crop Production - Hillsboro locations have the goods for your next project. ... See moreSee less
It's on! Some producers' fields are dry enough for corn planting, particularly in the northern parts of our area. Towards the south portion of our area it still tends to be too muddy for the equipment to get into the field. Some producers have been able to start planting corn.
Rain is forecast again today, but next week looks to have limited chances of rain and warm temperatures so far. ... See moreSee less


Remote Control Unmanned Helicopter 12L Uav Spraying Drone Crop Farm Machinery Agricultural
(PDF) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle For Pesticides Spraying
The proposal is a remote-controlled drone o helicopter that has an average price of $ 800-2500 plus Author and year Description country  Design the drone that is unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV(PDF) Development of a Spray System for an Unmanned
The integration of the spray technology and the remote sensing technology on the UAV systems provides a great potential to identify crop stresses and hence spray crop production and protection(PDF) Development of a Spray System for an Unmanned
The integration of the spray technology and the remote sensing technology on the UAV systems provides a great potential to identify crop stresses and hence spray crop production and protection12L Pesticide Fertilizer Spray Drone for Agricultural
12L Pesticide Fertilizer Spray Drone for Agricultural Farmer Usage Long Distance Spraying Uav Double GPS Water-Proof Aircraft, Find Details about Chemical Sprayer, Chemical Sprayer Drone from 12L Pesticide Fertilizer Spray Drone for Agricultural Farmer Usage Long Distance Spraying Uav Double GPS Water-Proof Aircraft - Dongying Youjia Industry & Trade Co., Ltd.
5l/10l/15l/20l Reliable Agricultural Sprayer Drone/remote
5l/10l/15l/20l Reliable Agricultural Sprayer Drone/remote Controlled Uav Drone Crop Sprayer For Pesticide Spraying Spare Parts , Find Complete Details about 5l/10l/15l/20l Reliable Agricultural Sprayer Drone/remote Controlled Uav Drone Crop Sprayer For Pesticide Spraying Spare Parts,Drone Agriculture Sprayer,Uav Drone Crop Sprayer,Pesticide Spraying Drone from Agricultural SprayerAgricultural Drone - SHANDONG UNID INTELLIGENT
China Agricultural Drone catalog of 16L Payload 4 Rotor Crop Spraying Agricultural Drone, 16L High Efficient Atomization Farming Plane Drone Sprayer provided by China manufacturer - SHANDONG UNID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., page1.Agricultural Drone, Fire Fighting Drone from China
Drone, Uav, Camera Drone manufacturer / supplier in China, offering Self-Planned Routes Heavy Payload Spraying Drone for Agricultural, 16L Dual GPS Dual System Autonomous Flying Uav Drone Crop Sprayer, 16L Medicine Box Agriculture Uav Drone Spraying Pesticides and so on.
Agricultural Spraying Helicopter, Agricultural Spraying
Alibaba Remote Control Unmanned Helicopter 12L Uav Spraying Drone Crop Farm Machinery Agricultural offers 2,265 agricultural spraying helicopter products. About 44% of these are agricultural sprayer, 12% are other toy vehicle, and 5% are radio control toys. A wide variety of agricultural spraying helicopter options are available to you, such as paid samples, free samples.Agriculture Drone Control Unmanned Remote Control Uav
Gyroplane for Agricultural Spraying, Gyroplane for Agriculture Spray, Gyroplane for Agriculture Spraying manufacturer / supplier in China, offering Agriculture Drone Control Unmanned Remote Control Uav Helicopter 20L Payload Pesticides Spray Fumigation Uav Drone for Farmers, Plant Protection Machine 6 Axis Rotors Drone Sprayer with 16 Kg Payload, Plant Protection Machine 6 Axis Motors DroneAgriculture Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Spraying Uav Drone
Agriculture UAV Drones Crop Sprayer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Uav Crop Spraying Drones. The UAV sprayer drone is the drone made for agriculture use to protect the plants. The sprayer drone is constituted of power system, GPS flight control and spraying system three parts. It uses remote controller or GPS to realize the spraying functionUser rating: 3.6/5
China Drone manufacturer, Uav, Drone Agriculture Sprayer
Jul 17, 2018 · Founded in 2013, Rdroneguy is well known as a comprehensive DRONE manufacturer at producing research, manufacturing and sales service. And since 2014, we start to make the research for the Thermal technology with drone together, to make the solution of Oil pipeline inspection, Heating pipe inspection, Substation inspection, Large equipment maintenance, Fire protection applications, and theChina Remote Control Drone, Remote Control Drone
Here's a large assortment of Remote Control Drone available from credible Remote Control Drone factory list to keep your kids or pets actively engaged and entertained for hours. Also find related top sale lists of including drone, helicopter, drone sprayer from qualified Chinese manufacturers/suppliers at best prices on this page.China Remote Control Helicopter, Remote Control Helicopter
Sourcing Guide for Remote Control Helicopter: Sourcing 2020 new Remote Control Helicopter products of high quality from trustful suppliers in China. Buying Guide - Childhood for everyone is a treasure worth to be cherished. It's a period of time that can't be copied and full of happy memories.
China Remote Control Rc Helicopter, Remote Control Rc
Sourcing Guide for Remote Control Rc Helicopter: Sourcing 2020 new Remote Control Rc Helicopter products of high quality from trustful suppliers in China. Buying Guide - Childhood for everyone is a treasure worth to be cherished. It's a period of time that can't be copied and full of happy memories.China Uav manufacturer, RC Octocopter, RC Hexacopter
30L Agriculture Drone Uav Spray Machine / Unmanned Aerial Vehicle / Drones for Agriculture Widely Used New Design 22L Agricultural Spraying Uav Crops Spray Drone Accessories High Quality 16L Remote Control Pesticide Spray Drone for AgricultureChina Agriculture Uav manufacturer, Uav, Agriculture Drone
Agriculture Uav, Uav, Agriculture Drone, Agriculture Spray Drone, Fixed Wing Uav, Fixed Wing, Vtol Uav, Vertical Takeoff and Landing Uav, 6 Rotors Uav, Multi-Copter Uav Company Introduction Dalian Hongyi Aviation Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd is specialized in R &D, design, production and sales of civilian UAVs.
China Agriculture Sprayer Drone, Agriculture Sprayer Drone
Pesticide Spraying Unmanned Crop Drone Sprayer Drone Agriculture Spraying . FOB Price: US $ 6000 High Quality 16L Remote Control Pesticide Spray Drone for Agriculture. FOB Price: US $ 2590-2990 / Unit Also find related top sale lists of including agricultural uav, drone, crop spraying drone from qualified Chinese manufacturers/suppliersChina Pesticide Sprayer Drone, Pesticide Sprayer Drone
China Pesticide Sprayer Drone wholesale - Select 2020 high quality Pesticide Sprayer Drone products in best price from certified Chinese Drone manufacturers, Uav Drone suppliers, wholesalers and factory on , page 3Experts See Farming as Next Big Use for Drones | Farm
May 21, 2013 · Current crop surveys and dusting can be done with planes or helicopters, but drones will make the technology more affordable and accessible. Robert Blair, an Idaho wheat farmer, started looking into unmanned aircraft as a surveying solution in 2006, after spending $9,000 on a single manned aircraft flight and then waiting weeks to get the data.
Remote Control Long Range Crop Sprayer Uav Drone
Remote Control Long Range Crop Sprayer Uav Drone Agricultural Farm Sprayering Helicopter Drone For Rice Wheat , Find Complete Details about Remote Control Long Range Crop Sprayer Uav Drone Agricultural Farm Sprayering Helicopter Drone For Rice Wheat,Spraying Helicopter,Sprayer For Rice,Rice Sprayer Drone from Agricultural Sprayer Supplier or Manufacturer-Weifang RebonUser rating: 5/5Remote Control Unmanned Helicopter 12L Uav Spraying
Small Drone, GPS Drone, Drone Battery manufacturer / supplier in China, offering Remote Control Unmanned Helicopter 12L Uav Spraying Drone Crop Farm Machinery Agricultural, X8 Power System Combo 3090 Propeller 80A ESC 8120 Motor X8 Power Kit X8 Motor Combo for Agricultural Drones, PC2400 12s Drone Battery Chargers 1080W 20A 6s Dual Output Lipo Lihv Battery Charger forSprayer Payload Pesticide Spraying Uav Crop Drone
Equipped with advanced autonomous operation system, the flight route can be planed through the mobile APP, and the drone can spray pesticide autonomously. Wide Range of Application Accurate GPS, Terrain follow radar, obstacle avoid radar and high-definition camera working together enables High efficiency 12L capacity agriculture drone sprayer for plant protection to work in all complex terrains.
THE FUTURE OF THE WESTERN CAPE AGRICULTURAL
Crop spraying Japanese farmers have been using Yamaha's R-50 and RMAX unmanned (petrol) helicopters to dust their crops since 1987, and some farming initiatives in the USA use UAVs for crop spraying, as they are often cheaper than a full-sized helicopter5. Distance-measuring


News source from CTV News
MONTREAL — Canadian beekeepers are expressing concern about the effects of poor weather on their colonies, with the president of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association describing the level of dead or ailing ones as “astounding.
“It’s quite discouraging and demoralizing for beekeepers,” Jim Coneybeare, 55, said in a phone interview Monday.
An association survey of almost 900 Ontario beekeepers indicated that 70 per cent suffered unsustainable losses this past winter.
“I’ve been getting calls from beekeepers around the province,” said Coneybeare, who lives in Fergus, Ont.
“The number of dead or weak colonies is astounding. These could be the worst winter losses on record.”
That’s bad news not only for beekeepers, but for vegetable and fruit growers who depend on bees for pollination.
More than 40 per cent said the recent long, cold winter that extended into spring was the main reason for the heavy losses.
“Pollen from the trees usually comes at the end of March, beginning of April, (but) nobody saw that until the end of April, beginning of May, so a lot of our pollen was delayed,” Coneybeare said.
The third-generation beekeeper explained that an abundance of pollen and nectar leads queen bees to raise a lot of young bees, but that production of the brood is cut back if there is not enough.
[su_feed url=”http://rss.cbc.ca/lineup/topstories.xml” limit=”20″]
Canadian News Headlines
[su_feed url=”http://rss.cbc.ca/lineup/canada.xml” limit=”20″]
#Canada #news #CanadianNews #headlinenews #Edmonton #calgary #vancouver #toronto


Fine pruning (also called aesthetic pruning) is the skilled pruning of shrubs, vines, and trees with a focus on the long-term health and beauty of the plant.
Fine pruning protects your plant investments by improving their longevity and health with good airflow which results in less pest and disease issues and creates proper structure for plant strength.
It can also improve flowering!
Examples of candidates for fine pruning: Wisteria vines, Japanese Maples, Hydrangeas, flowering shrubs, and more.
Japanese Maple selectively pruned for airflow and aesthetic


Pine Mountain Ranch is dedicated to growing the best food possible while minimally impacting the environment. Our bison and yaks have small hooves, which help to aerate the pastures while doing little damage to the soil and grasses. Our chickens are raised on the same pasture, where they follow the larger animals, cleaning up like dung beetles and controlling pests while leaving behind nitrogen rich droppings. This is our source of fertilizer, further diminishing the animals footprint on the environment. Our goal is to introduce as many native species as possible, including guinea fowl, ducks, goose, and heritage chickens and turkeys. Sustainability is key; the land will sustain the animals, which in turn sustain the people living off the land. We never use medications, hormones or antibiotics.
We are committed to using local resources as much as possible. Local farmers grow the grains that we use to feed our pastured poultry. We use a local butcher for our USDA processing. We support the local feeds stores and grain mills, and buy our winter hay from Central Oregon growers. Our workers are paid a sustainable wage and are legal to work in this country.
You can reach us at 541-312-0185. We are looking forward to hearing from you. You can also contact us at our e-mail address: email@example.com.


The best products are available in the garden to provide satisfaction to the customers. There will be many benefits for the customers if they prefer to use the best deals during the purchase. The username and password should be provided by the users if they want to login into their account. You can select the products of your choice when you explore a wide range of garden shop Singapore. A unique variety of products are available so you can make the right decision at right time.
- The gardening products are considered to be very useful when you opt for organic fertilizers.
- If you want to inquire about the products then you can feel free to visit our website.
- The high-quality products are available on our website so you can get in touch with our team.
- It is possible to deal with indoor and outdoor pollution if you prefer to go with the green plants.
- The easy and secure payment options are useful if you want to make payment for the products on our website.
- The leading providers of the garden supplies will always ensure to focus on the ongoing requirements of the customers.
Complete solutions for the users:
If you are planning to grow fresh and healthy greens then you can approach our garden shop Singapore. The products will be delivered directly to your doorstep so you can proceed to buy the plants online. The complete solutions are offered to the users so they can visit the one-stop garden center. The best delivery options are available so you can receive the products to your doorstep. If you are very much particular about the gardening supplies then you should concentrate more on the specifications of the products.
Facilities offered in the gardening industry:
You can proceed to add the products to your plant collection with the best guidance offered by our team. The tools are considered to be very useful for the customers to make their gardening life easier. Innovation and sustainability should be taken into account to focus on the needs of your gardening center. The facilities which are offered in the gardening industry will always meet the expectations of the customers. You can ensure to get the complete details of the products if you have a look at the description. Plant enthusiasts are always excited to deal with a wide variety of plants.


Root to Flower
Corn husk, celeriac peel, cauliflower leaves, broccoli stems, beetroot and tomato leaves, onion tops and roots, all delicious ingredients that are wrongly treated as waste from farm to kitchen. Producing more food from less land is not the only way to tackle food security. How about making a better use of what's already broadly available? Farmers only sell a small percentage of the edible potential of the plants they cultivate. Using plants root to flower could increase the amount of food we get from a hectare of land. The intention of the Root to Flower initiative is to educate and promote the forgotten crops and parts of vegetables, and look at them with new eyes. This awareness could create more demand for these wrongly labelled "waste parts” contributing to making a better use of our planets natural resources through deliciousness.


Seth and Aaron Slemmons grew up on a family farm where their dad, Frank, owned a piece of equipment to install farm drainage tile. Frank had the ability to install tile on not only his own farm, but other local farms as well. Because of this, Seth and Aaron, gained their knowledge about farm drainage, how to install tile and why it is so important.
In 2003, Seth quit his job to begin an excavating business full time, which soon evolved into more of a farm drainage company. Aaron joined him at the onset.
Located in West Liberty, Ohio, Slemmons Excavating currently has 12 full-time employees of various construction or heavy equipment operating backgrounds. Aaron serves as the micro-manager of behind the scenes items, whereas Seth's role is the big picture - finding work and getting it ready.
One way that Slemons stands out from our competitors is our use of GPS technology to create a topography map of a farm field. We are then able to bring that map back to the office and draw a plan and get an estimate to explain to the farmer the cost per acre, among other things. This allows farmers to plan ahead and budget. In turn, our product improves their farm and pays for their investment in their farm drainage system.


We work in harmony with nature, designing, establishing and supporting biodiverse, regenerative landscapes. Our goal is to restore and protect nature and help people all over the world live in connectivity with their surroundings.
We balance western scientific practices such as Rewilding and Biodynamics with knowledge and techniques from ancient wisdom traditions from around the earth. We work with and on the land with pure intention, adopting a conscious state to observe the landscape and use native trees, shrubs and plants attracting beneficial local wildlife and re-establishing balance to the local and global ecosystems. With this approach we nurture and support biodiversity, creating places of sanctuary, inspiration, habitation, food, medicine, energy and peace where humans and the rest of nature can flourish and thrive.
We can scale and implement our models and designs from a residential garden to a 500 acre estate. We work commercially and residential, in temperate and tropical climates, and we’re currently delivering projects across two continents.
There are 5 core methods at the heart of our practice:
Land Restoration - Rewilding - Biodynamics - Agroforestry - Permaculture
HOW WE WORK
Once we have had an in depth consultation about your intentions for the land we start a unique 6 stage regeneration programme.
We start with thoughtful and protracted observation and our Ethical Intention
We ask "what do we want to achieve from the land and what do we feel is right for the ecosystem?”
We survey the needs of both the client(s) and the landscape.
With all the preparation of the three previous steps this naturally unfolds in a simple manner.
This stage is where we turn the paper dream into reality.
This final stage is an ongoing process of observation and interaction.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM


Rainforest Alliance Certified blend consisting of Peruvian and Nicaraguan coffees roasted medium/dark.
The Peru is sourced from family owned farms organized around the Central Pronteriza del Norte de Cafetaleros (Cenfrocafe), which is an umbrella cooperative established in 1999 that supports 80 organizations and 2,000 coffee producers in the region of Cajamarca, Peru. Cenfrocafe provides training and financing aimed at improving coffee quality and yields to increase farmer earnings. This coffee is both Rainforest Alliance Certified and organic.
The Nicaragua is sourced from family-owned farms organized around Promotora de Desarrolo Cooperativo de Las Segovias (Prodecoop), an umbrella cooperative operating in the departments of Esteli, Madriz and Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua. Prodecoop operates a centrally located dry mill facility and cupping lab where coffee is received, processed and selected for export. In addition to marketing coffee internationally, Prodecoop provides producers with financing, training, and technical assistance to improve coffee quality. Prodecoop also strives to improve the quality of life for coffee producers and their families through projects promoting income diversification and education. This coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified.


Grow It Yourself supports people around the world to live healthier, happier, and more sustainable lives by growing some of their own food. Their mission is to educate and enable a global movement of food growers whose collective actions will help to rebuild a sustainable food system. They empower and encourage people to grow some of their own food at home, at school, at work and in the community. They strive to inspire Food Empathy – a deeper connection with food that leads to a happier, healthier, and more sustainable life – in all their projects and programmes.
GIY’s run a GROW at School programme, which is a food education and literacy programme for primary school children where every school receives a garden; every child has access to fresh food and learns how to grow their own food; every teacher has the resources to teach about where food comes from; and food literacy is embedded into the national primary school curriculum.


The planet/earth is our heritage, for our former parents, for the present generation, and for the future generation, all our activities, programs, projects, converge towards the design of a healthy planet for a healthy community.
Our agricultural projects brings communities together by striving and working for a common purpose.
More than 95% of the Burundian population and in particular within our rural environment, lives from agriculture and animal husbandry. However, unfortunately, no family can produce sufficient yield of decent quality in order to overcome famine and secure a production beyond the following month. Lack of education and the use of poorly adapted and degenerative agricultural techniques have damaged the arable and cause erosion leading to deforestation of the natural habitat. Our approach is to offer back a sense of belonging and purpose to the youth by educating the community on the practices of regenerative agriculture. This primarily increases agricultural production and offers more sustainable and nutritious production to all family and community members. We implement this approach by combining different techniques of soil regeneration and reforestation (example production and distribution of planting seedlings or animals for the production of natural manure, all with the capacity to regenerate of the soil, and which we distribute to the community in association with a training to learn how to use them). These activities are carried out by the young people of the villages who also benefit by creating jobs for themselves and for the community in general.
Meanwhile, educating and assisting on agro-ecology (better farming management, recycling of natural waste, tree planting programs) we also promote awareness around health (its link to diet, agriculture, waste and environment). The aim is that we create employment for the youth, we restore abandoned land, we increase the agricultural production, we fight malnutrition, we create additional income for the community, we fight against diseases, we promote accessibility to health and education for the community mainly children, and we restore their connection to the land and the health of the surrounding ecosystem.
Climate Change Mitigation
More than 95% of the population in Burundi, lives by agriculture and livestock, and most of this population lives in rural areas, more than half of the arable land in this area is degraded, deforestation, the effects of climate change, war, have leaded farmers towards unproductive agriculture, cases of malnourishment increase overnight.
For PVC Burundi, the solution to increase agricultural production while responding to the harmful effects of climate change, is the restoration of land while regenerating it, it is when the land will become productive, as we will respond to this challenge, by using our techniques and products, we can respond to this social problem.
Healthcare for farmers
More than 90% of the population in rural areas live in extreme poverty, in our region, in this same community which lives mainly from agriculture, has no system of healthy mutuality , when a member of the family falls ill, it is more difficult to be able to provides himself with health services, what is difficult is to see a family who sell their only goat, which helps them to regenerate the cultivable soil at least sold to pay for the services health, or on another scale, sell the part of his land, that is also insufficient to pay for health service.
Our approach is to ensure that a rural farmer can grow and produce a lot, not only to produce what they eat, but also to generate income in provenance from agricultural products, which can contribute to improving the family health system, including health mutuality.
We want the communities to regain a healthy life, and this can be possible by a simple education but also by the use of natural products rather than the wasteful consumption of industrial products, but also by promoting accessibility to health services.


There’s a billboard along I-4 that I’ve passed a million times during my countless trips between Tampa and Orlando. It’s a billboard that boasts the ‘world’s best milkshakes’ and advertises seasonal fresh strawberry shortcakes between December and mid-April. It’s a billboard that has tempted me many times to take a slight detour in Plant City and see what this Parkesdale Farm is all about.
The above photo isn’t the actual billboard I drive by (I didn’t snap a photo and google has failed me), but if you’ve ever been on I-4, I’m sure you know the one I’m talking about near exit 17 – it’s hard to miss. 🙂
After repeatedly telling myself I’ve needed to visit Parkesdale Farm Market in Plant City for a couple of years now, I was more than a little excited when a member of the Parkesdale team asked if I was interested in attending a Tampa blogger meet up at the market. Finally, the excuse I needed to check this place out!
I passed the invitation along to my friend Diana and we decided to make the 17 mile trip to Parkesdale together. It’s a straight shot on I-4 and really wasn’t that bad without traffic.
We were greeted by two other lovely bloggers (Jackie from Syrup and Biscuits and Jeanette from Sweet Jeanette) and Xiomara, the owner’s daughter-in-law who runs their website and social networking site. All of the ladies were lovely and we spent close to two hours covering everything from pinterest to the local Tampa foodie scene. It was fun getting to know two new bloggers and learning a bit of history about Parkesdale Farm.
(Did you know the farm started in 1956 by Xiomara’s husband’s grandfather and has remained a family run farm for over three generations? They mainly grow strawberries, but also grow a few vegetables that they sell seasonably in the market.)
While we chatted, we each enjoyed one of Parkesdale famous strawberry milkshakes.
Oh. My. Word. I don’t even like strawberry milkshakes (I’m not a fan of strawberry ice cream in general), but this baby won me over. It was so decadent and so fresh that it was love at fist sip. Xiomara let us in on a little secret… the milkshakes only consist of fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream – that’s it. No weird fillers or syrups – just fresh from the farm strawberries. I think that’s why it was so good. 🙂 Fresh chunks of strawberries kept getting stuck in my straw and – at the end – there were pieces of strawberries left at the bottom of the cup. I was not complaining. 😉
Once our bellies were full, we explored the market a bit more. This place was hoppin’ for a Wednesday afternoon. The line for strawberry shortcakes and milkshakes went out the door and almost every table was full!
Parkesdale Farm plays a major role in the Strawberry Festival every year and I love how that same festival feel carries into the market.
Of course, the best part was the market portion. The majority of the jams, preserves, breads, and cookies are all produced in house or locally outsourced.
Not all of the produce is local, but they try to carry as much local produce as possible. We asked Xiomara whether they carried any organic produce, but she said there really wasn’t a market for it in rural Plant City. The majority of their customers base is a bit on the older side and don’t fall into the organic movement. She and her husband had big plans for bringing organic produce to the market, but no one bought it – they all favored conventionally grown produce instead. I found this information fascinating.
The produce they did have was fresh and vey reasonably priced. Everything was just so cheap, that I wanted to buy and try it all.
Something I learned today – strawberry onions are onions that are grown in the same fields as the strawberries. They’re called strawberry onions because they thrive off of the cast-off water from the strawberries, which gives them a sweeter taste. Good to know.
I went a little crazy filling my basket.
All this for only $10.66. Rock on.
Diana scored too. She and her husband are currently juicing and she was just complaining about how expensive good produce is in Tampa. I think we may have just solved her problem. 😉
I wasn’t expecting to stay at Parkesdale all afternoon, but it was definitely worth the long outing. I can’t wait to go back when Derek and I have a free weekend or if we have friends or family in town and are looking for something to do. They serve their milkshakes year around (yum!), but only serve their famous strawberry shortcakes from December to mid-April (Florida’s strawberry season). I wonder if we can squeeze in a trip before then? Or I’m sure strawberry milkshakes will taste mighty delicious in the summer heat too. 😉
Before we headed out of Tampa, I had a quick lunch around noon.
Derek is very anti-butt of the bread, but I think the butts make great sandwiches. I used the two bread butts to make a turkey, cheddar, and spinach sandwich and grilled it on the George Foreman. Butt-perfection. 😉
A side of pretzel sticks and hummus.
Dinner tonight was inspired by my Parkesdale Farm Market purchases.
Black beans cooked with the Parkesdale fresh peppers, strawberry onions, and avocado.
Parkesdale kale lightly steamed and seasoned with salt.
And Parkesdale beets roasted with strawberry onions.
A mish mosh of Parkesdale’s finest.
Parkesdale even had a hand in dessert.
A tiny slice of strawberry swirl bread just to have a taste.
It was a great pound cake, but needs more strawberry swirl to it. 😉
Derek just got home and we’re about to watch My Week With Marilyn (i’m excited about this one!).


Navalea. An olive oil like a real love story.
All about the love of life and nature in all its perfection.
A declaration of love to Greek tradition, culture and its wonderful country.
Grown in Messinia, Navalea combines the power of the olive tree and its fruits.
A declaration of love for natural extra virgin olive oil of special quality.
Navalea. 100% Extra Natives Olivenöl 100% Koroneiki 100% Kaltextraktion.
As the daughter of a Greek-German family, Corina Schwab Christopoulos has always spent a lot of time in Greece. She shares her love of olive oil with family and friends, to whom she always brings fresh olive oil from Greece. The wish for her own olive oil, which comes fresh into the bottle right after the harvest and whose fresh aroma and natural taste you can feel, arose with friends.
After years of job-related trips around the world, she decided to pursue her dream of own olive oil and founded Navalea. In cooperation with young, talented, Greek farmers and their careful production methods, a fine hand-harvested olive oil is created, far from mass production – but with a lot of passion
Inspired by Greek culture and the Mediterranean way of life, we are defining extra virgin olive oil in a new way.
We are also breaking new ground for this. Navalea’s design is inspired by the lightness, brightness, freedom and puristic forms of the Mediterranean lifestyle. This is how Navalea becomes a combination of tradition and modern lifestyle.
It all started with passion for olive oil. The trip. The idea. Navalea.
An olive oil that goes straight from the olive tree into the bottle. Inspired by Greece’s nature and lifestyle. Only Navalea and love. No more and no less. And so Navalea started – Inspired by nature.
For the production of Navalea, we work together with young Greek talents who have won several awards for their olive oil production.
Driven by the appreciation of natural products and their cultivation, we value our partners – the hard-working olive oil farmers – in every step. We share the values of Greek culture, its tradition, Greek nature – and the people behind it.
Our partners not only share the passion for extra virgin olive oil as we do, but they also share the great appreciation for nature. For this reason, they treat their olive trees as their treasures to ensure sustainability and produce the best olive oil for us.
Navalea grew and matured in Messinia, Greece. Messinia is a region in the Peloponnese, surrounded by mountains and the breeze of the Ionian Sea. Known for the ideal climate and the excellent soil for olive cultivation, Messinia produces particularly aromatic olives full of valuable nutrients. Messinia is the home of the “Koroneiki” olive variety. It is the same region of which the famous Kalamata olives come from. Navalea is extracted from 100% Koroneiki.
The Koroneiki variety is characterized by a fresh, fruity taste – memories of freshly cut grass, citrus and green apple are awakened. The slightly bitter taste – a sign of the high content of healthy polyphenols and antioxidants – gives the oil a spicy taste and gives your health a real kick.
Please select all required fields


The Lafazanis Winery cultivates 10 hectares of privately-owned vineyards surrounding our Nemea facilities. The vineyards are perched on the slopes of Fokas Hill (alt: 240-500 m) and are mainly planted with Agiorgitiko, Cabernet Sauvignon, Assyrtiko Gewürztraminer, Tannat, and Syrah. Winemaker Spyros Lafazanis’ planting and viticultural pursuits proved the best school and life experience for him. The vineyard was designed so as to produce small yields that favor quality wine. The vineyard in Archaies Kleones (ancient Cleonae) belongs to a semi-mountainous, winegrowing and winemaking region with a diversity of microclimates, maximum absorption of sunshine, and a sloping terrain with excellent drainage.
The Lafazanis Winery meets 90% of its winemaking needs through contracted winegrowers, selected for their professionalism and passion for the art of viticulture, assets that enable them to produce healthy, quality grapes year after year. The vineyards we chose to collaborate with were carefully selected throughout Nemea and the prefectures of Corinthia and Arcadia. We work with a total of 300 winegrowers who cultivate an overall cooperating area of 2,000 ha. Our company monitors cultivation practices in the cooperating vineyards, keeps in close contact with the corresponding winegrowers, advises them and seeks their consultation, especially when it comes to winegrowing techniques and practices. We also monitor the ripening process via continuous sampling and decide on the day the harvest will take place, all the while implementing quality control over all viticultural stages.
Each wine must be treated like a small work of art that is different and special every time. Think of a wine as a painting: our varietals are the assortment of brushes used by the artist and our wines’ components are the colors on the artist’s palette, the ones that yield the ultimate result, as perceived by your senses and personal taste preferences.


Don’t buy fruits with.. [Fwd: Sharon Rajkumar]
Read your fruit in the number posted.
“Fruit label” will tell consumers the fruit, and whether the fruit are safe or unsafe for eating.
Label for :-
Traditional fruit : four digits beginning with 4
Organic fruit : five digits beginning with 9
Transgenic fruit : five digits beginning with 8
You happen to see an apple in the store:
If its label is 4922, it is a traditional apple, having used herbicides and chemical fertilizers during planting.
If its label is 99222, it is an organic apple. A bit more expensive but free from herbicides and chemical fertilizers.
If its label is 89222, it is genetically modified (GMO). You may not want to eat it.
The next time you go shopping you’ll understand these figures to know what to buy.
This Email with caution published as provided by Sharon Rajkumar. You too can share forwarded emails by sending them to firstname.lastname@example.org and get it published with your name. We respect copyright, please don’t forward copyright material.


One of my favourite parts in my fibre journey has been learning about natural dyes and the process of using them on wool. As someone who is attracted to bright colours, I am always searching for new recipes and plants to grow to add to my colour possibilities.
I have added a large section of dye plants into our vegetable garden and enjoy the challenge of trying to grow new and different plants. The dye garden also makes an ideal place for pollinators, so I make sure to always leave some flowers for them when I am harvesting.
The kids and I also forage for dye material in the wild and take pleasure in peaceful walks together, followed by seeing what colours we can achieve with our finds.
I am continually amazed by the beautiful colours that can be produced from the world around us.


Wednesday, July 27, 2011
We have many squash plants. We had a couple of them get really large. Well with two of our plants, we had a little mishap.
Our squash plants rotted at the main stalk! One of them was our best squash producer. They just started dying and the limbs were breaking on them.
When I was doing some work in the garden, I cleaned the squash plants out. Both of them came right out. The whole plant came out all the way, including the main stalk. It was rotten on the bottom. What in the world happened!?
I did a little reading and this is what I think it is: squash vine borers. The adult is a large black wasp with an orange ring around the abdomen. She lays eggs inside the upper stem and the larvae eat their way and grow as they move toward the crown. Eventually the crown is a pulpy mess and the vine dies. They do not sting, they are really a moth that flies in the daytime.
What in the world do we do to stop them??? After digging up some info, I found this information on Gardens Alive:
That’s easy, dress up like a butternut squash! Those vines’ solid stems terrify this parasite of pumpkins, zapper of zucchini and spoiler of squash!
This is an especially nasty pest because the ‘borer’, a grubby white caterpillar, hides inside the hollow vines of popular squash-family plants like pumpkins and zucchini as it does its dirty work. Gardeners generally don’t notice anything is wrong until the whole plant starts wilting, and by then, it’s generally too late. So we will focus here on prevention; don’t blame us if you end up with too much zucchini.
The problem begins in late Spring, when a moth lays its eggs at the base of your squash plants. Each female will lay about 200 eggs, but one at a time rather than in clusters, making the tiny eggs (a mere 1/25 of an inch long) almost impossible to spot. They hatch in a week or two, and the little caterpillars that emerge quickly tunnel into the hollow plant stems their eggs were so cleverly attached to. The caterpillars feed, hidden from view, for a month or so and then drop down into the soil to pupate. In the North, they emerge as adults the following Spring. Down in Manuel’s Texas, the first run pupates quickly into adults, whose children commit another round of squash vine damage before they drop down into the soil for the winter.
That’s means they’re in your soil right NOW. If you had borer damage last year, you probably have hibernating baby borers lurking in your dirt; just like the pods in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (don’t fall asleep in the garden!). Before you plant anything this season, use a hoe to cultivate the soil where your squash grew last year; look for cocoons an inch or so deep. If you find some, well…just make sure no one is watching and try not to sound too much like The Joker after he’s captured Robin the Boy Hostage again.
One way to avoid the adult moth—which looks like a little red-bellied wasp—is to cover your squash plants with floating row covers; these spun polyester fabric blankets (best know brand name: Reemay) allow water, light and air through, but prevent bugs of all kinds—including bees, which is a problem. If you go this route, make sure you plant where squash didn’t grow the previous year (or the moth may emerge inside the row covers—eeek!) and either grow self-pollinating varieties or lift the covers and pollinate the flowers yourself with a little paintbrush. In one-generation climes, you can remove the covers entirely by the Fourth of July; all the egg-laying action will be over.
An interesting variation on this technique is to cut little pieces of row cover and use them to just wrap the vine itself. Do this before you plant, so that the covered section of the vine extends below the soil line; and add more wrapping as the vine grows larger.
But the most reliable cure may be to grow your squash out in the open and use vigilance to get the eggs. You may not be able to see them, but a weekly spray of the vine with insecticidal soap will smother them nonetheless (use a commercial product, not home-made; there is a fine line between beneficial soap and plant-killing herbicide).
Or use BTK. This is where I assure worried Emily that BTK is indeed organic and non-toxic; one of the oldest organic pest controls, in fact. Sold under brand names like Dipel, Thuricide and Green Step, this form of Bt ONLY kills caterpillars that munch on the sprayed plant part; it affects nothing else. So spray the vines once a week and there will be BTK on the stem when that hungry, hungry caterpillar comes out and starts munching.
Or just wipe the stems every five days vigorously with a damp cloth and wipe away the eggs. An Auburn University researcher found this tip in a farming book from the 1890’s, when even now-ancient remedies like BT were still half a century in the future! Wiping with BTK or insecticidal soap should be even better.
Once the season is underway, carefully inspect each vine once a week; don’t wait for wilting! If you see a hole near the soil line and that distinctive greenish frass (bug poop) that the borers push back out of their comfy new home, slit the vine with a razor blade and find the caterpillar inside. We will now flash forward to you later heaping compost-rich soil over the damaged part of the vine. (Remember—no laughing like The Joker!)
Or inject the attacked vine with BTK. Or beneficial nematodes; these microscopic garden helpers love to prey on tasty caterpillars, and the moist inside of the vine will protect the nematodes as they go a’ hunting. You’ll find garden syringes sold for injecting nematodes and BTK at some garden centers and by mail order.
Well, to hold true to the fact that we don't have all the answers, here is our latest problem. I hope you guys learn from our mistakes.


The first presentation at the 2016 Wine Marketing & Tourism Conference (after the pre-con Workshops and official welcome) will be a Welcome to Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country. By moving the conference to a new wine region each year, those visiting from out of state learn about that local region and including the specific challenges they face and successes they have achieved. In 2016, we are especially looking forward to hearing from the local area as Texas is booming in wine tourism and yet relatively unknown outside the area.
We have a great panel (see below) including a winery owner, grape grower, and tourism agency director. Our moderator is January Wiese, Executive Director of Texas Hill Country Wineries, the association that represents the member wineries of the Texas Hill Country region. As a long-time WMTC attendee and Advisory Board member, January assures us the panel will be highly interesting and educational for the audience, revealing the both the successes and challenges of wine tourism in Texas!
Andy Timmons of Lost Draw Cellars is a 4th generation farmer who grows cotton, peanuts, and wine grapes. He established his first vineyard in 2006 and now owns and manages over 500 acres of grapes in the Texas High Plains AVA. One of the winegrowing pioneers of Terry County, Andy is committed to producing quality Texas grapes on a consistent basis. Working with some of the best wineries in the state, Lost Draw Vineyards has won several awards including gold medals at the San Francisco, Dallas Morning News, and the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. In 2014, Andy was awarded the T.V. Munson Award from the Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association, which recognizes exemplary contribution to Texas grape growing.


This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click the links at no additional cost to you.
Are you ready to create a DIY raised garden bed this season? You’ve come to the perfect place! This guide will show you how to build your garden for less than $100 with no tools required.
As Daylight Savings Time passes and the warmth of spring draws nearer, the idea of a garden begins to overtake the thoughts of home owners everywhere. Whether your dream garden is small and full of herbs or large with every vegetable imaginable, we can all agree that there is something so rewarding about growing your own food.
DIY RAISED GARDEN BEDS
Raised garden beds have become extremely popular for home gardeners. These types of gardens offer many benefits such as longer growing seasons due to better drainage and warmer soil as well as easier control over your soils pH. Raised garden beds also are easily visible making it less likely that human foot traffic will compact your soil. This creates a better growing environment where your plants can thrive.
If you decided to remove the grass from beneath your raised garden bed you will also have amazing weed control. This step isn’t necessary but it definitely is worth it if you have the time and energy!
PLANTS FOR RAISED GARDENS
Raised gardens can be used for whatever you’d like. You can plant rows of tomatoes, carrots and onions or create a gorgeous cut garden right in your back yard! Both annual and perennial plants can thrive in raised garden beds. The biggest factors to consider when choosing what to plant is available space, companion plants and overall garden goals.
SIMPLE DIY RAISED GARDEN BED
Let’s get right to it. Below you will find a list of materials needed to complete your garden bed as well as instructions. This project takes about 1 hour and will give you a 10ft x 5ft raised garden space.
Once your garden bed is built, research the best way to fill your space. We live in an area with high levels of clay soil so we added a layer of decaying leaves and twigs to the bottom of our bed before filling with dirt and fertilizer to assist with better drainage.
- 8 Wall Blocks
- Ground Contact Lumber
- Two 10ft pieces
- Two 5ft pieces (Ask store to cut 10ft piece in half if you don’t have saw)
- Find a level area in your yard to build your raised garden bed.
- Stack 2 wall blocks on top of each other. Slide one 10ft plank into grooves. Stack 2 additional wall blocks at other end of plank.
- Continue the above steps to make your 10ft X 5ft rectangle raised garden bed.
- If desired, removed grass from inside your garden bed to have better weed control.
Congratulations! You’re finished! Now it’s time to fill your garden bed and start your growing season.


Someone recently asked me what the real difference between winemaking and organic winemaking is. In simplest terms, all farmers need to fertilize their crops; whether it be grapes or corn.... organic farmers won't use artificial fertilizers, they use natural fertilizers (and preferably produced on or very close to their own farm).
And what does this do for the wine we ask? Well nothing really. Nothing you say? But that's the point I say~! Artificial fertilizers use non-organic compounds, they rely on man-made chemistry to do the work of Mother Nature. These compounds leech into the soil, and thus into the food (grapes) and thus into the wine; changing the wine.
Organic practices also severely limit the amount of sulphites allowed, which is of vital importance for those of you who find red wines in particular give you a bit of skin flush, headache or a sore tummy. Yes, the sulphites are still there: it's a natural part of the winemaking process. But! But it is severely limited and you should be able to consume organic wines with limited reaction or no reaction at all.
The patriarch of the port community, Fonseca Guimaraens (http://www.fonseca.pt/) is the first winery in the Douro region of Portugal to adopt certified organic practices for it's port production from start to finish. This includes the aguardente (similar to brandy) that is used to fortify the red wine. And why would House Fonseca make this bold move, years before anyone else in the region is ready to do so?
Because they are innovators.
Even though Fonseca Guimaraens has been in continuous operation since 1822, 6th generation family winemaker David has launched into the unknown not just with organic principles, but also through technology. Fonseca recently showcased their newest addition to the staff, a device of their own invention: a piston-paddle vat known as "Port-Toes". It has been created with the purpose of more efficient temperature control during fermentation thus allowing for a gentler touch with greater results.
And the results? As always my friends... in the glass.
Fonseca Porto Terra Prima n/v
$30 http://www.bcliquorstores.com/ 89 points
- visual: clear; fully intense inky purple core with slight cherry rim, no bricking
- nose: clean; moderate+ to fully intense and developing aromas of ripe red cherries, succulent plums, blackberries, dark chocolate and warm earth
- palate: clean; sweet, fully intense (red and black cherry) acids, moderate+ (well integrated and soft) tannins, moderate+ body, moderate+ABV(20%), fully intense and youthful flavors relying heavily on fresh red berries and light floral notes to make a heavy impact. Moderate structure and very good to excellent balance with only medium length
- conclusion: the youth of the vines is apparent. Whilst there are rich flavors, they are somewhat monotonous, however the finesse of the structure leads me to believe that future vintages will rival some of the truly great ports of the world. Drink now, holds to 2017.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: with wines of this sweetness, it's a bit of folly to pair with anything even close to the same sweetness. Consider a Savory dark chocolate torte with lemon whip cream and stewed plums


A Sweeter Valentine
Much of the cocoa that is produced around the world is grown using unsustainable farming practices. That sweet little treat could be contributing to deforestation, toxic pollution and exploitative labor practices. By choosing organic, fair trade or sustainably-grown chocolate, you can enjoy quality chocolate sweets that won’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth. But read the label carefully to make sure you’re getting the best chocolate for you and the environment.
Traditionally, farmers planted native cocoa plants underneath the shade of canopy trees, preserving the forest and using less pesticides. But many farmers have cut down forests to grow new hybrid cocoa varieties more intensively, using more pesticides and fungicides to keep pests at bay.
Choose chocolate that is better for the environment, look for organic or fair trade certified chocolate. “All natural” does not mean that the cocoa is organic or grown without pesticides. There are a number of certification programs, check the label before buying and choose chocolate that is certified by one of these programs:
USDA Organic: Cocoa with a USDA Organic label is produced without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, irradiation or bioengineering. Organic cocoa farmers must adhere to soil and water conservation methods.
Fair Trade: Cocoa crops with this certification meet strict economic, social and environmental criteria both in their production and trade. That includes fair pricing, humane labor conditions, environmental sustainability and other regulations. Read more about Fair Trade Certified.
Rainforest Alliance Certified: This chocolate has met strict guidelines to protect the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities. Certification offers cocoa growers guidance on efficient production practices that will preserve resources and do not negatively impact local communities or the environment, including reduced pesticide use. More on the Rainforest Alliance.
Choose a better chocolate for the environment. Look for USDA Organic, Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance Certified products.
Organic chocolate can be a sweet way to introduce friends, coworkers and family to organic food and sustainable farming. Give organic chocolate on special occasions.
Learn which conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables contain the most pesticide residues and choose organic when it matters the most.
Source : http://www.simplesteps.org/


The vendimia is how the grape harvest is called in Spanish. It’s a extremely ancient tradition: there are records of the harvest process from the times of the Egyptian pharaohs 2 millennia BC.
The harvest process has been mechanized in several wine regions, because it saves costs in labor, but in the Galicia and the North of Portugal it is still done the traditional way: manually. This is due to several factors: the terrain orography, the amount of small parcels with no access for heavy machinery, and the fact that the vendimia is a deeply rooted tradition among Galician and Portuguese families.
The vendimia is a job, but it’s also a festivity: a good harvest is the reward of a full year of continuous work and care of the vineyards, that will result in great quality grapes and therefore excellent wines!
In Galicia and the North of Portugal, the harvest is a family tradition: it’s common that several families team up and help each other with their harvests.
Decades ago, the grapes were stored in 50Kg sacks, but the quality of the wine was compromised because with so much weight, the grapes in the bottom of the sack would crack and that grape juice (mosto) would start the fermentation process already in the sack.
Nowadays, everyone uses boxes during the harvest instead of sacks. They have several advantages:
- Due to their rigidity, they can be piled up without adding any pressure to the grapes at the bottom.
- Each box holds around 20kg in grapes, and has air vents, so the grapes are kept in a breathable storage until they arrive to the winery and the wine making process starts.
- Because they are lighter, they are easier to transport, which is very important specially in vineyards with a complicated access like those in the Ribeira Sacra.
In a family owned winery, there are different roles during the harvest. The most common ones are these three:
- The capataz or patrón: is the person in charge, the one that has the best knowledge about the vineyards and the most experience. He or she is the person that chooses which vines are harvested and which ones are left to harvest later on, with the goal of picking all grapes in their optimal ripeness.
- The vendimotes: the people that cut the grape clusters from the vines, using either scissors or small hooks, placing them in the boxes.
- The carrexóns: the people that move the boxes around the vineyard, and that carry them from the vineyard to the winery.
The names might change depending on the wine region, but their roles are always the same. These three names above are the most common in the region of O Ribeiro, but in the other wine regions of Galicia (Ribeira Sacra, Rías Baixas, Valdeorras and Monterrei) there might be other ones.
In the Northwest of Spain and the North of Portugal, the harvest is done between the end of August and the beginning of October. The exact dates vary every year, depending on the weather: grapes will reach their optimal ripeness sooner or later based on how much sun and rain they’ve been exposed to during their lifecycle.
Participating in a family owned winery harvest is an ancient tradition, an amazing experience that you will never forget. If you would like to participate in the 2018 harvest please contact us and we will arrange that experience for you!


Having a lush lawn is a major goal and point of pride for many homeowners. Unfortunately, there are many yards that may not have the type of soil needed to support a lush lawn. In these instances, it may be best to simply install sod as opposed to trying to grow the grass from seed. However, there are some homeowners that do not realize the type of care that sod can require to get it off to a good start. If this applies to you, learning these sod care tips should help you to get the most from your new lawn.
Avoid Mowing The Sod For A Couple Of Weeks
One of the most obvious forms of maintenance that is required for your lawn is to mow the grass. However, it is important to avoid mowing the lawn too soon after laying it. Without a strong root bond to the ground, sod can be torn and ripped right out of the ground by a lawnmower. It is best to give the grass a couple of weeks to grow and develop roots before you subject it to a mowing. This will give allow the grass to divert most of its energy into to establishing its root network. After a couple of weeks, the grass should be ready for its first mowing, but you should leave the clippings in place to decompose because this will return nutrients to the soil to further spur the growth of your new sod.
Intensively Water The Grass For The First Week
During the first week that you have your sod, you should make it a point to heavily water it on a daily basis for first week. The grass will need to expend a lot of energy and resources to lay down a root network, and without an ample amount of water it will be difficult for your grass to have the energy needed to do this.
When watering your grass, you should leave the sprinklers spraying water on the sod until you see standing water. Repeat this process each day, but make sure that you water during the events to prevent the hot water from damaging the growing root network.
Laying sod can be one of the best ways to quickly install a lush and beautiful lawn, but it is important for the lawn to be properly acclimated to the new environment to minimize the stress of this transition. By following these two tips, you can help ensure that your new sod is as beautiful and healthy as possible. If you’re looking to purchase sod, visit http://www.bbhoffmansod.com.Read More


Incorporating quality agricultural products with local elements and gift packaging with traditional cultural design, the jasmine products produced by Huatan Framer’s Association of Changhua County have earned domestic and international recognitions over the past years, making Taiwanese products famous worldwide. Jasmine Huatan shares the hard-earned pride and honor with you.
Germany: iF Design Award for International Design
Germany: The Red Dot Award for International Design
China: Successful Design Award
Taiwan: OTOP Product Designs Award
Top 100 Premium Agricultural Products of Farmer’s & Fisherman’s Association in Taiwan
Top 10 Changhua Souvenir Shop
All products have passed tests by SGS.
Huatan Farmer’s Association is working toward cultivating a safe, chemical-free sustainable agriculture and developing jasmine products. To ensure safety of all products, the association have all of them tested by SGS labs. Behind the high testing costs is the association’s original intention and insistence on “offering safe, quality, and pesticide-free jasmine products to customers.”
Welcome to Huatan, the hometown of pesticide-free jasmine.
Huatan Township in Changhua County, where climate and soil are suitable for cultivating jasmine, has been dubbed the “Hometown of Jasmine” after the flowers were introduced to the township in the 1960s. Challenged by cheaper imported jasmine in recent years, the fragrance of jasmine under Baguashan had been gradually fading.
Huatan Farmer’s Association has taken the lead in industrial transformation, guiding local farmers to adopt safe and pesticide-free farming, and develop chemical free jasmine products. In 2013, the association renovated a 75-year-old barn into the Jasmine Huatan Pavilion of Dreams. As the only jasmine-themed pavilion in Taiwan, the venue is open to visitors all year round.
Thanks for media coverage.


So first Adam got some good compost/dirt out of what we call The Pile from out behind the shed and them made a 3 inch or so layer on the ground (which we did NOT turn under).
Then cover with more dirt goodness (I think about another 2-3 inches or so) and finally cover with straw.
After the potatoes start growing up through the straw, you keep adding dirt/straw/dirt/straw until you fill up your bin. *In theory, mind you, we haven't ever done this before.*
We've heard that this is a great way to grow potatoes and that usually the yield is very high.