Base personnel join Propolis project, universities, to help honey bees Published Nov. 6, 2018 By Bryan Ripple 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Collaborative research efforts between members of the 88th Civil Engineer Group Natural Resources Program, the Propolis project, and researchers at Penn State, Purdue, and Central State Universities have yielded promising results in the production of honey bees that are naturally able to defend themselves from harmful varroa mites. Honey bees are one variety of insects known as pollinators, and are critical to the pollination process of a third of the food we consume such as fruits and vegetables said Dwight Wells, a beekeeper with the Propolis project. According to the project’s website, its mission is to combat the recent decline of pollinators in the Midwest and restore healthier honey bee populations in Ohio. “In recent years, honey bees have shown an accelerated rate of decline, due to a number of factors, including increased susceptibility to diseases and pests such as the varroa mite, a lack of proper forage, pesticide exposure, and poor hive management procedures,” Wells said. The Propolis project came into being around 2014 thanks to support from the Levin Family Foundation, which supports agencies in Dayton and surrounding areas that feed, clothe, educate, and provide health related support to people in need. The project started in 2014 to increase pollination at Wright-Patterson on Huffman Prairie, Wells said. The initial federal government guidance to support habitat restoration projects for pollinators was issued in a June 20, 2014 presidential memorandum creating a federal strategy to promote the health of honey bees and other pollinators. Wells, who has also served as president of the West Central Ohio Beekeepers Association since 2010, began his collaboration with Purdue University in 2011 with their honey bee breeding program. At the same time, he started trapping feral - or wild - honey bees in Western Ohio, based on his work with both Purdue and Penn State. Wells and personnel from the base Natural Resources Program also began keeping bees at Wright-Paterson in 2014. Darryn Warner, Natural Resources Program Manager here, has supported the effort from the beginning. “A lot of people don’t realize or think about it, but a beehive that is managed by people is nothing more than like a dairy cattle herd or a feedlot of pigs that have to be managed and cared for. They lose some of their natural behaviors that wild bees still exhibit,” he said. “After four years of research, Dwight [Wells], has recently confirmed the honey bees on base, through natural selection, exhibit “chewing behavior,” said Danielle Trevino, Natural Resources Specialist. “This behavior, only exhibited in a small percentage of honey bees, protects them from the varroa mite. The mite is perhaps the most serious threat to honey bee colonies worldwide.” Wells has been working with Penn State through USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, or SARE, Grants since 2015, and in 2016 he was doing some honey bee chewing behavior testing with a microscope to check for chewing behavior on the mites from feral stock and bees on base and throughout western Ohio when he discovered the bees had started to evolve through natural selection and kill the mites naturally. “When the mites came into Ohio in 1987 there were no resistant bees in Ohio in the feral stocks. We had around 40,000 feral bees, but, by 1992, all the feral bees were killed by the mites,” said Wells. Commercial beekeepers were using chemicals to kill the mites on their bees, treating their bees up to 10 times a year to kill the mites. “That is not sustainable,” said Wells. “Honey bees are used for pollination. As an example, there are 1.2 million acres of almonds grown in California that have to be pollinated by honey bees. Commercial beekeepers take out 2.4 million colonies of bees every year to California to pollinate the almonds from Feb. 15 – March 15. Then they have to get the honey bees out of the orchards because the almond growers spray fungicide on the trees. This is not a sustainable system and it’s starting to fall apart because of the chemical use the bees are getting hit with.” “Killing a bug on bug hasn’t been good,” Wells said. “This has been going on for 35 years and because mites inbreed and create a new generation every two weeks, they have developed resistance to the chemicals and we’re running out of chemicals. Researchers know we need to have bees that have become a natural enemy of the mites. Mice and mites both reproduce exponentially, but mice have natural enemies – dogs, cats, snakes, mouse traps, brooms, whatever. Mites, until now have had no natural enemies.” Wells also works with the Heartland Honey Bee Breeders Cooperative at Purdue, helping to share information, techniques and disease-resistant genetics between queen producers in seven states. “It’s a community of land grant universities, people at the base, and others working together. We’re finally getting enough people on board to fight this mite,” he said. When the Wright Brothers were here in 1904-1905 at the Huffman Prairie, they were learning to be able to control their airplane in flight and teach themselves to become pilots. While they were here, Amos Ives Root, who was an Ohio entrepreneur who developed innovative beekeeping techniques during the late 19th century became the only eyewitness to publish articles about the successful airplane flights made by the Wright Brothers here, according to Root’s website. Now, 113 years later, innovation, technology, and people with a desire to save pollinators have come together again at the birthplace of powered flight to help honey bees fly, fight, and win against a foe with no natural enemies.


By Brian Jacobson. Full text here.
Many states currently classify pesticide application records as private under state data practices law, thereby shielding such information from the public. This means that families living in rural areas where agricultural chemicals are in frequent use cannot access information about where and when pesticides are applied. Though government officials generally have the authority to collect and analyze pesticide records, state agencies often lack the time and resources to properly monitor them. As a result, pesticide applicators can operate relatively unchecked. The Note argues that data classifications keeping pesticide application information from the public should be repealed. By making such information available to the public, persons at risk from reckless chemical use can take proper measures to protect themselves. Furthermore, in the wake of recent Supreme Court willingness to consider state common law claims in pesticide cases, victims of irresponsible pesticide application will have a remedy in court. Public disclosure of pesticide use records combined with the threat of private litigation would provide a powerful supplement to the regulatory system and help ensure that pesticides are used in a lawful and responsible manner.


Some of my earliest memories are wrapped up in gardens. The garden of my childhood was a large one with trees for climbing, dens behind old fence panels, a concrete half buried Anderson shelter which was often knee deep in water, it was also a garden of produce, veggies, a homemade cold frame fashioned with old bricks and window frames and fruit, apples picked from the tree as an after school snack. My grandparents had productive gardens, a wigwam of runner beans covered in red flowers, a pot of parsley by the pack door always full like a green hairy head for the pot, picking or digging up the veg for a family Sunday lunch. One of my aunts living in North London had a long thin garden full of produce. When I left home I always wanted a garden of my own.
My wish came true, eventually, and the small patch of land I call home has been turned from a patch of grass to a more edible (to humans) one. It will never make us self sufficient there is not the room to do that and coupled with frosts as late as May and as early as October it would be tough to make it a reality without several polytunnels. There are often a couple of weeks of the year when all the vegetables we eat are taken from our garden. This last week has been one of them.
I am a menu planner. Each week I get an email detailing the contents of a veg bag we have delivered to the house which is how we buy our veg. I use the contents of the bag to plan my menu and shop for the specific ingredients I need to make the meals I have planned. I don't plan our meals for specific days but obviously as the week goes on there are less meals left on my list. This week my plan was based on my own veggies and those I had in the fridge, leftovers from a recent scout camp.
It never ceases to amaze me how one year you can grow something successfully and the next it will either fail or produce little. I love french beans and usually grow dwarf varieties, some years they have bought a whole new dimension to the definition of dwarf and barely produce a meals worth. This year they have been, excuse the pun, highly productive and we have been picking them for weeks. This week I cooked them in a Bengali style, and with a potato dish of yellow spiced potatoes, dahl, rice and naan made a delicious meal. We have also eaten our potatoes with a quiche and a Lentil Salad.
We live in one of the wettest parts of England, our annual rainfall is over a metre of rain. We have had very little rain in the last two months and coupled with high temperatures the garden needed constant watering. The rain has finally arrived but sadly it has bought with it much cooler temperatures dropping to below 10°C overnight. The courgettes which have been doing so well seemed to have stopped growing. I had planned on two meals based on the number that were on my plants, but best laid plans.......we did manage one meal a simple pasta sauce with slow cooked onion and garlic, chopped courgettes and grated parmesan cooked on an open fire by the side of a local lake on the only dry evening of the week.
I tried growing broad beans this year for the first time, my father in law always grew them and told me they were easy to grow, we usually get ours from a local pick your own most of which I freeze to eat over the following months. They are easy to grow, well this year they have been, and like the french beans we have had several meals from our plants. I have made several different salads with them and a delicious pâté. This week I tried a new salad recipe, one with an interesting list of ingredients, which I wasn't entirely convinced would taste good together but I was proved wrong. We didn't have many beans by the time I made it, darn that cooler weather, so I reduced the quantities but it was delicious.
The cooler weather means that I have added soup back to our lunches. I had some lettuces that I bought back from scout camp. They were rather past it to be honest and most people would have probably thrown them in the compost days ago. But I cut off the worst bits and was left with a rather sad small pile, another raid on the fridge and I found a small piece of cabbage so that went in too. So it was cabbage and lettuce soup loosely based on this recipe. The children were a bit non plussed, I thought it tasted great.
So that has been my week in the kitchen, next week I am hoping that the garden carries on producing enough to make a stir fry, some courgette fritters, a bean salad, pasta alla genovese, cucumber soup and lots more leafy salads.


Fragrance and India the ancient connection. India is vast country blessed with multifarious agro climatic conditions, which provide environment to grow a varied flora and fauna.
About 80% population of India, depends on Agriculture and is engaged in cultivation.
And post harvesting of different crops like vegetables, cereals, pulses, oil seed crops, fruits and cut flowers.
In some of the crop, there is now saturation for further development and income generation.
Farmers are, therefore, looking for new areas of cultivation. The emerging area of cultivation is an aromatic and medicinal crop,
i.e. linked with fragrance, flavor, essential oil, Indian System of Medicines and Aromatherapy trade and Industry.
Farmers and growers are increasing getting interested in this field because of better remuneration.
The Ancient Time – India and Fragrance
Since, ancient time till late 19th century, mankind all over the world, mainlydepended on flora and fauna of plant kingdom to meet their requirement of fragrance and flavour materials.
However, with advent of modern synthetic chemistry and mass production of synthetic fragrance materials.
Such materials could find their way on account of their low cost and the consistency in the quality of production.
Middle of 20th Century – Trend of Fragrance
But, by the middle of 20th century the large number of synthetic fragrance materials became well known to the world.
This development has forced the people, once again, to think natural plant materials to meet the needs fragrance industry world over.
With this trend getting stronger day-by-day, the demand for natural fragrance material is truly phenomenal.
Now a day the natural essential oils and their derivatives and isolates are replacing synthetic fragrances.
Diverse India and Fragrance
India is with its diverse agro-climatic conditions and ample of human resource.
It is in a very strong position to play a vital role. In the production and supply of natural essential oils and their derivatives to the world market.
India still imports some of the very important essential oils, such as, rose, patchouli, geranium ,clary sage etc. To meet the demand of fragrance and flavor industry in the country.
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How Gardening with MG Is Beneficial to Me
Last updated: April 2023
In some of my other articles, I’ve mentioned that my husband and I love to garden. We love growing and preserving our own food. There are several reasons we love gardening, and I would like to share some of them with you.
Avoiding genetically modified foods
One of the primary reasons I love to garden is because I love watching plants grow and it provides me stress relief - and we know how stress can affect myasthenia gravis (MG). However, there are other valuable reasons to garden.
Besides the fact we do not like eating genetically modified foods, some of the preservatives used in packaged foods cause both of us gastrointestinal distress. Though I haven’t found much information on how genetically modified foods can affect MG, I still wonder if some of the issues I experience stem from what goes into my food ... especially processed foods.
Some might say I’m paranoid. Be that as it may, I’m convinced all those chemicals can’t be good for us. I even like getting the un-modified foods, seeds, and plants or purchase heirloom seeds or plants.
Controlling what goes into our food
By growing and cooking our food from scratch, we can control what does into it. For instance, my husband needs extra sodium, I need less. To compensate for the difference, I cook low or no-sodium, and he adds what he wants at the table. I do add some salt to some foods, such as pasta and potatoes. Those are just 2 items that need to be seasoned during the cooking process. Salt is also used in food preservation and flavor enhancement, including in baking.
We all know fast foods and many restaurant foods are far from healthy. Though we don’t eat healthy often enough, we are working towards that goal. Proper diet is important to us when facing chronic disease, such as MG. Processed foods generally have a long list of ingredients most of us cannot pronounce. I prefer to stay as far away from those as possible.
A source of exercise
Our garden provides me with exercise from spring through most of fall. It gets me out of the house and active. Because I have MG and am on CellCept, I have to be careful not to get too much exposure to the sun. But, getting some vitamin D and exercise is always a plus.
I mentioned earlier that gardening is stress relief for me. Even if I have nothing to do in the garden some days, I still make my rounds around the garden and just look it over. I love watching my plants grow and set-on "fruit". It’s so relaxing! Then harvest time comes along and you get to eat fresh, delicious foods straight from the plant! Excess harvest is preserved or shared with others. That in itself is gratifying.
Another stress relief my garden gives me is that most of the watering in the early stages are done by hand. I enjoy watering and watching the thirsty plants revive. Even when I’m tired and really want to go back to bed, gardening revives me.
I truly believe that by me staying as active as I can with gardening, it helps me with MG. I don’t stress as much, and I enjoy being able to accomplish something so very satisfying!
My most frustrating MG symptom is _____.


Calling all gardeners! North Carolina’s long growing season is almost here. Join Ben Grandon of Randolph County Cooperative Extension for “Beginner Backyard Gardening” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, at the Asheboro Public Library, as he offers an overview of what supplies and equipment you may need, answers gardening questions, and talks about services available at Cooperative Extension to ensure a bountiful harvest. Grandon’s talk is free and the public is invited. The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6803.


If you have any tried-and-tested tips, or handed-down gardening wisdom from your Mum/Dad/Granddad etc, you'd like to share with fellow allotmenteers, send it to us at email@example.com
- A half gutter can be used to cover a trench of newly-sown seeds to deter pigeons, mice etc until such time as the seedling is of a decent height.
- Use a half gutter filled with compost to sow peas or sweet peas. Once large enough to plant out, prepare a trench, with support if necessary, more or less the same width and length as the gutter, and slide the contents of the gutter straight into the trench.
- Space saving method of growing cucurbits (melon, squash, courgette, cucumber etc). Drive a 7ft stake into the ground, plant the cucurbit next to the pole and once the plant starts to grow tendrils, gently attach these to the pole so the plant grows upwards. Pick off the yellowing leaves as they appear at the bottom.
- Removing indelible ink on plastic plant labels: put them in a plastic container, cover them completely with bleach and leave overnight. Just rinse under hot water the following morning and they are good as new.
- If your Bramley apple suffers from bitter pit (dark spots marring the fruit), sprinkle crushed eggshells around the base. The calcium from the shells will help prevent the bitter pit occurring next year.


"Man, despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments, owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains."
The Broadened Horizons Organic Farm began in 2004 as a small, family operated teaching farm in East Tennessee. dedicated to the learning, the practice, and the teaching of sustainable based agricultural practices.
Our working, restored farm served as our living outdoor laboratory and classroom for the natural restoration of native soil fertility, slow release water retention, and the reforestation effort to create a diverse woodland canopy on portions of a former over-abused, rundown, and degraded cattle farm.
Through an outreach educational program that sponsored workshops in subjects of new farm or homestead start-up, perma-culture design, earth systems awareness, organic gardening, rainwater collection and retention, and simple construction techniques to increase a building's energy efficiency and livability, we had the opportunity to trained new farmers, school children, and many adults in the practice of simple and sustainable living.
In December of 2012, our grazing lease was terminated on an adjacent (to our farm) 10 acre winter pasture, and it was then we decided to look for a new, more secure location with more like-minded partners to carry on our sustainable agricultural teaching work.
Entering into a committed and visionary partnership with our friend Swede McBroom, we moved our entire farming operation to Floyd County, VA in 2013. There we have designed, and are now in the completion process of building a new teaching farm from the ground up that is a model of energy and resource efficient structures, well balanced land management, and co-operative relationships with the local farm and natural health community.


We are honored to welcome Cynthia A. Brown, the Smithsonian Gardens’ Education Specialist and Manager of Collections and Education, as the speaker for the next Museum lecture, Designing an Urban Potager, scheduled for April 19, 2011 in the Greenbelt Community Center. According to Ms. Brown, “a traditional French kitchen garden – potager – mingles vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs to make the function of providing food for the table aesthetically pleasing. An urban potager uses every inch of available space, growing edibles and ornamentals on balconies, patios, porches and rooftops.” Join us to hear how Ms. Brown will eliminate excuses for excluding edibles with suggestions on what edibles to grow, unusual ways to grow them and how to do it all with style!
Ms. Brown is a regular contributor to Washington Gardener magazine and the Washington Post blog AllWeCanEat/Groundworks. She is a frequent speaker at many venues and enjoys entertaining the public with her gardening trials and tribulations. Ms. Brown wasn’t always an expert. She started gardening because she loves to cook and was frustrated at the inability to purchase the special herbs and vegetables mentioned in cookbooks and cooking magazines. She believes that every garden should be a mix of ornamentals and edibles for a truly gourmet garden!
The Friends of the Greenbelt Museum Annual Meeting will begin at 7pm immediately prior to the lecture. Please join us.
This Greenbelt Museum lecture is offered in conjunction with our exhibit, Green from the Start: A History of Gardening in Greenbelt.


Nathan J. Penn
Texas' State Plant
( the Prickly Pear Cactus )
The Prickly Pear is of the Opuntia genus and was named the state plant of Texas in 1995. There are over a dozen
species of the Prickly Pear including a smooth or "spineless" Prickly Pear. The Prickly Pear have fleshy flattened
pads which are stems of the plant which serve as water storage, photosynthesis and flower production.
The flower forms on top of the immature fruit and is a yellow, red or purple.
Both the pads and the fruit are edible and sold in some stores. The mature fruit is called prickly pears, cactus
pears or "tunas".
The flavor of the ripe fruit varies with the species although all are edible. The fruit after gently urging it from
its stickery skin can be eaten raw (sometimes with lemon). It can also be cooked for use in preserves and jams or
cooked into syrup for jelly or "cactus candy". The syrup
can be reduced further into a dark red or black paste which can be ferminted into an alcoholic drink called
"coloncha". The pads (after removing the spines) called "cladodes" or "nopales" when whole and "nopalitos" when
diced taste something like greenbeans, I am told. They can be added raw to salads or cooked in omlettes or boiled
or fried like eggplant. Both the pads and the fruit are of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed fibers
which may keep blood sugars stable and pectin which is contained in the pulp may lower diabetics' need for insulin.
Some studies show that the pectin may also lower the levels of "bad" colesterol while leaving the "good" colesterol
The sap is sometimes used in first aid similar to the aloe vera plant. Cut off a potion of the pad and crush it into a
pulp and squeeze the juice onto a cut, burn or bruise. The sap will soothe the wound.
The sap is also sometimes used as a mosquito repeallent.
(Pictured - A Mature fruit along with young & old pads, flowers and fruit)
The Prickly Pear cactus is tolerant of a variety of soils, temperatures and moisture levels.
They grow best in sunny location in well drained soil with some protection from winter winds. The plant can tolerate
almost as much water as other plants while once established can tolerate drought conditions. These plant can grow
from seed as well as from pads. If propogating a plant from a pad, cut a pad that is at least six month old. Allow
the pad to sit upright for several weeks in warm dry weather to form a callous where it was cut. Then plant the cactus
upright (hold it in place with small rocks) in equal parts soil and sand where the pads face east and west. Do not water.
The water retained in the plant will be enough to promote root formation. Too much water will cause rot.
(Pictured - Young pads with flower in background)
(Pictured - flowers in full bloom)


The Center for Integrated Analysis of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CIANR) provides a stable institutional focal point for collaboration that draws on the related expertise in several existing AgriLife Research organizations. The main objective of this center is to provide an institutional home for ongoing grant and contract research that focuses on the use of a jointly developed Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS), currently being used in three long-term United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded projects at Texas A&M University (Texas A&M).
- A Greener Future: How Private and Public Sectors Can Work Together
- Innovation Lab for Small Scale Innovation (ILSSI) Research Briefs
- Dr. Srinivasan Receives Appointment to Neville P. Clarke '54 Endowed Chair – October 2022
- A&M Agrilife Extension and IBM partner up to accelerate sustainable agriculture – June 2022
The current collaborators involved in joint grant and contract activities are based in the Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center, the Texas A&M Spatial Sciences Laboratory and The Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M (AFPC). The collaboration of these AgriLife Research units with other international, national, state and local agencies has evolved over more than 25 years through a series of externally funded grants and contracts amounting to more than $100 million. The model components of the IDSS were developed to support decision-making in multiple federal and state government agencies.
Mission and Goals
The success of agricultural operations depends on the interaction of a number of externally and internally generated variables. Modeling the interaction of these variables in a quantitative framework requires the interaction of multiple interacting disciplinary approaches. The CIANR will bring together interdisciplinary teams that provide the ability to assess the production, environmental, economic and nutritional consequences of farming systems from farm to national and international levels of scale. Temporal outputs of the biophysical models can affect decisions made at the weekly, monthly, annual, and decadal scales. Products of this analysis are used to define best options for combinations of farming system inputs and outputs and to evaluate the consequences of government interventions, new crops, conservation practices, production costs, commodity prices, climate change, and other technologies at multiple levels of scale.
While there is a long and successful history of working together using this approach, the IDSS team lacks a recognized institutional home that would encourage and sustain the partnership that has developed through practice. The CIANR will fulfill this need by:
- linking faculty from related parts of AgriLife Research in a framework that provides an integrated strategy for maintaining the viability of the IDSS
- assuring focused and timely engagement with federal, state and industry sources of support
- developing innovative funding proposals
- sharing data and analytic results and integrating the products of analysis for a holistic view of options and alternatives
- providing leadership to develop and report the products of integrated analysis
- providing an institutional identity and visibility for the IDSS team
- assuring continuity and integrity of operations for the team effort between funded projects


Details27,722 Plant Seeds Distributed to Citizens
Thousands of plant seeds were distributed to Jakarta citizens during periods of January-August 2016 by Jakarta Dept. of Maritime, Agriculture and Food Tenacity.
“We have distributed 27,772 trees up to August. Please request to us to get free plants,” said Darjamuni, head of the agency, Thursday (9/1).
Head UPT of Seed Development and Plant Protection for the agency, Ali Nurdin, stated there are 13 locations of seed garden owned by the agency. 60 percent of the seeds are distributed to the citizens and the remaining 40 percent are for retribution.
“Each person can get two and maximally 10 trees,” he stated.
Based on the data, seeds that were distributed are 6,763 fruit plants, 642 protective plants, 3,576 decorated plants, and 16,791 herb plants.
Source : http://www.beritajakarta.com/en/


In recent years, hydroponics method of growing plants has been gaining popularity across the world with more people are not only convinced with its benefits but also surprised by the ease of its management. This method not only reduced the maintenance that is required especially when plants are grown commercially but also eliminate the use of soil and you can grow plants within small areas or by setting up grow tent inside your home.
A grow tent is helpful as it reduces the requirement for space with guaranteed high yield results. The gardener can also control the temperature of root zone as well as humidity levels. A growing tent is available in different size and can easily accommodate at any corner of your home. The tent is designed in a manner to radiate light inside and absorb heat from outside. The plants cultivation through grow tents required less water and the integrated timer with them ensure the minimum power consumption thus reducing wastage.
In a flat, it is difficult to grow vegetables without garden. However, any vegetable, plant or fruit are easily grown in an indoor grow tent. You just required to use the right amount of nutrients for the type of plant you want to produce within the reflective inner structure of the tent. Hydroponic is an interesting way that allows everyone to have their own garden irrespective of where they live.
Having an indoor portable tent, can enable you to make the best use of your indoor garden as well as lighting system. So, if you have spent a good length of time preparing an indoor garden, you must have come to realize the importance of having a set of grow tents. They are available online their assembly are not difficult at all.


Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market celebrates 40 years of fresh, local food
June 3, 2013 - The mid-Michigan community can once again browse a wide variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables, crafts and flowers as the City of Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market kicks off its 40th anniversary June 6.
For 40 years, the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market has not only offered the freshest in-season fruits and vegetables, but an opportunity to meet and support area farmers. Meeting vendors and purchasing their products provides customers with a chance to learn more about where their food comes from and hear farmer recommendations on how products are best prepared.
As a member of Project Fresh and Senior Project Fresh, the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market strives to make healthy, locally grown food an affordable option for all incomes.
The Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market is held every Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Island Park and Saturdays starting June 22 outside City Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.


The Right Fertilizer Source at the Right Rate, at the Right Time and in the Right Place.
Nutrient management is one of the most important aspects to crop growth. With all of the different types of fertilizer available, GRAINCO FS has the right equipment and services to get you what your crops need at the right time. From dry fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, bulk services, and even foliar feed products your crops will get the nutrients that make them thrive.
MicroEssentials Competitive Comparison
MicroEssentials MESZ vs DAP
1. Lower cost than other sources, up to 10 dollars per acre less in cost than liquid sidedress.
2. Much faster and more efficient than anhydrous ammonia.
3. Fewer damaged corn plants from application equipment.
4. Quick method of application to avoid weather related field delays.
Sidedressing corn has come full circle. It's evolved from a labor intensive, time-consuming chore to a fast, efficient method of stretching your fertilizer dollar and maximizing your crop's yield potential.
For More information click here.
We offer a wide range of micronutrients from dry blends, liquid blends, Wolf Trax®, Harvest Max™, and ammonium thiosulfate. Contact your Crop Specialist to see what works best for your operation.


I Never Promised You an Organic Garden is the one hundred-forty-fourth episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on April 13, 2003. The episode was written by Tony Gama-Lobo and Rebecca May, and directed by Adam Kuhlman.
Hank voices displeasure when he reads a newspaper article about schools yanking vegetables from their cafeteria menus because of high produce prices. He worries that the school football team will suffer when they don’t get their vitamins. Bobby tells Hank and Peggy that the school had an organic garden at one time, and kids who wanted to skip gym class got to work in the garden before it was gotten rid of. Intrigued, she approaches Principal Moss and inquires about the now-defunct garden. Moss explains that it was dismantled to make more storage space for the football team. Peggy makes a deal: she’ll grow the freshest vegetables in the county for the team if Moss brings back the garden. He sees wisdom in her words and gives Peggy his blessing.
Later, Peggy meets with her gardening students, which include Bobby, Rain, Spencer, Tommy, Andrew and Maria. The group sets to work, and before long they present the football team with the fruits of their labors. Everyone is very impressed with the quality of the vegetables, including the coach, who tells Bobby to keep up the good work. Hank overhears the coach’s compliment and later tells the guys in the alley what he said. Inspired, Dale decides to start a garden of his own, and he convinces Bill and Boomhauer that his garden will do much better with some help from bat guano. Meanwhile, Bobby and Peggy discover that the garden has been overrun with bugs. When the next batch of vegetables is delivered to the football team, Principal Moss reacts to the sight of worms in the food and threatens to dissolve the organic garden once and for all. He gives Peggy two weeks to turn it around.
Peggy and Hank consult various organic gardening books for help. The books recommend natural things like beer to drive slugs away and dusting the plants with ashes to discourage cutworms. But Peggy soon realizes the natural remedies aren’t working. She turns to Tomich for advice. Surprisingly, he recommends the use of pesticides, which have been the secret to his success. Peggy buys some bug spray and, working clandestinely, sets about spraying the plants in the middle of the night. Before long, Hank, Bobby and the other kids conclude that the natural deterrents are working. He’s so impressed that he begins using natural compost on his own lawn to keep it green. Unbeknownst to him, Peggy is helping the lawn by spraying it with bug poison.
Meanwhile, Dale and his friends make their way to an area under a bridge, where they set about collecting bat guano for the garden. Unfortunately, the bats wake up. Soon after, the guys are covered with guano. Meanwhile, Hank and the students make their way to the garden, where they find Peggy fast asleep, cradling a canister of pesticide. When Peggy awakens, she admits using the spray on the plants, but insists she had no choice given the options. When Principal Moss learns the truth, he pulls the plug on the garden. Bobby tells Hank that the football team will soon be moving their tackling sleds onto the area, but Hank thinks what Peggy did is similar to an athlete using steroids, and wants nothing to do with the garden. Determined, Bobby convinces his fellow students to pitch in, telling them there’s one harvest left and if they work hard enough, they just might save the crops. When the day of the harvest arrives, Hank watches the kids at work and beams with pride. But moments later, the football team threatens to destroy the garden with their sleds. Hank steps in, telling the players that they’ll have to get through him first before they can get to the garden. The football team backs off, and Bobby’s group allows Peggy to rejoin their group as long as she promises never use pesticides on their garden again, and they tend to the vegetables.
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Dale Gribble
- Bill Dauterive
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Principal Moss
- Mr. Tomich
- The episode title is a reference to the Lynn Anderson song, "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden."
- When Peggy is filling a pan with beer in the garden, the goth girl's hand can be seen snatching one on the side.
- When Peggy is filling a pan with beer, she makes a reference to the song, Closing Time by Semisonic.
- When two of the kids are fighting with rakes, one of them mentions saving Queen Amidala from the dark side, a reference to the Star Wars prequel films, the first two of which (The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones) having been released by the time this episode originally aired.
- In an earlier episode while Hank is shown watching football on television, Willie Lane's stats appear on screen as a quarterback, conflicting with the later episode New Cowboy on the Block.
- Hank: "Is there anything beer can't do?"
- Hank: "Organic garden? That's what hippies eat. When was the last time you saw a hippie that could take on an offensive tackle?"
- Dale: "You know what would make this baby sing? Bat guano. Nature's miracle-grow."
Bill: "Where do you buy bat guano? Sears?"
Dale: "Yes. But it lacks the potency of straight-out-of-the-bat feces. Nope, we need to go straight to the source, mano a guano."
- Peggy: "Oh, my God, you grew a garden of lies."
Mr. Tomich: "Yes, and tomatoes the size of your cranium. Look, if you want to keep your garden and your job, you gotta use pesticides. What do you think is keeping termites from eating this deck? Love?"
- Dale: "Oh, God, we've awakened a sleeping, pooping giant!"
- Peggy: "I had no choice. You can't get anything good without chemicals. Chemicals are what keep my hair so high and brown."
- Peggy: "I've gone straight, I swear. I'm off chemicals. I didn't even use any shampoo or soap or deodorant this morning. Smell me!"
- Hank: "Well, I guess I'm going to head on in to watch some of the Home and Garden Network. It's compost week. Bobby and I are thinking of making a batch for the team."
Dale: "Dang it, now I've got compost fever, too."
Bill: "Me too. Maybe we can pitch in."
- Dale: (pause, after the bat leaves one small pellet) "We need more bats."
- This episode won an Environmental Media Award for best use of environmental themes in a half-hour sitcom episode.
|Season 6||Season 7||Season 8|
Get Your Freak Off · The Fat and the Furious · Bad Girls, Bad Girls, Whatcha Gonna Do · Goodbye Normal Jeans · Dances With Dogs · The Son Also Roses · The Texas Skillsaw Massacre · Full Metal Dust Jacket · Pigmalion · Megalo Dale · Boxing Luanne · Vision Quest · Queasy Rider · Board Games · An Officer and a Gentle Boy · The Miseducation of Bobby Hill · The Good Buck · I Never Promised You an Organic Garden · Be True to Your Fool · Racist Dawg · Night and Deity · Maid in Arlen · The Witches of East Arlen


What the heck is Rabbit Manure Tea?
Don’t panic! It is NOT something you will be sipping at your next brunch with shortbread cookies (or whatever you snack on when you drink tea). Rabbit manure tea, or rabbit poop tea, or rabbit (choose your preferred excrement noun) tea is a healthy concoction that will offer a lot off added nutrients to your garden plants.
Is it REALLY good for my garden?
It is higher in nutirents than cow, horse, and chicken manure. It is also a “Cold” manure meaning you can put it directly into your garden without letting it rest. Take a look at the nutrient content of rabbit manure compared to other animals below:
N = Nitrogen | P = Phospherous | K = Potassium
Image from: The Spruce.


Yeah I agree, give them a few days to recover a little from the initial SC then you can switch them. It is not critical that you wait, I have supercropped plants that were 7weeks in and covered with buds without causing any issues. I wouldn't recommend doing that but I had no choice at the time. But giving them a few days of rest after something that stressful to the plant is better for making the transition to flower a little easier and less eventful.
Raquels, I would also recommend that you get something like a milk crate or a box to set the shorter plant(s) on so the canopy is even. When you have plants of different heights unless you raise the smaller ones up to the same height, they will continue to get less light and continue to be smaller while the larger ones grow larger and block light to the smaller plants.


Minswap, SundaeSwap, WingRiders, And ADAX Pro offer the best farming yields this Week On Cardano.
In a tweet today, ADA whale disclosed that Minswap, SundaeSwap, WingRiders, And ADAX Pro offered the best yields this week on the Cardano network.
Best Cardano farming yields on this fine Friday morning:@MinswapDEX
Coming soon 🙂
— ADA whale (@cardano_whale) October 14, 2022
As per the Tweet, Minswap offered yields of 93%, 78%, and 68% on the ADA/SOCIETY, ADA/MCOS, and ADA/NMKR pairs, respectively. While SundaeSwap offered yields of 68%, 66%, and 22% on the ADA/YUMMI, ADA/NMKR, and ADA/WMT pairs, respectively. Meanwhile, WingRiders offered yields of 108%, 43%, and 40% on the ADA/NMKR, ADA/AADA, and ADA/WRT pairs, respectively, with ADAX PRO offering a 47% yield on ADA/ADAX.
It bears mentioning that October has been a difficult month for protocols on the Cardano network as Total Value Locked (TVL) is in decline. Notably, losses felt in the first week have continued, as TVL has declined by nearly $7 million since the previous report.
DeFi Llama data shows that TVL in 6 of the top 9 Cardano protocols has declined by at least 6% in the past week. Notably, third place SundaeSwap is the top loser, with its TVL declining by 12.98%.
The TVL of all protocols on the Cardano network currently sits at $67.93 million. Minswap continues its dominance, accounting for 51.15% of that value with $34.74 million.
It bears mentioning that Cardano’s TVL saw a temporary spike in September in anticipation of the Vasil hard fork. However, the excitement has been short-lived, as the TVL is now declining again as the bear market cycle continues in the face of macroeconomic concerns.


RESETTLED farmers, not fully utilising their land, have been told to surrender their properties or risk losing the farms to other deserving and productive citizens.
The latest threats were issued by Mashonaland West provincial minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka Thursday while touring Mucherengi and Summerhill farms in Mhangura.
The minister said it was time for non-productive farmers to immediately surrender their farms or they risked being kicked out of the land, and the government would usher in new productive farmers as farming was a business venture unsuitable for “cellphone farmers”.
“There are a lot of people sitting on idle land. We cannot leave any land lying idle and having no productivity on that land. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is speaking of productivity, sustainability and profitability. So we are, therefore, supposed to put our plough on the soil to produce,” she said.
“We are aware there are a lot of people with idle land they are hiding. We are coming after you. We cannot afford it in this day and age. If you know that you cannot manage the land you have, give it up.”
The government embarked on a controversial land reform programme in the early 2000s, which benefitted millions of black Zimbabweans after the removal of white farmers.
However, the programme has seen Zimbabwe relying on food imports, and donor support as the majority of the resettled farmers have been unable to fully utilise their land due to lack of resources and finances, including periodic droughts.
Also on tour of the two farms with Mliswa-Chikoka, was the Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet in charge of special agriculture-related programmes, David Marapira.
He also concurred with Mliswa-Chikoka and urged non-productive farmers to immediately surrender their farms.
“You are free to come to the governor’s (provincial minister) office and give up the land and remain with what you can manage so that everyone benefits. This is so because many people are clinging to land that they are not able to use,” said Marapira.
“We as government, we no longer tolerate that. Some are absent farmers staying in Harare. Stay at your farm.”
Mliswa-Chikoka told guests at the two farms that farming was a “huge business”, and not suitable for “cellphone farmers”.
“We are saying, ‘farming is now a form huge business so be there on the farm always’. Show a keen interest in this type of business. Please do not label us as a cruel government when we come for you because all we want is productivity in the province and Zimbabwe at large.”
According to the resident minister, most resettled farmers in Mashonaland West had resorted to timber plantations, which are of no benefit to an ordinary food consumer.
“Some of you are putting gumtree plantations. Do we consume gum trees? Why are you having those gum trees? We will relocate you if you cannot use water bodies on your farms. Please tell others who are not here about this new development,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Lands Minister Anxious Masuka has issued a notice of intention to withdraw land offers to six beneficiaries in Zvimba district also in Mashonaland West province for failing to take up the offers.
“Notice is hereby given that the Minister of Lands…intends to withdraw the offer of land made to the following beneficiaries; Noko. I, Chikara. T, Mandere. A, Ravenewako, Matibiri. Z, and Musimurimwa. T,” Masuka’s notice reads in part.
He gave the reason for the seizures as; “not take up”.
“The above-listed beneficiaries are invited to make any representations they may have on this matter in writing.” newzimbabwe


During Spring planting season, I had already anticipated the title for this September entry. It was going to be “Do Zucchini Count?” I planted about 10 squash – mostly zucchini. Knowing the reputation of how prolific zucchini are, I was sure I would have so many to give away by this time of year, my biggest problem would be finding receivers and knowing whether to count a bunch of five as one “give away.” Well, Mother Nature has not been kind to my garden this summer – especially the squash. My first planting bloomed beautifully then mysteriously shriveled up and died. Not to worry. I had time to plant more and I did. I even found new places in the yard to plant a few from seed thinking perhaps the soil had been contaminated. Again, they bloomed beautifully, but no squash, EXCEPT for this one hardy fellow. It was in the worst place, shaded, and far from the hose for watering. It’s a butternut squash which I’m not particularly fond of, but I do admire its spunk. We got a few tomatoes, beans, and peppers, but not really enough to give away. My zinnias are doing great, however, so I gave several bunches of them away. They would make a prettier picture, but this squash has earned its photo.


Farm to Table
Oct 3 - 6, 2024
Come and experience the sustainability of farm to table living. Spend time gathering produce from the garden and fruit trees. Grind corn into meal for cornbread. Turn fruit into jams and jellies. Make mayonnaise from eggs gathered that morning. Learn to make cheese. Catch and fry fish from the lake. Learn to process and butcher meat. Help prepare meals from scratch in both our indoor and outdoor kitchens.
Take some of the food home with you. For an additional cost you can also participate in our "beef experience".
At Jameson Ranch you will have the opportunity to see and know where your food comes from, enjoy ranch raised meals, and become part of an amazing community of people. Whatever you choose, an adventure awaits.


Market Day is the first Saturday of the month
The market opens at 9.30am, please check the Market Facebook page for current market closing times.
Head indoors to the best local Farmers’ Market, friendliest producers and freshest produce.
There are a few changes we have had to made to ensure that we can open safety for both customers and producers.
Social Distancing – please remember to respect the social distancing guidance. During busy periods we may ask you to queue to enter the market.
Although not compulsory we ask that, if they are able, customers wear a mask.
Hand sanitiser – please make use of the hand sanitiser stations around the market.
Card Payment preferred
Welcome to Helston Farmers’ Market
Welcome to Helston Farmers’ Market where the very best of locally produced food can be found on the first Saturday of each month (except January) from 9.30am at the Old Cattle Market, next to Lidl’s and the Boating Lake in Helston.
The market is a project of South Kerrier Alliance Community Interest Company (SKA CIC), a social enterprise, formed by volunteers, to address the needs and aspirations of the people of South Kerrier, Helston and its surrounding parishes.
The market is also organised by a team of dedicated volunteers who work hard to ensure that the market delivers high quality, local food straight from the producer and in doing so, helps to support small growers and enterprises.
Established in 2008 and starting with 13 local producers, the market has grown to be the largest of its kind in the County with local producers selling the finest quality produce.
The idea behind the market is to:
- enable local food producers, farmers to sell their produce direct to the public
- give customers the opportunity to buy fresh, locally grown, homemade and handmade produce and products,
- raise public awareness on issues that involve locally produced food, sustainable farming and land management.
Almost all of the seasonal produce on offer has been raised, grown or made within a 20 mile radius of Helston with care and attention to quality and provenance.
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If I had known how good this market was, I would have come a long time ago. I only live up the road!Customer Questionnaire
Such a friendly and welcoming market. I always enjoy my shopping trip.Customer Questionnaire
Fantastic market, lovely atmosphere and the only place I can get really fresh fish.Customer Questionnaire
One of the best markets I have been to in a long time.Customer Questionnaire
Amazing quality and straight from the Farmers themselves!Customer Questionnaire


Introduction to Measurement of pH of Solutions
The measurement of pH of soil deals with measuring the amount of alkalinity or acidity that is present in the soil solution. The importance of this test comes to play when considering the solubility and uptake of nutrients by plant roots. Many plants are adaptable to a range of soil pH usually from 5.5 to 7.5.However, pH of soils usually range from 4 to 8.
If the pH is not within an acceptable range, the growth of the plant is affected and erosion potential is increased. The soil is the source of nutrient for plants and the amount of various elements present in it depends on the nature of the soil and on its organic matter content; and the pH of the soil has a relevant influence on the availability of essential elements in soils.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 from acid to base respectively. Thus, a 1M solution of a strong acid would have a pH of 0, while a 1M solution of a strong base would have a pH equals 14. This implies that most measured pH values should lie between 0 and 14. Pure water is neutral and thus its pH lies at the middle of the scale, that is, pH of 7.
If thе рH is nоt within аn ассерtаblе rаngе, thе grоwth of the plant is affected аnd erosion potential іѕ іnсrеаѕеd. Thе ѕоіl is the ѕоurсе оf nutrient for рlаntѕ аnd the аmоunt оf various еlеmеntѕ рrеѕеnt іn іt dереndѕ оn thе nature of the ѕоіl аnd оn іtѕ оrgаnіс mаttеr content; аnd thе рH оf thе ѕоіl hаѕ a rеlеvаnt іnfluеnсе оn the аvаіlаbіlіtу оf essential еlеmеntѕ іn ѕоіlѕ.
Thе pH ѕсаlе rаngеѕ frоm 0 tо 14 from acid to bаѕе rеѕресtіvеlу. Thuѕ, a 1M ѕоlutіоn оf a ѕtrоng асіd wоuld hаvе a рH оf 0, whіlе a 1M ѕоlutіоn оf a ѕtrоng bаѕе would hаvе a рH еԛuаlѕ 14. Thіѕ іmрlіеѕ thаt mоѕt measured рH vаluеѕ ѕhоuld lie between 0 and 14. Purе wаtеr is neutral аnd thus іtѕ рH lіеѕ at thе mіddlе оf thе ѕсаlе, thаt is, рH of 7.
Objective(s) of the Experiment of pH Measurement
This experiment is carried out to determine the pH of a soil sample.
Equipments and Materials Needed for pH Measurement
1. pH Meter
2. pH Cup
3. Measuring Cylinder
6. 0.02M Ca(OH)2
Procedures of pH Measurement
1. Weigh 10g portion of soil into 100mL cups
2. Add 25ml of distilled water to each cup. This gives an insoluble solution
3. Add 0.02M of Ca(OH)2 to each solution in the sequence 0mL, 2mL, 4 mL, 6 mL, 8 mL, 10 mL, 12 mL, 14 mL, 16 mL, and 18 mL respectively.
4. Stir each to give an insoluble solution.
5. Leave for 24 hours
6. After 24 hours, stir again and with the use of the pH meter, determine the pH for each solution.
Results and Calculations
The results obtained is tabulated as shown below:
Plot a graph with pH as the ordinate (vertical axis) and the volume of Ca(OH)2 as the abscissa (horizontal axis). It would be noticed that the value of the measured pH increases with the increase in the amount of Ca(OH)2 added.
Discussion and Conclusion
It can be concluded that the pH of solutions can be measured using pH meter and this will show whether the solution is alkaline (with pH greater than 7), or acidic (when pH is lower than 7).
1. Researchgate.net. ‘Measuring pH of Soils’. PDF File


I was sitting on the porch the other day and I knew it was Spring when I saw this blackbird wooing one of the little females of his species. She was not paying any attention to his antics and was watching me take pictures. She would move away from him on the wire and he would follow. I felt lucky to catch this shot of him spreading his wings out to impress the little female.
I told my husband he had to mow the grass soon, not because the grass is growing. All the weeds are blooming and letting them go to seed just creates more weeds. I have to admit some of the weeds have some beautiful blooms and my husband’s hive of bees like to collect pollen from them.
What my husband really wants to do is make this half acre garden dry out enough to take his tractor and till all the weeds under. He usually wants to start gardening a month before it is time to begin. Must be the old farmer coming out in him.
So Spring has begun to bloom in our hearts and we are all glad that winter is leaving once again. Love to watch the birds making their nests and the squirrels running around the tree trunks and enjoying the bright sunshine. Happy Spring America.


H & M Farms Ltd. supports the following organizations:
Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program recognizes young farmers that embody excellence in their profession. Their goal is to promote and celebrate progress and excellence in Canadian agriculture.
The mission of Harvest for Kids is to raise awareness of Children's Camps International (CCI) and to raise funds for this organization through sponsorship, advertisement, and grain sales.
"Growing sustainable agriculture for future generations of family, employees, and community."
15 Market Street
Altona, MB, Canada R0G 0B0
Office: (204) 324-5556
Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA) is a not-for-profit organization that represents 3,000 farmers in Manitoba who grow edible beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, faba beans, and soybeans.
The Manitoba Corn Growers Association is headquartered in Carman, Manitoba. The MCGA is directed by a twelve-member grower board of directors dedicated to advancing the corn industry in Manitoba in the areas of market development, promotion, research and education.
Fostering the sustainability and prosperity of the pork industry for hog farmers and all Manitobans.
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives provides programs and services that support our farmers, our rural communities and our diverse agriculture and agri-food sector.
Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) fully supports the province's producers and rural communities, through innovative and targeted risk management and financial programs.


Once you receive your iris rhizomes, the first step is to un-wrap and rinse the rhizomes, inspect them carefully, then place your rhizomes in a container of water that reaches just to the bottom of the foliage. You will need to keep them there until you’re ready to plant them. They can be stored this way for up to a month, but take care not to let them dry out, or you’ll risk the plants going into dormancy.
When you’re planting irises, you want to make sure the soil has a pH of 6.5 or lower. You can add compost and organic matter to acidify alkaline or sandy soils. Add organic material and fertilizer, such as 8-8-8, 13-13-13, Azalea/Camellia fertilizer, or Osmocote to the bed and work into the soil. Organic fertilizers are also effective, although the amounts to use are harder to estimate. Plant your rhizomes with about 1-2 inches of soil over the top of rhizome, and water them in. Mulch also helps hold in moisture while new roots form, and to protect the crowns from freezing in the more northern zones. Ideally, you want to plant them in a triangle about 12 inches apart, to allow for room to increase. The rhizome will grow in the direction the fans are facing, and will also put out new shoots on either side of the mother rhizome.
If possible, prepare beds a few weeks before planting. Louisiana Irises thrive when growing in half to full sun, so choose your planting location carefully. If you’re growing them in full sun, you need to water deeply once a week, especially during dry periods. Do not plant under trees whose roots will absorb all the moisture and fertilizer from your irises. With adequate watering, you will see the flowers flourish.
If planting by a water feature such as a pond, you can plant along the water’s edge. If planting in the water, make sure the foliage is above the water line or the rhizome will die off.
The Louisiana Iris’s growth cycle begins in the fall and continues through winter, culminating in a burst of rapid growth in the spring. That means the best time to plant and divide them is in the fall. You can re-plant them in September or October as well, as this is not long after the new growth period has begun.


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A lawn or backyard is required to be the maintenance from time to time to get it attractive. Lawn owners feel worried when they face the problem of the muddy yard. Do you want to get slip when you walk or play in your ground as the soil of your yard is wet and muddy? So, you need to get some alternative solutions for your muddy yard. One thing is, you have to consider both the safety and beauty of your yard. With this article, we will explain the best way to cover mud in the backyard.
Table of Contents
Ways to Cover Mud in the Backyard
There are many techniques for covering mud in your backyard. Many of them are expensive, and some are cheap and easy to apply. Here are some best methods out of them below to cover mud that you can use to get a good result.
Method-1: Using Brick Blocks.
Using some of the brick blocks in your yard will be an excellent solution to cover your yard. It would be a good plan for you if you would like to place a table with some chairs on your lawn to take pleasure with your family to have coffee or tea daily in the evening. Learn how to level ground for grass
and How to Build an Above Ground Pond with Blocks.
Method-2: Using Wood Logs.
By using some wood logs, you can cover up the pathway in your yard. Before using these wood logs, you have to make sure that you are using those that are not slippery too.
Method-3: Using Rocks on the Soil.
As the ground is open, so the soil makes mud unquestionably. So, you have to cover the earth with hard things like rocks. This process makes the yard look more beautiful. Besides, the path gets safer for a walk in the yard even after the rain.
Method-4: Using Sod.
If your ground is muddy, sod can give you the solution to cover your soil. Just raise a layer of earth about six inches then put the sod on the land to cover it.
Method-5: Using Gravels.
Using gravels on the muddy ground, you can get a permanent solution as fast as you want. So, owners of the yards who want to cover their muddy garden should put gravels on the considered areas, for example, the soil under a big gloom tree that takes more time to dry the ground under it.
Method-6: Using Mulch.
Covering the muddy soil fastest, you can choose the option of wood mulch. This works well. Most of the property owners like to use this for its work art, flexibility, and outward show. This mulch lasts long up to a year. It looks attractive when it applies to cover on the flower bed. Mulch is looking good for ground covering than gravel. You can get mulch available in many colors, but it is expensive.
Method-7: Using Concrete.
Concrete is the most strong, durable, and expensive item. By using concrete, you can cover the areas of your yard that last longer. During rain, you will never feel uncomfortable to walk on this.
Method-8: Using Drainage.
The drainage system can cause for creating mud on the soil if it is inadequate. You have to look at the water that is leaving downwards or spilling over grass. If the water is spelling over grass, it can cause for creating mud on the soil. In this situation, you have to take the initiative to make a system of draining to leave water from your yard by using pipes. As a result, your ground will become dry.
You have to find out the severity of the problem of your yard and apply the best ways to cover the mud in your backyard. The methods here will take forward your yard to the next level beautification. Learn how you can restore a patchy lawn.
How to Dry up Muddy Yard
Lawn owners feel worried when they face the problem of the mud and dirt in the yard. Do you want to get slipped when you walk or play in your ground as the soil of your yard is wet and muddy? So, you need to get some alternative solutions for your muddy yard. One thing is, you have to consider both the safety and beauty of your yard. This article will explain how to dry up the muddy yard.
Sand can cover up the muddy soil, although it is treated like dirt or mud. If the yard is murky, use sand to dry up the land. The sand can cover the mud. As a result, muddy areas will be turned into dry regions. You can get sand everywhere.
By using wood mulch to cover the muddy soil, you can dry up it. This works well. Most of the property owners like to use this for its work art, flexibility, and outward show. This mulch lasts long up to a year. It looks attractive when it applies to cover on the flower bed. Mulch is looking good for ground covering than gravel. You can get mulch available in many colors, but it is expensive.
Using gravels on the muddy ground, you can get a permanent solution as fast as you want to dry up your muddy yard. So, owners of the yards who want to cover their murky garden should put gravels on the considered areas, for example- the soil under a big gloom tree that takes more time to dry the ground under it.
The drainage system is one of the solutions for drying up muddy soil. The drainage system can cause for creating mud on the ground if the system is imperfect. You have to look at the water that is leaving downwards or spilling over grass. If the water is spelling over grass, it can cause for creating mud on the soil. In this situation, you have to take the initiative to make a system of draining to leave water from your yard by using pipes. As a result, your ground will become dry.
Option-5: Kitty Litter:
In your lawn, some of the areas can be uneven or dips that accumulate heavy rainfall. Sometimes, water takes a position for several days and generates muddy in the yard where everybody doesn’t like to spend their time. In this situation, you can apply kitty litters on the mud and get the dry soil.
- Kitty litter
Then try the following steps:
- Step-1: Cover the wet part of the yard with kitty litter carefully.
- Step-2: Wait for overnight to set the litter on the yard. The surplus moisture on the lawn will be absorbed by this kitty litter.
- Step-3: Dig the kitty litter in next day by using a shovel or a rake. Use clump litter so that it can be easy to scoop up the clump to use a shovel. Apply to shovel and regularly rake the litter.
Whether you have a small or big yard, find out the muddy areas in your yard. Then, choose one or more alternatives and apply on your ground to dry up the soil from muddy forms. If you yourself know any special and the best way to cover mud in the backyard, let the lawn community know.
What can I put over muddy ground? ›
Use Gravel or Wood Chips
If your backyard has way too much mud, then adding an inch-high layer of hay, dry leaves, wood chips, or compost might be your secret weapon! An inch or two of pebbles or gravel also work wonders.
Aerating Your Lawn
Common in clay soil, compaction can be remedied by regular aeration. This allows air and water to flow deeper into the soil, enhancing the soils water uptake, strengthening roots and reducing water run-off as a result.
One of the more traditional ways of dealing with wet spots is to incorporate four to six inches of compost into the soil. Adding sand will also help dry out the area. In severe cases of soggy landscape, a drainage system can be installed to intercept and convey water away from the wet area.How do you level muddy ground? ›
Lawn roller, rake, and shovel: Use the shovel to dig into low spots and expose the dirt beneath the grass. Fill the divots with topdressing mix, then use the rake or lawn roller to level the lawn. If the uneven areas are large enough, use a tiller to dig them up.How can I make my backyard less muddy? ›
- Extend Gutter Downspouts.
- Install a French Drain.
- Check Your Grade.
- Create a Creek Bed.
- Create a Rain Garden.
- Dig a Dry Well.
- Look over your muddy yard to see if there are any areas that need to be smoothed out. ...
- Spread hay over the whole area you want to seed. ...
- Sow seed over the freshly covered area. ...
- Rope off the area to keep people from walking on the wet ground.
Adding Sand Not the Solution
Unfortunately, the combination of mud and sand results in a consistency akin to concrete. Although the mixture may stop part of a mud problem, it prohibits drainage even more than when sand wasn't present, resulting in standing water and harming grass health.
Allow the mushy yard area to dry out as much as possible, and then scoop away the grass with a shovel. Place it to the side to be used later. Dig out the grass all around the low area, and in addition, dig a path from the wet area toward the edge of the street where a drain is located or toward your plant beds.Why is my backyard so muddy? ›
Often enough, the root cause of a muddy lawn is nothing more than poor drainage. The next time it rains, take a look at the water leaving your downspouts. Does it flow into a drainage pipe that carries the water away from your lawn or does it spill out over the grass and create a muddy area?What is the least expensive ground cover? ›
- Creeping Periwinkle – $1.07 per plant.
- Walk-on-Me Thyme – $3.99 per plant.
- Moss Phlox – $4.59 per plant.
- Violets and Pansies – Seeds range from $0.95 to $2.95.
- Early Snow Glories – $2.40 per plant.
How can I fix a cheap muddy driveway? ›
If you're looking for a cheap, temporary driveway repair to dry out your muddy driveway, cat litter will work. The clumping kind makes for the easiest cleanup; simply sprinkle the clean (not used!) litter in the mud and wait for it to do its magic. The litter will absorb the water over time, clumping as it goes.What do you do with a muddy slope? ›
To correct this, re-grade your lawn so that it slopes at a rate of at least two percent, or 1/4 inch per foot, away from your house. This encourages rainwater to flow off the lawn. The simplest way to re-grade your lawn is by taking topsoil from the lower side of the lawn and applying it to the upper side.What do you do with a muddy yard in the winter? ›
Pine Flakes/Wood Chips
It is such a great solution. You can place a thick layer of pine flakes on the muddiest parts of your lawn in the winter when your lawn is at its muddiest. Towards the end of winter, the pine flakes will decompose and actually provide a fertilizer for your lawn.


Mulching & Re-Mulching for Beauty
For as long as trees have grown in forests, leaves and needles have fallen to the ground and formed a natural protective layer over the soil. This same protection can be given to the plants in our landscapes by mulching. Mulching can make a big difference in the success of your landscape. Mulches conserve soil moisture, allowing you to water less often; keep down weeds; reduce erosion; keep plant roots cool; provide winter protection; and make your yard more attractive.
Mulches also simplify lawn mowing around trees and shrubs. A ring of mulch allows you to bring your lawn mower right up to the edge of the mulch, eliminating the need for string weeders. At the same time you are protecting tree trunks and surface roots from damage by mowing and clipping equipment.
Our mulch is made from premium bark which is organic. Over time, organic mulches will decompose and become part of the soil. This is a great advantage, because this decomposition adds organic matter to your soil, helping the soil to better retain water and nutrients-giving you healthier plants. This means, however, that organic mulches will have to be replenished from time to time. Our premium bark mulch just makes those replenishments farther apart in time.
Our premium bark mulch is made from the by-products of pine, cypress, or hardwood logs. Most common are shredded bark and bark chunks. Bark mulches resist compaction, will not blow away, are very attractive, and are readily available. Some shredded barks, such as cypress, decompose slowly. Bark chunks (also called nuggets or decorative bark) decompose most slowly but do tend to wash away.
Wood chips are made from many different kinds of trees. Wood chips make an excellent mulch that resists compaction, stays put, and weathers to an attractive silvery-gray color. In addition, they are often available from municipalities or utility companies for little or no cost. However, such "bargain" mulches are likely to contain seeds from trees and other plants that can sprout and create weed problems. Also beware of such mulches that have not been properly aged or composted. Mulch that has not been aged can be toxic to plants due to the formation of organic acids during the decomposition process, and, if placed too close to tender stems, will harm or kill plants. Purchasing mulch from a reputable dealer who has monitored the decomposition process to achieve a high quality, aged product will do a lot to ensure that your valuable plants will not be harmed.
Leaves that have been shredded with a composting mower are sometimes used as a summer mulch, although they decompose very quickly. Whole leaves can be used instead, but they tend to mat together and block water movement into the soil. We do not use leaves.
We analyze your lawn and yards needs and then recommend the mulch which will best suit your needs. We usually prefer an organic mulch since it can fulfill a number of needs with the least overall concern for side impacts to your yard's beauty.
HOW MUCH MATERIAL DO I NEED TO COVER AN AREA? FIND OUT HERE!
If you have questions about mulching for your yard - please contact us.


As winter fades, students at Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall Elementary School in Groveland, Massachusetts, can be seen scurrying about the freshly dug school garden planting Swiss chard, spinach, peas, and pumpkin seeds. The first three items will be harvested by mid-June to make way for a second crop.
The pumpkin patch will be watered and pampered until fall when each pumpkin will then be boiled, baked, and blended in the school kitchen and offered to students at lunchtime or during one of the school’s monthly events called Tasting Tuesday.
After all the digging, planting, and watering students will have done over the summer, most will rush to the front of the lunch line for a serving of made-from-scratch pumpkin pie, soup or other savory dish.
“The students take great pride and ownership of what comes out of that garden,” says Lisa Stevens, a paraeducator at Bagnall who works with several classes on the garden. “Once something is served in the cafeteria from the garden, they will pick it over french fries.”
Not all pumpkins will be sliced and simmered. Some will be used as lesson props to be measured (math), dissected (science) and pondered (journaling). Others will be donated to a local food bank. Whatever the outcome of garden produce, the goal for educators and parents is simple: cultivate food-smart youths.
“The garden enables students to have an outdoor classroom where they can learn in a hands-on manner,” says Melissa Montello, a parent volunteer who serves as the garden coordinator. “You know they are learning because you can see the look of joy on their faces when they harvest a carrot or potato.”
Bagnall obtained a $5,000 National Education Association (NEA) grant through the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) to support expansion of the garden as part of the state’s Farm to School project. Based in Amherst, the farm project began in 2004 to encourage students to study the origins of food while helping persuade them to make healthy choices during meal times.
In the U.S., obesity rates have tripled over the past three decades according to recent studies. While current government standards regulate the nutritional content of school meals that are subsidized by the federal government, most lunchrooms also have a la carte lines that sell high-fat, high-calorie foods. Foods sold through vending machines are not federally regulated.
Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama has championed the development of school meals that are healthy, tasty, and affordable versus those that are cooked off site, frozen, and then reheated. Through her “Let’s Move” campaign, Mrs. Obama is also stressing the importance of exercise as well as student education about diet.
“When you ask children something like, “Where do carrots come from,” they will say, ‘The grocery store,’” says Donna Johnson, an education support professional (ESP) and president of the University Staff Association at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “When children get their hands in the dirt, plant something and see it grow, they want to try it when it appears at the table. That’s half the battle: getting them to taste it.”
Johnson has been instrumental in expanding Farm to School projects and school gardens across the state. With funding and training support from MTA and NEA, Johnson says ESPs more than any other group have helped to develop healthy cafeteria menus, obtain technical advice on plant selection, and provide curriculum guides on how to use gardens as a teaching tool. At the national level, NEA has identified Massachusetts as a model state for expanding the Farm to School project across the nation.
Creating more school gardens is not the project’s only goal. Wide-reaching objectives include: developing more Farm to School training opportunities for ESPs; promoting annual Kitchen Table Talks (roundtable discussions than bring together school superintendents, principals, educators, farmers, government agriculture officials, and health industry representatives); and getting ESPs to work closer with parents, local business leaders and farmers.
“We want ESPs to be able to talk with farmers about everything from plant selection for school gardens to the timing and shelf-life of crops,” Johnson says. “Gardens tie everyone together. You have ESPs and teachers working next to parents, and you have students visiting farms on field trips.”
Johnson singles out paraeducators in Amherst who started a Fruit of the Month event at district schools where they incorporate fruit items in lectures, recipes, coloring books, and vocabulary lessons.
“Students benefit the most from the garden’s inquiry-based learning opportunities,” says Montello, a mother of three, including two daughters at Bagnall. For example, in math class students are asked to estimate how many plants can fit into the garden beds. In life sciences, they learn about soil, insects, rain, and other variables that can contribute to a successful crop season. The garden’s sprinkler system becomes a teaching tool that stresses the importance clean water can have on the environment.
As summer approaches, an “Adopt-the-Garden” request letter will be sent home with students requesting help during summer. Last summer, 26 families volunteered.
This June, students are set to plant a pizza garden (tomatoes, basil, peppers, oregano) and a colonial apothecary garden (rosemary, lemon verbena, thyme, sage, parsley, lavender). Beans, winter squash, cucumbers, corn, and zucchini are also planned. Strawberries and raspberries, sunflowers and zinnias will round out this year’s garden.
“Many families report that their children asked them to participate over the summer because they (students) really enjoyed their time in the garden during the school year,” says Montello. “That’s very gratifying.”


Here in Montana, you would think accessing fresh, organic produce would be nearly impossible due to our arid conditions and endless winters. Here’s the thing: that’s not true! In 2016, the USDA found that Montana had more than 266,000 acres dedicated to certified organic farming run by 156 operations. Organic agriculture in Montana has been expanding ever since. At Feast, we could not be more delighted.
At Feast Raw Bar & Bistro, we are privileged to source many of our ingredients from organic, local purveyors. Having access to such incredible, organic bounty right here close to home in Montana is what makes the food we prepare unique, fresh, and memorable. It’s why our guests find our food so special and why locals consider Feast one of the best Bozeman restaurants.
We take pride in partnering with local farmers, ranchers, and suppliers who have dedicated themselves to organic farming practices and raise, grow, and produce remarkable food. One of the incredible Montana purveyors we have the pleasure of partnering with is Cloud Nine Farm, a family-operated farm well-known in the region for its super leafy greens and seed mixes. Let us introduce you to the impactful methods Cloud Nine Farm uses to farm their organic produce and share with you some of the ways we incorporate their products into our Feast-favorite dishes.
What are the Benefits of Organic Food?
Demand for fresh organic fruit and vegetables has been rising and for a good reason. There are many benefits. One benefit is that organic farming practices help improve soil health and water quality. Better soil and water lead to better produce. Another benefit of organic food is that studies show that produce grown using organic farming methods has lower traces of pesticides. So, it means that organic food is good for the environment and good for our bodies. Cloud Nine Farm has been organic farming for over a decade.
About Cloud Nine Farm
Located in the breathtaking Shields River Valley, Wilsall, MT, is a small, thriving cowboy town where the annual summer Wilsall Rodeo draws in locals from the surrounding areas. It is the kind of place where you go to get away from the crowds and be surrounded by sweeping landscapes. Just outside of town— positioned at an elevation of 5,300 feet—is where you will find Cloud Nine Farm.
Started in 2008 by Allison and Seann Rooney, Cloud Nine Farm is a biodiverse family farm that specializes in raising livestock and growing vegetables, herbs, seedlings, and fruit trees. The produce they grow includes an Amazing Braising Mix, which is an “ever-changing blend of baby to mid-size leafy greens, shoots, and blossoms of over 20 different kinds of plants.” They also grow four varieties of specialty greens: spicy Asian Radish, nutrient-dense broccoli, colorful Spicy Mix, and a nutty sunflower. Along with their specialty greens, they also cultivate a dynamic seasonal salad mix blend, heirloom romaine hearts, and pasture seed mixes.
Cloud Nine Farm is highly dedicated to holistically growing its produce and only growing its greens in small batches. They call this their ‘holisticgoal’ because their goal is to farm a regenerated and biodiverse landscape. They believe their farm can contribute to building local food security while creating a space for rest and regeneration. They never use harmful or poisonous chemicals or GMOs in their farming processes. And their greens are carefully chosen for their rich flavors, diverse textures, wonderful colors, and dense nutrient contents. Their dream is to “grow beautiful, great tasting foods that are good medicine for body, heart, and soul!”
How We Use Cloud Nine Farm Products
In our menu, we love to garnish our dishes with the flavorful and nutrient-dense microgreens produced by Cloud Nine Farms. In particular, their Asian Radish are especially delicious on our sashimi plates. This spicy mix adds a fresh kick to the grilled meats of our Butcher’s Cut. And like so many of our other dishes, when we use Cloud Nine Farm produce, our plates show the passion of people who produce delicious, organic food.
The Importance of Locally Sourced Produce
We are advocates for sourcing our produce locally from within the state we love so much. Locally sourced produce and ingredients are important because they help lift up our community by supporting our local economy. They are great for the environment, and the quality of local produce—like that grown at Cloud Nine Farm—is very high and always incredibly fresh. Locally-sourced food is what makes our meals extraordinary and our guests’ dining experiences unique. It is why we are proud to be one of the best places to eat in Bozeman.


M.A.K. has a long tradition as a trusted partner to the agricultural industry.
The M.A.K. team is in constant contact with agricultural operators and agronomists in the most relevant areas for agriculture around the world, including Brazil and Uruguay in the American Sphere, India, Thailand and Pakistan in the Asian Sphere, and Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, and Ukraine in the European Sphere.
We are constantly working to optimize agricultural and commercial production to improve the livelihoods of an ever-growing global population.
In addition to our wide range of products such as fertilizers, grain, and oils, we offer products for live stock and processing industry such as lactic acid bacteria/ yogurt cultures.


Green Acres Sidebar
to Green Acres-]
Of the hundreds of visitors who join in Brae Maple's Open
Farm Day activities every summer, many are customers from the area
farmers' markets, where most of the Smiths' produce is sold. Among
the stars of Open Farm Day — indeed, every day — are the Smiths'
Scottish highland cattle.
Brae Maple beauty
Allan and Andrea Smith's hilltop farm in Union is as
picturesque as it is productive. The Smiths make their living on the
plants and produce they sell to their community. Perennial gardens and
educational displays on the farm help their visitors connect with the
But the real crowd-pleasers, in addition to inquisitive donkeys and a
surly goat, are the Scottish highland cattle with their long red
"Andrea does some spinning and makes ornaments from the wool, and they
dispose of the surplus from the gardens and give us fertilizer, but
this is a retirement community for the animals for the most part,"
says Allan Smith, describing each member of the herd by name, birth
date and personality. "People really look forward to the cows and the
sheep and the donkeys when they come out here. (The animals) keep us
busy in the winter and we just like to have them around."
The Smiths also host University of Maine Cooperative Extension's
Master Gardener Program, welcoming dozens of area garden enthusiasts
to their farm to practice sustainable gardening techniques, test new
gardening methods and conduct field trials.
"The master gardeners have been here for 10 years. It's been one of
the best things that we've done," says Smith. "We share a lot of great
ideas, and they have just been good friends. We get an amazing turnout
for Open Farm Day, and we just couldn't do (the event) without them."


Supervised by the County Commissioners, this department is responsible for enforcement of the State Noxious Weed Law; the Idaho Department of Agriculture Rules and Regulations and the County Noxious Weed Ordinance. The department's activities include inspecting land in Latah County for compliance with the above laws, rules, regulations and ordinances, while checking for the invasion of weeds new to the state or county or new outbreaks of known noxious weeds and to consult, advise and provide direction on matters pertaining to the most effective and practical methods of noxious weed control.
- Inspecting Lands for Compliance
- Checking for New Weed Invasions
- Advising on Noxious Weed Control
Idaho Noxious Weed Book
A free copy of the Idaho Noxious Weed Book is available for Latah County residents. A PDF copy is also available.


The purity law of 1516 is considered the oldest food law. It states that only the raw materials hops and malt, water and yeast may be used to make beer, any other addition is prohibited. This guarantees the unique purity of the beer, to which German brewers have long been committed and which can also be found more and more abroad.
The grain from the field must first be converted into malt. For this purpose, barley or wheat is usually germinated by soaking it in water. During this work step, enzymes are formed that have to perform important tasks in the later brewing process. The germinated grain is then dried at temperatures of up to 80 – 110 ° C to make it durable.
Furthermore, this drying process has the greatest influence on the later color of the beer: the stronger the temperature, the darker the malt and thus the beer.
Driver – Kurpfälzer beer since 1880.
One name, one region – top quality.


* Information used as a preamble in this post is intended to provide context and is not intended as political commentary or opinion.*
The 1990’s in the Philippines saw an extensive conversion of agricultural lands to golf courses, residential subdivisions, industrial parks and resorts on various islands. Some land owners felt pressured to sell the land for lack of capital for seed, labour and other basic farming necessities. In addition to reduced agricultural lands, need for high crop yields meant a reliance on chemical based fertilizers and pesticides. In recent years there has been an increased focus on the environment and organic farming. In the Philippines there is currently a 40% rural poverty rate – food security is a necessity and not just a buzz word or ideal.
Across the Republic, the average age of farmers is 57, with a life span of around 70 years. With many younger people leaving for bigger cities, the lack of a new generation of farmers is critical for food security. Here on Tablas Island, at the Romblon Breeding Station and Farmers Training school, a whole new generation of farmers are being trained to participate in local agriculture.
I was welcomed by Emile, who showed me to the shallow disinfecting pool I drove my motorbike through. The school has a focus on organic farming methods, teaches animal husbandry, and has many gardens, groves and greenhouses (covered in black mesh to shade, rather than to capture heat). I could have driven up, but I walked so I could see more as I went along. Walking uphill in the heat seemed to amuse quite a few people along the way…only a foreigner would walk.
I stopped at the lookout to view the Station’s fields, crops and livestock areas. Students were in the school but a teacher came out to speak with me after hearing I was from Canada and had a farm. (Farm Cred, … always a door opener). I asked what some of the challenges were for local farmers, and he said that while there is increased support for agriculture overall, at the local level it can be difficult to access grants needed to set up infrastructure for farming.
Some farms are smaller holdings where market vegetables and fruits are produced and sold locally at a town market, or most often at roadside stands. For larger scale farming, the land owner may typically receive 60% of the crop profit and the workers 40%. Depending on the size of the operation, or a particular skill, an average farmer makes between $5,000 pesos (around $110 Cdn) to $10,000 pesos (around $215 Cdn) a year. Hence the rural 40% poverty rate.
I was advised to go to the market in Odiognan on Wednesday or Saturday, as smaller farms bring their ‘natural’ vegetables (usually smaller and tastier, no genetic modification etc). On the other days, produce displayed may have travelled some distance to market – with no refrigeration, they would not be as fresh as local goods, and more imported foods are displayed. Most food produced in a municipality is consumed there.
Our discussion turned to sheep – I had seen white sheep with a scruff of wool, much like our St. Croix sheep on our farm in west coast Canada.
I asked the breed and didn’t quite get the name, except that they were native to the island. They also breed sheep and goats together and the cross-species was a larger, rangier, brown spotted animal that was intended to be hardier and more non-selective eaters. Locals purchase piglets, geese, goats and other animals from the Station to raise for their own food.
After speaking with the teacher, I hiked up a steep mountain behind the Station for the stunning 360 degree view of agricultural lands. Hot and humid but so worth it!
Lessons of the Day:
We consider our Happy Willow Bottom Farm to be small scale, at 6 acres. I learned that would be a large private holding here that would produce enough for many families with surplus for market.
Food security not a land use goal here, it is a life necessity – if you don’t produce food, you have to buy it, which can be prohibitive for many. Or you go hungry.
Organic farming on Tablas Island translates to ‘traditional farming’. Not a new concept, but a way of life. We could learn a lot from this.
“The average person in North America is still under the aberrant delusion that food should be somebody else’s responsibility until they’re ready to eat it”. – Joel Salatin


In this article, we'll dive into the fascinating world of the coffee plant, its various species and varieties, and the unique flavor profiles they offer.
Coffee comes from the evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae family, known as the coffee plant. Interestingly, the fruit of the coffee plant, called a cherry, is smaller and denser than the cherries we commonly eat. Once harvested, the fruits are carefully selected, dried, and then roasted.
The coffee plant grows in various countries in Asia, Africa, and America. This area is often called the "coffee belt" or "equatorial belt," and it tends to expand north and south due to climate change. Over time, the size of the coffee plant has decreased, making it easier to harvest. Today, exporters, importers, and roasters work closely with producers to constantly improve the quality of coffee.
In botany, a species is a classification category that groups organisms having common characteristics.
There are two most well-known species of coffee plants: Arabica (Coffea arabica) and Robusta (Coffea canephora). These two species have very different organoleptic profiles, each offering specific taste qualities.
The organoleptic qualities of a food include its color, appearance, consistency, texture, taste, and smell.
The Robusta coffee plant is often used in espresso blends due to its high caffeine content, which gives it an intense flavor. Moreover, when roasted, it produces a lot of carbon dioxide, creating a rich crema.
On the other hand, the Arabica coffee plant grows at higher altitudes, allowing it to absorb more terroir characteristics, thus offering a more subtle and complex taste. Additionally, the Arabica species includes many varieties, offering a wide range of organoleptic profiles.
Over the years, coffee specialists have discovered and rediscovered other species such as Coffea eugenioides and Coffea stenophylla, also known as highland coffee. These less-known species seem to better resist new climatic conditions and the resulting diseases.
Within each species, there are many coffee varieties. These varieties correspond to subdivisions within the species. They exhibit differences in terms of shape, color, size, and also taste. For example, within Arabica, we have the Typica and Bourbon varieties.
Therefore, it is important to understand that when we talk about Arabica and Robusta coffee species, we are referring to the overall type of coffee, while the varieties represent the many unique differentiations within these global species.
Similarly, the different coffee varieties are gaining importance. Micro-roasters often mention the variety names on packaging to inform consumers. Indeed, some varieties offer very specific taste profiles, sometimes more marked than the species or production region.
Just as a winemaker masters the art of highlighting a terroir and grape varieties, a roaster reveals the unique taste of each coffee bean.
In conclusion, coffee species such as Arabica and Robusta offer unique taste profiles, and, combined with the different coffee varieties, add even more diversity to the pleasures of coffee. The next time you sip your cup of coffee, take a moment to appreciate the journey this delicious beverage has traveled from its plant origin to your cup.


He reports: “It was known from the outset that the season would be influenced by the El Niño current, which dominated the vintage with significant delays in grape development. This finally culminated in abundant precipitation in the central zone which was especially concentrated in Casablanca, Rapel, Maipo and Colchagua Valley. A record amount of very heavy rain fell specifically between April 14 – 17, a key red grape picking time in this year’s vintage.”
The result has been a challenging year with red varieties being hardest hit resulting in decreased yields.
He reports that Santa Rita Estates did manage to harvest all of its white grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Limarí Syrah along with some of their premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère before the rains hit.
“1998 was the last vintage to be significantly affected by the El Niño current but with nothing like the amount of rain that fell this year,” said Alemparte. “With the decrease in volume and the inconsistent quality of some of the grapes price increases are expected across the Chilean wine industry, especially in mass-consumption wines.
“At the industry level, production is estimated to be down 25%. The Santa Rita and Carmen red grape crops are down an estimated 10% however the real impact of the April rains will be known later in the year when the winemaking process is fully complete. Santa Rita Estates do expect to be able to meet the demands of all of our customers.”
Argentina did experience some heavy rain during harvest but nothing like that in Chile. Syrah was the main victim but Santa Rita reports the majority of its Doña Paula brandred grapes being picked prior to the rainfall.
Alemparte said: “One area yielding some excellent grapes in Chile is Cauquenes which saw considerably less of the rain covering the rest of the country. Gualtallary, in Argentina’s Uco Valley, along with other well drained areas were also largely unaffected by rain and have produced some excellent grapes.
“Although the overall harvest was complicated, wines made from red grapes picked prior to the rainfall are expected to be of good quality. The same can be said of the Chardonnays and Syrah’s that were picked early (with good ripeness, such as those from Limarí) and Pinot Noir from Leyda. Another plus is with both Chilean and Argentinian vintages running late alcohol levels are predominantly low and the resulting extraordinary freshness of the wines is a positive outcome from one of the most trying vintages in recent years,” said Alemparte.