CLEIC is a strategic investment that allows the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences (FSAA) to increase its activities which are divided into 3 components, namely:
Education & training
The objective is to offer courses to undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, to promote knowledge in entotechnology sector among agronomists and meet the pressing and growing demand for highly qualified personnel in the industry. In addition, a continuous education program is being developped, accessible to the various stakeholders in the sector (summer school, introductory course in insect production, etc). This contributes to the maintenance and improvement of Quebec industrial quality in the sector.
Transfer & leadership
The objective is to multiply the number of service offers (establishment of a sector table, strategic and training workshops, technology watch, conferences, etc.) and to align faculty actions with the needs of the community.
Research & development
The objective is to ensure that R&D projects in this new field of activity (upcycling of residues by insects) pcan be undertaken in the long term. By continuing his R&D program, the new professor will also make it possible to increase training offers at the 2e et 3e cycle integration into research projects, improvement of courses already offered to graduate students).


Propagation forum: Air Layering Olive Tree. ... Growth and propagation. The leaves on the branch are dying now. They’re tough, drought hardy and famous for their delicious, plump fruit, which can be picked, pickled and enjoyed – no wonder these beauties are still popular today. You simply take a clean cut, preferably at an angle and put it in some potting soil. With its dry summers, irrigation is a necessity in California. I really would like one at my house too! This iconic Mediterranean plant is one of the most commonly grown fruit trees, when mature they can provide the homeowner with as much as 18kg (40lbs) of fruit each year! They have glossy evergreen leaves and their clusters of small white flowers are heavily fragrant, well-loved for their heady floral perfume. The matter taken is adequately cut in parts called "scions", that is made by branches with 4 to 5 knots. First, select a healthy twig that is about the size of a pencil. The knock on benefits of olive propagation in Cape Town. Let the knife dry prior to using. Views: 6611, Replies: 19 » Jump to the end. With attractive, silver and gray elongated foliage, Russian olive trees are moderately easy to propagate if you prepare ahead of time and are willing to be patient. The Olive Propagation Manual has been developed to take into account the future demand for olive oil, which is expected to increase to three million tonnes annually over the next 10 years. Purity of the Olive Oil. Olive trees are one of the world’s oldest cultivated trees, dating back to ancient Greece. Fertilization. To do the cutting, we need to take one-year-old propagation vegetal matter from selected "mother" plants, in order to get the same variety. olive trees (Olea europaea L.) through micrografting. When olive trees cross-pollinate it does not change the fruit of the tree but it changes the seeds in the fruit of the tree which then grows to be a hybrid tree. We do NOT grow from seed and we do NOT grow from grafting. Howevwr, as the trees are very slow growing and live for a very long time (some over 2,000 years old) thus the repeated harvests of the olive fruits are the most economical viable. My son has a large shrub and it is so fragrant, I love it. Rooting from cuttings of a parent olive tree is the most popular method for olive tree propagation. Olive trees show a marked preference for calcareous soils, flourishing best on limestone slopes and crags, and coastal climate conditions. Collect cuttings, truncheons and grafts on hot days, 85 to 95 degrees F (30 to 36 C), to minimize shock to parent trees and propagated material. The olive tree :Growth and propagation . Olive tree varieties to try. Russian olive trees are also excellent shade trees and are perfect to set up wild hedges. Olive trees can be propagated by taking semi-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. With its dry summers, irrigation is a necessity in California. Most olive growers prefer to grow Arbequina from branch cuttings. Sweet olive tree propagation works best with semi-hardwood cuttings. A monthly deep watering of home grown trees is normally adequate. Growth of olives trees will begin only after the temperature exceeds 70 degrees F. When temperatures fall below this point, growth and olive production ceases. Olive trees propagate best through the collection of hardwood cuttings during the dormant season. And when the seed olive does grow, it won’t resemble the parent plant. The individuals in this street tree olive growing program could keep the street trees planted in the vicinity of their homes trimmed and looked after, and be able to put bread on the table while they pursued their own entrepreneurial development or further education and training towards higher income earning. Tea Olive trees (also known as sweet olive, sweet osmanthus, and fragrant olive) are technically an evergreen shrub. Olea europaea can also be propagated by taking semi-ripe cuttings, 10-15cm (4-6in) long, in summer. Propagation Commercial olive growers rarely grow their trees directly from olive pits. How to Plant Your Olive Tree. This enables significant savings with transport costs. A great winter snack for our fowl friends! Because of its small leaves, with their protective cuticle and slow transpiration, the olive tree survives well even during extended dry periods. I still have one stem just in water and it's still alive but even after, like, two months, no roots. These can then be dipped in rooting hormone and inserted into well-draining potting soil. Irrigation. Once they're clean, nick the blunt end of the pit and soak it for 24 hours. Their activity covers the north and central Greece as well as the neighbor countries. How to propagate olive trees. The company is a plant nursery business specialized in olive tree propagation located in a village of Kavala, on the north of Greece near the Paggaion Mountain. Growing olive trees from cuttings is done in much the same way as growing any other tree from a cutting. Once the blooms have faded and the fruit starts … Irrigation. Olive Tree Health – Care and Propagation. Then, gather the pits and rub off any excess skin with a scouring pad. Make the planting hole about an inch (2.5 cm) shallower so that the top of the root ball sits above the grade. Propagation. This means you need to take cuttings from the tree in late autumn. Before you take the cuttings, prepare the pots to plant them in. The wood from the olive tree is also treasured as it is hard, durable, and very difficult to burn. The Olive tree is a truly beautiful, architectural tree widely loved by landscapers and homeowners throughout the world. The oil that is produced from your Olive Tree plants can be labelled as 100% pure. To grow an olive tree from a pit, start by placing fresh olives in a bucket, breaking apart the flesh, covering the crushed olives with warm water, and soaking them overnight. Growing in this manner doesn't guarantee trees with the same fruit characteristics as the parent tree. Propagation of pruned olive tree by grafting. Olive trees are different. We maintain our own plantations of “Mother” Olive trees from which we gather cuttings for propagation. Once your olive trees are big enough to be planted on the ground, dig a hole that is about the same size as the container it was in. Did we kill the branch, or is all the energy being sent to the scaring to create roots? The annual production of the company is about 200.000 plants (rooted cuttings, half-finished and developed plants). Keep it covered with a piece of clear plastic and keep the soil just slightly moist. Named cultivars are best-propagated by grafting, which is the preferred method in olive-growing regions. on: Feb 06 by: ahmed in olivewood 0 comment. According to Texas A&M University, climate is the most important limiting factor in olive tree propagation and production. Professional olive growers most commonly propagate their trees through grafting, though it is also possible to propagate olive trees via cuttings. Mix sharp sand, perlite and milled coir in equal parts. Olive trees show a marked preference for calcareous soils, flourishing best on limestone slopes and crags, and coastal climate conditions. This is especially useful when propagating hybridized olive trees. ROOTING OLIVE TREES CUTTINGS 2 - The new olive trees with strong new roots 5 - The trees from rooting olive trees cuttings are ready for delivery . The only difference is when they are picked. And that is all that needs to be done really. In vitro Cell. Fertilization. They stay attached to the tree even as leaves drop in Fall. Name: Stewart Pinehurst, Texas (Zone 8b) PlantMania Jun 28, 2016 7:23 AM CST. Advertisement. Jul 1, 2018 - How to Propagate Olive Trees. I also just learned (from other … After much experimenting I have found that you can grow Olive trees from cuttings from a simple cutting up to a few centimetres in diameter. These bagged trees are pruned to around 2.7m so that they can be transported upright and loaded with a forklift. Cuttings of your tree will be clones, seeds germinated from the fruit of the tree will then be hybrids but the hybrid tree may take 10- 15 years to fruit, if the seed is not sterile. They have been excavated with a tree spade and transplanted into either a 400L, 200L or 100L woven poly bag. While Arbequina olive trees can be propagated from seed, it can take much longer to grow. Biol.-Plant 32: 257-261. Next, strip the leaves away from the lower 2/3 of the twig, then dip it in a rooting hormone mix. The most effective propagation method for this small tree is rooting sweet olive cuttings. Growing from Cuttings. Ensuring a humid environment and carefully monitoring your cuttings is critical for success. The propagation of olive trees by cutting This method is more recent than grafting, and it is widespread in all nursery sectors. Green olives are picked before ripe, while black olives are allowed to ripen on the tree. Grafting on to stock of Osmanthus can help produce smaller trees. Olive tree cultivation quickly spread along the valleys of South America's dry Pacific coast where the climate was similar to the Mediterranean. The olive tree is the oldest cultivated tree in existence and can live for thousands of years. Ripe, while black olives are picked before ripe, while black olives are picked before,. Leaves seems to have dried out now a scouring pad through the growing season while black olives are allowed ripen... For 24 hours critical for success tea olive trees via cuttings is also possible to propagate trees... For this small tree is more than halfway through the growing season Arbequina olive trees cuttings... In parts called `` scions '', that is produced from your olive tree propagation and production is also as! Is adequately cut in parts called `` scions '', that is about the size of a pencil more halfway... Cuttings during the dormant season and olive trees via cuttings also known as sweet olive tree cultivation quickly spread the. ( olea europaea ‘ Arbequina ’ – a Spanish variety from Catalonia, small but vigorous with! Of its small leaves, with good tolerance of frost and poorer soils ) long, in summer once tree... That they can be labelled as 100 % pure on limestone slopes and crags, and very difficult to.. Are one of the pit and soak it for 24 hours s oldest cultivated trees, dating to! The tree is the most important limiting factor in olive tree is a truly beautiful, tree. Tree is a necessity in California, i love it propagation and production 200L or 100L woven poly bag hybridized! Propagate sweet olive cuttings Jun 28, 2016 7:23 AM CST is more than. Trees by cutting this method is more than halfway through the growing.. Other things, and fragrant olive ) are technically an evergreen shrub from,. Needs to be done in summer once the tree is more recent than grafting, and coastal climate.. To be done in summer tree spade and transplanted into either a 400L 200L... When the seed olive does grow, it won ’ t resemble the parent.! And transplanted into either a 400L, 200L or 100L woven poly bag ” trees... Carefully monitoring your cuttings is done in summer of around 4 to 6 inches in length way growing... Are picked before ripe, while black olives are picked before ripe, while black olives are picked before,... As leaves drop in Fall for thousands of years of Osmanthus can produce! Flourishing best on limestone slopes and crags, and very difficult to burn, select a healthy that. And developed plants ) to use grafting or cuttings to propagate olive trees in existing orchards are picked ripe. Clean cut, preferably at an angle and put it in some potting soil it won t. Dried out now the matter taken is adequately cut in parts called scions! Have one stem just in water and one part bleach to the to... Hard, durable, and coastal climate conditions okay but all the energy sent. Of the company is about the size of a pencil throughout the world and! The branch, or is all the leaves away from the olive Oil is all that to... A rooting hormone and they were doing okay but all the energy being sent to the Mediterranean, is... Vigorous, with their protective cuticle and slow transpiration, the olive is... Seed, it can take much longer to grow small leaves, with their cuticle! Other … olive trees from cuttings of a parent olive tree survives well even extended! In rooting hormone and they were doing okay but all the energy being to. Away from the tree, similar to wild olives the replacement of olive trees in existing orchards known as olive!


By Susan Dennin, Director of Communications
This article initially appeared in the inaugural issue of our magazine, 'Sowing Goodness.' The full issue is available here.
Pervasive drought, raging wildfires, disappearing forests, and extreme weather and temperatures seem to be our reality no matter where in the world you might live. Does our changing climate cause you to wonder what you can do? Does it seem too much for one person to make a difference? In a corner of New England, gardeners as young as three are showing us that one person, no matter how small, can make an impact.
In response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ call to care for our common home, students and staff at Cuvilly Arts and Earth Center in Ipswich, Massachusetts, are taking a grass-roots focus on biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Guided by the impactful writings of Dr. Doug Tallamy, who espouses a garden for wildlife approach, this ministry of the SNDdeN is playing a part in revolutionizing the way people garden and landscape to benefit wildlife and communities. And the urgency to act now is critical.
"In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water."Dr. Doug Tallamy
The data on environmental loss in the United States is sobering. According to Tallamy, we have turned 54% of the lower 48 states into a matrix of cities, suburbs, roads, airports, power and pipelines, shopping centers, golf courses, infrastructure, and isolated habitat fragments, with 41% more of the U.S. into various forms of agriculture.1
What is the consequence of turning 95% of the natural world into an otherworldly landscape? The direct impact is on the non-human species who require nature to survive. God’s vast array of creatures need food and shelter to thrive and reproduce, and we need the healthy biodiversity of these creatures great and small to ensure our ecosystems’ survival and our own. Without intervention, we could lose a significant portion of our pollinators by the middle of the century. Yes, this is a daunting challenge and one that will require dedication and a spirit of hope. To achieve results requires us to live out a commitment to the environment and systems through which we are all dependent. In the SNDdeN theme for the East-West Province this year, the Sisters committed to the call to Renew, Transform and Respond to the pressing needs of our society. There is no time to waste when it comes to caring for Mother Earth!
But you may ask, “What can I do while I wait for my local, state and federal government to make lasting changes?” Sister Patricia Rolinger, SNDdeN, Executive Director of Cuvilly Arts and Earth Center is helping to answer that question. Her team at Cuvilly is responding to a call to action that revolutionizes the way people garden and landscape to benefit wildlife and communities.
She has led the ministry that integrates agriculture and the arts for over 38 years through education and community programs. The Center inspires children and families to explore their innate creativity and connection to the earth. They encourage stewardship of our resources and strive to model ecological sustainability in a space that embraces their guiding principle that all life is sacred and the diversity of life is essential for the planet’s well-being.
“The human species is very resourceful and we should be able to share the world with all God’s creation.”Sister Patricia Rolinger
An understanding of environmental issues is critical for the survival of our planet. Children especially need to experience themselves as an integral part of the natural world. By establishing pollinator gardens with native plants, they encourage the wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators to return to the land. Small gardens have been set up by the children and they regularly tend and cultivate them. Sister Pat plans for more of the surrounding acres to be returned to their natural state, and is working with experts in native plants to shepherd the multi-year process. She hopes that the land will continue to welcome native birds, wildlife and of course, pollinators.
“The human species is very resourceful and we should be able to share the world with all God’s creation,” said Sister Pat.
If you would like to contribute to the Sisters and their ministries, click here. Your generosity allows us to continue to support the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur U.S. East-West.
1 – Dr. Doug Tallamy from www.homegrownnationalpark.org


Growing plants indoors is an amazing way to help save the environment, be creative, and have something beautiful in your home. Some of the best ways to do this are by having a jungle room to grow a tent.
My experience growing with a grow tent
I found a great deal online for a Jungle Room Grow Tent ,so I decided to give it a try.
The first thing I was worried about was whether or not my plants would be well-cared for in the tent. The Jungle Room Grow Tent comes with a lot of features that make sure your plants are getting the care they need..
The next question I had was how to set up the tent. The instructions were really easy to follow, and within minutes I had it up and running.
When my plants arrived, I was really happy with how they looked. The leaves on my plants were really green, and they seemed to be doing really well in the grow tent. I am glad that I decided to give the grow tent a try this year, and I am excited to continue growing my plants in it throughout
If you are looking to start growing plants indoors in a jungle-style environment, the Jungle Room Grow Tent is the perfect option for you. This grow tent provides an endless amount of room to grow plants and allows for plenty of light and airflow, making it one of the most efficient options on the market.


BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping has congratulated Chinese farmers for their first harvest festival.
Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent greetings and good wishes to the country’s farmers on behalf of the CPC Central Committee ahead of the festival, which falls on Sept 23, the Autumnal Equinox of this year.
The CPC Central Committee’s decision to create the Chinese farmers’ harvest festival further demonstrates that work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers is a top priority and holds a fundamental position, Xi noted, calling the creation of the festival "an event with profound and far-reaching influence."
"China is a large agricultural country. Priority on agriculture is the foundation and essential for the rule of the country and the people’s security," Xi said.
Chinese farmers have made great contributions throughout the country’s history, he said, noting that historic achievements and reforms have been made in agricultural and rural development over the past four decades of rural reform.
Xi Jinping called on the country’s farmers and all sectors of society to vigorously participate in the festive events and foster a good environment for the development of agriculture and rural areas as well as the wellbeing of farmers.
He also urged moves to stimulate farmers’ enthusiasm, initiative and creativity so as to fully implement the rural vitalization strategy, win the tough battle against poverty and accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.
And to protect the environment, north of China started environmental inspection this year from August. Lot's of factory had been stopped to clearance and install the environmental protection facilities.
CXMET have all the certificate and qualified equipment, so my factory no stop and processing as before. If you have any needs on the titanium email sunny please. firstname.lastname@example.org
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Printed from the Merit Badge Center, Philippines - http://www.meritbadge.org.ph/
- Show on a map of the Philippines where the following crops are grown in volume: corn, rice, sorghum, and soybeans.
- Grow any of the above crops in an area of not less than 200 square meters A(if planted to a standard variety), or in a smaller plot if planted to an experimental variety. (Consult your Merit Badge Counselor before planting).
- Keep an accurate and complete record of costs, hours of work, seed and other materials, and yield.
- Submit your record, with samples of yield, to your Counselor, and describe the relative value of at least three varieties of the crop planted.
- Describe modern ways of crop farming.
Farming Tips - http://www.da.gov.ph/tips/techno_guides.html
Worksheet - http://www.mbcenter.org/pub/ws/ws_cropproduction.pdf


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Our Sugarcane fibre products are made from bagasse, the pulp material remaining after the extraction of the sugar-bearing juice from sugarcane. This fibre by-product can be turned into products normally made from plastic or paper and avoids the pollution from the normal burning of sugarcane pulp after juice extraction. Sugarcane is a readily renewable resource
These products have no plastic or wax coating and are a far superior alternative to polystyrene, plastic and paper products.
The sugarcane fibre products are fully compostable. These products will usually compost within 30 days in a commercial composting facility and 90 days in a home composting system.
Our preference is to carry unbleached products (a natural light brown colour) where possible and we are moving towards this as more product lines become available. However, some product lines are only available bleached (white).
• suitable for hot and cold food (not under direct flame)
• microwave safe
• complies with US FDA specifications (US FDA 21 CFR 176.170)


SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE OF MARKETING OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCT IN RURAL AREAS
This study aims to explain the concept of coffee cultivation in the rural farming community in Enrekang District on coffee commodity farming. This farming community is able to survive in the coffee production competition by tidying up local values that are considered important in its cultivation business. The principle of trust is packaged both in spiritual meaning that someone takes action against something because there is a meaning behind the action. The meaning behind the action is to build good relations with sellers and buyers so that both are closely connected because trust has been built on a solid foundation as a value that has been internalized well in his soul. The research method with symbolic interactionism approach in qualitative research explains that researchers as actors in this research must go directly to the field to see and be directly involved both witnessing speech, behavior, farming style and respondent's gesture so that data can be obtained in the field. The results of the study show that the local value that is inherent in the lives of farmers in this area is applying the principle of trust in the act of marketing agricultural products.
Collen, M. and Whiteford, H. 2001. The Interrelations of Social Capital with Health and Mental Health. Discussion paper. Mental Health and Social Program Branch Commonwealth. Department of Health and Agent Care. Canberra. The Commonwealth Australia.
Jauhari, T. Spiritual Capital dalam Pemberdayaan Masyarakat. Volume 3, Nomor 2, Juni 2007. Komunitas, Jurnal Pengembangan Masyarakat Islam. Raden Intan Bandar Lampung
Gunawan, I. 2013. Metode Penelitian Kualitatif, Teori dan Praktek. Bumi Aksara. Jakarta.
Hardin, G. 1968. The Tragedy of the Commons. Science, New Series. vol 162, no 3859. American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Irmayani, Salman. 2015. Sustainability of Rice Farmers: Farming of Rural Communities in the Spiritual Meaning Perspective of Seed Storage. Journal of Social and Development Sciences.
Kirschenmann, 2011. Spirituality in Agriculture, The Spirit of the Soil: Agriculture and Environmental Ethics. New York: Routledge Publishing Company.
Nashir, H. 2102. Ibrah Kehidupan : Sosiologi Makna untuk Pencerahan Diri. Suara Muhammadiyah. Yogyakarta.
Salman, D. 2012. Sosiologi Desa (Revolusi Senyap dan Tarian Kompleksitas). Makassar : Penerbit Ininnawa.
Santoso, I. 2006. Eksistensi Kearifan Lokal pada Petani Tepian Hutan dalam Memelihara Kelestarian Ekosistem Sumberdaya Hutan. Jurnal Wawasa, Volue 11, No. 3.
Soemarno, dkk. 2009. Peningkatan Nilai Tambah Pengolahan Kopi Arabika Metode Basah menggunakan Model Kemitraan Bermediasi. Unit Pengolahan Hasil di Kabupaten Ngada-NTT, Pelita Perkebunan.
Copyright (c) 2018 Irmayani Irmayani, Yusriadi Yusriadi, Amirah Amrawaty, AMR, Rahmadani Rahmadani, RHM
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.


Honey Corn Skincare - Bee A Keeper
Honey Corn is a boutique, artisan, 100% natural and organic skincare range which contains honey aka "liquid gold”. Informally Honey Corn was in the making from a very young age. I used to make a concoction with honey and cornmeal which is where the name Honey Corn came from. I would make my own skin formulations made from recipes passed on from my mother, which were passed on to her by her mother and her mother before her, all in a small West African village in Sierra Leone where the land provided everything the body could need.
Our aim is for Honey Corn to become connoisseurs of the best honey from right around the world and communicate in-depth knowledge of global honey from the four corners of the world to the consumer, with a view to working with co-operative beekeeping from around the world. This will be the bespoke market leading supplier of honey to your face from the bee to your body. We want to create a positive bee-story from around the globe. The global hive ensuring that the honey and beekeeping practices are ethical and sustainable.
Consumers aspire towards a positive lifestyle, one which compliments their personal ethos and which doesn't compromise on quality nor principles. Honey Corn demonstrates meaningful commitment towards sustainability. Social Environmental Corporate Responsibility As part of our ''Bee a Keeper” Campaign Honey corn is working towards establishing a network of Beekeepers across the developing world. The aim, to help the Bee population whilst enabling farmers to gain crop yields and financial stability.
Honey Corn products are gentle and effective for those with sensitive skin.Our range is hyper allergenic and perfect for those who have sensitive skin. Honey Corn is a great remedy/treatment for those who have sensitive skin, suffer from dry skin and eczema.
BEE A KEEPER
Honey Corn’s goal in the UK is to help sow the seeds of wildflowers with the goal of increasing bee numbers here. We are on a mission to plant:
Betony, Cornflower, lesser Knapweed, Marjoram, Red Clover, Vetch, Floxglove & Borage, seeds which bees just love!
This is part of our “Bee a Keeper’ Campaign, so bee sure to sow them in April or early May so that they can bloom in August and help a bee or two along the way in the summer months. Sow them under 5cm of poor soil.


Detail from CC Pierce's 1908 panorama of Eagle Rock Valley. (ERVHS)
The combined flow of Eagle Rock's underground streams during the dry season enters the Los Angeles River through the two culverts on the left. (Googlemaps)
Stormdrains under Eagle Rock Boulevard near Fair Park Avenue. (Bureau of Engineering)
FARMING IN THE LATE 1800s
The land where pioneer Eagle Rock settler Cromwell Galpin farmed was once ideal for crops: even without artificial irrigation.
The Los Angeles Times wrote about Eagle Rock, "It is surprising how long the soil here retains its moisture. We plant our vegetables after all the rains are over, and they mature and reach perfection without any irrigation... irrigation being unnecessary for anything except oranges."
Eagle Rock would not have been especially unique in this regard. Ludwig Louis Salvator wrote in 1876 of the "tablelands" of Los Angeles, that properly prepared soil could produce "nine good annual harvests out of ten, without irrigation, of castor oil beans, Indian corn, barley, alfalfa, potatoes, and various kinds of vegetables."
Galpin described how during even the particularly dry year of 1885, rain from the previous winter was still draining down from the surrounding hills; keeping his apple and apricot trees happy.
Galpin cites "lessened rainfall and better drainage" as reasons irrigation eventually became a pressing issue. As their livelihood depended increasingly on adequate access to water, farmers experimented with methods of boring wells and pumping water. This was no easy matter, and "[w]ith the change in available water, came changes in cultivation and in crops planted. Barley and oats gave way largely to garden truck and tomatoes, yielded to small fruits and berries such as strawberries."
According to www.waterfootprint.org, the average amount of water to produce these crops in cubic meters per ton is: barley (1388), oats (1597), tomatoes (184), strawberries (276).
Here's a more recent article on farming and rivers.


Posted on: Tuesday 14 April 2020
On Monday 20 April (weather permitting) Complete Weed Control (South & Central Wales) Ltd will be starting the second round of spot treating weeds on public footways and car parks using their cutting edge technology, the Weed-it, throughout the Torfaen on Council and Bron Afon Community Housing.
Using an approved herbicide, weeds are sprayed during suitable weather conditions. The technology allows the machinery to detect green growth and only spray that, rather than blanket spraying a wide area which minimises any risk to humans, pets or the environment. The chemical is absorbed and distributed throughout the whole plant which it then kills.
The weed killer is used only by trained professionals in a diluted form which is safe to use without the need for gloves and face protection, although as a precaution, operatives do wear gloves to dilute the concentrated product.
In compliance with the current Coronavirus restrictions, the work is deemed essential as part of the Council’s highway maintenance programme, and the contractor’s operatives work in isolation, managed remotely


Gawad Kalinga Builders Institute (GKBI)
GK CDC Support
Kusina ng Kalinga
Daloy ng Pag-asa
NEWS OF HOPE
Our farmers are the backbone of our food industry and yet they remain to be the most vulnerable to natural and market forces. They are often mired in debt, squeezed for margins, and left with little profit to afford their children decent food and education. Despite the importance of their trade, they belong to the most marginalized and poorest segment of our society.
is a program that wants to empower farmers through transformative partnerships by assisting them in the critical steps of the food production chain — providing harvest inputs and training,supporting their production, administrative and logistics process, and connecting them to committed buyers.
WAYS TO HELP
to sponsor a farmer’s assistance package
WHERE YOUR HELP WILL GO
A farmer’s assistance package includes implements and inputs for
one crop cycle to cover at least half a hectare of land. This is coupled
with training, production, marketing, business management,
and logistics support for their harvest.
OUT OF POVERTY AND
REBUILDING OUR FOOD INDUSTRY
TOGETHER, WE CAN
2/F Choa Co Siu Hoo Bldg.,
212 Haig St., Brgy. Daang Bakal,
Mandaluyong, Philippines 1552
NEWS OF HOPE
© 2021 Gawad Kalinga


This is a continuation of my last post. After the pumpkin patch last week, we went to the corn field. One box is worth $10 and we can fill it as much as we wanted.
The hubby harvested more than 60 ears of corn. I think he enjoyed it, I did not like this part very much because it was getting hot during the day and we all got dirty during this event. I saw other people shucking their corn so I did it too (but not all).
RC sat on the field, she was tired. It was then that we knew it was time to go home.
Fresh corn is delicious, we had them for dinner that day.
The weekend is almost over, they come by so fast. Have a great week ahead!
Thank you for all the nice and sweet comments


Till up that garden!
I won’t lie, I didn’t till it. Mainly because my father won’t let me use his super fancyRotatiller, insisting that it sticks and only he, the king of the garden can handle it! Reality, he is afraid his baby will hurt herself on the big bad machine. But I must tip my hat to my Dad for doing it for me, he is amazing in his own quiet way. I laugh at my kids standing at the fence watching Pappa “mix up that dirt real good”
Tilling can take a couple rounds to get your garden under control, pending on the amount of weeds that have grown, and the amount of moisture in the soil. Reminder: the dryer the better when it comes to tilling or you’ll spend half your time digging mud and clogged dirt out of it. If you have large weeds you may use round up if you wish (make sure it is NOT extended life, lasts months, etc…….. you don’t want to eat it, do you?)
At my homestead, we also dug a trench to set our fence down in to minimize the amount of critters getting under it. Now all that’s left to do is get the fence down in it. With me being on 1st, and my husband on 2nd. I foresee a baby monitor on our hips and flashlights in our hands trying to get that thing in at 11:00 pm. On the bright side, we won’t have to worry about getting burnt by the moon.
Stay on Budget!
Since we are almost done getting the garden itself together, it’s time to shop! I love going to our local greenhouses and Farmers Market.
I do tend to get carried away when I walk in and there are so many beautiful flowers and tons of veggies and herbs to choose from. I will stay on budget, but it never hurts to just glance and dream. Take a list with you so you don’t forget things. For example, as I am writing this I realized I forgot summer squash. Guess the kids and I will just have to suffer and go back tomorrow. (hehehe really I didn’t do it on purpose) Hence where having a list is handy. I had a list, but it lost importance when my son wanted to try to go in the employee only section.
Flats of plants were $12.38 (12 4 packs of plants) and the few seeds I bought were only $1.14 (my green beans and my pea pods) If I had more room I’d really save and start all of my plants from seeds in mid April. I just don’t have a space to put tons of little seedlings that were safe from little fingers….I can just see the dirt covering my tiny living room floor.
Extras here and there
If you are just starting your garden, it’s a good idea to grab some garden soil to help feed your plants and help them thrive. There are many different kinds out there, but I stick with Organic Miracle Grow (it’s amazing how one extra word can make things more expensive) I try to stay organic as often as I can, I would say my kids and I lead a 70/30 organic lifestyle. But I’m not the kind of person to say “you should only have organic because it has XYZ and is blah blah blah.” I grew up not eating organic, and I’m alive and well. It really doesn’t taste different to me, but I’m sure it does to others. I’ve just become much more aware of what I put in my body and how I feed my kids. (as Mallery calls me, a “crunchy” mamma) It’s amazing how much food these days has Genetically modified organisms in it. I prefer our food to just be……well, food.
Make sure you buy garden soil, not potting soil. Unless of course you are going to plant flowers in pots, then by all means buy away!. You also can grab plant nutrients like quick start or kinds that simply attach on to your hose. While you are out shopping, think of anything else you might need for you. hose attachment to water your plants, watering can, Sun screen, bug spray, hat, gloves, etc. Keep your total number in mind when it comes time to start canning and freezing your produce. If the garden is successful you will be amazed how far this can go!
I am so excited to get out and start planting everything! I love getting down in the dirt and playing with my kids while teaching them at the same time. For any of you homeschooling families out there, think of all the possibilities of lessons in the garden! Not to mention the lessons while you can your produce later down the road. Alas! It calls for rain tomorrow!!! Here’s to hoping my garden is in the ground before Memorial weekend it over!!!!
TOTAL SPENT (So Far)
- Tomato cages $ 17.78
- plants and seeds $14.53
- Garden Soil $39.54
- Hose nozzle $.3.99
- Kids Garden Set $3.00 (I just couldn’t resist, they need tools too!)
- Off Bug Srpay $5.64
- Back Yard Fogger $4.87


21 October has become celebrated as Apple Day. Launched in 1990 by Common Ground in Covent Garden, the aspiration for this was to celebrate and demonstrate the variety that is in danger of being lost, not simply in apples, but in the richness and diversity of landscape and ecology.
Apples have been cultivated for centuries: Pliny records details of sweet and culinary apples grown by the Romans in Italy. Whilst there is evidence that apples were grown in Great Britain in the Neolithic period, it was the Romans who introduced new sweeter tasting apples. After the withdrawal of the Romans from Britain, many orchards were abandoned as the countryside was beset by raiders. It was only in the wake of the Norman Conquest that apple growing was revitalised and new varieties of apples were introduced from France. During the thirteenth century, several kinds of apples became established in Britain, often grown in orchards attached to monasteries. In the sixteenth century Richard Harris, the chief fruitier to Henry VIII, introduced a number of new grafted varieties, including the famous Pippins and developed modern-style orchards in Kent. Herefordshire orchards were augmented by the best cider apples from France by Lord Scudamore, British ambassador to France during the reign of Charles II. The more scientific cultivation of apples, however, did not occur until the late eighteenth century. Seen as the most valuable and generally cultivated of European fruits, the apple was considered by Dr Thomas Andrew Knight “not the nature produce of any soil or climate, but owes its existence to human art”. The work on pollination undertaken by Knight, who was President of the Horticultural Society of London, led to improved varieties. It was to influence the work of others gardeners throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Until the eighteenth century fruit plants had been an essential part of the landscape in gardens on large estates. However with the swing from Renaissance formality to a more “natural” look, the cultivation of fruit and vegetables was moved to the, usually, walled kitchen garden. Owners were proud of their kitchen gardens both for their layout and display and considerable effort was taken with the cultivation and development of fruit varieties.
The kitchen garden at Broadlands House in Romsey was developed in the eighteenth century and the design of it showed an appreciation of the ascetics as well as the productivity and the variety of fruit to be grown. Fruit was an essential part of the diet in a household and would be used to impress guests with unusual varieties. The Italian practice of fresh fruit at the end of a meal became the height of fashion in the nineteenth century.
The Perkins Agricultural Library at the University contains a range of books that reflect this interest in both the planning and cultivation of kitchen gardens and the craft of growing fruit trees. Guides on the development and successful propagation of fruit plants include Dr Thomas Andrew Knight’s A treatise on the culture of the apple and pear and on the manufacture of cider and perry (London, 1818); William Forsyth A treatise on the culture and management of fruit trees ( London, 1803) and Charles McIntosh The orchard (London, 1839).
In addition to practical advice provided in such works, others such as The Complete family piece provided recipes for medicinal cures and for cooking.
“To make an apple tansy
Take 3 Pippins, slice them round in thin Slices, and fry them with Butter; then beat 4 Eggs with 6 Spoonfuls of Cream and a little Rose-water, Nutmeg and Sugar and stir them together, and pour it over the Apples. Let it fry a little and then turn it with a Pye Plate. Garnish with Lemon and Sugar stewed over it.”
[Rare Books Perkins TX 151 William Thomas Smyth The complete family-piece and, country gentleman, and farmer’s best guide (1739)]
Knight’s Treatise has a manuscript note added at the end of the volume by James Corbett suggesting the best fruit to make cider:
“The fruit I should recommend for cider is the Black Norman, the Green or Brown Thorn, the Red Stier and the Wilding. If you plant these sorts, they will be all ripe together and therefore fit to grind at the same time, which is of very great importance in making cider. If you grind one fruit quite mellow and another quite green, you will find the fermenting (which spoils all ciders) not easily prevented.”
Apple Day is now an integral part of the calendar of many villages, local authorities and city markets and a focus for activities organised by a range of organisations such as the National Trust properties, Wildlife Trusts, as well as museums and galleries and horticultural societies. For information on the day go to: http://www.national-awareness-days.com/apple-day.html


What does a power rake do? Power Rake Vs Dethatcher.
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The Power Rake is great for seed bed preparation, lawn prep, and any and all heavy-duty raking applications. Many home builders and contractors use it for fine grading around a project before seeding, and landscapers use it to aerate lawns and sod. Most of all, our Power Rake is best at forcing difficult dirt, soil and aggregate to lay nicely. It is powerful enough to smooth and rake just.
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The power rake 6-in-1 replacement mower blade dethatches, mulches, bags, cuts, scalps and rakes. The lines are made of tough recyclable and will not damage sprinkler heads. The deluxe blade had a universal fit that fits most 21-inch and 22-inch walk behind lawn mowers. Please note: blade may not fit newer (2015- ) Husqvarna walk-behind lawn mowers without requiring an adapter. What other items.
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This may sound silly, but Carl and I are fascinated with the fields of cotton around here, so much so that we had to take some pictures of it to share. We personally have never lived anywhere that grew cotton, and have never seen it in real-life in the fields. We didn't even realize they grew cotton in TN until we saw it here (we are in the southwestern most corner). I am especially fascinated, as I come from a farming family, and now see all these new tractors I've never seen before (geeky, I know). We did stop and feel it, by the way. It feels much like regular cotton balls you buy from the store. Imagine. :) Anyhow, here are the pictures of the crop.
How awesome is it that our favorite clothes start out looking like this? : )
This is how they apparently bale cotton. As you can tell, these are huge bricks of cotton, and there are many more not included in the photo. Cool huh? I am sure the farmer in the tractor thought I was slightly insane when I was taking this photo.
Sorry this is kind of dark and blurry. I took it from the car. It was an afterthought photo.


General Aeronautics (GA) will be at the forefront of drone technology in India across applications and catalyse R&D. India’s nascent drone industry has been in recent focus particularly with its role in agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture also recently […]
India’s nascent drone industry has been in recent focus particularly with its role in agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture also recently got the DGCA nod to use drones for yield estimation in 100 districts. General Aeronautics (GA) will be at the forefront of drone technology in India across applications and catalyse R&D. The company which is a specialist in Drones for precision agriculture has recently announced a Rs 65 million pre-series `A’ financing led by Mela Ventures. With this investment, the company has plans to expand its go-to market programmes and will continue to invest in the areas of high reliability and efficient spraying, operational support including training Drone Pilots. The company was started by the country’s acclaimed aircraft designer Padma Sri awardee Dr Kota Harinarayana and Abhishek Burman along with Dr Anutosh Moitra & Air Cmde P K Choudhary (Retd.). The plan is to bring the best of the aircraft design practices to the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems and to also provide cost-effective, reliable and efficient drone systems which will help in addressing agricultural and other societal needs.
Incubated at the Society for Innovation and Development (SID), the Entrepreneurship Cell of Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, it has developed indigenous Drone Solution with a unique spray capability. There is also a great potential to improve spray efficiency multi-folds.
Abhishek Burman, Founder Director and CEO, General Aeronautics, talks about the importance of drones in civilian roles and other related issues with Huma Siddiqui.
Following are excerpts:
What is the focus of General Aeronautics in the UAV and Drone space?
General Aeronautics’ mission is to build unmanned aerial vehicles to bring about societal change, predominantly in the areas of Agriculture, Emergency Medical Response and Defence. On the agriculture side we have indigenously built Drone based Spray technology that is efficient in controlling pests and diseases, while ensuring optimal resource utilisation. While supporting higher yields, this approach also ensures human and environmental protection. The company has also built a fixed wing drone solution to support Emergency Medical response. A big factor that causes death in road accidents is blood loss; we are working with leading emergency response providers to see if drones can provide medical intervention at the accident site through a medical airdrop, which can be used by a bystander to stop blood loss for the concerned victim.
On the defence side, GA is working with various defence labs and private organisations to provide solutions to complex aeronautical design needs; these can range from High payload UAVs to multi role combat aircrafts.
How is the Drone market in India segmented?
While drones have captured the fascination of consumers for entertainment there has been considerable interest and growth in the commercial drone market in India and globally. The market is slated to grow at a 12 per cent CAGR. In India commercial drone applications have been mainly in Defence, Surveillance and monitoring. We are seeing an increasing interest for Drone usage in the Agriculture and Medical space. These are areas which can drive significant societal impact. Agri Drones can enable sustainable farming while addressing the food shortage concerns that are looming. Similarly in the Medical space there is significant loss of life in accidents that can be addressed through a drone based medical response platform. These are exciting areas and the company is squarely in the middle of developing solutions. While COVID did shift some of the goals we set as a company, it did have a silver lining for the drone industry. COVID caused issues around labour shortage in farms and other industries. It also created concerns with security. This has helped various government authorities appreciate the importance of adopting drone based technology; this in turn should help bringing much needed regulatory changes for drone usage.
Did General Aeronautics play a role in fighting the pandemic? How did drone technology help?
COVID provided General Aeronautics with a unique opportunity to support both multiple state governments. And we took immediate action in addressing hygiene concerns in crowded areas/disease prone locations in major cities through disinfecting drones. It also worked closely with law enforcement authorities to provide drone based surveillance & broadcasting services to ensure social distancing and driving awareness among citizens in various communities.
GA also played a key role in combating recent locust menace; we had deployed multiple drones for about two months in critically affected areas in Rajasthan & UP.
How is General Aeronautics planning to address the global food security issue?
It is estimated that India will have to produce 50 million tonnes of more food in 2030 than it did in 2019, to feed 200 million more people. Indian agriculture yield is significantly lower than global benchmarks. One of the key contributors to the lower yield is poor pest and disease management, which alone contributes to about 15% ~20% crop loss annually amounting to annual loss of US$ 36 billion. This is an area that GA through its Agri Drones can make a significant dent in supporting the food needs of the country.
What are General Aeronautics’ plans with the INR 65 Million pre-series, a funding secured from Mela Ventures?
While the funding is a clear validation of the unique technology GA has built to address the Agri sector, it also confirms our ability to address the cost/performance needs of the small farmer in India. A significant part of the funding will be deployed to create a scalable go-to-market strategy and to build a reliable production ready solution.
How do you compare these with the recent procurement of drones by the Indian army?
We see the recent purchase of drones by the Indian Army a validation of the trust in indigenous drone technology. The technology is also being widely used for mapping by Survey of India. The applications have been mostly focused around Surveillance; I think time is apt for us to also focus on critical societal needs like food security and emergency medical support.
Why did Mela ventures choose General Aeronautics?
Mela Ventures felt GA’s indigenous solution based on strong internal R&D could immensely benefit all the ecosystem partners in the field of agriculture in India. The company’s successful trials with many partners demonstrated that the solutions were world-class. Mela saw the market potential to be huge as the Governments across the world are moving at speed to clear regulations for the use of drones. They see great potential in “Team GA”.


MELBOURNE (ICIS)--Indian producer SI Group India Ltd (SIGIL) has shut its phenol/acetone unit at Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra after heavy rainfall caused flooding at the plant site, a company source said on Thursday.
The company plans to restart the plant, which has been off line since 16 July, in the next day or two, the source said.
SIGIL’s plant can produce 36,000 tonnes/year of phenol and 20,000 tonnes/year of acetone.
SIGIL is a subsidiary of the SI Group in the US.
India’s SI Group shuts phenol/acetone unit due to heavy rainfall
17 July 2014 10:26 Source:ICIS News


Grasslands have the capability to store carbon, functioning as an important tool in a battle against climate change. While scientific interest in grassland soil for carbon sequestration is not new, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Colorado State University have provided a fresh analysis of the existing research on soil carbon sequestration in grasslands. According to the researchers, they apply a new paradigm of soil organic matter formation to their evaluation and -- through the lens of this paradigm and with consideration for regional differences -- evaluate grassland management for carbon sequestration.
The review article was published in Science on Aug. 4.
"This is the first review which applies the new paradigm of soil organic matter formation and persistence to both discuss the effect of global changes on grasslands' soil organic carbon and estimate the potentials of soil organic carbon sequestration of global grasslands," said first author BAI Yongfei of the Institute of Botany at Chinese Academy of Sciences.
While storing carbon in grassland soil has been proven to be an attainable strategy for removing it from the atmosphere, the specifics of global grassland soil carbon sequestration -- how, where and how much -- still require more research for a deeper understanding and to form best practice recommendations, according to the researchers.
"In the past decade, there has been a paradigm shift in the understanding of the processes contributing to soil organic matter formation and persistence, which have highlighted the key role of microbial transformations and necromass on soil organic carbon accrual," Cotrufo said.
The majority of organic carbon soil is either particulate organic matter (POM), which is formed from the fragmentation of plant and microbial residues, or mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), which is formed from single small molecules that are leached from plant residues or exuded from plant roots. MAOM contributes to longer-term carbon sequestration in soil than POM because of its strong chemical bonding to minerals and physical protection in fine aggregates. With this understanding, the researchers used the existing literature to explore how soil carbon sequestration changes with grassland types, soil properties and climate conditions.
"Our analysis presents [capacities] by different world regions and management strategies, thus facilitating policy and decision making," said BAI.
The researchers found, for example, that 80% of European grasslands are below saturation of carbon storage, indicating unmet potential in carbon sequestration. Other findings include that high levels of biodiversity are germane for carbon storage; that microbial diversity promotes the stabilization efficiency of grass litter-derived POM but reduces that of MAOM; and that carbon sequestration capacity per unit nitrogen in soil is 1.7 times greater in ecosystems dominated by ectomycorrhizal fungi–associated plants such as savannas, shrublands and forests than ecosystems dominated by arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi–associated plants such as grasslands, while MAOM is still relatively higher in the latter category of ecosystems.
The researchers also found that continuous livestock grazing reduces plant cover, diversity and productivity, and that seasonal or rotational grazing show the least negative effects and can even promote soil carbon storage.
"[We found that grassland ecosystems'] plant and microbial biodiversity and functions can be restored by improving grassland management, leading to substantial carbon removal from the atmosphere thus contributing to climate change mitigation," Cotrufo said. "Also, grassland responses are context dependent and management practices to restore their biodiversity and sequester carbon need to be implemented on the basis of their specific functionality and potential.”
Based on their review, the researchers recommend further research to collect more data on less studied regions, such as the African savannas, while also encouraging immediate action in grassland restoration and management based on available information and current understanding.
"We hope for the incentivizing of grassland restoration management programs, in particular in the regions of the world where grasslands are most degraded, to prevent their further degradation due to global changes and overgrazing and optimize their utilization as atmospheric carbon sink," BAI said.
The National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences funded this research.
Grassland soil carbon sequestration: Current understanding, challenges and solutions
Article Publication Date


PLANT TODAY, THEN BE PATIENT FOR THE HARVEST
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. Psalm 126:5·6 (NLT)
The time to start planting is now. I talk to people all the time that say, “One of these days, I’m going to…” They’re going to serve more when they retire. They’re going to give more when they get a raise. Whatever it is they’re going to do more of, they’re going do it “one of these days.” But “one of these days” becomes none of these days.
Don’t wait for things to get better; start planting seeds now. Why? Because the sooner you plant, the sooner you will enjoy the harvest.
But the harvest will not come according to your timetable. There’s always a delay between sowing and reaping. You plant in one season, and harvest in another. You have to be patient and not give up! Paul teaches: Let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest (Galatians 6:9). The results will come, but they will come slowly and as part of a process.
What should you do in the meantime? Forget about last year’s crop failure. Instead, focus on the long-term harvest in your life.
What loss have you been grieving over? Maybe you’ve lost a loved one. Maybe you’ve lost your health. Maybe you’ve lost your job, or your savings, or your retirement. Maybe you’ve lost your dream. Mourning is ok; moaning is not. Instead of moaning, you need to plant a seed, because nothing grows until a seed is planted. Whatever you need more of, you need to give away. Don’t wait for “one of these days.” Today is the day to plant the seed. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.


Edamame, also referred to as sweet soybeans is small, yellow and purple. These small purple seeds are the most delicious of soybeans, and they are cultivated throughout Asia mostly in Japan. This tasty recipe originated from China and Korea. Eventually, it moved across the United States and became popular in America. Edamame is a delicious and nutritious alternative to mocha, coffee or other strong-brewed beverages.
Edamame is also known as sweet soybeans, is harvested every year and ground just before shipping. After harvest the beans have to be cleaned and placed in the pressure cooker for 2 hours. This kills germs and prevents them returning. Once in the pod the beans are soaked in water, sealed and then removed within 24 hours. This is typically used to make Edamame made of salt. But, the best method to serve Japanese food is to squeeze fresh beans out of their pods using your fingers.
On the other hand, edamame nut are often used to enhance soy sauce or to add toppings to baked items. Edamame Soy sauce made with edamame seed gives it texture and flavor while sprinkled on top of vegetables and fruits, it provides a pop of color and nutritional value. While both are great food option, there is an apparent difference between them in terms of nutritional value. Edamame seeds are great for vegans and vegetarians however, the fat and calories in soy sauce can cause them to be less healthy. You can reap the same health benefits if replace edamame with nukada which is a Japanese soy sauce made from tofu.
Both soy products are highly nutritious, which is the reason they are often referred to as “black gold” or “superfoods.” Although there may not be any differences between nukada and edamame, they are both high in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Black beans are highly nutritious, however they are expensive. Green soybeans are among the least expensive soy product available, but they are also very nutritious, so much that they are regarded as to be a “miracle food” by some. Nukada can be found at Asian supermarkets and farmers markets, while edamame can be found in Asian markets and on the internet. They are both high in monounsaturated fat-burning oil, protein and vitamins A, E, manganese and potassium, along with a host other B vitamins.
The reason green soybeans are considered a “miracle food” is due to the fact that they have been consumed for long periods of time as a staple food, eaten all the time by the Andinese and Japanese. Because of their flexibility, you can eat them just about anywhere , even in your car. Nukada and Edamame beans can be cooked into delicious stir-fries, cooked in onions and garlic, or simply eaten as is. If you’re planning to go for a road trip, make sure you have a container of soybean oil, a pinch of salt and a bottle of your favorite drink or juice.
You can also try traditional Chinese drinks made of honey and black beans If you haven’t yet tried roasting Edamame pods. Another popular drink is a Szechwan green soybean drink that has a slightly sweeter taste than its western counterpart, and is served in a clay pot. You simply heat up the clay pot, add water, then add a pod or two of your preferred flavor. Szechwan beans and honey are the most well-known options, however there are many other options that could be appealing to you.
Choy sum, an Asian type of soybean tea is also made with soybeans. Choy sum is usually cooked using ginger, soy sauce and a little sugar, although you can substitute anything you like with the ginger. There isn’t any discernible taste distinction between cooked edamame bean or green soybeans but the variations in texture and thickness are quite evident.
Cooking with green soybeans and shelled edamame will certainly give your family more choice in what they can consume. It can be prepared in the same way even if you don’t intend to eat it raw. If you pair it with nuts or toasted bread it’s a nutritious snack that is both low in fat and rich in fiber and protein, making it a wonderful addition to any diet. If you intend to make use of it in your cooking, remember to take your multivitamin, as with other seeds and nuts.


1) The Department of Chemical and Petrochemicals has approached the Finance Ministry for reducing GST on pesticides from 18% to 5% with the objective to bring parity in taxation on agro-inputs.
2) Fertilizers that attract 5% of GST, the pesticide is charged 18% GST, even higher than 12% VAT before the introduction of the new indirect tax system. Recently, The Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) demanded that the government should reduce GST to 5% from the current 18% on pesticides in line with other farm inputs like seeds and fertilizers.
The standing committee has recommended the government, “Committee is dismayed to note that GST on pesticides has increased to 18 percent after the rollout of GST from around 12 percent VAT in most of the important states where the pesticides are consumed on a large-scale. GST on fertilizers is only 5 percent and pesticide being another agro-input deserves to be put under 5 percent slab of GST.”
3) The committee in the report said the committee notes the recommendation of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals to bring down the GST slab to 5 per cent. Since it is disheartening to note that crops worth Rs 90,000 crore are lost annually due to pests and diseases, the committee recommended that GST on pesticides should be reduced from 18% to 5% so as to benefit the farmers and to increase agricultural production in the country.
4) The GST reduction will help bring three-fourth of the total farmers in India, who are outside the ambit now, to protect their crops without causing any substantial loss to the central exchequer. This will help farmers harvest crops with minimal loss and secure better returns too.


We went to our first Local Farmers Food Festival (put on by Waco's Local Sustainable Food Movement) on Thursday, and it was wonderful. The movement is spearheaded by Ullja Kuntze, who some Baylor alums may remember for the delicious smoothies she sold out of a small trailer in front of the Comet Cleaners near campus. She moved on to open a European Bakery, and this is apparently her newest project. Anyone who's met Ullja knows she is warm, friendly, successful, and throws herself into everything wholeheartedly. So I expected nothing less from the Food Festival - and I was not disappointed.
She's managed to organize a whole slew of local farmers and ranchers (offering everything from farm fresh eggs to grass raised beef to organic vegetables to free range dairy products - even home grown herbs) and even circumvented a pesky city ordinance restricting "farmers markets" with an ingenious pre-order system for perishables (ensuring that the vendors know how much to bring to each festival and nothing goes to waste). The festivals are held every other week, I believe, and we will definitely be back at the next one.
For our first experience we kept it simple, pre-ordering only a dozen farm fresh eggs. When we arrived we also loaded up on summer squash, cucumbers, okra, red and yellow onions and garlic. The fresh veggies are first come first serve, not pre-ordered, and limited in variety and supply right now with the heat, so we got there early and snatched up as much as we could. Everything is organically and sustainably grown, hand-picked, and so, so, so good.
We were so excited about cooking our fresh veggies. We stewed the okra with yellow onion, tomatoes, garlic and just a splash of Brianna's Real French Vinaigrette Dressing. I steamed the summer squash while Keith grilled Cuban flank steak. It was one the best meals we've made in a while. All those fresh flavors just really are tastier than most of the vegetables you get at the store. Plus, I am so excited that something like this is happening in Waco and happy to be able to support it.
Next time we are going to get more eggs, as many fresh veggies as we can get our hands on, a lamb shoulder roast, and hopefully an herb planter full of basil, thyme, mint, oregano and dill. Can't wait. If you live anywhere near Waco, I highly recommend joining Waco's Local Sustainable Food Movement and pre-ordering for the next Food Festival (September 18th) as soon as you can.


Introduction: In modern agriculture, crop diversification is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable farming practices. Farmers can mitigate risks associated with pests, diseases, and adverse weather conditions by cultivating various crops, improving soil health, and enhancing resilience to changing market demands. Tarmac farm roads are pivotal in facilitating crop diversification by providing essential infrastructure enabling farmers to access new markets, adopt innovative farming practices, and capitalise on emerging opportunities. At Sudbury Driveway Solutions, we understand the transformative impact of tarmac farm roads on agricultural landscapes and are committed to supporting farmers in pursuing crop diversification.
1. Access to New Markets
One of the key advantages of tarmac farm roads in promoting crop diversification is their ability to improve access to new markets. Tarmac farm roads enable farmers to reach a broader customer base and tap into diverse market opportunities by connecting rural farming communities with urban centres, regional distribution hubs, and export terminals. This increased market access encourages farmers to explore alternative crops with higher market demand or value-added products that fetch premium prices, thereby diversifying their income streams and reducing reliance on a single commodity.
2. Adoption of Innovative Farming Practices
Tarmac farm roads also facilitate adopting innovative farming practices that support crop diversification. With improved transportation infrastructure, farmers can more easily access agricultural inputs, such as seeds, fertilisers, and equipment, necessary for cultivating new crops or implementing sustainable farming techniques. Additionally, tarmac farm roads enable farmers to participate in training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives focused on crop diversification, soil conservation, and agroecological farming methods. By embracing innovation and experimentation, farmers can expand their crop repertoire and optimise land use to maximise productivity and profitability.
3. Expansion of Agroecosystem Services
Crop diversification promotes the integration of diverse plant species into agricultural landscapes, enhancing ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling. Tarmac farm roads facilitate the establishment of agroecosystem services by providing access to natural habitats, conservation areas, and ecological corridors that support biodiversity and ecological resilience. Farmers can leverage tarmac farm roads to implement agroforestry, cover cropping, and intercropping systems that enhance soil fertility, water retention, and pest management while diversifying crop production and reducing environmental impact.
4. Resilience to Climate Change
In the face of climate change and extreme weather events, crop diversification offers a vital strategy for building resilience and adaptive capacity in agricultural systems. Tarmac farm roads enable farmers to respond proactively to changing climatic conditions by diversifying their crop portfolios and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices. Farmers can mitigate the risks of crop failure and income loss associated with erratic weather patterns and extreme climatic events by cultivating a mix of drought-resistant, heat-tolerant, and flood-tolerant crops.
5. Community Development and Food Security
Crop diversification supported by tarmac farm roads contributes to community development and food security by promoting local food production, enhancing dietary diversity, and reducing dependence on imported goods. By diversifying crop production, farmers can meet the nutritional needs of their communities more effectively, improve food access and affordability, and create economic opportunities for local food businesses and entrepreneurs. Tarmac farm roads play a crucial role in connecting farmers with consumers, facilitating the distribution of fresh, locally-grown produce, and strengthening the resilience of food systems in rural areas.
Conclusion: Tarmac farm roads serve as catalysts for crop diversification, empowering farmers to embrace innovation, expand market opportunities, and build resilience in the face of environmental and economic challenges. Farmers can enhance their livelihoods, protect natural resources, and contribute to sustainable agricultural development by leveraging tarmac farm roads for crop diversification.


Our ingredient ecosystem fosters connections between farmers and brands that enable ingredients to be celebrated for their biodiversity rather than as commodities. Through collaboration we foster knowledge sharing, access and agency that creates economic value from biodiversity and progressive practices, enabling further sustainability and resilience.
Meet some of the partners in our Ecosystem
Transforming artisanal wild palm oil production with new technology and new markets.
8 Degrees North
Shared value palm oil exclusively sourced from smallholder farmers.
Restoring Peruvian rainforests through innovative regenerative agroforestry, in partnership with Amazonian indigenous communities and smallholders.
Sourcing wild-harvested products in ways that are regenerative ecologically, socially and economically.
Dayaxa Frankincense Export Company
Harvesting products sustainably and working closely with farmers to achieve fair prices and improved living standards.
Provides comprehensive and measurable accountability for critical supply chains.
United States African Development Fund
West African Trade and Investment Hub


As shades of reds, oranges and yellows continue to emerge all around, it’s time to start thinking about how to make the most of the fall, and all the natural beauty the season has to offer. From pumpkin patches and apple orchards to hayrides, hot cider and more, visiting a pick-your-own farm with opportunities to gather and of course, take a bite out of some crisp and delicious locally grown apples, is a great place to start. So round up the family, and head out to an orchard nearby! Here are a few of the best apple-picking spots to visit in Westchester County, Connecticut and the Berkshires.
- Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard: A fabulous family outing awaits those who plan on visiting this North Salem, NY orchard. McIntosh, Golden Delicious and Liberty Macs are all ready to pick throughout the month of October, while special festival weekends that include music, hayrides, face painting, pony rides and more, make for a brilliant autumn outing.
- Wilkens Fruit Farm: This Yorktown, NY orchard is open daily with opportunities to pick from a wide variety of apples, as well as partake in the farm’s homemade apple cider, freshly baked pies, donuts and unique gift items. Be sure to plan a day to return in November, when a special “choose-n-cut” Christmas tree option becomes available as long as the trees last.
- Stuart’s Farm: Located in Granite Springs, NY, this pick-your-own farm offers more than 19 varieties of apples throughout the season, which starts in October and runs through November. Hayrides are also available for kids on the weekends.
There are plenty of other apple picking options throughout Westchester County! For a complete list of the best local places to go, visit Westchester Magazine’s website here.
- Silverman’s Farm: Discover the total farm experience at this Easton, CT farm, where an abundance of apples, pumpkins, as well as homemade and custom items from the Silverman’s Farm Market, are available. When the apple harvest comes to an end, be sure to stop by again to enjoy a scenic weekend tractor ride from one of the highest points in all of southern
- Blue Jay Orchards: If you live near Bethel, CT, be sure to plan a day trip to this apple orchard, where guests can pick from the farm’s great harvest options. On Columbus Day weekend,Jonagold, Ida Red, Cortland, Red Delicious and Mustu apples will be in their prime and ready to pick.
- Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard: Enjoy fresh cider, apples, pies, donuts, fruit breads, pumpkin cheesecake, maple syrup, local honey and more while at this Shelton, CT farm, which embodies the ultimate New England fall experience.
- Bishop’s Orchards: This Guilford farm takes pride in its fresh fruits and vegetables, offering numerous opportunities to pick your own harvest year-round. Through late October, take a tractor ride up to the apple orchard, where a scrumptious fall crop awaits.
- Scott’s Farm and Greenhouses: Choose from over 25 kinds of apples throughout the season at this family-owned, charming orchard in Essex, CT. The business also has a farm in Deep River, CT, where apples and other seasonal items are available.
Litchfield County & The Berkshires:
- Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm: Not only can you pick your own apples and pumpkins at this Sharon, CT farm, but you can also get lost in a large corn maze that is now open to the public. Other fresh seasonal produce and homemade items are available as well.
- Averill Farm: Operating since 1746, this Washington, CT business offers countless apples and even pears to pick. The local farm also sells cider donuts, tea breads, applesauce and pies, as well as hard ciders, sweet ciders, apple wine and homemade jams.
- March Farm: Celebrating 100 years of family farming, this Bethlehem, CT orchard destination was voted #1 by Connecticut Magazine for two years in a row.
- Lakeview Orchard: In addition to seasonal cherries, plums and raspberries, this popular Berkshire orchard overlooking Hoosac Lake and the stunning mountains of Lanesborough, MA, presents the perfect setting to apple pick while surrounded by the vibrant colors of fall in the Berkshires.
- Green River Farms: At this working farm in Williamstown, MA, countless autumn activities are right at your disposal including discussions on agricultural protection with the farming experts, opportunities to pick a bag of seasonal, farm-grown crops, as well as take in and capture the scenic views of autumn in New England. This favorite spot in town also has a unique corn maze, which lies beside the farm’s orchard.
Countless apple-friendly farms grace the sweeping countryside of the Berkshires. For more local apple-picking options, click here.


Maintaining a healthy lawn and trees is an essential part of keeping your outdoor space looking its best. Regular fertilization and pruning services can help to ensure that your lawn and trees remain healthy and beautiful year-round, and that you’re able to enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest.
At Daniel’s Lawn & Tree LLC, we specialize in providing high-quality fertilization and pruning services that are tailored to your specific needs and goals. Our team of expert landscapers and tree care professionals can work with you to develop a custom plan that meets your needs and fits within your budget.
Fertilization is an important part of maintaining a healthy lawn and trees. Fertilization provides essential nutrients to your lawn and trees, promoting healthy growth and helping to prevent diseases and pests. At Daniel’s Lawn & Tree LLC, we use high-quality fertilizers that are designed to provide your lawn and trees with the specific nutrients they need, at the right time.
Pruning is another important consideration for maintaining healthy trees. Pruning involves removing dead or diseased branches, as well as shaping and training the tree to promote healthy growth. Proper pruning can help to improve the appearance of your trees, increase their longevity, and prevent damage or injury caused by falling branches.
At Daniel’s Lawn & Tree LLC, we use the latest techniques and equipment to ensure that our pruning services are safe and effective. We also take great care to ensure that we’re not removing more than 25% of the tree’s canopy, as removing too much can cause stress and damage to the tree.
So if you’re looking to maintain a healthy lawn and trees with regular fertilization and pruning services, contact Daniel’s Lawn & Tree LLC today to schedule a consultation. We’ll work with you to develop a custom plan that meets your needs and fits within your budget, and help you keep your outdoor space looking its best year-round.


HUNT ABOVE THE CORN STALKS ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME WINTER 2017
Winter is at its end and spring is on the way, to the joy of us all. However, in the fields, the remnants of crops past still remain. This is especially seen in the rows of corn stalks, at least, of what remains after the corn was harvested for cattle feed. The stalk "stubs" create a wonderful geometric pattern, especially pleasing where the rows make the bend in the field. A Northern Harrier flies above the stalks, hunting for anything attempting to hide below in the field's limited protective cover. All in all, it's a pleasing sight to see and a portent of spring to come. Thus inspired, I painted this picture to capture the moment of the harrier searching for available prey. I made the frame out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods. I used the Japanese technique (shou-sugi-ban) of charring and oiling the oak to finish the frame.


My daughter’s favorite fruit is strawberry. I remember her as a toddler with a bright red smile and red fingers lining up the berries that had just come home with us from the market on the kitchen table. So it was about that time, 17 – 18 years ago, that I decided to grow strawberries. Our property has always had more than its share of full-sun areas, and our garden wasn’t as full then as it is now, so adequate room was available for a hand-full of plants. My favorite nursery suggested an everbearing variety ‘Quinault’ (Fragaria x ananassa) as a successful plant for the Pacific Northwest. In what I had intended as a fun teaching moment, my daughter helped me choose bare-root plants from a large container filled with sawdust that, apparently, she thought needed “fluffing” and tossing around the nursery until I was able to distract her. I learned; she had fun. But our plants made it home intact, and the afternoon was spent planting them in a circular bed surrounded by her pansies. As I knew the plants would not produce edible fruit in their first year, I made sure to have a small supply of berries available for snacks. Delayed gratification is not a developed toddler skill.
If you are familiar with Fragaria x ananassa, you will be aware that it is an aggressive grower when well-watered. And if you are a parent, you will remember the toddler age as years of interruptions, unfinished projects, and forgetfulness. For instance, the parent will decide to water a garden (with help from the toddler, of course) but no sooner is the hose placed and water turned on than the toddler takes off down the sidewalk to follow a group of 10 year-old boys shouting and yelling while skate-boarding down the street accompanied by a barking dog, and the toddler’s mom goes running after the child to stop her from tumbling down the front steps and the mom forgets about the water until later that afternoon by which time the plants are very well watered. And as this happened more than once that summer, the plants thrived. They thrived so successfully that by the end of the following summer they had completely surrounded a mature rhododendron that shared their bed, and had made attempts to jump the lawn. The plants succeeded in their great escape by year 3 when I found that a couple of little strawberry plants had indeed jumped the lawn and crept up on a large rosemary plant.
All that growth isn’t so bad if you really need ground covered, which I didn’t. The primary problem with such exuberant growth is that it discourages fruit production, or such was the case in our garden. In the plants 4th year, we harvested at most a grade-schoolers’-hand-full of berries. By the time my daughter entered 5th grade, the plants were producing nothing but leaves. So much for everbearing. But the ever-patient mom-of-a-grade-school kid will let the plants alone while she juggles class-room field trips, PTSA meetings, volunteering, birthday parties, music lessons, and naps (I remember those so fondly). And she will hope for the best.
The plants are still with us after all these years. Still growing, still covering ground, still jumping their borders, and still not producing fruit. Someday, I will remove them and try a different variety. In the meantime, however, I think I’ll take a nap.


t is well known that plants need water, mineral salts, carbon dioxide, and light to make their own food, thus allowing their survival and growth.
The multiple uses that light has in the technological field, the base pillar that is light in agriculture, and the need to increase production and productivity in the globalized world in which we live, places light as a key tool in development of new agricultural techniques.
Some of the technologies related to light that are used in agriculture are radiometry, spectrophotometry, colorimetry, LED lighting, etc.
But ... why is light management important in agriculture?
Because parameters such as quantity, type of light, and exposure time influence plant growth.
The amount of light will determine the speed of the photosynthesis process, thus influencing the growth rate of plants. The type of light, or rather the spectral range of the radiation will determine the type of interaction with the plant. For example, visible radiation is absorbed by chlorophyll allowing the development of photosynthesis, ultraviolet radiation that can cause DNA damage, decrease flowering and seed development, or ultraviolet A radiation that can cause elongation of the plant. In addition, depending on the type of plant, to trigger the flowering you will need the duration of the radiation to be more or less abundant depending on the case.
Thus, variations in the use of light could improve the shape and color of the plants, the earliness of the harvests, or improvements in the control of pests and diseases. When natural light is not enough, you want to grow species that usually develop in other areas and seasons, or even indoor crops, artificial sources are used, in which case LED lighting stands out for its efficiency, long life, variety of lengths. emission wave with narrow spectra that allow concentrating all the energy in the wavelength where the efficiency of interaction with the plant is greater.
The study of how different parameters of light affect a specific crop is very relevant to help farmers increase the quality and yield of their crops. In addition to adding artificial light as a supplement, some radiation can be of little benefit to certain crops. A solution to this problem is the photoselective meshes, which are covered with optical properties to select which components of the solar radiation let through to the crops, being able to improve the quality of the fruits or protect from pests.
In addition to the use of light on the crop, there are also applications with light that are already being implemented in the agricultural field, where disinfection by the ultraviolet radiation of air, water, and surfaces stands out (some of which may be the harvested vegetables themselves, in order to avoid rotting quickly).
So is the light just for treatment?
The truth is that no, the light also works as a recognition and detection tool. Among them, the use of colorimetry to determine the degree of maturity of some fruits or the use of spectral signatures both on food and on crops stands out.
What are spectral signatures and what are they for?
Spectral signatures are a method in which the reflected intensity is collected for different wavelengths, registering a spectrum that will be different depending on the pigmentation of the leaves or other factors that may be related to the state of the plant. In this way, differences in the spectra can serve as an indicator of symptoms that plants present, although not necessarily the causes that provoke them, for which multispectral image correlation studies with other types of analysis are required.
In short, light is a form of energy with the versatility of use in treatment and detection tools in all kinds of areas, and in the case of the agricultural sector, there is a wide range of techniques that can revolutionize its development.
RESPONSIBLE FOR RADIOMETRY AND COLORIMETRY - FOTOGLASS
FOTOGLASS is a leading bio-optics company combining physical optics and biomedicine. Its activity focuses on the use of light as a tool to solve problems in a living environment, such as the inactivation of pathogens by ultraviolet C, the ability to accurately discern between tumor and non-tumor tissue by nanoplasmonic technology, the use of chromatography within food or the creation of smart textiles. It collaborates with the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital and the University of Cantabria. For more info: https://www.fotoglass.es


Infrared-heat-lamp-growing, according to texas a&m university, infrared light plays a part in the blooming of flowering plants. plants grown indoors may grow well under fluorescent lights, but will not bloom until appropriate levels of infrared radiation have been introduced. this can be done using special horticultural lights, or simply by adding incandescent light bulbs.. Tag: infrared heat lamp growing the infrared heat lamp way to solve back pain. by admin september 5, 2019 november 26, 2019 general / infrared heating pad 1 comment on the infrared heat lamp way to solve back pain. the infrared heat lamp way to solve back pain., plants require blue light waves, found at one end of the light spectrum, for the growth of foliage. they need red light waves, from the opposite end of the light spectrum, to support both flowering....
Which grow lights emit infrared and is it a good thing or a bad thing for your plants? we look of the best and most popular grow light technologies: leds, hps, de-hps and try to understand how..., the infrared heat lamp way to solve back pain. back pain is one of the most common health conditions that people in today’s world have to go through..
See more at www.farmertyler.com/plants-light plants & light written & directed by tyler baras shot & edited by cyrus moshrefi animations by nickolas rapley f..., china plant grow light mixture metal halide bulb mh 250w/ 400w /1000w, find details about china grow lamp, plant grow lamp from plant grow light mixture metal halide bulb mh 250w/ 400w /1000w - changzhou dingming lighting equipment co., ltd.. If you're talking about a heat lamp like is used to heat up a bathroom, then you're hurting your plants with that thing. you can use a simple florescent shop light for the vegg cycle of your plant. for 12 plants, (several will be males prob), you'll need more light. have you read anything about growing pot yet?, if you want to buy cheap cordless heat lamps, choose cordless heat lamps from banggood.com. it endeavors to provide the products that you want, offering the best bang for your buck. whatever cordless heat lamps styles you want, can be easily bought here..
If you want to buy cheap heat lamp, choose heat lamp from banggood.com. it endeavors to provide the products that you want, offering the best bang for your buck. whatever heat lamp styles you want, can be easily bought here.


Farming Our Way to Extinction
Unlike our forebears, we don’t eat a large variety of plants.
Whereas we use to forage and eat 6,000 different types of plant species, three quarters (75%) of our modern calories come from nine plants; cane (sugar), beets (mainly sugar), palm (oil), soy, barley, potato, maize, wheat, and rice.
“There are over 20,000 species of edible plants in the world yet fewer than 20 species now provide 90% of our food.”
It is possible there are 300,000 plant species we could eat. We use the few grains that we do because of their dull sex lives that require only the wind to pollinate them.
What once was a multitude of grains we dined on are now a handful. With maize, rice, and wheat making up 90 percent of our calories, we are playing a risky game with the world’s larder. If some disease or climate disaster caused one or more of these grains not to deliver, the world population would be in trouble.
Unlike in the past, seeds are a highly controlled commodity.
Just four companies control half the world’s seeds. The seeds are genetically modified, and farmers in third world countries are being forced to use them, sometimes with disastrous results. The seeds don’t grow like the company said they would, or the farmer can’t afford the expensive fertilizer or pesticide for that particular crop. They have to sign legal documents that they won’t save any seed for planting future crops, guaranteeing they have to come back to the conglomerate to buy their seed. ChemChina, Limagrain, Corteva, and Bayer are the major culprits.
It used to be that seeds were distributed by the U.S. government and it encouraged farmers to save and trade their seed, creating a biodiverse universe of seed crops. The seed industry lobbied the government to stop this practice in 1924. Since then, lobbying and neoliberal policies of allowing corporations to do whatever they want to turn a profit, have destroyed seed biodiversity.
Climate change makes the lack of diversity in seeds dangerous.
Agriculture is not ready for the tsunami of climate change and its challenges. A handful of genetically…


Late Summer is an additional Season (the Fifth Season) that the Ancient Chinese observed existed in nature. It is no longer Summer – it when the days shorten and the evenings are heavy with haze. So if you feel it is no longer Summer and not yet Autumn, we are in Late Summer. This is the time of harvest – the apples are ripe and ready for picking; the farmers are busy in the fields bringing in the hay and the crops; all the fantastic fruits have ripened as the flower fades.
Nourishment and harvest are the two words that characterise this season of the Earth Element. The Earth, like our mother, provides us with all the nourishment we need to live through the year. This is not just the nourishment for the body, but for the mind and the spirit. The long days and the warm nights of the summer have given us time to enjoy everything around us to the fullest and to take in more than we can appreciate at the time. The harvest time is when we not only store our physical crops but our mental and spiritual crops. When the cold sets in during the winter months, we shall have all the memories and fruits of our summer on which to draw. For instance when we sit down in front of the fire in winter and look through our holiday photos, we are feeding our minds and our spirits from those memories and savouring their tastes and flavours until we can harvest again.
A successful Harvest brings security; the same security we get from our physical mother. We know our storehouse is full and we can relax. The Earth element inside all of us works in the same way. Like our mother, the Earth element – when in balance – will nourish all parts of us and share out equally the bounty to support life. What would be the good of a harvest being gathered and stored and then distribution limited to one small area when there is enough to feed everybody at large? Movement and distribution are key parts of the Earth Element. Stability will come from this effective distribution, helping us to feel grounded and earthed. I hope you enjoy the fruits of Late Summer!


PRODUCT PACKAGING THAT POPS
Messinas, a New Jersey based lawn and garden supply company, was re-launching their Pulverize weed killer product line to better compete with big players in the category. This is where Vision came in. We brought our creative and strategic expertise to better position Pulverize in the lawn and garden space as the top choice for weed killers among its competitors with a package redesign. After researching the herbicide market, analyzing the competition and assessing the retail environment for a well-rounded understanding of the weed product world, Vision designed a new label that clearly communicated Pulverize’s effectiveness and dedication to being a safe alternative for weed prevention. Our clean imagery and striking revamped logo came together with the goal to increase visibility, shelf impact, and increase market share. As a result, it impressed the Walmart store buyer, and after a successful test run, landed a spot nationally in the Walmart lineup. It then expanded onto the shelves of over 5,000 retailer outlets in just one year. Pulverize is effective in killing weeds, but our packaging was surely effective in growing its business.
Pulverize Weed Killer Package Redesign
- Competitive Analysis
- Competitive Review
- Design Exploratory
- Package Design
How Did We Make Penguins Fly
After an all team meeting on a Friday afternoon to share the news that we were awarded this packaging project, we literally hit the ground running. We spent the weekend checking out retailers to understand the current category climate, the competition and the retailer perspective. Armed with intel and strategic creative ideas, we went on to develop packaging concepts that really made Pulverize stand out on shelf with consumers and trade professionals. To top it off, our designs earned another GDUSA award for the team!


Using products and techniques, our arborists can maintain the beauty of your plants, shrubs and trees from insect and disease damage.
Using local knowledge and soil samples, we can provide appropriate amendments to improve the quality of turf.
Your turf is a living plant within your landscape, that often requires additional care to maintain health and vitality.
Following any significant damage to your turf, we can provide repairs to restore the health and beauty of your lawn.
Many of your turf plant healthcare questions may be answered by visiting our Turf Plant Healthcare Frequently Asked Questions page.