Sussex’s foraged gin
Gin has been having a moment for, er, quite a few moments now. Muddy's had a sneak peek behind the scenes at Slake, a truly original artisan distillery here in the heart of Sussex.
We love a good origin story here at Muddy and this one sees a local forager with a chemistry PhD creating something very special in his own garage. Read on for the lowdown on this unique artisan brand.
It all began when founder Tom Martin-Wells developed a passion for foraging while out on walks with his dog Logie. After joining the Association of Foragers, a network that teaches and promotes sustainable practice, and learning more about edible plants he realised he wanted to share his passion for local food and drink.
At the same time, gin was beginning its seemingly unstoppable resurgence and that was the lightbulb moment. Tom founded Slake Spirits in 2015, to produce small batch gin from his home at Shoreham-by-Sea using ingredients foraged from the surrounding area.
Ingredients come from as close by as the beach up the road, his own garden and a neighbour’s tree. Where possible he uses local alternatives too, For instance, his Sussex dry gin is ‘stylistically similar’ to London dry gin, he explains, in that it’s ‘juniper forward, citrusy and herbal’ but because the citrus rinds traditionally used aren’t indigenous to this country he instead uses Sussex-grown lemon verbena and lemon balm to give a similar taste.
In autumn he uses berry flavours to create his Hedgerow Gin – with cardamom, fennel, liquorice, coriander and more besides. It was my favourite of the Slake gins I tasted – a Christmassy flavoured sipping gin, which can be made more summery with the addition of elderflower tonic.
Tom even created a Roman Garden gin after Gardens In Time contacted him. Many of the plants used by Romans, including Alexander seeds, still grow in Sussex today.
It’s not only local authenticity that is important to Tom, he also takes care to be sustainable, leaving enough of anything he harvests so that birds and mice living in hedgerows won’t go hungry. Some key gin ingredients can’t be sourced locally yet, so his focus is to showcase those he can whilst expanding the range of botanicals they grow and continuing to explore the more abundant wild flavours available in Sussex too.
He also uses solar panels and 100% green energy in the production process as well as returning the spent botanicals to the earth as compost in his herb garden.
Tom is now experimenting with creating a Sussex brandy, a Campari-style drink and even much-maligned absinthe as possible future projects. If you enjoy aperitivo you’ll want to keep an eye out for Slake’s range of gin-based apéritifs made using Sussex grapes launching later this year. During lockdown he put his talents to great use creating a hand sanitiser that meets WHO regulations.
Want to taste Slake for yourself? You can order from the website, look out for it at local festivals, or on the menus in good Brighton restaurants like 64°and Isaac@. Or, turn up by appointment to buy from the gin workshop door.


When you think of nontraditional farming methods or agricultural engineering, you may picture greenhouse-type configurations of Bluetooth-enabled seed beds. You might also see stacked shipping containers filled with row after row of greens, herbs, and vegetables.
Indeed, today’s farming is quite different from the farming of just a generation or two ago. But in many cases, agriculture conglomerates have purchased independent farms to create megasize industrial farms that are good for one thing: churning out lots of food. Sure, it feeds the beast of modern food supply, but at the current pace of production, these megafarms won’t be capable of keeping up with the population of the future—and they certainly don’t appeal to consumers who worry about the impact of their food choices on the environment.
The grow-your-own food movement is fueled in large part by these consumers’ demands. The ultimate answer to easing your own food fears is to be your own farmer, but traditional farming methods don’t suit a modern, urban life. This void of farming alternatives has inspired engineering startups, empowered by accessible design tools such as Autodesk Fusion 360, to create smarter, more efficient farming models. Here are three examples of farming alternatives using agricultural engineering to change the way the world gets its food.
Most grocery-store foods are lackluster versions of the beautiful, vibrant produce farmers grow. That’s because the produce is often picked early and forced to sustain a long transport—in some cases traveling thousands of miles or across oceans—from the farm to the store. By the time you get the produce home, you may have a mere 48 hours before it is wilting or rotting.
That reality is what drove agrilution to create the plantCube. “We are not just another startup building another DIY home-growing device,” says Maximilian Loessl, agrilution’s cofounder and CEO. “The concept of agrilution at its target is much bigger. We are creating a home-growing ecosystem where the best, freshest, healthiest, and tastiest greens are the focal point.”
One key way agrilution enables DIY growers’ success is by using the power of modern technology to make growing as seamless—and as painless—as possible. “The agrilution ecosystem consists of a fully automated home growing device, the plantCube, and an app to remote-monitor and control what’s growing in the plantCube, to connect with other users, and to buy new refill varieties,” Loessl says.
The plantCube is roughly the size of a dishwasher. The climate-controlled device can replicate conditions of any country, so if you are keen on growing special produce for Japanese or Chinese cuisine, you could do so, say, from your house in coastal Georgia or the highest elevations of the Rockies. But the greatest power of technologies like plantCube is its impact—or rather its lack of impact—on the resources that are already vulnerable because of standard farming methods.
“The sustainability advantages of vertical farming technology are vast,” Loessl says. “We use zero pesticides and only 2 percent of the water used in conventional agriculture, only 40 percent of the fertilizer, 50 percent of the space, and zero arable land is needed. But the greatest impact our products make is to reconnect people with what they eat and how plants grow. Growing your own food makes you more aware of what and how you eat and buy.”
Bright Agrotech’s ZipFarms
In the realm of vertical farming, Bright Agrotech is taking to the skies, literally. Its ZipGrow towers, which leverage true vertical-plane farming, can line the sides of buildings or fill vacant lots while still producing more food than conventional farming methods could yield in the same plot of land.
ZipFarms rely on hydroponic growing. “Hydroponics is great in a few different ways,” says Bright Agrotech CEO Nate Storey. “One, it is very lightweight. It removes a lot of the complications of working with soils. It allows us to concentrate production in a way that minimizes the use of fossil fuels and machinery, and it’s formulated, so we know exactly what’s in it, and we know exactly how it will impact plant growth, and we know exactly what kind of nutrition value of that plant will be, because everything is highly standardized.”
This soilless growth allows for high-density production in unlikely places, and it allows farmers to crop up anywhere. “It’s way more accessible than having to go out and find 50 or 60 acres that you can buy or lease to farm,” Storey says. “Ninety-eight percent of the population lives in cities now, and 2 percent live in rural areas. If we really want to grow food close to the source, then we’re growing in developed areas where land is really expensive. We have to figure out a way to grow with much, much higher density. You can’t stack fields on top of each other, but you can grow hydroponically in superdense configurations.”
From mom-and-pop growers to restaurant-scale projects, Bright Agrotech has seen a dramatic increase in interest and use of its products in the past three years. Customers are planting the seeds for big change—starting with basil, mint, kale, watercress, and other leafy greens.
“The best kind of herbs and greens are the ones that are not bred for transportation,” Storey says. “What that means is, if you can grow those closer to the market, you can grow them more efficiently, get them to the customer, and get the customer a much higher-quality product.”
Livin Farms’ Hive
The same eco-friendly food movement that has given way to home farming, vertical farms, and kelp gardens has also spurred the creation of a bug-farming device. That’s right: Livin Farms, a company based in the UK and Hong Kong, has developed a product, called Hive, that helps you seed, grow, and harvest bugs.
“Edible insects, such as mealworms, that you can grow inside your Hive are sustainable to raise, they need very little water and energy and can be raised on food that is in no competition with human food,” says Katharina Unger, founder and CEO of Livin Farms.
Unger knows this is unsure territory. “We are excited that the Hive really does make people rethink how and what they eat,” Unger says. “It’s a cultural and a paradigm shift that comes with edible insects becoming part of the Western diet. But it’s a healthy and sustainable one. We love to be at the forefront of a movement that really does get people to make a conscious choice.”
These three examples of agricultural engineering are the tip of the green iceberg—and where they grow, so grow many more like them. Traditional farming will likely be antiquated within a few generations, and in its place will be brilliant solutions for modernized food production. After all, the collective mind-set is moving from one that simply demands food to one that questions every aspect of that food: Where did it come from? Who grew it? What was its impact on the environment? There’s no better way to answer those questions than to know the farmer personally—or, rather, to be the farmer yourself.


Our vineyards are located in two areas of the Liébana's Valley.
Our company has a total of 7.569 m2 distributed between the two existing vineyards in the Valley Pumareña Bedoya and Tama (Cillorigo Liébana), along with our plant distiller.
The type of grape that is harvested in our vineyards belongs to the varieties of Mencia and Jerez, with which we make our Special Orujo de los Picos.
Geographical and climatic conditions in the Liébana region, where arable land is limited, forces us to include grapes from the north of León and Valladolid areas, with a grape variety similar to the one we grow in Liébana. The type of grape in those areas is 75% Prietopicudo, Tempranillo and Mencia, as well as sometimes incorporating the types Godello, Malvasia, Verdejo, Jerez and Cabernet Sauvignon.


To cover large areas of bare or disturbed soil, we offer high capacity hydro-seeding to secure a much faster and stronger lawn. Our 900 gallon capacity tank holds enough water, seed, and supplements to cover approximately 9,000 square feet in about one hour. Your soil may need to first be fine-graded or have large rocks removed by a rock hound. Also, note that the owner is responsible for daily watering after the initial application. This will insure that the grass seed can germinate faster than weeds that may be in the soil.
Please call with a general description of the size
and nature of your project for an appointment today!


120 acres prime warm farmground on the Coachella Slope. Excellent soil for a variety of crops. The Coachella Slope is one of the earliest harvests in California and the U.S. In the Opportunity Zone with potential for tremendous tax benefits. Affordable & abundant Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) irrigation water, one of the lowest priced water rates in the state. In AgPreserve, keeps property taxes low.
For ADA assistance, please email email@example.com. If you experience difficulty in accessing any part of this website, email us, and we will work with you to provide the information you seek through an alternate communication method.


From field to oven
Our people are the heart and soul of our brand: from the farmers who carefully select and grow wheat to our home bakers who enjoy our products. We ensure that everyone is committed to our cause of living everyday delicious.
Our farmers are passionate about selecting and cultivating the best wheat varieties.
GRANDS MOULINS DE PARIS
The millers of Grands Moulins de Paris have been processing wheat since 1919.
ECOLE DE BOULANGERIE ET DE PÂTISSERIE DE PARIS
Our baking traditions are passed on to the new generations in our baking school, where the bakers of tomorrow can refine their skills and draw inspiration from our authentic French know-how and artisanal techniques.
Providing our customers around the world delicious products to delight our consumers everyday, for every occacions.
The care we put in our products is the secret to create unique taste experiences, that gives delicious moments of pleasure, suitable to be savoured at any moment of the day.
The finest ingredients


Sixteen Acres Garden Center is a staple for Springfield area garden enthusiasts—and it all started when the Bordenuk family immigrated from Ukraine.
One of the great joys of homeownership is decorating the yard for all to enjoy. Flowers, shrubs, trees, ornaments, trellises, bird baths, garden statuary, winding pathways—the sky’s the limit when it comes to landscaping creativity.
In the Springfield area, there’s one notable spot garden enthusiasts can go for most of their garden needs: Sixteen Acres Garden Center.
Founded by John and Joan Bordenuk in 1962, Sixteen Acres Garden Center is a family-owned business, now co-owned by John and Joan’s children: Steve (general manager), Debra (Floral and Gift Shops manager), and Judy (human resources and financial manager). Now in its second generation of family care, Sixteen Acres has secured its spot as the most beloved garden shop in the area. Sixteen Acres, in fact, has won The Republican Reader Raves award for “Best Nursery or Garden Center” consistently since the award’s inception in 2010.
It all started with the Bordenuk’s immigration from Ukraine, says Judy Bordenuk, human resources and financial manager.
“My father inherited his ability to grow plants and his love of plants through his parents, who came from Ukraine,” Bordenuk says. “Over there, they each get an acre of land, and they have to work the land and provide for themselves off the land. So, his work ethic and love of plants came from that.”
After their immigration to the United States, the Bordenuks purchased the 10 acres of land the garden center now sits on. John Bordenuk helped his parents farm the land and sell cut gladioli, fruits, and vegetables—all grown on-site—at their roadside stand.
John continued to nurture his love of flowers, but when his early career ended in a lay-off from agricultural biotechnology firm Monsanto, he went back to the drawing board. John’s wife, Joan, encouraged him to start a business, reminding him he had always wanted to. That was exactly the encouragement he needed.
John went back to school to get a degree at Stockbridge School of Horticulture. He also got a part-time job at now-shuttered McDonald’s Greenhouses in Springfield and initiated purchasing the family’s land, little by little. He paid his parents in monthly installments as earnings came in. Finally, he bought the garden center’s first structure, a greenhouse from a local nursery that had gone out-of-business. He erected it on the land, and so Sixteen Acres Garden Center began.
“My mother was the strength behind my father,” Bordenuk says. “I like to say she raised five children, and my father raised Sixteen Acres Garden Center. We owe a lot to her—it was her impetus that got the thing going.”
Unfortunately, John passed away at the age of 85 in April 2020, due to complications from COVID-19. He left a strong legacy for his children to build upon, and they are doing just that.
The business has grown from just one structure and a limited offering of plants in its early days to a multi-faceted garden center that offers the largest selection of annuals and perennials in Western Massachusetts. They also sell seeds, container gardens, herbs, trees, shrubs, vines, fruits, grass seed, fertilizers, soils, manure, gardening tools and supplies, garden accents and decor, and a full range of gifts and custom-made floral arrangements.
On a daily basis, you can find the Bordenuk siblings and their friendly staffers wearing many hats—receiving and stocking new products, taking care of plants, and helping customers.
Bordenuk says the hydrangeas are in full bloom right now, with so many colors to see. Sounds like the perfect time to stop by for a floral feast for your eyes!
Judy’s Local Recommendations
Judy and her family grew up in the two-family home located next to Sixteen Acres Garden Center in Springfield, before moving to Wilbraham. The Bordenuk siblings still live in Wilbraham now, carrying on a love for gardening. They pride themselves on growing the best annuals around while also having a quality and variety selection of plants purchased from local growers. Meanwhile, they also take pride in employing knowledgeable teammates with horticultural backgrounds and education.
They’re a truly local family, living the American dream made possible by their grandparent’s foresight to purchase land and raise a son who knew how to care for it. And of course, Joan Bordenuk, who knew how to encourage her husband to follow his dreams of owning a business.
Here are some of Judy Bordenuk’s favorite spots in the area:
- Echo Hill Orchards, Winery, & Distillery is the perfect spot for apple picking, Bordenuk says. You can pair it with hiking or a wine or moonshine tasting. Beyond apples, the farm also has pick-your-own peaches, sunflowers, and pumpkins when in season.
- Tanglewood is a music venue located in the Berkshire Hills, between Stockbridge and Lenox, about an hour outside of Springfield. It has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. Bordenuk, like many other Springfield music lovers, enjoys taking in performances at Tanglewood during summer visits to the Berkshires.
- Randall’s Farm & Greenhouse in Ludlow has the best homemade ice cream at Elsie’s Creamery, Bordenuk says. They also sell delicious prepared foods and produce, she says.
It’s always a nice time to stop and smell the roses—or geraniums, magnolias, or peonies. Stop on by Sixteen Acres and support a family-owned business that brings passion to its work.


Alfalfa Seeds for Sprouts, 40g
Brand: GEO SPROUTS
Delivery time: 1-5 tööpäeva
Growing sprouts is easy and effortless. They grow in few days, at home, all the year around. Sprouts enjoy a greater amount of nutrients - much easier to be absorbed - compare to the adult plant.
Ingredients: alfalfa seeds (Medicago Sativa).
May contain traces of cereals containing gluten, soy, mustard.
How to sprout?
Soak seeds for 10h and remove the broken ones. Rinse well seeds under water and set them on the sprouting kit as shown in the chart. If using a sprouter with trays make sure to spread seeds evenly. Always water the seeds 2-3 times a day until they are fully germinated as shown in the chart. When ready sprouts can be kept refrigerated for few days when they will continue to grow. Before consumption please wash sprouts in the same way as washing a normal salad and with the same kind of products.


Food Sourcing & Logistics
Our Food Sourcing & Logistics Department helps our member food banks access healthy and nutritious foods.
No Kid Hungry
AR Beef Project
Food Sourcing & Logistics is responsible for assisting Alliance member food banks to access nutritious food. This is achieved through several programs in the department aiding with:
Produce sourcing & acquisition
Protein sourcing & acquisition
Food Safety & Training
Disaster Relief Coordination
ARkansas gleaning & Gardening project
What is Gleaning?
Gleaning is the biblical practice of hand-gathering crops left after harvest.
“I never want to plow under produce I’ve grown when there are hungry people who need it. I feel good about donating what’s left in my fields and growing a little extra.” —Randy Clanton Clanton Farms Bradley County, Arkansas
Annual Gleaning & Gardening Events
Turnip for Hunger
In the late fall/early winter we host an annual harvesting event, Turnip for Hunger. Volunteers gather in the field to help pick and load turnips for transport before enjoying traditional harvest games like turnip toss and turnip sack races. All turnips harvested are distributed through the Arkansas Foodbank.
Every summer, volunteers with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance harvest our five-acre watermelon patch at Stone Links Park in North Little Rock. In addition to harvesting melons, participants enjoy watermelon fun and games! Watermelons harvested are distributed through the Arkansas Foodbank.
Be part of the solution
Gleaning is a great opportunity to reconnect with the earth and learn more about food sources. For school and civic groups, Sunday school classes, scout troops and others, gleaning offers lessons in cooperation, community service and compassionate giving.
If you or your group would like to be involved in our gleaning efforts, we encourage you to sign up to be a volunteer and subscribe to our Alliance newsletter. You’ll find out about upcoming gleaning events and how you can participate.
ARkansas beef Project
PARTNERING WITH CATTLEMEN & FARMERS
The Arkansas Beef Project, a program from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance in partnership with the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and Farmers Feeding the World, offers cattle ranchers a unique opportunity to provide a much-needed source of protein to many Arkansas children and families in need.
Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, yet many Arkansans cannot afford to buy meat on a regular basis. When they can, it often has a very high fat content. Similarly, food banks don’t have reliable sources for affordable meat protein. The Alliance is grateful for the support of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Arkansas Cattle ranchers and other protein producers, such as lamb and pork, can donate to the Arkansas Beef Project. All donated protein is distributed in one or two-pound portions to food banks and food pantries across the state to help food-insecure Arkansans have a reliable source of protein. For more information contact Brandon Chapman at firstname.lastname@example.org or Michelle Shope at email@example.com
Brandon Chapman, a fourth-generation farmer, is the Food Sourcing & Logistics Program Manager and leads the Arkansas Gleaning & Garden Project. Brandon was first introduced to the Alliance when his farm made its first donation to the Arkansas Gleaning Project in 2009. He joined the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance team in April 2016 and uses his agricultural skills managing the Arkansas Gleaning and Garden project, which has produced over 13 million pounds of nutritious food for the Alliance network. The project also includes hunger gardens totaling over 15 acres throughout the state. Brandon is trained in the Food Safety Modernization Act in order to keep the food we grow safe.
He and his family were honored as the Farm Family of the Year for the Eastern district of Arkansas in 2017. Brandon serves on the Pulaski County Extension Advisory Committee.
Michelle Shope joined the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance in August 2005 as the Director of Food Sourcing & Logistics. Michelle’s food industry experience spans 37-years. She is a ServSafe instructor/proctor and is Food Safety Modernization Act trained. Michelle has used her years of experience to acquire more food for the charitable food network. Michelle and her team grow and glean specialty crops and work closely with cattlemen and processors to increase access to nutritious food. Having been with the Alliance since its inception, Michelle has helped create and manage numerous programs that help their members serve Arkansans in need.
Michelle serves on the Board of Directors for Shepherd’s Hope Neighborhood Medical Clinic, helping those without medical and dental insurance get the care they need. In 2023, Michelle received the Living Your Values Award from Feeding America.
Are You In Need?
We would like to help you find the resources you need.
The Alliance Alert goes out to members, advocates and others who want to stay up on hunger issues in Arkansas. See our latest newsletter.


Gokuleshwor Agriculture and Animal Science College is the first community college under Tribhuvan University (TU) to conduct Bachelor in agriculture. It is located in remote area of Baitadi with an aim to provide technical education and modernizing the agriculture sector. Traditional farming is not productive in modern era so, Gokuleshwor Agriculture and Animal Science College manages to provide proper skills and techniques to promote modern and innovative tools, techniques and methodology in agriculture. It is located in a beautiful small valley in Gokuleshwor. At present, Gokuleshwor Agriculture and Animal Science College has been running the course in premises of Shree Setigaun Higher Secondary School but it is in the process of building its own infrastructures.
Interested in joining B.SC at Gokuleshwor Agriculture and Animal Science college? If you are eager to know more about this college facility, admission seats, and courses then, browse the link for more details.Apply Now
Library, clean and spacious class rooms, lab, clean and peaceful environment, sports field, etc. are available. Research programs for agriculture are conducted on a regular basis. Proper care and guidance are provided by the experienced faculty members.
Gokuleshwor Agriculture and Animal Science College


NEWS & EVENTS
Even in the world of the highly capable, there aren’t many people who can guide you off a perilous mountain, offer up their home-brewed beer and program your environmental control. Jeff Henderson, the newest addition to Wadsworth Control Systems’ software development team, is just that person. Most importantly, Jeff is a bright and capable programmer who receives a big hand for his assimilation of the workings of a greenhouse in the Wadsworth school of climate automation.
Our customer support team grew in 2016 to include two new members, Art O’Hare and Nick Earls. Art joined us in March. Many of you know him from the industry and had the opportunity to meet with him at Wadsworth’s biannual seminar or Cultivate 2016.
Looking for someone with experience in the cannabis industry? So were we. Say hello to Nick Earls, our new customer support and sales team member. Nick attended the University of Arizona where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Controlled Environment Agriculture. He managed the campus teaching greenhouse while studying commercial hydroponic greenhouse vegetable production. Nick then moved to Denver, CO where he began working in the cannabis industry. He managed a cultivation facility for Denver Relief while helping with consulting projects. Just prior to joining Wadsworth, Nick was the head grower for a cannabis greenhouse in Pueblo, Colorado.
Both Nick and Jeff will be working from Wadsworth Controls’ Colorado office. Art is located in California.
How Tech Suppliers Are Helping Growers Find Solutions, Greenhouse Grower
Randy Harrold, the Agriculture teacher at Laurel Junior Senior High School in New Castle, PA, began teaching at the school two years after the school built a greenhouse in 2009. He realized immediately that he had a problem with the greenhouse.
Big Controls for the Small Grower, Grower Talks
“I can’t possibly afford that,” they think
The Latest Updates in Environmental Greenhouse Controls, Greenhouse Grower, Technology
To do a good job of heating your greenhouse space means delivering the heat evenly. The heat should be delivered in a way that allows your plants to take away the most benefit possible. We call this “distribution efficiency.” If you heat with hot air furnaces, no matter the type or efficiency, your distribution efficiency is probably around 50%. This means of all the heat you generate, only about 50% is put to good use by your plants. The rest is lost to leakage in your glazing, or rises immediately to the peak, where it does nothing beneficial for you.
Reducing temperatures at sunrise creates a morning DROP and reduces stem elongation.Much has been written about DIF, which is defined as the difference between day and night temperatures or day temperature minus night temperature. A negative DIF, the result of a night temperature that is warmer than the day temperature, prevents stem elongation in many crops. Considering today’s increasing fuel prices, efforts to use negative DIF to keep greenhouse temperatures warmer at night isn’t necessarily a good business practice. Many growers have decided it’s not worth the extra cost.


Goats and sheep are both ruminant animals, which means they have a complex digestive system designed to efficiently process plant material, primarily cellulose, found in grasses and other vegetation. While both goats and sheep share some similarities in their dietary needs, there are several reasons why goats typically require a more varied diet compared to sheep:
Browsing vs. Grazing Behavior:
Goats are natural browsers, which means they prefer to eat a wide variety of plant materials, including leaves, twigs, shrubs, and even some woody plants. They are more adapted to eating a diverse range of vegetation compared to sheep, which are primarily grazers and prefer grasses.
Goats have higher energy and protein requirements than sheep. They need a more nutrient-dense diet to meet their energy demands, especially when they are lactating or growing.
Goats also have a greater ability to digest fibrous and coarse plant material, allowing them to extract more nutrients from a varied diet.
Goats are known to be more selective feeders than sheep. They will often preferentially eat certain plants, including some that sheep may find unpalatable or toxic. This selective feeding behavior necessitates a more varied diet to meet their nutritional needs.
Goats are generally more adaptable to different environmental conditions and forage sources. They can thrive in a wider range of habitats and are more likely to consume a variety of plants to meet their dietary needs.
Sheep, on the other hand, may be more focused on grazing grasses and may not readily consume a diverse range of vegetation.
Goats are more prone to certain mineral deficiencies and imbalances, such as copper deficiency. A varied diet can help ensure they receive a broader spectrum of essential nutrients, including minerals.
Sheep have different nutritional requirements and are less susceptible to some of the same mineral imbalances, which may allow for a less diverse diet.
Goats are often more active foragers than sheep. They may explore their environment more and seek out different types of plants to eat. This behavior encourages a broader diet.
Medicinal and Parasite Control:
Goats have been observed to self-select plants with medicinal properties or anti-parasitic effects when they have internal parasites. This behavior is called "browse medicating." It further emphasizes the need for a varied diet to allow goats to find these beneficial plants.
While goats generally benefit from a more varied diet, it's essential to ensure that the plants they consume are safe and non-toxic, as they can be sensitive to certain toxins. Providing a balanced diet that meets their specific nutritional requirements is crucial for their health and well-being. If you need more help you can message us and we will offer you a consult to sort out your animals nutritional needs.
But what about their bad reputation???? How do Goats compare to Sheep?
Goats have gained a reputation for their unique grazing and browsing behavior, which can sometimes be seen as problematic in certain contexts. Understanding the reasons behind this reputation can shed light on why goats are both celebrated and criticized for their foraging habits.
Selective Grazing and Browsing:
Goats are natural browsers, and they exhibit selective grazing and browsing behavior. They prefer to eat a wide variety of plant materials, including leaves, twigs, shrubs, and woody plants. This can be advantageous in certain situations as they can help control invasive and unwanted plant species, such as brambles and multiflora rose.
Goats can be used as a natural and eco-friendly means of weed and brush control. They can help reduce the need for chemical herbicides and mechanical equipment for vegetation management, making them an environmentally sustainable option.
However, goats also have a reputation for being "escape artists" and "destructive" grazers, which can be attributed to their browsing behavior. Here are some reasons behind this negative reputation:
Fencing Challenges: Goats are notorious for their ability to escape from enclosures, including fences. Their agility and curiosity often lead them to test the boundaries of their confinement, causing frustration for their owners.
Selective Eating: While goats are effective at clearing unwanted vegetation, they can be choosy eaters. They may prefer certain plants over others, leaving some less desirable plants behind.
Bark Stripping: Goats have a tendency to strip the bark from trees and shrubs, which can harm or kill these plants. This behavior can be detrimental to forested areas or landscaped spaces.
Overgrazing: If not managed properly, goats can overgraze pastures and rangeland, leading to soil erosion and the degradation of grazing areas.
To mitigate some of these issues associated with goat behavior, proper management techniques can be employed:
Fencing: High-quality, well-maintained fencing is essential for containing goats. Electric fencing can be particularly effective in deterring them from attempting to escape.
Rotational Grazing: Implementing rotational grazing practices can prevent overgrazing and allow pastures to recover.
Supplemental Feeding: Providing supplemental feed can help ensure goats receive the necessary nutrients and reduce their reliance on browsing undesirable plants. A good balanced mineral supplement will eliminate many of the unwanted behaviors and lead to happier and healthier goats.
Education and Expectations:
Owners and managers of goats should have a clear understanding of goat behavior and the benefits and challenges associated with their grazing habits. Having realistic expectations and a well-thought-out management plan is essential for successful goat ownership.
Goats' grazing and browsing behavior can be both an asset and a challenge, depending on the context. While they can provide valuable vegetation control services and have ecological benefits, their selective eating and escape tendencies can pose challenges. Proper management practices and education are key to harnessing the positive aspects of goat behavior while minimizing the negative impacts.


Biostimulants are now recognsied as important supplements to conventional fertilsier programs becuase they offer a complex mix of essential micro-nutrients and other substances that can elicite a range of positive effects in plants resulting in healthy yields.
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Anyone who has tried making compost using a traditional garden compost bin knows it is not an easy task like shown on TV. That is where the innovative new rotating compost bins like you see in the pictures here which are called the compost tumblers come in handy. These special compost units known as compost tumblers can make producing compost fertilizer in urban and suburban areas very easy.
And in cities and suburbs where environment laws apply strictly the normal compost bins are not suitable. They can get you in trouble with the law. So their is no traditional method to make compost using compost piles in cities due to health and environment concerns. But with the use of an approved, environment friendly, compost tumblers city people can turn their piles of leaves, trash, flowers, vegetables, herbs or houseplants into compost or garden “black gold”.
However unlike as seen on TV, you can’t have “… dark, rich compost in just a few weeks!” let alone 14 days like some compost tumbler marketing ads claim. That’s the conclusion Mother Earth News magazine arrived at after conducting a field test of various compost tumblers versus open compost piles. So if you had a vision of a miracle fertilizer machine then compost tumbler is not for you. That is because rotating compost tumblers are nothing more than a covered or enclosed and maybe easier to manage compost pile or compost bin but not a machine that can give us a steady supply of unusually high quality compost every couple of weeks. The ads about them are sadly only advertising hyperbole at best.
These rotating compose tumblers for composting are much clean, neat, unobtrusive, pest-resistant and odor-free than the traditional methods of making compost and fertilizer out of waste, trash, and leaves. Due to this fact compost tumblers often can be used in urban and suburban areas, where much more strict local laws or restrictive rules apply on what you can do in your premises and gardens than in a rural country farm house garden.
According to the research carried out I mentioned earlier although the decomposition time is not increased with these compost tumblers, you do get the other advantages from these kind of rotating compost bins which I mentioned earlier here and also it is easier turn the compost. With rotating kind of compost bins you are also likely to turn the contents more often in this tumbler, thus introducing a vital ingredient of decomposing which is air. The other four vital ingredients for making compose are nitrogen, carbon and water.
So the easy to rotate Compost Tumblers can be said to be a fertilizer factory that comes in as a rotating garden Compost Bin! So use this innovative units to turn waste, recycle our trash, make environment friendly fertilizer compost and make our planet a better place for our children.


Super Gro 400
The Super Gro (Grolux) lamp made by Sylvania is a 400w HPS Lamp designed to run off a 400w HPS Ballast.
It has an approximate lumen output of 56,000 and a CRI of 25.
Like all Sylvania lamps it has been successfully adapted to the horticultural market and provides an excellent artificial light source for indoor or greenhouse plants.
The Super Gro 400w HPS Lamp is reliable and very affordable and can be used through both grow and bloom stages of plant development.
(Not avail. in South Australia.)


Marie Sharp’s Red Habanero Jelly
Made from Red Habanero Pepper with a highly aromatic blend of unique flavors and highly seasoned with spices. Marie Sharp’s all natural jams & jellies are made with the freshest exotic fruits and the finest ingredients. All of their fresh fruits are grown on the Sharp’s family farm, nestled in the fertile foothills of the Mayan Mountains. They do not use fruit juices or commercially prepared concentrations. 11 oz.
Marie Sharp’s pepper jellies are made from fresh habanero peppers with a scoville of 25,000 units grown on her own family property. the fresh ingredients of the product accounts for this unique blend.
Use as dip, horsd’oeuvre on crackers with cream cheese or on cold meats.
Ingredients: Choice fresh, red habanero pepper pieces, onions, garlic, cilantro, sugar, vinegar, lime juice and pectin.


Our 100% certified organic Green Gram or Mung Beans have been sprouted, dried and cold-milled into flour. The process of sprouting breaks down the enzyme inhibitors present in the green gram, making i Read More
|Category||Living Foods (Sprouted Grain and Pulse Flours)|
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Our 100% certified organic Green Gram or Mung Beans have been sprouted, dried and cold-milled into flour. The process of sprouting breaks down the enzyme inhibitors present in the green gram, making it much easier for the body to digest and absorb the nutrients. Sprouting also increases the nutritional content and makes it more bioactive. The superior nutritional value accumulated during sprouting is retained after drying and cold-milling into flour. Our air-cooled cold-milling process finely grinds the entire mung bean including the outer seed coating and the sprout without generating heat, thus retaining all the nutrients, while giving a smooth texture.
Mung bean sprouts are low in calories, high in dietary fiber, protein, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. It is also a very good source of manganese, potassium, magnesium, folate, copper, zinc, and B vitamins, vitamin A, C, E and K.
How to use?
The sprouted green gram flour can be added to soups, and curries as a thickening agent and to improve the protein content. It can also be used to make dosas and pancakes, as well as, chapathies and poories by mixing with Dhatu Sprouted Wheat Flour. Sweets such as Sprouted Mung Halwa can also be prepared.


Việt Nam, Italy aim to leverage strengths in agriculture
Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigid said Italy hopes to become Việt Nam's leading agricultural partner in the EU, believing that more Italian agricultural products would be present in Việt Nam and the Asia-Pacific. Italy will actively urge relevant EU agencies to remove the yellow card warning on Vietnamese seafood at the earliest, he added.
|PM Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida. — VNA/VNS Photo
HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hosted a reception in Hà Nội on March 1 for Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida, calling for a further strengthening of bilateral ties, particularly in the agricultural sector.
PM Chính reaffirmed Việt Nam's commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Italy, believing that Lollobrigida's visit would solidify bilateral political, economic and trade relations, especially in agriculture.
Welcoming the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, he urged them to concretise and effectively realise the MoU to achieve new milestones in agricultural cooperation, overcome challenges, and strive for a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship.
The PM emphasised the importance of collaboration in deep processing of agricultural products, technology transfer, innovation, digital transformation, green economy and circular economy in agriculture, and fostering connections between businesses to develop agricultural economy.
Việt Nam is ready to welcome a greater presence of Italian farm produce to serve local consumers, he said.
Noting that Việt Nam is the first country to carry out the 1-million-ha low-emission, high-quality rice programme in the Mekong Delta, contributing to the global climate change adaptation, he suggested exploring regional agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
He also urged Italy to accelerate the European Union's removal of the yellow card warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Việt Nam and hasten the approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
On the global and regional issues, Chính proposed continued cooperation to address global challenges like climate change, food security and water security. He also called for the effective implementation of cooperation activities within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Declaration between Việt Nam and G7 countries.
Việt Nam is ready to serve as a bridge to foster the development partnership between Italy and ASEAN - the current growth centre, as well as promote relations between Italy and African countries and other nations through the tripartite cooperation model in ensuring food security, he said.
Minister Lollobrigida, for his part, lauded Việt Nam's significant potential and strengths in agriculture.
He expressed Italy's readiness to share experience, technology and machinery, crop varieties and livestock achievements with Việt Nam to develop sustainable agriculture with lower emissions and more added values targeting premium markets. Italian universities are also prepared to train Vietnamese students in the field, he added.
The minister said Italy hopes to become Việt Nam's leading agricultural partner in the EU, believing that more Italian agricultural products would be present in Việt Nam and the Asia-Pacific. Italy will actively urge relevant EU agencies to remove the yellow card warning on Vietnamese seafood at the earliest, he added.
Italy is now the third largest trade partner of Việt Nam in the EU, behind Germany and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Việt Nam is Italy's biggest trade partner in ASEAN, with two-way trade surpassing 6 billion USD in 2023. In 2023, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership. — VNS


About Trade Cocoa CFD
Cocoa is a crop used mostly in confectionery to produce chocolate.
As a rule, cocoa prices depend very much upon the weather in the countries it is produced, the most important one being Ivory Coast, where 30% of the world's harvest are gathered. With Ghana, Indonesia and Nigeria, they make the four leading cocoa producers, the share totaling up to 70%.
Cocoa contracts start trading electronically on Monday at 9 AM in London and finish at 4:50 PM on Friday.


RetailLawn & Garden Supplies
Roach Feed and Seed is the place for your family to shop. Offering a great assortment of supplies, we hope to be your one stop shop. You can find pet feeds and supplies for all your fur and feathered babies as well as live animals in our pet shop. Are a backyard chicken fancier? We have you covered with non-gmo feeds and so much more for your chickens. We also have regular shipments of chicks, from excellent egg laying breeds to very rare breeds. While you are here let us help you with your lawn and garden. We offer both organic and traditional supplies to grow a healthy, plentiful garden and a beautiful weed free lawn. Let us help you with garden plants, garden seed, grass seeds and wildflower seed as well.
Back to our roots, we have for you livestock feeds, hay and straw. We can provide feeds for your goats, horses and local FFA show animals. It is our pleasure to serve your needs with great products and knowledgeable staff. We look forward to seeing you!
Frost provides a full range of banking, investments and insurance services to businesses and individuals in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost has helped Texans with their financial needs during three centuries.


A global leader in the production of grower tools and meters that support crop performance in the controlled environment agriculture market.
Bluelab needed a content specialist to help produce blog articles to continue building Bluelab’s brand awareness, communicate their purpose and contribute to their The Art of Growing blog series.
As award-winning industry leaders, it was vital to produce high-quality and valuable content for their target audiences. We had to ensure the copy was concise, insightful, and backed with research. It was also essential to break down scientific or technical terminology to ensure it was enjoyable to read while being educational and getting key messages across to audiences, at various stages of their growing journey.
How we supported Bluelab:
3-4 blog articles per month
Produce articles from webinar interviews and transcripts
Research-based, valuable and educational articles
Additional copywriting resource
NZ International Business Awards
Excellence in Digital Commerce Transformation 2021
Excellence in Innovation Award Winners 2019


Can Your Harvest
There are 5 important steps to can your harvest:
- Wash supplies ahead of time, keep the jars warm until ready to use by running them through the dishwasher. Preheat water in the canner with enough water to cover the jars at least 1 inch during processing.
- Prepare the recipe for what you are canning. Fill the jars using a wide funnel. Be sure to wipe drips and spills off the rim and outer edge of the jar and then put the lid on and screw the band down until finger tight.
- Place the filled jars on the canning rack and lower them into the canner. The water should cover the jar by at least one inch. Put the lid on the canner pot and once the water reaches a boil set a timer for the recommended processing time.
- Once the processing time is complete, use a jar lifter to transfer the jars from the canner to a towel or cooling rack and let cool for at least 12 hours.
- After the jars have cooled, check each jar for a proper seal. Press the center of each lid. If it is properly sealed the lid won’t flex or pop. Put any unsealed jars in the fridge to use immediately and store the others in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Know before you go! Download our full materials checklist:


How to Grow Vegetables From Kitchen Scraps
Latest Video on Lifehacker by Joel Kahn and Therese McPherson
Contributed to Change Links by Bella De Soto
Between long grocery lines, heated competition for delivery slots and the blessed arrival of springtime weather, you may be tempted to try your hand at growing your own vegetables. You and everyone else: There’s also been a run on seeds. Luckily, many vegetables you take home from the produce section are easy to re-grow at home, no seeds required.
With just scraps from already-used vegetables, some jars of water, and a few pots of soil, you can have your own windowsill garden in no time.
See how to at this link:
The video demonstrates how to re-grow scallions (green onions), onions, potatoes, basil, celery and lettuce.
Just remember to change the water in the pots regularly, choose a receptacle large enough to allow the plants to grow, and be patient. Soon, you’ll have your own sustainable vegetable garden at home.
Is Lab-Grown Meat Really Meat?
A labeling war is brewing. By Rose Eveleth
From “Slate.com”: https://slate.com/
In the meantime, here is the lowdown on this so called Lab-Grown “Meat”, which claims simultaneously to be “meat” (an animal product) yet “grown” in a laboratory from “plant-based” materials!
The Gruesome Truth About Lab-Grown Meat
By Nick Thieme
It’s made by using fetal cow blood… Plant-based food company Hampton Creek recently announced its plans to bring lab-grown meat into stores within the next year.
It’s an ambitious plan, and there are good reasons to be skeptical of its claim—the plant-based mayonnaise company’s business practices have been persistent targets for critics, drawing accusations of bad science, mislabeling, and even instructing employees to buy its mayonnaise off the shelves to drive up sales numbers.
Hampton Creek is also hoping to beat its competitors to market by about two years, despite its late entry into “cultured meat”—a bold target that has others in the industry skeptical of the company’s claims.
The whole point of lab-grown meat is to create a more sustainable product that doesn’t require the hassle and waste of cattle production—it’s meat grown in a lab rather than on a set of bones. If Hampton Creek wins (and thus far it’s come out on top in the majority of its controversies), it could be the first to create “meat” grown using plant nutrients only.


Join us in a lifetime opportunity where we bring agricultural knowledge to local villages along the Amazon rive in Peru.
We’ve partnered with Trees and Seeds and experts in Ecology to bring hands on experience for students or volunteers to develop food security projects and reforestation initiatives.
- Work in the designated are with local family chosen to learn about sustainable farming practice
- Develop the land and make it ready for planting
- Transplant plant nursery and/or through direct seeding
- Substrate and seed work
- Management of receptacles
- Mixing and prepare nutritional solutions
- Control of plant disease
- Work in designated areas ready for reforestation efforts
- Installation of plant and tree nurseries
- Preparation of seedlings
- Planting in tree nurseries
- Irrigation and application of foliar nutrients


In 2022, EPA approved the use of mandestrobin on lettuce for protection against lettuce drop.
Ethalfluralin has been approved by EPA for use on hemp seed; this is the first conventional pest management option for hemp growers.
Isofetamid is now an option for rusty root disease management on ginseng. Learn about IR-4’s work securing this new use through EPA.
Employees honored with National Recognition of Excellence Awards, Technical and Meritorious Service Awards
2023 marks 60 Years of IR-4. Read more about our project’s impacts and longevity.
EPA has approved new tolerances for Pyriofenone on greenhouse cucumbers and fruiting vegetables.
EPA has approved a new tolerance for sulfur dioxide on blueberries. Read more here.
EPA has released the sixth Final Rule in a series of updates to pesticide crop groups. This update includes new commodities and additional subgroups in Legumes and Cereal Grains.


Find a bale of straw whose substitute can be hay or grass. Make sure you do initial weeding because some grass seeds may have been carried along hence easy sprouting. This should not be something to get you worried since all you need to do is pull out the sprouts as soon as they appear. You are advised to start with what is easily available in your area and not stress on getting a specific bale of straws. Furthermore, whatever is readily available in your regions is likely to be cheaper.
The important thing is to play your layout carefully as you do not want to change your mind when started and keeping moving. One thing that seems to have gardeners divided is on the best way to lay these bales down. Some argue that the string side should be on the ground while others think that it should be parallel to the ground. The specifics real do not matter and you are advised to pick that which you fancy most. Leave room for mowing the lawn if you are placing the bales in side-by-side rows. After the set up think about what you want to grow in each bale, bearing in mind that maximum sunlight exposure is required.
With straw bales, you are not restricted as to what you can draw. The most common crops grown however are vegetables and annuals. All you need to consider is that the taller the crops get the more you will have to take care of them and offer the necessary support considering the fact that these bales do not offer the strength plants on the ground get. You are advised to go for shorter crops. Most farmers have been seen planting three tomatoes plants, four peppers or cucumber plants and six lettuce plants per bale. With tomatoes, stacking the on trellis is necessary. For gardeners living in favorable climates, starting with early growing crops such as sugar snaps and peas is a good start before bringing in the tomatoes.
Sourcing the Straw
While finding the straw bale might sound as a simple task, it could turn into a complex one if you do not live on the countryside. The simplest option would be looking for a commercial seller and striking a deal that will bring the straw into your house. The only problem is that the merchant might not know the kind of straw he or she is dealing with. If you source it from the farmer, you will have better chances of gathering out its characteristics.
Since the straw is hollow, it will hold some moisture for your garden. Since it is organic, it will decompose as days go by. Learning to establish a balance between the hardness and porosity of the straw with the softness will help you prepare a straw garden that will withstand the test of the season. This is so since most of the straw garden will decompose by the time the first season is over.
Remember that straw is easy to come by after the fall. Arranging your garden preparation for this time will ensure that the garden is ready for work immediately after the winter. Moreover, you will also enjoy the lower straw bale prices. You will not have to pay a fortune to get the right bales.
Preparing the bales
Bale preparation is important, as you must ensure that they are past the initial heat decomposing stage. With proper fertilizer and water application, the bale of straws should warm up to a 100 degrees temperature levels. Bale preparation is easy since all you need to do is keep them wet for three to four weeks before planting session even with the varied preparation techniques. We will look at the most recommended bale preparation technique as they are varied.
- Day 1 - 3: water the bales thoroughly and ensure that they are soaked throughout.
- Days 4- 6: sprinkled each of the soaked bales with a half cup of high nitrogen fertilizer a good example being ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate for all the days. Make sure that you water it well in the bale. You can always use blood meal as an alternative for the nitrates.
- Days 7 – 9: reduce the fertilizer application to a quarter cup daily per bale and continue watering it well.
- Day 10: stop applying fertilizer but continue watering the bales.
- Day 11: stick your hand into the bale and feel the temperatures. If it has cooled down below your body temperature then you are cleared to safely start planting because all the dangers of frosts are passed.
This method should be used for conditioning other types of bales before planting. You can substitute the fertilizer application with natural fertilizers such as fish oil or compost tea.
Other than this, it is advisable that you add a fair share of well-matured soil to the mix. This will lend the straw bales some of the most natural and important soil characteristics that all plants need to thrive. Moreover, with the soil in the mix, the straw bales can rot out evenly giving you a better planting season for the next plant.It is notable that you do not have to keep to straw bale gardening year in year out. If you can afford to allow two or three cycles of a straw bale garden to rot in place, then you will have a better soil cover over which you can run normal gardening. This is one of the most impressive things about straw bale gardens. They let you achieve more than just the plants for the season. It lets you revive and revitalize your soil and prepare it for a more vigorous gardening regime in the coming years.


We’ve harnessed all that’s great about Glanbia Ireland to bring it with us into our future as Tirlán. From the land we farm to the customers we serve, we value life in perfect balance. Our work is done in harmony with nature, and builds on our rich legacy of excellence in food production, and reputation of providing world-class nutrition. As a farmer-owned co-operative, we are deeply invested in our communities and family farms that provide our high-class produce. The passion and dedication of our people has helped to make our award-winning brands and tailored ingredient solutions standout in the international marketplace.


Lucero Olive Oil, LLC is the result of three generations of farming and producing olives in Northern California. The rural community Corning, ”The Olive Capital,” has some of the oldest olive trees in California, and many of these century-old trees continue to flourish in the Lucero family groves. Dewey’s maternal grandfather, has been one of the foremost olive growers in Northern California (since 1946 ~ 62 years), owning his own nursery for over 27 years. He grew a majority of the olive trees now in production in Northern California. Over 37 years, Dewey’s paternal grandfather started producing small quantities of olive oil for his family and friends. His olive oil was so popular it would sell out in a matter of days. In 2004 Dewey took the first step in starting a company and develop a family label, pressed large quantities of oil and began to market and sell Lucero Olive Oil across California. Since then the Lucero’s have been growing and producing more and more top quality olive oil each year…the rest is history in the making.
2120 Loleta Avenue
Corning, CA 96021
Directions: From Interstate 5 take the South Avenue Corning exit, east onto South Avenue, immediate left on OLD HWY 99W, then right onto 2120 Loleta Avenue to the big yellow building.
- Local Olive Oil tasting
- Lucero grows, mills, and packages award winning extra virgin olive oil
- California’s most award winning olive oil, over 90 medals and counting in the last 5 years
- “Peach Balsamic” Sofi Gold Winner- NASFT New York Fancy Food Show 2010 – “Best in Category”
- Glenn County Fair Award: “Best in Show” – Mandarin
- LA County Fair 2010: “Best in Show”- Meyer Lemon
Hours of operation: Tasting Room is open 7 days a week from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Tours: Please call ahead to schedule tour


The average yield per hectare of Carvinea vineyards ranges from 40 to 65 quintals. Between pruning, defoliation and thinning, the aim of obtaining the best grapes is always pursued. During veraison many bunches are cut and left on the ground. This allows those remaining on the plant to have a greater concentration of polyphenolic and aromatic substances. This results in quality, balanced and elegant wines. We work in the vineyard with great attention and passion, convinced that excellent wines can only be created from excellent grapes.
Freshness and Elegance
Carvinea seeks freshness and elegance as essential characteristics in every wine. Carvinea wines want to surprise, satisfy, whisper the character of the tuff land a few kilometers from the sea from which they come.
Tradition and Research in the Vineyard
When necessary, we use a horse to plow the land. It is proven by tradition that the horse's hoof does not compact the earth and does not damage the important microfauna that lives there, thus allowing the soil to breathe better and giving the plant everything it needs to produce the best grapes. Furthermore, the plow grazes the roots of the plants without damaging them: every little attention contributes to the development of the best bunches.
Ottavianello: The Rebirth of an Ancient Native Variety
Curiosity pushed us to rediscover a variety now destined for oblivion. In addition to Primitivo and Negroamaro we are proud to present OTTO, pure Ottavianello. We were the first to believe in this surprising native variety, which had fallen into oblivion due to the predominant production of Primitivo and Negroamaro. OTTO offers great pleasure due to its round character and full and important structure.
"Wood is the cradle of a wine, not the wine itself"
Carvinea uses various barrels of French wood to make the wines balanced so they do not release overlying aromas to the wine.


I've been working at a green house and garden over the last few months and have been learning TONS about plants, planting, soil, health, nutrition, and the like. Every week, almost everyday, I learn something new about how things work and live. My wonderful boss is also coaching me in the ways of being a health consultant, and constantly stresses the great importance of maintaining a healthy diet and life style. My boss has worked with Body Balance for years and has seen the amazing effects of getting the right nutrients and vitamins through Supplements and vegetables. So in the following blogs I hope to share a little bit of what I learn.
It can make for an amazing life when we stay open to constant learning and growing. :)


About Page Text
FLOR ETERNA SISA HUIÑAI S.A. is a company currently dedicated to the production and export of high quality flowers using effective processes that respect human beings and nature. We are committed to achieve unique results and thus exceed our customers´s expectations. We want to fill the world with flowers and for that reason we have a trained team focused on the goals of the company, to make the world a: NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL place.
Our vision is to be an Ecuadorian company that grows with respect, honesty, safety and versatility to project us into the future as the best company of quality summer flowers, meeting the needs of our customers, while taking care of social and environmental well-being.
About Page - Text
Eternal Flower was created in 1999, under the support of Flor Eterna Sisa Huiñai S.A., since then the company has been dedicated to the production and export of high quality summer flowers. Since the beginning the company always looked for competitive varieties of flowers highly demanded in the international market. Currently our flowers are exported to 24 countries around the world.
It is characteristic of Eternal Flower to provide our customers a quality service, maintaining continual production during the 12 months of the year. Additionally we can offer our customers additional flower crops for the holidays such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Religious holidays, etc.
Eternal Flower, takes special care of their workers, providing them an atmosphere of safety, socially responsible work, and insurance within the company. In addition to this; we are proud to have implemented a system of bio-soil disinfection in an effort to be friendly with the environment and responsible with the health of our employees. Thus in Eternal Flower our soils are free of agrochemicals.
We give special attention to the care and handling of our flowers. Each stem is treated and processed with high standards of quality control, which ensure customers to receive a fresh, healthy and top quality flower.
Eternal Flower is always dedicated to researching new and better methods of cultivation and flower varieties to meet in the best way possible the expectations of our customers, thus: to remain the best summer flower production farm of Ecuador.


A winter garden in an alder swamp, Where conies now come out to sun and romp, As near a paradise as it can be And not melt snow or start a dormant tree. It lifts existence on a plane of snow One level higher than the earth below, One level nearer heaven overhead, And last […]
Every year at the Tinytrees garden I try something new to grow, mainly anything healthy and that can be eaten. Last year I planted some bareroot Choke Berries (Aronia) and this year it produced its first crop. Their are two varieties available Black (Aronia melanocarpa) and Red (Aronia arbutifoilia). The variety I grow is Aronia melanocarpa. The Chokeberry or Aronia […]
Caring for delicately scented Japanese orchids is a bit different than for most other garden flowers. They are epiphytes, which mean that rather than growing in soil, their roots are exposed to the air. In the wild orchids grow on other plants, using them for mechanical support. Orchids are not parasitic. They get their nutrients […]
I had an early morning walk this morning (9am is early to me) and noticed that this year must be the year of the Buttercup. Every year I watch the cycle of the weed invasion on the percolation area. Last year it was the Thistle and the nitrogen fixing Gorse the year before that.


Top Tips for your Garden from Karl, Rowton Hall's Head Gardener
After daffodils finish flowering, pick the flowers off. As well as being tidy, you’ll save the plants energy which would have been used for producing unwanted seed. Wait at least six weeks, then snip all the foliage off at ground level and put the debris into your compost bin. It’s also worth feeding the bulbs with a general-purpose organic feed as soon as the flowers are over.
Feed the Lawn
The end of April is the perfect time to do this. A good feed at this time of year sets it up for the summer so it looks green and can withstand the pressure of family life. It’s also a great time to sort out those bare patches in the lawn otherwise they will be quickly colonised by weed seeds. Make sure you use the grass seed most suited for that particular area; is the grass in sun or shade, does it receive a large footfall, is the lawn well drained or retains moisture, all things to consider before buying the grass seed at the garden centre.
Planting Evergreens and Conifers
In theory, you can plant these at any time of year as long as it’s grown in a pot and the ground is workable, but these plants seem to establish much better in April and September. Plant them as you would any shrub remembering to give it a good soak especially during dry periods, if you don’t, the plant will turn brown and won’t recover.
Grow your own
If you’ve never thought of growing your own, do have a go! There’s enormous satisfaction from eating something that you have grown yourself. Start off with filling a container with peat free compost and sow some lettuces or radish’s and in a matter of weeks you’ll be eating fresh produce. Or if you would prefer something a little sweeter, try planting strawberries in a trough and what’s best is you get free plants as they send out ‘runners’ during the end of summer for you to pot on for next year.
Keep on top of those weeds
It’s always a good idea to mulch your borders. You can still do this now during April if you didn’t manage to do it during early Spring. Mulching with compost, well-rotted manure or woodchip helps to reduce the weeds and to feed the soil. It’s important to spot the small weed seedlings early, and by using a hoe run it up and down the top of the soil slicing off the seedlings. Doing this now will save time in the long run and is much quicker than waiting until you have to do a thorough job of weeding with a hand fork which will take a lot longer.
Clip the hedges
We have plenty of hedges to look after here at Rowton Hall, and May is the start of the hedge clipping season. It’s important to take your time and ensure your shears are sharp. Once you start clipping, if you stand back every now and then it’s quite easy to keep a fairly level line. Aim to trim the hedge with a slight slope, a little wider at the bottom and thinner at the top. This way you avoid creating shade that kills out a lot of the bottom of older hedges. If you feel brave, why not try some topiary or introduce waves to your hedge to make it more interesting.
Plant out tub and containers
If there is one thing to brighten up a patio overnight, is the sight of your containers filled with summer bedding plants. But its best to wait until the middle of May before planting out just in case a sudden and unexpected frost kills your tender plants. Fill your tub or container with a good quality fresh peat free compost. You don’t want to penny pinch at this stage as the plants will be in their position for 5 months. You can position the plants quite close together in the container as you are looking for an instant display, just remember to water regularly during the summer and feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month.
Enjoy your space
You can gain an enormous amount of pleasure whether you are gardening on a balcony, a small backyard or an acre of garden. Being outside, watching the wildlife and taking enjoyment in your surroundings brings huge health benefits and reduces anxiety. Outside space whether large or small is so important in these troubling times, so enjoy it as much as you can.


The activist organizations today (7 October 2012) gathered enough intellectual fuel to kindle fire for spreading awareness in favor of putting immediate ban on all types of trials of transgenic crops in Haryana. Under the banner of the ‘Alliance for GM Free Haryana’, a call was issued to various voluntary organizations, independent thinkers, scientists, science communicators, economists and concerned farmers to assemble at Rohtak to convey grave apprehension about the 15 ongoing field trials of GM crops, particularly Maize, in Haryana. The Alliance urged the state authorities to put an immediate end to the trial programs carried out by Monsanto and Syngenta & other international Giants in R&D of GM seeds and transgenic plants, in collaboration with CCS Haryana Agriculture University at Hisar. Doubts were expressed at the free and sovereign functioning of the both the central as well as state governments.
In the deliberations that continued until late in the afternoon, Mr. Sunder Lal convener, Alliance for GM free Haryana, informed that most farmers as well as the common persons were ignorant about the technology of transgenic crops, its fatal consequences on the health of human beings, domestic cattle, wild life and plants in the environment. While delivering the start-up address at the seminar Mr. Sunder Lal was of the view that GM crops and food could be the harbinger of ecological and economic disaster for India. He felt that there was strong need to make the people of the state aware about all its harmful aspects so that they could understand the pros and cons before raising genetically modified crops in their fields and produce food grains and vegetables. Mr Sunder Lal lamented that the state government has allowed the field trials of GM maize in Haryana in spite of clear reservations followed by recommendations by the Standing Committee of Parliament on Agriculture for discontinuing the fields trials in its report entitled ‘Cultivation of Genetically Modified Food Crops – Prospects & Effects’.
Mr. Gurnam Singh, President of the Haryana unit of Bhartiya Kisan Union informed that in the meeting held at Chandigarh on this September, 19 the Minister of Agriculture in Haryana agreed to hold a face-to-face dialogue between the Govt. scientists and representatives of the activist groups including other experts who would deliberate and decide on a future course of action regarding the application of transgenic technology in food crops in Haryana. However, the Minister expressed inability to stop the ongoing trials on the stance that the Central govt. had examined the issue in detail that enabled the State government to provide No Objection Certificate for the trials. Mr. Singh pointed out that in case the state government maintains its adamant stance, the option of destroying the experimental crop as last resort would be examined. He further emphasized that efforts at the BKU level will, however, continue for finding an amicable solution through dialogue with state government representatives.
Dr Mahaveer Singh Narwal, a reputed & experienced scientist who had earlier worked at HAU in seed technology department, explained that the move of the state govt. in allowing the multinational seed corporations to pave way for introduction of GM crops via field trials might become troublesome for the farmers as well as unassuming consumers. He warned that hitherto the agricultural activity has been a means of sustainable livelihood for the farming community whereas the state government viewed it as commercial favour to private enterprise. He cited example of the Bt cotton that has ensured no superior and safe lifestyle to the farmers, so far. Monsanto’s charges for single transfer to Bt gene to a research agency or organization such as an agriculture university, may be over ten million of rupees which is unethical as well as forbidden in terms of price. He felt aggrieved at the indifference of the government scientists in remaining compliant and not exposing the appalling designs of the multinational seed companies which are trying to introduce potentially hazardous modification into our food grains.
Mr. Kapil Shah from Baroda - Gujarat elucidated through a power point presentation the science and technology used for creating transgenic organism and crops and said that it could not be equated with thoroughly monitored medical products such as human insulin. Mr Shah made an emphatic statement on how GM crops can adversely affect health. Mr. Pankaj Bhushan from Bihar, a well known activist against GM food and crops, felt the need for intensely motivating and influencing the opinion of members of Parliament from Haryana, about various undesirable consequences of GM food and crops on human health. Expressing apprehension over the passage of the draft of Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill (BRAI), he feared that it could prohibit citizens of India from seeking information about GM Food and technology even under the RTI Act-2005 which might restrict civil liberties. Dr. Rajinder Chaudhary of ASHA who has been intensely popularizing organic farming in Haryana opined that it would be more appropriate to put in place a Bio-safety bill rather than pursue BRAI and elaborated on the need to allocate more resources on sustainable mode of agriculture in Haryana.
Ranbir Phaugat, a seasoned science communicator, expressed concern that due to poor understanding of science by common persons in Haryana it might require grand efforts for mobilizing public opinion touching various aspects of GM Food and crops. It might necessitate networking and a resourceful coordinating agency to fulfill the mission. ‘We need to bring the government across the table for open-end intellectual debate on the issue and convince them that GM food and crops should not be allowed until their safety concerns are established through long term studies’, he observed. He emphasized the role of media in spreading the message and appreciated their objective approach in reporting about the adverse consequences of GM food and crops. Mr. Singh added that reputed scientific and learned journals everyday publish research reports and findings about terrible effects of GM food and crops. Expressing concern about absence of uploading information about GM crops trials on the website of the State government or of the concerned department(s) as well as the Agriculture Commission, he indicated that the whole activity could have been made transparent long ago had it been followed.


The agricultural sector carries immense significance for the Indian financial system. It performs a major function within the general socio-economic cloth of India. It contributes about one-sixth of the nationwide earnings and offers direct employment to almost 50 per cent of the workforce. It has positioned itself as extra related for assembly the meals, feed, fodder, gas, fibre and timber calls for of an rising human and animal inhabitants.
Agriculture, nevertheless, enjoys vitality for guaranteeing meals safety to all. As well as, it influences the expansion of secondary and tertiary sectors of the financial system by way of its ahead and backward linkages. The World Improvement Report 2008 of the World Financial institution emphasised that progress in agriculture is, on common, at the very least twice as efficient in lowering poverty than progress emanating exterior agriculture.
Agricultural progress reduces poverty immediately, by elevating farm incomes, and not directly, by way of producing employment and lowering meals costs. Whereas pre-independence intervals had been marked with extreme famines and stresses, the hurtful recollections of the mid-1960s nonetheless haunts many. India was hit by twin droughts in 1965 and 1966. Crop manufacturing crashed by onefifth. Because of lack of international change we couldn’t strategy the world market to purchase meals.
Solely unprecedented meals assist from America, about 12,000 miles away, below PL-480 on rupee fee, saved India from mass hunger. Throughout the second yr of that crucial interval of drought, then US President Lyndon Johnson, due to the sure insurance policies he had adopted, was releasing grain in driblets. At one level, we reached a stage the place there have been shares for less than two weeks and there was nothing in transit.
The state of affairs of the nation was labeled with such undignified remarks as ‘ship to mouth’. The disaster gave the nation’s management a chance to resolve to turn out to be self-sufficient in meals grains. The interval additionally coincided with a breakthrough in know-how for enchancment of rice and wheat strains. India took benefit of those applied sciences, experimented with them below the management of Dr M S Swaminathan and launched large-scale agricultural extension companies.
By means of using Mexican wheat varieties, 5 dwarf sorts of wheat together with about 200 different breeding strains had been launched. The success in rice varietal growth and different commodities like maize, jawar, bajra, small millet and so on. prompted a major progress within the manufacturing of meals grains. Inside three years the manufacturing of wheat doubled. The Inexperienced Revolution reworked India to self-sufficiency.
One of the vital notable achievements of Indian agriculture over previous couple of a long time has been the enlargement of meals grain output from practically 51 million tonnes (MT) in 1950-51 to over 295 MT in 2019-20. Equally, manufacturing of horticultural crops has surpassed 300 MT. The Inexperienced Revolution proved instrumental in offering the much-needed stimulus to agricultural manufacturing within the nation to beat meals shortages by augmenting the yield to supply by way of the availability of HYV seeds, improved irrigation amenities and fertilizers.
However we are able to’t afford to consider we’re far sufficient forward within the race (manufacturing vs demand) to fall asleep just like the hare which misplaced to a tortoise. The inhabitants of our nation is predicted to achieve 1.531 billion by 2030-31. To feed this inhabitants and one other 40 per cent further for seed, feed, wastage and industrial makes use of put the projected meals grain demand at 326 to 350 MT relying upon varied estimates.
The demand for edible oils, milk and milk merchandise, meat, egg and fish, greens, fruits and sugar has been projected at 24.31, 256.43, 29.45, 316.33, 178.74 and 44.77 MT, respectively in 2030-31 (NITI Aayog, 2018). We’ve got made progress in agriculture, however productiveness of main agricultural and horticultural crops may be very low compared to different nations. After years of Inexperienced Revolution and decline in agricultural merchandise, it’s apparent that the need of using new and extra superior applied sciences is greater than ever.
Our nation remains to be know-how deficit. Farmers nonetheless function with conventional implements. Yields per hectare of meals grain, vegetables and fruit in our nation are far under world averages. Our rice yield is one-third of China’s, and about half of Vietnam’s and Indonesia’s. Equally, the productiveness of pulses and oilseeds may be elevated 2.Three to 2.5 occasions, with consideration to seeds, soil well being, pest administration, crop life financial savings, irrigation and post-harvest know-how.
However the future calls for should be achieved with declining per capita availability of land, water and different finite pure sources. There’s additionally a rising realization that earlier methods of producing and selling applied sciences have contributed to critical and widespread issues of environmental and agrarian misery. Productiveness good points through the ‘Inexperienced Revolution’ period had been largely confined to comparatively nicely endowed areas.
Given the big selection of agroecological setting and producers, Indian agriculture is confronted with a terrific range of wants, alternatives and prospects. Development must be extra speedy, extra broadly distributed and higher focused. These challenges name for extra environment friendly and sustainable use of more and more scarce water and germplasm sources. One of the vital vital applied sciences is biotechnology which may result in transgenic vegetation: that’s vegetation that are ‘human-made’ and are tailor-made to satisfy the specified goal by switch and expression of the specified kind of gene to a goal plant.
Transgenic crops can supply precious advantages ~ elevated yields, improved taste or dietary high quality of meals and decreased use of pesticides. The raging debate over GM crops factors to poorly deliberate use of know-how slightly than failure of know-how. Nevertheless, as Borlaug had stated in 2004 ~ ‘If the naysayers handle to cease agricultural biotechnology, they are going to precipitate the famines’.
Presently, roughly 17 million farmers develop GMO crops world wide; most of them are in creating nations. In whole, greater than 60 nations import or develop GMO, and in 2017, 24 nations (5 industrial and 19 creating) planted biotech crops. As of 2017, the highest 5 nations rising GMO by way of crop areas are the US, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India. In India, Bt cotton is the one GM crop allowed for industrial cultivation. Nearly all cotton grown within the nation is genetically modified.
However India has not but grown GMO for meals. Brinjal is the second most consumed vegetable, after potato, in India. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the Authorities of India cleared Bt brinjal for commercialization in 2009. However following considerations raised by some scientists and anti-GMO lobbies the Ministry of Atmosphere introduced an indefinite moratorium on Bt Brinjal in India.
Wholesome soil is a key pure useful resource and essential for agriculture because it acts as a dynamic dwelling system delivering a number of companies. India faces an acute downside of soil erosion. A nationwide database on land degradation ready the Indian House Analysis Group in 2016 confirmed that round 120.7 million hectare (mha) or 36.7 per cent of India’s whole arable and nonarable land suffers from varied types of degradation with water erosion being its chief contributor in 83 mha (68.four per cent).
An array of useful resource conservation applied sciences together with zero and decreased tillage, inexperienced manuring, crop rotations and so on. can be found. Zero tillage is used for minimal soil disturbance. This know-how permits direct planting with out ploughing or soil preparation. Seeding is finished immediately by way of floor residues of earlier crops utilizing seed drill which helps cut back seed price and guarantee uniform plant stands. Zero tillage reduces the price of tillage and offers comparable or greater yields.
Use of hydrogel (a water absorbing materials) in dry land or restricted water situations can enhance water use effectivity. Irrigation practices like drip or sprinkler technique additionally present excessive water use effectivity and save water. For bettering nutrient use effectivity, web site particular nutrient administration may be adopted. Proper supply, proper time, proper dose and proper place (4R) strategy of fertilizer software can enhance nutrient use effectivity.
In India, agriculture is usually in rainfed areas subsequently local weather resilient applied sciences are the necessity of the hour to allow the farmers to deal with the local weather variability. Good agriculture or/and precision agriculture is a brand new angle in farm administration. It includes the mixing of superior applied sciences into farming practices. It consists of making use of inputs (what is required) when and the place they’re wanted and has turn out to be the third wave of contemporary agriculture (the primary was mechanization and the second the inexperienced revolution with its genetic modification).
Just lately, there have been monumental improvements of agricultural manufacturing, not solely bettering productiveness, however simply as importantly, safeguarding the atmosphere. Seed sowing on the proper place and correct quantity may be very tedious. Efficient seeding requires management over two variables: planting seed on the right depth and applicable spacing between vegetation for optimum progress. Precision seeders can be found. In future, the present precision seeders will come along with autonomous tractors and ICT–enabled techniques that feed data again to farmers.
Feeding crops with vitamins as and when wanted to make synergy between nutrient demand and provide below totally different subject crops manufacturing system is the answer to handle particular variability of vitamins. Nanotechnology as a brand new highly effective approach can create large adjustments within the meals and agricultural system. This know-how is outlined as referring to supplies, techniques and processes which function at a scale of 100 nm (one nanometer is the same as one-billionth of a meter) or much less.
It helps agriculture in some ways. It helps to cut back environmental air pollution, to extend agricultural manufacturing and its functions embody: (1) nanoformulations of agrochemicals for making use of pesticides and fertilizers for crop enchancment; (2) plant illness prognosis; (3) postharvest administration and so on. Furthermore, nanosensors and nano-based sensible supply techniques might assist in environment friendly use of agricultural pure sources like water, vitamins and chemical substances by way of precision farming.
There’s a huge hole between the applied sciences developed within the analysis establishments and their applicability on the farmers’ subject. Consciousness amongst farmers as to applied sciences should be created for higher switch of analysis applied sciences.
(The author is a retired IAS officer)


Quality management begins with the selection and development of high-quality genetics that carry the potential of a medicinal plant.
To ensure that our products meet industry standards as well as the high demands of our customers, our raw materials are tested for quality throughout the production cycle.
We also use a series of analytical procedures that follow us from cultivation to finished product. Our process technology allows for reproducible process flows and therefore continuous quality.
We completely avoid the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides and instead focus on organic and ecologically sustainable agriculture.
Transparent workflows from cultivation to the final product are the basis of high quality.
All Medropharm products are also tested and evaluated for quality by an independent analysis company in Switzerland.
We are a reliable partner with a comprehensive service that is fully geared to the needs of the processing industry.
Learn more about Medropharm and our products: www.medropharm.de
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/medropharm
If you have any questions or other concerns, our technical staff will be happy to assist you: email@example.com


We pride ourselves on going the extra mile with a fully contained nutrient management program. So all silage is grown right on our farm. We compost our cattle manure and use it to enrich the soil and replace nutrients from harvested crops as well as prepare our new crops for greater success. Our goal is growing and harvesting at least three crops per year to use as silage for rations or grazing. The result? A feed program that is unrivaled in the industry — and happy, healthy herds.
About Châtel Farms growyard.
With 28 pens throughout our farm, we have up to 3,500 head of cattle at any given time. The cattle are housed here for approximately 10 weeks, and once they’ve reached the appropriate size, we move them to our monoslope barns.
It is imperative that our cattle experience as little stress as possible, and our monoslope barns are designed to help alleviate environmental stress and improve the health and comfort of the livestock. Our farm features three monoslope barns, each 1,260 feet long and 80 feet wide, that can accommodate up to 4,000 cattle. Each barn houses 12 pens with manure pits and dry beds that allow us to contain waste responsibly. These barns also offer 50 square feet of space per animal. Plus, our bedpack is made from reusing wood shavings, wheat straw, peanut shells, corn stalks and compost from the barns.
We have the only steam corn flaker east of the Mississippi. This unique feed increases consumption while also improving overall digestibility. Plus, it uses less corn to produce the same amount of grain to result in less manure from cattle without sacrificing important nutrients.
Technology and innovation.
Staying connected on the farm is essential. That’s why we equip all feed trucks and wagons with GPS to help us track them and ensure we’re feeding our cattle correctly. We also use Micro Technologies software to monitor feed intakes, ingredients, conversions, heat stress, weather conditions, cattle treatment and weight.
Across operations, our technology and staff help us cut carbon emissions to 12% less than the beef industry average. This team is dedicated to sustainability and animal welfare in all aspects of our work. At our farm, the team includes a veterinarian, a nutritionist and other highly skilled employees with a diverse range of backgrounds.
Under the guidance of our experienced nutritionist, we feed our animals twice a day, and all forage is grown by the farm — corn silage, sorghum and rye grass silage. Our flaked corn boasts 98% corn efficiency as opposed to cracked corn at 80%. And our nutritionist-backed operation incorporates distillers/brewers grain, corn gluten, hominy and molasses.
Manure separator and bedback.
Manure is composted and reapplied on cropland to reduce the need for commercial fertilizer by 25%. Water is separated from the solids, and the compost solids can be used as bedding or on the land. We separate liquids and hold them in a million-gallon tank, hooked to our pivots, and spray them back onto our crops — allowing us to use our water twice. The solids are composted and used for bedpack in the barns and nutrients for the crops. This lowers our chemical fertilizer use.


A total of 6509000 tons of cargoes have passed through
the quays of the Port of Varna during 2002. In the century-old history
of the port this can be compared only with the result in 1985, when 6.8 million tons were handled, but in the conditions of socialist-governed economic.
In 2001 5825000 tons were handled. The common turnover increase in 2002 is with 684000 tons, that is to say around 12 %.
Exported grain has the greatest share in this turnover - 1.2 million tons (wheat, maize, sunflower, barley and rice). In comparison, during 2001 the quantity is 420 000 tons.
A higher development report on containers (59061 TEU, +31%), inert
materials (+47%), sugar (+30%) and liquid chemicals (+75%). The biggest
drop there is in the cargoes related to the production of plants in
Devnya town (ore –15%, cement – 16%, soda in bags and pallets – 43%,
liquid fertilizers – 85%).


In 2022, Dubai showed off the world’s biggest vertical farm. It’s a huge indoor farm at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport. Instead of growing plants in fields, they grow them in trays stacked up high inside the building. This farm uses less water and soil and produces more than one million kilograms of fresh leafy greens every year.
But soon, there will be an even bigger one. In another part of the city, they’re building something called Food Tech Valley. It’s going to have a gigantic farm called GigaFarm, which will be 12 meters tall and cover an area of 83,612 square meters.
The GigaFarm is not just bigger; it works in a different way too. Oliver Christof, the CEO of Christof Global Impact, the company behind GigaFarm, says it’s special because it uses new technologies to deal with waste, like food scraps and sewage, and turns them into useful stuff for farming.
Regular farming creates a lot of greenhouse gases that harm the environment. But GigaFarm wants to change that. They plan to use clever technology to recycle waste and use less fertilizer, which should make farming more eco-friendly. They aim to produce up to three million kilograms of leafy greens, herbs, and veggies every year and replace some of the food the UAE imports.
GigaFarm’s farming system is made by a company called IGS. They use tall towers filled with plants instead of parking cars. Each tower carefully controls how much water and nutrients the plants get, using special lights and sensors to make sure they grow well.
Vertical farming, like what GigaFarm does, has many advantages over regular farming. It uses less water, grows crops faster, and can be done indoors without worrying about weather. But setting up these farms is expensive, and they need a lot of electricity to run.
Despite the challenges, GigaFarm aims to be sustainable both financially and environmentally. They plan to power the farm using energy made from burning waste and use water from insects to feed the plants. They also want to make useful products from the waste, like animal feed and compost.
GigaFarm hopes to help solve food problems by providing fresh produce to local farms and reducing the UAE’s reliance on imports. This could be a game-changer not just for Dubai but for other cities too.
Climate change is making it harder to grow food, so countries like the UAE are investing in new farming methods like vertical farming to secure their food supply. This is also creating new business opportunities and support from governments for companies like ReFarm.
Other countries in the region, like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are also interested in vertical farming to improve food security. Experts predict that by 2030, this sector could be worth billions of dollars in the Middle East and Africa.
Although it will take some time for vertical farming to become widespread, projects like GigaFarm are a step in the right direction. The GigaFarm project is set to begin later this year and should be up and running by 2026.


What We do
Mobile Application, Embedded/IoT System
Solar Automated Chicken Coop (SACC) is an embedded system that manages activities in the chicken house by providing the basic necessities for chicken in the brooders automatically, in the right quantities and time, and also notifies the farmer in case of any intrusions and resources scarcities. In SACC a set of sensors is used to make chicken coop atmosphere readings and a set of actuators are used to alter them accordingly.
The system should take water levels continuously, refilling when the level drops
The system should take food weight continuously, refilling when the weight drops
The system should send alerts to the farmer in scarcity.
The system should take the value of the light intensity, switching off and on light.
The system should take the value of the temperature, switching off and on heater
The system should clear the air in the coop so as to give the chicken fresh breathe, Gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and ammonia are blown out of the poultry house. This is achieve
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