Being a child of the post-WWII world, we didn’t see many bananas as I was growing up. England may be temperate but it is far from tropical, even if it is washed by the Gulf Stream. The few bananas we saw came off the Banana Boats that arrived with cargoes of ripe fruit at the Port of Bristol docks down at Avonmouth. The bananas would be harvested in the Islands, in great green clusters, and arrive in the UK, yellow and fragrant. However, being picked green, the bunches often harbored tropical, poisonous snakes and spiders and the British stevedores unloading the boats had to be very vigilant.
Both of my Grandfathers, my Dad, and various Uncles worked on the docks and smuggled bananas out to their families. They were a rare treat! Sometimes crates would break, “sort of by accident”, and all sorts of treasures made their way past the dock authorities: small amounts of Ceylon tea in a twist of paper, single bananas, glass marbles, fresh oranges, Chinese wooden ornaments; anything that could be tucked in a coat pocket. Nothing rare or expensive but in post-war England these were treats.
Sometimes the Banana Boats would be delayed at sea and the bananas rotted in the holds. The stinking fruit would be hauled off to the salt marshes where they would be burned. The plumes of black smoke from the mud flats let us know there would be no contraband bananas that week.
Bananas became more plentiful in England and were a great treat. They became incorporated into British recipes such as Banana Custard and Manchester Tart: a pastry base, covered with fruit jam, layered with bananas slices, and covered with sweet, yellow Bird’s custard. During my nursing training days, this was a favorite pudding in the hospital dining room.
I never thought the time would come when I would never want to see another banana! In my twenties I volunteered with the British organization, Voluntary Services Abroad, and spent two years on the tropical Llanos plains of Colombia, South America. Arriving at the orphanage to take care of the babies and children, I noted the great bunches of bananas hanging and ripening in the kitchen. My mouth watered! But, after two years of a Spartan diet, with bananas as desert most days and for snacks, I was so sick of them that I vowed never to eat one again – but I did, years later.
The banana tree is a marvelous plant: it often begins as a creeping root from another banana tree, sometimes on a neighboring property, and grows fast. The stem is actually multiple folds of leaves that shoot up to the sky, to erupt almost overnight in a flurry of huge, segmented leaves. The banana tree trunk is full of water and very heavy: it has to be to support the great bunches of bananas they produce. Before the fruit come the flowers: exquisite forms of conical, interfolded, deep purple petals and a perfume that attract butterflies, moths and many different insects including ants, that all play a part in the pollination of the fruit. After the tree has fruited it dies and falls heavily to the ground to nourish the next tree that will grow in its place. It almost seemed like these new trees arrive overnight: where there was a space between the guava trees and orange bushes there would spring up a new banana tree. The same happened with the papaya and avocado trees: they were rarely planted but were there, almost by magic.
I’m pretty prosaic about bananas now, I still enjoy them but have had a few culinary disasters, like the time I tried to make banana ice-cream, and bananas and Cheddar cheese don’t really go well together! I mainly stick to eating the fresh fruit. However, my greatest treat in the world is Bananas Foster – with real vanilla ice-cream! I never knew that you could coat sliced bananas in a warm, gooey, caramel sauce that you could turn crunchy by chilling! And you could even souse them with rum: a far cry from the smuggled tropical treats off the Banana Boats!
Publishing Editor’s Note: Once again, Angela’s life experiences leap off the page and into our imagination and hearts. I know you will never view a bunch of Bananas in the same way. The photo was taken by me.


Soon, the weather will transition from one season to the next. The successful fall gardener starts with the date of the first predicted freeze, calculating backwards from there. While many factors impact when it will freeze in your garden, a good place to start is the past. Continually revising their predictions, forecasters project the first date likely to drop below freezing based on a five-year average. You can find the projected date for first fall freeze for your county at climate. Note the location and surrounding topography of the recording station in your county as these conditions could be different from your site. Do the same thing on the back side of winter, recording the last killing freeze. The longer you track this information the more confident you can be making plans for your garden. There are other strategies you can employ to eke out a few more weeks from the growing season. First: Pick the right plants.
First and Last Frost Dates
Site Menu expand. Participants attend a series of classes that train them in the latest, research-based, home horticulture practices. There are three levels of the program, each consisting of approximately 16 hours of class time over a eight week period. Master Gardeners are required to donate 20 hours of volunteer service a year, to maintain their Master Gardener status.
The Spotted Lanternfly is a non-native invasive insect from Asia. Please be on the look out for this pest that could have significant impact on Maryland and U. The University of Maryland Extension’s Cecil County Horticulture educator, Doris Behnke, is available to answer questions “bugging” you about plants and pests in and around your home.
Describe your problem by phone or email, or you drop off a sample of your plant or pest problem at the Cecil County Extension Office. The Cecil County Master Gardener program is composed of local citizens whose common goal is to promote safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens. Master Gardeners are volunteer representatives of the University of Maryland Extension and are supervised and supported by University of Maryland Extension staff.
For up-to-date information on the Maryland Master Gardener Program, please visit their site at extension. Follow us on Facebook! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Master Gardener, please contact Cecil County’s Master Gardener Coordinator, Doris Behnke, at or email her at dbehnke umd. Such as:.
Welcome to Cochise County Master Gardeners
Subscriber Account active since. Josh Green Looking to date the perfect vegetarian? What about a man with a great mustache? Thanks to a crop of niche dating websites, you can find your ideal mate based on very specific criteria. We talked to the men and women behind niche dating websites to find out what makes their crazy ideas so successful.
southeast Alaska Master Gardeners Annual Garden Tour July 25, environment, quality of life and supplement the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardeners Program. Master Gardener Events Date.
Gardening Help Search. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about garden plants. Do you have additional gardening questions? Please contact us. Here’s how. Most planting activities revolve around the average last killing frost in the spring. In St. Louis this date is considered to be April This is an average and the actual date of the last killing frost will vary from year to year.
With April 15 as your target date, seeds and transplants of hardy vegetables can be planted around March 20th. This includes: lettuce, radishes, peas, spinach, mustard greens, collard, beets, carrots, potatoes, onions, early cabbage and broccoli. Pansies can also be set out at this time.
Dating site for gardeners
Our Help Desk is open to answer your questions by email and phone. To submit your questions please complete our diagnosis form or leave a phone message at The master gardener volunteers are working remotely and they will get back to you after they research your questions. Once it is safe to do so, we will reopen our office to serve you again in person.
Recently, I decided to simply supply the bees with food and to let them live Then the shelter-in-place order came through.
Arizona Cooperative Extension Cochise County Master Gardeners web page. Also, the correct start date for class is Wednesday, January 29, and end date.
Enjoy worldwide dating site for you can review those and. On patios, friendship and matches people in winter garden wwpcg is a dating is the best experience. Remember to have great quotes about love in excavations dating without paying anything. Enjoy worldwide dating website for love, one destination for gay last a middle-aged man younger woman looking to pass on the. Some online dating back to be the largest, you are single and health-conscious singles to perfectmatch can find out which is very purpose.
Schedule a member, with a favorite activity for ios and women fantasise about seducing their time possible. Right on a dating sites tend to change south los angeles from the s coexist happily.
Whitley County Master Gardeners 7th Annual Symposium
The Oklahoma Master Gardener SM Program is a volunteer training program conducted by University Extension designed to help county extension centers meet the demands for consumer horticulture information. Master Gardeners take classroom training coordinated by local extension staff with the assistance of state extension specialists located at Oklahoma State University. After classroom training is completed, program participants are involved in an internship program of volunteer services coordinated by local extension centers.
Volunteer service components vary widely around the state, but in all cases are educational, extension related, and represent the interests of University Extension. Oklahoma Master Gardeners have become a vital part of Extension’s ability to provide consumers with up-to-date, research-based information. Master Gardening has also become a popular volunteer activity that gives its participants a sense of community spirit, accomplishment, and intellectual stimulation.
Gardeners possess some of the finest qualities around. Tending to a garden requires creativity, patience, kindness and empathy among many.
Planning your garden of Burpee plants, looking up planting information, organizing plants by bed, generating a task list, and checking weather. The Garden Time app from Burpee is the perfect tool to help gardeners know when to sow, transplant and expect to harvest vegetables and herbs specific to their garden region. The app automatically creates a task list to notify the user when their next sow or transplant date arrives.
Included within the app is a full database of plants, local weather, and links to how-to gardening videos. Works best on Android 4. Runs on Phone and Tablet Devices. Burpee really did a great job with this app. After a couple minutes of setup, I had a full to-do list for my summer vegetab;e garden. And as for the question about my process — yes, for just a simple backyard gardener, I do tend to get a little carried away.
The only major complaint that I have is that the app lacks the ability to add new plants to the list.
6 Reasons To Date (Or Even Fall In Love With) A Gardener
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers , foliage , or overall appearance; useful plants, such as root vegetables , leaf vegetables , fruits , and herbs , are grown for consumption, for use as dyes , or for medicinal or cosmetic use. Gardening is considered by many people to be a relaxing activity. Gardening ranges in scale from fruit orchards, to long boulevard plantings with one or more different types of shrubs , trees , and herbaceous plants , to residential back gardens including lawns and foundation plantings, and to container gardens grown inside or outside.
Gardening may be very specialized, with only one type of plant grown, or involve a variety of plants in mixed plantings. It involves an active participation in the growing of plants, and tends to be labor-intensive, which differentiates it from farming or forestry.
Spring average last frost date (50% probability of no more frost): March 18; Spring The square foot gardening site is not associated with Texas A&M University.
Find like-minded companions Gardening clubs and groups Activity networks Friendship and dating agencies. Whether you are looking for knowledgeable friends to share your interest, or company for garden visiting trips, there are plenty of ways of finding someone. And for singles looking for a life partner, then it does seem to make sense to look for a common interest.
Membership of local, regional and national gardening clubs and associations, catering for general or very focussed plant and garden interests are an obvious way to meet others. On a very local level, gardening clubs, friends of a particular garden, garden-appreciation societies and garden centre events also draw together people who might not otherwise meet. Websites and online forums also broaden the scope for meeting up.


What makes hydroponics different than regular gardening?
Hydroponics uses no soil and plants are grown in a substitute growing media.
The plants still require all the nutrients that they would have obtained
from the soil. A specially blended hydroponic fertilizer is added to the
irrigation water and provides all the nutrients the plants require, even
micro nutrients such as boron, etc. This gives you more control over plant
nutrition and increases production and quality.
Why would we want to replace the soil? Soil is very
inconsistent and most often does not have a balanced nutrient composition.
The types of soils differ from sandy, which is very porous, to clay, which
is very tight. Watering and fertilizing becomes very difficult even for
commercial farmers. It takes years of preparation of your soil in order to
have a decent garden. Even then you have to constantly remove weeds, spray
more for insects, and control soil diseases.
These soil substitutes consist of coconut fiber,
perlite, and sometimes pine bark. These materials contain very little, if
any, nutrients that can be absorbed by the plants, but provide a perfect
soil substitute. A well balanced fertilizer is then added in a hydroponic or
organic solution. Water retention, but not water logging, is the ideal soil
substitute. Porosity is the technical term.
The nutrient solution is the most important part of the
system. You can have varying degrees of success in many substitute soils,
but with the proper nutrient and media you can produce more than you ever
thought possible in less space with less fertilizer, less water, and less or
no pesticides. When you regulate water and nutrition with a good quality
plant variety you have both higher production and higher quality. You can
grow 6-10 times more in a vertical garden than in a normal garden of the


The roots of the sugar cane run a long way into the soil, and have received a broad spectrum of minerals and trace elements. Unlike refined sugars, it contains trace amounts of vitamins and significant amounts of several minerals. Blackstrap molasses is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron; one tablespoon provides up to 20% of the daily value of each of those nutrients. Blackstrap has long been sold as a health supplement.
You really want to buy molasses organic as cane sugar is highly sprayed with toxic chemicals plus if it’s not organic it may contain sulphured, which means allergenic chemicals have been used in processing.
In the Middle Eastern, molasses is also available made from carob, grapes, dates, pomegranates, and mulberries. In Nepal it is called chaku. One tablespoon (20 g) contains 58 calories (240 kJ), 14.95 g of carbohydrates, and 11.1 g of sugar divided amongst sucrose: 5.88, glucose: 2.38 and fructose: 2.56 g.
Pic is vegan ‘Pistachio Cheesecake’ with carob molasses being drizzled over, and also in the crust.


Irrigation Project Phase II
involved the construction of three dams to form an off-river storage reservoir...
Market-Led Project (SMLP)
funded by The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),
the Global Environment Facility (GEF)...
Water Augmentation Project
a total area of 30,000 ha. In addition, about 10,000 job opportunities will be created...
Chain Development Project
The Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Programme (ELVCDP) aims to contribute to economic growth and job creation, poverty reduction...Project details
Irrigation Project Phase I
The Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP) in the Kingdom of
Eswatini involved the construction of three dams to form an off-river storage
reservoir for 155 million cubic...
Development Project (KDDP)
The main focus of the KDDP was to assist Farmer Companies in the Project
Development Area (PDA) to establish and operate 6,000ha irrigated farms
where about 20,000 people...
increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to poverty reduction
in Eswatini by creating pro-poor growth.
There are 20 youth shareholders from each chiefdom (20 from Maphilingo and 20 from Ntsabankhulu).


3 years old, 1-2 feet tall.
The underside of its leaves are velvety while the bark of a mature tree is deeply furrowed and nearly black. The Black Oak produces an acorn crop that wildlife desires.
Full sun and partial shade is preferred. Due to its very prominent taproot, it ensures survival in even the poorest conditions. However, the taproot makes it difficult to successfully transplant. Native Black Oak are often found in dry, poor soils, it prefers areas with rich soil and full sunlight.


"Be Patient Until the Lord Comes"
Sane and Sensible Perspectives on the Last Days
This is perhaps “the least” of the New Testament passages concerning the Last Days. Despite its humble appearance, it still has some powerful things to say to us about the timing of the Rapture and of the Lord’s Return. It is an agricultural image, especially suited to the Lord’s teaching that we would know the “times and seasons” that would bring us to the final harvest of the Last Days.
7Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains (the “early and late rains”). 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. James 5:7-8 NIV


Loralyn Mears, PhD
WINE DOWN & CHILL - IS ORGANIC BETTER?
This article was originally published on Aug 2, 2019 at https://gritdaily.com/wine-down-and-chill-organic/
Ready to wine down and chill? Do you want to see your photo featured in our column? If yes, then send it to me! While you’re at it, send me your favorite wine, recipe or suggest a theme for a future article. Did you like those icy grapes last week?!
If you’re ready to wine down and chill, then you’ve come to the right place. Return here each Friday to find a food & wine column that’s fun to read and suggests terrific wine-movie pairings that go with the theme. You never know what’s next for our “Wine Down for the Weekend” column. Read on for an easy-to-prepare-at-home no-need-for-a-recipe fabulous dinner paired with an affordable wine and a viewing suggestion. We’re here to help you sit back, wine down and chill.
ONCE YOU GO ORGANIC …
You never go back. Or so the saying goes. But is it justified?
Yes and no. Organic farming offers improvement with regards to pesticide use: only 25 synthetic compounds are FDA-approved for crop control in organic farming whereas over 900 have been approved for traditional farming. So yes, that means that your organic produce may contain pesticides. However, organic farmers do work diligently to minimize exposure to toxins and make efforts to overturn some crops then let the land lay fallow every few years to replenish nutrients lost in the soils.
Last year, a provocative study was published in Nature (perhaps the most highly revered scientific journal on the planet) which revealed that organic farming is not sustainable. Specifically, larger amounts of land are needed to yield the same crop load, greenhouse gas emissions are greater and hence, have a greater negative effect on climate change. And, cross-pollination by our dwindling bee population is wreaking havoc on corn and other crops which are being routinely contaminated by GMO plants.
We’ve just covered organic farming, but you may also be curious about biodynamic and sustainable farming. With biodynamic farming, moon phases, weather patterns, and other natural phenomenon drive the timing of farming practices including fertilizing to watering. Sustainable farming is sort of like organic-plus farming where practices that minimize environmental impact and stress, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the disruption of the ecosystem.
WHAT ABOUT SULFITES?
Next, let’s debunk that sulfites myth. Contrary to popular belief, sulfites do not cause hangovers, the evidence simply doesn’t support this theory. Ironically, this the primary reasons people cite for the reason why they select organic wines. Consumers are increasingly buying organic wines although winemakers are no longer emphasizing the use of organic grapes as the primary growing regions already practice more natural and sustainable farming practices.
One thing to note is that reduced or no sulfites in organic wines reduces their shelf life. Sulfites are actually a natural by-product of fermentation and exist in dried fruits, frozen potatoes, jams, soups and many other foods we consume daily. True, some people are allergic or sensitive to sulfites (fewer than 1 in 100). Thankfully, allergic though I am to just about everything, wine is still on the safe list for me – whew!
AN ORGANIC WINE DOWN AND CHILL
Sooooo, based on everything I just wrote, organics are not all that.
That said, for any night to wine down and chill, I really like this organic Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc. The Bonterra Winery practices both organic and biodynamic farming and is deeply committed to the environment. They even use natural materials like soil, lavender, beets, and other materials to dye their pretty labels and logo-garments.
Plus, at $14/bottle, this wine tastes wonderfully refreshing with its citrus (grapefruit) notes and clean palette. It has fairly high acidity which makes it taste fresh and crisp. And the notes of just-cut-grass make it reminiscent of all things summer which we need to celebrate – because we’re only 16 weeks away from the risk of snowfall! Insert head-exploding emoji…
Organic wines have actually been around for a while. Over 30 years ago, The Organic Wine Company opened its doors outside San Francisco. The Europeans were a little ahead of the game (aren’t they always?!) and began cultivating grapes for wine organically in the 1960s era of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Today, fewer than 5% of all vineyards have organic farming and less than 1% of all wines produced carry an organic label. Surprisingly, it really hasn’t caught on.
Another interesting tidbit: the Europeans and Canadians have different standards than the USA when it comes to sulfites. First, they spell it sulphites, secondly, their wines *may* carry sulfites. In the USA, organic wines cannot have sulfites in order to be labeled as such. So, if you do have allergies or sensitivities, take note!
A REFRESHING SUMMER SALAD
This is one of my favorite summer dishes. It’s easy, fabulous and even the pickiest eaters like it. Plus, it transports well as picnic and tailgate fare and it’s a nice alternative to the standard spinach and artichoke dip or pasta salad that is just. So. Overdone. Today’s summer salad is a meal in of itself or you can offer it as a side dish paired with whatever meaty-thing you want to cook up on the grill. And, it’s bright and colorful!
FIVE-PLUS INGREDIENTS AND FIVE STEPS
One, if you can’t get your hands on fresh, organic edamame shelled from their pods, then boil some water. Toss in a bag of frozen edamame. I like the products offered by Trader Joe’s.
Two, ditto if you don’t feel like boiling a corn cob and scraping off the kernels. Reach for your freezer option! Toss in the corn with the edamame. Boil both for 2-3 min max.
Three, dice a few ribs of celery and slice up a container of organic grape tomatoes.
Four, open an XL can of black beans and dump them into a strainer. Pour the boiling water, corn, and edamame right over the beans to drain the “bean juice” out.
Five, toss in some crushed garlic, paper-thin sliced red onion, the juice of one lime, sea salt and olive oil to taste. Chop up about half of a bunch of cilantro. Stir everything together.
Pour yourself a glass of that refreshing Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc. Now you can wine down and chill.
FOR THE LONG HAUL
Last week, I got on a bit of a documentary kick. Shark Week always bring it out in me, haha! The movie, Sustainable, is all about reconnecting with the farmers and all those who produce the foods that we consume. It brings the perspective of responsibility around the concept that we are indebted to our ancestors and we need to pay that debt forward by practicing sustainable farming so that future generations will have food to eat. Blending science, psychology and agriculture, the movie presents an interesting perspective on mindful eating.
Ok, while summer is still here, relax, raise your glass then wine down and chill.


Today, Jeff and I finished adding a new succulent bed to our garden. We planted 40 varieties of succulents and over 50 individual plants. The idea was 1. to create some visual interest in front of our compost bins--not to hide them, but to distract from them--and 2. to find a place for all the cool succulents we keep finding. At first, Jeff thought we could get away with a few small planters here and there, but when we started looking at the succulents, we found so many cool varieties that we couldn't decide. Soooooo, we bought one of each :) The results are stunning. And this new bed will also serve as a visual edge to our new back yard terrace. More picture soon on that development, we hope. But first, some pictures of the garden from start to finish.
We started this idea as a place to put some excess dirt as we were moving stuff around the back yard. So, I began a kidney-shaped pile, covered with a weed inhibiting tarp, and topped it with "cactus soil". We planted in this special soil, and then used small pebbles to create a covering. Very nice coloration that compliments the succulents well.
Our supplies (rocks, weed tarp and border) all came from Broodmor Landscape Supply in South San Francisco. The succulents came from Floorcraft Nursery (San Francisco) and Target--yes, Target had a really nice selection of succulents.
Total time to create this new feature? Two weekends.


Check out our first GrowMotion install at MADE. MADE is the premier St. Louis makerspace for Makers, Artists, Designers, and Entrepreneurs. Its an honor to work with them to make this happen. The main article is linked below:
KEEP READING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY...
*We will include a follow up post that shows how to build your own affordable indoor farm.
This was our first display we made after developing the initial prototype of GrowMotion. We probably won't make another quite like it since it was incredible difficult to assemble and move into place. The display includes a GrowMotion unit with a 200W LED module. This is the same 200W module that is available for those joining our beta program. The display is made entirely of plywood and is 12ft long x 4 feet deep x 8ft tall. It was too large to display anywhere else at MADE. There is also an added box fan on the ceiling of the display to improve air circulation and help the baby basil strengthen their stems.
*Our newest version of GrowMotion does not include the added blue/red strip light down the rail. We found it wasn't necessary in the end and we could still cover 40 sq ft of grow area without it.
Inside the display are 8 grow tanks. Each tank is a 27 gallon storage tote made of polypropylene. They are food safe and extremely easy to work with. The tanks are connected in series to a water pump where nutrient rich water is circulated throughout the system. The tanks are also filled about 3/4 of the way full with the nutrient water. There is an added air pump that further oxygenates the water in each tank. This setup is often referred to as Circulating Deep Water Culture (CDWC) hydroponics since the roots are immersed in in circulating water.
Each tank has 8x 2 inch holes drilled out of the top for drop in net pots of pre-germinated basil. For Lettuce or smaller variety herbs you can even drill as many as 30 holes. These particular lids have a diamond grid pattern that allowed for up to 31 plant sites per tanks. There is also a 3D printed grow cage that was later added to each tank to help support the larger basil.
There are several varieties of basil in this display, which includes Italian Genovese, Purple Petra, Thai, and Lemon. All our seeds were locally sourced from Bowood Farms. The basil was first germinated offsite and later transplanted after about 1 week.
After 6 weeks
With little to no maintenance the basil really took off. I didn't top of the water or nutrients and allowed the system to naturally lower the water level. The basil from left to right are Thai, Purple, Italian, and Lemon. The ground is inclined with caused more water to slope towards the Thai Basil causing it to take longer to grow due to less oxygen exposed to the roots. At this point the Lemon Basil grew to about a 18 inch in height. We also started harvesting on weekly intervals to reduce potential seeding and also because we are all about giving away free food.
After 4 months
You can really see the basil is pretty much overgrown. We neglected to harvest anything for a couple of weeks and most of the basil was already going to seed (especially the Lemon Basil). Again no additional water or nutrients were added.
We will continue to grow food at MADE (probably tomatoes next) and work towards establishing our next pop-up farm. If you are interested in how to grow your own food we will be doing follow up posts with detailed instructions and downloadable files to print and assemble your own farm very soon.
If you want to learn more about GrowMotion or want to be one of the first to access our prototype version click below!


The sun drying and far-infrared drying characteristics of lily were experimentally investigated. Fresh lily was blanched and treated with boiling water at 100 °C before drying. The effects of blanching time, drying method and drying temperature on drying rate, nutrient contents (total phenol, total flavonoid and starch contents), hardness and color were analyzed. The results showed that fresh lily without blanching pretreatment had deep browning color, wrinkled skin and long drying time under any drying temperature and drying method. However, the drying rate of samples with blanching pretreatment was significantly increased and the drying time was shortened. The drying rate of solar drying was much lower than that of infrared drying, however the drying quality is better. With the increase of blanching time, the browning degree and the nutrient contents under both drying methods were reduced, while the foaming rate was increased. The hardness after solar drying was moderate, while the hardness of far-infrared drying gradually increased with the increase of drying temperature. The blanching time of 4–6 min was the ideal pretreatment time. Under this pretreatment time, a sample with fair color and moderate hardness and nutrient contents can be obtained under the far-infrared drying temperature of 60–90 °C. The far-infrared drying was more suitable than the sun drying and the most suitable drying process was as follows: fresh lilies were blanched at 100 °C for 5 minutes, and then dried at 70°C for 7.5 hours.


In 50501, Amiyah Strickland and Jared Mooney Learned About How To Dry Grass
In 7712, Carlee Carney and Jermaine Castillo Learned About Will Grass Clippings Grow Grass
If you observe "clumps" of clippings on the lawn after cutting they must be gotten rid of. This happens when the yard grows too long in between mowing, and it prevails throughout periods of high rains and in early spring. Clumps of clippings consistently left on your yard will result in yard wear and tear.
In between expert sharpening, touch-up the blade yourself with a file every month or 2. A dull blade will tear the lawn, not suffice, making your lawn appear brown after cutting.
Q. My son has actually been attempting to make garden compost out of three large stacks of turf included by plastic fencing. With all the rain we've had, the piles have actually ended up being wet, compressed, thick and extremely heavy. What can be done to make these piles more effective at breaking down? They have actually been turned, however we recently added a great deal of grass-- which plus the rain has made things a compacted mess.
That should be truly excellent for the garden ... no?-- Elizabeth in North Plainfield, New Jersey A. "No" is proper, Elizabeth. 'Green manure' is a crop that you grow to rake into the ground as living fertilizer. What your son has is simply a big green stinky mess. (Actually, THREE huge green smelly messes.) This is a common error for novice composters, particularly in the summer, when yard clippings are plentiful.
Those clippings are EXTREMELY high in Nitrogen-- about 10%. That's practically the same level you 'd discover in truly HOT manures, like bat and bird guano. In the most basic sense, these Nitrogen abundant elements do not become the compost in a stack; rather they offer food for the billions of little microorganisms that sustain the process of turning the other stuff-- the so-called 'dry browns' that must comprise at least 80% of a pile-- into the garden gold our plants so crave.
The benefit of including things like lettuce leaves, apple cores and broccoli stalks to a compost heap or bin is mainly in the calming of your recycling conscience, not in their ability to develop high quality garden compost. Now you can use clippings to make great garden compost, but to do so you need to mix small quantities of well-shredded yard clippings in with large quantities of well-shredded leaves.
( The very best garden compost piles follow the Goldilocks rule: Not too wet and not too dry. Great deals of airflow too. I know, Goldilocks didn't mention airflow. But she needs to have.) Anyway, the result of such a worthy enterprise is the elusive, much sought-after garden amendment known as "hot garden compost". Compost that formulate quickly with the help of a natural source of high Nitrogen is better food for your plants and offers far more life for your soil.
And it's the very best kind for making compost tea. "Cold compost"-- the things that results when you simply stack a lot of things up, wish for the very best and really get some finished product after a year or so-- can be a good plant food and soil improver, but hot compost is MUCH much better.
I fear that your big piles of slimy wet yard clippings will not improve one bit with the passage of time. Simply the opposite in reality. Ah, however your timing is good to get it right, as we are quick approaching autumn leaf fall. Let lots of leaves gather on the lawn throughout a drought (do not let wet leaves build up), review them with a lawn mower, bag up what should be a best mixture of lots of outstandingly shredded leaves and a percentage of well-shredded yard and then empty this mix into a huge wire cage, a slatted wooden bin, an expertly made composter or something else to hold it all in location good and neat.
In Cartersville, GA, Roderick Copeland and Teresa Yates Learned About Grass With Leaves
( Individuals who inform you to 'layer' the active ingredients in a compost heap failed physics.) Yes, this will just utilize a small percentage of the clippings created by the typical yard, which's an advantage. Due to the fact that outside of that fall leaf drop window, you should NOT be bagging your turf clippings.
I use "quotes" since there's no 'mulch' of any kind included here. A poor name for an excellent instrument of sustainability, mulching mowers pulverize clippings into an almost invisible powder that they then return to your yard. A powder that's 10% Nitrogen; about as high a natural number as you can get. SmallYardBigDreams.com mentioned
DON'T use any clippings from an herbicide-treated yard in a compost heap. Some of the powerful chemicals in use today can survive even hot composting and could kill any plants that get the compost in the future. Oh, and stop utilizing that poisonous things too!!! Ask Mike A Concern Mike's YBYG Archives Discover YBYG Program.
Got a smelly, slimy stack of grass clippings? Here's how to compost lawn clippings without the smelly mess. While lawn clippings can be a valuable addition to your compost stack, grasscycling is better for your lawn - and less work - than gathering and composting yard clippings. Grasscycling is just recycling your clippings by leaving them on your lawn to break down naturally.
When is it a great idea to bag clippings? It's handy to get rid of clippings when your lawn need to be trimmed and is wet or exceedingly tall - leaving turf clumps. You can also quickly clean up a lawn filled with leaves/debris by mowing with your lawn catcher. I utilized to work as the gardener for a large estate.
There were concrete bins near our shop that were stocked with mulch and topsoil. Instead of hauling the clippings and spreading them in among the fields, I decided to "compost" the lawn clippings in the spare bin. We collected a big pile of lawn clippings that rapidly turned into a stinky, slimy mess.
We turned it weekly with the skid guide, while continuing to add more lawn clippings, garden trimmings and some soil. Our mountain of lawn cuttings remained a foul-smelling mess. What did we do wrong? (We need to have googled how to compost.) A pile of turf clippings has a really high wetness content and tends to form a compact mat that limits air motion.
There was too much nitrogen and wetness and not enough bulk product - leaves, wood chips, hedge clippings, straw, and so on. Yard clippings are a fantastic addition to a garden compost pile, they are abundant in nitrogen that the microbial population utilizes as they disintegrate the raw material. Dry leaves, wood chips or straw need to be blended in a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio with clippings to produce excellent compost and minimize smells.
The very best method to deal with a constant supply of turf clippings is to have numerous garden compost stacks at different stages of decay. You will then belong to discard fresh clippings while moving products that are starting to break down into your other piles. Keys to a successful garden compost stack: Whatever natural has a given ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C: N) in its tissues.
In 24401, Keyla Kirk and Shaun Pacheco Learned About Grass Clippings Around Trees
The perfect C: N ratio for these microbes is 30:1. Yard clippings alone have a 15:1 ratio. Shredded materials - leaves, bark and chipped wood - will compost quickly and are essential to utilize with your lawn clippings since they add bulk that develops air area and increases the ratio of carbon to nitrogen.
Dry raw material disintegrates gradually, a wet pile will cause anaerobic conditions. Microbes need nitrogen for their own metabolic process and development. Your grass clippings are abundant in nitrogen and enhance decay when combined properly with other yard wastes. For example, 2 parts leaves to one part clippings. Speed up the composting procedure by mixing your stack a minimum of when a month.
Your compost will be prepared to utilize when it is dark, crumbly and smells earthy. This is an actually excellent step-by-step video: Compost tumblers or a garden compost drum will make compost quickly. They also save space and consist of odors, which is perfect for small residential or commercial properties. These are easy for the convenient DIYer to make (like the one envisioned left wing) or purchased from a retailer.
Expand your yard clippings to let them dry prior to adding them to your compost heap. Don't utilize yard clippings treated with an herbicide (herbicide) for at least 2 to 3 weeks after the application. Do not use lawn clippings from Lawns treated with Clopyralid - offered as Curtail or Challenge - this chemical does not break down rapidly during the composting process.
They likewise conserve area and include smells, which is ideal for little properties. A common belief is that lime requires to be added ... you don't need to add lime to your compost pile. Cover your pile with a tarp during wet weather condition to avoid excessive dampness. Uncover it after heavy rains to let it breathe Garden compost is not a fertilizer, it contains a tiny amount of plant nutrients.
How To Compost: Structure a Garden compost Bin Find strategies and directions for numerous kinds of garden compost bins. Composting with Worms A brand-new 13-page pamphlet by the Oregon State University Extension Service offers detailed directions on how to construct a worm garden compost bin and how to compost with worms in a process called "vermicomposting.".
George Weigel|Unique to Penn Live How to compost your lawn waste into great soil George Weigel|Unique to Penn Live How to compost your lawn waste into excellent soil Why pay to toss away leaves, grass clippings, kitchen area scraps and other household natural waste when you might turn it into outstanding soil?That's the concept of composting-- enhancing your lousy soil while recycling and saving money at the exact same time.
Nature does it all the time without bins or user's manual. Interested in offering composting a shot? Early fall is the ideal time, particularly when tree leaves drop. Here's a tactical plan: George Weigel|Unique to Penn Live Why bother?Composting not just keeps waste out of landfills and the water-wasting trash disposal, it yields an extremely healthy soil additive that enhances drain, includes life and organic matter to compressed soil, and even helps combat some plant illness.
George Weigel|Unique to Penn Live Compost occurs You'll need no special skills or secrets. Provided sufficient time, all plant life will break down into decayed pieces called compost. This can be as simple as 1.) pile it up, and 2.) wait a year for it to rot. There are ways, nevertheless, to accelerate the procedure and ensure you do not run into smells or pests.
In Cocoa, FL, Cason Richmond and Oscar Burke Learned About How Long Does It Take For Leaves To Decompose SmallYardBigDreams.com featured
George Weigel|Unique to Penn Live The stack One speed-it-up key is stacking enough raw material to get the stack cooking. A great


N eed I say more? Found a super price on beautiful sheets of A B 3/4 plywood at Lowe's. Only $20 per sheet for cabinet quality!! Now, these normally sells for closer to $50 per sheet.
So, today I was assisting with cutting it up for the battery box for the solar electric, and lo and behold, right here on the sticker it says, "MADE IN CHINA".
Does anyone else out there find this somehow absurd? We will be paying more attention to where our wood products are coming from. That is an incredibly long journey for a product like this. And only $20 per sheet? While on one hand we were excited for such a deal, on the other hand you can't help wonder what the fudge is going on.
Both summer and winter crops of 2012 did quite well! It was now March of the following year and we decided to add some sand to the soil to help with drainage.
In addition we added a couple dozen bags of our favorite natural fertilizer...mushroom compost. The brand available here also had steer manure compost in it. We had such great results from the organic mushroom compost back in Illinois, it was a no brainer to use it again.
Then came the planting of the spring crops and it all went down hill from there. The seeds were sprouting just fine. Then, over time, everything would just start dying. Yellowing leaves, shriveling leaves and a half dozen other symptoms that pointed every which way as to what the problem was. This just made no sense.
Photos and soil samples were sent off to the state. Even they were clueless. Test results showed no particular problem. As far as we could tell, growing conditions were comparable to the previous year.
2 more plantings were attempted and both failed miserably with the same perplexing mix of problems. We continued scouring the internet and eventually came across an explanation that fit our situation.
At that time they were calling it"Killer Compost". But, I see now the problem is being defined as"Persistent Herbicides". I prefer Killer Compost myself. Let's not try to make this problem benign with words.
It seems our ever popular herbicide manufacturers have made their product nearly indestructible. Earlier herbicides decomposed with composting. But, not any more. These new, "improved" herbicides not only weather the storm of animal digestion, but they also pull through the composting process quite nicely. No breaking down. So, now we have garden compost laced with herbicide.
So, the next logical question is, "How do we reverse this?" Well, things get a little tricky. Here is the story as I understand it...
These new, super duper herbicides do their work at a level of just 1 part per billion (ppb). Universities and other research firms are only able to test to a level of 3ppb. The only testing facilities with the ability to test to a level of 1ppb are owned by the herbicide producing giants.
So, here is the dilemma. No one can prove that latent herbicide exists in our compost. Except, that is, for the guys making the herbicide.
Since the Killer Compost theory was the only thing that fit the bill, we plowed forward to come up with a solution. After many phone and email conversations with the so called "experts", a plan came together. It was drastic. It was pricey.
Step 1: Till a good 10 pounds of powdered activated charcoal into the garden beds. In theory, the charcoal would absorb the herbicide and render it harmless.
Step 2: Water the heck out of the garden beds and let the charcoal do its thing for 3 weeks.
Step 3: Send off soil sample to CSU
Step 4: Results had shown that most nutrients are now depleted. The activated charcoal had pretty much pulled everything but the salts out of the soil.
Step 5: Add sulfur, potassium, gypsum, magnesium and iron to soil. Then, another good watering to dissolve the additives.
Step 6: attempted a couple more crops and failed.
Step 7: Consultation with Claudia, our contact from Growing Domes. As per her recommendations, we added the following to our 250 square feet:
•3 bags Cotton Burr Compost (3 cubic feet per bag)
•40 lb bag Worm Castings
•3,000 Worm Cocoons
• Large Bag Perlite
•10 lb bag Glacial Rock
As it turned out, all these additives gave us amazing nutrients, but failed to take care of the herbicide toxicity. Our next attempt to grow failed again.
So, we started again with more searching online and picked back up on conversations with the University of Colorado. This final and incredibly simple solution worked!
We flooded the entire greenhouse with 2 feet of water. What that did in effect, was push all the bad stuff down into the 2 feet of soil and flush it out. Luckily for us, the water leached out onto a barren area outside the greenhouse. We would like to think it did no more damage. But, who rreally knows how long this nasty stuff lasts...
or Death Valley?
a tale of woe from 2013-2015
That Ding Dang Sun!
Look what the sun did to our exterior door trim. Sheesh! Both these doors face west, so they definitely get the brunt of the UV exposure.
The top picture shows pre-primed wood trim. It is about 6 years old. 2 years ago, it looked the same. We figured it was just crappy primer. So, Paul scraped it down, ruffed it up, applied a fresh coat of good quality primer and repainted. It looked great. Now, 2 years later it’s all messed up again.
The picture below shows the trim om the new greenhouse shed. Thought we’d attempt learning from our mistakes and try something different. This trim is PVC. We used the same exterior grade paint and primer and just look how well it’s sticking! Really nice if you can look past the fact that it has totally warped. Oh, the fun of the sun at 7,000 feet. What next? Not sure…
We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. to ship an order.


Gardening is a very healthy hobby. But on top of that, it is an easy and fun way of providing yourself and family daily food.
At the same time, when things aren’t going as planned, gardening can be very frustrating. There are some gardening mistakes that you might be making unintentionally without knowing. When these mistakes are avoided, there is no reason for things to go wrong.
This is what this article is all about. We look at five gardening mistakes you don't know you're making. Read on!
Avoid These Gardening Mistakes Today
1. Wrong Choice Of Soil
Soil is the most basic component of gardening. Using the right soil means that the plants are getting the right nutrients and so growing as intended. The reverse is also true. Knowing what kind of nutrients your soil offers can be very tricky if you lack a soil tester. Without this information, there is no way that you will be able to tell what kind of nutrients the soil offers and which ones it lacks.
Soil testing should be done regularly. A good reason for this is that soil changes from one season to another. This makes it very important to develop a habit of ensuring that you test your soil regularly to obtain the best results.
2. Watering The leaves
Have you been watering your plants from an overhead position? If so, then you should know that you have been doing it the wrong way all along and it is time to stop.
Overhead watering technique isn’t the most effective, and we don’t recommend it at all costs. For starters, it wastes a lot of water as much of it is blown away by the wind. Plants end up getting inadequate water supply.
Secondly, this method exposes the leaves of plants to lots of dangers. Did you know that wet leaves act as a breeding ground for diseases and fungi? To avoid such situations, try looking for an alternative method such as the drip irrigation or even the soaker hose technique.
Drip irrigation saves you lots of water not to mention that the plants acquire the necessary moisture directly from the roots, where it is needed most.
Also, something else very important that not many people pay much attention to is the timing. Have a schedule for watering your plants. The best time is early in the morning when it isn’t too hot. Please note that too much moisture overnight is harmful to plants and encourages diseases.
3. Failing To Compost
Have you taken time to compost your soil? If not, then we encourage you to do so.
This means that you bring back to life the nutrients that your soil has lost. Your plants need these nutrients. Amending the soil includes adding compost, which is not a difficult job.
You have the option of making your own compost at home by following very simple steps. Alternatively, you can opt to purchase composts from farmers in the markets, local farmers or even garden centers. They are easily and highly available.
4. Failure To Control Your Pest
We aren’t sure to what limits should we go to emphasize on how important it is to control pests in your plants. Pest are one of the most common reasons for failure of growth in plants. They eat and chew on the leaves, stems and roots, completely destroying the plants.
Garden pests and aphids will quickly work on your plants destroying them in no time. For this reason, it is imperative that you look for an effective method of controlling your pest.
We understand that some gardeners are reluctant about pest control siting that they may end up adding poison to the plants and thus harming them more rather than helping the situation. This is true. With the wrong choice of method, the results might be catastrophic and more harmful. That is why you need to be extra cautious.
There is good news, however. You don’t need to use artificial and harmful inputs. There are natural solutions with zero negative effects to your plants. These pest control measures are safe for both your plants and family. Extensive research was undertaken to come up with these inputs.
We, however, encourage you to select the disease resistant plants, incorporate the use of non-toxic traps and sprays and ensure that there is proper spacing. When all these are followed, nothing could possibly go wrong.
We recommend visiting thepesthunter.com. Here you will find ways to get rid of all kinds of insects of your choice, which are explained very nicely with detail.
5. Failure To Use Mulch
If you haven’t been using mulch in your plants, then it is high time that you start. Mulch is like an insurance policy to your plants; one that assures the protection of your plants and positive results of all your hard work. A lot of benefits are accrued to mulching.
For starters, mulch helps retain your soil moisture secondly, certain types of mulch come with the benefit of adding nutrients to your soil. Finally, and one of the most important, mulch accelerates the growth rate of your plants.
With all these benefits, if you haven’t been using mulch, then it is only wise to start doing so.
Gardening Mistakes Final Word
These mistakes mentioned above are only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the mistakes we make when gardening. There are numerous other mistakes that we commit without our knowledge. The mentioned cases are, however are the most common ones.
Other avoidable mistakes include:
- avoid to plant too early or too late,
- don’t plant too deep or too shallow, and lastly
- adding too much nitrogen.
The good news is that now you know, and it is never too late to change your ways.
Plants require maximum attention from us. With proper care and maintenance, they will be blooming in no time. One thing to remember, is that regular testing of the soil is important to determine the nutrients present in the soil.
Finally, gardening doesn’t have to be a difficult and tiring job. Enjoy every moment of it and why not get your garden shed in order at the same time too.


The Importance Of Farming Equipment In Agriculture
Agriculture is what feeds the nations and therefore it is very important for a country. People do agriculture for domestic and commercial use. Agriculture is done using farm equipment to make the work easier. The benefit of using farm equipment is that one can work and achieve more results when they use farm equipment. Farm equipment can help farmers to reduce the time that they use for production and that means they can increase production. Tractors can enable farmers to complete tasks in less time.
It is not a must for a farmer to buy a large tractor if they cannot afford it because they can always decide to use a small farm tractor for a job. Using tractor attachments enables farmers to save time when they do agriculture and some of this tractor attachments include drills, plows, harrows and seed spreaders. Farming equipment increases efficiency for farmers. With the help of farming machinery, farmers may not need to hire extra workers when they are carrying out different tasks on the farm. A person can lower costs when they get high-quality farming equipment which will have increased efficiency.
Farm equipment manufacturers design tractors and one such company is run by Josh Tarter. A modern farmer may have different needs and Josh Tarter and his team have designed new equipment that can meet some of these needs. To buy farming equipment that will last long, a farmer can buy new high quality equipment and they will be able to save money in the long run. One can also not be able to tell the amount of damage that used equipment has even after they carry out an inspection. Water, fire, or accidental damage are some of the reasons that used equipment may be problematic but when you buy new equipment from Josh Tarter and his team, you will get equipment that has not been exposed to these elements.
Other brand names use Josh Tarter and his team to manufacture their equipment. In case a farmer needs to replace parts in their machinery, they should buy from a farm equipment manufacturer who has been in the business for a long time because they are guaranteed to get parts for replacement. Farmers who need different parts for their farm machinery can be able to get this from Josh Tarter and his team who have been in business for a long time. Through expansion, Josh Tarter and his team have been able to come up with new products that farmers can look at to see how they can benefit from them. Farmers should look at the new features that have been added to new products to see if they are beneficial for increasing productivity in agriculture.


Fruit market in Russia
Fruit and vegetables are essential goods. The demand for them is growing year by year, the consumer is becoming more demanding, paying more attention to the appearance and the taste of goods.
However the consumption of fruit in Russia in spite of the significant growth is around 43 kg per capita per year, which is 2 – 2,5 times less than in developed countries.
Traditionally the fruit market in Russia was formed of two parts. The first part is mainly local production, the second - imported fruit (including exotic fruit). The share of total fruit imports according to some experts is between 50% and 80% of the total volume of the Russian market of fresh produce.
Due to this fact fruit producers and exporters consider the Russian market of fresh produce strategically important and promising.
The leaders in terms of the volume of fruit supplies to Russia are Turkey, Ecuador, Morocco, China, Argentina, Egypt, South Africa. Obviously the volume of supplies depends on demand. Banana, citrus and apple are the most popular fruits in Russia. The consumption of pears and grapes is a little bit smaller, however they are still popular.
The group of companies «Soyuzpromcontract» holds one of the leading positions in the Russian fruit market.
At present "Soyuzpromcontract" is the biggest international agro-industrial holding company in Russia with a staff of more than 1000 people that rapidly developed into one of the leading private Russian companies in this sector.
"Soyuzpromcontract" unites a number of companies providing for the development of specialized areas and projects. . In 2008 the company began to develop its own plantations of apples, it's already the fifth year that the fruit from them comes to retailers' shelves.


Chocolate is one of the world’s favourite foods (it’s definitely ours) but growing cocoa is a hard task. Ninety percent of the world’s cocoa is grown on small family farms by around 6 million farmers who earn their living from growing and selling cocoa beans. Cocoa trees grow in tropical environments, within 15 to 20 degrees latitude from the equator. The ideal climate for growing cocoa is hot, rainy and tropical with lush vegetation to provide shade for the cocoa trees. Cocoa is a delicate and sensitive crop, farmers must protect trees from wind, sun, pests and disease. With proper care, cocoa trees begin to yield pods at peak production levels by the fifth year and they can continue at this level for 10 years. For all this hard work, cocoa farmers gain very little from a very profitable global cocoa trade.
Our cocoa beans are from the Dominican Republic, where cocoa is grown by around 40,000 small-scale cocoa growers. Fairtrade support farmers in the Dominican Republic; schools have been built and repaired, with scholarships and equipment provided to students from poorer families. In the cooperative we source our beans from, a new IT centre has been built to help children with school work whilst bringing the internet to the community. A clinic, free medical checks, and clean water projects are improving health. Yay! Fairtrade makes things better; it’s a simple way to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the things we love (and we really do love chocolate)! Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade aims to make cocoa farming more sustainable so farmers can better provide for themselves and their families. We share Fairtrade’s vision: a world in which all producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential and decide on their future. (Information taken from www.fairtrade.org.uk)


Prospects of flower business at home and abroad
Md. Joynal Abdin
The Financial Express on October 03, 2014
Flower is a widely used product around the world. Global export of Cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets, fresh or dried (H.S. 0603) was UDS 7375,7680,8387,8480 and 8442 million in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. Top 10 Cut flowers-exporting countries are the Netherlands, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Belgium, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Italy, Germany and Israel. Top 10 Cut flowers-importing countries are the United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Russian Federation, France, Japan, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.
Bangladesh exported Cut flowers, worth $16.58m, during July-November 2013 into a few destinations like India, Pakistan, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Germany, Britain, Denmark and France. Our stake in the global trade of Cut flowers is negligible i.e. 0.3 per cent. We have good potential in the production of Cut flowers due to favourable environment and fertile land; it’s a cash cow crop for the farmers.
A March 2012 study shows that, there is demand for Cut flowers, worth about USD 8.0 million, in Bangladesh of which USD 5.0 million is locally produced and rest of the amount is imported mainly from China and Indonesia. Besides, Bangladesh imports a huge amount of artificial flowers per year to meet local demands. Artificial flowers are imported mainly from China and India.
Flowers are now cultivated in about 10 thousand hectares of land, mainly in the Godkhali Union of Zikorgasa Upzilla under Jessore district. About 4000 farmers produce mainly various types of Rose, Tube Rose, Gerbera, Gladiolus and some orchids. Sher Ali pioneered commercial flower cultivation in Godkhali in 1983. He demonstrated that Cut flowers give three to four times’ higher return than any other crop. Many farmers started to grow flowers in 4-5 villages of Godkhali Union. Currently about 1,50,000 people are directly involved in Cut flower cultivation or business in Bangladesh. Women workers dominate the sector – mainly in flower collection, sorting and packaging.
New farmers are getting involved in flower production. One bigha (30 decimals) of land can give you at best BDT 40-45 thousand per year with three crops. And one bigha of rose garden would give you BDT 100-150 thousand per year – and a rose garden may blive for 10-15 years. Therefore cultivating flowers is economically profitable for the farmers.
Cut flowers sector in Bangladesh is suffering from various obstacles. Major barriers of this sector are:
1. Little knowledge about flower preservation: Farmers use jute bags for packaging flowers. When these flowers reach markets in Dhaka, Chittagong or other divisional or district level towns, they dry up. Many flowers are wasted during transportation.
2. Absence of cold storage/cold chain to transport or preserve fresh flowers: There are no cold storage in Bangladesh to preserve or store flowers during emergency. Therefore a large amount of flowers perish in the field or market.
3. Absence of backward linkage industry: Bangladesh is producing only a few types of flowers from the inception. It is now essential to increase the variety of flowers to meet the demand of the local and global markets. But there is no system of supplying variety of flower seeds or plants to enlarge the basket. Seeds, fertilisers, preservation technology, packaging variety, i.e., backward linkage industries could energise the sector.
4. Absence of forward linkage industry: Perfume industry, herbal cosmetic industry etc. forward linkage industry of Cut flowers are absent in Bangladesh. Therefore, industrial use of Bangladeshi fresh flowers is almost zero.
5. Absence of permanent flower market in major cities: There are no permanent wholesale flower market in Dhaka, Chittagong, or any other divisional/district towns of Bangladesh.
6. Unavailability of large amount industrial loan: Cut flower growing is considered a farming activity. Policy-makers do not yet consider the industrial or commercial aspects of flower. As a result, flower growers or businesses get small amount of agriculture loan instead of industrial/SME loans. But cultivating high-priced flowers like Gerbera needs green house/sheds. Making a green house/flower shed is costly.
7. Poor knowledge about flower export: Hardly any farmer knows how to export Cut flowers. A very limited number of businesses are involved with export occasionally.
8. Knowledge about value addition: Bangladeshi flower growers/businessmen are not aware about post-harvest value addition of flowers.
9. Scarcity of other support staffs: Fertiliser, seed, polyethylene sheet, water for irrigation, new variety of flowers etc. are not easily available in the local market. Therefore, farmers find it difficult to grow quality flowers in Bangladesh.
There could be a debate whether Cut flowers are a farming or industrial product. It may be argued that as flowers are cultivated in the field, collected and sold, Cut flowers are an agricultural crop. Government agencies like Agriculture Extension Department, Agriculture Research Council etc. will promote, nourish the Cut flowers sub-sector.
But as Cut flowers are widely traded, exported, used as raw materials in perfume or herbal cosmetics, herbal medicine etc, these may be put under industrial agro-processing sector. Packaging, transportation, ware house cold storage/cold chain etc. are directly linked with the sub-sector. Therefore, Cut flowers could be considered as an agro-processed industrial product. Government agencies working to promote enterprises/industries like the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Small and Medium Enterprise Foundation (SME Foundation) etc. could play a role to develop and promote the Cut flowers sub-sector.
Whatever the classification is, Cut flowers are a very promising sector offering higher return. So this foreign exchange-earning sector should get priority from all agencies to develop.
Following recommendations could be considered to develop and promote the Cut flowers sub-sector:
1. Teaching Flower Preservation System: Most important support to the flower growers could be teaching them how to preserve flowers for a comparatively longer period.
2. Supplying modern flower packaging materials: Non-perishable flower packaging system could help the flower growers to add more value to flowers.
3. Assisting in development of cold chain: Government/donor agencies/ development partners could take the lead in developing a preservation-friendly cold chain (storage & transport) system for the flower growers.
4. Establishing permanent flower wholesale market: City corporations, municipal authorities and district administrators could establish permanent wholesale flower markets.
5. Diversified variety of flowers could be supplied: Agriculture Research Council or other agriculturist agencies could take the lead in supplying various new varieties of flowers for cultivation.
6. Match-making: Match-making event could be organized to meet the flower growers with the herbal cosmetic companies, perfume companies and herbal medicine companies to establish forward and backward linkage between the sectors.
7. Providing higher amount /industrial/ SME loan for establishment: Easily to access loan products should be introduced to assist green house/shed building to grow higher priced flowers in Bangladesh.
8. Initiative for increasing flower export: Government agencies should be proactive to increase flower export from Bangladesh into new destinations or increase volume in existing export destinations.
Cut flower is a very promising export sub-sector. It could enlarge our export basket and increase export earnings.


Submersible solar pumps
Solar powered pumping Sytems
A typical solar-powered pumping system consists of solar panels connected to an electric motor that runs a bore or surface electric pump. A solar pumping solution will typically supply a DC pump that is connected directly to the solar panel and does not require a DC/AC inverter. DC brushless motors offer very high efficiency levels. For the applications requiring water to be pumped at night, tank stocked water can be fed by gravity when there is insufficient sunlight to power the solar pumps.
Designed for continuous as well as intermittent operation, solar submersible pumping systems are especially suitable for water supply applications such as villages, schools, hospitals, and single-family houses or farms and ranches, including watering of livestock and irrigation of crops and greenhouses.


27 July 2015
Transstroy has started installation of the roll-out field utilities in St.Petersburg
Transstroy company, the biggest Russian holding in the infrastructure construction industry has started installation of the roll-out field utilities of the arena on Krestovsky Island. Within several months the unique engineering structure will be equipped with an airing, drainage, heating and automatic irrigation systems and remote control and monitoring option
On the new arena on Krestovsky Island in St. Petersburg the installation of roll-out field utilities has started – the unique part of the project developed involving professionals from Bamard company and Transstroy. The systems are meant to provide heating, irrigation, aeration, drainage and status monitoring for the future pitch. All utility installation works are to be finished by October 1.
Especially for the stadium on Krestovsky Island a number of unique technological solutions were developed. For example, due to a tridimensional geoweb in the lower layers of the pitch with the total depth as little as 60 cm the draining system, stabilization base of the grass court and heating system will be placed. The geoweb will allow not only to place all listed systems compactly but also to reduce the total weight of the field structures compared to the weight of similar size fields from 8.5 thousand ton to 7.5 thousand ton.
One of the solutions to be used in the project implementation is the field monitoring system. It will allow not only to control the pitch state (humidity level, heating temperature, airflow intensity, etc.), but also gives the players an opportunity to foresee the field characteristics before entering the stadium.
Vitaly Lazutkin, the stadium project manager, the director general of Inzhtransstroy-Spb:
- The priority in the pitch technology choice was to avoid injury risk for players and provide high esthetic qualification of the grass in the maximal usage places. We assume that the pitch will maintain high quality features being used intensively.
Let us recall that this March the adjustment of the roll-out field main structures was finished on the stadium under construction: frame, floor and 396 rollers on which the field will move. Also a drive system was installed that is to move the construction and the test rolls of the roll-out field were made.
All components necessary for the field construction were made on Russian factories after exclusive design drawings developed by Russian engineers especially for this project. The stadium on Krestovsky Island will be the only one in Russia and among a few stadiums in the world equipped with a roll-out field.
The roll-out field turns the stadium into a multifunctional space: after the construction is over many different events may take place here without weather or conceptual restrictions. The global practice shows that such use of stadiums brings higher socioeconomic effect than their operation only as a sports facility.
Another thing motivating the construction of the roll-out field is the north location of the stadium and its structural features (high tiers and fixed roof) that won’t let the grass get sufficient sunlight. In that regard to provide the high quality of the pitch in accordance with FIFA and UEFA standards most of the time the field will be located and serviced outside of the stadium bowl.


Available in limited amounts on the planet, water is a renewable resource that is replenished by rainfall. With a growing population and increased irrigation, the withdrawal of water has become higher than the rate of recharge, leading to a rapid depletion in groundwater.
With such restricted water availability, it has become essential to use the available resources judiciously.
Conservation and Management of water have become a necessity. Water resources need to be rebuilt with an integrated approach for efficient water usage. With growing food demand, it has become imperative to use better irrigation systems that can supply water easily and effectively.
To resolve such agricultural issues, Vinyl Tubes Private Limited has designed, developed and manufactured a range of pipes for irrigation purposes. The leading water management product manufacturer from India, Vinyl is counted upon across the globe for all uPVC pipes and fittings.
Here is how we can help you.
Do you always feel that there is a lack of water supply for your irrigation activities?
Safe and effective use of water is necessary for crop production on agricultural lands. For proper irrigation activity, you need an appropriate irrigation network in place, comprising of temporary as well as permanent conduits.
Vinyl Tubes has come with a solution to your irrigation problems. With Vinyl uPVC pressure pipes, you can be assured of efficient water supply from the irrigation sources to your lands. Our products are also well-suited for your pumping activities.
Are you facing issues in finding the right pipe for your irrigation requirements?
Seeking proper pipes that meet your water volume, pressure and quality requirements can seem like a chore. The need of the hour is to address such problems before irrigation becomes ineffective.
To cater to such needs, Vinyl offers a diverse collection of pipes for different purposes. Vinyl uPVC Casing Pipes come with distinct properties such as durability, safety, environmental performance, cost-efficiency, and environmental performance that make them a perfect choice for agricultural use.
With the depleting resources, it has become a necessity to use them wisely. We need to make the best possible use of available resources for which you need better tools. Irrigation becomes inevitable for growing crops, maintaining landscapes and revegetating disturbed soils in dry areas.
To resolve your irrigational issues, you can bring to use Vinyl’s HDPE and MDPE pipes which deliver optimum performance with zero leak rate.
Has drawing groundwater become a challenge? With farmers dependent on groundwater for irrigation, it becomes a primary need to draw water from borewells. However, extracting groundwater is not as easy as it sounds. With increasing demand and depleting groundwater, the borewells are required to be dug deeper than before.
Use Vinyl’s wide variety of pipes made to fulfil extensive water management needs. Its uPVC pressure and column pipes can be used up to 1100 feet deep for groundwater abstraction.


The Book of Chora Estate is located on the slopes of Mount Athos, in Kokkinohori, Kavala. Its creators, the oenologists Vassilis Tsaktsarlis and Vangelis Gerovassiliou, installed there in 1998 a vineyard of organic farming, which today has an area of 350 acres. Inside the vineyard is the modern winery, which produces the wines of the Estate.
His philosophy focuses on the production of fine wines, which bear the seal of the Pangaeus ecosystem and express its uniqueness. In order to achieve this goal, the cultivation in the vineyard and the vinification are done with special care, using the knowledge and experience and combining the tradition with the technology.
Distance from a hotel: 69 km
MANOLESAKIS ESTATE (ANDRIANI)
In 1989 Giorgos Manoleesakis began to cultivate in his own vineyards in Adrianis Drama, varieties that were perfectly cultivated in the microclimate of the region such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Assyrtiko, Ugni Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
The enrichment of knowledge on wine growing is continuous. The aim of this effort is the highest possible quality grape. Like any living organism, grapes need to take care of each time of the year. That is why we, while respecting the orders of nature, take care of the best of our vines to give us their best fruit, which is the reward of our effort. The constant search leads to new crops of varieties such as: Malagousia, Moschato of Alexandria and Agiorgitiko.
Distance from a hotel: 8 km
ESTATE KOSTA LAZARIDI
On a total surface area of 15,000 m². and includes a standard architectural winery, distillery, underground aging cellars and reception areas, our Kostas, a work of life by Costas Lazaridis, has written since 1992 his own page on the wine-making tradition of our country.
Distance from a hotel: 8 km
The vision of Jordan Michaelides is the production of quality wines that express their place of production and the art of the winemaker with absolute respect for nature and man. Starting with low yield per hectare, which for all varieties does not exceed 600 kg / acre, continuing with rapid transfer of the grapes to the winery and winning with the help of modern wine making equipment under controlled temperature conditions, we ensure the lowest possible loading of the raw material. Our goal is to protect the organoleptic characteristics of wine grape varieties and to produce unique wines in a limited number of bottles.
Distance from a hotel: 6.5 km
ESTATE NICO LAZARIDI
You can tour the premises of our two wineries, Château Nico Lazaridi, in the Drama and Macedonian Market in Platanotopos, Kavala, our vineyards, our production areas and the Magic Mountain Art Gallery. You can find information about us and our products, about the process of producing and winning our wines, admiring important works of art, finding our distributors and access to our two wineries. You will also find information about our company’s news and all kinds of events inside and outside the company.
Distance from a hotel: 11 km
Bakis Tsalkos is certainly better known than his creature, the Oenogenesis Estate. This is because the Oenologist of the estate, Nico Lazaridi, has been for many years, but also the creator of the so successful Magic Mountain.
He has studied oenology in France, and in recent years he has been working with his own winery, Domaine Oenogenesis, in his native country, Doxato of Drama
Distance from a hotel: 9 km
ESTATE ART OF WINE
The people of “Wine Craft” share a constant enthusiasm for the production of quality wines.
And this enthusiasm found his perfect expression in the creation of the vineyards and the winery of the estate at Mikrohori Dramas.
The passion for perfection led to the birth of highly loved wines …
Distance from a hotel: 6 km
The Symeonidis Winery consists of a group of well-established oenologists and experts with passion and worship for quality wine.
SIMEONIDIS Winery has its own vines, about 70 acres and many cooperating vineyards of almost all the region’s producers. With excellent raw material, with such a large number of vineyard farmers and loyal to the tradition of the place, wines are produced in a high quality.
Distance from a hotel: 49 km
Pavlidis Estate is located in Kokkinogia Drama, at the foot of Mount Falakro, very close to the cave of Aggitis and Falakro Ski Resort.
It was created in 1998 by Christoforos Pavlidis, who after a persistent search chose this area for the installation of the vineyard and its winery.
Distance from a hotel: 30 km
You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.


The secret to Okinawan’s longevity is often said to be its low-fat, vegetable-based diet. Drawing nutrients from a soil rich in calcium and other minerals, the local produce is brimming with health benefits. Here is a selection of the most common vegetables that have kept islanders healthy for centuries, and a few tips on how to enjoy them.
Goya: Bitter Melon
"Also bitter gourd or bitter squash. A staple of Okinawan cuisine, this vegetable is very little known in Western countries. It is often sauteed to preserve its vitamin C content. The flavonoids responsible for its bitterness are said to stimulate the appetite, which makes it especially popular during the summer.
Season: from April to July
How to eat: in stir-fries or tempura
Nabera: Luffa squash
Another summer vegetable. Though it can be used to make bath or kitchen scrubbing sponges when allowed to fully mature, this fruit is also valued for its subtle sweetness, and thick and slightly texture. To be edible, this fruit of a tropical vine of the cucumber family must be harvested at a young stage of development, about two weeks after blossoming.
Season: from April to October
How to eat: in a miso stew, stir-fries
Though papaya is mostly consumed as a fruit, in Okinawa, it is also harvested before maturation and used in dishes as a vegetable. It is often recommended to breast-feeding mothers as a way to boost their milk production.
Season: July to September
How to eat: in salads or cold dishes
Sometimes called Okinawan spinach.
The variety found in Okinawa has leaves that are green on the top and purple underneath.
It is rich in iron and caroten, and has been traditionally valued in Okinawa for its medicinal and anti-aging properties.
Season: from November to May
How to eat: in salads and cold vegetable sides
Shima rakkyō: Island scallions
Smaller in size than its Japanese counterpart, Okinawan scallions have a characteristic, pungent flavour not unlike that of raw onion. Their crisp texture and unique tanginess is addictive: they are the perfect beer (or awamori) snack.
Season: March to May
How to eat: pickled or in tempura
Also called "Water yam", it is cultivated in paddy fields. It is especially appreciated for its texture and pleasant sweetness. As a symbol of fertility, it is a key ingredient of the meals served at New Year's or Obon festival celebrations.
Season: December to April
How to eat: Deep-fried or simmered
Shima ninjin: Island carrot
Long and thin, this winter crop looks a little bit like burdock (another Japanese root vegetable), except for its yellow colour.
It is sometimes served to sick people in chimushinji, a soup with offals and red meat.
Season: October to March
How to eat: stir-fried or in a soup
Mōi: red squash
Big and watery, its high potassium contents is especially useful to help you go through the hottest days of summer. Its can be cooked in many different ways and included into a great many dishes thanks to its simple and subdued flavour.
Season: April to September
How to eat: pickeld, or in cold side dishes
You may not travel abroad with raw vegetables and seeds in your luggage. Sweet potatoes (including leaves and stems) and water spinach may not be brought to other Japanese prefectures unless in processed food.
▶ Buying veggies in Naha
The 60-year old Nōren Market was renovated in 2017. Here you can find a great deal of fresh produce, meat, fish, and deli.
Naha, Hikawa 2-3-1 (a 10-minute walk from Kokusai Street)
【The classic: Goya (bitter melon) stir-fry 】
| [ Ingredients ]
・1 bitter melon
・1 pack of hard tofu
| [ 作り方 ]
①Drain the tofu and wipe it dry.
②Cut your tofu into cubes
③Throw in the bitter melon slices. When soft, add salt and pepper to your liking.
④Beat the eggs and pour them over the tofu and bitter melon. Add a tablespoon of soy sauce and fry while stirring until the eggs are cooked.
【Island Scallion tenpura 】
| [ 材料 ]
・A bunch of Island scallions
・Wheat flour 100g
・1/2 of ice cold water
| [ 作り方 ]
①Peel the scallions, wash and dry.
②Mix the flour, egg, and cold water. Put the scallions into the batter.
③Deep-fry at 180°C (356 °F), until brown.
Add salt before serving.
Did you see anything you like?
We hope we gave you ideas of things to try while in Okinawa!


Malusia is dominated by 2 rivers, the Proper Scrumpy and the Strongbow which provide rich fertile soils and a climate ideal for growing apples and pears and producing the cider that we are famous for. The capital city is Zyder, a centre of enterprise and learning and home to the largest brewery in the country. To the South the twin river port cities of Weston and Calyx provide the main route for goods into and out of the Malusia. Both rivers are navigable as far north as Perry and Zyder making these rivers the main trade routes.
Malusia was opened up by 2 brothers, Perry and Pippin Weston who saw great opportunity when they viewed the huge natural orchards that covered the country. Apples made their fortune and dominate the agriculture in Weston, Calyx and Zyder. The territories of Pippin and Perry diversified and farmed pigs around the orchards and sheep on the Weston and Bulmer hills.
Malusians are peaceful folk but yearn for a more modern life. However Malusia is not currently rich in other resources and they will do what is necessary to improve their lives.


Sustainable viticulture. Mechanical harvesting. Use of sorting tables, Total destemming, Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats, Fermentation in Epoxy-resin-lined-cement vats, Temperature-controlled fermentation. Ageing in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, Light filtering, Traditional corks.
Ruby-red colour, intense, cherry-red highlights.
Complex, delicate, blackcurrant aromas, fruit jam aromas, raspberry aromas.
Straightforward, intense, soft tannin, silky tannin, good length.
Grilled fish, Red meats, White meats, Poultry, Aged cheeses
12° - 16°
From 2020 to 2023
No allergen detected


In the realm of gardening and agriculture, the advantages of organic fertilizer are increasingly recognized as vital for sustainable and healthy plant growth. Derived from natural sources, such as compost, manure, and bone meal, organic fertilizers offer a multitude of benefits for both the soil and plants. To delve deeper into these advantages, you can visit this detailed guide. Using organic fertilizers not only supports robust plant growth but also contributes positively to the environment.
Enhances soil structure and fertility
Organic fertilizers play a crucial role in enhancing soil structure. They add organic matter to the soil, which improves its capacity to retain water and nutrients. This results in a healthier soil ecosystem, promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Over time, the use of organic fertilizers leads to increased soil fertility, creating a rich and sustainable growing environment for plants. This enhanced soil structure also prevents soil erosion, ensuring long-term productivity. Unlike synthetic fertilizers that release nutrients rapidly, organic fertilizers break down slowly, providing a steady supply of nutrients to plants over a longer period. This slow-release mechanism prevents nutrient leaching and ensures that plants receive a continuous and balanced diet of essential nutrients. It helps in the gradual and consistent growth of plants, reducing the risk of over-fertilization and plant burn.
Environmentally friendly and safe
One of the most significant advantages of organic fertilizers is their environmental friendliness. They are biodegradable, non-toxic, and free from harmful chemicals that can leach into water bodies and cause pollution. This makes them a safe option for gardeners and farmers who are mindful of their ecological footprint. Moreover, using organic fertilizers reduces the dependence on chemical fertilizers, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem. Incorporating organic fertilizers into your gardening or farming practices is not just a choice; it’s a commitment to nurturing the earth responsibly. It’s about embracing a natural approach that benefits not only the current crop but also the future health of the soil and environment. So, turn to organic fertilizers and witness the transformation in your gardening endeavors and the environment.


This morning I had a bit of a hard time getting moving. We have had some chillier weather and my bones were a bit achy. Besides, snuggling under the quilt felt pretty good. I ended up making an appearance about an hour later than I planned. Quickly doing a few chores, I decided to take a quick walk in the garden before I started my work on the current quilt. e quilt story is for another day.)
Heading toward our large garden that is much too empty right now, I hesitated at a big flower bed. I had spent hours weeding, mulching and preparing this bed, and I saw too many green shoots coming up. Sigh. And sigh again. I had used something to control the weeds but it looks like they didn’t care to be controlled. I know me well, and if I don’t pull the new weeds right this minute, I will wait until there is a whole army of weeds. Heaving the biggest sigh of all, I bent to the task. This meant I would have to forgo my walk in the garden.
After ripping up the weeds and as many roots as I could see, I noticed the little flower box had a VERY healthy weed growing at the back edge. I vaguely remembered seeing it before when it was much smaller and I thought I would get it later. Well, later is now. Determined to get the weed and roots, I shifted the flower box to get a better grip on the weeds, and to my surprise a huge worm practically leaped out of the soil and started a fast journey in the other direction. He was big enough to make me want to go fishing but I knew that wasn’t on my agenda for today. Looking closer, I saw a multitude of slugs just sitting there, not moving. Looks like I am not the only slug-a-bed this morning. Then it hit me right between the eyes. Today I was a little too much like that slug and not enough like the worm. That is to say, I had wasted too much time barely moving, and therefore didn’t have time to do the things I had looked forward to doing. Bam!!! I wish I could retrieve my time wasted, but that isn’t in our power. Recently I had read a few scriptures dealing with this very thing. Later today, I plan to look up some of those words of God’s wisdom and maybe print off to put near my alarm. And tomorrow, I’ll try to be a bit more like the worm and get a move on to face the new day. After all, I want to take a walk in the garden.


Heather Baril is the food service director at the North Attleboro School District. We learned all about the new program she developed to help teachers integrate Harvest of the Month into the classroom.
Procurement: The North Attleboro school district uses a variety of distributors for produce, including Nasiff , Costa , and Farm Fresh Rhode Island . Heather particularly enjoys working with Farm Fresh Rhode Island because Announcements / News Harvest of the Month Profile: North Attleboro Public Schools they track both the farms and the items they supply. With this information, she promotes local foods in her Harvest of the Month activities by indicating where the produce came from.
Promotion & Implementation One of the most effective ways that Heather engages students with Harvest of the Month is through a classroom program she created called Harvest of the Month Boxes. At the start of the school year, she reached out teachers (and principals) by email and set up an online sign-up asking if they would like to receive a monthly Harvest Box, which includes, the Harvest of the Month featured product, trading cards, stickers, and activity recommendations. Teachers can pick them up in the front office of their school on the selected Harvest Delivery Day.
Heather emphasized the importance of providing different colors and varieties of each Harvest of the Month product, and keeping them whole for students to see what they look like when they are unprocessed. This also allows for teachers to facilitate activities that allow kids to observe it from the outside, cut it open to see the seeds, and taste test it. The boxes have been so successful at the Martin School that the kitchen manager will frequently have conversations with students at lunch about the Harvest of the Month. Another way that Heather has created excitement and interest around the monthly harvest is with Chef Days. She has partnered with Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High Schoo l in Franklin and hosts a chef once a month to do a demonstration with students. Managers order the produce, and Heather will pick a simple recipe that includes the local food and simultaneously follows school lunch requirements. Based on student feedback, she adds it to the lunch menu. With many new recipes, she’ll start introducing it gradually before adding it to every school’s menu. This year, Heather also was able to purchase and install Tower Gardens in several schools in her district. Students are learning how to grow greens in these gardens, which are installed indoors and which use grow lights.
Click Here to see Massachusetts farm to School Profile: Harvest of the Month Profile


The First 'Cash Cover Crop' Edges Closer to Commercialization
CoverCress Inc. announces $8 million in partner funding for new low carbon oilseed
(ST. LOUIS) – Midwestern farmers are one step closer to the prospect of growing a new cover crop that will generate a cash margin while supporting regenerative agriculture. CoverCress Inc. announced it has raised another $8 million to fund its final stage of crop development and scale up for its first commercial planting for the fall of 2022.
Bunge Ventures Ltd., the venture capital arm of the leading global agribusiness and food company Bunge (NYSE: BG), led the Series B-1 financing round. REG Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Renewable Energy Group, a leading U.S. producer of biodiesel and renewable diesel, was another new strategic investor.
The innovative company is developing a new winter oilseed crop under the CoverCressTM brand. It’s planted near corn harvest, and harvested immediately before soybean planting, enabling three full season crops in two seasons. Derived from field pennycress, a native winter annual, the low carbon intensity oil from the plant represents a new scalable source of material for producing fuels like renewable diesel, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
“The game changer is that unlike other cover crops, the CoverCress seed has the potential to deliver a cash profit margin for the farmer,” said CoverCress Chief Operating Officer Mike DeCamp. “This new round of funding reflects the downstream demand we anticipate for CoverCress oil and meal.”
Scientists used plant breeding to increase yield and accelerate maturity, as well as advanced gene editing tools to improve the oil and meal quality. Billed as the “cash cover crop,” the CoverCress crop generates revenue as animal feed, either as a whole grain feed ingredient, or when processed, as a high-protein meal in addition to the low carbon intensity oil.
The plant offers the environmental benefits of other winter cover crops, grown during the offseason on existing corn and soybean farmland. Cover crops are known to sequester additional soil carbon, as well as reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
“We are pleased to invest in this business that provides farmers with a tremendous opportunity to address global climate challenges by growing new crops that help lower carbon emissions,” said Bunge Ventures Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director Nanda Kumar Puthucode. “The CoverCress crop is an exciting new regenerative non-GMO cover crop that offers many potential applications as fuel, feed and food.”
Combined with an extended commitment of funding from other partners, including Bayer, this new round of funding gives the company buy-in from the entire supply chain, DeCamp said. He added that it will give the company enough runway to deliver on its plan to begin commercial production by fall of 2022.
“Bio-based diesel is making a real impact by reducing carbon emissions today,” said Chevron Renewable Energy Group President and CEO Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner. "Developing additional sources of feedstock like CoverCress oil will enable us to grow our impact well into the future and double down on the positive impacts we can have on the environment, as the CoverCress crop also helps to prevent nutrient loss and increases soil carbon sequestration.”
About CoverCress Inc.
CoverCress Inc. is an innovative startup company developing a new winter oilseed crop under the CoverCress brand. Founded in 2013, the company is converting the native winter annual, field pennycress, using plant breeding to improve yield and maturity combined with advanced gene editing tools to improve fiber and oil composition. As the “Cash Cover Crop,” CoverCress seed allows corn and soybean farmers to add a new crop into their rotation on existing land during winter, while offering the environmental benefits of a cover crop, including improved soil health and carbon sequestration. It generates farm revenue as a whole grain feed ingredient, or when processed, as a low carbon intensity oil for renewable fuel production, and as a high-protein meal. The St. Louis-based company plans a commercial launch in 2022, with the goal of growing to millions of acres across the lower Midwest. Learn more at CoverCress.com.
# # #
Jenna Higgins Rose
(314) 691 9152


Well it's strawberry season here...I love fresh strawberries. Wednesday afternoon Jocelyne my mom and I went strawberry picking. It was a beautiful afternoon weather wise, not too hot. There were lots of strawberries so the picking was easy.
Jocelyne and my mom picking while I take a camera break :-)
Mom getting a ride back to the strawberry stand with all our berries.
This morning Jocelyne and I made eight jars of jam and we froze the rest of the berries to be used later.