Plants help stabilise the river bank, filter excess nutrients, and reduce water temperature. This in turn helps to prevent algal growth and increases oxygen in the water, crucial to the river’s aquatic life.
Our native plant nursery is a community resource providing advice, practical help and subsidised plants so that more people can join in the effort to replant and regenerate Te Wairoa.
Situated behind the Clevedon Co-op on the main Clevedon-Papakura Road, the nursery is open to the public on Friday mornings 9am till 12 noon. Pop in for advice or to volunteer. At the beginning of the planting season we invite residents to contact us to request buying plants for your own local projects.
Each year we grow over 3,000 plants from eco-sourced seed for restorative planting in Te Wairoa. Our aim is to have all our plants eco-sourced by the 2022 planting season.
Our plants are hardy and will grow well in local conditions. Most of the plants that we stock are first-stage coloniser species which provide fast coverage beside waterways and over steep land.
We recommend planting in autumn, winter and early spring when rainfall is more reliable and the ground is moist.
We organise workshops throughout the year to teach practical skills that will equip you to grow plants from seed. We can provide you with information on setting up your own home nursery and we may be able to help with other information to help your planting ambitions. Just ask.
We welcome volunteers. Come along and have a chat while helping us care for our native plants. Tasks include: propagating, potting, watering, weeding and tidying the nursery. Gain practical experience and learn new skills while making a positive contribution to Te Wairoa.
Our nursery also welcomes visits from local school groups throughout the year. Our aim is to engage students in the natural world through fun hands-on activities and discussion on environmental issues.
Get in touch to find out more about these free sessions.
For more information, email us on email@example.com
Find us behind the Clevedon Co-op at 33 Clevedon-Papakura Road.
Photos: Jodie Little, Stephen Nicholson, Tony Thompson, Brendan Vallings
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by Jill Boekenoogen,
ABC’s Administrative Assistant
Not many of you are aware that I am a member of the Pasadena Community Garden, which means I have a 4-by-12- foot raised bed in which to grow vegetables. Anyone who has ever cut a fresh ear of corn and immediately cooked and consumed it, knows the value of freshly grown vegetables and fruits.
Much to the amazement of the farmers’ daughters in our ABC midst, I also enjoy preserving and pickling my produce. They can’t see the need of obtaining fresh cucumbers, creating the pickling brine and then canning the outcome. Isn’t it just easier to buy a jar from the supermarket? Well, there is a big difference to my taste buds.
My little plot in the community garden is not big enough to deal with vining plants which can take over a garden so I decided to plant some squash and my pickling cucumbers in the church’s dirt. I thought the railing next to the front steps would provide the support needed for the cucumber vines.
I planted some seeds in containers with the idea of later transplanting them to the church plot. I used several seeds from the same packet, planted them in the same soil mix, used the same type of pot, and put the seeds in the soil on the same day. I kept them on my front porch until I transplanted them in their disposable pots into ABC soil on the same day, four weeks ago. In other words these seeds each had the “cucumber DNA” to become a great plant.
That’s when something interesting happened. Plant number one took off. I believe it even grew overnight; putting on new leaves and branching out. I swear it seemed to grow while I was in worship service one Sunday. It has blossoms on it, along with large leaves, and I have begun trying to train it up the railings. It even has tiny cucumbers beginning to show. I don’t have any idea why this plant is flourishing in its corner.
Two of the other plants have added a few leaves and are making an effort. I am only hoping that these two are taking their time putting down deep roots to protect the plant when the heat comes. They are showing growth, but not at the rate of plant number one.
Plant number four, to me, is the most interesting. The day after I transplanted the cucumbers, I noticed that something had decided to have its meal at this little plant’s expense. Overnight, almost all of its leaves were eaten away, all but stumps attached to the stems. Two Sundays ago someone commented that it appeared the plant was dead. But the plant hung in there; now it has three new leaves.
Now here comes the Christian parable: We may be surprised by the fast growth of many Christians. They seem to blossom and grow almost before our eyes. Their blooms form fruit and we are glad.
I’ve often felt like plants numbers two and three. I slowly, ploddingly put out new branches. Nothing quick, just steady new life slowly showing around my roots and stem. I just hope my roots are deep enough in the Word of God, the life of service, fellowship, worship, and prayer, that when the heat and pressure comes, I can withstand them.
Unfortunately, I have also known some Christians who seem to be constantly under attack, like my plant number four. They are hit hard by abusive or toxic relationships, financial ruination, debilitating medical diagnoses or mental illness. There seems to be little left to sustain health; they seem to be barely surviving. But there is enough “Christian DNA” root and stem there to support new growth, even if there’s only one leaf now. I have witnessed many such cases.
Hopefully, I will be able to pick fruit from all my cucumber plants before the end of summer. I believe that the same will be true in my Christian parable, that God will harvest fruit in each of our lives. I’d like to point out to all you plants, whether number one, two, three or four, that we all have the same DNA given by the Holy Spirit. We can be happy when someone seems to rush ahead of us and bloom in ways we can only marvel at. Those of us who experience mostly slow, steady growth can produce strong stems and roots, and that too is reason for rejoicing. Those of you who feel like you have received one near-fatal attack after another — I’d like to remind you that you are surrounded by people who share your Christian DNA and have noticed and been encouraged by your small steps of triumphant growth. Hang in there!


With 80% of food sales going through 5 major retailers you could be forgiven for thinking that this oligopoly is irreversible, however there has been a recent, dramatic rise in the popularity of farmers markets with UK consumers seemingly showing a keen interest in sourcing and buying their food directly from producers.
Farmdrop, a click and collect farmers market, was founded in 2012 with the aim of providing a space where people who make or grow food can sell it direct. One of the biggest problems faced by farmers in the UK is that by selling their produce to major retailers they are making significantly lower profit than if they were to sell it directly. One of the co-founders Ben Pugh reaffirms this by stating that Farmdrop allows for suppliers to keep ‘80% of the retail price of their goods, rather than the 50% they might make through traditional retailers’.
Farmdrop have turned to equity Crowdfunding in a bid to expand their number of ‘hubs’ across the UK from 5 to 60 with an end goal of 400 by 2017. They reached their £400,000 target within just eight days and have extended the campaign, it has currently raised £473,250 with 42 days left.
In what has been one of the most successful Crowdfunding campaigns in the UK to date it appears the Crowd are backing this innovative new approach to buying and selling food.


April 21, 2008
State Agriculture Director Announces Retirement
Governor Christine Gregoire announced this morning that Valoria Loveland, Director of the state Department of Agriculture is retiring. Loveland, a former state senator and Franklin County Treasurer, has served as agriculture director under both Governor Gary Locke and Governor Gregoire.
In a prepared statement, Gregoire praised Loveland for expanding the markets for Washington state agricultural products. Today, agriculture exports are at record highs.
Loveland was elected to the state Senate in 1992 and became caucus chair in her second term. In 1999, she assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Ways and Means committee where she presided for two sessions. She was defeated for re-election in 2000 by Mike Hewitt who is currently the Senate Republican leader.
Loveland’s retirement is effective May 5.


Charge Account with credit approval
Frequently Asked Mulch Questions:
Why use mulch?
Mulch helps retain moisture for the plants and acts as erosion control during heavy rains. It also provides a natural weed barrier that doesn’t allow sunlight in. A mulch ground cover keeps temperatures in the soil moderate during the heat of summer and offers frost protection for plants in winter, while also providing material to enrich the soil.
Are dyed mulches okay to use?
Yes, the mulch is colored with non-toxic, iron, oxide-based dyes that are found naturally in the earth’s surface. It is safe for children, plants and animals. However, under wet conditions, the mulch could leave a slight stain on concrete driveways, so leave a tarp for the mulch to be dumped on just to be safe.
How do I set up a delivery?
The best way is to call us with a one- or two-day notice. Weekends are usually busy, so having your delivery made on a weekday assures that you’ll be ready for your weekend project. During the summer, we deliver Monday through Saturday and can accommodate special requests.
Do I need to be home for my delivery?
No, simply tell us where to dump the material when you call in your order or place a tarp or bucket in the area you like. You may leave a check on the door for payment or we accept MasterCard and Visa.
Can you always deliver right where I specify?
We will place the material as close as possible to your preferred location unless overhead wires, overhanging buildings, tree branches, tight alleyways or parked cars prevent this. For the convenience and safety for both parties, we prefer to make deliveries to your driveway as we are not responsible for incidental property damage or towing of our equipment if the delivery spot is not the driveway.
When and how much mulch should I use?
Generally, the best time to mulch is in the spring to get a good weed barrier down. A 2”-3” top dressing is recommended but a 3”-4” layer is necessary for new areas to aid in moisture retention. We recommend a light mulching in the spring and another light mulching in the fall to protect perennials for the winter. Below is a chart to help determine the amount needed. Provide us with your measurements and we will help your determine how much is needed.
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Stone Creek Haven
3230 Eiler Rd.
De Pere, WI 54115
Located between Greenleaf and De Pere where Hwy 57 and Hwy ZZ meet
May 1st thru Labor Day
Mon-Wed, Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thurs, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Sat, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
*All hours are weather permitting
Labor Day through May 1st all sales are by appointment


100% Good Quality
Multi functional Oil extraction Machine for extract oil from Peanuts, Coconut, Sesame, Soybean, Walnuts, Sunflowers seeds, Vegetable seeds, Flax seeds, Almond, Mustard seeds and so on…
Machine Motor is industry motor that it can continue working for more than 4 to 5 hours. We suggest it works 4 to 5 hours and take a rest for about 1 hour. That will be good for machine.
Oil extraction is depends on the oil seeds.
Easy to operate, clean, move and store.


In cannabis cultivation, everything affects pH, and everything affects pH. Throughout plant development, the pH balance is constantly adjusted to determine how it will respond to different stimuli.
Despite its obscurity, it is critical to have a firm handle on soil pH to cultivate healthy cannabis plants. Weed cultivation and soil pH and cannabis ph chart are the subjects of this post.
What is the significance of pH in cannabis cultivation?
Let’s have a quick refresher on the meaning of pH. Acidic or alkaline environments may have a considerable effect on the growth and health of your plants.
Fertilizer is essential for the growth of all plants. It needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but also calcium, magnesium, and iron, as well as other micronutrients. A lack of essential minerals puts plants at risk for nutritional deficiency and other health problems.
When grown on soil, plants like marijuana can only absorb nutrients from a specified pH levels range. Even though nutrients are readily available, the plant is unable to absorb them due to a pH imbalance. This is known as “nutrient lockup.”
If you want to grow cannabis, you need an acidic environment, like the ones where cannabis thrives in the wild. Depending on the method used to cultivate them, cannabis plants thrive in a particular pH range. Hydroponic cannabis requires a lower pH than soil-grown cannabis.
Cannabis ph chart: Maintaining a proper pH level has several benefits for your health
The clear benefits of pH management and maintenance in the garden are healthy plants that produce more fruit and vegetables. Whether people fertilize their plants, they’ll know if the money and time they put into it were worth it. By checking the pH of the growing medium regularly, people can be sure that the ph of plants are absorbing all of the nutrients they provide them. It’s easier to avoid nutrient shortages later in the growing cycle if a person catches the water pH abnormalities early.
Are there any correlations between cannabis growth and pH?
The pH of the selected growing medium has a considerable effect on the cannabis plant’s health, development, and quality.
There is no doubt that marijuana plants need diverse nutrients to thrive. Soil nutrients such as N, P, and K, which are essential for plant development, must be available in plenty. Macronutrients like carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are absorbed by the body when people enjoy air and water, which are also good for them. An additional “macronutrient” is needed to keep the complex biochemistry of the cannabis plant running well. Boron, calcium, iron, manganese, and copper are all essential micronutrients for photosynthesis.
Cannabis ph chart: Consuming tiny amounts of micronutrients is essential
Consuming tiny amounts of micronutrients is essential. Certain micronutrients are required for plants to be healthy, both in the short and long term. The development of high-quality cannabis is impossible without them. Why is marijuana plant pH so important? If the soil pH is too high or too low for cannabis, several metabolic pathways necessary to absorb nutrients and minerals will not work. To put it another way, it’s like starving oneself. Cannabis plants are unable to absorb ph scale and use nutrients in the soil because the pH is too high.
Recognize variations in the pH of cannabis
It’s better to be sure that cannabis plants are in the best possible conditions to have both a high-quality and a large-volume harvest. As a consequence, hardworking cannabis producers strive to maintain the correct pH level in their soil. The pH of the soil is a critical consideration for marijuana growers. So, they can determine whether the pH of the cannabis they’re testing is safe. As a result, there is a strong probability that the gardener will discover a pH shift early on.
When the pH of the water and plant fluctuates, the biochemistry of the cannabis plant is unable to use vital nutrients for the growth and development of the buds. Consequently, it seems to a cannabis producer that his or her plant isn’t putting out as much fruit as it formerly did. The plant may show signs of discoloration. Growth and bud quality may be lacking.
Cannabis ph chart:This range of pH is ideal for the growth of cannabis plants
The ideal pH range for soil-based cannabis cultivation is between 6.0 and 7. The fertilizer provider may sometimes supply a cannabis adjust the ph chart. At the right pH level, it shows which minerals and nutrients are most important and how best to get them. The pH varies from 5.56 to 5.8 when growing cannabis hydroponically or in any other soilless manner.
Most farmers don’t care about the exact pH of their soil. In addition to ensuring a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, it is critical to monitor the quality of the soil and other environmental factors like lighting. With this “self-buffering” soil, it can endure some level of stress and flexibility. Unlike hydroponic gardeners, people don’t have to worry about the pH of their local water supply (and the final feeding solution) as much. Soil can only repair itself to a certain extent.
When it comes to cannabis pH, organic producers may have a little more leeway. While using concentrated liquid fertilizers to cultivate cannabis in soil is perfectly acceptable, many people prefer a more natural approach.
Is there a way to detect the soil’s pH for cannabis plants?
It is possible to measure the pH of the soil, but is this a practical option? An inexpensive and valuable investment is a simple pH sensor. Submerge the probe in some moist soil to get the pH value. Another alternative is to use pH paper strips. Put a small amount of dirt in a glass of water and stir it around. You can find out the pH of your water by passing it through a coffee filter and then a paper pH strip.
The biggest cannabis pH meter is a waste of money. Simple, low-cost models are sufficient. If you want to test the performance and accuracy of your pH meter, you need to acquire buffered solutions (e.g. 4.0 and 7.0). pH meters should be replaced if they lose accuracy when tested using reference solutions.


Carol and I were asked to give a British perspective to Thanksgiving Day! Carol was able to share some wonderful stories including some about a succession of American visitors to Cambridge (where we were pastor and wife) who invited us for 13 consecutive years to share their Thanksgiving Day in the UK. Missing their own families they included us and, on one memorable occasion, we had three Thanksgiving Day meals on ONE day because three families insisted we celebrate with them. Actually, you can have too much of a good thing!
I also reflected on harvest festival traditions in England. As a six-year old, living in a rural village in Oxfordshire, I shall never forget the first time I saw harvesting in the cornfield at the bottom of our garden. Before the advent of combine harvesters, sycthes were swinging and others were binding sheaves together in stooks like wigwams across the field. Around the field-edge children played as field mice scurried by.
Yet, more memorable still, was the Sunday morning in the little stone chapel (where my father was pastor). The church had turned into the harvest field. Sheaves of corn wrapped around the ends of the wooden pews and shrouded the pulpit. At the center was some huge plaited corn and a large flat bread in the shape of a corn sheaf. From every nook and cranny poked brightly colored apples, pears, plums, tomatoes and the rest. Arranged neatly were vegetables like marrows, cabbages and cauliflowers. Bunches of carrots hung from ledges. The smell was intoxicating. We sang hymns ever since etched in my sonic culture: 'Come ye thankful people come', 'We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land', 'All things bright and beautiful' and 'Now thank we all our God'. Like Christmas carols freighted with seasonal memories.
How close we were to the land and how vital harvest was to our food cycle. And how important to thank God for his faithfulness in creation. "The land will yield its harvest and God, our God, will bless us" (Ps. 67:6); "Faithfulness spring forth from the earth and righteousess looks down from heaven. THe Lord indeed will give what is good and our land will yield its harvest" (Ps 85: 11,12)'.
In agricultural England harvest celebrations have long roots. Pre-Christian celebrations involved riotous feasting at "Harvest Homes" when entire villages let rip as the harvest was gathered with a Queen of the Harvest chosen to lead the merrymaking. We can be sure the Pilgrim Father's disapproved 100% of such behavior. After all, they refused to allow Christmas to be celebrated as a holiday. Yet within the Christian tradition harvest thanks became well-established. By the sixteenth century Christians were celebrating "Lammas" - loaf mass- as the first corn was made into bread and used for communion.
Dare we let our imaginations run about the Pilgrim Fathers and how they responded to their harvests in 1621 and 1623? Just one more post is required!


The application of our product against crown rot in plantain and banana is the ultimate solution against the inconveniences this problem causes.
The product must be applied by dipping the crown in a solution containing SANI CR and water in equal parts, always after the last cut to be made to the bunch.
With the application of SANI CR we lengthen the shelf life of plantain and banana, stopping the rot, also achieving a better appearance and making the fruit last longer in the shelves.
Compared to current treatments, SANI CR greatly improves the results and allows for longer shipping.
SANI CR may be used together with other drencher treatments (always refer to our technical office)
With our treatments, based off GRAS substances, no toxic waste is generated, thus deeming it unnecessary to manage them before dumping them back into the main water network.
We help take care of the environment, since we work only with natural products, that won’t harm it in any way whatsoever.
FORTIFYING & FUNGISTATIC product, which helps fight crown rot in plantain and banana


Get ready for autumn camp by doing some gardening!
Since its creation, the Zen temple of Caroux has had a vegetable garden.
It was first set up by Paul, a great nature lover, then taken over by myself, the current guardian of the temple, together with various disciples of the Kosen Sangha.
Every year, the vegetable garden brings us more and more organic vegetables and herbs to prepare meals here in the temple.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or a total beginner, we invite you to participate in the Autumn Garden Samu which will take place from October 28th to November 1st.
This stay is an opportunity to introduce yourself into the practice of zazen, the meditation of the Buddhas or to come and practice together with others, for those who already know it.
Ingrid Gyu JI, head of the temple
Registration and information:
16€/day with 4 hours samu (gardening, cooking, or other manual work)
Free with 6 hours of samu


Yesterday, my parents and I went to visit and explore the Apple Hill Area, where there are an abundance of apple orchards and farms, and also pumpkin patches and wineries. It was about a 2 hour drive, but everything we got to eat and each orchard and farm we went to offered a different experience that was enjoyable and memorable.
Our first stop was Rainbow Orchards, home of the apple cider doughnut. These doughnuts are AMAZING. They’re coated in sugar and are delicious. Definitely worth the wait in line.
In addition to the doughnuts, we also bought fresh pressed apple cider and two varieties of apples, the Rome Beauty and Pink Lady. Can’t wait to bite into one! I also purchased an heirloom pumpkin for a Halloween decoration (apparently you can roast and eat them as well). For now, it’s going to sit on the porch so trick or treaters to look at.
After Rainbow, we headed to Larsen’s, just a bit farther down the road. They’re known for their apple pies, so we bought one and it’s now in our freezer waiting for Thanksgiving to arrive. They had a family apple farm museum with all kinds of artifacts, and of course, the apple farm where there were boxes upon boxes of apples to choose from. After sampling a couple of apples, we ended up picking out the Arkansas Black variety. They have a very dark red color to them, almost like a plum.
We then traveled to Jack Russell’s Farm, which in addition to brewing hard cider, has a beer brewery, a winery, and a meadery (mead is a fermented honey drink). We did tastings of both beer and hard cider. My personal favorites were the pumpkin spice and apple ales, and the blackberry hard cider.
Our last apple orchard/pumpkin patch stop (we also stopped at a winery at the end) was O’Hallorans. They had a beautiful apple orchard you could walk around, and a gigantic pumpkin patch. Of course, I had to take a photo with the pumpkin patch sign above my head and pumpkins littering the ground behind.
Exploring Apple Hill was a great experience and a perfect weekend/Sunday activity. It made for a fantastic day in my happy and healthy adventure, and hopefully my experience (or yours, if you get out to an apple orchard and/or pumpkin patch!) makes your adventure happy and healthy too. 🙂 ❤


Jackson, WY- The recent uptick in awareness of nourishing our bodies with fruits and vegetables has been accompanied by an increase in awareness of where these fruits and vegetables are coming from. There’s a lot of talk about why eating locally is the way to go, ranging anywhere from financial to health benefits.
Throughout the winter season, like most places that have cold months, most of the fruits and vegetables are shipped in from warmer places such as Florida, California and Mexico. The town of Jackson, WY started a project called the Vertical Harvest, a startup greenhouse that will continue to grow vegetables locally in an indoor vertical farm where the elements can be controlled. The three-story greenhouse hopes to harvest more than 100,000 pounds of locally grown vegetables every year. Not only will this serve as a financial benefit to the town, but it also intends to serve as a way to bring the community together. The project will sponsor education initiatives on the ground floor of the greenhouse in an effort to bring more awareness to what we are eating and where it’s coming from.
Why does this matter?
Most of what is talked about in healthcare is a way to cure a condition or fix an issue. In other words, action is taken after results or diagnoses have been revealed to the patient. Being more proactive and taking action through preventative measures, like educating a community on healthy living and the best ways to take care of yourself can solve so many of these heath issues before they even occur. Simply educating and engaging the community can prevent diseases like Type II Diabetes that are becoming more detrimental everyday. Creating a local greenhouse where the community can actively participate could be a very beneficial trend for the healthcare education industry.


UNPILLED | PODCAST
UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN CONNECTION TO FOOD & ANCESTRAL DIETS W/ KASHIF KHAN - S1E21
MARCH 28, 2022
In Episode 21 of The Unpilled Podcast, Kashif once again goes one-on-one answering your questions, with the focus being on Food and Diet. Topics discussed include the origins of farming, modern agriculture, how food affects behaviour, the development of bread, rice then vs now, a discussion on poultry, hunger coping mechanisms, the concept of satiety and gene MC4R, solutions for satisfaction, the importance of the microbiome, the gene FUT2 and gut health, and if fruit is good or bad.


|Monday||8:00 am - 6:00 pm|
|Tuesday||8:00 am - 6:00 pm|
|Wednesday||8:00 am - 6:00 pm|
|Thursday||8:00 am - 6:00 pm|
|Friday||8:00 am - 6:00 pm|
|Saturday||9:00AM - 5:00PM|
FARM KING ROTARY CUTTERS ARE MADE TO CLEAR THOSE ROUGH AREAS WHERE STONES, TREE STUMPS AND DEBRIS ARE HIDDEN BY WEEDS.
These rotary cutters, available in two series, easily clear heavy weeds and thick rough and require minimal maintenance. Series I, with a 3-point hitch, is available in 48" or 60" widths. Series II is available in widths of 60", 72" and 84". Two available options include a trailing kit with hydraulic lift or a 3-point hitch.
A 24" stump-jumper is mounted above the blades to the gearbox. Standard on Series II, the stump-jumper allows the blade assembly to glide over uneven terrain.
|Model 410||48" (1.2 m) cutting width, 3-pt hitch Cat. I For tractors 20 - 45 hp|
|Model 510||60" (1.5 m) cutting width, 3-pt hitch Cat. I For tractors 25 - 55 hp|
|Model 510||60" (1.5 m) cutting width, 3-pt hitch Cat. I For tractors 25 - 65 hp|
|Model 620||72" (1.8 m) cutting width, 3-pt hitch Cat. II For tractors 35 - 65 hp|
|Model 720||84" (2.1 m) cutting width, 3-pt hitch Cat. II For tractors 45 - 75 hp|


The Changing of the Seasons: A Summary of Fall in Seeds
The small guest cottage behind the Fleming house, graciously lent to BR, is bursting at the seams with seeds from the past season. This facility, affectionately referred to as the BR Seed Lab, is a center both to facilitate the quiet diligence of seed cleaners who find their center every Monday morning with tweezers, sieves, and sandpaper, and for the most valuable collection of native seeds in the Madrean Archipelago: The BR Seed Collection.
The BR Seed Collection – How it All Began
Three years ago, in the nascent stages of Borderlands Restoration L3C, restoration practitioners came up with a plan to meet the market need for locally sourced plant materials for restoration. Partnering with agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service injected funding for facilities and labor for propagation and seed collection. Since then, our database has grown to include over 600 collections of seeds from native plants, primarily in the Madrean Archipelago, but in some cases ranging as far as West Texas. Diligent data collection is what sets the BR Seed Collection apart – over 20 different data points are collected for each accession of seeds, including GPS information, soil type, geology, and many more. These data points help inform restoration practitioners in choosing the right plant materials for a restoration site – a crucial part of the restoration process.
Expansion in Seed Collaborations: Highlights from Fall 2015
This past fall saw a incredible increase in the seed collection efforts for our team. We welcomed another seed collector to our staff – Allegra Mount, who came with valuable experience as a seed collector for the BLM in Safford, AZ – and have expanded our internship program to include unpaid botanically-focused internships in Seed Collection and Plant Propagation. Our fantastic interns Perin and Alex joined us throughout the fall to participate in the whole process, from collection to cleaning, to propagation, and finally planting.
With the release of the National Seed Strategy earlier this year, every land manager’s minds are on the what, how, and why of seeds for restoration. We saw a huge boost in activity as our seed collectors were sent across the Madrean Archipelago and beyond, developing relationships as the official seed collectors for different federal partners. This included new partnerships for collection and propagation in National Parks in the region, including Tumacacori National Historical Park, Saguaro National Park, and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Park.
BR Seed Collectors were featured in at least 8 different workshops with non-profit partners. We worked with Gila Watershed Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, and Sky Island Alliance to facilitate for groups of volunteer seed collectors. We engaged with over 60 volunteers who put in hundreds of hours of work for these fantastic non-profits!
As a cornerstone of the Borderlands Restoration foundation, Kate Tirion’s Deep Dirt Farm Institute led a tour and seed-focused workshop at her permaculture farm in Patagonia, AZ. The farm’s seed increase efforts are ramping up, with multiple plots of Asclepias spp.’s (Milkweed) germinated for future seed production.
Collaboration with the UofA Extension and Make Way for Monarchs brought professionals to the BR Nursery for a workshop in propagation of Asclepias spp. (Milkweed). They talked about the need to strengthen “seed supply chains” for native species to encourage Monarch population recovery. The resulting report celebrated BR as leaders in Asclepias propagation.
Looking Ahead: What to expect in 2016!
Burgeoning partnerships with other native plant nurseries in the region, expansion of the MAPP Center, hosting of our incredible information database in “the cloud”, pollinator garden workshops across Southern Arizona, production of over 100,000 plants…we have lots to look forward to in 2016! With more opportunities than ever for you to get involved, make sure you follow us on Facebook and sign up for our email list to stay informed!


Rosta rubber insert helps optimize agricultural machine for manufacturing companyMay 3, 2019 REDWIRE is news you can use from leading suppliers. Powered by FRASERS.
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Making a difference: that is what Rosta elements have done for businesses worldwide for more than 75 years. This includes three decades in Canada, through Rosta Inc. The company has a long track record of success stories. One took place in Pertuis, France several years ago, when Rosta custom-designed a high-quality rubber insert for a multifunctional machine being manufactured for agricultural applications.
Maximum productivity with efficiency
Founded in 1973, PELLENC SAS produces machines and tools that facilitate labour and boost productivity for the agriculture industry, as well as for green spaces and urban communities. The company built a piece of equipment, the PELLENC OPTIMUM, capable of conducting pre-pruning, spreading, leaf stripping, spraying, and harvesting work. When the company optimized the yield, the PUR inserts in the machine failed, leading to numerous issues. Increasing amplitude and vibration caused the inserts to disintegrate too quickly. PELLENC had to replace all of these inserts.
The project was urgent, as it was the middle of the harvesting season. For the right solution as soon as possible, PELLENC put its trust in Rosta.
The customer confronted the Rosta team with two challenges. The team had to find a reliable and durable solution, and it had to present that solution quickly, as PELLENC was planning to hold a test campaign in a few weeks. Rosta immediately produced several different rubber mixtures, three of which were picked for the tests. Of these three proposed rubber mixtures, one withstood the harsh test conditions that were provided in France, Spain, and Argentina.
The rubber insert proposed by Rosta, the Rubmix, had a rubber quality based on a high contact of natural rubber (caoutchouc). It offered good shape memory, small settling factors (cold flow), high mechanical load capacities, and moderate aging behaviour.
PELLENC adopted the rubber insert and saw immediate benefits: no efficiency loss over the machine’s lifespan; no failure during harvest; high productivity; and higher yield.
“Rosta has provided us with the perfect solution to eliminate all previous problems,” said PELLENC studies engineer Alexandre Rogier, “and to improve the productivity of every plant insatiably.”
For more information, contact Rosta.


On the slopes of the hills from the Barséquannais to the Barsuraubois, the culture of the vine is more than a thousand years old tradition.
It's more than 2000 years ago, the Gauls had adapted this southern culture on the sunniest slopes of the Upper Seine valley.
The wines, with subtle flavors, had already acquired at that time such a reputation that the Romans felt obliged to put quotas on them.
In the 1100's, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, founder of the great Cistercian order, gave back to our vineyard notoriety as the "Vin de France" ». And it was the monks of the abbey of Mores in 1152 that created the vineyard of Celles sur Ource.
In the twelfth century, the Champagne Fairs that took place in Troyes, historic capital of Champagne, allowed local wines to get known far beyond the boundaries of the Kingdom of France.
A monk, Dom Perignon, developed the technique of blending different crus, which remains today the specificity of champagne.
Later, the use of the glass bottle and cork allowed the creation of a sparkling wine.
In the early eighteenth century, the first champagne houses offered the wine of kings to monarchs and the rich throughout Europe.
Voltaire wrote: ".The effervescence of this fresh wine reveals the true brilliance of the French people. »
Wars, phylloxera and arbitrary administrative decisions in the early twentieth century could not beat the tenacity of the champagne growers. And in the heart of the Côte des Bar, Celles sur Ource, a small village of 500 inhabitants, with about 40 winemakers who have chosen to remain independent by making their champagne on the property like their ancestors.
From pruning in spring up to the moment where you bring a glass to your lips, champagne is the fruit of a succession of work and maintenance, that takes place over a whole year.
Each of these operations determine the final quality of champagne, which is not offered for sale until after several years in the cellar.
Here are some photos of the different steps in the making of our champagnes :
In autumn, the cycle of the vine starts after the leaves fall. The vine has stored reserves and is then dormant.We take advantage of this to work the land.
We do earthing up to protect the young vines from frost and alternate screefing and ploughing to aerate and activate the microbiological life of our soils.
In winter, while the snow and cold change our rhythm, we slowly start to prune the vines.
Single Guyot , Royat Cordon system or Chablis system are different techniques that we use to shape our vines and make them productive.
80 % - Guyot
20 % - Chablis & Royat Cordon systems
Once the vine is pruned, the shoots that will bear the fruits are attached, so that the shoots of new branches are aired and well directed towards the sun.
In spring, the temperature warms and the vine comes out of dormancy. The vegetation starts to grow and is thus sensitive to spring frosts. When they occur, we protect our vines with a system of water spraying.
The bud is thus frozen and it's temperature maintained at 0°C, even if at the exterior it is minus
When the young branches grow, we remove the surplus buds and branches to meet our quality criteria. This operation is called desuckering and epamprage
Summer arrives, the vine is in a constant stage of growth.
The more the vine grows, we take off the palissage wire and the branches are trellised and separated in the direction of the sky.This helps us to have healthy grapes that will ripen.
Finally, we cut the surplus shoots both in hight and width so as the leaves and the grapes can best profit from the sun and the wind
Whilst awaiting the harvest we monitor the possible evolution of fungal diseases (downy mildew - mildew …) and apply if necessary some treatments according to the strict procedures of sustainable viticulture, in corelation with the information from our weather stations and our own observations.
And the cycle of the seasons closes. Autumn returns and it's time for the harvest.
After several controls for ripeness , analysis and tasting of the grapes, we decide on the date for picking them. The grapes must have an optimal ripeness and a balance in the mouth typical of the criteria of our house.
Picking is always done by hand so as to select the best grapes that are taken whole to the press.
As soon as the grapes arrive at our presses, they are pressed as quickly as possible so as to extract the best of the pulp and keep all the aromatic freshness.
Each must (juice) according to the parcel and the variety is placed in different tanks. This is specific vinification.
4000 kg of grapes gives us 2550 L of wine in AOC CHAMPAGNE
The rest of the juice is used for other products, such as the distilling of eaux de vie, vinegar…
The 2550L is divided into 2 :
-the « cuvee » that represents the first 2050 litres extracted, has the most finesse and elegance.
-the « tailles » is the following 500 litres , has the most richness and consistency.
This distinction will serve us to refine our blendings during the tastings in spring.
Once the musts have been prepared and identified in the cellar, the must will undergo cold settling during a night.
In the early morning we take the clear juice from the top of the tank and so eliminate the coarse lees, residues of earth and yeasts, before the alcoholic fermentation.
The yeasts of the must will change the sugar into alcohol and gas. We now go from must to a still wine*. « Still », because the gas escapes into the atmosphere !
Sugar yeasts alcohol + gas (prendre une photo de la formule sur une ardoise)
Then it's time for malolactic fermentation . Bacteria in the wine transforms the malic acid into lactic acid The latter is a soft and fruity acid that naturally gives a better stability to the wine.
The respect for local traditions doesn't exclude the use of modern oenologiical techniques . Our stainless steel tanks are thermoregulated so as to better control fermentation.
Perfect hygiene conditions allow us today to better master the mysterious alchemy of champagne.
It should be noted that more than 4,000 components, mineral salts, yeasts, minerals, come into play to get champagne.
The aim of all this care is to :
- naturally preserve the organoleptic quality of the champagne
- preserve the aromas
- obtain quality consistence
After several rackings for the clarification of our wines, and lots of time and love, we can now move on to the tasting of our wines.
Each racking is however the occasion to appreciate the evolution of our wines, the different parcels and different varieties, up to the blending.
For the blending, each wine grower has his secret...
Thanks to our specific vinification, we have a rich and varied palette of aromas to make our different blends.
The « Brut Sans Années » « BSA » :
We have made 2 distinct cuvees : the Carte or and the Cuvée H.
The aim of the work is to reconstitute through our specific vinification the special taste of each cuvee. For this we also use our reserve wines which allow us to make these blends despite differences in the harvests.
Vintages » :
Our vintages come from the specific vinification of our best and oldest vines.
These cuvees are the very image of the terroir that has been selected, but each vintage has the imprint of that year's climate.
Macerated» rosé :
Fruit of the same vine, this parcel of pinot noir is even more limited in it's yields, so as to give the grapes a very good aromatic richness.
We leave the grapes to macerate in tanks so that the extracted juice has colour and a powerful aroma.
When the tasting reveals what we are looking for, it's then that we empty the grapes , press them and blend the juices.
When the precious blends are ready, we then put the wines in bottles before summer comes. This is bottling.
We prepare yeasts and a liqueur made from our wines and sugar cane.
It's like this that the second alcoholic fermentation will take place in the bottle The yeasts will transform the sugar into alcohol and gas.
But unlike the harvest tanks, the gas created in the bottle can't escape.
The bubbles will mix with the wine and create the effervescence of our champagnes !
In our cellars, out of the light and with a constant temperature, we keep our champagnes several years before disgorging them and then selling them.
This aging is an important step for the quality of our wines, that brings them complexity and finesse.
Our Brut Sans Années ages between 15 months and 3 years depending on the cuvees.
Regarding our vintages, we offer them with between 4 and 10 years of aging, according to their potential and our wish to taste them...
When the cuvees are aged, riddling takes place On traditional pupitres or in gyropalettes, these allow the wine to be cleared slowly, bringing the yeast deposit to the neck.
Once the deposit is collected in the neck of the bottle, it's removed by ejecting it.
My father, in his youth, did it in the traditional way !
Today we plunge the bottle, head first, in a refrigerating solution at-27°C,so that the deposit freezes.
By opening the bottles, the deposit will be ejected naturally by the pressure inside.
The wine is then clear and we can add several drops of dosage liqueur depending on the required flavour: Extra-brut, Brut…
Our champagnes spend a minimum of 4 to 5 months with their corks before the bottles are put on sale after they have been carefully dressed.
Now you can taste this festive drink , with friends or loved ones. Cheers !


EASY CUTTING: Wlretmci Power Chain Saws with wooden teeth design which make cutting more efficiently and faster. Just takes about 10 seconds to cut a log with a diameter of 15cm (the specific value varies with the actual size and hardness of the wood). Perfect for wood cutting, trees branches pruning, gardening.
DOUBLE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES: Wlretmci portable chain saw is equipped with two 24V 1500mAh rechargeable lithium battery. You can use it for 4–6 hours（2–3 hours for each battery）after being full charged.
PORTABLE & ONE-HAND OPERATED: The weight of our product just about 1.07kg（Included the battery）and a total length of it is only 33cm, ensures that you can take it anywhere. Even young women can easily control and use it and hold it for long periods of time without tiring.
OVERLOAD PROTECTION FUNCTION: Take effective power, and adopt a new generation of cooling system and automatic overheating protection function (after long-term use, it will automatically shut down to protect the machine, and can continue to use after a period of time).
COMPLETE INSTALLED: The whole chain saw has been installed before delivery, you just need to simply use the wrench in the package to turn the screw to adjust the tightness according to different operation conditions. Package included the detail English installation manual.
Wanfei Plant Monitor Soil Test Kit, Flower Care Soil Tester Smart Plant Tracker Intelligent Sensor Plants Detector Bluetooth Monitor for Light Moisture Fertility Temperature Level, for iOS and Android
4 in 1 Flower Care Monitor: This plant monitor can monitor light, temperature, humidity and nutrient for your plants. Find your plants in the extensive database of more than 6,000 plants and save the daily growth record, in the IOS or Android app “Flower Care” or “Mi Home” via a Bluetooth connection, please do not upgrade on’ flower care’, otherwise it may cause connection failure after upgrade.
4 EC Sensors: This soil test kit has 4 stainless steel EC sensors which can record soil nutrients and convert them into a precise data displayed in your phone. The database offers perfect nutrient interval values for different plants. Just follow them!
Light/Temperature/Moisture: This plant monitor has a temperature/light sensor, with which you can monitor and analyze the light and temperature. Measurable light intensity up to 100,000LUX and light intensity precision up to 100LUX; Temperature detection accuracy up to 0.5 ℃/32.9 ℉. Also a long stripe sensor can help quickly identify the soil water content and tell exactly whether your plant needs watering or not. The monitoring accuracy reaches EC5 standard for Professional Soil Probe.
4.1 Bluetooth Connection: Establish a connection to your smartphone via a high efficient Bluetooth 4.1; full control over the free “Flower Care” or “Mi Home” app for Android and IOS, available on the Google Play and APP Store. This plant monitor works with the CR2032 button cell (included).
Thanos Animal Repeller: gets rid of animals through emitting a mixture of ultrasonic and powerful flashing LED strobe lights. Very effective to repel cats, mice, foxes, raccoons, badgers, skunks, rodents, boar, marten etc.
Slow moving object is detected: and return to sleep mode at normal time. It adopts the principle of infrared detection. It sends ultrasonic waves to drive small animals while detecting small animals. It protects your property, your garden and your courtyard from harassment by unwanted stray dogs, stray cats and other small animals.
Solar panel: on the top of the device that can be easily charged. The product uses solar energy to charge the battery, or it can be charged with adapter, suitable for places where it is difficult to provide power, such as farms, gardens, lawns, nurseries, manors and orchards.
PIR motion activated: repeller provides a humane way to repel unwanted animals away. No poisons or traps. Eco-friendly. Harmless to humans and environment. It’s waterproof, you don’t need to worry about that it can’t work in rainy days.
Easy to Install : Place the repeller pointed towards the area that you want to protect, select your desired mode, then you can insert the repeller in the ground. It is designed with 2 hanging holes, Fix the spike stake on the unit, that allow you to hang on objects such as trees, fences and walls to ensure best effect.
6.5W solar panel: This solar floating fountain water pump is upgrade to 6.5W high-quality solar panels, it allows the water pump to work continuously, even when the sunlight is weak. The real green solar water pump.
Built-in battery: This solar fountain has a built-in 1500mAh battery, solar energy is automatically stored, and it can still work even in cloudy days.
6 Different Water Style Sprayers: 6 different nozzles can meet your different needs for jet height or jet shape. The height can be adjusted by changing nozzles to avoid spilling out of the basin. You can easily change the spray head.
Multi-application: This solar pump is perfect for bird bath, fish tank, small pond, pool, garden, water circulation for oxygen. Your garden would definitely catch all the attention of the passers-by. Let your yard look so amusingly decorated by the solar water pump.
Helpful tips: The product has automatic power-off protection and will automatically stop working when it leaves the water. You should clean the pump regularly to prevent the pump from being clogged with dust.
Easy To Operate Garden Tool: Half press to catch garden tape and then a full press to staple and cut. digging tools is convenient to carry, works with high efficiency. Non-slip and ergonomic handle, convenient to take and carry. A great plant tools to have in a greenhouse or garden.
Gardening Hand Tools Material: Outdoor plants gardening tool set is made up of stainless steel. Provides a secure tie. Greatly improve your efficiency, garden tools set savings labor costs and save time as well.
Taping Tools Save Labor: Three to four times as much as ordinary workers tie vines, indoor gardening tools greatly improves work efficiency and can increase planting area appropriately.
Garden Tools for Gardening: This garden tool sets stapler makes trellising your plants much more efficient than using zip ties and cable ties.
Small Garden Tools Widely Usage: Applicable to all kinds of branches, vines crop such as grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, melon, eggplant and so on. The opening width can be adjusted at any time depending on the width you need which make your work more convenient.


NCGA and its farmer members are currently recruiting 16 Temporary farm laborers to plant, cultivate, and harvest tobacco/diversified crops in various NC counties statewide. Contact the local Employment Service for the name, location, and farm specific crop information/full disclosure for each NCGA farmer member. Work will begin 05/5/17 and will end 12/10/17. The wage offer is the highest of $11.27 per hour or applicable piece rates depending on crop activity. Guaranteed 3/4 of contract hours. Free housing provided for non-commuting worker. Conditional transportation/subsistence reimbursed at 50% of the contract, or sooner if appropriate, for eligible workers. Work tools/equipment/supplies provided at no cost. NCGA members are equal opportunity employers. To apply, contact the Clinton Career Center at 910-592-5756 and/or the nearest Employment Service office (10660346).


One of the core values of UrCommunity is to help create a community which is self-sufficient. In order to help facilitate this, UrCommunity will work with the community and the other businesses to procure as many of the skills and products required to allow it to function effectively and achieve its vision. With this in mind we will work with community gardens to source the majority of the produce required as the raw ingredients to make the delicious meals that appear on the café menu.
UrCommunity has developed a backyard and commercial hothouse system which we call the Backyard Food Forest or Business Food Forest system respectively.
UrCommunity – “Backyard Food Forest © and Business Food Forest ©”
Both Food Forest Systems use the latest in Aquaponics, Hydroponics and Permaculture technology and innovative systems to maximise the production per square meter within a commercial quality hothouse.
At the heart of the system is a 1,000 litre water tank which houses around 35 trout or silver perch at any one time, as these species adapt well to Melbourne’s weather. Once a quarter the fish are harvested to minimise the possibility of overcrowding and to help maintain a balanced system. The fish will also breed in the system and continue the cycle.
Crops that grow best in the vertical Aquaponics towers include:
|Leafy Greens||Herbs||Fruiting Crops|
|Collard Greens||Thyme||Bell Peppers|
|Swiss/Rainbow Chard||Basil||Habanero Peppers|
|Bok Choy||Chives||Ghost chillies|
|Mustard Greens||Oregano||Tabasco peppers|
Food Forest Systems© Hothouse
The Food Forest Systems© Hothouse offers the urban home-gardener or Business an effective solution to growing veggies and nursery plants out of season. The hothouse is larger than standard home hothouses, at a full 2.74m wide and comes in four lengths 4m 6m 8m and 10m.
The end result of the Backyard Food Forests’ innovative design is that we are able to achieve:
- Controlled high-density growth within a confined, urban backyard setting
- Automatic watering and fertilising
- Year-round production of delicious organic, fresh fruit and vegetables, grown without the use of harmful pesticides or herbicides.


Fruits and vegetables is the twenty-second episode from Hi-5 Series 4.
- NATHAN becomes a scarecrow to keep the birds away from his veggies.
- CHARLI pretends to be a scarecrow.
- KELLIE and Chats cook some pesto pasta.
- CHARLI touches and feels some veggies without seeing and she guesses them.
- KATHLEEN wants a fruit snack but Jup Jup changes the fruits.
- CHARLI sings about a fruit salad.
- TIM waters and sings to his plants to make them grow and then he can make a salad.
- CHARLI pretends to eat veggies.
- SHARING STORIES: Kathleen tells us a story about a boy (Tim) who plants a tomato seed, a plant (Kellie) starts to grow from the seed, but when Tim goes on a holiday, the sun (Charli) and a rain cloud (Nathan) look after the tomato plant.
- Pesto is a sauce originating in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, Italy.


File Type: Vector
File Size: 59 MB
Format: AI, PDF, PNG
Technical details: All vector drawings are resizable. You can easily change the colors and patterns of AI files in Adobe Illustrator or PDF files in Adobe Photoshop.
Software compatibility: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS3 or newer. Affinity Photo and Designer. CorelDRAW. + PNG files are suitable with almost every graphic software.
About Axonometrics: People, furniture, plants, and other scales are mostly used in interior / exterior diagrams by architects and designers.
Tags: human scales, gardening, planting, plants, green, agriculture, vegetation, plantation, agriculture, worker, employee, sunflower, corn, crop, field, tea, grape, rice, sapling, lavender, flower, mustard, fruit, tree, arming, farmers, domestic animals, harvesting, watering, crops, cow, horse, mowing, lawn, agriculture, farming, field, plants, crops, domestic animals, cows, harvester, workers, horse, chicken, duck, pig, straw


Unleash the Power of iyris™: Save Water, Reduce Heat, Increase Yields and Save on Energy Costs
The SecondSky™ roofing installation process is straightforward and identical to what you’re already familiar with. Enjoy all the advantagesof iyris™ effortlessly and start reaping the rewards today.
One Simple Change
Of all the business decisions growers need to make, replacing standard greenhouse plastics to an iyris™ SecondSky™ covering could not be simpler.
iyris™ SecondSky™ is installed the same way as the standard plastics you are used to. There’s no need for new techniques or methods. Plus, iyris™ SecondSky™ is supplied through your normal plastics distributor or greenhouse manufacturer.
Growers benefit from reduced water and fertigation use, lower energy costs for cooling and improved crop yields from the minute it’s installed. It really could not be simpler. Replace, and reap the benefits.
Next Gen Heat Blocking Solutions
iyris™ uses advanced nanotechnology to optimise the light spectrum for agriculture, reducing water and energy costs while improving crop yield.
This unique Agri-Climate Technology has been created for greenhouse growers to reduce the impact of peak heat on plant growth while still allowing light through to drive photosynthesis and create healthier and more productive crops.
iyris™ SecondSky™ will increase yields for the grower, while reducing operational costs and delivering a quick return on investment.
Extend Your Growing Season
Crop production in hot climates is limited to the months when plants will not be damaged by the heat of the sun or the costs of keeping crops hydrated and cool make growing unprofitable.
iyris™ SecondSky™ is a game-changing solution that allows you to grow for longer. These heat blocking solutions reduce peak heat temperature inside your greenhouse creating a more stable temperature gradient to create optimum growing conditions.
By lowering peak temperatures, you can extend your season, allowing growers to continue supplying their customers well after other growers without iyris™ SecondSky™ have closed down for the summer.
Improve crop yields
Optimizing and manipulating the light spectrum to maximize photosynthetic activity by plants is at the core of everything that iyris™ does.
Under iyris™ SecondSky™, plants are better protected from the harmful heat of the sun (NIR). This puts the plants under much less stress, which can reduce the transpiration rate of the plants, creating healthier growth and better tasting and more prolific crops.
Providing crops with the correct levels of photosynthetic light (PAR) and growing conditions allows millions of years of evolution to be activated to optimize growth and yield.
At iyris™ we believe that using the most abundant, and free source of energy – the sun – to grow plants, is the most sustainable way to increase your yield.
Reduce Power Usage
In Controlled Environment Agriculture, the use of mechanical cooling has revolutionised growing in harsh heat conditions. But it’s expensive to keep mechanical cooling operating.
Under iyris™ SecondSky™, you can significantly cut your reliance on mechanical cooling compared to traditional plastic roofs. Why? Because the unique nano-particulate technology in SecondSky™ absorbs peak heat and prevents it from entering the greenhouse.
By blocking heat from entering the greenhouse, there is reduced demand on the cooling system and less irrigation is needed by the plants to allow them to thrive. These energy savings pass straight through to the profits of the grower.
Improve Water & Fertigation Use
Crops need light, water and nutrients for healthy growth. Light from the sun is free, but water is scarce and fertilisers expensive.
Under iyris™ SecondSky™ peak temperatures are lower and more consistent and this means the plants are healthier and happier. The reduced heat stress significantly reduces leaf temperature in the leaf cover. The reduced humidity in the growing environment means less stress on the cooling system, and lower chances of plant disease.
The result? Significantly lower volumes of water are used in irrigation, fertigation and, most importantly, in the mechanical cooling system in the greenhouse.


Cooler weather and occasional showers have mitigated the drought in parts of Texas, and summer’s spectacular wildfires have ended. Still, dssiccated pastures, disappearing herds, abandoned lakes and empty stock ponds make clear the continuing need for rain.
Hidden behind these more obvious signs of drought lie other consequences, equally troublesome if more personal. Enjoying breakfast in a Hill Country kitchen last weekend, I heard a tiny sigh as I split a biscuit and reached for the glass dish holding my friend’s homemade preserves. “That’s my last jar of peach, and close to my last jar of fig,” she said. “It’s only December,” I said. “Don’t you usually have enough to last ’til summer?”
Yes, she allowed, she usually did. But this year drought put an end to her gardens and orchards. With so little rain, the fig trees barely produced. Peaches were available from irrigated orchards, but they were expensive. Pears were the size of walnuts, and the walnuts didn’t make. Even the dewberries weren’t good, setting so little fruit she left it for hungry birds and animals. The sweet, succulent blackberries that overflowed her baskets in the past withered and died, offering up only a cup or two of tart, nearly tasteless berries. Without good berries an abundance of pies, cobblers and sauces disappeared, not to mention the brandied blackberries that always had been a holiday treat.
“Don’t you irrigate?” I asked. “Yes,” she said, “but as the weeks went by, we had to stop. People were having troubles with their wells. Some went dry, and I didn’t want that. I let the flower gardens go first, then the vegetables. I hated it, but there was nothing to do. I didn’t get a single tomato.”
Life without blackberry cobbler is one thing. Not being able to put up tomatoes is another. For generations of women, including my own grandmother, summer meant canning uncounted quarts of tomatoes, sauced, stewed and diced for the long winter ahead. In the cave which served as combination storm cellar and pantry for my grandparents, the jars shone in the dim light like jewels: tomatoes, peaches and plums, cherries awash in burgundy syrup, jams, jellies and marmelades, sweet corn relish, spiced apples and pears and the translucent shimmer of pickles.
Like my grandparents’ cave, my friend’s larder always had been the very definition of abundance, until the scourge of drought took first her water, and then the harvest that helps sustain her family through the year.
Some of her more drought-tolerant fruits did survive the summer, although their yield was low. Two varieties of persimmon, the Texas (Diospyros texana) and the Asian (Diospyros kaki) were freely shared with a multitude of birds and squirrels, white-tailed deer, foxes, possums and raccoons.
The possum’s love of persimmons is legendary. In some regions, the creature spends so much time gorging on the fruit the trees are known as “possum wood”. John James Audubon pictured the Virginian Opossum in a persimmon tree, and an old American folk-song celebrates the relationships among the Possum, the Persimmon and the Raccoon.
Possum up in a ’simmon tree, raccoon on the ground,
Raccoon said, “”You rascal, shake them ’simmons down!”
On the Gulf Coast, Atakapa Indians called persimmons piakimin. Early French settlers transformed it into plaquemine, familiar to many as the name of a Louisiana parish. Elias Wightman, a surveyor for Stephen F. Austin in the 1820s, documented persimmon groves in southeast Texas; the trees he found were the drought-resistant natives, their seedy black fruit much smaller and differently-shaped than the larger and more familiar red-orange Asian varieties. Both provide a wonderful base for an assortment of pastries and jams once the frosts reduce their astringent qualities. My first persimmon came from a Hill Country tree, and I was amazed at its smooth sweetness.
For pure eating pleasure from native Texas plants, you can’t do better than jams and jellies made from berries of the agarita, sometimes called “agarito” or “algerita”. Because of its prickly nature, the best way to gather its berries is to lay a cloth on the ground and thrash the bushes. This year, drought reduced the berry crop even on this hardy plant, so the time spent gathering berries wasn’t worth the return, and agarita jelly wasn’t on the menu.
Even the yield of berries from Scarlet Firethorn, or Pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea), was lower than usual. Its beautiful red, red-orange or yellow berries resemble tiny apples and it’s branches often are used for decorating. My favorite bush, a large volunteer along a country fenceline, disappeared when the County showed up to widen and pave the road. Still, the non-native pyracantha thrives, its seeds spread by birds who love its tasty and nutritious berries. Occasionally the berries ferment, leaving robins and waxwings staggering from the bushes, nearly unable to fly.
For years I assumed pyracantha was poisonous, but the apple-shaped berries are perfectly suitable for human consumption. The seeds do contain hydrogen cyanide, but boiling the fruit and straining the pulp to remove the seeds is all that’s necessary. Thanks to my friend, I’ll be trying some pyracantha pancake syrup this week – a small reminder of nature’s abundance and human care.
As friends will do, we spent long hours drinking coffee and talking around the table until a sudden night-time rattling across the tin roof and a rush of wind signaled rain. In a country so long bereft of storms, nothing could be more comfortable, or as comforting. “We sure do need more of that…” someone said as the rain murmured outside the windows, and the chairs got pushed back, and we all went off to bed.
The next morning, the “more” we’d hoped for had come. Puddles dotted the caliche drive. Damp cats huddled under the potting shed while water dripped down around them. We said our farewells in drizzle and fog, a gauzy, gray coverlet tucked around the resting ridges and valleys.
An hour later, as I swung around San Antonio and headed east, rain developed – heavy enough to make driving a challenge, and consistent enough to bring a smile. For thirty miles the rain increased and then eased off, allowing me to see water coursing along the ditches and collecting in the fields. Overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude, I tried, without success, to remember the last time I’d witnessed such abundance.
Passing a farmhouse, I glimpsed a man standing on his porch, hands tucked into jacket pockets, just watching. A few miles down the road, I stopped for gas and coffee and found the fellows standing out front looking very much the same: hands tucked into pockets, eyes focused on the rain.
My own coffee in hand, I left the store only to discover drizzle had turned again into a near-torrent. Standing under the awning, waiting to see if it might slack off before I headed to the car, I listened to the desultory talk.
“Purty nice,” said one fellow. “Sure enough,” said the other. “Smells good, too,” said a third. And it did. It smelled clean, and fresh. It smelled like a new start, and hope and home. It smelled sweet, like the promise of abundance.
It smelled like next year’s blackberries.


Botanical name: Sisymbrium officinale
Synonym: Erysimum officinale
Common name: Hedge mustard, Singer's plant
Family: Brassicaceae (cabbage family)
Native to: Eurasia
Life cycle: annual
Flower colour: yellow
Flower time (Central / West-Europe): May to August
Characteristics and usage: edible leaves and seeds, in traditional medicine Sisymbrium officinale was used to soothe sore throats.
Weight of 1000 seeds: 0,25g
Seeds per gram: 4000
Cultivation / direction of sowing: sow seed directly where it is to grow, germination irregular.


#KHAAD (100% Organic Compost) by Alico Waste Experts can be used as a soil conditioner, can be added to existing soil to build health and is particularly useful in poor or nutrient depleted soil.
This high quality organic compost creates stronger and healthier root, plant growth and adds the fertility most gardens need as it:
- Increases organic carbon in the soil
- Improves aeration and water infiltration
- Increases nutrient uptake by plant roots
- Improves plant resilience against disease and during extreme conditions
- Helps keep soil temperatures more constant – cooler in summer and warmer at night
- Contains organic green waste compost.
- Encourages the presence of beneficial soil micro-organisms for soil fertility
· Improves Soil Biology
· Apply 1 to 4 cu ft per 100 sq ft (layer on top of the soil) depending on soil fertility. Incorporate into the top 2"- 4" of soil by raking, tilling or digging.


Agricultural Service Regions
Valley Air has been proudly serving Farmers of the Mountain West since 1978. By providing reliable Agricultural Aviation Solutions, Valley Air plays an active roll in Driving American Agriculture Forward, and assisting our growers in the Stewardship of Their Resources .
The Treasure Valley, Caldwell, Idaho
The Treasure Valley is where it all began for us…known for it’s high crop diversity, and high populations of pollinators, Valley Air has been working with local Farmers from the start. Being mindful of the pollinators that local seed producers depend on is why we implemented the use of Night Vision Technology into our operation. This tool has allowed us not only to prevent negative impacts of pesticides on the bees, but has also allowed us to provide timely application services, when it is agronomically the right time to make the applications.
The Snake River Plain, Glenn’s Ferry, Idaho
The Magic Valley is known for it’s production of spuds, sugar beets, and high quality alfalfa hay. Valley Air has been supporting the farms of the Western Magic Valley with Industry Leading Aerial Services since the late 1970’s. In this hostile environment, timing, and maximizing inputs is critical. We are proud to be a trusted partner of local farmers, assisting them in the stewardship of their resources through timely Agricultural Aviation Services.
Eastern Oregon is know as an Onion Producing Powerhouse…this reputation has certainly been earned. Onions are a crop that are known to have a significant upside, what is less known, is that the downside is steep. Well developed agronomic plans, coupled with perfect execution, and a little luck are needed to grow the crop that consumers demand. Valley Air is a proud partner of Oregon Onion Growers, fulling the demand when our number is called.
The region is picturesque, resembling what most of us think of when we are picturing the high deserts of the Mountain West. In and amungst the expansive desert landscape lies the hidden agricultural fields that make Nevada a formidable contributor to our Nation’s Agricultural Production Machine. What makes it beautiful, makes it a challenging environment to be successful, but the Farmers of this great state have found a way to harness it’s potential. Valley Air is proud to deliver Aerial Services that can be counted on, when dependability matters most.


Five lucky winners will get the long-stem soil thermometer from General Tools!! Ideal for checking ground temps in spring. Helps you determine when to plant! Perfect for your compost bin. I even used mine to check temps in my terrarium! Features a 20-inch long stainless steel probe and a 2-inch diameter dial with a clear glass cover. Accurately measures from 0 to 220 degrees F. Checking soil temps is fun. You will LOVE this little tool. An $18.99 value.
Low-entry means your chances of winning are super high!


You were not created to play small.
ASK A FARMER–TOUGH SPRING
IN THIS EPISODE…
Our guests on today’s episodes are Rebecca’s husband, Jeremiah, and her father, Tom Rodine.
Rebecca chats with these two about spring planting, government programs, and what it really means to be a steward of the land.
Many rural communities depend on agriculture to keep their local economies strong and thriving.
As more and more people become disconnected from the land, a broad understanding and interest in agriculture disappears. Rebecca hopes that by sharing the direct feedback from local North Dakota farmers, it will inspire you to ask more questions of your local farmers or if you are farming/ranching yourself, to remind you that you’re not alone and to encourage you to tell your own story.
Farmers/ranchers themselves are the best advocates for the truth in agricultural operations.


First, it is easy to understand why grass production is elevated with mesquite removal, especially near centers of clumps (Jacoby et al., 1982). The nitrogen contained in the root-mycorrhizal association beneath the shrub clump and in the litter beneath is suddenly released to grasses and other plants, with grasses already growing beneath responding most readily (Jacoby et al., 1982). (Crystal City spinach farmers early in this century got their best production from freshly cleared mesquite patches [W. Averhoff, personal communication]). Medium term (8 year) experiments on range grasses interplanted with herbaceous legumes such as Medicago and Astragalus (McGinnies and Townsend, 1983) indicate increased forage production and protein content over grasses grown alone. Contrary to expectation, these workers found no increase in soil nitrogen in the legume treatment area. Unfortunately in this study, only the top 15cm of soil was analyzed, yet all grasses and legumes involved are rooted at depths well below 15cm. Indeed in this case, the release of legume-fixed nitrogen as roots decay should be expected between 5 to 20ft deep, since both legumes and grasses (Agropyron species) involved, are sending roots to that zone (Weaver and Clements, 1938). Likewise, we should anticipate similar patterns of deep lateral exchange in the mesquite system based on the Sonoran Desert evidence summarized above.
Second, the "invasion" by mesquite of overgrazed pasture or heavily farmed land, is a consequence of mesquite's ability to fix nitrogen. In semi-arid regions, nitrogen is lost by ammonia volatilization or denitrification directly to the atmosphere in relative amounts estimated to rival (in terms of percent of fixed nitrogen in the system) nitrate losses by leaching in more mesic environments (West and Skujins, 1978). The denitrification process is enhanced by exposure of soil to the high temperatures of direct sun, by release of mineralized nitrogen and phosphorous from closed root-mycorrhizal systems, and by increased organic carbon sources for denitrifying bacteria, all consequences of harsh methods of shrub control. Later, after a period of overgrazing, the soil of the range becomes further depleted with respect to nitrogen, and nitrogen-fixing plants such as mesquite enjoy a competitive advantage over non-fixing plants such as grasses, and return denser than ever. This initiates secondary succession toward a less diverse and denser "climax" than was originally present. Mesquite colonizes land as "unproductive as an old stove lid," it doesn't create it!
Short term experiments on mesquite seedlings (Ueckert et al., 1979) do suggest that competition with herbaceous vegetation (including grasses) can substantially decrease seedling establishment. Experiments in true prairie ecosystems have examined the role of nitrogen and moisture on the competition between nitrogen-fixing legumes and grasses (Dodd and Lauenroth, 1979; Lauenroth and Dodd, 1979). Plots were enriched with nitrogen, water, water plus nitrogen, or not treated (control) and biomass production followed for six years. Not surprisingly, grasses dominate the standing crop in all plots, but legumes increase by a factor of 30 to 40 times in "water only" treatments because of their competitive ability under low nitrogen levels.
Similar studies are required for the Rio Grande Plain. However, to be maximally useful, such experiments should also include
Each of these factors can and does vary in the natural system along with water and nitrogen availability. It will be a complex and labor-intensive process to tease apart the role of these six obvious factors across a representative range of soil types. However, if such results were available, the methods of manipulating shrub density employed by ranchers might evolve in totally unexpected directions and become more compatible with retention of natural diversity in the region. Nitrogen, added as nitrate during wet periods might actually retard the establishment of mesquite in these nitrogen-poor soils by inhibiting nodulation (Gibson, 1976) of mesquite seedlings, while favoring the growth of grasses and other herbaceous competitors.
Ironically, ranchers in South Texas who root-plow mesquite on an 8-15 year cycle are, under this view of the system, simply using mesquite as a long-lived cover crop, much as Acacia arabica was rotated with grain sorghum in the Sahel of Africa (8 year cycle) by primitive farmers (see Kassas, 1970). Does it make a difference then, whether we recognize mesquite and other nitrogen fixing woody plants as beneficial cover crops or view them as noxious weeds? The answer is that is makes a vast difference to the kind of science we will conduct on this system; the beneficial hypothesis will lead us to explore the details of the nitrogen cycle and the biology of organisms involved in its operation. Many more natural species in the system may prove to be important to its sustained productivity. We may find that low overhead, high profit-margin ranching is not only compatible with conservation of natural diversity in the region, but also dependent upon it for long term stability. Studies such as those in the Sahel of Africa (Breman and de Wit, 1983) are needed in the Tamaulipan Province.


Digital archive of the Institute for Forage Crops Kruševac
The digital archive contains easily searchable research results.
Primary research results available.
Communities in RIFoC
Select a community to browse its collections.
Quality Parameters and Antioxidant Activity of Three Clover Species in Relation to the Livestock Diet
(University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 2016-06-14)
Products of metabolism that are directly involved in growth, development and reproduction and also secondary products of metabolism were studied in 16 natural populations of three species of the genus Trifolium (T. repens – four populations, T. alpestre – three populations, T. pannonicum – nine populations), collected from the central Balkans region, i.e. territory of Serbia. Statistical analysis showed the presence of variability in all species of the test material. The best quality of dry matter, estimated by the ratio of crude protein and crude fiber, was achieved in the populations of white clover. In this species, average protein content was 216.4 g kg-1 while the average content of crude fiber was 222.4 g kg-1. The highest average content of total phenols (77.9 mg GA g-1), flavonoids (159.7 mg Ru g-1) and antioxidant activity (70.2 μg ml-1) was measured in populations of T. pannonicum by phytochemical analysis of aerial parts of plants. The content of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity in other species were extremely low. Populations of T. pannonicum were notable for fodder quality and antioxidant activity: CS091 with 186.2 g kg-1 of crude protein and antioxidant activity of 55 μg ml-1; RA123 with 175.6 g kg-1 of crude protein and a high level of antioxidant activity of 44.8 μg ml-1. It can be concluded that the selection of these populations may lead to creation of different varieties of fodder crops that could give safe animal feed and would be suitable for growing under adverse conditions of mountainous climate.
Effect of Nitrogen Fertiliser and Lime on the Floristic Composition, Soil Microbes and Dry Matter Yield of Danthonietum calycinae Grassland
(University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 2019-11-08)
Natural grasslands are significant resources for forage production, which is not exploited enough, mostly because of low production, as a result of bad grasslands management. The research has been carried out on the association Danthonietum calycinae to evaluate the effects of different nitrogen application rates (N20, N80 and N140) and lime (1 tha-1) on the floristic composition, soil microbes and dry matter yield. Botanic composition was strongly influenced by the treatments, especially by N applications. Nitrogen fertilisation led to significant increase of grass species in the association (from 57% to 82%), while higher rate of nitrogen caused a significant decrease of plants from other families (especially legumes). Application of low and medium rate of nitrogen positively effect on microbial abundant in soil, but the highest dose (140 kg N) reduced all microbial count, except fungi. Mineral nitrogen fertilisation had a favourable effect on dry matter yield in all treatments. The highest increase in dry matter yield relative to the control was in N140 treatments (6.66 t ha-1). Results indicated that optimal applications of nutrients for this association is application of PK and lime and 80 kg of nitrogen which enable high yield (6.38 t ha-1) in comparison with control (3.16 t ha-1) and preserving soil fertility and the environment at the same time.
The influence of lead acetate and actinomycetes on germination and growth of vetch plant (Vicia sativa L.)
(Agricultural Research Communication Center, 2018-10-10)
The influence of different lead acetate concentrations (10 -5 M, 10 -4 M, 10 -3 M, 10 -2 M and 2 x 10 -2 M) both with and without presence of actinomycetes on germination and initial growth (root, leaf length and stem height) of vetch plant (Vicia sativa L.) was rated. Different lead acetate concentrations and actinomycetes (Streptomyces sp.) of 5, 7 and 9 breed’s types were used to treat vetch plant seeds. It was perceived that high lead acetate concentration of 2 x 10 -2 M has inhibitory effect on the studied parameters. Probes with the highest concentrations of lead with the presence of actinomycetes as much as 60% more seeds germinated compared to the probes without actinomycetes. Low lead acetate concentrations have stimulating effect on these processes, as applied in the presence of microorganisms, and in probes without inoculation.
Effect of processing on vitamin C content, total phenols and antioxidative activity of organically grown red beetroot ('Beta vulgaris' ssp. 'Rubra')
(Centre for Evaluation in Education and Science (CEON/CEES), 2021)
The demand for organic food is rising since consumers want food from reliable, highest quality sources originating from the environment, undisturbed by cultivation and processing. It is necessary to determine to what extent there is a scientific basis for the claims that organic food is of high quality. In this study, beetroot from an organic production system originating from 6 certified organic food producers from different geographic locations was examined. The organic beetroot samples were processed by pasteurization at 70 ºC and 90 ºC into beet juice or by drying at 55 ºC. The following samples were tested and compared: fresh beetroot, pasteurized beet juice and dried beetroot slices. The concentration of vitamin C, level of total phenol compounds (TPC) and antioxidative activity (TAA) in beetroot were influenced by the geographic origin and the applied processing method. The highest degradation for all analysed parameters was found in the samples treated by drying or pasteurisation at 90 ºC. The lowest losses of studied phytochemical components were observed during juice pasteurisation at 70 ºC. The correlation coefficient between TPC and TAA was high and significant (r2 = 0.966).
Protein and carbohydrate fractions of common vetch-oat mixtures depending on stage of growth and seeding rate in the mixtures
(Pensoft Publishers, 2020-11-08)
The production and utilization of intercropped legume- cereal bi-crops as ruminant feeds is beneficial for many reasons – legumes are rich in terms of protein concentration, whereas cereals are characterized by higher carbohydrate contents. To improve utilization of common vetch-oat mixtures as feed in Serbia, the objective of this investigation was to evaluate the crude protein (CP) and carbohydrate (CHO) fractions in these feeds using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) depending on the stage of plant development and seeding rate of common vetch and oat in the mixtures. The experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Institute for forage crops, Kruševac – Serbia, in 2015. The field trial was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. In this research, pure stands of common vetch and oat, and their seed mixtures (common vetch:oat – 1:1.5; 1:1 and 1:0.5) were studied harvested at three different cutting stages: beginning of vetch flowering – 10% of flowering; forming the first pods on 2/3 vetch plants and forming green seeds in 2/3 pods. The samples were analyzed for protein and carbohydrate fractions according to CNCPS. Stage of growth affected significantly all carbohydrate and protein fractions, except unavailable PC fraction of crude protein which did not change with plant growth and development. The highest protein fraction was intermediately degraded PB2 fraction of crude protein. The highest carbohydrate fraction was available cell wall – CB3 fraction of carbohydrate. According to the results obtained in these investigations, it was concluded that common vetch-oat mixtures varied significantly with respect to their carbohydrate and protein fraction. Due to lower CC fraction, oat was superior feed in terms of total carbohydrates supply to ruminants. Among all investigated mixtures and pure stand of oat and common vetch, it could be conclude that mixture with 1:1 common vetch-oat rate was superior because of higher CA and CB3 fractions of total carbohydrate and the highest PB2 fraction of crude protein.


SAHANODA HAPPYGREEN AGRICULTURE PROJECT
Duration – May 2019 to date
This project was started in the year 2019 with the aim of creating an exemplary farm in the Western Province by developing a two-acre vacant land owned by Sahanoda Foundation in an environmentally friendly manner suitable for cultivation.
Using organic fertilizers, hygienic vegetables, and fruit relief was planned for consumption in the elderly Vivekasram and selling the surplus. So far, a greenhouse of around 6,500 square feet has been constructed and cultivation of food crops has started there using modern technical devices. In addition, outdoor crop cultivation has also been done systematically.
Contribution to the project
· Sahanoda Foundation


Share Signups are Closed for 2017, but there is plenty of extra fruits and veggies available from the farm stand including heirloom tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplants, onions, ground cherries, and more.
Saturday & Sunday 3pm-7pm from the farm 939 Potters Rd. Stillwater.
Saturdays 8am-2pm: #FrontPorchFarmStand @ Kar's Coffee & Stillwater General Store Route 521 Middleville (Stillwater)
Sundays in Sparta, 11am-1pm, Village Cafe Farm Stand, Knoll Heights Village. (Entrance is Knoll Rd. across from 7-11/Shell Gas Station)
FOLLOW THE FARM FACEBOOK PAGE FOR RECIPES, EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS, & EDUCATIONAL LINKS.
I look forward to sharing the harvest with you! Thank you for supporting your local, Health Conscious Farmer. -James.


The most important dietary element is olive oil, which for Cretans as well as for all the people of the Mediterranean constitutes the basic source of fat. Especially in Crete, 120 gr of olive oil is consumed daily whereas in every other part of the world no more than 30 gr is consumed on a daily basis.
Olive oil is basic for the nutrition in Crete and more particularly, in the area of Kissamos. It is used in most dishes, substituting butter or other types of edible oil that are used in other parts of the world. The nutritional value is enormous given the fact that it constitutes the most powerful natural anti-oxidant, which protects the human body from oxidation and the development of free radicals which cause serious diseases.
The Mediterranean climate and the good constitution of soil in Crete allows olive trees not only to grow everywhere, on plains as well as mountainous areas, and to produce the best possible quality of olive oil, with low acidity and fabulous aroma. The fact that Cretans live longer and have the lowest rate of diseases seems to be directly linked to the fact that they are also the largest consumers of olive oil on a world scale.
After the winter rains (March-April) and when we have a few days with lots of sun the olive trees bloom. After several weeks appears the wrist which is ready for harvest end of October. This wrist provides us the famous olive oil.
Visit our olive groves where you can learn about production and many interesting information about olive trees, olive oil and mediterranean cooking.
In our Cretan Traditional Cooking Lessons and tour to the farm you will have the opportunity to enjoy Cretan hospitality, combined with tasting and cooking, in Kissamos, Chania, Crete.
“…Olive oil, compared to edible seed oil, is rich in mono-saturated fatty acids which are resistant to oxidation and reduce LDL cholesterol whithout affecting HDL cholesterol, which protects fron atherosclerosis… Olive oil is also rich in anti-oxidant substances such as tocopheroles and hydroxyphenoles, which protect not only fron atherosclerosis but also from various forms of cancer by blocking free toxic radicals. It is worth mentioning that the constitution of olive oil in fatty acids is similar to the one of maternal milk…” Antonis Kafatos, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, University of Crete.


Welcome to Our Website!
Welcome to the website of the Almanzora Valley Gardening Club.
The Almanzora Valley is in the northern part of Almería Province in the South East corner of Spain. It has almost 320 days sunshine each year and the rainfall cannot be relied upon. From drought to flood we have to cope with arduous conditions to give our plants the chance to develop strongly.
Please feel free to browse the pages of our website. We hope you enjoy your visit and gain an insight into what it is like to pursue our gardening interests in this part of the world.
We are a group of likeminded amateur gardeners who are learning the techniques of gardening in a totally alien environment. The Spanish weather means we have to learn a whole new series of tricks for plants to survive. We are a very sociable and friendly group with a light hearted approach.
- Offer information and advice on gardening topics
- Each month there is a sale of member's plants, cuttings & produce and we also have a seed swap service
- Encourage lively debate with question and answer sessions
- Social evenings and excursions
- Guest speakers
- Members are encouraged to open their gardens (though this is not compulsory!)
- Monthly raffles with great prizes of plants and related items
- An annual show
We meet on the first Friday of every month (with the exception of January and August). starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Pedro Gilabert Museum in Arboleas (up the hill just past the Ayuntamiento & opposite the Bar Azabache).


Mellow Microgreen Mix
Mellow mix microgreens are a mix of Broccoli, crimson clover, and purple kohlrabi. All three microgreens are highly nutritious. Broccoli microgreens are called superfoods because they are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and many healthy nutrients. Crimson clover microgreens have the highest amount of protein along with many nutrients. Purple kohlrabi microgreen is also called a superfood, rich in minerals and vitamins.
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The EVO oil from Mimì
The extra virgin olive oil produced by Mimì is simply extraordinary.
This is The "Made with Love" Farm, in fact Domenico Conserva, known as Mimì, was born and grew up loving the olive tree. He succeeded in becoming an olive grower, but his dream lasted too little time.
Today, his passion is carried on by his sons Donato and Michele and his wife Giuditta, who run 45 hectares of land with 13,000 trees. In the last harvest 2,000 quintals of olives were produced and 100 purchased, with a yield of almost 246 hectoliters of oil.
There are five Extra Virgin Mimì, the "basic", the Pdo Terra di Bari - Bitonto, Cima di Melfi, Coratina and the extraordinary Coratina from Organic Farming.
Coratina Mimì - Da Agricoltura Biologica
100% Coratina olive variety. Continuous cycle production system. Intense fruity. Intense limpid golden yellow color with light green hues. Its aroma is definite and rotund, rich in fragrant hints of mint and rosemary, together with distinct notes of unripe almond, cinnamon and black pepper. Its taste is ample and elegant, with notes of artichoke, thistle and chicory. Bitterness is strong and pungency is distinct.
€ 19 the 0.500 lt. bottle.
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100% Coratina olive variety. Continuous cycle production system. Intense fruity. Intense limpid golden yellow color with light green hues. Its aroma is definite and rotund, rich in fragrant hints of...


Agro-logistics or Agriculture logistics is an important freight requirement in Australia. According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics, Australia has 89,400 agricultural businesses and 384 million hectares of agricultural land, and is one of the most important industries in the country. It’s one of the most significant export industries in Australia too with two thirds of food, fiber being exported overseas which is why agro-logistics is important. With food demand expected to rise along with global population increases, efficiencies in the supply chain is vital. That is why least-cost agro-logistics are important.
From paddock to port, transport of the goods and improving transport efficiencies need to be carried out to ensure that agro-logistics effort stay efficient. From strategic investments in infrastructure to strategic planning, and grass-roots research is vital to understanding what the farmers need to what the final destination customers need as well. With figuring out least-cost agro-logistics options can decided the competitiveness of the market and which types of goods face difficulties and bottlenecks in the supply chain process.
With analysis into the agriculture industry and understanding the concept of agro-logistics along with costs attached it, there will be better way to improve the industry. By understanding the impact of agro-logistical freight costs on farmers, and the process in which goods are transferred from farm to processor, port and/or domestic market or international market and the different processes that take international market into consideration.
As a agro-logisics is a branch of logistics, it handles all sorts of logistical requirements for production (farmers), processing (industry) and distribution (service providers and traders) of vegetable or animal-based products as stated by WorldBank. It plays an important role in global supply as food is one of the primary commodities that people purchase and is a basic requirement. Ensuring that supply and demand are balanced and there is a smooth supply chain is vital to ensuring that products reach the final consumer once it leaves the production milestone.
By ensuring smooth flow of agro-logistics, having the proper infrastructure and warehousing facilities based on the products in question is important. From Silos to temperature-controlled warehouse facilities and more, and not to mention vehicle fleets with similar functions and capabilities is vital to a maintaining the optimum level of quality control to ensure that final delivery is safe and a success.
However, agro-logistics has become increasingly challenging with rising costs for energy and not to mention competition globally. According to a recent study made on the State of Logistics in the Australian Food Industries, it was apparent agro-logistics account for 20%-50% of the total retail or export value. It is crucial that further improvements to the operations will drive up quality as well as increase on the export/retail value.