Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought the world to the brink of what Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has described as a potentially “apocalyptic” food crisis. The ongoing conflict has halted agricultural exports from Ukraine, a country long known as the breadbasket of Europe and Russia and the world’s largest exporter of wheat and fertilizers. States heavily dependent on Russian and Ukrainian wheat imports, including Lebanon, Nigeria, Indonesia, Algeria, and Egypt, have frantically enacted measures to increase domestic wheat production and secure alternate sources for grain imports. Estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations (FAO), indicating a 20% increase in global food prices, have buoyed concerns that recent upward volatility in agricultural commodities markets could be indicators of what is perhaps the most severe food crisis so far this century.
Ukraine and Russia, which accounted for nearly 30% of the world’s wheat exports before the war, have long played crucial roles in global agricultural supply chains. Russia’s naval blockade has cut off the majority of Ukraine’s agricultural exports, while ongoing fighting has significantly disrupted harvests. Additionally, Russian forces have reportedly stolen up to 500,000 tons of Ukrainian grain and are attempting to sell it to desperate states internationally. However, since Russia’s invasion, international shipping conglomerates now predominantly avoid docking in Russian ports or transporting Russian goods due to financial, political, and physical risks. Despite sanction exemptions and Russian evasion efforts, the export of Russian agricultural products has been hobbled.
Consequently, the disruption of agricultural activity and exports has created substantial price volatility. According to Barron’s, during the business week of February 28th to March 4th following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, wheat and corn futures contracts, which is “a legal agreement to buy or sell a particular commodity asset, or security at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future” increased in value by 40.62% and 14.72% respectively. While prices have since fluctuated, they remain at substantially elevated levels. Disruptions in Russian fertilizer supplies (Russia was the world’s largest fertilizer exporter) are further disrupting food supply chains. Increased fertilizer prices and potential supply shortages, worsened by increased natural gas prices, could significantly reduce crop yields worldwide, adding further pressure to global food prices.
The cumulative effects of agricultural supply chain disruptions during the Covid 19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have substantially increased food prices and food insecurity worldwide. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could imperil the stability of low and middle-income countries reliant on grain imports.
(Statistica)Egypt, Turkey, Senegal, Lebanon, Tanzania, and many others heavily rely on Russian and Ukrainian grain imports. Lebanon, for example, only had enough grain stored for one month since the nation’s main wheat silos were destroyed in the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, since been importing over 60 percent of its wheat from Ukraine. A combination of pandemic supply chain and demand disruptions, extreme weather, and trade barriers have also led the wheat stocks of many significant exporters to decline. While India and Australia have been viewed as two producers potentially capable of partially alleviating supply bottlenecks, the seasonal nature of agricultural production, the scale of existing disruptions, high transportation costs, and increasing protectionism will keep grain prices at elevated levels in the near term. Export bans and restrictions have been enacted by over 20 countries, including India, one of the world’s largest producers. Protectionist measures have further exacerbated pressure on global grain markets, exacerbating existing food security risks by raising global prices. Further supply disruptions are likely, as major exporters of wheat or substitute crops (like corn) do not have enough existing stocks or transportation capacity to sufficiently make up the supply shortfall in the absence of significant intervention by donor countries.
Many states in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) are disproportionately vulnerable to ongoing wheat supply disruptions and price increases. Before Russias Invasion, most MENA states heavily relied upon grain supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Bread, a primary staple throughout the Middle East, is often heavily subsidized by governments to ensure stability. In Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, the government has been forced to take drastic action. The war in Ukraine has cut Egypt off from 80 percent of its wheat imports and left the Egyptian government scrambling to find new supplies. In response, the Egyptian government fixed the price of bread at 11.50 Egyptian Pounds (a little more than 50 cents in US Dollars) a kilogram. Egypt’s Pretorian government is especially cognizant of risks posed by steep food price increases. During the Arab Spring, substantial increases in food prices often preceded revolutions against governments such as the Mubarak Regime in Egypt. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations (FAO) Cereal Price Index, cereal grain prices have reached record highs (173.3). This is well above the index’s prior historical peak, in 2011 (142.2), when elevated wheat prices contributed to the Arab Spring. While developing grain importers in the southern hemisphere are most exposed to this grain supply shock, the interconnected nature of global food markets makes the harmful consequences of these disruptions global.
Ongoing Wheat supply and price disruptions are already having significant humanitarian consequences. According to David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which provides food aid to 13 million Yemenis, warned, “we get 50 percent of our grains out of the Ukraine-Russia area, it’s going to have a dramatic impact on food costs, shipping costs, oil, and fuel.” In Yemen, a country reliant upon international donors for the country’s food supply due to the ongoing civil war, over 19 million people, a majority of Yemen’s population, are at risk of going hungry. Already underfunded aid initiatives which help provide subsistence, millions of Yemenis have seen costs skyrocket due to increased grain and transportation costs exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. The UN World Food Programme had already been “forced to halve food rations for eight million people at the beginning of the year due to” funding shortages related to increased costs and funding shortfalls. The dramatic disruptions of global food markets and supply chains precipitated by Russia’s invasion will likely create further food insecurity in Yemen and other vulnerable regions worldwide.
The deleterious consequences on global food markets unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will not spare major exporters like the United States. Knock-on effects from steep price increases in agricultural goods and related commodities are worsening inflation, which has already reached a 40-year high in the United States. Ahead of the 2022 midterms, inflation has become the number 1 issue for voters. Sustained levels of high inflation are already forcing the Federal Reserve to pursue a tighter monetary policy (raise interest rates). Interest rate hikes create additional burdens for sovereign, corporate, and consumer debtors. The enactment of export bans by increasing numbers of states and poor wheat harvests in the United States are indications that the present grain supply crisis will likely extend into 2023 and possibly beyond, presenting substantial humanitarian, economic, and political risks for policymakers at the domestic and international levels.
Featured Image Source: @RALee85/Twitter


🏘 About the Organization and Job Details
(Re-advertised) Vacancy for ambitious and knowledgeable professionals with a passion for rural development
Project: Out-grower Service Company model for maize and soybean in Rwanda
We are Agriterra, a Dutch agri-agency that provides business development services to ambitious cooperatives and farmer organizations in developing and emerging economies.
We assist them with advice and training by locally based business advisors and by deploying practitioners from the Dutch and international farmer organizations and (cooperative) companies; the so-called Agripool experts. We apply a three-track approach: we make cooperatives bankable and create real farmer-led companies, we improve extension services to farmer members, and we enhance farmer-government dialogues. Our advisory practice covers the full range of services on Management & Organization, Financial Management, Governance, Business Development, and Lobby & Advocacy.
Agriterra works from local offices in a large number of countries. We work with self-steering teams, so our employees are challenged to use every bit of determination, creativity, and strategy to achieve our compelling goals. Being a self-steering organization makes Agriterra an inspiring and challenging environment for professional growth and development.
Agriterra has an annual turnover of approximately 15 million euros, is ISO certified, and has over 160 employees, both in the Netherlands and abroad. For more information, visit our website www.agriterra.org.
For a new and innovative initiative in the Rwandan maize and soybean value chains, specifically in Ngoma district, Agriterra Rwanda is looking for an accountant of an out-grower service company.
I. Introduction of the project
The Out-grower Service Company (OSC) model for maize and soybean in Rwanda is a pilot project that seeks to increase the soybean and maize productivity and supplies of raw materials for animal feed production. Several factories have been set up in Rwanda to process animal feeds, but they all lack sufficient availability of domestic quality maize and soybean, forcing them to import their raw materials.
Most maize and soybean producers have organized themselves into cooperatives, but the efficiency of the cooperatives often requires further professionalization and upscaling. Having seen the situation, Enabel initiated the Out-grower Service Company model to provide solutions to challenges faced by both smallholder farmers and animal feed processors. In November 2020 Agriterra received a grant from Enabel to implement this project for a period of 3 years. The targeted number of direct beneficiaries is 3,000 maize and soybean farmers, located in the Eastern province, Ngoma district. Experiences of the pilot in Ngoma will be shared with cooperatives in Gisagara and Kirehe districts in year 2 of the project.
📋 Job Description Details
II. Background of the assignment
The animal feeds industry is a critical component of the livestock sector in Rwanda. However, over the years the sector faced significant challenges in producing sufficient animal feed to support the development of its livestock sector. These challenges include:
i. Low productivity of the livestock sector with farmers utilizing grasses, maize, and legumes in feeding their animals which in many cases affects their productivity.
ii. Poor quality (high aflatoxin levels) and limited availability of maize (energy source).
iii. Lack of reliable domestic supply of Soya (plant protein) or alternatives.
iv. High cost of imported animal feed ingredients which positions the price of feeds above farmers’ purchasing power.
v. The limited availability of alternative sources of calcium.
To this end, Enabel funded the implementation of the Out-grower Service Company Model to be piloted by Agriterra in the maize and soybean sectors to increase the local supply of animal feeds ingredients, increase the production levels of animal feeds and improve the productivity in the livestock sector.
Position: OSC Accountant
Location: Ngoma district, Eastern province
As an accountant, you will be based in the OSC office in Ngoma and will support the implementation of the Out-growers services company model in the maize and soybean value chains. The accountant position requires an experienced person with multi-annual experience in cooperative financial administration, especially in the maize/soy sector, with a high degree of independence, integrity, and problem-solving skills.
To ensure that the project objectives are achieved in full, the job holder will be required to establish great cooperation and communication with OSC staff on the field, liaise directly with project partners (i.e. Enabel, RAB, and local government), and other key maize and soybean value chain partners (farm inputs suppliers, financial institutions, crop insurance companies, off-takers, and other services providers).
Job Duties& Tasks and Responsibilities
- Compile and analyze financial information prepare financial statements including monthly and annual accounts and ensure compliance with financial rules and regulations.
- Ensure financial records are maintained in compliance with accepted policies and procedures.
- Review entries and correct errors and inconsistencies in financial entries, documents, and reports.
- Determine proper handling of financial transactions and approve transactions within designated limits.
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports to the Manager and the board of the OSC and explain them in an understandable manner.
- Prepare and submit tax declarations.
- Engage in and facilitate annual financial and tax audits as required by law
- Review of accounts payables and weekly check runs.
- Arrange reconciliations.
- Report, analyze and ensure the integrity of all financial information.
- Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports along with any other reports that may be required by the Senior Management or Board
- Facilitate the drafting of reports to the Board of Directors, Enabel, and the district.
- Carry out other relevant tasks as assigned by Agriterra Rwanda or the OSC manager.
💼 Job Specification
Job Qualification Needed
- A0 in accounting with at least 2 years of working experience in a related field
- Knowledge of quick books or similar accounting software
- A respectful and motivated attitude towards farmers and their organizations
- Good computer skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Good interpersonal and writing skills in Kinyarwanda, French and English.
- Organizational skills
- Ability to work in an innovative business model, with loyalty to farmers, cooperatives.
- Ability to work in Ngoma District.
- Strongly developed analytical abilities and commercial insight
- A robust personality combined with the ability to work independently
- Good command of Microsoft office
- Knowledge of the OSC model is an advantage.
🌐 How to Apply
Job Application Channel Accepted
Are you interested?
Are you interested in this position, and do you fit the profile? Apply before the 8th of October 2021 with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and academic certificate in one PDF file, by sending an e-mail to email@example.com to the attention of Mr. Jasper Spikker, Agriterra Rwanda country representative, with reference code ATRW-8706ACC. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Application Deadline Provided
Please Apply for this Post not later than 8th of October 2021
62 All the time, 1 To day


*Soil is where life begins
Soil is where food begins*
_There can be no life without soil and soil without life._
~~_Manaskriti School, greater faridabad_~~ believe in nurturing the talent within each student and give them experiential activities to explore the topic.
Learners of Grade 5 performed Edible Soil Profile activity. Keeping the concept of different layers of soil in mind, they also demonstrated the various layers using edible materials.
All presented beautiful edible layers and were able to understand the layers of soil inside the crust.
The purpose of the activity is to make them understand about the layers of soil and the different horizons.


5/22/2019 0 Comments
Weeds, Food and Medicine
Mid-May and with so much rain, the challenge is weeds. As an Edible Landscaper, I allow for Wild Forage food plants and medicine in all my gardens.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris, Asteraceae, Perennial, North Africa, Siberia, Europe) is the toughest challenge. She really doesn't know how to control herself. She is sacred to Asians, Europeans and Native Americans. She can be burned and smoked in ceremony. I make a delicious vinegar with her leaves and also use them in my Wild Salad. In the past two years I have dried the leaves for tea. I have been hedge-trimming her at Flora's the last couple of weeks and I don't think she likes it so far only returning in patches. I do maintain her in sections at Flora's and Hiddenbrooke. Mugwort is good for our Moontime and to ease the Great Change (Menopause), but should not be used by pregnant women.
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare, Asteraceae, Biennial, Northwestern Africa, Western Asia, Europe) is the most dominant weed at Sargent-Downing. I did harvest two pounds of leaf once for cooked greens, but it took mighty long to remove the midrib of the leaf which can be too fibrous to enjoy. I consider it a survival food, very sweet and delicious, but too time consuming to process for a regular meal. The root can be eaten raw or cooked. The root and leaves contain mineral electrolytes and can provide energy when exercising. Spikey stalk and leaves. I have an electric mower at SDG so I just keep Bull Thistle mowed.
Ground Ivy (Glechoema hederacea, Labiatae, Perennial, Turtle Island, Caucasus, Europe) is a beautiful blue mat of flowers in Spring. I like to have her around for her flowers, but I weed her out of the beds. She is a strong flavored green for Wild Salad and can also be used for tea, blood cleansing, tonic and diuretic. Topically, the leaves can be used for bruises and inflammation.
Stiltgrass or Sasa as a Japanese student said it is called in Japan (Microstegium vimineum, Poaceae, Annual, South Asia, East Asia) is a new challenge in the beds. Last year completely covered Anise Hyssop and Skullcap at Hiddenbrooke, though the plants were there underneath. The young leaves are edible and sweet. I once head up Mt. Beacon (1000 ft) without food or water, bonked three quarters of the way up and there was Sasa on the side of the path beckoning me to eat her. I ate five leaves and head up to the peak, refreshed and fortified. The leaves become too fibrous later in the season.
Flora Jones Garden is my Wild Salad garden. A variety of edible wild plants occur that have beautiful flowers. Aster (Aster ericoides, Asteraceae, Perennial, Turtle Island) is an edible leaf with a white spray of flowers in Autumn. Aster macrophylla is also a tasty leaf with a lavender spray of flowers in autumn. Red Clover, (Trifolium pratense, Leguminosae, Perennial, Europe) has a pink flowerhead in Summer. The leaves and flowers can be eaten in our Wild Salad both containing iron. White Clover (Trifolium repens) is much smaller and usually grown for hay. The flowers were once used to make bread.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae, Perennial, Northern hemisphere) is thought to have been brought to Turtle Island 600 years ago by the Vikings (who weren't interested in conquering). Dandelion along with Ground Ivy and Violet are the bane of the grass enthusiast. I consider their flowers a lovely addition to the boring green lawn, a symbol of wealth brought to us by the English. American lawns are considered English envy. Dandelion is like a multi-vitamin. The leaves are iron rich with vitamins A and C and minerals. The flowers can be made into a nutritious wine and the buds can be pickled. I make a Dandelion Soup with the leaves in late Spring. I am taking root tincture through menopause now to support the liver.
Violet (Viola odorata, Violaceae, Perennial, Europe) has taken over the driveway at Flora's. Beautiful heart shaped leaves and purple flowers can both be eaten in Wild Salad. The flower and leaf can also be made into a syrup for cough, headache and is mildly laxative.
Burdock (Arctium minus, A. lappa, Asteraceae, Biennial, Turtle Island, Europe) is one of my earliest allies as I have had digestive issues throughout my life. I have taken the first year root tincture for an ulcer, used the leaves put up in vinegar topically to reduce swelling and just recently used the fresh root for tea as a Spring Tonic. The leaves grow to an arm's length and in the second year, Burdock is multi-stemmed with purple Thistle-like flowers. Those burrs on your clothes that you come home with after a hike are Burdock seed heads, the inspiration for Velcro. Our plant Family has multipe uses so when you find your Allies, research them thoroughly.
Yellow Dock (Rumex obtusifolia, R. crispus, Polygonaceae, Perennial, North temperate and Arctic regions). Here is a case of cultural bias as the native R. obtusifolia (the leaf has a red midrib) is rarely included in herbals while R. crispus is always included. Both plants have the same properties. An iron rich root that can be made into a decoction, especially good for women. I find R. obtusifolia most often. The seeds can be made into a vinegar. I used leaves for Nettle soup in early Spring.
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata, Cruciferae, Biennial, North Africa, Asia, Europe). Garlic Mustard leaves taste like Garlic and the flowers and seeds taste like Mustard. A spicy addition to our Wild Salad, like Dandelion quickly flowering in Spring, but there are usually first year leaves available at the foot of the second year plants.
Field bindweed (Convulvulus arvensis var. arvensis (broadleaf), C. arvensis var. linearifolius (narrow-leaved) Convulvulaceae, Perennial, Asia, Europe). Field Bindweed is the bane of my existence the last two year's at Flora's overtaking Vetch. Related to Morning Glory (Ipomea hederacea, Convulvulaceae, Annual, Vine, Turtle Island to Argentina), Field Bindweed does contain glycosides and purgative properties. I have used the leaves of Morning Glory in salad. The dried seeds are thought to be hallucinogenic and are used in Asia for worms, constipation, as a diuretic and to stimulate menstruation. I. tricolor and I. violacea seeds have compounds similar to LSD and were used in Aztec rituals.
Vetch (Vicia americana, Leguminosae, Perennial, Turtle Island). Vetch seeds and young stems are edible, tasting like Bean Sprouts. The plants contain cyanide so use with caution. Sweet pink flowers in Summer. So prolific I was shocked when Field Bindweed overtook her. She was the first "weed to find her place at Flora's so I thought I would always have her. A succession plant lesson would be useful here.
Dare I say, if we used all of these plants mentioned here as food and medicine, they would be less invasive.
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Life Craft: Climate Responsible Agriculture for Latvia
Project Duration: 01/04/2018 – 30/06/2023
Project Beneficiary: Latvian Fund for Nature
Project Partners: Institute for Environmental Solutions, Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre, Czech Center for Science and Society
Project Funding: EU LIFE programme, State Regional Development Agency, Republic of Latvia
Project Location: Latvia
The objective of Climate Responsible Agriculture for Latvia (LIFE CRAFT) is to implement, test, evaluate, promote and provide guidance on effective and economically feasible means for the reduction of agricultural GHG emissions while preserving stable income for farmers by taking an ecosystem-based approach. The project will demonstrate opportunities for practical management practices of agricultural lands for GHG emission reduction purposes as a basis for sustainability of rural areas and stimulus for local economies.
- Increase farmer and political decision-maker awareness about available GHG emission reducing agricultural practices by developing a guidebook that lists all the relevant climate responsible agricultural practices applicable in the Baltic Sea region;
- Implement, test and demonstrate 3 different GHG emission reducing agricultural management practices at farm level;
- Adapt remote sensing based monitoring instruments for improved evaluation of national policy efficiency targeting agricultural GHG emission reduction.


Herbicide Use and Your Brain Health
If your diet includes conventional packaged foods made from corn, soy, wheat or sugar (think cereals, breads, cookies, etc.) you are likely ingesting a heavy dose of toxic chemicals that could be affecting your neurological health. Mounting evidence shows that the herbicide glyphosate or “Roundup" is linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as chronic gut dysbiosis. The latter is particularly important because we now know that an imbalance in gut microbiota can impair brain neurotransmitter function leading to chronic pain and fatigue, anxiety and depression. Additionally, glyphosate exposure is thought to lower brain serotonin levels that can disregulate moods and sleep patterns.
Glyphosate is the most pervasively use herbicide and many of us are getting a triple dose in the foods we eat. Seeds are genetically engineered with this chemical to increase crop yields, and thus profits. These altered seeds are referred to as GMOs. Plants are then sprayed with glyphosate during the growing season to minimize invading weeds. And to aid industrial harvesting, crops are sprayed with a final dose as a pre-harvest desiccant. Adding to the body’s toxic load, glyphosate is accumulating in our air, home landscape and public spaces, and ground water.
There are things you can do to reduce glyphosate exposure and support its elimination from your body:
Buy foods showing the USDA Organic label. This is only sure way to avoid glyphosate in your food. The stamp identifies that the item has met federal and state rules pertaining to organic standards, which means the food has been grown without using pesticides and GMO seed or in the case of animal products, animals have not been fed GMO feed or given hormones and antibiotics. So NO glyphosate! (Get EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce)
Look for the Non-GMO Project Verified stamp. This non-profit organization seeks to build a food supply free of GMOs (also referred to as GE) and offers routine testing and labeling of products containing at-risk ingredients. Food companies and growers voluntarily participate which demonstrates their commitment to providing you with GMO and pesticide-free food.
Support local farms and shop at your local farmers’ market. Foods grown for local markets have fewer pesticides since they don’t need to withstand distant transport and long storage times. Also, shopping directly from the farmer allows you to ask questions about GMOs and growing practices so that you can be reassured your food is GMO and pesticide-free.
Do not use Roundup herbicide in your home landscape and use only organic or non-GMO seeds in your edible garden. Educate your neighbors on the toxic consequences of this pesticide and encourage organic landscape alternatives. Check with your children’s school and local municipal authorities managing parks and public spaces and find out if or when this chemical is used and avoid these areas as much as possible.
Detox your body. Enjoy lacto-fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir and similar foods to increase your body’s beneficial bacteria that can breakdown and eliminate pesticides. Eating a diet rich in organic, high fiber foods such as beans, peas, collard greens and berries will support regular elimination of toxic waste. Particular herbs and plants support the liver’s detoxification process, such as dandelion, turmeric, burdock, and milk thistle. Use as teas, tonics or tinctures on a daily basis.
Environmental Working Group. (2014, Feb 19). EWG’S 2014 shoppers guide to avoiding GMO food. Retrieved on 9/22/16 from: http://www.ewg.org/research/shoppers-guide-to-avoiding-gmos
Samsel, A, & Seneff, S. (2013). Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases. Entropy, 15(4), 1416-1463; doi:10.3390/e15041416


The summer of 2022 was one for the record books. Between the unmitigated heat and the dry-as-a-bone drought conditions, even metaphors that are blithely dispensed by TV meteorologists were inadequate. Was it a “scorcher,” a “sizzling cauldron,” or something much hotter and dryer? Whatever it was, it was miserable.
Many homeowners got an up-close-and-personal view of their yards - formerly lush and green - turning brown and dead. Years and years, along with thousands and thousands of dollars that were invested in those pastoral legacies of green grass vanished into dust. As these heat-stressed homeowners looked (in disbelief) at their water and maintenance bills, which had skyrocketed to record highs, the tipping point on the benefits versus the challenges of traditional lawns was reached and came crashing down.
As summer finally turned to fall, large numbers of homeowners saw the future, and it looked like artificial turf.
The GrassTex synthetic turf has proven to be an exceptional alternative to traditional natural grass lawns. The product has several style and length options, and a comprehensive overview is available here.
Aside from the destruction of natural lawns by blistering sun and a dearth of adequate rainfall, there are many reasons for the rise in the popularity of synthetic turf. Ultimately, it comes down to two words: economic sustainability. Traditional lawns that must be planted, cultivated, fertilized, watered and constantly trimmed no longer make economic sense and most likely have not been viable for many years. Rates for water, cost of fuel for maintenance and labor expenses are at all-time highs. When these factors are compared to the up-front investment in synthetic turf, the ROI on a product like GrassTex, available from Acme Brick, is realized sooner than ever before.
Even those tastemakers on the evening news have taken notice of the advantages of synthetic turf for homes. In the Dallas/Fort Worth market, the message was not subtle: Reporter Alanna Quillen said, “If you’re tired of dealing with dead grass, mud when it rains and paying outrageous water bills, this might be the solution to your woes.”
When to Catch the Big, Green Wave
Many homeowners decide to switch from traditional grass lawns to synthetic turf during the fall and winter months. There are both practical and aesthetic reasons for this.
The maintenance personnel needed to install this turf, are maintaining traditional lawns during the spring and summer and come fall they are available for turf installation. Plus, the gorgeous, new turf is a stunning improvement over the old, dead grass found in winter lawns.
Once the installation occurs, big changes will become apparent immediately. As noted in this article, synthetic turf has never been tougher. According to Reggie Barnes of Acme Brick, Tile & Stone, today’s synthetic products, which are usually a combination of nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene, are made specifically for the home. They have better drainage, are built from highly durable materials, stay cooler in the sun, and remain in good condition for years.
Barnes added that products such as GrassTex use plastic polymers for grass blades that are woven into a permeable backing system made from plastics that are better bonded, stitched and seamed. These turfs also feature infill materials to keep the blades in position. The longer blades feel softer, and multiple blades woven together have a more grass-like feel. In most cases, the lawn is installed with a slight crown in the middle, as would be the case with natural grass.
Five Questions to Consider Before Installing Synthetic Turf
Homeowners who are frustrated with the expenses of traditional grass lawns are advised to discuss their objectives for the new synthetic turf with the experts at Acme Brick, Tile & Stone. Here are five questions the GrassTex product specialists suggest:
- What are the primary reasons for installing this turf? For example, if the homeowner wants to use it to reduce clean-up from pets and children, the best length for the artificial blades is 1.5 inches or shorter.
- Is the turf just being used for improving curb appeal of the home, or is it going to have heavier use from sports activities? This will suggest different types of GrassTex products
- How much foot traffic will the synthetic turf receive? Again, this will dictate the product type.
- In what part of the country is the home located? The geographic location will help the homeowner determine the most popular products for that area based on weather.
- What hue and blade length are most visually appealing to the homeowner?
Old habits die hard, even those that are expensive and fraught with aggravation. Is natural grass really worth the time and effort? More and more homeowners think not.
At Acme brick is only the beginning. If you’re thinking about home improvements, click here and get a little inspiration.


A report released today by a subcommittee of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Climate risk management in the US financial system, examines the threat that increasingly extreme and volatile weather conditions pose to the stability of financial markets, including U.S. agricultural markets. EDF representatives sat on the 35 members panel.
The report found that climate risks pose a wide range of threats to U.S. agriculture, including heat stress to farm workers, livestock and crops, degradation of soil and water quality, disturbances more frequent supply chain trends and decreases in productivity.
These threats translate into financial risks for agricultural businesses and finance providers, compromising the financial health of community banks, agricultural banks and local insurance markets, which could leave small businesses, farmers and households behind. without access to essential financial services.
Despite these challenges, farmers – and the financial system that supports them – have the resources and capacities to build their resilience.
Climate-resilient agricultural practices that pay off
Many well-known conservation practices like direct seeding, cover crops, extensive crop rotations and nutrient use efficiency generate both financial and environmental value reducing production costs and the risk of crop yields during adverse weather conditions.
For example, an analysis of yield data collected from a national cover crop survey found that farmers experienced a 3% increase in corn yield and a 5% increase in soybeans after five consecutive years. use of cover crops. In the drought year of 2012, farmers reported even larger yield increases when they used cover crops – nearly 10% for corn and 12% for soybeans.
However, the challenges of transitioning to new practices in the early years prevent many farmers from achieving these long-term benefits.
Business leaders, from food businesses to agricultural credit institutions, can support farmers’ transition to conservation practices and help build resilience in the food, agriculture and finance sectors in states -United.
How business and financial leaders can help
The central message of the CFTC report is that U.S. financial regulators must recognize that climate change poses serious emerging risks to the U.S. financial system, and they must act urgently and decisively to measure, understand, and manage those risks. He also urges the financial community not to wait for regulators to act, but rather to innovate and develop their own solutions.
EDF recently published a report, Financing resilient agriculture: How agricultural lenders can reduce climate risks and help farmers build resilience, which details how agricultural lenders can assess their climate risk and realign decision making and lending products to better leverage climate resilience.
Food companies are also working to remove barriers to adopting good agricultural practices that benefit the environment. For example, Cargill, who also served on the CFTC subcommittee with EDF, is a founding investor in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, a collaborative market-based program to accelerate soil health and water conservation on Iowa farmland and provide a vital new source of financial incentives for Iowa farmers.
John Hartmann, Global Sustainability Manager for Cargill’s Agricultural Supply Chain, said: “At Cargill, we believe the future path should generate positive incentives that realize the potential of nature-based climate change solutions and agriculture and avoid adding financial constraints to agricultural producers.
With a commitment to tackle climate risks and collaborate on solutions, we must not rely solely on the courage of farmers to weather the storms ahead. Farm businesses and donors can help farmers transition to a more resilient future.


Brazil Espirito Santos 820 meters Pulped Natural
$11.00 On sale
American Roast 410' F Tomato Leaf. Sparkling Acidity. Easy Body.
Jeferson Pin's Sitio Corrego Capivara is located in the county of Vargem Alta in the Espirito Santo region. This farm produces about 270 bags per year. Flowering season begins around December to January with the harvesting around July through December with an average rainfall of 1000 to 1200mm annually. The total farm is around 17 hectares with 10 hectares planted with coffee.
The Montanhas do Espirito Santo region is dominated by small-scale coffee-growers and is characterized by the presence of farmers who are actively engaged in the entire chain of the production process. Growers in Espirito Santo work with family members and build off of traditional knowledge to innovate and improve their quality of life and coffee. Located in the southern area of the Espirito Santo state, where mild temperatures (73oF) and steep highlands (between 700 and 1,000 meters) favor growing Arabica coffees, this region produces a superb quality coffee with a round body, nice acidity, and fine sweetness. While the most common process for the region is Natural, Pulped Naturals are increasing in popularity.
Ally Coffee Importers
Importers Cupping Notes:
FLAVOR: Papaya, Strawberry, Stone Fruit
AFTER TASTE: Lingering
ACIDITY: Cherry Acidity


Blooming plants have different nutritional needs than plants in other growth phases. To meet those high nutritional demands of your beloved bloomers, use only the best.
MightyGrow 2-6-4 Bloom Plant Food is the perfect answer for organic gardener’s growing plants with the most critical and taxing bloom cycles.
The high phosphorus and carbon content along with the added beneficial microbes and minerals create a knock-out nutritional punch for your plants at their most critical stage.
MightyGrow 2-6-4 Bloom Plant Food has been designed as an easy to use, non-burning* formula. Simply top-dress, water in, and watch your plants bloom.
*when used as directed


Deer Creek Herbs & Teas
From Pomegranate Vendor
Deer Creek Herbs & Teas is a start-up company founded by Susan Randall and Mark Sanderson upon their retirement from work in the human services and education fields. The name derives from the Creek which snakes in curves and half-circles east to west through their 80 acre farm north of Aurora, South Dakota. The Creek carries water from Lake Hendricks, Minnesota to the Sioux River in eastern South Dakota.
Mark and Susan are influenced by a tradition of family farming that goes back four generations to homesteading on the prairie.
Their core values are to:
–Provide FRESH, HIGH QUALITY produce grown LOCALLY.
–Utilize growing methods that are sustainable and respectful of the environment.
–Conduct business with integrity, respect, and fair treatment.


Smart agriculture solutions reap many benefits. Remote crop, orchard, facility, and livestock monitoring systems can help agriculture managers, farmers, and ranchers to transform agriculture.
Monitoring real-time data alerts on mobile devices allows for a new level of efficiency, making it easy to keep an eye on operations, crops, and livestock with Monitoring Sensors equipment connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). In 2020, 19.7 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors—10.3 percent of the U.S. total. AireSpring’s IoT solutions can help make your smart agriculture intelligence a key factor in efficiency and profitability.
Agriculture Use Cases
There are many potential use cases for agriculture and the Internet of Things (IoT). Some examples include:
Soil and crop monitoring: Sensors can be placed in fields to monitor soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels, and provide real-time data to farmers. This can help farmers optimize irrigation and fertilization and improve crop yields.
Pest and disease control: Sensors can be used to monitor for pests and diseases, and alert farmers when action is needed. This can help prevent infestations and reduce the use of pesticides.
Livestock tracking: IoT devices can be used to track the location and health of livestock, and provide alerts if animals are in distress. This can help farmers respond quickly to any issues and improve the overall health and well-being of their animals.
Precision agriculture: IoT technologies can be used to collect data on things like weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop growth, and use this information to optimize farming practices. This can help farmers save resources and improve crop yields.
Supply chain management: IoT devices can be used to track the movement of produce from farm to market, providing real-time visibility into the supply chain and helping to ensure the quality and freshness of food.


Black Knight Vineyards
This picturesque 100 acre property lies just outside of Santa Rosa. Mitch Black quit his 9-5 job a decade back and planted one of the most geologically interesting vineyards in all of Sonoma. With the help of his two Labradors (one silver and the other gold) he micro-farms dozens of different blocks with various soil types, wind exposures, and clone plantings. One half of the vineyard sits below the Rodgers Creek fault and the other half above (almost a 100 ft vertical drop). No two spots in this remarkable vineyard are the same.


Newcastle University Project - From Manure to Megawatts
01 March 2010
The University announced in late December 2009 that they are going ahead with a £1.85m project looking at ways of converting waste into energy. The project will be jointly funded by the University and regional development agency, One North East, and will involve the use of a state-of-the-art anaerobic digester which converts manure from pigs and cattle into green energy and organic fertilizer. The digester will be installed at Cockle Park Farm in Northumberland by Anaerobic Energy Ltd.
Along with examining AD techniques, the purpose of the project is to assist farms to turn into more sustainable businesses by working with the North East farmers, land managers and other related businesses to find new ways of producing renewable energy from waste.
A senior representative from One North east commented that "anaerobic digestion offers considerable potential for farms and rural businesses in the production of energy and the management of animal manures and other waste streams. However, the number of facilities on farms in the UK is limited as the technology has predominantly been used for the management of animal manures rather than energy production. It is an area that is waiting to be exploited bearing in mind that the UK has 150,000 full-time and 200,000 part-time farms".


By Nakirfai Tobor
The problem in Osun State is focussed around the conflict between herdsmen and crop farmers. Farmers have been accusing herdsmen in the area of failing to control their cattle and thus in turn they end up damaging their crops. In return, the herdsmen have accused the crop farmers of stealing their cattle. All in all, this conflict, is estimated to cost Nigeria approximately $16 billion in potential revenues every year.
The State is set to use drones in its bid to address the growing problem of livestock theft and attacks in the region. The announcement was made by Oluremi Omowaiye, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology for Nigeria‘s State of Osun, during the ICTEL Expo 2018 in Lagos.
Added to the use of drones, the state has also built a call center and has announced an SMS shortcode which people in Osun State, especially farmers, can use to track the movement of live stocks in the surrounding areas.
“The State, will in the coming week, launch unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drone as a monitor tool to track movement of live stocks in the State,” said Omowaiye.
“When we started putting up an inquiry and call centre the need a short code arose; so that it will be easy for people to call. We approached NCC for a 3-digit short code which we are going to make a toll free line. NCC supported us. We are going to commission it next week,” said Omowaiye.


Certification mark PPP 80019
Ground-based correction data service for satellite positioning
Subject of audit:
This certification mark is awarded to a ground-based correction data service for satellite positioning allowing real-time positioning up to an accuracy of ±2cm. Verification subjects are real-time positioning accuracy, availability and quality of the service for in-motion farming applications.
Examination based on:
The certification mark is awarded within the framework of voluntary testing and certification. The statistical evaluation of the dynamic trials is based on:
- ISO 5725-2:1994 - Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results - Part 2: Basic method for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility of a standard measurement method
The verification of the service is conducted very similar to PPP80013. Testing focuses on:
- Validation and verificaton of the (management) concepts for
- System Design
- User Management
- Data Processing
- Data Security
- Trouble-shooting and fault rectification
- Analysis of availability and operational reliability
- Measurement of performance and accuracy in accordance to ISO 5725-2
- By using a test course reflecting the requirements in agriculture (slow speeds, cornering and turning manoeuvres) and a high-precision reference measurement system (GPS positioning system + RTK base station + high precision inertial sensors)
- Statistical evaluation
- Service Quality
- Response time to customer inquiries
- Technical Expertise
Test mark affirms:
1. Precision farming:
Precision farming (PF) refers to site-specific and targeted management of farming areas. Precision farming is designed to consider the differences in soil and yield potential within a field. The machinery and equipment needed for precision farming in a field generally use (sensor-controlled) navigation systems and GNSS receivers as well as special equipment for demand-oriented site-specific application of growth regulators. Certification of the system to be tested verifies that PF satisfies the requirements regarding availability, reliability and accuracy of the correction data.
2. Guidance Systems:
Guidance systems are DGNSS-based equipment enabling users to drive equally spaced straight (parallel) tracks, curves or circles. They help to prevent skips and overlap and thus reduce material consumption. A guidance system makes high demands on the precision and reliability of a DGNSS system.
3. 2 cm Dynamic Accuracy:
Refers to the accuracy shown by the system to be tested in comparison to the reference system (GNSS positioning system + RTK base). This accuracy is an important criterion for precision farming and guidance systems.


|Make Your Own Compost Tumbler Workshop|
|MAEE Partner||River Keepers|
|Time:||6:00 pm - 8:00 pm|
Learn the basics of composting and how to construct various composting systems. You'll be guided through a step-by-step process to construct your very own compost tumbler to use at home.
The class is held outside, so dress for the weather. Unless it's raining heavily, the class will not be postponed. Come prepared to bring home an empty 55-gallon barrel compost tumbler.
Fee: $59, includes supplies.
Partial reimbursement available to Cass and Clay county residents upon completion of workshop.
All supplies are provided. However, we have a limited number of drills and bits (1/8", 3/8", 5/32"). If you have your own, please bring them.
Come prepared to carry home an empty 55-gallon plastic barrel.
To register go to Moorhead Community Education (Tickets available starting March 20):
For more Information: https://www.riverkeepers.org/projects-activities/river-friendly-house-and-yard-management/
Workshop hosted by Clay Soil & Water Conservation District, River Keepers and Cass County Soil Conservation District.
|More:||Additional Information: Preregistration is required through Moorhead Community Education. Tickets go on sale March 20.|
|Venue Name and Address||At a Moorhead Park|
|Post Date||February 23, 2020|


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Jaggery is made of the products of sugarcane and the date palm tree. The sugar made from the sap of the date palm is both more prized and less commonly available outside of the regions where it is made. The date palm is tapped for producing jaggery in West Bengal, South India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, syrup extracts from kithul (Caryota urens) trees are widely used for jaggery production. This is considered the best jaggery available on the local market and is more highly valued than that from other sources.
Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa and some countries in the Americas. It is a concentrated product of date, cane juice, or palm sap (see palm sugar) without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in colour. It contains up to 50% sucrose, up to 20% invert sugars, and up to 20% moisture, with the remainder made up of other insoluble matter, such as wood ash, proteins, and bagasse fibres.


|Cultivating sanctuary in nature, environmental stewardship and the legacy of southern horticulture.|
Spring & Summer in the Children's Garden
As long as nothing is accomplished, children love to join in whatever is being done—especially out of doors. They love to clip anything that doesn’t need clipping, to rake up leaves and then scatter them and above all they love to water. But they are wary of having their efforts directed to any good purpose.
All youngsters are invited to join us in the Children’s Garden this spring!
At Wing Haven we always use literature as a starting point to explore the garden and its critters. Come prepared to get your hands dirty as we explore the frog pond and plant vegetables and flowers. Along the way we may even improve the garden as wildlife habitat and make it prettier for all to enjoy!
Please register in advance for our programs!
Monday, March 24, 3:30-4:30pm
Ages 4 and up
Did you know that a terrarium is a self-contained ecosystem? Come and build a terrarium with plants from Wing Haven and learn about this special kind of garden.
Birding 101 with Taylor Piephoff
Monday, April 28, 3:30 – 4:30pm
Cost: $10/adult, $5/child
The birds are busy at Wing Haven, come and find out what they are up to! Taylor Piephoff, writer on birds for the Charlotte Observer and specialist on local birds and birding will share tips on how to identify birds by sight and sound. Then we’ll take a walk through the garden to observe our feathered friends!
Spring Is Sprouting!
Monday, May 5, 3:30-4:30pm
Free to families with garden admission
It is time to plant vegetables in the Children’s Garden. Come dig in the dirt and have some garden fun with us! We will enjoy a glass of lemonade and send you home with a mix of seeds for your own garden.
What’s The Buzz?
Monday, May 19, 3:30-4:30pm
Ages 4 and up
Bees have an important job in the garden. Come and learn more about bee behavior and how we can help these special pollinators. We will read a story, plant a flower and enjoy a sweet treat!
Camp Wing Haven
June 16–20, 9:30–12:00
Rising 1st and 2nd graders, $100 / child
Explore the wonders of Wing Haven through stories, exploration, and hands-on activities. Campers will experience the garden and its critters, get our hands dirty in the soil, and plant vegetables and flowers in the children’s garden.
Junior Wing Haven Gardener Camp
June 23-26, 10:00-2:00
Campers will enjoy being outdoors, experiencing nature, science, and caring for the environment. Wing Haven and Mecklenburg County Master Gardeners will lead campers in hands-on activities that teach gardening skills, birding, and developing a garden as a wildlife habitat.
Monday, July 7 & Tuesday, July 8
Participants learn to care for plants during A Time to Garden.


Closing date of application is 30 September 2009
Horticulture and Agriculture Specialists – East Timor
Cardno Acil is part of a global consulting organisation which manages projects for major donors,
delivering aid work in core disciplines such as education, health, HIV and AIDS, governance,
resource and environment management and infrastructure. We are seeking horticulture and agriculture specialists
for ongoing short term opportunities on an established development project in East Timor,
working towards expanding local crop production and trade. We are currently seeking horticulture experts
with specialization in: Horticulture Production, Horticulture Training, Post Harvest Horticulture,
and Greenhouse Construction.
All positions require either Indonesian or Tetun language skills as well as intermediate English language skills.
If you are interested, please email your current CV in English to
Dewi Sudharta on 021 3983 1811.


UC Davis and Ilias Tagkopoulos to establish the Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next-Generation Food Systems after being awarded a $20 million grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS) is part of a nationwide network of seven AI Institutes formed by the USDA, NIFA and NSF with the aim to accelerate research, expand America’s workforce, and prepare society for the future.
Ilias Tagkopoulos, Institute director and Principal Investigator, will oversee activities aimed at integrating state-of-the-art AI technologies and bioinformatics to boost food system efficiency from production through consumption. The Institute’s mission is to enable a sustainable, nutritious, safe and efficient food supply that mitigates the food system’s impact on the environment. According to the official statement by the University of California, Davis, AIFS will double down on crop quality and disease resistance through molecular breeding, plant trait optimization, food processing and distribution, and waste reduction by pairing AI, robotics and sensing technologies.
The initiative brings together researchers and scientists from UC Davis, UC Berkeley; Cornell University; the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; UC Agriculture and Natural Resources; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
To learn more about the mission of the AI Institute for Next-Gen Food Systems visit https://aifs.ucdavis.edu/.


|Mode Of Service||Online|
|Type Of Service Provider||Company|
|Service Location||Pan India|
Complete Book on Banana Cultivation, Dehydration, Ripening, Processing, Products and Packaging Technology Banana is an important fruit crop of many tropical and subtropical regions of India. It is cultivated in India in an area of 565.1 thousand ha and total production is around 18,701.9 thousand tons. Main banana growing states are Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The global production of banana is around 76,436 thousand tons of which India contributes 24.5%. Besides India, other major banana producing countries are Brazil, China, Philippines, Costa Rica and Ecuador. Flour is produced from both plantains and eating bananas in many regions, which can then be used in soups, baking or as a drink. The banana can also be used to make vinegar and to brew beverages. The stamina flowers can be used as a vegetable, after briefly heating them in salty water (to remove the bitterness). Bananas can also be used as a starch-rich animal feed (pig farming). The fresh leaves are high in protein content, and are preferred for their taste by cattle and chickens. The leaves are also commonly used as packing material and for roofing. Along with the pseudo-stem they offer excellent mulching material. The exclusive use of healthy seeds, and application of appropriate measures, offer the most effective preventative and thus alternative methods of controlling insects and nematodes. The application of waste from extensive shrimp farms in Ecuador (shrimp shells) has shown good results against nematodes beside being a good organic fertilizer. The book contains the following chapter: Banana, Cultivation of Bananas, Banana and its Bye-products, Technology of Banana Products, Banana Chips Manufacturing, Paper and Boards from Banana Stem Waste, Fruit Juices and Wines Technology, Technology of Banana Dehydration, Physiology of the Banana Root System, Banana Beer Technology, Tissue Culture in the Banana Industry, Processing of Banana, The Ripening of Bananas, Banana Wine, Technologies and Packages of Banana, Making Export Quality Bananas, Dried and Dehydrated Products of Banana, Improvement of Banana, Banana and Its Bye Products (Project Profile), Banana Fibre Extraction and Hand Made Paper, Banana Fibre Extraction and Weaving, Banana Plantation, Banana Powder (Dried Banana), Banana Wafers, Organic Cultivation of Banana, Wine From Banana (Project Profile).


As our family has been practicing social distancing, I’ve been spending more time in our backyard with my kids, playing in the sun and getting our garden ready to plant. This year, both of my kids are excited to help in the garden—though my almost-4-year-old is a little more organized in his approach than his 18-month-old brother, who spends most of his gardening time moving piles of dirt from one place to another. My older son has specific ideas about what kinds of plants he wants to grow, where to place them, and how the garden should look. Gardening can be a great way to bond as a family, learn about and try new foods, and unplug from the news to practice self care. Here are some tips to get you started!
Begin by gathering a variety of books about gardens, plants, and flowers. Depending on your child’s age, they might enjoy looking through seed catalogs or more formal informational books about gardening. Last spring, I checked out a huge variety of garden planning books from my local library and spent time with my then-3-year-old identifying interesting looking flowers and choosing vegetables to plant. Since our local library is temporarily closed, I have gathered books about gardening and plants from our bookshelves and utilized some online resources as well. I like to try to keep the research side as low-tech as possible, but with older children or depending on your preference, you might choose to incorporate the internet or a gardening app into your research.
Help your child identify which plants they want to grow in their garden using the resources found during your research. This year, I am planning on having both my kids choose 3-5 vegetables and a few kinds of flowers to plant using picture books as inspiration. Younger children might benefit from looking through a limited selection of seed packets to make their top three choices. Depending on your climate and availability, you might decide to buy plant starts, grow seedlings in your home before transplanting them to your garden, or plant seeds directly into the ground. These choices are a great way to introduce your child to the science of gardening and what plants need to survive. Encourage your child to ask questions about the plants they choose, such as, “What does a plant need? How does a plant get water, food, and so on?”
Give your child a blank piece of paper (older children might enjoy using a digital drawing or planning tool), and encourage them to draw out their garden. Ask them to think about where they want to place their plants, which plants should go next to one another, and if there is any particular way they want their garden to look. During this stage, consider showing your child images of different kinds of gardens to help them visualize ways that a garden might look. You can also invite your child to use rocks, sticks, pinecones, or other natural materials in their garden planning. Younger children might enjoy using a pre-designed resource, while older children will appreciate a more open-ended prompt. Depending on your space, you might be able to provide your child with a large area, a small plot next to the house, or a few containers inside. Even if you only have a tiny space available, your child will enjoy making a plan and envisioning their finished garden.
Gather together shovels, rakes, gloves, and any other tools you have available. Choose a day with nice weather and get outside! Show your child how to prepare their garden for planting. Depending on your space, you might be clearing an existing garden bed, building a raised bed, or filling a container with soil for an inside space. Whatever your process, getting dirty, exploring the soil, and preparing to plant is often a highlight for young gardeners!
Make Garden Markers
Use small pieces of wood, popsicle sticks, or a similar material to create unique garden markers with your child. Help younger children write the name of each plant on a marker and illustrate it with a small image using a permanent marker or other material that won’t run off in the rain. Older children can practice their penmanship and creative abilities to create their markers. Model how to place the markers in the garden near where each type of seed or start is planted. This will help your child identify weeds versus baby plants and remember where each plant is located in their garden as they begin to grow.
Depending on your location, climate, and the time of year, you may choose to begin by buying plant starts, planting seeds inside and then transferring to your garden, or planting seeds directly into the ground. Many smaller plant companies or local garden stores sell their seeds online, which can be a great way to support small businesses while practicing social distancing. Read the directions on each plant or seed packet for spacing guidelines, sun exposure, and water needs. Model how to dig a hole and identify proper spacing as you plant. Give your child the opportunity to make mistakes, plant seeds close together, or even mix things up if they choose to. This allows for independence and begins to build responsibility and ownership over the space. Encourage your child to place their garden markers in their garden as they plant.
Water, Weed, and Watch the Garden Grow!
Using the directions from each type of plant in the garden, help your child create a watering and weeding schedule to keep their garden happy. Encourage them to check their garden daily for signs of growth, bugs, or weeds. You can incorporate math learning by having your child keep track of their plant growth using a garden pictograph. If any edible plants are ready to be harvested, invite your child to taste their produce and incorporate it into your weekly family meals.
Gardening with my children has been one of my favorite experiences as a parent. Not only because I love to garden, but also because of the absolute joy, wonder, and excitement I get to see on their faces as they explore the magical world of gardening. Especially with all the challenges this year, I hope you find the same is true for your family.
By Jasmine Gibson, an educational consultant with expertise in early elementary education, supporting teachers, and designing curriculum.


The Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyard & Winery MicroGrid – launched as a five-year project in July, 2013 — is the culmination of conservation practices on the property that began nearly two decades earlier.
Mac McQuown spent ten summers working on his uncle’s farm in Illinois. He learned “organic farming” before the term existed, conservation that wasted nothing, and the mindset of land stewardship.
At Stone Edge Farm, Mac and Leslie engaged the organic expertise of Colby Eierman, former head gardener at Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts, and at the Benziger Family Winery, as well as the viticultural mastery of Phil Coturri, Sonoma’s foremost organic wine grape grower.
With their help, Stone Edge Farm has developed best sustainable farming practices ranging from composting and use of cover crops to integrated pest management. None was more vital than conserving water.
Sustainable groundwater management for nearly five acres of wine grapes plus numerous vegetable and ornamental beds, fruit trees, and olive groves was given highest priority.
For nearly a decade, the farm’s watering systems have been analyzed, upgraded, and managed by P.J. Zaft, a full-time certified irrigation auditor. During that period, the number of meters monitoring water use has increased over ten-fold, from three to 33.
Wells and storage tanks all have devices that monitor water depth and recharge rate, and water samples are routinely lab tested.
Flow sensors, check valves, and smart controllers detect leaks, shut off water to problem areas, and send notifications to smartphones. Point source micro-irrigation and deficit irrigation principles are practiced, while moisture sensors and regular soil probing ensure accuracy.
The goal is to replaced depletion from evapotranspiration, giving plants only what they need. Data is compiled and reconciled to verify that no water is wasted. The result: water use has been cut in half.
Water must be brought to thirsty crops, and irrigation pumps consume substantial amounts of electricity. Even as they lessened water use, the McQuowns set out to decrease the farm’s carbon footprint by a like amount.
Craig Wooster, an accomplished electrical engineering contractor, installed solar arrays and exceeded the McQuowns’ goal of 50 percent carbon reduction in one year. Mac also experimented with fuel cells.
Photovoltaic panels were deployed atop the ag shed’s expansive roof in the northwest corner of the farm, but much of the power consumption occurs in the southeast portion, heavily shaded by mature trees. Solar cells provided power for a number of loads, including three irrigation systems, as well as surplus energy that earned net metering credits, but buildings at the south end were still buying energy from the utility at ten times the price.
The desire to connect services and route inexpensive electricity throughout the farm, to explore how far below zero emissions it is possible to go, and to establish energy independence – all led to building the MicroGrid.
In January 2018, Stone Edge Farm was one of 13 winners of California’s highest environmental honor, the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).
GEELA is awarded to individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable contributions to conserving California’s resources and protecting and enhancing the environment.
Stone Edge Farm was recognized in the Sustainable Practices category for its “advanced technology to generate, store, and distribute clean energy to its property and beyond.”
Wooster was given a primary guiding principle: all technology must decrease the carbon footprint of the farm, toward the goal of reducing it to as far below zero as possible.
The contractor was asked to seek out any and all technologies without fear of failure or of cost as a key criterion in decision-making.
The MicroGrid project presented an open door to start-ups, offering to purchase and deploy their equipment as part of developing infrastructure and software to integrate a wide variety of assets.
Scores of interns, ranging from high school to post-doctoral students, have been employed by the McQuowns to assist in the project.
The McQuowns declared the MicroGrid an open-source project with no intellectual property restrictions.
Connecting a panel.
Filling a trench.
Repaving the road.


Refugee women in the Republic of Korea find ways to help each other integrate into society
On a bright Sunday afternoon, a group of women refugees and asylum-seekers can be seen gathering around a plot of land on the outskirts of South Korea’s capital, Seoul. With barely a word uttered between them, they calmly pick up their farming tools and start to work on prepping the soil.
Soon enough, the area fills with laughter, humming and smiles as they plough and plan on how to make the most out of the farmland they’ve been provided by the South Korean government.
Dorcas Ngalula, a Congolese refugee, says this is not the first time they are growing African vegetables on this plot of land.
“You can apply to a public programme offered by the Ansan Migrant Community Center. Last year we applied. The centre gave us three rows of farmland. And this year, we applied again. The centre must have thought what we did was interesting because this year, they gave us five [rows],” Dorcas said with a smile on her face.
When she fled to South Korea in 2010, everything was new and unfamiliar, especially the language. Dorcas managed to learn Korean with the help from her neighbours, church congregation and local NGOs. The process, however, was not always smooth sailing.
Her experience motivated her to think long and hard about how she could best share the knowledge she obtained with those facing similar hurdles. She wanted to help other refugees, so they didn’t have to go through the same struggles.
In the spirit of sharing
In 2020, Dorcas established a non-profit organization called the Wise Women Association (WWA) in South Korea. Currently, there are about 30 members, mostly from Africa. WWA helps them build a support network and encourage each other to do exactly what Dorcas had in mind – sharing knowledge and experience.
“At Wise Women Association, we have five activities: interpretation, counselling, language, life and social education, cooking class and farming. This farming activity helped each mom who participated to save money because we grew lots of vegetables last year,” said Dorcas.
Making a living in a foreign country can be a challenge for anyone, including refugees. WWA’s farming activities help minimize expenses while putting food on the table for refugee families.
“When the idea came that we could harvest our own vegetables, it was really a happy decision to make because we could buy ourselves plants and harvest what we were looking for,” said Micheline Musumar, a member of WWA.
It’s not just the farming activity that helps them stay together in solidarity. One of the main goals of Dorcas’ organization is to empower refugee women. Members of WWA, including Dorcas, take time out of their busy schedules to offer informal vocational training activities such as life and social education, language classes and interpretation.
“When Dorcas came to me and suggested the idea of creating this association, I was really impressed because I wanted to help those who newly arrived in the country. I did not want them to go through the same struggles that I did,” said Micheline. “I know that the knowledge I have when I give it to other women, they can also pass it on to other people, so that's what I really love about our association.”
Promoting social integration
Dorcas and members of WWA also underline the importance of facilitating the exchange of cultural and intellectual knowledge, not only amongst themselves but also with the local community.
Muriel Ndolo Sumbu, a fellow WWA member, said she is eager to share the produce harvested from the land with her Korean friends.
“Having this association is a good opportunity for us to showcase our different cultures and to try to be independent and do something, not only for us but also for the Korean society,” she said.
When asked about her dreams for the future, she smiled and said “It will be great if we could have our own cultural centre, where we can share our culture with many other people, not only from diverse countries but also from South Korea. We can teach, we can have some cultural classes for kids. That's my dream, my hope and plan in South Korea.”


Goulmima is a little dusty village between the desert and the Atlas mountains in the south-east of Morocco. Here a woman called Fatima, who already was part of Slow Food, decided to take action and to create her own convivium (local Slow Food chapter).
Fatima lives with her sister and her mother and, in a house in front of a mill, she created a cooperative of women who make cous cous. She buys the corn from a local farmer in order to control the quality of her product from the seeding of the plant to the packing.
We had to chance to follow her and the other women to see how cous cous is made. It´s a 5 steps process:
- the grains are taken from the farm to the mill, where they become flour
- the flour is put in the water where it becomes a solid block
- the block is worked with dry hands and crumbled until it becomes granules
- the granules are worked with a sieve
- the granules who passed through the first sieve are worked with a smaller one and so on, until the granules reach the desired dimension.
This group of less than 10 women works every day and all day long sitting on the ground. They have a runaway imagination and they try to spice up their product adding some herbs and figuring out how to expand their market: a pure example of how women can become powerful in a patriarchal culture.


Early photos of the initial Royal Marine encampment at Garrison Bay suggest a life devoid of most conveniences. Crude tents, overgrown foliage, and dense surrounding forests defined the early camp. But for all the challenges facing the Marines as they built their outpost, a small vegetable garden provided some comfort to their otherwise bleak life. Although the National Park Service has no account of the vegetables they grew, other gardens in the region during the time give an idea of what the Royal Marines probably raised. At nearby Fort Victoria for example, the Hudson Bay Company planted cabbage, potatoes, peas, beans, and squash.
The garden was planted almost as soon as the Royal Marines landed in the bay. Photographs show that they used small sticks to surround the clearing, no doubt to keep local wildlife from enjoying the fruits of their labor. After years of brutal military campaigns in the Crimea (1853-1856) and then in China (1856-1860), the task of clearing out Garrison Bay to construct a camp probably came as a relief to the Marines. When Captain William Delacombe assumed command of the garrison in 1867, the vegetable garden was moved to a different location in the camp and replaced with a formal garden to please his wife. The present flower garden, which resembled the Victorian style of other gardens back in Britain, was planted at this time.
The careful maintenance of the garden during Garrison Bays occupation solidified it as a staple of the area, and it includes flowers like delphinium, feverfew, peony, and lavender. It is still maintained today, although the vegetables planted in the 1860s have been replaced with flowers and shrubs. The crude wattle fence has been replaced with a much nicer looking and sturdier white picket one.


Cattle feed is a type of animal feed designed specifically for cattle. It is a mixture of various ingredients that provide the necessary nutrients and energy for cattle to grow and maintain their health.
Cattle feed typically contains a combination of grains, such as corn, barley, and oats, as well as protein sources such as soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and alfalfa. Other ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, and supplements such as salt and calcium.
The composition of cattle feed can vary depending on the age, weight, and breed of the cattle, as well as their intended use. For example, feed for growing calves may have a higher protein content than feed for adult cows.
Cattle feed can be provided to cattle in various forms, including pelleted, mashed, or as a textured mix. It can be fed to cattle using a variety of feeding methods, such as free choice feeding or a total mixed ration (TMR) system.
Proper nutrition is essential for the overall health and productivity of cattle. By providing high-quality cattle feed, farmers and ranchers can ensure that their cattle have the necessary nutrients and energy to grow, produce milk, or provide meat for consumption.
CATTLE FEED BAGS
Using woven bags to store cattle feed offers a number of advantages over other types of storage and packaging methods. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Durable and Long-Lasting: Woven bags are typically made from high-quality materials such as polypropylene or jute, which are strong and durable enough to withstand the weight and pressure of cattle feed. This means that they can be used multiple times and are less likely to rip or tear, making them a cost-effective option in the long run.
- Moisture and Pest Protection: Cattle feed needs to be kept dry and free from pests to ensure its quality and nutritional value. Woven bags are designed with top covers or drawstring closures that can effectively protect the feed from moisture and pests, such as rodents or insects. This helps to maintain the freshness and quality of the feed, and reduces the risk of spoilage or contamination.
- Versatility: Woven bags come in various sizes and can hold different amounts of cattle feed, from a few pounds to several hundred pounds. They are also lightweight and easy to handle, making them ideal for both storage and transportation. Furthermore, they can be used for a wide range of other agricultural products, such as seeds, fertilizer, and grains.
- Cost-Effective: Woven bags are generally less expensive than other types of packaging and storage methods, such as plastic bags or bins. This makes them a more affordable option for farmers and ranchers, who may need to store large quantities of cattle feed.
- Environmental Sustainability: Woven bags are environmentally friendly, as they can be reused and are recyclable. This reduces waste and promotes sustainability in agriculture.
In conclusion, using woven bags to store cattle feed is a practical, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable option for farmers, ranchers, and livestock enthusiasts. With their durability, moisture and pest protection, versatility, and affordability, woven bags are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to ensure the quality and nutritional value of their cattle feed.


Ever wonder what’s the real difference between organic foods and non-organic foods? With all the generic information thrown at you on a daily basis, and no one really providing a clear explanation, this can all get confusing. But don’t fret – Coach Josh is here to help you!
The first step is getting past the boring, yet important facts to note: let’s define organic. For foods to be certified as being organic, they need to meet a specific USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) criteria. For example, for vegetables and fruits, organic produce must be grown without using pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic components or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Other kinds of foods like nuts, meat, poultry, etc. go by different criteria, but for now we’ll just focus on produce.
Eating organic foods, especially organic produce, can lead to great health benefits due to the fact these foods, grown under organic standards, have proven to have greater phytochemical, vitamin, and mineral content. However, as far as costs go, organic foods can be on the more expensive side IF you purchase it at your typical supermarket. But here’s a little known secret about purchasing organic produce – if you shop at the right place, and the right amount it can actually be even cheaper than non-organic produce.
There are three other places where you can shop for organic food: at your local farmer’s market, at a health food stores, and my personal favorite through CSA (community supported agriculture). With CSA, you basically buy a share of the season’s harvest at a local farm near you. Just go to localharvest.org and check out what local CSA farm is near you. This is a great way to get amazing organic produce per the season and for a reasonable and affordable price. If you decide to go with the local farmer’s market or a health food store nearby, lookout for whatever is in season and on sale – this will always be less expensive than other veggies in fruits that are no in season.
Another useful tip is to buy in bulk. Please keep in mind that whatever you get from your harvest share or the farmer’s market, you don’t have to eat right away. Organic produce can be frozen and eaten months later. Just take them out of the freezer whenever you’re ready to feast on them and thaw them out. So feel free to stock up on your favorite produce and enjoy consuming healthy food for the rest of the year!
Now go venture out and navigate through the awesome aisles of organic produce!
Take care of yourself,


So it's been a fortnight since my last update on my vegie patch and there is a lot of growth happening out there. Things are going great guns for most of the plants but my spinach doesn't seem to have really grown much, thankfully it's not looking sick so hopefully with a few slightly warmer days it will start to take off.
Today I spent a bit of time out in my patch putting up string lines for the climbing plants of broad beans and snow peas to grow up and put some extra mulch down now that they have grown a bit higher. I also gave them a good watering of seasol and molasses
In other garden news, yesterday I spent about 2.5 hrs weeding my front yard! Soooo many little weeds that needed pulling out - I almost filled up two 60 litre bins and my front yard isn't very big! I've spread the weeds out over a future garden bed to compost down and add nutrients to that part of my garden. No pics though, I will try to get some during the week.
Broadbeans (bottom of the pic) and then 2 different plantings/timings of garlic and onions
First lot of Onions and Garlic
Second lot of Onions and Garlic
Broccoli and Cauliflower - they're getting huge! There is also some garlic popping up
Broccoli - you can't see it here but there are heads visible in the middle of them now which is very exciting
Leeks - they are doing pretty well
Spinach - not a lot of growth yet
Second round of Broccoli and Cauliflower with more Garlic popping up


This year started very busy for us, late last year 2018 we were contracted by AGCO South Africa to create a virtual reality experience for Farm in a box which they wanted to showcase in Germany at Messe Berlin at the Green Week 2019 exhibition. We developed a custom virtual reality experience for them showcasing what farm in a box is. The experience was developed for High-End virtual reality specifically for the HTC VIVE Virtual Reality headset allowing people to walk inside the virtual reality experience and to allow then to interact with Tractors, implements and tools from the farm.
Above is a screenshot of the Farm in a Box virtual reality experience. The screenshot shows what a Farm could potentially look like once it is fully developed. The container houses a small office for the farmer and also spare parts, a generator, work bench tools and other implements and tools that a farmer needs to start a successful farm.
Above you can see some of the implements and the Massey Ferguson tractor that we have modeled from scratch to form part of the Farm in the Box concept. The Massey Ferguson tractor was modeled on the 4708 Massey Ferguson tractor that comes with the Farm in a Box concept and was exactly modeled on the actual tractor. We created the complete experience in 14 days.
We modeled the experience from actual photographs, to have the same look and feel as the real farm in Zambia. Below is some of the photographs that we have worked from.
Real Farm in a Box container and Massey Ferguson 4708 tractor.
The actual farm in Zambia where the Farm in a Box concept was developed.
Rendered and recreated 3d models of the Farm in a Box concept. When in Virtual Reality it looked very real and at the same time similar to the real farm.


KEAR, GREEN OLIVE OIL. It is produced from green olives of Koroneiki variety, harvested in early stages when the seed is green-yellow. It is considered to be of the highest quality, the star of the olive oils of every oil crop year. In terms of organoleptic properties, it is characterized by an intense sense of fruitiness, bitterness, and spiciness. Tasteful, with a range of smells that come from healthy, fresh, unripe olives.
Olive oil is a living product and requires the best possible care so that the quality and taste be as good as possible. From the olive grove to the final consumer, extreme caution is required so as to ensure the quality of its nutritional value. One of the stages that call for great care is the harvesting of olives.
Olive harvesting requires a lot of experienced harvesters so that the collection can be completed quickly before the fruit gets over-ripe. Thus, the best time to harvest the olives is when the fruit has reached the optimum stage of its maturation [known as industrial maturity]; that is when the color changes from green-yellow to black-purple and the fruits have all the maximum valuable nutritional components of extra virgin olive oil [phenols, vitamins], but also the top organoleptic properties that a high nutritional value olive oil should have [bitter, spicy, fresh olive fragrance].
In the mill, oil extraction is carried out promptly, in immaculate sanitary conditions, with the use of state-of-the-art machinery and at a temperature that never exceeds 25C0 – 28C0, so that the olive paste does not remain in the malaxation machines for more than 20 – 30 minutes.


* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.Sustainable use of nature for innovative products can help build stronger economies and create jobs for young Africans
By Michael Taylor
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Openly) - Faced with the double hit of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, many African nations are looking to nature to bolster their economies sustainably - from meat and baked goods made of lake flies to coffee husks generating renewable energy.
A recent report published by the Malabo Montpellier Panel, a group of 18 top African and international scientists, explores the best ways to improve nutrition, food supplies and energy security in Africa by fostering a nature-based "bio-economy".
"Given its vast resources and fast-growing science and innovation capacities, the African continent can be at the forefront of building its own sustainable bio-economy," said Joachim von Braun, panel co-chair from the University of Bonn.
About 60 countries worldwide have already adopted the approach, which taps into science, technology and innovation to sustainably produce and use renewable plant and animal resources for food, fuel and other goods, according to the new report.
Entitled "Nature's Solutions: Policy Innovations and Opportunities for Africa's Bioeconomy", it looks at four African nations - Ghana, Namibia, South Africa and Uganda - whose policies and innovations are blazing a trail.
Here's why bio-economies are important and how they can help African countries combat rising food, fuel and fertiliser costs, as well as climate change-fuelled impacts like drought:
Why are African countries well-placed to develop bio-economies?
Africa has abundant biodiversity and roughly 60% of its workforce earns a living from the farming sector.
This offers large potential for developing a "bio-economy" - from making use of agricultural by-products and waste, all the way to processing indigenous plant and animal species into new, higher-value products.
Examples include a native fruit called monkey orange, which is widely available in southern Africa and rich in vitamin C, zinc and iron. It can be dried or made into jam, juices or wines so it can be consumed year-round as part of nutritious diets.
Elsewhere, flies found around the Lake Victoria region in East Africa are being turned into foods like crackers, muffins, meatloaf and sausages.
And so-called Faidherbia "fertiliser trees" are being planted alongside crops in Malawi, where they shed their leaves and provide soil nutrients as a replacement for chemical fertilisers, boosting maize yields.
On the energy front, coffee husks and pulp are being turned into bio-gas in Ethiopia, and fruit waste transformed into a bio-alkanol gel that burns without smoke or soot in the Lake Victoria basin.
These bio-fuels can be used for cooking that is greener and healthier for women who bear the brunt of indoor air pollution.
In addition, Africa's youth population is expected to double to more than 830 million by 2050.
Growing a bio-economy can contribute much-needed employment opportunities for more of the 10-12 million young people who enter the workforce each year, where only about 3 million new jobs are created annually, the report said.
How can African nations better take advantage of bio-economy opportunities?
To fully capitalise on bio-solutions, African leaders should first identify sectors that offer the easiest wins for their development ambitions, the panel said.
The next step is strengthening research and development, and creating demand to attract business involvement.
Policymakers can also introduce rules and regulations that incentivise investment in the bio-economy, such as certification schemes or advisory boards to guide a transition at scale.
The benefits are already evident in some places.
South Africa, for example, assessed that its bio-economy contributed 8% of its gross domestic product and created as many as 16 million jobs between 2007 and 2020 - about 70% of it in the food and beverage industry and agricultural sector.
One of its most successful products is a mosquito-repelling candle made from the oils of an indigenous plant and now available in major retailers across the country.
Uganda is one of the few African countries that has drafted a national bio-economy plan, which targets food, farming and traditional medicines, while Namibia is working with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization to develop its first national bio-economy strategy.
Meanwhile, the East African Community is the first economic body in the region to develop a dedicated bio-economy strategy.
"Sustainability and adaptation to a changing climate require a more judicious use of biological and ecological resources," said Ousmane Badiane, Malabo Montpellier Panel co-chair.
"This includes how these resources might be leveraged to generate innovative products that help mitigate climate change, conserve resources and protect biodiversity, while creating new and well-paying employment opportunities."
Why is wise use of nature crucial for the world economy now?
With global food supplies and prices impacted by conflict, growing populations, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly important for all countries to find innovative solutions, the report said.
While most African nations are still at the early stages of developing bio-economies, global trends - especially in Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America and India - indicate a wider shift towards the approach, it added.
About 60 countries have already drafted related strategies, including 14 in Africa that are now in the process.
Creating bio-economies will also depend on better conservation and management of natural areas, such as oceans, forests and parks - all seen as crucial to safeguarding the ecosystems on which humans and animals depend.
But often, governments opt to just set aside protected areas without any real investment or ignore the potential rewards from nature-reliant industries that adopt sustainable practices.
Examples include an economic return of at least six times original investments in protected areas and support for nature-based tourism, according to a World Bank report last year.
Besides tourism revenue, surrounding businesses can create jobs and provide quality services, like lodgings, restaurants and indigenous handicrafts, that bring in more visitors.
In farming, more sustainable livelihoods can be created by using green methods such as organic fertilisers and new crop varieties, selective logging, and promoting local, traditional foods and products sourced from forests or nature.
(Reporting by Michael Taylor @MickSTaylor; Editing by Megan Rowling. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)