To try answering this question, data from a weather station near Glasgow has been analysed . The first part of this article presented annual rainfall records and concluded that there has been only a slight increase in annual rainfall over the past decade compared with a baseline of 1961 to 1990 but that there had been a marked increase in variability. Also of interest is whether rainfall patterns have changed throughout the year, from month to month and between the seasons which is the subject of this post.
In order to provide some context, June 2012 was the wettest recorded June in 54 years with 130mm of rainfall which is almost double(196%) the average rainfall for the month and July is the fourth wettest with 75% more than average. Apart from this year, the five wettest Junes were followed by an average or below average July and likewise the five wettest Julies were preceded with a dry or average June. Data for August 2012 has yet to be published.
Over the fifty three complete years of data examined, there are wide variations in rainfall for each month as demonstrated by the monthly mean, maximum and minimum values plotted below. In some months the minimum values are almost zero while the maximum values may be almost three times the minimum.
The monthly averages for each decade from the 1970s to the 2000s are plotted below against along with the mean from the period 1959 to 2011 and the mean from 1961 to 1990, which was used as the baseline in the previous post. It is difficult to take anything from this graph. the patterns of spring and autumn rainfall appears different in the 1980s compared with the longer term averages but the most recent decade tends to follow the long term averages, albeit with slightly higher values which reflect the increase in annual rainfall.
In order to eliminate the effect of annual variations, the percentage of each year’s rainfall has been calculated for each month. Long term thirty year averages have then been taken as a percentage of the 1961-1990 base line average. This shows that there has been a trend towards wetter winters and a dryer period in late spring, however the relative closeness of the pattern in the latter two periods may suggest that the baseline period had dryer winters than normal.
Looking at the seasons, the ten year rolling average for Autumn (September, October and November) and Winter (December, January and February) were lower through the 1960s and 1970s before increasing to their current levels in the 1980s and 1990s with considerable variability, especially in winter. The summer is generally less variable and while there is currently an upward trend it could be part of a longer cycle of increasing and decreasing Much of the increase in annual rainfall and the increased variation in rainfall can be attributes to changes in winter rainfall as shown below.
In the Glasgow area, it would appear that this particularly wet summer is not part of a trend but a one off anomaly. It is also interesting to note that, with all the rain, the number of hours of sunshine this July were half of the long term average, but that will be another post.
Some climate models suggest that weather patterns will become more variable and unpredictable, which can make anomalous results more likely but the historical record does not yet confirm it. This good because once significant changes are confirmed by the historical records it will be too late.
I would be interested to see how weather patterns are changing in other places around the world. What changes are happening where you are?
Here Comes the Rain, Part 1
Rest and be Thankful, but not about Climate Change
|10 year mean monthly rainfall for each month|


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NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — The USDA has released its U.S. crop production outlook for 2023-2024.
Over the next year, the USDA expects corn outputs to increase by more than 10% with estimations at about 15.3 billion bushels due to improved yield and higher acreage.
The yield projection is about 182 bushels per acre, and the soybean crop is projected at 4.51 billion bushels (up 5% from last year).
The all-wheat production is forecast at 1.65 million bushels, which is up slightly from the previous year. However, this is still below market expectations of a little over 1.8 million bushels.


Last year, I bought a share in a CSA, and enjoyed a variety of fresh veggies, eggs, and mushrooms all summer long. Actually though, it was a little overwhelming toward the end. Part of it was not having the free time when the box arrived to plan out what to make. Some veggies were easy, others took more planning. I did get quite a bit frozen, and that’s been nice this winter. But I ended up wasting some, and that was disappointing.
This year, instead of the CSA, I’m going to try gardening again. Until recently I’ve always had a big garden. Over the years though, I’ve managed to create too much shade in my back yard for a large plot, and had a few bad years, so I cut back to just containers for a while, and last year not even those. But now, I think I’ll make a new garden bed and see what happens.
To that end, yesterday I started the first flat of seeds in the house. Now, most of these are pretty old, so if they don’t germinate I’ve got plenty of time for a plan B. First I sorted all the packets by start dates, and filled a flat with those that take the longest. I planted tomatoes, green peppers, and herbs, including parsley, thyme, rosemary, chives, marjoram, and more. In another two weeks I’ll plant the faster seeds, and in the meantime I’ll sort the flower packets by the same rule, and get some of them going.
If all goes well, I should have nice fresh vegetables to enjoy, and maybe even enough to put some by for winter. If not, well, there’s always the farmer’s market to fall back on!
|Rollie contemplating his favorite herbs|


We organize all types of inspections. When importing, goods may seccumb to a different inspections such as phytosanitary, veterinary and health inspection.
We prepare the application on your behalf to the competent services and execute the requested review.:
- Plants, such as seeds, plants for planting or reproduction or other purposes,
- Animals, trophies, animal products and animal feed,
- Plant products such as wood, wood products, grains, fruits and vegetables and other products of plant origin,
- Food supplements, or other products that come into contact with food.


GBP Canada: Marketing Commission Revokes Tomato Processor's Licence
June 08, 2012
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission has revoked the vegetable processing licence of Jem international Food Products Inc. as the company has failed to pay some tomato growers for their supply last year.
The commission held a hearing in march and ordered the company, which is affiliated to DaVinci Foods in Montreal, to pay growers $363,977.81 plus interest by May 15th.
As the money had not been received by May 23rd the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers asked that the licence be revoked. The comapny has also failed to provide the first of two $250,000 letters of credit for this year's operations.
Al Krueger, executive assistant to the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, says the growers are pursuing payment through the courts. Jema also failed to remit grower licence fees to the Processing Vegetable Growers. That money totals a few thousand dollars, he notes. "It's not anywhere near what the growers are out. It's the growers who are suffering in this one."
A revoked licence means that the company is unable to but vegetables from growers.
"We thought that it was important to them that they have a licence to process and they would, in fact, process this year," he explains. "They seemed to indicate that they wanted to be in operation this year."
- Source: Fresh Plaza
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September 21, 2022
From May 3rd to 5th Rimini Expo (Italy) will host the international fruit and vegetable fair. There are many novelties: International Blueberry Day, Nursery Show and Variety Innovation, Red planet The international focus is on Latin America.
Photo © Macfrut
The 4th edition of Macfrut, the international fruit and vegetable fair that will be held from May 3rd to 5th at the Rimini Expo Center. The only time in the production chain for professionals in the fruit and vegetable sector, based on an integration between business and content, the next edition represents a real turning point for the event aimed at leadership in this sector. This is made concrete by the project, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the agency ICE, which will lead to a turn in three directions: a bigger fair and two new exhibition halls; a strong international growth, aiming to reach 30% of professionals from abroad and thirty international presentations; richer in content and individual focal points coordinated by experts in the industry, which therefore ensures high qualifications with an eye on future trends.
New Macfrut 2023
Many are the innovations of the 40th edition presented this morning to the press and companies in the international mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The symbol fruit of Macfrut 2023 is the blueberry, protagonist of an international event at the fair: International Blueberry Day. Three days with the greatest international scientific and technical experts, as well as the most important global players such as the American Driscoll’s, number one in nurseries and fruit production, and the Australian Costa Group, the leader in breeding in blueberry production. Technical visits, field trials and colleges complete this event coordinated by Professor Bruno Mezzetti of the Technical University of Marche together with Thomas Drahorad of NCX Drahorad.
Another gift is the International Salon of Nurseries and Variety Innovations, which is a specialized meeting place for nurseries, breeders, producers, technicians and researchers in a strategic sector for modern fruit development. During the Salon, conferences, technical seminars and workshops will be organized with in-depth and advanced training on topics such as certification, patent protection, variety clubs, and new breeding technologies with a special focus on variety innovation in apples, cherries, table grapes, kiwi and strawberries. will The salon is coordinated by Dr. Stefano Lugli from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
A new format dedicated to the tomato is the Red Planet, a meeting point between companies in the production chain, from seed companies to those responsible for modern distribution. Starting from the analysis of the needs of the final buyers, from market research and panel tests, the project is structured in a direct experience of translating consumer demands into projects in the production chain. Prof. Roberto Della Casa who coordinates the format at the University of Bologna.
The Biosolutions International event dedicated to natural products for the protection, nutrition and biostimulation of plants will take place again. This dynamic and more strategic sector includes various activities for exhibitors and visitors. First, the Biosolutions Innovation Award, a recognition for the most innovative products, is confirmed for the third consecutive year. Technical roundtables and one-on-one meetings are also planned to follow, with in-depth discussions on kiwifruit, citrus, table grapes, olives and nuts. Finally, the International Biosolutions Congress will take place again, an international event with the participation of some major players in kiwifruit production. The department is coordinated by Dr. Camillo Gardini from Agri2000.
AcquaCampus is also certified, in collaboration with ANBI (Associazione Nazionale delle Bonifiche Italiane – Italian National Association for Reclamation) and CER (Canale Emiliano Romagnolo – Emilia-Romagna Canal), and is dedicated to innovation and irrigation technology. A test field will be set up in the exhibition hall to be able to get hands on the most modern technology for managing water resources for vegetable cultivation, and there will also be technical tours.
The dynamic area of the fair also dedicates a space to machines for innovations in the field of medicinal plants and nurseries, as well as innovations in the field of drones and robots. This area is coordinated by Dr. Luciano Trentini, expert in this field.
And still in terms of innovation as a testimony of Agriculture 4.0, a fair area will be dedicated to startups, in partnership with the Crédit Agricole Italia banking group, the main sponsor of the entire fair event. It is a veritable village for the incubator of digital and precision agriculture and the latest innovations in the sector.
After last year’s success, Spice & Herbs Global Expo, the show dedicated to spices, medicinal herbs and aromatics, will take place again. This sector is growing rapidly due to the use of these products more and more in the kitchen and the salon is like a fair in a fair with a dedicated exhibition area, companies from all over the world, technical workshops and experts, business meetings and buyers. from… Abroad. FIPPO, Erboristeria Domani and Cannamela coordinate the area.
The partner region is Calabria, known for its quality products such as bergamot, Citron, PGI Clementines, PGI lemons from Rocca Imperiale, PGI onions from Tropea, PGI potatoes from Sila, kiwi and strawberries.
The international focus is on the Latin American continent, the protagonist and Latin American Day. An entire exhibition hall will be dedicated to Latin America, with the participation of companies, institutions and professionals at the international level with technical visits, workshops, cooking shows and B2B meetings. During Macfrut there will also be a specific event dedicated to the agri-food production chain in the “SMEs Forum”, organized by IILA, in order to strengthen the links between Italian small and medium-sized companies and those in Latin America. The Latin American Days are organized in collaboration with IILA (Organizzazione Internazionale Italo-Latino Americana – International Organization of Italy-Latin America), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), AICS and the ICE Agency.
Source: Cesena Fiera/Macfrut
Release date: 21/09/2022


St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy
What is the Garden of Mercy?
The Garden of Mercy was established in 2016 at rented sites in Lower Macungie. The first year we rented one plot and managed to provide about 800 pounds of produce. Another partner (Plant a Row) also was started in the Lehigh Valley at the same time. Plant a Row made their first pickup at St Ann’s Garden of Mercy. We have worked together going into our 6th year with ever increasing produce being grown. Our average yield per year has grown and we delivered about 1300 pounds per year to help those in need. This year with an Eagle Scout project to build the garden at St Ann’s, a fence was constructed for our new plot which is 56 feet by 52 feet. Many hands have helped with the project. Debbie Cordes and her team planted flowers around the garden, St. Ann’s Troop 80 assisted the Knights of Columbus to build the fence to prevent deer from destroying the garden. Other parish members helped by making a backhoe available, helping to layout the plot and other tasks too numerous to mention. Our goal for this year is to produce a yield of 1600 pounds. All produce will benefit the New Bethany Ministries this year.
Click here to view the August 2021 Lehigh Valley Plant a Row Newsletter
Helping hands needed!
We are in need of volunteers to help with the weeding and watering. Contact Bruce Harvey at email@example.com or 484-866-5838.
Donate your excess produce!
The Garden will accept any excess produce from home gardens if brought to the Garden between 8 AM and 12 PM each Saturday during the growing season. Please place your produce in the green cooler.
We were recently spotlighted in the Plant A Row Newsletter !!!!
This week’s Garden Spot Light is on St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy at the Church of St. Ann’s in Emmaus.
The St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy was established in 2016, the same year Joseph Marlin founded Plant A Row Lehigh Valley (PARLV). The Knights became one of PARLV first drop off locations, and were PARLV’s first pick up.
As PARLV has grown, so has the Knights Garden of Mercy. From 2016 – 2020 the Knights rented plots at Lower Macungie’s Bogie Community Garden. The first year the Knights rented one plot (Bogie #10) and yielded about 800 pounds of produce. Since then they have donated nearly 1,200 lbs. a year, with a record high of 1314.46 lbs. in 2018.
Last year the Knights planned on moving the garden to a location at St. Ann’s Church. Due to the pandemic, the preparation of the new garden was delayed and was not ready for the start of the season. The Knights made the decision to continue at Bogie while they readied the new garden. An Eagle Scout project to fence in the new garden was also delayed due to the pandemic. A temporary fence around the garden was no match for the deer, who ate the initial crops right down to the ground.
This year Supreeth Dmello completed his Eagle Scout project, which now surrounds a 56 by 52 foot garden plot on the grounds of St. Ann’s Church in Emmaus. Many hands have helped with the project. Debbie Cordes and her team planted flowers around the garden, St. Ann’s Troop 80 and the Knights of Columbus assisted in the installation of the fence to prevent deer from destroying the garden. Other parish members helped by making a backhoe available, helping to layout the plot and other tasks too numerous to mention.
The Knights goal for this year is to produce a yield of 1600 pounds. New Bethany Ministries is the designated recipient for all of the produce from the garden. The Knights also accept donations on Saturdays between 8 am and 12 noon.
The Garden of Mercy was dedicated this past Sunday. Perfect timing for our Garden Spotlight.


In: Romanian Journal of European Affairs, 23(1), 34-45.
This paper departs from the hypothesis that in the era of agriculture 4.0, start-ups specialised in digital agricultural technology (AT) have the potential not only to rapidly grow, but also to have a beneficial impact outside the core countries of agricultural innovation. To validate this assumption, we compiled data about a sample of Romanian and Hungarian AT start-ups entering the market with self-developed digital solutions. Based on extensive desk research, we identified the main distinctive features of the surveyed startups, compared to their peers in advanced economies, and answered the related key research question: how meaningful is the impact of these start-ups on the much-needed upgrading of agricultural production in these countries? Our analysis reveals that although local AT startups in these countries do develop innovative solutions in the field of precision farming, farm management software, applications, and e-marketplaces, their number is below a threshold where they could have an impact on the upgrading of local agriculture. More importantly, the reduced size of the local market for technology and other hard-to-overcome barriers make it barely possible for them to grow as rapidly as some AT start-ups do in advanced economies.


Green Tea Vs Mulberry Tea
Sericha is filled with the goodness that comes from Mulberry and contains several health-related benefits such as reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, and assists in digestion and weight loss. It is also rich in vitamin and mineral content with high levels of Vitamins A and C, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Phosphorus.
Further, we believe that Mulberry tea has additional benefits that superceed Green Tea based on 2 active ingredients found specially in Mulberry; DNJ [1-deoxynojirimycin] and GABA [Gamma Amino Butyric Acid] that control blood glucose levels and blood pressure, accordingly.
|Calcium||X 6 green Tea|
|Iron||X 2.5 green Tea|
|Alkaline Ash||25%||Balances pH|
Our Manufacturing Process
We have a 12-acre plantation where we grow and cultivate our own Mulberry leaves. It is of utmost importance to us to ensure that we deliver a product of the highest quality; therefore no chemical pesticides or artificial manure are used in the cultivation of our plants, only organic and natural minerals are added, that is also manufactured in-house.
We have a drip-irrigation system that ensures that each and every plant gets the hydration it requires, following which the Mulberry leaves are hand-picked by, our experts, during harvest.
All processes are carried out in accordance with GMP norms and under license from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India


1.Sichuan Agricultural University;2.Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Zhongjiang County
the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2017YFD0301701), the Key R&D Program of Sichuan (No. 2021YFN0127).
【目的】土壤团聚体有机碳和胞外酶对于改善土壤结构和提高土壤碳固存能力至关重要，且受农艺生产措施显著影响。为探讨秸秆还田下有机碳组分及胞外酶活性变化，开展了35年水稻-小麦轮作定位试验。【方法】本试验设置了无肥区(CK)、化肥区(NPK)和秸秆还田+化肥区(NPKS)，研究了不同处理对土壤团聚体有机碳(SOC)及其活性组分[可溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)]含量与碳循环相关胞外酶[β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-木糖苷酶(BX)、β-D-纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)]活性的影响。【结果】大于0.25 mm团聚体中SOC、DOC和MBC含量显著高于小于0.25 mm粒级，且均以NPKS处理的效果最优，促进了土壤大团聚体有机碳组分更新。各粒级团聚体中MBC/SOC和DOC/SOC比值相对稳定，这表明MBC和DOC与SOC的动态变化趋势较为一致，可作为评价土壤有机碳的敏感指标。2~0.25 mm粒级是团聚体胞外酶主要载体，均以NPKS处理活性最高；但大于2 mm团聚体酶活性在不同农艺措施之间差异不显著。土壤团聚体中有机碳组分与胞外酶表现为互相促进的关系，其中SOC、DOC和MBC分配差异的主要影响因子为CBH，次要影响因子是BG；而EOC仅受到CBH的正向影响。CBH和BG可促进土壤有机碳周转，且在2~0.25 mm大团聚体中互促作用更剧烈。【结论】长期秸秆还田配施化肥不仅有利于提升大团聚体碳的更新和周转速率，还提高了SOC含量，是稻田土壤可持续固碳的重要农艺途径。
【Objective】Soil aggregate organic carbon and extracellular enzymes play an important role in improving soil structure and carbon sequestration, which are easily affected by agronomic management practices. In order to study the effects of long-term straw returning combined with chemical fertilization on organic carbon components and extracellular enzymes in soil aggregates, a 35-year field positioning experiment was carried out. 【Method】The field experiment was designed to have three treatments in a rice-wheat rotation system: no chemical fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilizer only (NPK), and straw plus chemical fertilizer (NPKS). The contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its labile components [dissolved organic carbon (DOC), easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC)] in soil aggregate were analyzed, as well as the activities of extracellular enzymes related to carbon cycle [β-1,4-Glucosidase (BG), β-1,4-Xylosidase (BX) and β-D-Cellobiohydrolase (CBH)]. 【Result】The contents of SOC, DOC and MBC in >0.25 mm aggregates were significantly higher than those in <0.25 mm aggregates, and their contents of NPKS treatment were the highest. This showed that NPKS promoted soil macro-aggregates organic carbon regeneration. The values of MBC/SOC and DOC/SOC in each particle size aggregate were relatively stable, which indicated that dynamic change trends of MBC and DOC were consistent with that of SOC. Thus, MBC and DOC could be used as sensitive indexes to evaluate soil organic carbon. The 2-0.25 mm aggregates were the main carriers of extracellular enzymes, and their activities in NPKS treatment were the highest. However, the enzymes activities in >2 mm aggregates had no significant difference among treatments. The soil organic carbon components and extracellular enzymes in soil aggregates promoted each other, in which the contents of SOC, DOC and MBC in aggregates were mainly affected by CBH, followed by BG; while EOC was only positively affected by CBH. These two extracellular enzymes (CBH and BG) could promote soil organic carbon turnover and the interaction was enhanced in 2-0.25 mm aggregate. 【Conclusion】Long-term application of straw returning combined with chemical fertilizer could increase organic carbon regeneration and turnover rate, and increase soil organic carbon content, which is an important agronomic way for sustainable carbon sequestration in paddy soil.
Lixinyue, LiBing, Wangchangquan, Xieningyi, Motaixiang, Wangnanxi, Zhangqingwei. Effects of Long-term Straw Returning on Organic Carbon and Extracellular Enzymes in Paddy Soil Aggregates[J]. Acta Pedologica Sinica,,[In Press]


If we attack the climate issue with sacrifices necessary for success, we will ruin economies and it doesn't look as if we can achieve the various cut backs in a timely fashion. Plus, we cheat on telling ourselves exactly what levels we need to achieve. These sacrifices will have to come from every industry and from every part of the world. We are already arguing over what can be blamed on this or that... whose fault is it, and who should suffer the greatest from the sacrifices to be made. This level of non-thinking has led us to inaction on every front.
Some believe that a miracle technology will be discovered or invented or somehow come into being in time to fix the problem so that sacrifices can be avoided. In a manner of speaking that technology has been with us for a long time but, primarily for corporate economic justifications, we are refusing to utilize this knowledge and 'technology'. It is called 'organic farming'. But, to make it more attractive, we have upgraded the label and rebranded it, now it is "regenerative organic agriculture". Or, to give it a scientific aura we can call it "agroecology". It is an obvious and immediately available solution to our problem.
Too much carbon in the atmosphere will kill us. Carbon can be returned to the soil and can make the soil more productive in producing food. Carbon in the soil supports ecological systems.
Recent data from farming systems and pasture trials around the globe show that we could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO2 emissions with a switch to widely available and inexpensive organic management practices, which we term “regenerative organic agriculture.” These practices work to maximize carbon fixation while minimizing the loss of that carbon once returned to the soil, reversing the greenhouse effect.
Regenerative organic agriculture for soil-carbon sequestration is tried and true: Humans have long farmed in that fashion, and there is nothing experimental about it. What is new is the scientific verification of regenerative agricultural practices. Farming trials across the world have contrasted various forms of regenerative and conventional practices and studied crop yield, drought impact, and carbon sequestration. Some of these studies are in their third decade of collecting data.
It costs little and is adaptable to local contexts the world over. It can be rolled out tomorrow providing multiple benefits beyond climate stabilization. The solution is farming. Not just business-as-usual industrial farming, but farming like the Earth matters. Farming like water and soil and land matter. Farming like clean air matters. Farming like human health, animal health and ecosystem health matters. Farming in a way that restores and even improves on soil’s natural ability to hold carbon. This kind of farming is called regenerative organic agriculture and it is the short-term solution to climate change we need to implement today.
We don’t have to wait for technological wizardry: regenerative organic agriculture can substantially mitigate climate change, now.
Unfortunately, the EPA estimate of 18% still doesn't include a large portion of the fuel, the synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, some of the nitrous oxide, all of the CFCs and bromines, and most of the transport emissions. When they are counted, agriculture's share of the U.S. carbon footprint will be at least 25 to 30%.
Oftentimes we see all greenhouse gasses as being equivalent to carbon dioxide (CO2). But, methane emissions are 21 times and nitrous oxides 310 times more damaging as greenhouse gasses than CO2. Since agriculture is one of the largest producers of methane and nitrous oxide, the extent of the agricultural impact is staggering. Unless we change our bad habits of food production and long distance delivery, we will not be able to deal with climate change.


Recently, we received a report from our partner in the Eastern Region of DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo, on the progress of their agricultural project.
In autumn of 2015, a team from SowHope traveled to the DRC to meet with Claudaline, our partner, to evaluate her animal husbandry, farming, and health projects. In the DRC, farming and animal husbandry count for 72 percent of household income, with goats as the animal of choice for 80 percent of farmers. Due to a lack of training in farming methods and access to veterinarians, it is difficult to successfully farm and raise livestock.
Claudaline reported that SowHope’s monetary support has helped her project provide farmers with agriculture equipment for planting and harvesting as well as seeds and land. Thanks to SowHope’s help, the women have purchased more than 180 animals. They have access to veterinarians and agriculturists and information on farming methods. The ability to farm and raise healthy livestock has helped families increase their household income. Furthermore, women are able to send their children to school and can afford maternity necessities.
To date, your contributions to SowHope have benefited more than 17,000 women in the eastern part of the DRC through 34 wellness, education, and economic projects.


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Halfway House and Farm Cellar
Halfway House and Farm Cellar - 1900s
Everyone had to work hard on Naperville’s family farms.
From its early days, Naperville was a community of family-run farms. Changes in farming technology like the introduction of gasoline-powered tractors and electric milking machines improved the efficiency of Naperville’s farmers in the early 1900s. But life on the farm still relied on horsepower and human labor. Every member of the household was expected to help the farm succeed by performing chores, including children.
Farmers’ lives were guided by the seasons. They planted in the spring, tended crops in the summer, harvested in the fall and mended tools and equipment in the winter. Farmers’ children helped take care of the horses, pigs, cattle, sheep and other livestock. A farmwife’s day revolved around her chicken coop, vegetable garden and kitchen. She spent hours each day preparing food for her family and their hired help, including canning and preserving summer fruits and vegetables for the long winter months.
The Stanley family built this home in Aurora in 1843. Helena Zentmyer Wackerlin gave it its nickname “Halfway House,” based on her childhood memory of the house as the halfway point of the two hour carriage ride between her family’s home in Naperville and her grandparents’ home in Aurora. The house was moved to Naper Settlement from Aurora Avenue (west of Route 59) in 1975.
Volunteers & Donations
With deep appreciation, we acknowledge the generous
volunteers and donors
who provided the necessary resources between 1975 and 1981 that made the relocation and restoration of these farm structures a reality. Their commitment and partnership in preserving these buildings continues to show the important part agriculture played in our heritage.
A cellar safely preserves a farm family’s food through the seasons.
Before the inventions of refrigerators, farm families used cellars to store their fruits and vegetables, home-canned goods, dairy products and meat through cold winters and hot summers. A cellar’s underground construction retained heat in the winter to prevent freezing and remained cool in the summer to avoid spoilage. Farmwives quickly removed rotten food from cellars to prevent the spread of decay because—as the saying goes—“one bad apple spoils the whole barrel.”
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Welcome to Burnaby Irrigation
We provide high-end service and installation for all your irrigation needs.
Our knowledgeable and IIABC-approved irrigation technicians and installers offer the most timely and cost-efficient solutions for your irrigation needs. We provide the best options for service and upgrades to your existing system, or installation and design of a new one as the case may be. Our experienced, professional insight will shed light on any questions you may have. And of course, all of the materials we supply and install are of the highest quality in the industry. Let us take care of your irrigation needs.


The 4 Channel Water Distributor by Gardena offers you the best way to distribute water around your garden. You can connect up to four connection devices at once to the adapter attached to the tap. It is suitable for taps with 26.5 mm (G 3/4″) and 33.3 mm (G 1″) threads. The practical water distributor is ideal if you want to irrigate several areas in your garden simultaneously. It is possible to connect up to two irrigation computers or two watering timers, in addition to two other connection devices. With the help of the controller on the distributor, you can regulate the water flow independently or shut it off completely.


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What's a Wine Partner?
This luxury 5 * hotel in Porto represents the very best of Portuguese wine.Read More >
The Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima Estate spreads along the south bank of the Tagus river, incorporating areas of wet crops, forests and vineyards. Quinta do Sagrado (Sacred Vineyard) is one of the most emblematic vineyards in the Douro, situated next to the mouth of the River Pinhão, in the heart of the Alto Corgo and the Douro. The Pato family has been producing wine at Quinta do Ribeirinho since the XVIII century. CVD - Companhia dos Vinhos do Douro, Ltd. is a company that produces and markets Douro DOC wines of high quality. Herdade do Esporão, is in the heart of the Alentejo, with 600 hectares of vines of the best grape varieties.


Hello, I'm Farmer Diana [Mae] !
I started Diana Mae Flowers in 2014 on a shoestring budget, a rocky patch of soil, and a very big dream. Growing flowers allows me to blend my artistic background and passion for working with the earth. Ecological farming is not without its challenges, however it is work that I relish whether in the field or delivering a bouquet to a CSA member. All the flowers and photos featured on this site are my own, grown this past season.
In addition to farming, I am also a garden educator. School days entail digging up red wiggler worms, munching on fresh greens, and discussing at length the difference between a fruit and a vegetable. I like to think I'm building the next generation of gardeners, or at least Swiss chard lovers.
'Mae Flowers' comes from my middle name and my namesake, my great-Nana Mae. Although I never met her, I know she was a woman with great chutzpah and tenacity- qualities I live to embody.


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Fun Facts About Victory Gardens
- During World War II, Victory Gardens were planted by families in the United States (the Home Front) to help prevent a food shortage.
- In 1941, a five-foot Christmas tree could be purchased for 75 cents.
- Planting Victory Gardens helped make sure that there was enough food for our soldiers fighting around the world. Because canned vegetables were rationed, Victory Gardens also helped people stretch their ration coupons (the amount of certain foods they were allowed to buy at the store).
- Because trains and trucks had to be used to transport soldiers, vehicles, and weapons, most Americans ate local produce grown in their own communities.
- Many different types of vegetables were grown-such as tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, beets, and peas. Victory Gardens were responsible for bringing Swiss chard and kohlrabi onto the American dinner table because they were easy to grow.
- At their peak there were more than 20, 000, 000 Victory Gardens planted across the United States.
- By 1944 Victory Gardens were responsible for producing 40% of all vegetables grown in the United States. More than one million tons of vegetables were grown in Victory Gardens during the war.
- People with no yards planted small Victory Gardens in window boxes and watered them through their windows. Some city dwellers who lived in tall apartment buildings planted rooftop gardens and the whole building pitched in and helped.
- Many schools across the country planted Victory Gardens on their school grounds and used their produce in their school lunches.
- The U.S. government printed recipe books describing how to prepare home grown vegetables to make nutritional and tasty meals. Agricultural companies gave tips on how to make seedlings flourish in different climates.
- Excess food grown in Victory Gardens was canned and used during the winter months to help supplement the amount of food available.
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A rise in both gardening and self-sufficiency has led to the increased desire to grow personal medicinal herb gardens. Herbs are incredibly useful plants; they can be used for a variety of projects, they look beautiful, and they can aid in healing practices. Most herbs are not difficult to grow, and many have beautiful flowers and foliage. Herbs grow well in pots, but they can also be planted among your perennial beds or in a traditionally landscaped area.
So, which herbs should you use to start? The basics include: basil, mint, and garlic. These are classified as both culinary and medicinal herbs—they are highly nutritive and flavorful, but they can be potent when treating health issues. However, there are literally thousands of herbs you could grow. To choose which will work best for your life, research local growing conditions to see what is successfully supported in your area. Then, sit down and go through the herbs you use regularly. Do you take Echinacea gummies? Do you keep ginger on-hand for that pre-cold tea? Are you always running out of mint? Asking yourself these questions will allow you to determine which will work best for your lifestyle.
Once you have chosen your herbs, understand the conditions they need to grow and thrive. You may need to reseed, prune, layer, or cut. Pay attention to how many hours of sun your herb garden needs every day, and research the water requirements each plant has. Most importantly, look up what kind of soil it needs and what type of temperatures it can withstand.
Once you have your list and caring instructions, you’re ready to plant. Use an herb catalogue or visit a nursey to purchase seeds or young plants. Choose seed packets based on how much information is included, and as your local nursery to see their catalogue. These plant professionals will always have advice when it comes to gardening, so don’t be afraid to ask!
Now, be realistic about the space you have available to you when planning and planting. If you live in an apartment, see what you can squeeze onto a sunny windowsill or a south-facing deck. If you live close to a community or farm garden plot, see if any friends have extra space. Find a decent amount of space to grow so you can prepare for when the herbs are fully realized!


Snow plowing is a critical part of caring for your lawn. Not only do you use lawn tractors regularly to take care of your property, but also because of the snow that falls in winter, it is not a good idea to be without them. Most people tend to forget about the plowing machinery they have in their yard when they are busy watching other home areas. If you do not own a lawn tractor or snow plow, now may be an excellent time to consider buying one and adding it to your list of necessary items for your lawn.
When looking for a lawn tractor or snow plow, there are several different types to consider. The first thing you want to determine is if you will need a small or large tractor. If you live in an area where you typically have less snowfall than is considered normal, you can consider getting a tractor that will fit into a very narrow space. These are usually referred to as utility tractors. You can even purchase one that will sit right on your grass. Utility tractors are incredible for small and low-grass lawns.
Now you will want to decide on the size of the tractor that you would like to buy. The first thing to consider is the amount of snow that you typically have on your driveway. This will help to determine the size of the tractor that you should buy. A 4-wheel drive lawn tractor will require a different setup than a four-wheel drive with an enclosed cab. It will also be easier to push a small tractor than it is to make a large one.
Now you will want to get a price quote for the tractor that you are interested in. You can get these quotes from local lawn and garden stores, internet stores, or by contacting companies that sell these products directly. Once you have all of the details worked out, you will need to make an appointment to have the tractor you want to be inspected. They will give you a detailed description of any problems that they see with the equipment and tell you how much they will charge to fix it.
After this, you can either buy the tractor outright or you can finance it. Most people choose to invest in a new tractor because they can quickly get the money to fix them if there are problems. If you are in an excellent financial situation and still want to purchase a new tractor, you can look for a local business that sells used snow plows and other equipment.
When you have everything ready to go, the actual buying process can begin. This is when you will want to comparison shop to find the best price. Sometimes, it is better to get more equipment than you need and then put it away for the next year. This is when you will want to compare prices. It would help if you also were sure to do your research and make sure that your purchasing business has a decent reputation. You never know what kind of importance they have when it comes to snow blowers and other heavy equipment.
Benefits of Owning Lawn Tractors
If you own a lawn tractor, you have undoubtedly spent many evenings, days, and even months working on your lawn. Even if you only mow your lawn occasionally, you still spend a significant amount of time working on it. Imagine, then, for a moment, if you had to replace all of the equipment and tools that you currently use to complete your lawn maintenance tasks. You would probably immediately find yourself in need of additional lawn equipment such as lawn plows. Lawn plows can be a tremendous benefit to your lawn care efforts.
However, when it comes to your lawn tractor, not all owners realize the benefits that a lawn tractor can provide. Most often, owners only consider the plowing duties when their grass begins to go flat or when a prolonged drought has resulted in poor watering conditions. With the added expense that owning a lawn tractor often entails, it is easy to assume that all plowing responsibilities will automatically transfer to a new lawn tractor‘s purchase. This isn’t necessarily the case. There are several benefits to owning a lawn tractor that you may not be aware of.
One of the primary benefits of owning a lawn tractor is that you will be able to plow your lawn more effectively using your machine. Although lawn plows make considerable differences in the amount of work required to maintain a lawn, they are only one part of the equation. To thoroughly water your lawn, you will also need to add water to the soil regularly. However, your lawn tractor‘s efficiency will depend mainly upon the amount of snow that it can successfully remove from the snowplow’s surface. If you cannot keep the snow off of your lawn tractor, it will thoroughly drain away, causing your entire lawn to become saturated and thus ineffective for thriving plants.
Another benefit to owning a lawn tractor is that it will allow you to plow a larger field than possible without the equipment. A lawn tractor can plow a larger area than a snowplow, especially if you are using it in combination with other equipment. When you combine a lawn tractor with a snowplow, the potential to clear more land increases dramatically. This is because the plow will be effective at clearing the snow from the snowplow’s surface and into the ground. If you were to attempt to remove the snow manually, it would be severe indeed. Furthermore, you would likely find that your attempts would be frustrated by the lack of coordination between your machine and your hand.
An added benefit to owning a lawn tractor is that you will have a handy tool to cultivate and aerate your lawn. Snowplows cannot do this effectively, even with the help of a backhoe or some other large and heavy equipment. If you are looking to create a long, lush lawn that can be used throughout the entire year, then owning a lawn tractor and a snowplow makes excellent sense. These two tools work together to do a job that might otherwise be laborious and time-consuming into something that can be accomplished much more easily and quickly.
There are many benefits to owning lawn tractors, but perhaps the most valuable one is that these machines allow you to make more yard work available to you in a shorter amount of time. You can clear more lawn in a shorter amount of time, all while saving money. The snowplow is an excellent investment for anyone looking to save money but also wants to have the ability to make more significant pieces of the property clear. Both of these lawn tractor attachments are worthwhile investments that will enhance your lawn’s quality and add a bit of function as well. Even if you are not considering buying a lawn tractor right now, you may someday find yourself needing one.


It’s a magical time of year at Camp Stevens, where dozens upon dozens of squash are coming in from the farm, but there are also still hundreds of pounds of tomatoes on the vines. Summer is certainly over, but these tomato plants don’t seem to know it: It even seems like some of these late bloomers are sweeter than their earlier brethren!
In the kitchen, we’ve reached a tipping point, where more garden produce is coming in than we can always use. I’d imagine this is mirrored in most gardeners’ lives at some point: A time where you step back, look at the harvest and think, “What have I gotten myself into?!”
For us, the solutions are multi-fold:
- Eat more: We’ve had very full weekends all fall long, and our guests are benefiting from the abundance of farm-fresh produce, with every meal featuring a soup and not one or two, but sometimes up to three vegetable side dishes. Maybe a dinner party is in order in your life?
- Use the root cellar: We’re lucky to have a solar-powered root cellar on-site, constructed over the last two years, that enables us to store hardy vegetables like carrots, onions, beets and potatoes for use all year-long. It’s one of the reasons I think of Camp Stevens as the ideal destination should the zombie apocalypse come. You probably don’t have a root cellar. But you might have a basement, or someplace that is dark and remains a consistent temperature, that you can store some of your heartier vegetables for at least a few extra weeks.
- Get creative: Our chefs aren’t beholden to strict recipes, and you don’t need to be either: Substitute the ingredients you have an insane amount of into your tried and true recipes (Like apples for berries in a favorite dessert, or broccoli for asparagus in a go-to casserole). Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite!
- Preserve, preserve, preserve! This past weekend we held a Canning Workshop at Camp Stevens, and got to work canning cherry tomatoes and barbeque sauce. Canning is a great way to preserve, but it can be a daunting process. Let’s start with some easier ways to preserve your hard work’s bounty:
- Put that freezer to work: Roma tomatoes can be frozen, just as they are, as can any fruit or vegetable with a decent water content. Think about the berries you buy frozen from the grocery store: Those were just picked, washed and frozen. Easy peasy. The best thing about simply freezing your harvest without adding or changing anything is that you then have just the ingredient to work with in the future, as opposed to, say, 10 jars of salsa, when all you want to do is make marinara sauce.
- Gourmet olive oils: This is a great trick for hearty herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano (as opposed to “soft” herbs like mint and basil). Wash the herbs and chop them up finely, then, using an ice cube tray, fill each cube 2/3 full with herbs, and then top with olive oil. Cover overnight in the freezer, then pop them out into a Ziploc bag. Ready to go herb-infused oils for all sorts of recipes! Or, put some fresh herbs or chiles into a pretty jar and top with olive oil for a beautiful gift.
- Put that freezer to work some more: Devote a day to making soups and casseroles, and your winter could be full of hearty, healthy lunches and dinners. Pureed (smooth) soups like this one freeze best, and make sure to store them well-sealed to avoid freezer burn. Make sure to clearly label and date anything you put in the freezer (Most soups and casseroles should be good for up to 6 months.).
- Dry them: If you’re short on freezer space, drying is another great option for preserving vegetables for 6-12 months, though it’s a bit more time-consuming. To dry vegetables, wash and then cut them into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Blanche the veggies, then line them onto a baking sheet and bake at 140 degrees for 6-24 minutes depending on the water content and heartiness of the vegetable. Keep a close eye on the vegetables in the oven! When they appear to be mostly dried, remove and let them cool, then place the cooled, dried vegetables in large plastic or glass containers to about two-thirds full. Cover lightly and store in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place for 4-10 days. Shake containers daily to separate pieces. Pack final product in small portions into jars or bags (the darker the better). One cup of dried vegetables reconstitutes to about 2 cups.
- Simple syrups: If you have an overabundance of herbs, consider making simple syrups. These are the simplest recipe in the world: 1 part water, 1 part sugar, simmer down until sugar is dissolved, then place a handful of any herb, and cover for up to three hours. Strain, then pour into jars, or freeze into ice cube trays. You can also do this with citrus, just do 1 part citrus juice, 1 part water, 2 parts sugar (I’d probably do less sugar if using orange, as opposed to lemon, lime or grapefruit). Since these recipes contain so much of that wonderful preserving factor, sugar, they can last for months, no freezing or canning necessary. Herb simple syrups are all the rage in craft cocktails these days and make wonderful gifts, but there are other ways to use it: Rosemary simple syrup is delicious with lemonade, as is basil simple syrup drizzled over a simple yellow, white or orange cake. I like a teaspoon of mint simple syrup in my tea.
These are just a few simple ideas for making your summer and fall bounty last as long as possible. Canning is another beast altogether, and we’ll get into that later!


Naturally Delicious and Nutritious Lamb Grass Fed and Finished on High Mountain Irrigated Pastures. No Hormones or Antibiotics. Our farm specializes in regenerative agriculture, of which our sheep play an integral part.
Regenerative Agriculture Spring is here! Check out the new regenerative ag videos on our YouTube channel to help you plan for forage growth this season!
Fort Causeway News and Events
**New** Regenerative Ag Case Study Video from Cody, WY! Check it out on our YouTube channel, link below.
Quality, handcrafted hair sheepskins now available! See Sheepskins page to view!
We have a new Facebook page! Please follow the link below and like our new Fort Causeway Facebook page.
Expand Your Forage Season Video now available on our YouTube Channel. Click the link below to view.


Urban Land & Water - Urban Land Resources
Simply put urban agriculture is growing or producing food in a city or heavily populated town or municipality, such as San Antonio. We extend this definition to include community gardens but acknowledge that these are more civically based intuitions than commerce based. Typically, when referring to urban agriculture some degree of commercial activity is assumed.
Green Spaces Alliance sees real value in each type urban based agriculture under a broader vision for a sustainable community food system. According to the UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute, a sustainable community food system is a collaborative network that integrates sustainable food production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste management in order to enhance the environmental, economic and social health of a particular place.
Green Spaces Alliance will be working more closely with local partners to cultivate and nourish community foods systems projects and endeavors. Together we can build a more vibrant and resilient community food system.


Did you know?
Monsanto's Roundup Ready® seeds are genetically engineered to be resistant to Monsanto’s top selling weed killer Roundup, which is made up of Glyphosate and a trademarked formula of component chemicals. In 2007, more than 185 million pounds of Glyphosate were sprayed on America's soils and crops and that amount has only continued to rise as more weeds develop resistance to Glyphosate.
A growing body of scientific evidence has shown that the overuse of Roundup and Glyphosate has created severe micronutrient deficiencies in the soil and plants causing an epidemic of diseases, such as Goss's Wilt on Roundup Ready® corn and Sudden Death Syndrome in Roundup Ready® soybeans.
Recently a team of top U.S. scientists discovered an organism associated with this rise in plant diseases in Roundup Ready® corn and soybeans which form the foundation for animal livestock feed in the U.S. The organism is observable only by an electron microscope, and was previously unknown to science.
For more information and to sign a petition to get this stopped, go to this website: Food Democracy Now
Contact Coach Connie to find out how you can take charge of your own health & wellness and STOP being a science project for Big Pharma and Mega Farms!
Everyone deserves "the Good Inside," and, yes, "Purity is Possible."


Our Production Process
Our Cigars are entirely made by us, from the selection of the seed to the delivery to the client.
Step 1: Cultivation of tobaccoTobacco plants are seeded indoors, and transplanted into fields after six to 10 weeks. The plants are carefully pruned so the leaves grow to the necessary size. Plants that produce the outer wrappers of cigars are usually kept covered with cloth to protect them from the sun. The plants take several months to mature in the fields.
Step 2:CuringAfter harvesting, the tobacco leaves must be cured in order to develop their characteristic aroma. The leaves are cured when they have passed from bright green flexible fresh leaves to dried brown or yellowish leaves. Chemically, the naturally occurring chlorophyll in the leaf gradually breaks down and is replaced by carotene. To cure, the harvested plants are strung to narrow strips of wood called laths. The laths are hung from the ceiling of a well-ventilated curing barn. The temperature must be carefully monitored in order to prevent extreme rapid drying.
Step 3:FermentingAfter the leaves are cured, they are sorted by color and size. Small or broken leaves are used for the cigar filler, large leaves for the inner wrapper or binder, and large, fine leaves, usually grown in shade or under cloth, are set aside for the outer wrapper. The leaves are tied into bundles called hands of 10 or 15 leaves each. The hands are packed in boxes or in large casks called hogsheads. The tobacco is kept in the hogshead for a period of from six months to five years. The leaves undergo chemical changes during this period referred to as fermentation. During fermentation, the aroma and taste of the leaf develops. After fermentation, the leaves are manually sorted again by highly trained workers.
Step 4: StrippingThe filler leaves must have their main vein (or stem) removed, or else the cigar will not burn evenly. A worker with a thimble knife fitted to his or her finger clips the vein near the tip and pulls it down. Then the worker stacks the stripped leaves in piles (called books or pads). The stripped leaves are wrapped in bales and stored for further fermentation. The bales may be shipped at this point, if final production resides elsewhere. Just before the leaves are ready for manufacture into cigars, they are steamed to restore lost humidity, and sorted again.
Step 5: Hand rollingThe filler must be packed evenly for the cigar to burn smoothly, and the wrapper should be wound in an even spiral around the cigar. Each worker sits at a small table with a tray of sorted tobacco leaves on it and space to roll out the cigar. First the worker selects from two to six leaves for the filler. These are placed one on top of the other and rolled into a bunch. Then the worker places the bunch on the binder leaf and rolls the binder leaf cylindrically around the filler. The unfinished cigars are placed in an open wooden mold that holds them in shape until they can be wrapped.
Step 6: WrappingWrapping is the most difficult step. The worker takes the partially completed cigar out of the mold and places it on the wrapper leaf. With a special rounded knife called a chaveta, the worker trims off any irregularities from the filler. Then the worker rolls the wrapper leaf around the filler and binder three and a half times, and secures it at the end with a small amount of vegetable paste. The worker cuts a small round piece out of a different wrapper leaf. This is sometimes done by tracing around a coin. This circle is then attached to the end of the cigar with paste. The worker has completed the cigar, though it still must be tested, sorted and packed.
Step 7: Finishing and packingCigars that pass inspection are placed on trays and passed to a banding process. They sort the finished cigars according to minute variations in wrapper color. Cigars with the same wrapper shade are then boxed together.
Visualize Our Care
Sort the gallery below according to the step of the production that you want to see.


Diatomaceous Earth is a natural product made from crushed sedimentary rock containing the fossilized remains of diatoms, microscopic fresh-water algae that were deposited in ancient lake beds. Diatomaceous Earth is approximately 85% silica. Farmers and gardeners have used Diatomaceous Earth for centuries as a natural insecticide and physical barrier to control common insect pests. Diatomaceous Earth does not harm earthworms or soil microorganisms.
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From Farm to Table: The Importance of Fresh, Whole Foods for Good Health
From farm to table, the journey of fresh, whole foods is essential for maintaining good health. Eating local and seasonal produce is not only good for your taste buds, but it also provides numerous health benefits that processed and packaged foods can’t match.
One of the key advantages of consuming fresh, whole foods is that they are packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are important for optimal physical and mental performance. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, supports a healthy immune system, and helps to maintain a healthy weight.
In addition, consuming seasonal and local produce promotes biodiversity, which is an important factor in maintaining healthy ecosystems and providing a balanced diet. When we eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, we provide our bodies with the nutrients they need to remain healthy and strong.
Furthermore, locally sourced whole foods typically have fewer pesticides and preservatives than commercially produced alternatives, which again makes them a healthier choice. Many commercial food products are treated with chemicals to enhance their appearance, flavor or prolong their shelf life. However, these chemicals can be dangerous to our health when consumed in large quantities.
Finally, eating fresh, whole foods connects us with our environment and supports local farmers and producers. When we prioritize locally grown and produced products, we contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious food system.
In summary, there are many benefits to consuming fresh, whole foods from farm to table, including greater nutritional intake, environmental sustainability, and supporting local producers and farmers. It is essential to make a conscious effort to include seasonal, locally sourced produce in our diets, and to recognize the importance of a balanced, whole-food-based diet in maintaining good health.


Botanical Name: Moringa oleifera
- English: Drum Stick Tree
- Ayurvedic: Shigru (white var.), Madhu Shigru, Sigra, Shobhaanjana
- Unani: Sahajan
- Siddha: Murungai
- Also, known as: Sobhanjana, Bahala, Tiksnaagandh¡, Aksiva, Mocaka, Sajina, Sajna, Sajn, Sargavo, Sekato, Saragavo Parna, Shajoma, Mungna, Neegge, Nugge ele, Murinna, Tishnagandha, Muringa, Muringa Elai, Sevaga, Haritashaaka, Raktaka, Murangi, Mochaka, Akshiva, Tikshnagandhaa, Segata, Segata pana, Shewgachi pane, Sajana, Munga, Munika, Sohanjana, Murungai, Murungai Ilai, Munaga Aku, Sehjan, and Mahun
Parts Used: Seed
Moringa seeds are large and circular-shaped and grow inside the lengthy pods of the Moringa oleifera tree. The pods can reach well over a foot in length and each pod can provide over a dozen large Moringa seeds. Moringa seeds have two sets of thin flaps extending from the main kernel of the seeds. These flaps serve as wings to carry the seed away from the mother tree, and with the help of the wind, they move across the ground until they find a resting place to germinate.
Unlike the fast-growing leaves of the Moringa oleifera tree, the seed pods do not grow back every few months. Moringa trees produce seed pods on an annual basis, much like other similar species in the plant kingdom. And as is the case with other healing plants, it is always worth the wait for the trees to produce their seed pods.
Moringa trees give off incredible volume of seed pods during their reproduction months. An average-sized tree of fifteen to twenty feet in height can produce hundreds or even thousands of seed pods, yielding countless seeds each and every year.
The Miracle of Moringa Tree Leaves (Moringa Oleifera), commonly called the 'drumstick tree", and 'horseradish tree' is native to India but has been planted around the world and is naturalized in many locales. Moringa is one of the most powerful health-enhancing plants. While many things found in Nature can have one or two health benefits, Moringa has many. India's ancient tradition of Ayurveda medicine sites 300 diseases that are treated with the leaves of the Moringa tree. Recent scientific research has proven that these humble leaves are in fact a powerhouse of nutritional value.
Moringa is known as a “miracle tree” and also as a “mother’s best friend”. It has multiple uses. Every part of the tree – leaves, pod, fruits, sap, seeds, oil, flowers, roots and bark have medicinal properties. Moringa leaves are literally one of the most powerful natural medicines.
Moringa oleifera is the most nutrient-rich plant. It has been nourishing people in less-developed societies for thousands of years, and significant nutritional research has been conducted since the 1970's. Moringa provides a rich and rare combination of nutrients, amino acids, antioxidants, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties used for nutrition and healing.
How to use:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered herb to any super food herbal smoothie, sauces, spreads and even cookies. Also for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. This method is also known as "Electuaries".
Capsules: Encapsulating your own powdered herb at home, gives you assurance that the contents of the capsules are pure herb and no filler or any other products. These capsules can be taken with liquid.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


CoAXium® Grower Stewardship Measures
Today, protecting our agricultural production systems should be a priority for everyone. The developers of the CoAXium® Barley Production System are actively focused on protecting the integrity of this new and innovative technology.
To ensure success of CoAXium® Barley, growers should follow the recommended Stewardship practices designed to maximise efficacy of CoAXium® Barley and prevent the development of herbicide resistance in grass weeds. For maximum benefit & longevity of CoAxium® barley, growers should apply Aggressor® AX brand herbicides for the control of annual grasses as per the Stewardship Guideline.


Austin Tree Fertilization
Fertilization of trees is a tool we use for four distinctly different reasons. Trees in Central Texas need a little help from time to time in the form of fertilization.
- Native trees, well adapted to our poor soils, should be fertilized once every 4 or 5 years. To do so more often usually isn't needed and can even be harmful.
- Fertilization is also used to help make small trees grow faster. Newly planted trees in the landscape can be helped along by annual fertilization for a minimal price. In the nursery, most trees are fertilized each time they are watered. Once planted in a yard and forgotten, most folks wonder why their trees stop growing. The answer is fertilizer.
- The third use for fertilization is to replace a missing micro or macro nutrients in the soil. This is best accomplished with a soil test to determine the missing component(s). Few companies in town actually do their own in-house soil testing. At Austin Tree Specialists, we can test your soil and provide the proper balance of nutrients to get your trees into the best possible shape.
- The fourth reason to fertilize is to help root damaged trees put on more roots. This often occurs around construction sites or with the replacement or installation of buried utilities. Fertilization with added root stimulants can often save root damaged trees when done properly.
We use a method we call "prescriptive fertilization." Each tank of fertilizer is individually formulated for the tree, the neighborhood, and the individual problem to get the best possible results. We know of no one else in Central Texas who does this or gets the results we do.
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Owned and operated by Brien and Emily Davis, and sustained by a group of passionate and dedicated crew members.
How We Got Here
We bought the orchard in 2001, moving from Central Maine where we had worked and raised our two sons for fifteen years. We were idealistic; we believed agriculture mattered, and we still do. We saw the orchard as an opportunity to carry on a tradition, to make a commitment to meaningful work outdoors, and to bring the best of our mental and physical abilities to the project. It is very interesting, there is so much to learn, and it has been well worth our energy. The orchard has connected us to the community in which we live, and we are continually reminded of how much folks value the orchard as a presence in Hope.
I’m just the keeper of the apples. This orchard was planted before we came and when we are gone someone else will carry on. My Grandfather was a farmer and I grew up thinking I would have farming in my life. This is it!
At first, I just wanted to learn how to grow apples. After a time I figured out what needed to be done and when. Now, I’m more interested in making the farm look beautiful. I couldn’t have run this farm alone all these years. It goes without saying that Emily is as involved in the orchard as me. Just show up on a Saturday morning in September and see who is cracking the whip and getting the stand looking great. Also, I have been blessed to work with Gene DiLorenzo for 14 of the past 16 seasons. He’s the farm artist, landscaper and humorist.
Developing the orchard into a viable business has channeled my creative energy and challenged me in wonderful ways. Living here has provided me with a first hand opportunity to walk my talk: to be a lifelong learner. Sometimes when I share what I know about apples, I surprise myself- that’s experiential learning at it’s best!
I like this place. I have found that the orchard gives me more energy than it takes. It allows me to work with the natural cycle of the seasons and that keeps me grounded. Besides, what’s not to love about a fresh apple?! I really enjoy sharing this simple, delicious, and nutritious food with other people. I am fortunate to balance my orchard work with employment as a school counselor at Troy Howard Middle School, in Belfast, as well as trip leading as a Maine Guide and volunteer with the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Meet The Crew
We are amazed and delighted by how our team seems to come to us, and are forever grateful for how long they stay and for the passion they bring to our orchard. They are a dedicated, silly, and quirky bunch. Ask them anything, anytime…except at 3pm when chai tea break is served!


Tomato & Cucumber Salad. The tomato is the edible berry of the plant Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as a tomato plant. The species originated in western South America and Central America. Tomato is a family of community-developed, custom firmware for consumer-grade computer networking routers and gateways powered by Broadcom chipsets.
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are popular vegetable garden plants. Tomato, flowering plant of the nightshade family, cultivated extensively for its edible fruits. The fruits are commonly eaten raw, served as a cooked vegetable, used as an ingredient of prepared dishes. You can have Tomato & Cucumber Salad using 9 ingredients and 1 steps. Here is how you achieve it.
Ingredients of Tomato & Cucumber Salad
- You need 2 of ripe tomatoes, quartered.
- It’s 1 of cucumber, sliced.
- You need 1/4 of onion, thinly sliced (optional).
- Prepare 2 tbsp of feta, crumbled.
- Prepare Pinch of salt.
- You need 3 tbsp of red wine vinaigrette.
- You need Dash of Italian seasoning.
- Prepare 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil.
- It’s 1 tsp of honey.
Free for commercial use No attribution required High quality images. Learn more about TOMATO uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain TOMATO. Going to Grandma's house (and other cursed experiences). The tomato was introduced to cultivation in the Middle East by John Barker, British consul in Aleppo The tomato entered Iran through two separate routes; one was through Turkey and. 'mater (Southern US, Appalachia, informal).
Tomato & Cucumber Salad step by step
- In a mixing bowl combine cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. In another bowl mix oil, red wine vinaigrette, Italian seasoning, honey, and salt. Pour dressing onto salad. Add feta. Mix well..
Borrowed from Spanish tomate, from Classical Nahuatl tomatl, from Proto-Nahuan *tomatl. IPA(key): /təˈmɑː.toʊ/. (US) IPA(key): [tʰəˈmɑɾoʊ]. (UK) IPA(key): [tʰəˈmɑːtʰəʊ]. (General Australian) IPA(key): [tʰəˈmɐːtʰɐʉ]. The genus is composed of nine generally accepted species. Tomato Firmware is a Linux based alternative to your router's operating system. Used much like DD-WRT and OpenWRT, Tomato gives you more control.
For Granma, I Love Cooking for Granma Recipes.


Groundnuts. Peanuts. Goobers. All different names for the same plant that has a deep history in the system of colonial maritime trade.
Native to the soils of South America, groundnut was first encountered by Europeans in the early 16th century when they began their exploration and conquest of that region. Trade routes soon took the humble groundnut to Europe, Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific, but it was not until the end of the 16th century that groundnut was introduced to the Indian Subcontinent. Most likely, the varieties that reached the Malabar coast came from Mozambique, while the varieties that reached the Coromandel coast came from the Philippines. Groundnut, in Tamil, used to be called marnilla kottai, which is thought to refer to the nut’s origin in Manilla. Some traders involved in the industry would even prefix their name with the word manilla.
The Rise of Cultivation and Production
Before colonial administration effectively transformed the local systems of agriculture from subsistence farming to cash cropping, the Muslim rulers of the Deccan were encouraging the commercial cultivation of groundnut. The first large-scale cultivation in Tamil Nadu was recorded in 1800 by British botanist Francis Buchanan, who noted that in Mysore, groundnut was being intercropped with turmeric. By 1851, the crop was being grown commercially and profitably in the South Arcot district (which encompassed Pondicherry and surrounding Tamil Nadu from Marakkanam to Thiruvannamalai to Chinna Salem to Chidambaram). By 1889, this region was home to more than half of the total acreage of groundnut farming from across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
In Pondicherry, the explosion of groundnut was initially met with inadequate storage facilities. The crop had to be stored and dried in private homes and gardens, causing residents and neighbors to complain about the smell. In 1889, twelve storage warehouses were constructed along the South Boulevard of the town specifically to accommodate the growing groundnut industry. Trade was operated from within these warehouses, propelling Pondicherry as the chief exporter of groundnut in South India.
France was the chief European recipient of Indian groundnut, and because they heavily taxed product that was grown outside of the French colonial empire, most of their Indian groundnut came from Pondicherry. In 1857, the exported groundnuts from Pondicherry to France were valued at 2.2 million francs. By 1883, this number had jumped to 8.4 million, and by 1891, the export value of groundnuts to France was as high as 12.9 million francs. In France, raw groundnuts were both used for food consumption and milled for oil, which was famously used in the composition of Marseilles soap.
Between 1896 and 1900, however, there was a massive dearth of groundnuts in Pondicherry because of crop disease, soil exploitation, and land exhaustion. One of the chief exporting companies was hired to develop a new seed variety that would resist these effects of degradation, and a seed from Mozambique was successfully cultivated to replenish growth. This new crop was named the Coromandel peanut, which subsequently dominated cultivation across India, and the Pondicherry region again rose as a primary producer of groundnut. At the height of production near the end of the 20th century, groundnut accounted for 10% of Pondicherry’s total cropland, third only to rice paddy (60%) and sugarcane (12%).
Processes of Production
Groundnut in Pondicherry was grown in two cycles: rainfed crop, which was cultivated between July and December, and irrigated crop, between January and June. All parts of the plant were used productively: the vines were used as fodder; the shells for animal feed, fire fuel, or packing material; and the nuts themselves, of course, for consumption and oil production. Groundnut oil was the principle byproduct of cultivation, and it was touted for its health benefits and affordability for the working family. Before the nuts could be crushed for oil, however, they would be dried in the sun for at least two days, with longer exposure leading to higher oil yields.
Originally, oil crushing was done with wooden rotaries known as sekku, which were driven by cattle. In a large mortar-and-pestle fashion, the bull would drive a rotating club on the inside of a serrated drum, crushing the kernels to extract the oil. Later, mills were run with mechanized rotaries, and eventually steam-powered oil expellers, which produced up to 50% more oil than traditional methods.
The Fall of the Groundnut Industry
Prior to Pondicherry independence and the merger with India, farmers would bring their crop directly to the oil mills in town with which they had established contracts. By 1965, however, the Puducherry government had centralized the trade of groundnut. Farmers and millers now worked less directly with each other, and instead most sellers took their crop to a centralized distribution center, where millers would make purchases at wholesale prices. This was not an economical process for many small-scale farmers, who eventually had to give up their groundnut business. Additionally, increasing urbanization, which drew more workers away from the fields and into the city, as well as a lack of concurrent modernization of agricultural technology, contributed to the gradual decline of groundnut production in the region.
Moreover, in the 1990s, foreign imports took over India’s oil industry. Palm oil and sunflower oil were marketed as healthier than groundnut oil, which is high in cholesterol, and sold for half the cost. Within the decade, groundnut operations had nearly completely ceased. At the height of production in Pondicherry, oil mills had lined the streets in the northwest part of the town, particularly on what is now Anna Salai and Nehru Street. Now, most of these mills lay deserted, or otherwise demolished and reconstructed for different commercial purposes. The warehouses which had been built on the South Boulevard at the turn of the 20th century, likewise, are now occupied by a fire station, a sports facility, a restaurant, offices, and shops.
There is hope, however, among millers that the groundnut industry may see a rebirth in the coming years. New knowledge, in particular, acknowledges the health benefits of groundnut oil and asserts that it is especially good for people living in humid, tropical climates such as Pondicherry’s. Demand for groundnut oil seems to be increasing and some new small mills have even opened up as the groundnut trade slowly begins to resurface.
The greatest irony is that this blog is written by someone with a peanut allergy. I only hope to bring remembrance to the Great Groundnut History that was once an integral part of local natural and industrial heritage. Though many farmers and millers have moved on to such crops as sesame, the groundnut roots grow deep into soil of Pondicherry.


I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long. I'm actually quite a lot better since I started eating meat again. Consequently, I've been doing all this gardening and cycling! The problem? No time to blog. I realized that I could blog about gardening or I could actually garden. I didn't have time to do both and the weeds just weren't getting any smaller. I've managed to weed out the worst of the side yard and get a bunch of new plants in. The rest of the yard still needs a lot of attention but it is just going to have to wait until my vacation.
So, here I am trying to get back into at least a little blogging. No pictures, though. I'll try to get some soon. The garden is looking nice and I bought a whole bunch more plants to put in. Plants are like crack to me this time of year!


If you visit the Balkans in the end of May and the beginning of June you should definitely become a part from the Bulgarian old tradition of picking roses. The Bulgarian Rose Valley is area located in southern Bulgaria. Only there are the most suitable conditions for the development and provides the highest quality rose oil in the world. The rose fields are the place where you can feel the real smell of the Bulgarian roses.
Rosa Damascena is the most famous of Bulgarian roses, grown in the Rose Valley on over 4,200 acres of farmland and this is the traditional livelihood of locals for centuries.
The roses grown in the Bulgarian rose valley contain essential oils and producing the world-famous Bulgarian rose oil. In some years the price of Bulgarian rose oil is close to the price of gold. That’s why some people called it ” liquid gold”.
For the production of 1 kg of Bulgarian rose oil are needed 3-3.5 tons of red or white 5-6 tons of oil rose blossoms. Roses are picked by hand early in the morning when there is dew. Bulgarian essential rose oil is made by water-steam distillation.
Bulgarian rose oil is used in cosmetics, medicine and aromatherapy. Besides oil, the processing of the pink blossoms is obtained rose water which is used in perfumery. The Bulgarian rose is also rich in Vitamin C and also successfully can be used in food industry
People from the villages singing songs during the rose picking, which creates amazing atmosphere around.
Nowadays many people from all over the world visit the rose valley in Bulgaria to become a part of this ancient Bulgarian tradition. Do you want to join us?


Lamiaceae honey is a special kind of multi-floral honey.
Lamiaceae, mostly Rosmarinus officinalis + Thymus ssp., most times, could be rosemary, thyme, or another monofloral. In this case, it is the natural mixture of these specific flowers that occur rarely.
It is multi-floral honey (made up of thousands of different flowers from different flower species). The harvest dates vary according to the year between March and May. It is impossible to harvest it every year.
It is rich in numerous compounds that help health, from tyrosine and antifungal substances to flavonoids and phenolic acids.
All the properties and benefits that can be attributed to honey are exclusively pertaining to pure raw honey since, for reasons beyond our control and that we cannot understand, these kinds of honey are overheated, micro-filtered or mixed with other products, thus decreasing the quality of honey and renouncing the countless properties and benefits of this product.


“The protection of small producers of original products in the supply chain, as well as the consumption of local and fresh organic food are a guarantee of long-term survival of our family farms and, consequently, life and progress in the Croatian countryside. That is why this was of great importance for me that those amendments be included in the Report within the EU strategy “Farm to fork”, stated Croatian MEP Tonino Picula on the occasion of the adoption of the Report at the meeting of the EP Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), which jointly adopted Picula’s amendments to the Report within the European Union’s “Farm to fork” strategy.
The “Farm to fork” strategy is an extremely important part of the European Green Deal, which aims to create stimulating and effective impacts on the environment and society, while helping to define and implement the transition of European agriculture. This initiative aims to contribute to healthier, greener and more sustainable production and the development of the food market and supply chain.
Tonino Picula, as an alternate member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, recently submitted 17 amendments to the initial version of the report, most of which entered the final text as part of an agreement by most political groups in the European Parliament. In doing so, he warned against combating fraud and illegitimate practices in the food market and supply chain, emphasizing the need to identify and investigate such dubious activities.
Furthermore, Picula’s amendment which recognizes the importance of fresh organic food that is consumed locally, for the benefit of the health of consumers and the environment was fully adopted. The MEP called for support measures and highlighted the great potential in promoting local cooperation between primary producers and tourism service providers, which could ultimately increase the consumption of fresh home-grown food.
Following Picula's recent activities in the fight for the recognition of Prošek at the EU level, the adopted text also includes his amendment emphasizing the role of the EU quality measurement system for geographical indications, such as protected designations of origin (PDO), protected geographical indications (PGI), the geographical indication of alcoholic beverages and aromatised wines and traditional specialties guaranteed, which are excellent examples of the way in which the EU sets quality standards in agriculture.
The statement on the report at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg is the next step expected on the agenda next month.


The “La Peracca” farm was born on the hills on the banks of the Po by the hand of Ettore Bastianini, agronomist and economics teacher. Since he was a child Ettore had clear ideas: as a reward for the achievement of the middle school license he asked the family for a chainsaw as a gift. The passion for the care of the land and agronomy have always accompanied him and for almost forty years Ettore has dedicated himself daily to its company and its territory.
Timber processing was the first activity, integrated with cereal growing and hazelnut cultivation which today are at the core of the business, also thanks to the production of biscuits and baked goods.
The story of “La Peracca” is a family story: Ettore could not have built everything himself. In addition to the participation of his wife Patrizia, a key role is played by the entry of the sons Francesco and Elisabetta into the company.
Elisabetta is a doctor in Gastronomic Sciences and deals with the transformation of hazelnuts: delicious creations are born from her hands, including biscuits and cakes, hazelnut cream and many other products, which origin from the family hazelnuts.
His son Francesco, a lover of naturalistic engineering, after graduating in Architecture chose to deal with agriculture dedicating himself in particular to firewood and the production of wood chips. He also guarantees the health of the hazelnut groves.
La Peracca is the result of the synergy between generations, through tradition and innovation and the fundamental values of respect for nature, promotion of the territory and quality of the products, such as working together for the success of the company.
Today the farm’s activity exceeds 40 hectares of land planted with hazelnuts, cereals, vegetables and biomass crops for energy purposes.


Accelerating Grand Farm through World-Class Support
Grand Farm Research & Education Initiative; a venture once thought to be a dream is becoming reality. Grand Farm, powered by Emerging Prairie, aims to capitalize on our region of the Midwest’s potential in the agriculture and technology industries. The area’s natural resources, weather, educational system, and community allow Grand Farm to utilize this potential to develop technological and human solutions for farming in a new era.
In 2018, with a TEDxFargo talk by entrepreneur Barry Batcheller, the audience was challenged with this statement: “What is our region’s major?” What goals do we have to improve the lives of people in our region and worldwide? How are we going to put North Dakota on the map while utilizing the strengths of the community around us? Grand Farm saw that as an opportunity to solve the issues faced by humanity’s oldest entrepreneurial profession - the farmer.
The problems faced by farmers and growers are vast - a shrinking workforce, growing world population, and increased technology needs mean that they need solutions, and fast. As the world population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, how are we going to feed a global community that large?
Grand Farm is working to solve these core issues through advanced technological solutions. Unmanned aerial systems, autonomous ground vehicles, and precision agriculture are all parts of the solution.
A vital piece of the puzzle is Digi-Key Electronics, one of the fastest growing distributors of electronic components in the world. With millions of products in stock at any given moment, Digi-Key is on the frontline of delivering electronic products as quickly as possible. Their incredible support encourages the entrepreneurial spirit that Grand Farm fosters, and accelerates the innovation that will help solve the challenges faced by farmers across the globe.


President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, March 7, graced several events of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Malacañan.
The President witnessed the signing of the Philippine Cacao and Coffee Industry Roadmaps, which will serve as guides for all industry stakeholders towards optimal realization of the targets set for 2017 to 2022.
The roadmaps are vital instruments to provide direction to the concerned stakeholders towards sustainable and globally competitive Philippine cacao and coffee industries, which are seen to contribute in achieving food security and poverty alleviation.
The President also witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Rubber Farmers Association (PRFA), Phoenix Petroleum, and DA-Philippine Rubber Research Institute (DA-PRRI) on Cooperation Toward Putting Up Investment for Pilipinas Agila Tyre Factory.
The agreement formalizes the cooperation between PRFA, Phoenix Petroleum and DA-PRRI in attracting the necessary investments for putting up a rubber tyre factory that is targetted to produce four million passenger tyres in a year.
The Chief Executive then led the awarding ceremony of the first Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan, a nationwide search for outstanding coastal communities in the country, which is implemented by the Department of Agriculture through Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Proclaimed as winners were Cortes, Surigao del Sur as grand winner; Palompon, Leyte as first runner-up; and Calatagan, Batangas as second runner-up.
Meanwhile, during the turnover of the processing and post-harvest facilities for the commercial production of pineapple fibers, the Chief Executive led in the awarding of certificates to farmer beneficiaries of multi-fiber decorticating machine, mechanical dryer, and baling machine.
The recipients of the agricultural machineries were Adventurers Multipurpose Cooperative of Polomolok, South Cotabato, T’boli Farm Growers Multipurpose Cooperative of Tiboli, South Cotabato, Shalom Fiber Growers Association of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; Labo Progressive Multipurpose Cooperative of Labo, Camarines Norte; and Maduvika Farmer’s Multipurpose Cooperative of Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
During the event, the Chief Executive received token shoes made from Piñatex or pineapple fiber.
He also led the launching of Farmhelp Mobile Application, which allows users to report all types of concerns to the government.
Duterte also witnessed the presentation of Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture and Launching and Testing of Interactive AMIA and National Color Coded Agricultural Guide Map.
This will allow farmers to identify what type of crops can be planted in a certain area.
During the presentation, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the map will “make farming easy”, without the unproductive “guessing game.”###PND


How to create a beautiful, dog-friendly, outdoor yard with minimal effort.
A lot of people are skeptical about backyard landscaping, but I can assure you that it is possible to do this without spending a ton of money or making a huge commitment. You can do this with minimal, if any, commitment of your own time. You don’t need a lot of space or special tools, just a little elbow grease and some great soil.
The key to keeping your backyard green is to use the right type of soil. If you are using clay soil, don’t compost it. If you are using a “natural” soil, use compost. If you are using a soil that has a high nutrient content, you might want to use a fertiliser to help it retain moisture and provide nutrients that other plants need.
The good news is that it is easy to find garden soil at almost any garden center or farm store. You will need a small amount, preferably about the size of a thumb-sized bit of cheese, and the proper type of soil. Also, you will need to know the particular plant you have chosen to grow, so you will need to spend some time finding out what it wants and what it needs.
The problem with using just a small amount of fertilizer on a plant, however, is that it will take some time to build up. Ideally, you would use a liquid fertilizer to ensure that the plant’s root system will have room to grow without the need for too much fertilizer. And if you need to fertilise a large area, you will need to use a liquid fertilizer that is more concentrated than a water-based fertilizer.
The best way to fertilize a garden is to use a liquid fertilizer that is more concentrated than water-based fertilizer. A liquid fertilizer that is more concentrated than water-based fertilizer is called a concentrated liquid fertilizer. It is used to add nutrients to the soil, instead of using water to do it. So you can use liquid fertilizers to grow plants without watering them and still get a decent amount of nutrients into the soil.
Using a liquid fertilizer can be tricky because you have to use a lot of water to get the nutrients out of it. And since water is needed to fertilize the soil, it may not provide the nutrients you need. Instead, you should use a fertilizer that is more concentrated than water-based fertilizer. This means that the liquid fertilizer has a higher concentration of nutrients and the water you use to wash it does not have to be very water-intensive.
If you’re trying to get your lawn to grow, make sure you are using good-quality fertilizer. I’ve seen quite a few people that don’t use the right fertilizer and end up with weeds and poor-quality lawn.
So I was shocked when I was recently told that my garden was not dog-friendly, because it did not use the right fertilizer. I was even more shocked when I found out that I was not allowed to bring pets inside to be watered or fed in case they wanted to get out of the garden. All I needed was a large tub of fertilizer for my lawn and a nice, comfortable chair to sit in.
The new trailer for Deathloop, which I’ve seen about 5 times in the past week, tells us that the Visionaries were once a wealthy group of people who wanted to rule the world, but now they’re trapped in a time loop. So the only way to take the island out of time is to take out the Visionaries. That sounds like the perfect plot for a time-loopy game, which means the game will probably be very fast-paced and very intense.


Looking for a local business?
Grounds for Mitcham fertiliser
7 Feb 12 @ 05:00am by Kate Swan
A NICE brewed coffee can be just the thing to kick off your day and it can give your plants that same kick.
Coffee grounds are relatively rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth, so it makes sense to return it to the earth rather than dump it in the bin where it adds to landfill and producing greenhouse gases.
Transition Whitehorse has taken this principle to the industrial level, with local cafes making their used coffee grounds available to residents for home gardens.
The initiative is known as Ground to Ground.
Miss Polly’s Cafe in Mitcham and Cafe Piettro at North Blackburn Square are now on board.
Transition Whitehorse’s Sandra Jackson said many people were discovering the benefits that coffee brought to the garden.
“Grounds assist in creating a rich luscious soil that attracts earth worms while keeping away snails, slugs, ants and cats,” she said.
“When added to your compost bin, the coffee grounds raise the internal temperature, which speeds up decomposition.
“They can also be put straight onto your garden - just dug into the soil a little. So cut down on landfill, one latte at a time.”
Transition fellow member Claire Pattison said: “We often underestimate ... how much we can achieve by taking many small steps together.”
Details: or groundtoground.org