Educational Resources | Afristar Foundation Afristar Foundation Afristar Foundation develops educational resources for schools, community programs and adult education in the form posters, educational documentaries and informational booklets. We make use of accessible media to illustrate techniques and principles of sustainability and to spread information in a manner that is fun, colorful and easy to understand. Afristar’s poster series have been placed in classrooms across the country, and are used for trainings and workshops; our DVD’s take a deeper look into the application of sustainability on the ground, and our booklets form a resource that can be utilized again and again. Creating these resources is a passion of Afristar’s and we are always looking to partner with other organizations, funders and individuals to create a new media campaign. Medicinal Plants Resource Booklet – contact us for a pdf version! Booklet Download Making an A-Frame Poster Download recycling greywater Download permaculture zones Download companion planting Download Download Download
The New Horse-Powered Farm Featured in The New York Times Across the nation, farmers are returning to an age-old technology that’s at the cutting edge of sustainable agriculture: horse-power. Why? Simple. It’s better for the land, and better for the soul. Author of The New Horse-Powered Farm Stephen Leslie, says it best in his The New York Times profile: “From an ecological standpoint, it’s just so clean, versus burning fossil fuel, and the compaction you get with a tractor,” he said. Last month, while Leslie was just getting started with spring chores, Anne Raver of The New York Times paid him a visit. Farm Equipment That Runs on Oats By ANNE RAVER Photo Credit: Stacey Cramp for The New York Times HARTLAND, Vt. — It was a perfect day for plowing, a little overcast with a cool breeze. Stephen Leslie, an artist and former Benedictine monk, guided two Norwegian Fjords down the field. “Stay haw, stay haw,” Mr. “Gee now, gee,” he said, urging them left as they stepped onto the unplowed grass at the edge of the field. Mr. Keep reading…
Cannabis Plant and Pest Problem Solver - Pictorial Here is a ready reckoner for Cannabis plant and pest problems. It has been put together by a master grower. I have edited for content and added to as needed. I hope you learn from this treatise. I have been doing a lot of research on sick plants and also helping out others a lot on sick plants! Most of the stuff I have learned is from others and keeping up to date on there problems they are having. I honestly think one of the most important parts of your growing is having a good solid ph tester, a digital one is the best to have. Adding nutes to your water can cause the ph to get low as well, so its best to test your ph of your water before and after you add your nutes. Having these conditions will help making nutrient deficiencies alot easier to overcome. I will be updating this until it gets done, because I have a lot of information but just not on every sick problem that is out there…. The following are mobile elements and as well macro nutrients. (N) Mobile Element and Macro Element Dr.
Organic Management of Soil and Crop Nutrition - Department of Environment and Primary Industries Australia’s National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce states ‘ The fertility and the biological activity of the soil must be maintained or increased …’ and ‘ A high or routine use of off-farm inputs is not encouraged by this Standard ’. This sets the scene for organic farmers - maintain or improve soil health, and rely on on-farm resources as much as possible. Soil management is addressed over two factsheets in this series. This factsheet gives an introduction to the direct management of nutrient inputs and recycling from an organic perspective. Organic crop nutrition The organic farmer’s approach to crop nutrition is to 'Feed the soil, not the plant', and so mimic natural soil development and nutrient cycling. Natural nutrient cycling relies on soil biological activity, contrasting with the conventional approach where water-soluble nutrients are applied for direct uptake by the crop. Nutrient budgets & ‘closed systems’ Soil & plant analysis Some essential nutrient elements
Home | Buy bokashi composting buckets, bokashi bran, and learn about soil restoration and preservation. Banyan Roots: Udaipur’s First Organic Food Store and Cafe | UdaipurTimes Published: October 31, 2011 | Last Updated: 31 October 2011 9:28 PM Udaipur has witnessed its first dedicated Organic Food Store today, Banyan Roots . One can get Rice, Wheat, Corn, Pulses, Lentil, Gram, Spices, Ghee, Peanut Oil, Mustard Oil, Herbal Tea, Hair Oil, Thyme, Sulphur free Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Papad etc. and various other products, all purely grown and/or produced naturally without adding any harmful chemicals. Banyan Roots is not only an organic grocery store but they also have a special cafeteria where every food served is organic. This innovative assortment of natural food and art, Banyan Roots is an initiative of two youngsters Jayesh Mohta and Rohit Jain . Jayesh, a B.Com graduate is an artist by passion and had performed in many theaters and nukkad dramas while Rohit holds a degree of Masters in Computer Application (MCA) from Pune. Although being from uncommon backgrounds the duo has a common passion for Nature which brings them together with the concept of Banyan Roots.
Turbo-Vortex Tea Brewer Introduction I graduated from Southampton College of Long Island University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science, Biology concentration. Worked for over a decade in the commercial fishing industry. Declines in fisheries and disappointment in science led me into the landscape and tree service industry. Though the mentality was no better their I was able to make inroads and connections which enabled me to work according to my own standards. After marrying into a 12th generation farm family in Water Mill I began to apply my scientific insights into compost making and was introduced to biodynamics in 1987. Since then the world of subtle energy and earth healing has had my undivided attention. Turbo-Vortex Compost Tea BrewerOn the farm I build hydraulic stirring machines for the biodynamic remedies and can stir eighty gallons per machine applicable to twenty five acres at a time. I build them from stock components. Q: Steve, this sounds interesting. Q: What are the nozzles?
People - Bhaskar Save / India Organic Bhaskar Save is the acclaimed ‘Gandhi of Natural Farming’. His farming wisdom has grown through seven decades of personal experience. His farm, Kalpavruksha, is a veritable food forest and a net supplier of water, energy and fertility. The legendary natural farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka on seeing his farm commented, “I have seen many farms all over the world. This is the best! At the end of World War II and after the declaration of India’s independence, there emerged a significant demand for vegetables in big towns like Ahmadabad and Mumbai. Seen as one of India’s veteran farmers, Bhaskarbhai has this simple advice for farmers, “In growing plants one needs to understand what plants actually need, and how much, where, when, and how.” Save’s verdant 14 acre farm compels attention. All food requirements of the family are grown on-farm. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) honoured him with the global One World Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010.
Sweet Life Garden Bhoomi Magazine - Natural abundance One of India’s first organic farmers, Bhaskar Save, believes co-operation is the fundamental law of Nature Masanobu Fukuoka, renowned natural farmer, made several visits to India, a country which inspired more hope in him than his own Japan. On his last visit here, he spent a day at the farm of another remarkable octogenarian, Bhaskar Save, in southernmost coastal Gujarat. Hailed as ‘the living Gandhi of natural farming’, Bhaskar Save has inspired a whole generation of organic farmers all over India. On entering Save’s farm, one encounters a bright sign that reads “Co-operation is the fundamental Law of Nature” – a simple and concise introduction to Save’s philosophy and practice of natural farming! Kalpavruksha compels attention, for its high yield easily out-performs any farm using chemicals. The diverse plants on Bhaskar Save’s farm co-exist as a mixed community of dense vegetation. Tillers and Fertility Builders at Kalpavruksha Weeds: Wild Friends Multi-storey, Multi-function
Seaweed and Plant Growth Seaweed contains all major and minor plant nutrients, and all trace elements; alginic acid; vitamins; auxins; at least two gibberellins; and antibiotics. Of the seaweed contents listed after nutrients and trace elements, the first, alginic acid, is a soil conditioner; the remainder, if the word may be forgiven in this context, are plant conditioners. All are found in fresh seaweed, dried seaweed meal and liquid seaweed extract -- with the one exception of vitamins: these, while present in both fresh seaweed and dried seaweed meal, are absent from the extract. We will deal first with alginic acid as a soil conditioner. These brief notes cover two examples: one of the way in which seaweed helps to produce a crumb structure in the soil, another of the way in which it helps soil to retain moisture. The substances secreted by soil bacteria in the presence of seaweed include organic chemicals known as polyuronides. So much for the soil conditioning effects of seaweed. Small Farms Library Index