Agriculture - Blog Posts
I think I like food forests more rather than the current monoculture farming and would rather create a food forest because it feels more like gardening than farming to me. You know?
I much prefer them personally
As long as people are around, we are going to have paths of some kind, and if we want to stay with streets as we currently have them why not line them with food?
Canopies to provide shade and color, with vines like ivy or grapes or beans growing up the sides.
Espalied fruit trees as fences and shrubs so you can grab bassket full of fruit and a handful of berries on the way to the park or neighbors house.
Root crops and ground cover filling in the gaps. Compost bins where we have garbage bins now.
Not only does it sound pretty, it also would be more efficent for food harvesting and distribution. Plus think of how much lower the heat of any given street would be!
So yea, I def dream of food forest streets.
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Ensuring Animal Welfare | Entegra Signature Structures
The government is determined to ensure that every animal is cared for in the appropriate manner. Hence, a new state animal welfare standard came into effect. Know more in the blog by Entegra Signature Structures!
New State Animal Welfare Standards were introduced on 1 July 2021 and brought the state in line with federal animal welfare laws. Read the blog by Entegra to know in detail about it!
Hi! My name is Abby De la Rocha and I am the Volunteer Coordinator at the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital in Coral Springs, Florida. I was born in Puerto Rico and lived there until my family moved to Botswana when I was 8 years old. I returned to Puerto Rico when I was 16 and finished high school in Ponce. I then moved to New Orleans where I studied at Loyola University. I have been in Florida since 2006.
In this post, I’m going to tell you about Hispanic Heritage month as well as some interesting facts about Puerto Rico’s agriculture and its most precious ecosystem El Yunque.
What is Hispanic Heritage Month?
Each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme- Hispanics: Be Proud of Your Past, Embrace the Future – invites us to embrace our backgrounds, to be proud of who we are and where we came from.
Embracing the Future
The future of agriculture in Puerto Rico
Currently, Puerto Rico imports 85% of its food. This is a huge vulnerability for an island with a population of 3.1 million. For several years, my family has been involved in the agroecological movement which seeks to increase the self-sufficiency of Puerto Rico through their agricultural project Finca El Reverdecer. This movement has been largely spearheaded by young people who are eager to make a difference. I believe that by looking at our past we can create a better future.
The present agricultural reality of Puerto Rico can be traced back to Puerto Rico’s history as a Spanish colony and later as a Commonwealth of the United States. The establishment of the monoculture of sugarcane meant that many Puerto Ricans worked on sugarcane plantations. My grandfather worked cutting cane during his youth. Later, he would go on to own land that he cultivated for his own consumption. At the age of 93 he continues to enjoy getting his hands dirty on my parents’ farm.
Eventually, the sugarcane industry on the island collapsed. Its demise was due to various factors including hurricanes that decimated the island as well as policies imposed by the Federal Government. In particular, a land tax imposed in 1901 known as the Hollander Bill. As a result of this bill, many local farmers were forced to sell their land. This eventually led to mass migration from the island to the mainland. It also led to a decrease in farming in general as people did not have land to farm. Subsequently, attitudes towards farming became unfavorable, especially among young people. This is changing. Today, many small farms produce high-quality products that are sought out by individuals and restaurants alike. While still a work in progress, the path to agricultural self-sufficiency is being forged.
Celebrating the only U.S. National Forest located on an island
The El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. At nearly 29,000 acres, it is one of the smallest in size, yet one of the most biologically diverse.
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. (2020) describes El Yunque, “Caressed by gentle easterly winds the forest has an average temperature of 73° F, and seasonal changes are almost imperceptible. It is the ideal climate for exuberant tropical vegetation. The rain forest is noted for its biodiversity; it is “home” to thousands of native plants including 150 fern species, 240 tree species (88 of these are endemic or rare and 23 are exclusively found in this forest). The El Yunque National Forest has no large wildlife species, but hundreds of smaller animals abound in this gentle forest, many of which exist nowhere else on the planet.”
To embrace the future, we must plan and prepare for it. Looking forwards requires us to look back at our history so that we can make sense of our present. Puerto Rico’s future is being planned by those who work the land in order to provide food for its people as well as those who work to preserve the natural wonder that is El Yunque National Forest.
If you’d like to learn more about some of the agricultural projects on the island check out the links below:
Proyecto Agroecologico el Josco Bravo
Organización Boricuá de Agricultura Ecológica de Puerto Rico
El Departamento de la Comida
Finca El Reverdecer
References:
Charles, D. (2017, May 13) How Puerto Rico Lost Its Home-Grown Food, But Might Find It Again. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/13/527934047/how-puerto-rico-lost-its-home-grown-food-but-might-find-it-again
U.S. Census Bureau (2019). Quick Facts Puerto Rico. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/PR.
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. (2020) About the Forest. Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/elyunque/about-forest
Dick, D. L. (2015) U.S. Tax Imperialism in Puerto Rico. American University Law Review. Retrieved from http://www.aulawreview.org/us-tax-imperialism-in-puerto-rico/#_ftn220
https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2020/09/29/hispanic-heritage-month/
Fun Fact: The famous Florida citrus trees are NOT native to Florida. Citrus trees were planted by mid-century Spanish explorers before they became the state's featured fruit. https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/eat-drink/facts-about-florida-citrus-oranges.html
I just finished installing all my new grow lights for my garage garden! 😍 Now I want my bedroom to be out here 💜🩷
Winter Tree. by Steve Garrington Via Flickr: In Explore. Highest position: 2 Tree in a snowy field at Old St. Mellons, Cardiff.
A Fegyverszünetnek rajzoltam ezt a térképet Berettyóújfalu környékéről. Március 15-én a rászoruló családoknak gyűjtenek adományokat az Imposztorban. Az esemény oldalán olvasható, hogy mivel tudtok ti is segíteni: https://www.facebook.com/events/117111972145893/
An illustrated map about rural Hungary for a charity organization, Fegyverszünet.
The study authors have calculated the cost of the “lost ecosystem services value” our planet has suffered in the last decade and a half. According to their calculations, the loss due to land degradation averages US $43,400 to $72,000 per square km, some US $870 to $1,450 per person, globally each year. The percentage of the world’s land affected by land degradation has grown a lot in the last decades – it has doubled between the late 1970s and the early 2000s. And the process is far from its end.
“This study by ELD shows the immediate and global impact of land degradation and highlights that actions to tackle it pay off,” Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs commented on the paper.
“Increased land degradation is also one of the factors that can lead to migration and it is being exacerbated by climate change. On our planet, the area affected by drought has doubled in 40 years. One third of Africa is threatened by desertification. As President Juncker said in his State of the Union speech last week, climate refugees will become a new challenge – if we do not act swiftly.”
sit your family down, your friends, entice strangers : into learning about palestinian cuisine, do not tell them the name, the things you eat, you make them taste it and if they like it, explain how hard ingredients for mustering these meals up for has become, do they want to taste it again?
they cannot, because we lose the grains, the cheeses, the fruits and meats, everything that they do.
without anger and sadness, there is apathy, negligence for a culture that cannot give, and will be unable to give while this genocide proceeds a moment longer, we are able to make meals, while others mouse on crumbs.
Y’all I did it. It’s my first work on AO3, but I think I might have something started. I plan to update it weekly and all, so that not it.
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death Relationships: Pieck Finger/Porco Galliard, Armin Arlert/Annie Leonhart, Sasha Blouse/Niccolo Characters: Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, Jean Kirstein, Zeke Yeager, Grisha Yeager, Carla Yeager, Marco Bott, Sasha Blouse, Connie Springer, Ymir of the 104th (Shingeki no Kyojin), Krista Lenz | Historia Reiss, Reiner Braun, Reiner Braun’s Mother, Bertolt Hoover, Annie Leonhart, Pieck Finger, Porco Galliard, Gabi Braun, Colt Grice, Falco Grice, Zofia (Shingeki no Kyojin), Udo (Shingeki no Kyojin), Erwin Smith, Nile Dok, Mike Zacharias, Nanaba (Shingeki no Kyojin), Hange Zoë, Levi Ackerman, Moblit Berner, Keith Shadis, Theo Magath Additional Tags: Livestock show, Livestock, Alternate Universe - Farm/Ranch, all the veterans are Agriculture teachers or 4H advisors, I modeled all of them after my own Agri teachers, Mr Kelley and Mrs Taylor if you see this I’m sorry, Based on True Events, show pig, show cow, show lamb, show goat, I don’t count small livestock, you chicken and rabbit people can go kick rocks, showmanship, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Anime Spoilers, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan References, Minor Pieck Finger/Porco Galliard, Implied Relationships, Armin Arlert & Eren Yeager Are Best Friends, Minor Armin Arlert/Annie Leonhart, Badass Armin Arlert, Jean Kirstein Being An Asshole, Dead Marco Bott, Sasha Blouse Being Sasha Blouse, Sasha Blouse & Jean Kirstein & Connie Springer Friendship, Minor Sasha Blouse/Niccolo, Connie Springer Being an Idiot, Minor Krista Lenz | Historia Reiss/Ymir of the 104th, Reiner Braun Needs a Hug, Depressed Reiner Braun, Gabi Braun & Reiner Braun Are Siblings, Annie Leonhart is Bad at Feelings, Mentioned Hitch Dreyse, Mentioned Porco Galliard, Gabi Braun is a Little Shit, Falco Grice is in Love with Gabi Braun, Drunk Colt Grice Summary:
Through late nights at the barn, moments of self-doubt, and the thrill of the ring. With each ribbon earned and each lesson learned, you realize that the real victory isn’t in the buckles or banners, but in the relationships that have been forged along the way. This is the life of the 104th graduating class of showmen of the towns of Maria and Marley. The two schools constantly fight for first place, no matter where they go to show. And this year, it’s a little different …
so a lot of y’all ain’t got a clue in hell what a stock show is.
So those of you who have no clue what a stock show is-
it’s where kids ages 5-21 get animals through two programs ( 4H or FFA) and we get them at varying times in the year to raise them to market weight for show.
We train our animals for something called showmanship, which is basically the art of looking good. Goats use halters, Cattle use halters and these long ass canes to scratch their bellies, Pigs use special whip, and sheep people just use halters and occasionally their hands??
( I’m not a sheep person, I ain’t got a fucking clue)
but our main thing that we’re graded on there is our performance: keeping eye contact with the judge, keeping our animal moving, and showing off all angles of our livestock to the judge.
then we have the market/breeding class
in that, we are not judged, but our animals are. they are ranked on their more desirable traits and are placed from 1st, to about 10th, everyone else from that class is dismissed. From that, the top three are weighed and the top two are brought back for the grand drive of that breed. the grand drive picks the ultimate winner of the breed or the entire part of that show.
if you win either of these categories, you win a butt load of money from sponsors, you win belt buckles, a banner, and get a back drop picture with your livestock and your family!
I hope that clears everything up!!! Don’t be scared to comment questions!!
Would it be cheesy if I made a AOT fic but had it as a stock show AU?
those who get it, get it.
those who don’t, don’t. Stock shows have four categories of large livestock-
the Cattle showmen , the Lamb showmen, the Goat showmen, and the Swine Showmen. All of which come with their respective difficulties and challenges- and most importantly- drama. Idk but I think a stock show AOT fic would be absolutely hilarious and witty
@wintrrxxo @dressycobra7
y’all I feel like an idiot.
I have a show pig and today I ran out of Linder 6-11 scuds ( it’s super high in crude protein and I need it for state fair which is next week). So this morning after feeding I went down to my local Linder supplier and apparently they stopped their orders for it earlier than planned this year. So I went into their back room and while looking through their feed I saw a bag of sunglo S’more fill and so I grab it, not even reading the crude protein and just taking it to check out because it was the only one I vaguely recognized. i get home and read the crude protein and it’s like 8% instead of like- 25%. So now I feel like an idiot.
( sorry for my useless rant my lovelies ❤️❤️)