Earth News

farmeric August 14th, 2011

We went to Paradizoo in Tagaytay twice already and every time we go there, I’m fascinated with the natural fertilizers that they are using. I was informed that they make their own natural fertilizers by vermiculture and vermicomposting. I want to attend a seminar on how to make this organic fertilizers but due to time constraints, I’m having a hard time to attend the scheduled seminars. Instead, I did some research, thanks to Google and I’ve found this article from Bureau of Plants website which I want to share with you.

Vermiculture and Vermicomposting is  production of organic fertilizer through the action of earthworms.

Different Earthworm Species used in Vermicomposting

1. Red Wiggler
2. Red Tiger
3. Red Worms
4. Blue Worms
5. African Nightcrawlers (Eudrilus euginae)

Characteristics of African Nightcrawles

• Hermaphrodites (male and female reproductive organs are present in each worm
• Matures in 6 weeks
• Population doubles in about a month
• Temperature Requirement – 25°C–29°C under shade

Steps in Vermicomposting Continue Reading »

Tags: earthworms, natural fertilizers, organic fertilizers, vermicomposting, vermiculture

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farmeric April 3rd, 2011

Garlic ( Allium sativum) originated in Central Asia and has now spread across the world. For use as an insecticide it should not be grown using chemical fertilisers. This is because heavy doses of fertilizer reduce the concentration of the effective substances in the garlic. It has anti-feedant, bacterial, fungicidal, insecticidal, nematicidal and repellent properties.

How To Make Garlic Spray

Blend 100 grams of grated and crushed garlic cloves, 0.5 liters of water and 10 grams of soap (Use potash based soft soap that is used for washing dishes and not the modern washing powders that contain caustic soda which will harm plants). Mix well. Strain the mixture through a fine cloth. Dilute the solution in 5 liters of water.

How to use the Garlic Spray Continue Reading »

Tags: garlic, insecticide, pesticide

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farmeric April 2nd, 2011

Mulching: Decayed  flowers,  leaves  and  stalks can be used as  a  mulch around the base of plants which may help to deter pests.
Interplanting  and  rotation: Traditionally  Tagetes spp.  have been interplanted with other plants whose roots are attacked by nematodes. The roots  of  Tagetes  give off  a  substance  that  kills  nematodes.  Nematode infested soil can be  thoroughly cleaned up by  temporary dense planting of,  or rotation with Tagetes.
Attractant: Tagetes  attract  many  beneficial insects so planting  them amongst a crop can help to reduce pest populations.

Note: The aroma of tagetes can make bees aggressive so beware that your clothes or hands do not smell of Tagetes when dealing with bees.

source:  http://www.hdra.org.uk

Tags: mexican marigold, tagetes

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farmeric March 26th, 2011

This is a continuation on using Mexican Marigold as natural pesticide. This time, mixing it with different plants such as garlic, chilli, onion and persian lilac.

How to Make Chilli, Garlic, Mexican Marigold and Onion Spray

Procedures:

Chop 3 garlic cloves, 2 handfuls of marigold  leaves, 2  large onions, and 2 chilli pods. Place  in a pan of water and bring to the boil. Leave the solution to  cool.  Strain  the mixture and  keep  the  liquid.  Dilute  the  solution  with 4 times as much water.

How  to  use:

This  mixture  is  used as  a  spray  or  sprinkle  to deter  most insects.

How To Make Mexican Marigold and Melia Azadirach (syringa, persian lilac) Spray

Procedures:

Soak Mexican marigold leaves and syringa leaves and berries in a bucket of  water for 2 to 3 days. Strain the mixture and keep the liquid. Dilute with water until the solution is pale green or brown.
How  to  use:

Use as  a  spray  or  sprinkle against  ants, mites  and  cabbage  root fly.

Tags: mexican marigold, natural insecticide, natural pesticide

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farmeric January 15th, 2011

Fertiliser
The seed cake, which is produced by pressing the seeds to extract oil, cannot be eaten as it contains harmful substances. However, it contains high levels of protein and makes a good fertiliser for use in agriculture.

Living fence
Planted as a living fence, Moringa provides wind protection and shade. It grows very quickly and if cuttings are planted close together they will form a fence that livestock cannot get through in just 3 months.

Alley cropping
Moringa has a large tap root and few lateral roots so it will not compete for nutrients with the crops. Continue Reading »

Tags: malunggay, moringa, moringa oleifera

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farmeric January 2nd, 2011

Moringa or malunggay seed powder can be used as a quick and simple method for cleaning dirty river water. The powder joins with the solids in the water and sinks to the bottom. This treatment also removes 90-99% of bacteria contained in water.
Using Moringa to purify water replaces chemicals such as aluminum sulphate, which are dangerous to people and the environment, and are expensive.

Twenty litres of water can be treated in the following way:

1. Remove the wings and brown seed coat and discard any seed kernels that have dark spots or any other signs of damage.
2. Pound the kernels to a fine powder.
3. Add 2 grams (2 small spoons) of powder to one cup of clean water, pour into a bottle and shake for 5 minutes.
4. Filter the solution through a clean cloth into the bucket of dirty water that is to be treated. Continue Reading »

   Tags: Food, honey, malunggay, moringa, moringa oleifera, sugar cane, water purifier
   

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farmeric December 13th, 2010

What is Moringa oleifera?

Moringa oleifera, known as Moringa, is native to north India but is now found throughout the tropics. Moringa is also known as horseradish tree, drumstick tree and mother’s best friend. It grows fast and reaches up to 12m. The bark is grey and thick and looks like cork, peeling in patches.

It looses its leaves from December to January and new growth starts in February to March. Moringa produces cream coloured flowers when it is 8 months old and the flowering season begins in January and continues through to March. The fruit ripens from April to June and the pods are triangular in cross section, 30 to 50cm long and contain oily, black, winged seeds.

Tags: malunggay, moringa, moringa oleifera

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farmeric December 11th, 2010

If your face shows your age all too clearly, a new wrinkle in cancer research could mean good news for you. Doctors in England speculate that if you have wrinkles, you might actually be protected from skin cancer.

Most people believe that wrinkling indicates sun damage and a higher risk of skin cancer. But, that’s not the whole story. According to Dr. Christopher E. M. Griffiths, professor of dermatology at the University of Manchester’s Hope Hospital, there are different types of skin and they react differently from sun exposure.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun destroy the elastic collagen fibers in all types of skin. If you are wrinkled, that means your skin type repairs itself but doesn’t replace the collagen. If you have smooth skin, on the other hand, your skin is replacing the damaged collagen.

Griffith believes this amount of collagen in your skin could affect your risk of skin cancer in a rondabout way. A substance called transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta helps rebuild the collagen. However, it also suppresses your immune system - and a weakened immune system has more trouble fighting off cancer. In other words, the same process that keeps your skin smooth and firm might also allow cancer to develop. ” This is speculative!” stressed Griffiths.

He first noticed that his patients with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, had fewer wrinkles than other patients. Then, a study of over 200 people shed further light. Those with heavily wrinkled faces were up to 90 percent less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than smooth-skinned people.

Unfortunately, you can’t control the type of skin you have. So, it is simply important that you take the usual steps to protect yourself from the sun. “It’s best to avoid sunbathing and use high factor sunscreen,” Griffiths says.

Now, here’s the natural way to zap your wrinkles with a homemade, scented moisturizer. Just choose an essential oil, such as lavender, lilac, or rose, from a health food or beauty store. You’ll also need to pick up an atomizer from a drugstore.  Then follow these simple steps.

1. Fill the atomizer with 1 cup of water.
2. Add 2 or 3 drops of an essential oil.
3. Refrigerate the solution overnight.
4. Simply spray, and then blot your skin with a tissue.

There goes the folk remedy to have a natural glowing skin

Tags: oriental medicine, skin cancer, wrinkles

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farmeric October 12th, 2010

If you’ve been fascinated with the windmills or windfarm in Pangui, Ilocos Norte, you’ll be more amazed with the World’s Largest Wind Farm.

Thanet Windfarm courtesty of shetlandtimes

The Thanet Wind Farm(also sometimes called Thanet Offshore Wind Farm) found on the southeast coast of England was opened on the midweek of September, 2010. The new farm could generate 300 megawatts of energy at full capacity compared to 25 megawatts of Pangui windfarm.

Each turbine is up to 380 feet (115 meters) tall and the site is as large as 4,000 football fields.

The wind farm in found in Ilocos is being operated by Northwind,  a Danish firm Northwind. It is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. It uses 30 units of turbines in comparison to 100 units of Thanet. At their peak, it they can produce enough electricity a year to power the equivalent of more than 200,000 homes.

Tags: electricity, energy, wind farm

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farmeric August 20th, 2010

Malunggay,according to former Agriculture Secretary Arthuro Yap, has many agri-busi- ness potential, explaining why there is a need for farmers to venture into malunggay farming. He gave credit to the DA-BPO led by Director Alicia Ilaga for aggressively promoting the backyard as well as commercial planting or cultivation of the nutritious vegetable tree crop, making it malunggay one of the country’s chief vegetables.

YAP cited the DA’s Malunggay Agri-Biotechnology Program as the model of the research, development and extension component the DA’s program.

“If coconut is the tree of life, the malunggay is the miracle tree,” he said. Yap said malunggay has many agri- business potentials which can help fight hunger and poverty and increase farmers’ income, as well.

Powdered malunggay can be used to fortify noodles, soup or bread with vitamins and minerals of the nutritious vegetable while its seeds, which can produce all-purpose oil, can be used by industries for products like soap, shampoo, lotion and other personal health-care products.

It can also be an alternative source of Continue Reading »

Tags: health benefits, malunggay, moringga, traditional medicine

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