How do plants beat the heat? Find out how your garden can stay productive this summer.
Tag: Water
Water For Every Farm
Many sustainable farmers are fascinated by the concept of allowing the land and its contours to dictate the best practices for every acre. For those of you who are looking for some grist to add to the mill on this subject, give Water For Every Farm: Yeomans Keyline Plan by P.A. Yeomans a try. After…
Grazing Systems Planning Guide
Is the thought of planning a rotational or management-intensive grazing system daunting to you? If you are new to the concept, you will probably appreciate this free guide from the University of Minnesota Extension Service—Grazing Systems Planning Guide. The Grazing Systems Planning Guide is directed at beginners and walks graziers through the planning process sequentially….
3 Reasons to Mulch Your Garden
Organic gardeners have many good reasons to use mulch besides aesthetics. We’ll give you three.
What is “Raw” Water?
One of the most recent trends in health is “raw” water. Simply put, raw water is water that has not been filtered or treated in any way. It may come from a well, a spring, a pond, or directly from the sky, but the point is that raw water is water in an unprocessed state….
The Agricultural Adjustment Act in the Great Plains: Part 2
Adjusting Livestock Production In an effort to reduce hog numbers, payments were also distributed to farmers who would destroy their piglets and pregnant sows. About 6 million piglets were slaughtered under the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA). A cattle-purchasing program was similarly implemented under the Drought Relief Service in areas where the Dust Bowl had hit the…
Growth Cracks
Growth cracks are a problem most gardeners will have to contend with sooner or later. Fortunately, the problem is structural in nature, and therefore will not cause an epidemic. Commonly affected plants include: Tomatoes (especially beefsteak varieties). Eggplants. Cucumbers. Melons. Grapes. Jalapeño peppers frequently crack, as well, but this is normal and not likely to…
30-Year Normals
Agriculture is very much a weather-dependent pursuit. The success or failure of both garden and field crops in any given year depends primarily on the rainfall and temperatures. Even pastures should be managed with an eye to the sky. With this in mind, it is a good idea to know roughly what type of weather…
The Changing Face of American Agriculture: Part 2
Agripreneurship Young people continue to enter agriculture, according to the last USDA census. Most young farmers have limited capital to work with, and they frequently find outside financing difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. With land prices remaining high, they typically buy small properties when they first start out and purchase additional land as they…
Get Ready for July 2016
Summer can be very busy, but don’t forget to learn and brainstorm. Spend some time enjoying nature, researching animals, and growing healthy plants. Brush up on your birdwatching vocabulary. Discover how wood type affects the sound of your guitar. Explore the 11 physiographic regions of Kansas. Learn about rare and popular breeds of livestock. Consider…
