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News & Articles By Frances Bloomfield

09/06/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

The first farmers were ants… and they’ve been farming for millions of years

Researchers from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History recently discovered that ants in a South American rain forest developed their own agricultural system millions of years ago. To be more precise, around 55 to 65 million years ago, shortly after dinosaurs became extinct. According to the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal […]

08/08/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Bye, bye, bugs: 12 plants to keep the bugs away

Protecting your garden and yourself from unwanted pests can be a hassle. Spraying your greens or your body with chemicals may be tempting, but hold off on that. Mother Nature has given us many gifts and among them are insect-repelling plants. According to MotherNatureNetwork.com, there are 12 plants that can help be used as natural […]

07/25/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

4 Soil problems and how to fix them

Much like how maintaining balance is the key to your body’s health, maintaining balance is also the key to healthy soil. An oversupply of nutrients can be just as bad as a deficiency of nutrients. Both of these can interrupt the natural processes of your soil and make it less suitable for plants. But how […]

06/09/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Symbiotic farming: Using sheep to graze weeds on coffee plantations found to be beneficial economically, agriculturally, and environmentally

Could sheep help solve the weed problem troubling coffee plantations? According to an investigative team from the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), they most certainly can. So much so that they found the use of sheep to be highly beneficial from economic, agronomic, and environmental viewpoints. To arrive at this […]

04/06/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

The Japanese have developed a crop-saving robotic wolf to scare off wild boars

Japan is home to almost one million wild boars. These animals are known to gorge themselves on rice, chestnuts, and potatoes, which has brought them into conflict with farmers. But they can only do so much to protect their crops and themselves from the near-fearless beasts. Fortunately, help is on the way, and it comes […]

03/19/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Organic fertilizer alternatives: Composted chicken litter promotes sustainable agro-ecosystems with minimal nutrient leeching

The idea of nutrient loss is a common but troublesome problem that plagues all kinds of soils. Efforts have been made by a number of institutions to combat this issue, to varying degrees of success. Yet, as a team of researchers has demonstrated, the answer could very well lie in a tool widely used by […]

03/18/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Natural, inexpensive AND more effective: Phosphate rock confirmed to be an effective fertilizer for acidic soils

In western Kenya, the main economic activity is farming. This has, however, become increasingly difficult an endeavor in recent years due to deplorable soil conditions and pricey traditional fertilizers. Triple superphosphate (TSP), one of the most popular and widely used fertilizers, has to be imported from Moroccan mines, making it far too expensive for west […]

03/04/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Saving seeds is simple and easy: Basic tips and how-to wisdom

Seed saving is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the practice of saving seeds, tubers, and other reproductive materials from plants. It’s a simple yet highly beneficial agricultural art that, sadly, has dwindled in application thanks to the rise of the industrial revolution. These days, it’s mostly home gardeners that take part in seed saving. […]

11/21/2017 / By Frances Bloomfield

Want to be self-reliant without leaving the comforts of the city? Check out these 10 ways to make it possible

Have you ever wanted to become self-reliant but felt it wasn’t possible because you live in the city? Fortunately for you, this is an itch that you can definitely scratch. You don’t have to uproot your home in the ‘burbs and move all the way to the country just to embrace self-sustained living. There are […]

05/26/2017 / By Frances Bloomfield

Prepper food: Two breads you can stockpile and make in your own home

Canned foods are the prepper’s go-to foods for a good reason; they’re affordable and keep for a long time, making them easy to stockpile for months or even years. One food that’s just right for prepping but is often overlooked is bread, that classic and common food in homes all over the world. Though it’s […]

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