This is what World Water Relief is all about. World Water Relief aims to provide programs which will support and ensure clean drinking water for every human living in this world. What sets this organization apart from others is that their programs are long term solutions instead of temporary relief. The organization believes that when clean water is denied, people in the area are susceptible to diseases and health risks. Together with their support partners, they were able to build water purification systems for areas in need thus giving its people a chance to have clean and safe drinking water.

World Water Relief prioritizes areas which already have an existing water supply but is currently unusable due to contamination. It also recognizes different types of partners such as program partners and support partners. Through these partnerships, everyone has the opportunity to participate and ultimately make a difference in their own ways. Volunteers, on the other hand, make sure that these programs are rightfully delivered to concerned areas. Donations are also accepted in their site to help Haiti, their pet project as of the moment. For as little as $20, the organization ensures an entire week of basic necessities for one village.

For more information, visit their website:  http://www.worldwaterrelief.org/

farmcommunities.com  

Buckwheat is not a native crop of America but due to its high demand and adaptability, it has become a major crop for millions of farm acres in the US. It can also be used for crop rotation, planted next to wheat harvest. Buckwheat is a great choice for double cropping in spring and it improves the quality of soil immensely.

The beauty of buckwheat farming is that it has a very high demand nowadays, even for the 100% organic ones. The high demand is called for due to buckwheat’s many uses, one of which is for flour production. Buckwheat is categorized along with other food grains such as wheat and oats. It also makes a great alternative and supplement for feeding the farm’s livestock although it must be dehulled first as it can induce allergic reactions if not. Buckwheat is also a favorite for bee keepers since the crop tends to produce flowers profusely.

farmcommunities.com  

Those who are able to afford the “pack up and go” attitude are indeed lucky. Unfortunately, not all city dwellers are lucky enough to have this kind of opportunity. Some need to be in the city because their jobs require them to be while others are not yet ready for the kind of life that awaits them in farms and rural areas. Let’s face it, not all humans are created to easily adjust to the demands of time, whether they like it or not. The good news is, your home need not be situated in far, far away land nor be as big as your whole street. You can live the kind of life they lead in farms right in the heart of the city, this is called urban homesteading.

Urban homesteading can be considered as your first step to the sustainable life you have always dreamed of and it doesn’t have to be so drastic, especially if you cannot afford it. Those who successfully made it swear that urban homesteading requires a lot from a person but at the end of the day, one will soon realize that it’s all worth it. Taking precious baby steps toward your goal will help you a lot.

farmcommunities.com  

Organic farmers believe that a free range chicken is one happy chicken and therefore is not oozing with harmful toxins. Not only will it help your energy levels and staying power last longer but also it was said to delay the aging process when introduced along with overall healthy lifestyle.

Most free range chickens are kept organic, since then it became so popular to health buffs the world over causing a shortage in supply. This alone makes it a very lucrative business for farmers worldwide especially in times like these when people are beginning to make a conscious effort in living a healthy lifestyle. Organically raised chickens are grass fed and they are encouraged to live a stress free life of clean air and water. As much as possible, no chemicals are introduced to the chicken’s system, whether directly to the chicken or to its surrounding areas.

Free range chickens are a great source of protein. Aside from that, it offers many benefits to humans when consumed. It is healthy and very delicious too unlike those that are raised in coops which tend to be less tasty. Be warned though, since free range chickens require special care, it tends to cost more than its supermarket counterparts.

farmcommunities.com  

Bee farms are cheap and easy. In fact, they are most recommended for small scale farmers with no resources to start their own businesses with. Many organizations are working on introducing this kind of activity for developing countries like Africa and Asia. So far, may farmers have responded and bee farms are faring well.

There’s no better time to start your own bee farm than today since the demand is very high and the supply is somewhat lacking. It opens a door for poor farmers to somehow generate enough income to support his or her family. It can even be a family business since beekeeping can be done by everyone in the family including kids. Best of all, it can blend perfectly with your crops, assuming you’re also growing them. As we all know, bees pollinate, making your crops all the more healthy therefore increasing their productivity level.

Bees produce honey while honey has high value when sold. They are very easy to harvest and won’t require any additional technology to do so. All it takes is a simple know-how which most free seminars will teach you. Furthermore, its byproduct is well sought-after by manufacturing companies and even health conscious individuals so there’s no need to fret where to sell your goods after each harvest.

farmcommunities.com  

Forest farming involves trimming down, albeit cautiously, some certain genus to reestablish balance and equilibrium of a particular forest. Forest farming is encouraged in areas wherein there is an existing issue of overabundance of certain species which restrict growth of other living organisms essential in the biological cycle. Some of the most popular harvests are exotic mushrooms such as Shiitake and other medicinal, edible fungi. This method of farming is not only about harvesting but also it involves planning and cultivating to ensure that the biocycle is not destroyed in any way. Forest farming proves to be a fun and profitable venture that anyone could explore.

Several government funded seminars are conducted to teach locals residing near forest areas about forest farming methods and techniques, as well as the kinds of mushrooms that could be grown in the area. These seminars go as far as how and where to sell your produce after harvests. Aside from mushrooms, there are other crops you can find, grow and harvest in forests since they have rich and very fertile soil that could grow practically anything you can think of. These crops include, but not limited to:  ginseng and ferns which are used for medicinal and ornamental purposes.

farmcommunities.com  

Given these bountiful rewards, who could turn away from this very lucrative business? If the only thing that hinders you from acquiring your own income generating farm is land, think again; there are microfarms operated right in the heart of the city and its neighboring suburbs–one might even be near your place.

Actually, all you need is a piece of land. Determine how much space you can set aside for your own garden and consult an expert on what crops could be grown based on the condition of soil within your space. Usually, you can grow small crops like tomatoes, peppers and radishes. In microfarming, variety is important. However, if you plan to make this as an income generating one, stick to crops that are popular so you could sell them once they are ready and stay away from the ones that will take up too much space such as corn and potatoes. Start with a little garden first then if everything goes right in place, you can add a greenhouse later.

farmcommunities.com  

A macrobiotic diet is different from a vegan diet. A vegan diet is exclusively greens while a macrobiotic diet includes some foods from animal sources, although in limited amounts only. In some ways, a vegan diet shares common food staples with macrobiotic diet such as brown rice and beans but their principles are different. Generally, macrobiotics is based on healthy eating practices that were applied before, when artificial and chemical compositions in food are unheard of.

Macrobiotic dieters state that macrobiotic is a way of life and not a diet which focuses on nutritional value of the food they eat. They believe that in order for the body to achieve maximum health levels, everything inside it should be in perfect balance. This means that a dieter should not deprive the body of nourishment but not overeat. Macrobiotics also has set of rules for cooking and what to eat on certain seasons such as spring, summer, fall and winter. You will also have to learn how to do a macrobiotic diet properly, if you are planning to engage with one.

farmcommunities.com  

Green building refers to the sum of processes involved in creating and maintaining environmental-friendly infrastructure. While actually coming into construction practices in the early 1990s, the impetus for green building came from the academic research published in the 1980s. The findings of these studies highlighted problems related to health, environment, and expenditure in small communities and low-income populations. The updated definition of green building, therefore, comprises four key qualities:

o    Green building makes minimal use of resources.
o    It has minimal hazardous impact on the environment.
o    It is health-friendly to people.
o    It is economically affordable for low-income residents.

The numerous benefits of green building have attracted a great deal of interest from the general population, academicians, and construction firms all over the world. Not only does it promise the conservation of natural resources and energy-efficient practices but also carries a greater margin for economic prosperity. In fact, the cost-effective nature of green building has already helped it become a global movement. This is true for all the inhabited continents of the world and particularly for Asia where green building by construction firms is expected to increase from 36% to 73% in the coming five years. Green building means ‘just the right thing’ for eco-conscious and environmental-friendly communities. At the moment, certain challenges need to be met in order make green building a panacea for environmental stress. Developers of green communities have made some progress on this front and the future of green building appears quite cheerful

farmcommunities.com