Farm Communities » eco friendly communities

Organic Fertilizers for Your Garden

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:30:41 +0000

Just by the sound of it, organic fertilizers must be good for our gardens especially now that we have become fully aware of the harmful effects of chemical pesticides to humans and what abnormal things it can induce to our plants and produce. Little by little, more farmers are beginning to apply alternative methods to a safer and better produce but naturally, organic fertilizers are expected to be met with a little resistance especially when farmers have grown used to commercial fertilizers.

Although it’s to be expected, the slow phase organic fertilizer is currently experiencing is partly due to the fact that farmers are quite confused on what organic fertilizers are and how it can work on their farms. It seems that there is no existing group or organization that helps spreading the word to farmers while commercial fertilizers come complete with instructions and even extend support to small farm communities. According to surveys, almost a hundred percent of gardening hobbyists already made the switch and have been enjoying the benefits of organic fertilizers ever since. It’s because they can afford to wait, spend a little more money and most of all, can try again next time if this season’s batch won’t come out great while farmers don’t have this kind of luxury and unfortunately, they are not informed how to do it properly.

Basically, anything that comes from nature and encourages bacterial growth is considered as an organic fertilizer. Some examples of which are manure, fish emulsions, blood meal, bone meal and even sewer sludge. Organic fertilizers take time to generate results but if one can afford the wait, it will all be worth it.

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What is Community Supported Agriculture?

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:54:11 +0000

Community supported agriculture is a marketing method which unifies consumers and farmers for better and effective way to dispense produce. This marketing method proves to be very beneficial for both consumers and farmers in such a way that produce are delivered straight to the homes of consumers which guarantees there will be neither left-overs nor price devaluation in the farmers’ side. On the other hand, the consumers are then assured that the produce they will receive is “hand-picked” fresh, packed with all the nutrients and vitamins they originally bought for.

Community supported agriculture works effectively in and around areas where farm communities are conveniently located. Since the transportation costs is somehow lessen, if not prevented altogether, produce are offered cheap to members considering that they only have to pay for one-time shareholder’s fee before the planting season starts. There are many types of arrangement when going for CSA depending on what’s convenient for both the farmer and his consumers, these are:

·    Farm-to-home delivery set-up. In this arrangement the farmer will have the produce delivered to his consumers or the consumer picks it up after harvest all boxed up and ready to go. The only problem in this set-up is that the consumer would have to put up with what goes in his or her box since it is all up to the farmer’s discretion.
·    On-farm handpicking set-up. Consumers are allowed to pick their own share in the farm when harvesting season arrives. The only drawback is that this set-up tends to leave the farm in pieces after the harvest is over such as trampled plants. Not to mention this one angry shareholder who happens to be late for the picking.
·    Market style set-up. To avoid farm destruction, some resourceful farmers opt to put up a small stall outside of the farm and put together the produce for the consumers to choose from. This way, everyone is happy to have a variety a produce but also the farmer won’t have to worry about the state of his farm during handpicking sessions.

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Profitable Forest Farming

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:25:53 +0000

In forest farming, a farmer is not only harvesting nature’s gift for his own good but also helps the forest maintain its natural health and balance. Actually, helping the existing ecosystem is the first and foremost concern of all forest farmers and forest farming communities, as well as those organizations assisting them in proper forest farming methods and concerns.

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.

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Raising Wallabies

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:21:13 +0000

Since we love exotic farms and they are quite popular too, here’s yet another exotic animal that is quite different from any other conventional farm animals but can make a great pet, not to mention quite useful too, as owners swear by it!

A wallaby is also referred to as miniature kangaroo. A wallaby and a kangaroo share the same features but size since a wallaby’s maximum height is only about 41 inches. These species are usually found in Australia and its neighboring cities. They can be bred and sold if a particular farm is duly licensed by governing agencies. Wallabies come in 30 different types with their own sets of personalities but apparently, breeders’ choice for families who are just starting out with exotic animals is the Bennett’s wallaby. This type of wallaby is much calmer and less nocturnal which makes them a good pet and a rewarding hobby. Bennett’s wallabies are more adjusted in living around humans even if they are not bred in farms.

Wallabies are low maintenance mammals. They are herbivores so they mainly graze. If you’re adapting a wallaby, be sure to have a land full of grass and plants where your pet can munch all day long. You’ll also need to fence them in so they won’t get lost. Don’t forget to give them water as well. Wallabies can be trained and make a good house pets as well. Joeys can be bottle-fed if they were taken home by new owners at an early age and still grow healthy and well adjusted to human companionship.

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Growing in Wisdom with Organic Farming

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:36:12 +0000

Healthy food and eco-friendly production account for the increasing popularity of organic farming in modern societies. What is more is that farmers in an organic farming community get a better know-how of the way nature works. Such techniques of natural farming probably originated in the earliest horticultural societies and were common knowledge in subsequent agricultural communities, before the advent of mechanical cultivation and synthetic farming products. Yet, in the contemporary world, a better understanding of natural farming methods does not come every handily.

The main reason for losing track of those tried, safer, and eco-friendly methods of farming is a disproportionate dependence on readymade products – pesticides, fertilizers, mixtures etc – that allow you to be through with the labor in less time and saving the pains of toil, which have been the lot of traditional agriculture. The price to pay for this dolce vita style of farming is in the form of health risks and loss of our environmental shelter. But that is not all; we also lose the wealth of learning opportunities that abound in practicing organic farming. It is indeed losing a lot!

Let us take the case of organic farming communities where farmers have to go through tough menial labor, acquaintance with the right balance between beneficial and destructive organisms, non-toxic methods of crop protection and increasing yield, and natural enhancement of soil fertility and disease resistance. This kind of close interaction with the biotic and abiotic (mostly natural) components of agriculture nourishes practical knowledge of better productivity. Above all, the farmer learns to be solution-oriented by specifically approaching a problem as against synthetic, inorganic farming which tends to generalize a product’s efficacy over many crops and types of pests. The organic farmer has all the good chance to add to his trove of practical knowledge while those who rely solely (or dominantly) on industrial means of farming are obliged to passively follow whatever the manufacturer dictates.

Our consciousness of ecological and environmental issues, at this stage of our existence on earth, demands keen interest in, and attention to, problem-specific strategies for better results in production and environmental conservation. Variables like soil type, general climate, seasonal variations, and ecological relationship among different species etc, all need to be considered prior to formulating the right plan for farming on a piece of land. Organic farming communities aim at getting there – growing in wisdom for a healthy future.

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Balance of Work and Benefit in a Modern Kibbutz

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:21:15 +0000

Kibbutzim are a living example of the communal spirit that has been central to green living communities. Starting entirely with traditional, rural-style agriculture, Kibbutzim have increasingly been subject to financial stresses off and on during their one hundred years of adherence to socialist ideals. This is no wonder since most of the world’s economy, including that of the agricultural sector, is controlled by a capitalist economic model based on investment and interest. In the face of continual inflation, maintaining the communal way of life in a modern Kibbutz has therefore become something of a challenge.

One of the main strategies that a 21st century Kibbutz may adopt for keeping their communal culture intact is recognizing and intensifying their growing power for any food species or a group of them. Accepting investment from business groups or investors at an affordable rate of interest has been tried successfully in some Kibbutzim and this has also saved a good deal of profit for the coming generation. The best examples of these are Lohamei Hagetaot (aka Ghetto Fighters) and Hatzor – two Kibbutzim that resuscitated their dwindling economic states by relying on soy production. By making profitable deals with investors, usually manufacturers of soy food products, these Kibbutzim are near to becoming multinational forces in the soy food industry. Thus they secured themselves financially while also saving a good deal for communal wellbeing.

To make communal living feasible for families, an inviting proportion of benefits versus work is being followed in the Kibbutzim Lohamei Hagetaot and Hatzor. Demanding some private space goes in tandem with business economy as it gives greater benefits to those who work more for the community. This mode of capitalist living is now entering the 21st century Kibbutz. Lohamei Hagetaot is about to allow privatization of homes and fixing payments (including pensions) according to the work completed by the community members and not entirely according to their needs (as in the classic communal system of life). The changing situation of agricultural based communities, interacting with the corporate world, call for a balance between work and earnings such that the communal living may be preserved without compromising some essential equalities among the Kibbutz members. The quality of life can then go undaunted with a strong financial shelter and satisfaction of the basic needs of individual families.

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Alpaca and Alpaca Communities

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:18:48 +0000

Alpaca is a member of the camel family (Camelidae) of animals. It is native to South America and best-known for its valuable fleece that is converted into a fine fiber that is used in several textile products including items of daily wear like sweaters and gloves. Besides, it is also used in making fashionable cloth. The coppery-gold fleece, obtained from alpacas, is the most costly fiber in nature, known worldwide for its fineness. A square yard cloth made entirely of this fleece, at present, costs no less than two thousand dollars. No wonder then that environment-friendly communities are increasingly seeking alpaca breeding for greater profit. Since the 1980s, when alpacas were introduced in the US, alpaca communities have been established in many developed and developing countries across the globe.

The primary goal of establishing an alpaca community is to bring together a group of alpaca breeders who can maintain and improve the breeds of this economically important animal and obtain the finest possible fleece without employing any techniques or materials that are noxious to the environment. The guiding principle of an alpaca community may be summarized as ‘Natural Fiber by Natural Means for the Greatest Profit’. So how do they reach this goal?

Ideally, an alpaca community consists of more than one (usually several) alpaca farms where alpacas are bred, predominantly, by natural means. Community members work in close collaboration by sharing useful information, resources, and healthy animals (usually fertile young males) for generating maximum profit in the form of natural fiber. Modern knowledge of genetics is now an invaluable source in selecting the best methods for nurturing more productive alpaca breeds. Promoting sales and encouraging the breeding practice of alpacas is another major goal of alpaca communities.

Since the advent of the Internet, the worldwide web has become an important platform for educating alpaca community members via ready access to free information. At the same time, the Internet is serving as an effective marketing source for alpaca breeding and promoting sales of alpaca-derived fiber. Online alpaca communities are getting recognized on the Internet, joined by affiliates, to cover the geographical distance between alpaca breeders. With centuries-long history of commercial farming, alpaca farming is now on a roll in five major continents of the world.

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Sustainable Farm Communities and Ecological Stability

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:11:12 +0000

Sustainability is essentially an ecological concept whereby the resources of a natural, ecological system are used by its living forms – plants and animals (including humans) – with a rate that does not exceed the natural rate of their replenishment. In addition, sustainable use of resources is environmental-friendly, i.e. it does not subject the system’s processes and productivity to harmful levels of stress, at the same time not also threatening its biodiversity. Since human growth on this planet is now known to be spinning out of the sustainable bounds, and at the expense of ecological stability, people with foresight and a caring concern for the future of life on earth are resorting to green living. Establishing sustainable farm communities is a major strategy devised for meeting this aim.

A sustainable farm community can be defined as a basically agricultural community that lives by growing crops and breeding animals according to three main principles of sustainability:

•    Maximize economic profit
•    Conserve natural resources and biodiversity
•    Maintain and/or enhance the quality of social life

It goes without saying that all three principles are inter-dependent and violating any one of these disturbs the balance of the system’s components, resulting in increased stress and deterioration of the quality of life. Thus, environmental-friendly practices carried out without paying attention to their costs can create an unhealthy competition for grabbing the most of the available resources in response to financial insecurity. At the same time, the community’s capacity to grow and conserve the quality of life may be at stake. On the other hand, poor environmental management also affects the quality of life by calling in health problems and natural disasters; global warming being a threatening example.

Sustainable farm communities are modeled on natural ecological systems, imitating the green, rural mode of living in which the end products of various life processes are recyclable, i.e. they become a source of energy for another ecologically beneficial process. An important way to attain this sort of natural cyclical sustainability is to practice natural and not industrial agriculture. Bringing natural simplicity to farming automatically increases sustainability of the ecological system that is based on it. This does not mean a radical abandonment of sophisticated lifestyle. But the elements threatening the system’s optimum balance in terms of the three main principles need to be carefully filtered out to a minimum.

The ideal farm community living by sustainable agriculture is one that is keen on maximum biodiversity, satisfactory quality of life, economic affordability of resources, and a disease-free environment for the living members (humans, animals, and plant) of the community.

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Kibbutz: A Brief Introduction

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:16:07 +0000

Kibbutz is undoubtedly the classic and, perhaps, the only successful example of modern communities that are built on the principles of green living. Recognized as the world’s largest communitarian movement, the Kibbutz Movement dates back to the late 19th and early 20th century when a large number of Jews, mostly from Russia, moved to Palestine in order to escape their persecution, hoping to find a better future in using the barren Palestinian land for agriculture. Thus came into being the first kibbutz, founded in 1910 in Palestine, created by the farming Jewish community. While Jews from around the world helped acquire land for the emigrants to Palestine, building a community that could sustain itself on agriculture alone was a challenge to the newly settling Jews in the rough Palestinian terrain. But the people took up the challenge as a question of survival and in less than two decades, the number of people living by kibbutz communities had went up from a mere few hundreds to about four thousand.

The founding ideology of a kibbutz is essentially ‘socialist’ and advocates the need for communal life where the concept of the ‘communal’ extends to the Platonic view of having not only a common treasury but also to rearing children under communal supervision. While this over-communalizing has been criticized in certain matters of individual, family and social life, the ideals of mutuality and green living based on agriculture are still very entertaining to people of many urbanized societies where a sick competition for possessing most resources has given birth to a great conflict for power. For people who have a revived interest in green, rural living with a strong sense of community, kibbutzim remain an ever-gren utopia.

The modren kibbutz differs from the traditional one, set in the rural Palestinian land in the early 20th century, in several important ways. Unlike relying on agriculture as the sole, or even predominant, means of survival, it has been industrialized and urbanized according to the needs of modern urban living. A modern kibbutz need not necessarily be located in a classical rural locality but amidst the mainstream city life. In Israel, the number of urban kibbutzim is now more than a hundred. Business and industrial enterprises have become incorporated in the modren kibbutz, opening new challenges and, sometimes, bringing new controversies. In addition, there have been a number of significant organizational changes, deviating from the classical Palestinian kibbutzim. Nevertheless, the 21st century kibbutz still stands on the fundamental principles of communal ownership and mutual cooperation for collective solidarity.

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Build Green, Live Happy

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:38:45 +0000

Ever since the threat of environmental degradation has hit the high spots of our consciousness, mainstream academics and popular media have gone critically hard on industrial wastes and vehicular emissions. Whether it is a discussion of immediate health effects or of long-term climate change, harmful products have been the main target of environmental criticism. In the context of sustainable development and green living, however, this crackdown on hazardous wastes and toxic emanations seems a bit lacking in proportion. Advocates of green living are now better appreciating the role of green building in ameliorating the environment, on a local as well as global scale. We now know that the influence of building processes on global climate, through the greenhouse effect, exceeds that of vehicular emissions and waste products.

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

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