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/

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Amaranth is a tasty seed and it is packed with many nutrients a body needs. It has protein, iron and calcium which make it very ideal for vegans. Aside from that, it can be consumed in many different ways such as flour and bread.

When it comes to farming, Amaranth supports sustainable landcare and it doesn’t require any special care since it is mostly considered as weeds. When left alone, it can grow on its own. It also has a long harvesting period that is perfect for farmers. Today, the amaranth plant is subjected to various tests for agricultural development and was introduced to countries experiencing agricultural difficulties such as Kenya. Experts suspect that the amaranth plant may be the answer to rural sustainable livelihood problems across the globe.

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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.

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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.

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In reality, there are areas in the world that experience drought every now and then. Elevated farm communities for one, need to employ a strict water conservation all year round just to make their water supply last longer than it should. There are also drought-prone areas that pose a problem to its local government when rain won’t come for months on end. Due to these problems, farm water conservation in these areas is highly encouraged. Here are some water conservation ideas that proved to be effective in farm communities:

• Use a water gauge. This way, you’ll be able to notice when there’s a difference in readings. Also, a water meter will help you determine the estimated amount of water you always consume. When it goes high then it’s time to check the water lines for leaks. It can also help you plan accordingly when there’s an expected water shortage to come.
• Cover all dugouts to prevent evaporation from happening.
• Experts believe that a farmer would be able to conserve more water if they use one large dugout instead of multiple smaller ones. Use pipelines to distribute them to their destinations. This will eliminate the need to maintain several dugouts which proves to be time-consuming and not cost-effective too. Moreover, multiple dugouts are very prone to water seepage.
• Upgrading your water facilities is very important as technology today continually evolved to a much better function than ever before.

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Organic farming is a form of agricultural method wherein farm communities relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost fertilizer, biological methods of pest control and cultivation of fertile soil to make it more productive thus yielding better produce. It also strictly limits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, chemical-based plant grower, feed additives and GMO. Organic farming is closely based on the standards set by IFOAM or International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement and it is also regulated and enforced by most nations worldwide.

This core value is very similar to what sustainable living is all about. That same basic principle applies to all organic farm communities and it affects everyone that is working together for this common goal of lessening the human impact to the environment. By following organic farming methods, our soil is protected from erosion and it strongly promotes biodiversity among plant, animal and smaller organisms as well.

Some farmers would not adapt this kind of farming methods since organic farming is known to have lower yields. But since the population is getting more and more conscious of food safety due to health risks that some chemically contaminated produce can cause them, the demand is much stronger and people are willing to pay higher prices of organic ones. Because of this, along with the decreased cost of production since no synthetic fertilizers are used, it creates higher profit for organic farmers. This also called the attention of some farmers to join and manage their own organic farmlands.

Sustainable living is a lifestyle in which a person reduces his or her impact to the environment by limiting their usage of the Earth’s natural resources and avoids further damaging it. Sustainable agriculture works the same and provides better organic food which is not only good for human consumption but also great for maintaining balanced ecosystem.

Janice Hunter Creative Director for 11 Lions Media Group is raising awareness and spreading knowledge through creative content projects throughout the web. Learn more about organic farming visit 11Lions.com to reach higher levels of consciousness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janice_Hunter
http://EzineArticles.com/?Organic-Farming—The-Sustainable-Way-to-Farm-and-Eat&id=2006856

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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.

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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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Wind farms are group of wind turbines which produce enough energy to supply thousands of homes from the surrounding areas. Usually, a large wind farm consists of hundreds of wind turbines working together and will cover a large area. Wind farms can be found off-shore, on-shore, near-shore and possibly airborne. The main requirement for a successful wind farm is strong, consistent wind without turbulence all throughout the year, if possible.

Countries all over the world have been exploring this venue for alternative source of energy especially now that traditional sources are steadily depleting. Because of this depletion, energy costs are raising therefore needing to be remedied soon.

As far as farmers are concerned, wind farms won’t affect their farm cycle because the land in which the wind turbines will erect can still be used for farming purposes without any kind of interference. Also, they can benefit from the land’s lease for installed wind turbines. Wind farms are great because they don’t occupy too much space and most of all, wind is free making them cost-effective.

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Corn ethanol is produced by two processing methods being the dry and wet corn milling. Both uses same procedure in fermenting, the only difference is how the corn grain is treated prior to the fermentation. Most of the time, this process of corn ethanol is doing more harm than good since it emits harmful carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

This type of ethanol is viewed as less efficient than its contemporaries. It defeats the core value of sustainable living since the grain is the only part that will be used in the production of corn ethanol. Also, there is a surmountable chemical and petroleum based products that is utilized in the process so in general, it is a waste of valuable resources that can be, otherwise, use in a more beneficial manner.

Corn alone can be use as a substitute for many things, especially as a food and food is among our basic necessities. Agriculture is one field that is affected by the shifting of corn use since corn production is now diverted to ethanol rather than for food supply, in effect, rising its cost. Economically, it is more appealing to farmers but ecologically, it is not good.

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