How to build your own greenhouse.

How to build your own greenhouse.While building your own greenhouse is a significant amount of work, its still doable and a cheaper alternative.Once you've selected a suitable space and the dimensions of the greenhouse, you have to decide what to build it out of. There are several choices, depending on your budget, your needs, and your skill-set. Strong greenhouses are built using galvanized steel, aluminum, or wood framing. Wood is probably the most familiar, and constructing a greenhouse from standard lumber is much like building any other structure. Of course, the wood will be subjected to high humidity on the interior, and constant sun exposure on the outside, so use pressure treated lumber and paint or seal it properly. Aluminum can be fitted together similar to wood and is lighter and more durable, but it is also more expensive. Steel is the strongest, most durable option, but it is also the most expensive and requires knowledge of welding and other metalworking skills. Although a less expensive alternative, plastic (PVC) pipes often can't provide the structural strength to stand up against wind and snow loads. Coverings There are a wide range of possible covering materials including glass, rigid fiberglass (plexiglass), double wall plastics, or plastic film. continue

How to make money growing Habanero pepper.

How to make money growing Habanero pepper.The habanero chili pepper is a warm seasoned crop. That means that it requires relatively higher temperatures to thrive well. For that matter, if you’re in areas that experience bright sunlight in most part of the day, then you might be successful growing the habaneros. You’ll require a well-drained loamy soil that has s good water holding capacity. The second important point is to ensure the soil PH is in the range of 5.7-6.5. You can measure the soil PH yourself with the aid of a specialized PH meter, or send to a soil’s lab near you. Once, satisfied with your soil properties, till your land accordingly to get a proper tilt. If possible add some composted manure into the soil to improve its structure. Compost also guarantees that the soil has a good water holding capacity and enhances a better cation exchange capacity (C.E.C). Habanero peppers grow extremely well in raised beds. Use raised beds spaced 1.5 to 2 meters apart from their centers and cover them with a black plastic mulch.Whenever possible, install a drip system which has proven to utilize water efficiently and increase the yields. more

The Ultimate Ikea Hack: A Hydroponic Farm.

The Ultimate Ikea Hack: A Hydroponic Farm. Thinking of starting an hydroponic farm? this simple set up is all you need. A vertical hydroponic system built from metal Omar shelves, plastic Samla storage boxes, and LED Växer lights, The Farm aims to demonstrate that it’s possible to grow edibles anywhere—theoretically, in the furniture stores’ cafés—thereby ensuring freshness and reducing the environmental impact of long-distance shipping. more

How 25 kilos of cow dung gives cheap cooking gas.

How 25 kilos of cow dung gives cheap cooking gas. Rehau Home Gas is a low maintenance unit made up of a cylindrical, mini-biogas unit running on cow dung and water It is the desire of every household to access cheap and clean energy. Researchers from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have developed a cheap and reliable form of energy that will cut use of firewood. The Rehau Home Gas is a low maintenance unit made up of a cylindrical, mini-biogas unit running on cow dung and water. To power, it only needs 25 kilos of cow dung mixed with 25 litres of water per day to give more than four hours of continuous clean cooking gas. “Rehau home gas is designed for rural and semi-urban households. The equipment is made using a special black polymer material imported from Germany...more

A New Form of Soy Can Help Feed Piglets.

A New Form of Soy Can Help Feed Piglets. Feed consisting of only vegetable sources tends to be much less expensive than feed that includes animal protein, which makes it an enticing option for farmers. Until now, a pig’s specific dietary needs have indicated that a vegetarian feed at this stage in the pig’s life isn’t a great option, but a new study from the University of Illinois indicates that with some careful tinkering, it might be possible. Pigs, like humans, are omnivores with specific protein needs and inefficient digestive systems. Weaner pigs are at an even more delicate point in their development; they also have trouble digesting some plant matter, like soybeans. The new study, examines the efficacy of a type of soy called “SPC,” which stands for soy protein concentrate. SPC is a heavily processed soy that usually uses an alcohol-based extraction method to pull out the most desired parts of the soybean, leaving the less-desired parts behind. After processing, SPC is a pellet or powder that’s around 70 percent protein and 20 percent carbohydrates. The regular soybeans are more like 55 percent protein and 30 percent carbohydrates. The UIUC researchers slotted SPC into a weaner pig’s diet in place of more common (and more expensive) protein sources like fish meal and spray-dried plasma protein (which is basically dried blood flakes), to see if this more processed, more efficient form of soy could serve the pigs well. The study shows that that, yes, SPC can in fact serve as a cheap and effective substitution for animal protein. source

How to prepare farm produce for dehydrator.

How to prepare farm produce for dehydrator. A flat sunny spot in which to set up your dehydrator. The longer the sun hits it each day the better, so position it where trees and buildings won’t cast a shadow. Ideally, locate the dehydrator on a deck, patio, driveway, or other hard surface that absorbs the heat of the sun during the day and retains a bit of warmth overnight. If that’s not an option, place it on bare earth or close cropped grass. You don’t want it sitting amid lush vegetation that becomes covered with dew at night, creating a moist environment around the dehydrator. The quality of dehydrated food is only as good as the produce you start with, so don’t bother drying anything that is overripe, under-ripe, or otherwise unappealing in its fresh form. Before placing it in the dehydrator, prepare the produce as if you were going to eat it—wash off the dirt; remove bruised spots, pits, and seeds; cut off tops and other inedible portions; and peel anything you would want to eat peeled. Then slice the food to a thickness between one-eighth and three-eighths of an inch, depending on your preference and what is most practical with each type of produce. The thinner the slices, the faster they will dry. Some fruits may be dried whole, such as blueberries, figs, and pitted cherries and apricots. Herbs should be plucked from the stem before drying. Fruit and vegetables may be blanched for several minutes in boiling water or a steamer after slicing, which some sources say results in a superior product (brighter color, better flavor, quicker reconstitution, lower spoilage rate, etc). The idea’s that blanching halts enzymatic activity inside the food, thus keeping it fresher. Blanching is highly recommended for some types of food preservation, especially freezing, though most home and dehydrators consider it an optional step. At the very least, it’s wise to disinfect knives, cutting services, and containers with white vinegar as a basic sanitation measure before processing produce for dehydration, allowing them to air dry. If using non-organic store-bought produce, you may also wish to rinse your produce with a fruit and vegetable wash to remove pesticides and wax coatings. Prepare the produce early in the morning so it can be placed immediately in the dehydrator to allow for a full day in the sun. Even on cloudy days the dehydrator will get hot enough to be effective, but avoid using it on rainy days. more

How to build a solar dehydrator.

How to build a solar dehydrator. Solar power can be utilized to preserve fruits and vegetables to prolong shelf-life. Post harvest losses can be prevented if better preservation methods are used . Vegetables,tomatoes,herbs and fruits can be preserved by dehydration,likewise meat,fish and other sea foods can also be preserved by this method. In Malawi,a woman makes millions by using a solar dehydrator to dry fish and extend shelf-life. see INSTRUCTIONS PREP THE MATERIALS. Spray both sides of the sheet metal with 2 coats of the paint; let dry for 24 hours. Using the circular saw*, cut the cedar 2×2s into four 48″-long pieces and four 21″-long pieces, then cut the pressure-treated 2×4s into two 48″-long pieces, two 21″-long pieces, and two 5″-long pieces. Employ the tin snips to cut the sheet of corrugated metal roofing down to 48″× 24″. BUILD THE FRAMES FOR THE COVER, FOOD TRAY, AND BASE. Arrange two 48″-long and two 21″-long cedar pieces so they form a flat 48″× 24″ rectangular frame, with the shorter pieces sandwiched inside the longer ones; attach using a wood screw** at each corner (as shown). Repeat with the remaining cedar pieces to build a second, identical frame. Repeat once more, but with the 48″-long and 21″-long pressure-treated pieces and 2 wood screws at each corner, to build a third frame. more