Palestinian farmers are continually replacing local seeds with genetically-modified company-manufactured hybrid brands that are inept and inadequate with the surrounding environment, and from which farmers cannot yield a sufficient seed stock. Seed Banks in Palestine are preserving local seeds, producing, storing and improving a seed stock that is immune to the local viruses and diseases, and at the same time producing sufficient quantities to distribute and exchange in markets. … Read more
Vertical Planting Urban Gardening
In the Palestinian Territories the access to farming land is largely controlled by Israel, not allowing a traditional farmers society to continue its way of living and of prospering. In urban areas without easy access to land, and with restricted movement, urban gardening becomes a survival strategy. The Palestinian market is flooded with subsidized Israeli products, and food sovereignty becomes a political statement and a way to become independent in terms of food production. Vertical gardens … Read more
Cooking with the Sun Solar cookers for energy sustainability
Difficult or expensive access to energy resources can be overcome by installing a solar cooker! With plenty of sun in this area, a cheap and easily built solar cooker can provide for many needs in the family and beyond. Baking, boiling water, cooking... … Read more
Weed Control without Herbicide Could this Replace RoundUp?
Botanists have known for a long time that boiling water kills weeds. The problem with making thermal technology available on a commercial basis has been finding a way to keep the heat on the plant long enough to kill it. Hot water alone doesn’t work well enough. Foamstream, a biodegradable foam made from natural and renewable plant oils and sugars can be precisely applied to weeds with hot water and the combination effectively eradicates weeds. Heat is applied to the weed in the form of foam … Read more
Low Cost Greenhouse Build Your Own - Grow Your Own
Greenhouses and polytunnels provide ideal growing spaces particular in cooler climates but commercial models can be costly. The following link describes how a perfectly functional greenhouse can be made from cheap and readily available materials … Read more
Sahara Forest Project Greening the Desert
The Sahara Forest Project is a scheme that aims to provide fresh water, food and renewable energy in hot, arid regions as well as re-vegetating areas of uninhabited desert. This proposal combines saltwater-cooled greenhouses with Solar Power technologies, either directly using Photovoltaic (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP) and technologies for desert revegetation. It is claimed that these technologies together will create a sustainable and profitable source of energy, food, … Read more
Waterboxx Helps Green the Deserts A Simple Device to Support Growing in Desert Environments
The Groasis Waterboxx is an instrument that supports plants and trees to survive in difficult circumstances without using groundwater or electricity. It collects water by catching rainwater, and also by producing and catching water from condensation. It subsequently distributes the collected water over an extended period, to the tree growing in the center of the Waterboxx. Furthermore, it stimulates the capillary formation of the soil; prevents the evaporation of groundwater; steadies the … Read more
WWOOF Working Exchange on Organic Farms
WWOOF has had various meanings over the years from the original Working Weekends on Organic Farms to the more recent World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. However as a loose organisation it's purpose remains to bring together organic farmers and volunteers who often help on the farms for short stays in exchange for food and lodgings. The exchange provides labour for farmers when they most need it while the volunteer may be wanting to learn skills or simply to find short term accommodation … Read more
Composting difficult-to-compost waste Rapid composting in limited space with Bokashi
Alys Fowler reports her test of the system:- ' The bokashi bin is a Japanese system that pickles your waste (bokashi means fermentation) and is perfectly suited to small spaces. You need two bins (they can be kept indoors) and special bran inoculated with good bacteria. In goes all your cooked and uncooked kitchen waste and a sprinkle of the magic bran. I tested the system indoors by loading it up with the most revolting mix – fish skin, pork bones, soured milk, old meat, cheese plus all the … Read more
Seawater Greenhouses Sourcing Water and Growing in Arid/Semi-Arid Regions
A fine spray of sea water is used to humidify and cool air entering a poly tunnel beyond which a filter excludes salt from the growing beds. The air is drawn through the tunnel by fans cooling the environment around the crops and when it strikes tubes filled with cold sea water condensation forms and pure fresh water that is fed back to the plants. … Read more
