(Prudent Press Agency) --- The National Trust is opening Wimpole Home Farm for its tenth Tomato Festival on the 21st and 22nd August, allowing tomato enthusiasts to see, smell and taste over 50 different varieties of one of Britain's best loved fruits.

Varieties which are available for sampling will include 'orange strawberry', a heart-shaped, deep orange tomato with a strong and sweet taste, and 'black zebra', a deep burgundy tomato, with a sweet, juicy taste.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Without fertile land, clean water and ample natural resources, farmers and ranchers cannot do their jobs of producing sustainable foods to feed our growing world. As the United Soybean Board points out on the group's new Web pages, today's agriculturalists embrace these modern production methods and technologies like never before to help contribute to sustainable agriculture and food security for our growing planet.


Conservation tillage serves as an integral part of critical sustainable agricultural methods important to our food security, as it serves as a way of growing crops from year to year without disturbing topsoil. By minimizing tillage, farmers can decrease erosion and increase the amount of water and carbon that stays trapped in the soil and available to their crops. This means less carbon in the air and a reduced need to tap into water supplies. It also helps stop soil and other runoff and conserves energy by requiring fewer trips across fields.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- StollerUSA is schedule to present the technology of maximizing genetic expression in plants at the 3rd annual Corn College sessions during the week of July 19-23 in Bloomington, Ill. Corn and soybean farmers have registered for the event hosted by Farm Journal, in efforts to learn new progressive solutions for enhancing yields and keeping plants healthy. Last year, over 400 growers attended from around the country, and this year the organizers of Corn College are expecting over 800 people.

As a sponsor of the 2010 Corn College, Stoller will lead Technology Sessions to exchange ideas and information with the participants. The valuable insights on corn and soybean production will be presented as a hands-on learning experience. In the Technology Session program, StollerUSA will unveil root comparisons from a nearby Illinois test plot. In a hands-on evaluation and examination of plant roots, farmers will better understand how to study the plants in their own fields. Stoller technology focuses on root health as integral to the overall yield potential of a crop. If farmers are well-informed, Stoller contends they can recognize and address yield-robbing issues before it is too late.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Gardening can have many significant benefits; whether it is for self-gratification; off-setting grocery bills; fresh herbs for dinner; or lending a helping hand to the environment. However, in this economic climate many have had to rethink their living situations and have relocated themselves to apartment or condominiums. As a result, many people may have given up on the garden, due to limited space. It may seem like a poor decision to start planting again, however, it's actually quite the contrary and I find that the apartment is the perfect place for your own home grown garden.


Gardening product providers have developed many new planting options to give its clientele the resources to plant more efficiently and more abundantly, even if it be on a porch or balcony. One product that has been developed that is very beneficial is the quick start planting pellets. Just simply add water to the condensed pellets and once they expand, just plant your vegetable or herb of choice. Next place in the humidity inducing chamber and wait about a week for your seeds to sprout. Once they have germinated, all that is left to do is plant in your pot of choice.

(Prudent Press Agency)--- Free tomato seeds. They are one man’s way to make a difference.

It may be a different time, but Dan Busch of 2BSeeds in Broomfield, Colorado, will never forget the stories of the Great Depression in the 1930s that were passed on to him by his great grandparents. His great grandfather was a tomato grower during the Depression and he decided to give away free tomatoes at the farmers market to all whom were unemployed and in need of finding a way to feed their families.

Now 2BSeeds is looking to give back and follow their family’s tradition in a very big way by offering a free package of heirloom red tomato seeds to all who are unemployed or in need of supplementing their food budget.

Vegetable gardens are on the rise and there will be 40% more of them this year than there were just two years ago, states the National Gardening Association, a non-profit gardening education organization. Bruce Butterfield, the group’s research director, says, “As the economy goes down, food gardening goes up.”

(Prudent Press Agency)--- Description: The French Bulldog, also known as the "Frenchie", is a small, muscular, and compact dog. It stands about 12 at the withers and generally weighs between 18 and 28 pounds. It has heavy bones and is considered to be a dwarf Mastiff. The French Bulldog has a broad, square head, very short muzzle, and large bat ears. Its face is more pleasant and open than that of the English Bulldog and the wrinkling is not as heavy. The lower jaw is undershot and the tail is naturally abbreviated. The usual coat colors of the Frenchie are brindle, white, brindle and white, and fawn.

History: It is generally considered that the French Bulldog began as a sort of toy Bulldog, a scaled-down version of the English Bulldog. It was kept by lacemakers in England. During the 1860s, these artisans were forced to leave England for France after being deprived of their livelihood by the industrialization of lace making. Their little dogs, of course, went with them to France. As the dogs gained popularity there, they became known as the French Bulldog. At this point, the Frenchie had either rose ears or bat ears, this issue had not been settled. American devotees are responsible for establishing the bat ear as the breed standard.

Temperament: The French Bulldog is probably one of the most pleasant dogs in existence. It bonds extremely strongly with its family and requires a lot of attention. However, it gives at least as much affection as it gets, so is a joy around the house. The Frenchie is extremely intelligent and has a true sense of humor. It is kind, tolerant, and loving with children. The French Bull dog has strong protective instincts and considers it an honor to protect those it loves. The Frenchie is a bit of a clown and will entertain the family with its antics. It should be pointed out, though, that the French Bull dog can be very jealous if attention is given to another pet.

(Prudent Press Agency)---Ecapay Charity, the charity initiative of Ecapay, today announced a generous contribution to Wokai.org. Wokai is an online organization focused on providing micro-financing in China. Ecapay is an Asia Payment Gateway Solution Provider. This contribution expands an ongoing working relationship between Ecapay Charity and Wokai to help the poor in rural China.

"This contribution will help Wokai to provide micro-financing to deserving entrepreneurs in rural China, giving them a unique opportunity to succeed," said Elvin S., of Ecapay. "This contribution is in keeping with Ecapay's mission to improve the lives of all individuals by contributing a portion of our proceeds to worthy organizations such as Wokai."

(Prudent Press Agency)---How unhealthy is raw milk? Is pasteurized milk actually good for you or just another drink? Lawmakers are being asked to take another look at raw milk and people's accessibility to it.

Public health officials maintain that unpasteurized, raw milk carries with it an increased risk for bacterial contamination, but raw milk advocates say that raw milk contains enzymes that strengthen one's immune system - enzymes that are greatly reduced in pasteurized milk.

Twenty-three states prohibit the sale of raw milk, and only nine states allow the retail sale of raw milk.

(Prudent Press Agency)---Mushrooms are an important ingredient use in different dishes and there are numerous varieties that you can pick from. They are also very easy to cultivate since you do not need to have a garden plot.

You can acquire mushroom kits in specialty gardening stores that already contains spores and everything that you will need to cultivate this delicious ingredient in your own home. You also do not need to cook it and just eat it raw if you want to enjoy its freshness and distinct flavor.

TYPES OF MUSHROOMS THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM

There are numerous edible mushrooms that you can pick from like Shiitake, Pompom Blanc, Crimini and others. Some of these expensive varieties are very difficult to find in ordinary grocery stores.

(Prudent Press Agency)---StollerUSA is heading to the Golden State for the 15th annual Commodity Classic to be held March 4-6 in Anaheim, California.

An educational event put on by the American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association, Commodity Classic offers farmers from across the country information on new products and new farming strategies.

StollerUSA, the leader in helping farmers maximize the genetic potential of their crops and getting the most out of their micronutrients, will be at booth 1226. There visitors will find new product and application information, get a chance to win an iPod, and have conversations with real farmers who have experienced real results using Stoller’s innovative technologies.

(Prudent Press Agency)---Container gardening has some real advantages over in-ground gardening. The first is that you do not have to break your back digging the soil two feet deep. The second is that you do not have to worry about burrowing creatures destroying your hard-earned plants. The third is that you will use less water. Finally, in case of a late frost in the spring or an early frost in the fall, you could bring in most of your pots if you had to. Some herbs will also survive an extra few months on a sunny windowsill inside, so you can extend your growing season almost all the way to Thanksgiving.

When you are planning your container garden, think up as well as down. Many container gardens are in urban areas on tiny patios. Privacy is limited. By setting out several long, narrow planters at the edges of the patio, you can create a very comfortable closed in feeling that is especially nice if your patio is several floors off the ground.

(Prudent Press Agency)---Strelitzia, or Bird of Paradise, is a beautiful tropical looking plant with extremely showy flowers which indeed do look a bit like birds. It can be grown outdoors in areas that do not get more than a very light frost, meaning USDA zones 9 to 11 in the United States. Streletzia is native to parts of South Africa, where it enjoys a mild climate and year round precipitation. Bird of Paradise is a striking and easy to grow plant, making it a favorite of landscapers especially in Southern California. The only real criticism may be that Streletzia is over used because is so attractive and dependable.

Strelitzia is a genus of five species of perennial plants, most notably including Strelitzia nicolai and Strelitzia reginae. Strelitzia reginae is also known as Bird of Paradise, and has showy flowers of orange and blue.

(Prudent Press Agency)---Alternative Latin Investor offers free access to their bi-monthly publication and special reports - register by visiting:

http://www.alternativelatininvestor.com/subscribe.php

Coffee is one of the world’s biggest export commodities, the top agricultural export for a dozen countries and one of the world’s ten largest legal agricultural exports by value. (Source: FAO Statistics Division.) According to John Talbot of the University of the West Indies, “Coffee is the second most valuable commodity exported by developing countries, a distant second to crude oil,” but well ahead of third place sugar and other agricultural, forestry and mining outputs.

(Prudent Press Agency)---Mellace Family Brands, a snack food innovator known for a diverse product line that includes tree nuts, peanuts, snack mixes, and enrobed chocolate items, today announced that it has partnered with Growers First to implement a comprehensive traceability program that tracks cashews from seed to store. The on-line tracking system will provide transparency in the supply chain.

“We chose to work with Growers First because they have an excellent history of working with farmers,” said Mike Mellace, chief executive officer, Mellace Family Brands.

(Prudent Press Agency)---References to herbs can be found in the writings of the ancient Egyptians and Chinese. The Bible mentions herbs in several places and we know from historical documents that most households used herbs in medieval times.

Herb growing is beneficial, for several reasons, to gardeners. The many uses of herbs include:

1) To flavor food,

2) Potpourri,

3) Tea,

4) Medicinal purposes, and,

5) Control garden pests.