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Agriculture & Farming
Corn's Incredible Color Varieties (Plus Growth and Processing Info)
This article discusses the anatomy of the corn plant, three colorful corn varieties and their uses, the three sisters garden method, and at-home corn processing.
Oats, Oatmeal, and Porridge: Plant Facts and Food Uses
Oats are useful plants that are a member of the grass family. Their seeds are known as groats or kernels and are used to create an interesting selection of foods.
Facts About the Mango Tree: Description, Types, and Uses
Mangoes are succulent, aromatic fruits of the evergreen tree Mangifera indica, belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. There are over 500 varieties of mangoes grown in tropical regions across the world. Read on to know more about the mango tree.
Rice: The Staple Diet of Half the World
From being the novel food of the Yangtze Valley civilization and a summer crop in the Harappan civilization to the staple diet of half the world, rice has traversed a long and eventful path in history. This article will take a look at the crop eaten more frequently around the world than any other.
Phytoremediation: A Natural Cleaning Process
This article will describe the process of phytoremediation and its associated techniques. It will also provide a list of five of the best plants for phytoremediation.
Foraging for the Seaweed Super Food Kombu
Kombu is used in many rich dietary traditions across the world. See why people are raving about this free to forage species of seaweed.
What It's Like to Live in a Permaculture Community
Permaculture communities work with nature, not against it.
400 Years After the Pilgrims, Corn Is More in Demand Than Ever
Corn saved the Pilgrims and has since grown into a huge industry.
Soybeans Return to China
American farmers got soybeans from China originally, but now soybeans raised in the USA are being sent to China in spectacular volumes
The Many Ways We Use Cottonseeds
This article discusses how cottonseeds are used in our products and daily life.
Growing Your Own Chicken Feed
If you want to raise your own high-quality eggs and save money, read on to find out what to grow for feed and forage and how to manage your foraging areas.
Leghorns: The Unsung Heroes of the Henhouse
Oft ignored, sometimes maligned, the humble leghorn is still the queen of the nesting box.
How to Raise Chickens in an Urban Environment
Follow these instructions and you'll know all you need to know to get started raising these amazing egg-layers
The Many Uses of Cow Dung: A Natural and Renewable Resource
Humans use cow dung as a fertilizer, fuel, building material, and insect repellent. It's also used to make a biogas and paper and to play games. Other organisms use dung as well.
Alpaca Fiber, Llama Fiber, Sheep Fiber or Wool, How Are They Different?
Alpaca and llama fibers are of the finest quality. Sheep wool tops today's animal fiber industry. So, what's different about the fleece of these herding animals?
The Plymouth White Rock Chicken
The Plymouth White Rock Chicken is an excellent breed for beginning as well as seasoned chicken owners. They are a nice addition to any backyard flock because of their temperament and egg production
The Amazing Mini-Alpine
Discover the wonderful world of these amazing goats. They pack a lot of benefits into one small package. Maybe they are right for you!
Was Agriculture Humanity's Biggest Ever Mistake?
Agriculture is often regarded as the human hallmark that allowed for the development of modern technologies. But recent evidence seems to suggest that it was more of a curse than a blessing.
How to Put a Lead Rope on a Horse
How you approach the horse with the lead rope sets the tone for the rest of the day. Read on to learn more about safe practices and types of lead ropes.
How to Introduce Your Sorting Horse to Cattle
Tempted to take your horse to a cattle sorting event -- but concerned because he's never met a cow face to face? Here is a low-pressure, safe method to introduce your horse to cattle to ensure future sorting and penning fun.
The Black Headed Dorper Sheep
The Dorper Sheep are a recently new breed of sheep in Australia that were developed in South Africa. They are becoming very popular for their meat and their full shedding qualities.
Ethical Concerns Regarding Raising Livestock Animals for Food
Raising animals for the purpose of human consumption appears to be something of a moral and ethical dilemma, and here's why: Animals including cattle, sheep, chickens, hogs, geese, ducks, goats, and all others are living, thinking, feeling beings...
Five Weird and Uncommon Chicken Breeds
Five chickens breeds that are weird-looking, interesting, uncommon and downright different.
Five Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds
My top five picks for egg-laying chicken breeds.
The Plymouth Barred Rock Chicken
The Plymouth Barred Rock chicken is an excellent choice for backyard chicken coops.
How to Raise and Care for Geese
Raising geese is a lot easier than you may think. The effort is well worth it especially if you use the natural tendencies of the geese to benefit you. Read on to learn about weeder geese, pet geese and security alarm geese!
How to Raise Cornish Cross Chickens for Meat Birds
Cornish Cross chickens were created to provide meat. If you have any questions about how to raise them yourself as meat birds in your own back yard, this guide will certainly answer any questions you may have about the breed.
Raising Goats: How to Choose a Breed
Do you want to get goats? Read this summary of the many different goat breeds to find out which one suits your needs best.
The Problem with CAFOs: Why They Are an Unsustainable System for Raising Livestock
Factory farming, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), are inhumane and produce unsanitary and polluting conditions.
Biological vs. Chemical Pest Control: Benefits and Disadvantages
Biological pest control has important advantages compared to chemical control, but It also has some drawbacks. Integrated pest management may sometimes be useful.
Traditional Uses of Cattle in Africa
The cow has always been very important to Africans. Here are some of the ways it is used in Africa.
Belted Galloway Heritage Breed Cattle - 10 Reasons to Raise them for Beef
Belted Galloways are rare and beautiful. If you have wondered about this breed for your heritage breed farm, or want to know more about these striking "Oreo cookie" cows, read on.
Best Bottle Calf Recipe to Treat Scours
Try this recipe to reduce cases of scours and decrease calf mortality.
Save your Back and Your Money: Make an Automatic Waterer for your Free Ranging Chickens
These easy, cheap to build waterers save both your back and time and are easy to clean. Our design is shown and list of materials. Self-filling, they make less work and give the chickens fresh water all day long, find out how.
What are Euskal Oiloas (or Basque Hens) and Why Would Anyone Want These Chickens?
Those on poultry forums know the excruciating question, "If you had to pick one breed what would it be?" After 40 breeds in four years, and I can confidently say it would be these wonderful Basque hens.
10 Things to Do When You Bring Home Baby Chicks
With spring already here and Easter only a few weeks away now is a good time to talk about caring for baby chicks. Many people buy chicks for Easter because of the symbolism of new life they represent, but then don’t have a clue what to do with...
Advantages and Disadvantages of Featherless (Naked) Chickens
The featherless chicken is a strange chicken breed that was created with purely commercial use in mind. As suggested by their name, these chickens don't have a single feather!
Belgian Blue, The Monster Cow
The belgian blue is the bovine version of Arnold Schwarzenegger! Also known as the monster cow, individuals of this breed do look like they have undergone some serious steroid use!
Types of Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the most widespread activities in the world, but it is not uniform throughout.
Can A Rooster Be Neutered? What Is A Capon? Is Castration Inhumane?
Neutering or castrating a rooster is known as “caponizing.” This process produces what is called a “capon.” (A castrated horse is a gelding, a castrated male cow is a steer, and a castrated rooster is a capon.) Caponizing used to be a...
Guide to Backyard Chicken Breeds
From the standard white Leghorn to fancy exotic bantams, chickens offer a wide variety of breed choices for the poultry enthusiast. What type of chicken do you like? Check out my chicken breed guide.
How Much Water Do Chickens Need to Drink Per Day?
There is no hard and fast rule about how much water each chicken will drink in a day. One thing is sure: chickens need an ample supply of fresh, clean water available at all times. Their waterer must be clean of dirt and algae build-up,...
How to Kill a Chicken
To be able to humanely kill a chicken quickly and without causing pain or distress is an important skill for anyone thinking of small scale farming.
Removal of Rooster Spurs
Do you own chickens? If so, you are probably aware of what a rooster spur is. In the photo it shows my head rooster proudly strutting his stuff. Note the spurs sticking out the sides of his legs. Roosters have spurs for protection. They use them to...
How to Dust Your Chickens for Parasites
Keeping chickens in your backyard is fun! They are one of the most maintenance-free pets. Their daily requirements mainly consist of feeding and watering. And if you do this they give you a reward, an egg! But to keep your chickens healthy and...
Rare and Endangered Sheep Breeds
Heritage sheep breeds are good choices for small flocks because they are typically hardier and more self-sufficient than many commercial breeds. Unfortunately, many heritage breeds are now rare. Keeping a flock of heritage sheep not only offers the...