The Best Home for Horses - The Blue Spruce Farm

Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Blue Spruce farm located in Redmond, WA has a rich historical heritage spanning over years spent in providing housing, veterinary care and thoroughbred breeding. Owned by the Nicholls family as of now the farm was originally started by Henry and Elizabeth Busscher during the 1920's. Later in 1930 they sold the farm to Helen Turcotte who used the 40 acres farm as a boarding for young ladies and also organized summer and winter camps on the farm. She made the stay on the farm very interesting for the ladies by including a milking parlor, chicken house, pig barn and horse stables as a part of their farm experience.

Helen Turcotte sold the farm to the current owners Max and Mary Nicholls in 1958. The new owners transformed the farm and used it for thoroughbred breeding and as a veterinary hospital. Later in 2001 after the demise of max Nicholls the farm was converted into a boarding stable.

The farm has an impressible array of facilities for riders and horses of all ages and breeds. The farm has twenty six stalls of 12'x12' in 3 barns, 8 large paddocks with shelter, one sand footing round pen, one sand footing lighted all weather arena, three locked tack rooms with saddle and bridle racks and shelves and 2 homes on the farm for the 24 hour caretakers. The farm also has an impressive 26 acres of cross fenced green pastures.

The farm has a historic lower barn that has a large tack room, seven stalls, hay and grain storage, blanket and lovely wooden flooring on the aisles. The outdoor sand arena is completely conditioned for water run off. It is equipped with dressage letters and jumping equipment and can also be lighted for riding in the evenings.

Other than the lush grass pastures the farm also caters to the horses on diet or those that have been injured by providing dry paddocks. These paddocks are 12'X12' and have rubber mats for feeding. These rubber mats reach up to the shelter for easy access for the horses. These dry paddocks are specially built to stay dry during winters.

The owners of the Blue Spruce Farm strongly believe in the well being and health of the horses that stay at their boarding and allow them to be out in the open and grow healthy naturally. The horses are let out in small groups for easy management. For their safety and to avoid any mishap the farm has a safety mesh and metal pipe fencing. The pastures are cross fenced too for complete safety.

Blue Spruce Farm is a one-stop boarding centre for horses with utmost care given to the horses their. They have an experienced staff that takes care of the feeding, grooming and overall care of the horse. The stay there is inclusive of the 2-3 hay feedings, fresh drinking water, grains and minerals twice a day. It is easily the best boarding facility for horses you would ever find.

The Best Home for Horses - The Blue Spruce Farm

Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Blue Spruce farm located in Redmond, WA has a rich historical heritage spanning over years spent in providing housing, veterinary care and thoroughbred breeding. Owned by the Nicholls family as of now the farm was originally started by Henry and Elizabeth Busscher during the 1920's. Later in 1930 they sold the farm to Helen Turcotte who used the 40 acres farm as a boarding for young ladies and also organized summer and winter camps on the farm. She made the stay on the farm very interesting for the ladies by including a milking parlor, chicken house, pig barn and horse stables as a part of their farm experience.

Helen Turcotte sold the farm to the current owners Max and Mary Nicholls in 1958. The new owners transformed the farm and used it for thoroughbred breeding and as a veterinary hospital. Later in 2001 after the demise of max Nicholls the farm was converted into a boarding stable.

The farm has an impressible array of facilities for riders and horses of all ages and breeds. The farm has twenty six stalls of 12'x12' in 3 barns, 8 large paddocks with shelter, one sand footing round pen, one sand footing lighted all weather arena, three locked tack rooms with saddle and bridle racks and shelves and 2 homes on the farm for the 24 hour caretakers. The farm also has an impressive 26 acres of cross fenced green pastures.

The farm has a historic lower barn that has a large tack room, seven stalls, hay and grain storage, blanket and lovely wooden flooring on the aisles. The outdoor sand arena is completely conditioned for water run off. It is equipped with dressage letters and jumping equipment and can also be lighted for riding in the evenings.

Other than the lush grass pastures the farm also caters to the horses on diet or those that have been injured by providing dry paddocks. These paddocks are 12'X12' and have rubber mats for feeding. These rubber mats reach up to the shelter for easy access for the horses. These dry paddocks are specially built to stay dry during winters.

The owners of the Blue Spruce Farm strongly believe in the well being and health of the horses that stay at their boarding and allow them to be out in the open and grow healthy naturally. The horses are let out in small groups for easy management. For their safety and to avoid any mishap the farm has a safety mesh and metal pipe fencing. The pastures are cross fenced too for complete safety.

Blue Spruce Farm is a one-stop boarding centre for horses with utmost care given to the horses their. They have an experienced staff that takes care of the feeding, grooming and overall care of the horse. The stay there is inclusive of the 2-3 hay feedings, fresh drinking water, grains and minerals twice a day. It is easily the best boarding facility for horses you would ever find.

Farm Tractors

Friday, June 15, 2012
A farm tractor is a very efficient way of managing your farm. Regardless of the type of crops you plant on it, if you have farm tractors with you, you job will be easier and simpler. There are different ways on how farm tractors can help you carry out basic farm activities. One way or another, the success of the crop yields are partly dependent on the efficiency of farm vehicle you have. However, there are some things that we have to consider with regards to the proper care and maintenance of your tractor.

You have to bear in mind the things that you have to consider after getting your farm vehicle. For longer use, it should be cared and maintained accordingly. If we exploit our farm tractor, we might end up regretting it in the future since we did not use it in a proper way. This article will deal more about the common constraints in maintaining and caring of farm vehicle.

Fuel maintenance is one of the constraints. You might end up buying a lot of fuel for emergency use. There are a lot of farm tractors that are not too costly in terms of fuel. However, most of the brands and types of farm vehicle consume a lot of fuel. You might end up purchasing bulks of fuel and whether it used or not being used. We have to make sure that our gain is proportional to our expenses. What will happen if there is less gain than expenses? I think your business is near bankruptcy. There should be profit regardless of the total expenses. Even though fuel maintenance is costly, make sure that there is still a profit.

Another thing that should be considered is the part replacement. There are some issues that may arise like the parts are busted and substandard that it needed a replacement. Mind you, the parts of a farm vehicle are costly and difficult to find. Most of the time, you will end up finding the right part in some distant stores and shops. So take note that you clean the farm vehicle as often as you can and inspect the parts for good standing to ensure safety and proper maintenance.

Another thing is the wheels. If the wheels are bald, the farm tractor is prone to accidents that might harm your workers. Make sure to inspect the wheels. There are times when you really have to be careful in inspecting the wheels since the quality and efficiency of the workload greatly depends on the ability of the wheels to carry out the job and navigate back and forth.

There are some things that you can do to prevent future issues with your farm tractor like checking all the crucial parts especially the wheels to check the condition, making sure that the controls are fully functional, and estimate the workload for the day to make sure that there will be enough fuel for it.

These are some of the constraints that you need to consider for your farm tractor's maintenance. This information is to educate farm operators and those who are on the verge of purchasing one for preparedness and added knowledge.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Organic Skin Care Products That Will Keep You Healthy

Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Organic and natural skin care products claim to be beneficial for your skin. Free of harmful preservatives and additives, organic and natural skin care products is an industry that has created some fantastic products that can feed your body and not harm it. With sales rapidly expanding due to the industry taking a more proactive role in being responsible with labeling laws and with some countries regulating the industry, more and more companies are now joining the move to offer non-toxic products for your skin. So what is all the fuss about? Here are 10 reasons why we need to consider buying organic and natural skin care products to keep you healthy.

1. Q. Is Organic Skin care Safe and How is it labeled?

A. Yes, Organic skin care is safe to use because the ingredients are from natural plant based materials and leave out the synthetic chemicals. A label on any product like moisturizer, face masks, essential oils, rubs, and creams that are for sale declaring the product is organic can mean different things depending on the type of certification the product has. This will vary from country to country.

100 Percent Organic: Skin care products that display this label can only be used on products that contain 100% organic ingredients.

Organic: Skin care products that display this label can only be used on products that contain at least 95 % organic ingredients or components. Products with this label may contain some ingredients that are not organic.

Made With Organic Ingredients: Skin care products that display this label can only be used on items that contain at least 70 % organic ingredients. This certification means that although the majority of ingredients used in the product are indeed organic, there may also be a high concentration of conventionally produced ingredients.

2. Q. What does Organic Skin Care Mean?

A. Organic skin care means we are getting a product that is free from or has dramatically reduced amounts of chemicals in the products. From the farming process of growing the botanical ingredients to the factory processes there should be no chemicals or genetically modified botanical plant material in any of the products.

Q. How long do Organic products last for?

A.Organic skin care products are beneficial for the health of your skin, but if they are truly organic, their shelf life is cut in half from synthetic chemical based products, because it's the synthetic chemicals that are used as preservatives to prolong the shelf life of a product for several years. Anything organic and natural is fresher and it only lasts a short shelf life. There are natural preservative they can use but they don't last very long as well. This is one way to check the authenticity of organic products, by the expiration date. Only synthetic chemical ingredients prolong the shelf life.

3. Q. What does Organic Mean?

A. There is more than one classification of organic certification, but the broad term organic refers to an item that has minimal to no chemical residue in the growing and processing of botanical materials and is not modified genetically or use with potential toxins.

4. Q. What does Certified Organic mean?

A. Organic certification labels indicate the concentration of organic botanical materials within a product, but what does organic mean, really? The terms listed here are used to describe skin care products that are produced in a way that conforms to certain standards:

No Harmful Toxins:Conventionally produced crops are routinely sprayed with chemicals and otherwise exposed to potentially harmful compounds, some of which have been proven to be harmful to people and animals in certain concentrations. Plants that are sprayed with pesticides, or that are grown in chemically treated soil, can potentially pass the same toxins along to the person or animal eating the food or applying it to their skin. Organic skin care products do not contain these chemicals and are produced with minimal processing.

No Synthetic or Artificial Ingredients:While conventionally produced items commonly contain artificial colors and ingredients, organic items are not allowed to contain anything artificial. Any dyes used in organic items will be natural, organic dyes and there will not be artificial preservatives.

No Genetically Modified Organisms: GMO's are not allowed in any organic skin care product. A genetically modified organism is an item that has been genetically altered to change something about the item. For example, a tomato that is genetically modified to grow larger or a wheat crop genetically modified to better sustain cool weather are both GMOs. You will not find GMOs in organic skin care.

Agricultural Sustainability: Organic items are produced with the environment in mind. Packaging is minimal; meaningless waste after the item has been used. Recycled materials are used during the production and packaging of organic items. Organic farming can be more costly and time consuming than conventional farming, which accounts for the higher prices associated with organic items.

Cruelty Free: Most organic products, especially skin and hair care products, can boast the claim of not being tested on animals. Even though cruelty free has nothing to do with the ingredients they use to make skin care. But it's worth noting that if an ingredient like lanolin is to be used to as an ingredient in making skin care products the sheep's wool and pastures they are eating and husbandry management all need to be chemical free enabling the by-products to be certified organic.

It is important to note that in order for us to avoid any items that contain chemical toxins, GMOs or any other undesirable components, online shoppers should look for organic items that are labeled 100 % organic.

5. Q. How do I know if a Skin care product is Organic and Natural?

A. Look for evidence on the packaging like:

Is the use- by- date shorter than synthetic chemical products
Certified Organic logo on the product
Labeling - 100% Organic or not
Natural ingredients are in the title of the product synthetic ones just put natural and not the real ingredients, e.g. banana and avocado mask vs natural face mask
Natural ingredients are listed - some chemical sounding and looking ingredient names are actually natural products. To find out more details about natural ingredients there is a great website called Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. Eg Hyladroilic acid sounds bad but it is OK to use.

6. Q. Why do we need to use Organic Skin care

A. Organic and natural skin care is a safe and heather way of looking after your skin and treating any skin problems. At the same time you are helping to conserve and protect the environment and to safe guard it against further decay and corporate greed.

7. Q. Why do we need to Buy Organic Skin care?

A. By buying organic and natural products we are helping to lower the impact on the earth and the environment. Organic farmers have the potential to use less energy, less water resources, and NO pesticides. Organic farmers don't have to apply the same farming commercial farming practice, because their soil stays rich in content, moisture and nutrients due to careful management of land and using only natural organic matter to cultivate and grow their crops. With commercialized agriculture arriving in farming communities, many organic farmers are forced out of business. Great expanses of farm land are cleared of trees and are swallowed up and a way of life that has sustained humans for centuries vanishes. Each year dozens of new pesticides, cleaners, fertilizers show up in local supermarkets and stores. These products that are heavily advertised with little regard to environmental impacts are purchased and used and thus the pollution and destruction of the earth continues at a slow and steady pace. Organic farmers, live clean, free of pesticides and chemicals lives. They do not subject the soils and farming practices with chemicals leaving toxic waste and residue or subject their bodies to unhealthy products. It is a conscious choice that we should all be thankful for, without organic farming we wouldn't have any organic and natural skin care products to use. Otherwise we would be forced to use synthetic chemical laden ones. A choice they make so we all can survive with nature and enhance the planet that sustains us all.

8. Q. Where can you get Organic Skin care products from

A.There are lots of natural and organic shops that stock natural skin care and hair care and cosmetic products now. Everywhere you go there seems to be another online shop and website popped up around the corner. How do you make sense of all this information that is available? Best thing to do is find a website that you can trust the information they are telling you. If it sounds reasonable to you then its probably OK, but if you are doubtful and doesn't sound very ethical chances are its not trust worthy.

9. Q. When can you use Organic Skin care?

A. Natural and organic skin care products are available for you to use when ever you like. There are no restrictions as to when you can use natural and organic products. They will have a shorter shelf life due to fresh ingredients being used. However this should only be a good reason as it demonstrates a quality product.

10. Q. How does Organic Skin care products benefit my skin and health?

A. Organic versus Healthy Organic and natural skin care, hair care and cosmetics is arguably healthier than its synthetic counterparts. Conventionally produced skin care is commonly exposed to toxic pesticides, herbicides and preservatives as well as artificial colors and flavors. Genetically modified organisms are also sometimes found in conventional skin care. In this sense, organic skin care is gentler and healthier for our bodies than the conventionally produced counterparts.

On the other hand, a label of "organic" does not automatically mean "healthier." An organic skin care cream may not have artificial flavors and may not contain the same toxins as a conventional skin care cream, but the organic skin care can still contain non-organic ingredients if they are using only partially organically grown ingredients.

The label of organic means the skin care is composed of organic ingredients but does not guarantee the product to be totally free of chemicals thus making it only a bit healthier than its counter parts, which has to be better than totally using the chemical laden creams. So is organic better for you than chemical laden products? Yes, of course it has to be, who would want to subject their bodies to more chemicals when we can't avoid the chemicals in the air we breathe but we can make a conscious choice about what we put on our skin. So make the change and feel the difference. You will thank yourself for it in the long run. As an increasing awareness of damage to the planet and how we treat our bodies becomes more and more prevalent there needs to be an urgent shift towards us all using organic products. We all find the idea attractive that organic products are free of chemicals, which can be harmful to our bodies. And along with the belief that organic methods of farming are better for the resources of the planet and far less a contributor to the greenhouse effect (as opposed to conventional farming) we all should help make the change toward using origin products. Various regulated governing bodies around the world play a huge part in ensuring that organic products are regulated so that people are receiving healthier products. Despite the shift of attitudes towards organic products it still has its fair share of critics such as those who claim organic is actually unsafe due to a reduced protection against diseases and infection.

What Exactly is Organic Farming

Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It is a term that has been grossly misrepresented. It is not just a form of agricultural practice that uses compost, crop rotation and shuns manufactured chemicals and artificial hormones. Farming organically is more than that. It is a highly structured practice, conforming to very detailed production standards.

First and foremost, Organic Farming is monitored by an international body set up in 1972 - The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM). And I quote from their website: "The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings."

Therefore, what we are talking about Eco-Agriculture and the key word here is health. Organic Farming does not entertain genetically modified foods, battery-raised animals, additives to animal feed, or anything that is artificial in any way in agricultural practices.

There are 4 main principles of Organic Farming as laid down by IFOAM:

Organic agriculture is based on:

The principle of health

The principle of ecology

The principle of fairness

The principle of care

The Principle of Health

It stands to reason that if we grow food and raise animals on healthy soil then we will grow healthy crops and have healthy animals. The consequence of this is that we then eat healthy food, and, as a result have a healthy body. It is the sequential chain of reactions that relies totally on where it all starts: the soil.

People are concerned about food safety, particularly in light of the fact that there is serious concern that modern Agri-Farming practices that are not organic, have caused food allergies, asthma, and heart disease through artificial additives and chemical fertilizers that we ingest. Worse still there are diseases directly linked to irresponsible farming practices that ignore common sense. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy appears to have been caused by feeding cows, that are naturally herbivores, the remains of other cattle and bone meal in order to increase weight and early slaughter.

The Principle of Ecology

We need to go back to what nature intended and that is what Organic Farming is all about. It is to grow crops and raise animals on land that is enriched with compost and mulches that are well rotted because this is the most paramount of stages in organic farming. The aim is to get as much humus into the land as possible, and this includes manure, compost, seaweed, leaf-mould, spoiled hay, and anything of vegetable or animal origin, including blood and bone, that can go into making a compost heap. The keyword here is recycling. There is the old adage; "Waste not, want not" and never so true in farming organically.

Any left over crops or wood should never be burnt on a property. This is an absolute waste of potential compost, and it is also a pollution contributor. Why burn it when you could use it and it isn't costing you anything? Why burn those vine cuttings and those orchard prunings? Invest in a chipper to reduce the bulk and add these to your compost heap.

What happens to your soil when it is healthy? It is filled with micro-organisms and those beautiful earthworms that delight the heart of those who care. Once you have earthworms in your soil you know that you are doing something right.

Remember too that you need to rest your soil and to use crop-rotation effectively. When you have a field at rest plant a cover crop, such as rye grass as a temporary planting in autumn. This protects the soil from wind and water erosion and adds organic matter. You can also grow crops such as legumes for soil improvement, called green manure crops, and are often left in place for six months to a year. Legumes are especially efficient because they "fix" nitrogen from the air into the soil.

In England more and more farmers are replanting hedgegrows on their farms as they now realize how important they are. Many animals and insects use these hedges as part of their ecosystem, therefore when the hedgegrows were removed, these little animals and insects then lost their natural shelters and an imbalance on the ecosystem resulted in an influx on insects that were unwelcome. They are also excellent wind-breakers and hold the soil in place to prevent soil erosion.

The Principle of Fairness

Organic farming believes in fairness in that the land, its people and its animals should be respected and treated with care and justice. We are custodians of this land, and as such, the custodianship should be taken seriously. We should ensure that we never harm or damage the environment in any way. That our aim should be to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to produce healthy food for everyone, and that nothing that we do when we work the land is harmful in any respect to the soil and water that we use, the animals that we rear and those that consume the end product.

Animal rearing has always been controversial with the implementation of factory farming. Factory farming is inhumane where animals are kept in confined and overcrowded spaces, and in poor conditions where they maim each other just to fight for space and life. Animals have to be reared justly, and given open spaces to live. It acknowledges that there has to be a link between the animal and the soil and that their welfare and veterinary care is vital.

The Principle of Care

Although this is last on this list of principles, I feel that it is probably the most important one. Because if one did not care about the environment, the situation of where we are at the moment and the importance of providing healthy food for a healthy lifestyle, then we would not embark on any of the above

Visit an Arowana Farm to Experience Excellence in Operation

Wednesday, May 2, 2012
For an Arowana enthusiast, there is probably no more exciting and educational experience than visiting a CITES certified Arowana farm. The owners, employees and affiliates of the world's top Arowana farms possess incomparable experience, knowledge, and resources. Even a few hours spent among the leaders in the Arowana industry can be an inspirational (and humbling) experience.

The Evolving Role of the Arowana Farm

Perhaps any commercial farm would hold interest to someone intrigued by the stock being bred. Yet few types of farms worldwide can boast the single-handed preservation of a species!

As a result of CITES classification of Arowanas as endangered species on the brink of extinction, innovative Arowana experts began relentlessly pursuing captive breeding more than two decades ago. As slow-maturing, temperamental mouth-brooders sensitive to captivity, this was no simple matter. Through trial-and-error and practical experience, effective breeding practices were eventually discovered. It was the success of captive-breeding that allowed the commercial trade of Arowanas to be reinstated.

Not only were captive breeding techniques developed on Arowana farms, scientific discoveries were made isolating the DNA responsible for prized varieties. This helped ensure and protect the quality of the breeding stock and the long-term survival of the best of the species.

Excellence in Operation

Arowana farms offer visitors a unique opportunity to witness first-hand some of the most innovative and highly profitable fish farming practices in the world today. The care given to maintaining breeding stock, managing breeding pairs, and securing and rearing young fry is difficult to comprehend until it is seen.

Arowana farming involves a painstaking commitment to detail. The fish demand uncompromising water quality conditions every moment of every day. They must be fed quality foods at appropriate times and receive appropriate supplements, as well. CITES certification requirements demand strict adherence to identification practices, micro-chipping, and paperwork. Absolutely nothing can be left to chance if the Arowana are to prosper and the farm is to succeed.

Some farms specialize in more than top quality Arowana production. Many conduct research and develop new and valuable Arowana care products. Commercial foods, vitamin and mineral supplements, water conditioning treatments and filter systems and media are just some of the products developed by farms. Seeing the practice behind cutting-edge technology is yet another advantage of an Arowana farm visit.

In addition to the breeding ponds, growing tanks, and exciting new Arowana care items, visitors to an Arowana farm enjoy a rare, up close look at a variety of Arowanas. Outside of a temporary Arowana contest or exhibition, there is no place on earth likely to house as many quality Arowanas in one place. Most farms specialize in breeding all three types of the Asian Arowana species. With so many on hand, visitors are given a rare opportunity to learn to spot quality as well as prized characteristics of each type of Arowana.

Planning Your Farm Visit

When you're ready for the trip of a lifetime, take the time to find a quality Arowana farm to visit. Communicate with a representative frequently beforehand to ensure you will be welcome and allowed admission. Discuss how in depth you would like your visit to be and arrive when you can best be accommodated. Remember you are a guest of very busy individuals engaged in an extremely complex operation.

If possible, try scheduling a trip to include tours of more than one Arowana farm. Many farms conduct breeding operations quite differently from each other, and you will benefit from the exposure to more than one expert.

Feeding the Worms in a Worm Farm

Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Naturally composting waste, providing an organic material that enriches soil and even giving hobbyists and fisherman with live bait. It is these that are the all causes of worm farming. Attending to the worms in a worm farm is usually quite simple but there some rules of thumb to follow. Proper feeding is significant for the health of the worms, and as a consequence important for the health of the farm.

Worms are fed a mixture of foodstuffs, and nonfood items, for composting. Some food type items that can be provided are fruits, vegetables, greens, bread products, cereals, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters and egg shells. The worms will eat just about anything so it is imperative to know which foods are right and why.

Fruits and vegetables are easily composted by the worms. The essential thing to don't forget when serving vegetables and fruit is the mass of the portions. Fruit pieces should be cut because of 1/2 inch pieces or slices. Smaller pieces will be consumed more rapidly. Food blended up with water will in addition help the worms find the produce and consume it faster.

Fruits and vegetables are highly nutritious. Worms that are fed a proper diet will successively produce a nutrient rich substance that is good for crops, gardens, flower beds and even indoor flower pots. Some nonfood items that can be proposed to worms for composting are paper products, cotton rags, hair clippings, leaves and soaked cardboard. A pizza box that has been torn up and soaked is a fantastic treat for worms.

When offering leaves to a worm farm, be cautious to only ever use products that contain never been treated with chemical substances. For the safety of the worms, grass clipping and other yard clippings should be avoided in case chemical substances have been used.

Dog and cat droppings can be used in a worm farm with care. Cats and dogs that make been dewormed recently will have the substance within their bodies. The medicine used for deworming can be excreted in the droppings. If fed to the worms, the droppings can kill the worms quick. If a pet has been dewormed recently, avoid using the droppings in the worm farm.

Care should likewise be taken when offering cat droppings from a refuse box. Inorganic litters are unsafe for the worms. If your plan is to use the worms to compost the droppings, using a natural and organic bedding material will keep the worms happy.

While the're many foods that could be provided readily, there are, in addition those that should be avoided. Care ought to always be taken with items that have been treated with chemicals, drugs or other substances that may prove detrimental.

Meats ought not to be offered to the worms in a worm farm. Being voracious eaters, the worms will gladly consume whatever meat is put up. The problem with meat is with the pests it will appeal to. Flies and maggots will be found in a worm farm that uses meat and the best way to get rid of these pests is to eradicate the application of meat.

Citrus fruits, onions and garlic shouldn't be used either. The worms appear to get the smell of these things offensive. Most worms will try to get away the bin to get away from the smell. Dairy products will also attract unwanted guests into the worm farm. One other problematic issue with serving dairy products is the foul smell that is emitted as it rots.

Feeding worms is a pretty easy job. The key is to know which items are good and which are bad for the health of the worms. Another point to always remember is to not over feed. New worms should be fed in small amounts when they are turning into established within the farm. Once settled, the amount can be increased in time.

Over feeding results in problems such as foul smells and pests. Keep feeding down to a nominal amount, offering new food only when the old food supply is running low. Worms can eat over half themselves weight in food each day. The worm population can double every few months. Overfeeding can result in an issue but keep watch over the people as well to be sure that underfeeding isn't an issue.

A full worm population is a happy worm population. Happy worms produce a great deal of naturally composted, healthy castings for soil enrichment consequently keeping the worm farmer happy as well.

2 Important Tips on Raising Goats For Meat in Order to Successfully Start Goat Farming

Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Raising goats for meat does not need to be a very painful or expensive process... if you know how -- that is. Although goat meat farming can entail a lot of your time, the profits from this venture are indeed noteworthy. In order to successfully launch your goat farm, here are a couple of things you need to do first.

1. Choose goat breeds that you can take care of with minimal fuss. Most novice goat farmers immediately choose animals which they think will have higher meat yield. That choice could be favorable -- if you can make your farming practice work, that is. But the truth is: when it comes to raising goats for meat though, your first area of concern is the type of breed you can raise.

Boers (also known as South African Boer goats) and Spanish goats are the most favored meat producing breeds in the country. These animals have larger bodies and not prone to become fat even on an intensive diet. Goats like these also grow up very quickly, which means that their meat can be harvested in a short amount of span only. These animals are indeed noted to have the highest amount of harvestable meat per animal. However, these Boers and the Spanish goats would also need extensive care and a very specific kind of diet.

On the other hand, there are some people who favor raising Brush and fainting goats instead. Unlike Boers and Spanish goats, these animals can adapt to almost any kind of weather, diet or temperature. Although not as heavily built as the Boers or the Spanish goats, the Brush and the fainting goats do have a high reproduction rate; and that is always a plus factor when it comes to raising goats for meat.

If you are not particularly sure as to what breed you ought to get, try asking other goat farmers in your area what breed they raise. It is with all likelihood that that those are the particular goats that can thrive successfully in your locale.

2. Always ask a licensed veterinarian to come on board. One of the most basic things you can do when raising animals for meat is to hire the services of a good veterinarian. Asking for his or her recommendations on diet and housing can almost guarantee you that your efforts in raising goats for meat go as smoothly as possible. Aside from that, the vet's help can also lessen the rate of sick animals in your farm and the goats in your care will yield more healthy litters later on.

How to Keep a Non Cruel Ant Farm

Monday, April 2, 2012
Ant farms have become a popular accessory on most homes, but in order to ensure the health and safety of its occupants it's extremely important to remember that ants are living beings, not just a pretty looking gadget on the living room. Learning how to keep a non cruel ant farm is key to ensure a healthy and active colony.

Remember: It is not a Toy

It is extremely important to remind everybody at home that an ant farm is most definitely not a toy. Small children should not be allowed near the farm unsupervised, as they often will cause havoc while trying to help, or to see what the ants do. Ants need a stable environment to thrive, with the right amounts of water and food, so having a four year old flooding the farm to see if ants can swim, or giving them extra food and sticky sweets because ants love them can spell the end of your ant colony.

Choose the Right Kind of Food

Food that is too sticky, too sweet or too soft will decay quicker than the ants can consume it, creating a big sticky mess and forcing you to clean the ant farm. Ants don't really like when a big human hand starts cleaning around their anthills, as it will stress them out. So in order to keep a happy ant farm, make sure you only feed them crispy and fresh food, in small amounts. You can just give them more food if you see that they take everything inside the colony too quick. In order to keep a non cruel ant farm, make sure that your ants always have fresh food and give them the occasional treat in the form of a bit of sugared water, avoiding jelly or honey that can be messy and sticky.

Do not Move the Farm

How would you feel if suddenly your home started shaking and moving around? Ants like peace and quiet, so choose a place for the ant farm that is away from direct sunlight and resist the temptation to move the farm, or your ant colony may just get stressed out and start dyeing. Avoid knocking on the farm's walls, sudden noises and vibrations, and try to keep the temperature stable in order to provide a healthy and safe environment for your ants. Make sure to select a safe spot where the farm is secure and doesn't risk falling off. This is particularly important if there are young kids and pets around, as you really don't want your farm being knocked over and your dining room filled with confused ants.

Build a Fantastic Ant Farm

Sunday, April 1, 2012
So your thinking of building your own ant farm? Maybe for the kids? How about trying that prank off the Mighty Ducks' movie with the ants in the bed? Ok, Hopefully not that. Anyways, Making an "ant farm" is not as hard as people may think. For children, It is somewhat of an adventure to see how the ants live in their communities and thrive upon each other to live. The kids absolutely are amazed at this and it can keep their attention held for hours and hours at a time. Ant farms are inexpensive and can be built using everyday supplies.

In order for us to make an ant farm, We need a few supplies:

1. The Ants, Of course.

2. Their bedding (Dirt)

3. A tank of some sort, maybe even a fish bowl type thing.

4. Shovel, (For ant moving)

(I have used one of these when I was younger)

4. A smaller jar of some sort to gather ants.

Step 1: Place the little or tiny jar inside of the big tank or fish bowl type container. When using a small jar, It allows the ants to create tunnels on the outside of the jar in which you can see them instead of them tunneling in the middle of everything.

Step 2: Now, We need to find an ant hill or pile of some kind. Use a shovel and dig out enough ants to fill your jar within a few inches or so from the top. Try to get a majority of the worker ants, some flying ants or bigger ants, and if you can find her, The queen. Scooping up white eggs or larvae is a plus!

After you get your ants, You need their bedding. To get the bedding (dirt), Just scoop up some with the shovel and gently pour it inside the jar. Pack all of the bedding firmly. Note, If your children are around, It might be wise to keep them away when transporting any of the ants to and or from the jar, Especially if the ants are "red ants" or some other kind of biting ant.

Step 3: Water your ants by using some sort of gentle sprayer or sponge that will drop water. Essentially, You can also use a simple dropper, Such as those used in chemistry projects.

Step 4: Feeding your ants can be done by using tiny bits of fruit or vegetables, sugar dipped bread, or even small cracker pieces broken off.

Helpful Things To Remember:

#1: If you live in an area that might not supply ants, such as a colder environment with snow, Search for a craft or hobby store or even online and try to find a mail order for ants.

#2: The ants should not be able to climb up the walls, But if for some reason they may have intentions on doing so, You can add a slippery substance material to the inner depending on the type of container. Example: A Q-Tip with liquid on the insides to help keep the ants down.

#3: In order to assure proper ventilation, It would be wise to punch a few holes in the top so that all of the ants have plenty of air to breathe.

#4: As your ants' start moving into and acquiring a nesting ground in their new home, You should discourage anyone from shaking or moving around the jar. This is a potential problem that could destroy their tunnels.

#5: If you would like to enhance your experience, Try adding hobby related items, Such as little miniature palm trees or other objects inside the ant farm. This will ensure an everlasting and enjoyable experience for you and children to watch and view the ant kingdom.