FARM CAFÉ: AGRIBUSINESS INFORMATION, MARKETING/PUBLICITY AND B2B CONNECTION SERVICES Farm Café:is an Agribiz Information, Marketing/Publicity & B2B Connection Services, see: http://farmcafeng.com/business-post.php?id=159 . Farm Cafe can be contacted on Phone/ WhatsApp: +234(0)8092236484, Emails: info@farmcafeng.com, farmcafe@outlook.com
Monday, 18 December 2023
GOOD TIME TO PROCESS, PRESERVE FARM OR GARDEN HARVESTS
Monday, 11 December 2023
MY MANGO TREE AND ALMOND TREE GET BETTER ABODE TO GROW
At long last- I have been able to replant my mango and almond trees growing in sacks into bigger drums. An old leaky 500 litre tank was cut into two to plant a tree in each one.
Some people have been harassing me that growing the trees in those 50Kg bags was depriving them - no doubt but I had no choice until the opportunity of getting the old tank came up as a result of solving a domestic problem.
So what's so special about replanting the trees in bigger containers
1. The roots will have wider space to spread and trees grow better
2. I can directly add lots of nutrient-rich organic matter which I already started- e.g. watermelon peels, lemon grasses, corn cobs, soya bean chaff, coconut chaff, blood leaves, pawpaw leaves, remnants of sweet fruits and so and so on and so forth.
3.. Thereby the fruits expected from the trees wouldn't be just ordinary fruits- they would be extra-highly nutritious fruits - in fact they can be called exotic fruits.
But the last few days from last week Wednesday had been so very very hectic.
After the artisans finished some other repair work in the premises and the trees placed in the drums, I called in another artisan to assist with carrying some heavy sacks of soil in the garden with no current plant growing to put in the drums.
By Friday, the workers had finished their part. Since I was constantly moving to and fro, monitoring all the repair work and tree-planting and doing some tasks like processing spices for my skin care products, my body was fatigued.
So I resolved to rest very well over the weekend. But by Saturday morning, I thought I could exploit my body some more since I had a fresh burst of energy.
The drums needed more soil to fill up - so I got the shovel and went to the roadside to pack buckets of sand to pour in the drums - I thought I was Miss Powerful. I did all the necessary extra-work in the garden with my super gecko muscles😀.
By Saturday afternoon/evening yeepa! My body was protesting angrily. I had even taken siesta for a couple of hours but still felt symptoms of sickness - bodyaches and slight fever - aahh! Who send me work? I asked myself.
Dem no send me o - my family is not putting me under any pressure to work so rigorously - so wetin dey push me to work like that?- na me know.
Since I committed offence to my body, I needed to solve it - I started being more intentional about what I ate and drank, infusing my garden herbs and went to buy the ones I didnt have but grown organically.
Even with the aches and pains I was still able to do some regular activities though I was seizing opportunity to conserve energy whenever I could.
By Sunday evening, my body was still complaining fiercely though I was managing it with my knowledge of herbals.
I wondered if I would recover enough for the Monday morning burst to do some gardening - watering and cleaning at least!
Wow! I did recover. I must give thanks to God before I say the herbal wonder works o - I did pray hard when my body was seriously protesting with aches and pains over the weekend.
I really thank God - life becomes so exciting when problems can be tackled intuitively and effectively - so very grateful - not even looking like what I've been through.
#plantingfruittreesindrums
#plantingmangotreeindrum
#plantingalmondtreeindrum
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#growingmaizeinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#intercroppinginsoilsack.
#growingcornindryseason
Monday, 4 December 2023
SIMPLE GARDEN PLANTS IDEAL FOR SKIN/HAIR CARE: (1) Aloe Vera
SIMPLE GARDEN PLANTS IDEAL FOR SKIN/HAIR CARE: (1) Aloe Vera
There are some plants that are relatively easy to grow and they are very good for skin and hair care. I will start today with Aloe Vera.
You can of course buy Aloe Vera from vendors but if you can, grow yours, it is more ideal as you can ensure it is grown in healthy way(s)
Sometime ago, I was watching a documentary on International TV station and I heard - (paraphase) 'whatever is to be applied to the hair and of course skin that cannot be put in the mouth is too toxic to be applied to the hair and of course the other parts of the body.'
I had read that organically grown Aloe Vera which can be taken orally (you can use in juices and some meals) is ideal for skin care.
I grow Aloe Vera in sacks as that is how I can grow crops for now.
If you are health-conscious and particular about avoiding as much as possible foods with chemical elements, you either grow your food or buy from organic growers.
But it goes further than that - you should also be particular about what you use on your body externally- skin and hair - avoid chemicals as much as possible.
Therefore if you can, ensure the main ingredients used in your skin and hair products formulation are grown organically. You may think that is too stressful until you are pushed to the corner like I was - I was having serious itchiness due to Eczema. This was aggravated when I used skin care products manufactured even by big reputable companies.
I currently don't use Aloe Vera in the body lotion I formulate but I use in formulating my bathing soap and hair conditional and hair wash.
I also started infusing my Aloe Vera plants being grown in sacks with healthy organic manure like mango leaves, lemon grass, orange and other citrus peels (ensure peels are dried before applying).
I have therefore been able to tackle skin problem I.e. eczema and other skin issues.
Ending of last year, I decided to stop using chemical relaxer on my hair - This organically grown Aloe Vera is one of the main ingredients in my hair conditioning and hair wash. It makes our usually tough natural African hair soft enough to be combed and plaited with ease.
Currently I am working on formulating a purely organic hair cream for natural African hair with Aloe Vera as one of the base ingredients - know what? This hair cream will be such you can put in your mouth and swallow without fear of harm - in fact, it would be a health booster.
ALOE VERA HEALTH BENEFITS
Apart from clearing blemishes on the skin, therefore making it smooth and glowing, Aloe Vera will help give your skin a natural, healthy tone.
It softens the hair, making it easier to manage, yet strengthens the hair to reduce hair breakage
#Aloevera
#Aloeveraasskincare
#Aloeveraashaircare
#Aloeveraforskincare
#Aloeveraforskincareproducts
#Aloeveraforbodycareproducts
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#growingmaizeinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
Monday, 27 November 2023
YAM HARVEST TODAY IN MY SACK-PLANTING MINI-GARDEN
...identifying mango trees for variety with more economic value
Actually I prefer water yam because its lighter on the tummy as pounded yam than white yam.
Some days ago I also harvested the remaining pods of beans which had turned brown. I cooked it - just a plate- so healthy and it was so very delicious- mini-garden grown beans.
IDENTIFYING MANGO TREE WITH MORE ECONOMIC VALUE
But of course this mini-garden is not just about healthy foods to eat - certainly not enough anyway. It's about researching into agro-based health and beauty solutions and finding better ways to grow plants even when constrained by space especially in an urban area.
One of the constraints is getting trees in containers to fruit - yet to achieve that. I intend to replant some fruit trees currently growing in sacks into very big plastic containers.
Apart from the small almond tree, I currently have three mango plants that have passed the seedling stage into mini-trees all planted in sacks - mangoes have different varieties - there are hard pulp ones that can be easily cut and eaten like snacks, included in fruit salads or dried and packaged as fruit snacks .
There are soft pulp ones that are juicy - ideal for Smoothies.
Which one should I replant in the big drum plastic? How do I even differentiate them?
I will need to research more into identifying mango varieties so that I know the one to replant in the bigger drum.
I am not too sure but would be observing more keenly- I noticed two of the small mango trees have grown slightly purplish-brown leaves apart from the green leaves. These leaves are not diseased - they are healthy leaves of a different colour.
But I don't think one of the mango trees which is months older than the others has ever grown that colour of leaves - so I am wondering if it's indication that it is of different variety from the other two. If so which one is the hard-pulp mango and which is the soft-pulp?
I prefer the hard-pulp for obvious reasons - its more durable with better chances of being processed into dried snack. Therefore it should have more economic value .
So I have a whole lot of researching to do in identifying the mango varieties from the leaves or the plant. If I can I would have loved to replant all the three mango trees.
There is a fourth one still at a very small seedling stage - also in a sack - Bush mango - very big, hardy but still soft pulp mango - I can identify that because I specifically bought that mango.to plant after chewing - maybe it may be the variety that produces 'Ogbono' used in making draw soup. That would really be of huge economic benefit but it must be replanted to get to fruiting stage.
Thank God I am still able to grow some things despite the space constraint rather than waiting in frustration for farmland - it involved some creative thinking - Necessity sure is the mother of invention.
#yamharvest
#beansharvest
#minigardenharvest
#identigyingmangovarieties
#treesofeconomicvalue
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#growingmaizeinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#intercroppinginsoilsack.
#growingcornindryseason
Monday, 20 November 2023
SEEDS ARE STORE OF WEALTH, TRY TO KEEP THEM
Do you know apart from propagating new plants, seeds have other uses such as in making of medicines, beauty products and nutritious edibles?
Before you protest that constant usage of seeds would pose challenges to getting seeds for propagation - wait! Have you ever wondered why most naturally grown fruits each have so many seeds?
God, the Creator is a very intelligent being- having created seeds to have so many uses (though not yet fully discovered), hence He made most fruits to have many seeds. So no worries about having enough seeds for propagation.
Even fruits like avocado that have only one seed have so very many fruits emerging seasonally on each tree, so seeds needed for propagation would always be available even when seeds are massively utilised.
But the plants from which the seeds are taken have to be naturally-grown for the full potentials to be realised. Pure-bred seeds are your best bet when it comes to using seeds for health or beauty purposes.
I will just give very few examples now - most, if not all pure-bred seeds remove toxins including viruses from the body. So they are potentially good for detoxifying the body. I have used the seeds of snake tomatoes for instance as body worm expeller- highly effective. But please do not attempt to just use anything arbitrarily for health treatment. It takes a whole lot of studying and researches to be sure.
Knowing the right dosage also very important so as not to cause harm to the body. So let the researchers do the due diligence and come out with details after enough researches have been conducted.
This information is to sensitise growers of plants especially small producers who likely grow organic crops to stop throwing excess seeds away and start preserving as many seeds as they can after separating the ones for planting. I believe some day there will be a seed bank for pure-bred seeds when the researches are tested and firmly proven.
As per edibles, some seeds are good as spices for seasoning food, some as beverage. For instance date seeds can be blended into powder and taken as alternative to coffee.
Some seeds are usable in beauty therapy - avocado seeds have health uses but also very useful in production of beauty products.
I use avocado seed as one of the ingredients in the skin care products I have been developing and which I have been using for over two years - I no longer buy body lotions or creams. It was a health-motivated decision to remedy skin problems.
I also include it in my hair wash especially as I no longer use relaxer on my hair so I have to naturally treat my hair for it to be manageable.
I have started stockpiling some seeds especially those ones I am certain are pure-bred because I grow the plants.
Part of my aim at growing plants when I get to farm on a much bigger space is to ensure the seeds are safeguarded to preserve and maximise their potentials for health, beauty and edibles
OTHER GIST
There are so many things I need to accomplish in the course of the day. Since most of what I do are still in research stages, costs have to be kept as low as possible. So I have to do as much as I can within a period- this 50year old body is serving me so very well.
There are certain tasks I would be convinced I couldn't handle but when I attempt most of them, even I get shocked that I could do them. This body only demand is that I take good care of it - one of which is feed it well -more of qualitatively than quantitatively . So after doing some very heavy tasks towards last weekend, my body felt sore . But I was still able to do some tasks. I needed to reward the body so I had to make soft drinks - remember - pawpaw leaves, lemon grass, mint leaves from my garden and any juicy fruit available.
I try to make at least a bottle of this in a week to sip.
This morning, after having fruit and tea for breakfast, I felt revitalised but light enough to do some gardening work.
In order not to get one of those hunger atracks/hunger slap, I got snake tomatoes in the premises, harvested the seeds for drying and storage. I used the paste in making local jollof rice with chilli pepper and garden herbs with shawa fish - This simple, humble but power-packed meal is to reward this over-worked body. Its not every time one must feed the body with swallow food like pounded yam or fufu after heavy work in the farm, garden or processing.
There are lighter alternatives with same nutrients to replenish the body after physically- tasking work - the lighter alternative hopefully would do better in helping my brain in reading, studying and writing today.
#seeds
#purebredseeds
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#growingmaizeinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#intercroppinginsoilsack
Monday, 13 November 2023
ALMOND TREE LEAVES - ANOTHER WEALTH TO YOUR HEALTH
Apart from making teas and healthy soft drinks for humans, almond leaves are useful in animal production such as catfish rearing and snailery. I perceive they would also be useful in poultry production and feeds for other livestock such as rabbits and goats - I will explore in-depth these research(es) but other researchers can as well delve into it.
Certain leaves of carbohydrate crops like sweet potatoes, yams and fruit trees such as almond are loved by most animals including the ones produced commercially. So if feed millers wouldn't look into it, livestock producers that formulate their feeds may look into it.
Just that crop farmers prefer to get the desired fruits from crops than harvesting the leaves before time. But if you can, you may plant certain crops not for the fruits but for the leaves for human consumption and/or animal production..
I plant these crops for the fruits but due to my current challenge of urban/space-constrained gardening, I explore other possibilities.
My attention was drawn to the fact that the few snails I released to roam in the garden some months ago are feeding with so much intensity on the leaves of my sack-growing almond tree - see the chopped leaves in picture - ahhh! Kilode! These snails are chopping silly the almond tree leaves!
When I noticed that I did some studying on usefulness of almond leaves and was amazed by the many benefits.
So I boiled almond leaf this morning, sweetened with honey and took as tea - tastes superb with its own uniqueness.
The remaining when chilled ideal for soft drink - so if you have the sweet tooth, you can still enjoy 'healthily'.
Drinking almond tea is good for heart health and therefore is a natural therapy for those with hypertension - consult your health-care practitioner(s) before adopting regularly.
Generally, its a healthy boost to the health and helps in maintaining kidney well-being and keeping away rheumatism.
Among other many health benefits it improves digestive health and helps improve brain function.
Apart from commercial production of fish, note that almond leaves can be used in aquariums - as mentioned earlier, fish, shrimps and some other animals and livestock love almond leaves.
OTHER GIST
Interestingly, the almond seed was sown by bird(s). I had put a half-full sack of soil at that spot and was contemplating which crop to plant in it.
When I noticed the seedling that had sprouted, I started tending it, I went to pack more sand with the shovel to top up the soil in the sack
Each day I did what I could - I try to catch as much fun as possible even while doing the very tasking aspects of the work - not feeling too high to do any needed work. Hard work doesn't kill.
Which reminds me - I need to eat well after doing some very tasking work in the garden - a plate of pounded yam with Okro soup and chicken lap should help relax my aching back.
#almond
#almondlleaves
#almondleavesastea
#almondleavesassoftdrink
#almondleavesinanimalproduction
#plantingfruittreesinsack
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#growingmaizeinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
Monday, 6 November 2023
ANOTHER PINEAPPLE SET TO EMERGE FROM SAME SHOOT
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
FRESH PAWPAW LEAVES SUPERB FOR MAKING WINES, SOFT DRINKS
I usually make teas from different leaves in my mini-garden. I combine at least two or more different leaves such as lemon grass, mint, blood leaves, mango leaves etc.
Sometimes I also pluck pawpaw leaves and with purchased red hibiscus leaves (zobo leaves) to boil as tea. I hope to grow red hibiscus some time soon.
Few days ago while in the garden contemplating which leaves to use I was attracted to the leaves of a pawpaw seedling growing in same sack with a bitterleaf shrub.
When I planted the bitterleaf in that sack, I decided to start experimenting the possibility of making bitter leaves somewhat sweet or less bitter. So I was manuring with remnants of sweet fruits.
There was this over-ripe pawpaw - too ripe and soft to eat that I put in the sack of soil as manure. When it decomposed, the seeds started sprouting, I was uprooting them but decided to leave one of the pawpaw seedlings which is now becoming a small tree - see in the pictures.
So few days ago, I cut a fresh pawpaw leaf and boiled with lemon grass and mint leaves with very small quantity of zobo leaves and sweetened with honey. The taste was so unique because of the sour but rich taste of the pawpaw leaf juice.
I knew it would be ideal as wine or soft drink. So I refrigerated some of the unsweetened liquid mix left. I was able to get a few grapefruits. I sweetened the liquid mix with grapefruit juice- it tasted awesome as wine when chiled and also as tea when boiled.
Though the liquid mix sweetened with grapefruit juice was quite nice though sharp-tasting, the mix sweetened with honey tasted nicer.
Then I combined the liquid mix sweetened with grape juice with that sweetened with honey. Have you ever tasted exotic wine? - this combination taste is exotic!
I do these agro-based experiments and share some knowledge generally to promote good health and well-being along with safe enjoyment.
A lot of people have been advised to steer clear of frizzy drinks and most packaged drinks because they contain substances such as concentrates, carbon and preservatives which may be carcinogenic.
But with this, you can still enjoy unique tasting sweet drinks that will keep your body in good health rather than damaging your body.
This exotic tasting mix would be ideal as communion wine, celebration wine for occasions or for individual and group relaxation, to quench thirst or take along with your snacks or meals.
For those who would like to package for commercial purposes, please avoid chemical preservatives whether you are a small, medium or giant business like the multinational drinks and bottling companies- in most health and nutrition advice people get, they are told to avoid taking such packaged drinks if they want to stay healthy . But there are healthy organic preservatives which can keep packaged fresh juices preserved, prolonging the shelf-life of the drinks.
So you can make drinks that are healthy and naturally sweetened and can last long while going through your massive distribution channels.
I am available for consultation on agro-based drinks or confectioneries you want to launch. My Farm Cafe with mandate to promote Agribusiness basically through ICT is into Information Service...+2348092236484.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PAWPAW LEAVES
They are packed with enzymes that promote digestion by helping to break down and make available nutrients in carbohydrates, proteins and fats to the body.
Taking the juice in the leaves therefore prevents indigestion, constipation and bloating. Pawpaw leaves are rich in phytochemicals making it easier for the liver to eliminate toxins from the body. They are rich in fibre, they promote gut health and have a soothing effect on the stomach.
All these boost the body immune system - so just imagine the beauty of taking naturally sweet wine or soft drink that helps your body fight off sickness- you enjoy the sweetness and stay healthy or become healthier - what a win-win situation! - the mini-garden researcher is thinking deep!
#pawpawleaves
#pawpawleafjuice
#pawpawleafaswine
#pawpawleafassoftdrink
#freshpawpawleaves
#lemongrass
#mintleaves
#zoboleaves
#redhibiscus
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#intercroppinginsoilsack.
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agricresearches