Allan D. Cullen asked:


I mean, all those fruits and vegetables garbage, that I throw in regular trashcans
How can I recycle it, so that I pollute less and I turn it into compost (soil) and I give it back to Nature?

Any gardener or botanist or agronomics engineer can give me some advice please?

Thank you
ps: I live in an appartement, not a house

medan01 asked:


it was an answer to my question of how to dry a large amount of topsoil, and im not really sure what it is. and to all of those who got smart and pissy about me calling my topsoil dirt here is a definition from a website that sells different types of material such as sand,dirt,fertilizer, etc. Screened Top Soil
Screened sandy loam (DIRT) this soil is mainly used under new turf or top dressing lawns. Can be used as a base soil for garden beds however, organic matter must be added. i guess that means i have a right to call my topsoil DIRT if i like. anyway really need to know about the tile bed. thanks for your help

Kaci asked:


I’m just researching farming for the future. A few questions:

Cows - What is the best dairy breed (in your opinion)

Chickens - Best egg layers, breed

Goats - Best breed (trying to decide between dairy cows and goats… what do you think?)

What do you need to know before starting a (small) farm? Feed, fencing, housing, etc. Things that most people forget to tell you?

Also, how to get rid of leafminers (attacking tomatoes) and tiny caterpillars who attack spinach? We have an organic garden.

I’m going to check out a few of the local farms for more help, but any info is helpful.

Kramer asked:


Assume the following:

1) Free access to 1/2 acre of fertile California soil
2) Cultivation of that soil using the square foot gardening method to grow all manner of fresh organic produce including potatoes for healthy carbohydrates
3) Breeding rabbits for a lean and healthy protein source
4) $1,000 per year of income from a bottomless trust fund
5) A couple in their twenties with a 2-year-old son who will learn to help with the work

Are we crazy, or can this really work if we’re willing to give up many modern conveniences to get it? Even so, we’ll have much more at our fingertips than did ancient farmers who seemed to get along okay.
I appreciate your answers very much.

As one gracious answerer already stated, and I’m sure many would agree with, it’s widely accepted that this type of life necessitates back-breaking labor during every waking moment.

I challenge that as myth. I flat out don’t believe it. Will this life involve plenty of good old hard work and manual labor? You bet! But I honestly don’t believe that it will require miserable toil or that I will (after infrastructure is built) have any LESS spare time than I do now while working 40 hours a week.

Am I wrong? Am I daft? Set me straight, please. I’m reasonable. Reason with me. Explain how, really, the life which I outlined (not ancient peasant life) will require more than I think it will.

Thanks!!
Thank you all again for your answers!

1/2 acre not enough?

That’s a full half acre devoted to crops/rabbits, housing is in addition to that.

Remember, square-foot gardening yields several times the crop density of traditional row gardening.

Also, remember I have income which I can use to buy wood, charcoal, toilet paper; whatever is too much trouble to take care of myself; and I’ll be located a 15-minute bike ride from a shopping center.

Self-sufficiency isn’t expected for at LEAST 10 years. I don’t believe one can (or should) ever FULLY disengage from society. I have no problem utilizing what society offers to make my life easier, but I’d like to utilize what Earth offers to make my silly desktop obsolete.

Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com asked:


I’m working on a newspaper story about organic gardening and I’m trying to get an overview of the history of corporate farming in the U.S. and some of the big-name corporations normally associated with corporate farming, since it seems that the increasing emphasis on organic gardening and farming is, to a large degree, a reaction against corporate farming. Any resources anyone could point me to would be greatly appreciated.
It’s not bursting my bubble, Nickthaniel, I’m just doing research. We journalists have to be objective.

Mr.Wise asked:


Since they don’t use pesticides (supposedly), how do they get rid of the bugs? Do they smash them, catch release, put them in jars, eat them, or do they cheat? I’m guessing they sneak out at night when no one’s looking and use chemicals. You ever wonder how many Mexicans it would take to pick bugs off of every plant, every day of the growing season on a large farm?

Just curious, I tried to grow organic, but whenever I picked the little gremlins off they would just go right back! I tried taking them over to my neighbor’s garden but that caused friction. I don’t want to hurt the bugs because I think I can be arrested for cruelty by the OFGC (Organic Food Growers Commission) and the EPA.
Interesting and informative answers all, thank you! I see organic farming isn’t for me, too much work involved. Since pesticides haven’t been shown to harm consumers, I’ll stick to that.

sierra asked:


???
that sucks!

guess ill have to stick with the old fashion way since i want organic.

thanks

Chloe asked:


Real, scientific websites with research on presence (or lack of) of pesticides and fertiilizer in foods, as opposed to hippie dippy garden of eden preachy-with-no-backup stuff.

Thanks!

Jessica asked:


Okay. I am doing a science project on different types of Organic and Conventional fruits and vegetables.

People say that people who eat Organic fruit get sick because the foods are not cleaned.

But the Conventional foods are grown in cow feces and pestisides.

I want to test this to see which has more germs.

Is this a good project for a science fair?

What kind of solution should I use to see which has more germs?

Should I swab it with a cue tip or should a put a piece of the food in some solution.

This is apart of agriculture right? I am trying to do this to go to State Convention for the FFA.

If you cannot answer all my questions but know one please answer.

Thanks!

mentl44 asked:


I saw a similar question posted about a year ago, and now I have the same question:

We’re not too serious, but now I’m curious. If I, someone who has never spent time on a farm, but has spent a lot of time gardening, decided to start a farm, what all would it take to get it up and going? What happens with the business loan I would need to buy the farm? I know it takes years to start seeing any profit from a business. It seems like if you got a loan to buy a farm it would be in the process of being foreclosed on before you really started to make money. Does anybody start new farms anymore? Or are pretty much all farms handed down through generations?