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Introduction to Agronomy, Food, Crops, and Environment

Author: Craig C. Sheaffer; Kristine M. Moncada Introduction to Agronomy: Food, Crops and Environment, provides an introductory look at agronomy and crop science written for a broad audience including traditional agricultural students as well as students with nonagricultural backgrounds. Principles of crop science, sustainable agriculture, and the relevance of agriculture to important current societal issues are covered. Agriculture is discussed from an historical, economic, food, and resource basis. Topics relevant to our overall society such as food, fiber, and energy, ecology, and environmental quality are discussed. The impact of climate and soils on agricultural practices and agriculture’s impact on environmental quality and the description and uses of important crops are included. Approaches to improving plants and crop production efficiency thorough crop breeding, biotechnology, crop management are also covered. Illustrations throughout enhance learning and appeal to more visual learners.

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Homegrown Humus: Cover Crops in a No-till Garden (Permaculture Gardener Book 1)

Homegrown humus is easy with cover crops!

Cover crops are a simple, cheap way to boost your soil’s organic matter, to fight weeds, to prevent erosion, to attract pollinators, and to keep the ecosystem in balance. Unfortunately, most information on growing cover crops is written for people who plow their soil every year and are willing to spray herbicides. You can get all of the same benefits in a no-till garden, though, if you’re clever.

Homegrown Humus details five no-till winners in depth — buckwheat, sweet potatoes, oilseed radishes, rye, and oats. Profiles of other species suggest gardening conditions when you might want to try out sunflowers, annual ryegrass, barley, Austrian winter peas, crimson clover, cowpeas, or sunn hemp as well.

Meanwhile, the book delves into finding cover-crop seeds, planting cover crops in a no-till garden, and easily killing cover crops without tilling or herbicide use. Understanding the C:N ratio of cover crops helps determine how long to wait between killing cover crops and planting vegetables, as well as how to maximize the amount of humus you’re adding to your soil.

Cover crops are an advanced gardening technique bound to increase your vegetable yields, but are simple enough for beginners. Give your garden a treat — grow some buckwheat!

This second edition is updated with three new chapters and contains a total of 54 photos.

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Oro Bailen Family Reserve – Award Winning Cold Pressed EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2013-2014 Harvest, 17-Ounce Glass Bottle

Complex, Intense Green Fruity with aromas of tomato vine- characteristic of the picual olive- apple, green grass, green banana and green almond with a very well balance taste: sweet at the beginning with a green, fresh, peppery taste in its final phase.

Oro Bailen Family Reserve olive oil is produced from 2 Family Estates: “Los Juncales” y “La Casa del Agua” in Villanueva de la Reina, Jaen, Spain. The Estates are situated at the foot of the Sierra Morena mountains, 400 mts.above seal level, and enjoys excellent weather conditions. The “Terroir” is affected by the Guadalquivir river valley that allows for abundant rains during the Spring and Autumn seasons with an average annual temperature oscillating between 16? C and 18? C. With the benefits of this optimal climate, Oro Bailen, takes care of its grove by using irrigation techniques that allow the trees to grow with minimum stress to produce fragrant fruits full of flavor. “Reserva Familiar” represents the best Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Oro Bailen.

Harvested Pre-Envero in early Autumn 2011 to maximize the content of antioxidants and other health promoting nutrients.

To conserve the health promoting compounds best used cold: dippings, salad dressings or just added cold to a hot dish at the time of serving.

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All About Sprinklers and Drip Systems

• Expert advice on how to grow a lush, green lawn through proper watering with less fuss, less water, and less money.

• Easy-to-follow, practical format helps you plan your watering systems, buy the right equipment, and install them with 100% confidence. • More than 100 full-color photos and illustrations combined with step-by-step instructions show how easy it is to install sprinkler and drip systems.

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