Natural Farming Technique

For the non-technical person, the concept of natural farming may easily be confused with organic farming. Natural farming is a farming technique that brings the soil and environment back to its original form. Nature works for the production of its needs. Organic farming, on the other hand, is a farming technique that uses organically produced fertilizers as the means of fertilizing the soil. Pesticides and fungicides may also be applied when needed.

History of Natural Farming

Natural farming was advocated way back in 1935 by Mokichi Okada, a Japanese philosopher and holistic health advocate,... From: Facts About and Principles of Natural Farming Technique

Agricultural Practices to Mitigate Global Climate Change

Billions of dollars were lost due to unpredictable climate changes all over the world. While debate rages on, whether climate change is man-induced or not, resolute actions must be done to mitigate the impacts associated with this global phenomenon. This is all the more significant because of the current El Niño onslaught that dried up once productive land and freshwater fishery areas.

It was originally pointed out by this author that the major contribution modern agricultural practices make to the global climate change scenario are emissions of greenhouse gases namely methane and carb... From: Eight Doable Agricultural Practices to Mitigate the Impacts of Global Climate Change

Agricultural Impacts of Global Climate Change

Among the hard hit areas of global climate change is agriculture. This is a very critical area in modern civilization because agriculture plays a major role in sustaining development in densely populated and stratified societies. Agriculture creates food surpluses that enable societies to ensure food security.

How is agriculture affected by global climate change? Here are five agricultural consequences of global climate change:

1. Locust and rat infestations in agricultural fields

For unirrigated fields that are highly dependent on the rains like those found in Asia, drought especially duri... From: Five Agricultural Consequences of Global Climate Change

Conservation of Natural Resources Can be Personal

Conservation of Natural Resources

Conservation of natural resources evolved from state controlled or the so-called Regalian doctrine approach in the early history of human civilization. As many governments (especially in an archipelago or countries composed of many islands) could not manage all areas under its jurisdiction effectively, decentralization of power and authority appears to be the only viable option to consider.

Community-based management or co-management schemes of natural resources management were born. People in the community were given more power and a sense of ownership over ... From: Family-Protected Reef: A Unique Case of Conservation of Natural Resources

Vertical Gardening: Innovative Use of Space in the Urban Areas

Image Source

Space is difficult to come by especially in the urban areas. Many urban dwellers have only a few square meters available to them for other useful ventures like gardening vegetables. Vegetables are getting expensive nowadays, the reason why people are looking for ways to find cheaper alternatives or ways to produce their own vegetables to save on cost.

There is hope, however, to those people living in the urban areas who are eager to do something to improve their economic status through gardening even in the cramped spaces. If there is no horizontal space available in the urban areas, almost always there is space upwards or vertical space available. It is possible to start off a gardening venture using that available vertical space. A creative way of using that vertical space is by gardening using the principles of vertical gardening.

Vertical gardening is now popular in many urban places. The concept of vertical gardening originated from Patrick Blanc, a botanist who initially referred to the vertical garden as the living wall. This overrides the limitations imposed by horizontal space, as vertical space is virtually unlimited. Combined with natural farming, this approach can grow vegetables and other plants not only to provide healthy foods but also help filter pollutants. >>Read more...

Human Hair to Clean Up Oil Spill?

Ever heard that the human hair could be a very effective material to clean up an oil spill? In Madison, Alabama, a hairdresser named Philip McCrory originated the hair-as-an-oil-adsorbent concept in 1989. McCrory experimented with human hair to soak up a mock oil spill in his son's plastic pool. In just a few minutes, the water was clean.

Excited with his findings, McCrory approached NASA scientists in Alabama. The researchers obliged and experimented with an oil filter made up of human hair. They confirmed the findings of McCrory. Human hair effectively reduced the concentration of oil to just 17 parts per million or two drops of oil per 55 million gallons.

The discovery was applied to the Exxon Valdez oil spill which achieved great results. Human hair sponges of about 1.4 million pounds have soaked up and estimated 11 million gallons of oil.>>Read more...

Six Endemic Animals Endangered in Palawan

Image Source

Endemic Animals

Endemic animals are animals which are native or its distribution confined in only one place. The reason for their existence in only one location may be due to their specific feeding habits or those habitats provide the best condition for their survival. Because of this, the population of endemic animals are prone to disturbances occurring in their specific range.

Human Economic Activities

In many places, human economic activities and the hunt for food in places where endemic animals live could lead to reduction and even loss of population of these animals. Since their population is confined in only one locality, there is no chance that this population is replenished once the critical level of population to maintain the species is compromised.

Endemic Animals Endangered

Among those endemic animals endangered by human encroachment to their habitat as well as demand for their meat are the six mammals of Palawan. Palawan, located at the western section of the Philippines, is a long island where unique microclimates offer favorable habitat for the survival of these endemic species of mammals. Animals endangered towards probable extinction are the following: Balabac mouse deer, Palawan bearcat, Palawan tree shrew, Palawan porcupine, and the Palawan dwarf otter. >>Read more...