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dried goji berriesBuzz, Buzz - Integrated Pest Management More Profitable for Farmers
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the new buzzword in farming is proving to be both cost effective and profitable, and when used in conjunction with organic farming is helping to profoundly affect the impact that farming has on the environment. Insects, micro organisms and weeds are all considered to be pests when they threaten the viability of crops or livestock.
What is Integrated Pest Management?
Tracking farm pests has always been difficult, often relying more on intuition and farmers networks than on scientific evidence, however modern farmers now use IPM to monitor minor outbreaks and general population cycles of farm pests. Databases of pest life cycles and the way they interact with the environment, in conjunction with regional and localised testing allow farmers to anticipate problems within their district, and specifically prepare for infestations in advance of these occurring.
The initial setup of an integrated pest management system requires auditing a farm and its susceptibility to pests, followed by development of monitoring systems. In practice most farmers already have anecdotal evidence of previous infestations and auditing their farm isn't as demanding as it seems.
Benefits of Integrated Pest Management
Monitoring farm pests requires setting traps and taking measurements on a regular basis, of both beneficial and noxious pests. As a cornerstone of organic farming IPM aims to maintain balance within the local ecosystem, an unbalanced system can quickly become unstable and may require control of even beneficial insects, organism and weeds.
By monitoring and tracking potential pests long before they become a problem, farmers are able to spot eradicate, thus avoiding the need for poisons and dangerous chemicals ever getting into the soil or groundwater. The United States Department of Agriculture are now recommending that the bulk of the agricultural sector should adopt integrated pest management because it is safer and more profitable for farmers.
Howard Farmer
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Chinese New Year - A Great Idea For A Dinner Party
What a great theme for a party with not a lot of expense. Don�t be deterred by the fact that Chinese New Year is not always on a weekend. I know it is hard to believe but people actually socialize Sunday through Thursday nights too. A party doesn�t have to be on a weekend. Just keep it light and inviting.
What do you need? Friends, Food & Drink, Chinese Dishes & Chopsticks, Laterns or Luminaries, Party Favors
How to execute? (Remember our basic entertaining rule � always plan and have a list):
Guests: Make your guest list. We recommend that you keep the gathering small. 10 close friends who aren�t intimidated by a Wed night social event work well. However, when you have a small gathering it is important that every person attend so it doesn�t look like you have no shows. Make sure you get rsvps. If your friends are reliable email users, use www.evite.com and select the Chinese New Year themed invitation. If not, send out paper invitations 3 weeks in advance and follow up with a phone call.
Food: Find a local dim sum restaurant. Do not attempt this cooking yourself. If there isn�t one, use your local Chinese restaurant and order appetizers. Call ahead and ask them to fax you a menu or drop by and get one. While you are chatting, find out how far in advance they need the order and inquire about pickup vs delivery. Allow extra time if you are having it delivered.
Small Group (10-12 people): Choose 4-5 items and make sure you order enough pieces for each guest. Large Group: Choose 6-8 items and order � the number of pieces as you have guests.
Order one or two sweet pastries using the same rule for number of pieces.
Beverage: If you are concerned about it being a �school night� even though we told you to get over that, serve Chinese tea. If not, serve Chinese beer or select one Asian influenced mixed drink. This is not the occasion to stock the full bar.
Supplies and Decorations: Take a trip to Chinatown and pick up chopsticks, dishes, cups, lanterns or luminaries and little party gifts for your guests. Don�t want to go to Chinatown, shop from the comfort of your computer (or call us of course). Pearl River Mart in NYC has everything you will need and you can shop via internet if you aren't in NYC. HOWEVER, make a list first. It is easy to get carried away and buy things you don�t need.
Lanterns range in price from $3 each up to $20. Make sure you have a place to hang them without starting a construction project. An alternative is a string of lights that have paper lantern globes on them. Luminaries are also great. Whatever you decide, you want candle or mood lighting for your party. Be creative but use Asian influences.
Chopsticks: Again, don�t get carried away. If you are not a regular chopstick user then don�t buy $5/pair sticks. You can get them in packs of 10 for $2.50 and they come in all different colors and shapes.
Tableware: If you are picking up the dim sum or appetizers right before the party, then you can serve them on platters/dishes or if the restaurant provided nice containers serve from the containers with chopsticks although we don�t recommend this method. If you are purchasing earlier in the day, you might want to invest in one or two tiered bamboo steamers. They run about $7 each. Otherwise, get some nice Chinese/Asian serving plates (square or oval).
Then you need dishes for your guests. This is very basic. Plates, tea cups if serving tea and dishes for sauces. Pearl River Mart has several different designs that come in melamine (approx $4/person for a whole set), which looks nice, doesn�t break and is dishwasher safe. It is less expensive than buying china or ceramic. However, if you eat a lot of Chinese food in a structured setting (take out on Sat night does not count) then you might want to invest in the real thing.
Favors for your Guests: This is Chinese New Year and not a regular dinner party so party favors are appropriate. Again, check out your local Asian stores for inexpensive trinkets. Again, it is CNY so ticky tacky gifts are OK. This is fun, not a gift to the visiting Ambassador from China. Put them in Asian style mini-gift bags or take away containers. Pearl River Mart has a whole section of CNY paraphernalia. I found a ton of Asian themed items for $1 each at Target a few months ago. You just never know where your party favors will be. Keep your eyes open.
The budget (112-195 if starting from scratch):
Decorations: $10-30
Tableware: $30-50
Beverage: $2-20
Food: $50-75
Gifts: $20
If you don�t want to spend that much on a party, here are some ways to cut the budget:
- Find a paper store that sells square small plates in paper. Select a pattern that is plain red or black or select something in an Asian style.
- Use Christmas lights instead of buying lanterns and luminaries
- Make Origami paper gifts
- Non-alcoholic beverages are always cheaper than alcohol
Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The company�s creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE Go 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net
� 2004 Indra A Books, ON THE GO 4 U.
Making Dinner Fast and Tasty: From Leftover to Makeover
Many people proclaim �my family doesn't eat leftovers�. Is it the name �leftover�? I agree that doesn�t sound so appetizing. It makes one think of old or unwanted food. But why? If it wasn�t eaten because you didn�t enjoy it the first time, then let it go. However if it wasn�t eaten because you enjoyed it, but made too much � then that�s different. These leftovers can be planned for convenience and get a �makeover� to create a new and delicious meal. �Makeovers� sound much more positive and exciting, and like a new beginning.
True, some foods do not re-heat well or taste great on day two. But most often leftovers go to waste because we want variety and don�t want to eat the same thing over and over. However most people will eat leftover ingredients and meal items if they are reinvented or �made over�. This can be done with most foods although there are other more complicated meals that are difficult to make-over, such as lasagna. However with a little menu planning lasagna can be made from �makeovers�. Also this is where the freezer comes into use. If you don�t want to eat something multiple nights in a row � freeze it. Most foods freeze pretty well for a few months. The lasagna you ate last night, may look new again in two weeks. Plus it�s already made and ready to thaw and reheat. Which means it�s quicker and easier than preparing a new meal when you don�t have the time or energy.
Home and restaurant cooks use the same ingredients over and over � chicken, beef, vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. It�s how we choose to prepare them that makes them different and appealing each night. If you�re comfortable in the kitchen and cook often you don�t even realize you�re meal planning and reinventing foods most nights. However if you can�t just whip up a meal on the spot, here are some tips for making the most of your cooking time and energy and reinventing those make-overs.
First, start with basic high quality ingredients and cook them simply the first night � you can transform the �makeovers� on subsequent nights. This not only cuts down on waste, but also on time and frustration over the $25,000 question �what�s for dinner?�
Second, stock your pantry and refrigerator with your family�s favorite staple and convenience items such as shredded cheese, pastas, fresh fruits and vegetables, condiments and spices. These will help transform your leftover ingredients. Sauces can transform plain meats, tofu and veggies into an ethnic favorite. Think salsa, curries, soy and cream. Shredded cheese can transform anything with cheese sauce for veggies and pasta, or as a key player melted on quesadillas or pizza.
Third, think ahead to when you and your family will be eating. Try not to make a big roast the day before you�re leaving for vacation (unless you plan on freezing it).
Fourth, cook when you have time and plan the quick makeovers for when you don�t. This usually means making something that takes longer on the weekends and then reinventing it during the week.
Makeover ideas:
Pizza � make or keep dough in your freezer and arrange makeover meat and vegetables with sauce and cheese. Kids can even make their own.
Pasta � make simple pasta (multiple shapes and types) and combine with makeover meats and vegetables for pasta salads, or add a sauce for a hot pasta.
Sandwiches � arrange makeover meats and veggies on bread with favorite spread for a quick meal, or take a few extra minutes to make a hot Panini or grilled sandwich.
Egg Dishes � mix in makeover meats and veggies with cheese and eggs for an easy omelet or frittata dinner.
Burritos, Tacos and Quesadillas � layer makeover meats and veggies with cheese in tortillas and shells and top with guacamole and salsa. Again kids can assemble.
Salads � toss those makeover meats and veggies into various lettuce salads and add dressing.
Here are ways to recreate a main ingredient for 3 nights of meals.
Night #1 � Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
(Chicken broth or soup from the bones can be done of course) Bake a whole chicken or two in the oven, along with a pan of cut up vegetables (broccoli, red peppers, asparagus) mixed with salt and pepper and olive oil.
Night #2 � Chicken and Veggie Pasta
Prepare favorite shape pasta such as penne and stir in makeover cooked chicken and veggies and add pesto sauce or simply grated parmesan, diced fresh herbs and olive oil.
Night #3 � Chinese Chicken Salad
Prepare salad with lettuce, orange slices, peanuts, pea pods and dressing and add makeover cooked chicken.
Night #1 � Grilled Steak and Vegetables
Season and grill trip tip or flank steak on indoor or outdoor grill or BBQ. Cut bell peppers, zucchini slices and onions and toss in olive oil, salt and pepper.
Night #2 � Grilled Vegetable Paninis
Layer makeover grilled veggie slices on focaccia or ciabatta bread with cheese, slices tomatoes and fresh basil leaves and grill on pan or sandwich grill.
Night #3 � Steak Burritos
Chop up makeover steak and roll into tortillas with favorite beans, cheese, guacamole and sour cream and top with salsa.
Night #1 � Hamburgers and baked potatoes
Make hamburgers with salt and pepper and grill indoors or out. Bake potatoes in oven.
Night #2 � Beef Lasagna
Crumble makeover cooked burger and add Italian seasoning and/or garlic and oregano. Layer (no cook or fresh) lasagna noodles with ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, cheese and leftover burger.
Night #3 � Stuffed potato skins
Hollow out makeover potatoes and stuff with cheese, leftover burger and steamed
The Many Wonders of Goji Berries
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... sprouted grains, nuts, dried fruit (especially coconut), spices, hemp milk use enough hemp milk to cover by two-thirds, stir and let sit for eight hours, stir a gain and eat. ... coconut butter, coconut shredded goji berries agave nectar maca powder ginger tea (real ginger if youre living on the edge)...
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posted by Ben @ 7:53 AM
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