http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/science/environment/sustainable-farming-and-practices.html http://www.articletrader.com/science/environment/sustainable-farming-and-practices.html Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:00:21 -0500
Concept Of Sustainable Farming

Sustainable farming is now commonly referring to farming that does not erode its own base of soil from chemical pollution or erosion. In addition, sustainable farming is also about farmers, their children and the irrigations. It encompasses bio-diversity in soil, quality of surface water as well as watersheds not contaminated by farm runoff. In some farming community, sustainability is also supported through members promoting freshly raised meats, homemade cheeses, or homegrown eggs.

Sustainable farming strictly follows the principles of returning organic nutrients to the soil through good farming practices, such as the judicious use of chemicals. Sustainable farming also tends to use far fewer energy inputs because it sources everything on-farm if possible. Water use is also reduced as compared with large-scale organic farming because of the small-scale intensiveness that is required.

More Than Adherence To Organic Standard

In farming countries there is now the adoption of National Organic Standard. It is a list of amendments and practices that are considered acceptable organic methods. What it does not take into account is the underlying principle of soil building in organic production or the use of carbon-emitting energy.

For quality food, we continue to need farmers on the land. The percentage of Americans now farming has dropped about as low as it can go. Organic management systems only help cut costs of modern soil inputs. For sustainable farming, we need more land to be returned to soil as nature’s gift and use it to grow our own food supply.




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Ben provides consultancy to real and virtual estate owners. Eco-Renewable Resources is one of Ben's interest, with special focus on Climate Change

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/vacations/sustainable-tourism-management.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/vacations/sustainable-tourism-management.html Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:54:45 -0500
Sustainable Resources For Tourism

In many countries, tourism service providers who are committed to the design and development of exciting new experiences in sustainable tourism are gaining high popularity. For example, the largest growth sectors in hotel and tourism business now are sustainable accommodations that lessen the release of carbon load.

Sustainable tourism is to meet the needs of tourists while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity and life support systems. Sustainable tourism management of natural and environmental resources will ensure that all economic, social and aesthetic needs are fulfilled, while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future.

Sustainable Cultural Tourism

Sustainable cultural tourism ensures that both travelers and locals will benefit from the awareness and interaction of environmental, cultural, conservational and economic issues. Residents learn that their customs may be of interest to foreigners, and travelers obtain more in depth knowledge on the destination.

This new way of doing tourism is adding tangible value to the common structure of tourism services. The environmentally friendliness of tourism products is indeed building a competitive new market. Actually, consumers have a greater level of consciousness about the components in tourism services that do make a positive difference in the destination they visit.

Certification On Sustainable Tourism

Certification programs provide guidance for responsible business practices in sustainable tourism. It can also be used as a tool to communicate sustainable tourism commitment in the marketplace. In Africa, certifications in sustainable tourism also provide added incentives to preserving land for wildlife as land area which are subject to habitat encroachment are certified and preserved.



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Ben provides consultancy to real and virtual estate owners. Eco-Renewable Resources is one of Ben's interest, with special focus on Global Warming


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/communication/how-do-magazines-and-periodicals-work.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/communication/how-do-magazines-and-periodicals-work.html Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:10:19 -0600
Ideas are First

There are magazines in fashion, relationships, art, gadgets, industry, finance, celebrity news, DIY and some book style magazines as well for very specific information such as advice to help readers make their lives better. Every magazine issue is backed by a theme or idea. It is not possible to create a strong magazine without a strong idea.

Once the major theme or focus of a magazine is established, the writers will have to write stories to support the theme idea. The created contents must then be supported with design and peripheral backdrop so that even before the reader open the cover, the theme ideas prominently stand out and attract the readers to want to read the entire magazine.

Editing is Next

Editors help to refine the contents submitted by writers. Editor also overseas the continuity of themes from issue to issue, and will often direct departments to create designs, advertisements and peripheral backdrops for the themes and topics of a particular issue.

Selling the Advertising Space

Selling advertising space is always is the main source of income for magazines and periodicals. To make money for the magazine's costs, advertising staff seeks out potential advertisers to pay for space in the magazine issues. Selling of advertising space tends to be easier for popular magazines and periodicals as popular magazines enjoy wider readership which allow advertisements to reach out to more readers.

Selling Subscriptions

And without readers, magazines and periodicals are as good as waste papers. Reader subscriptions usually are not direct contributor to the financially fitness of the magazines and periodicals. But it is not wrong to say that readership is the float that keeps the magazine stay in business.

For More Information

There are internet sites and publications out there giving great information about Magazines and periodicals and how they can influence your life. There are also free eBooks explaining how magazines And periodicals can be of benifit to our everyday lives. These sources offer good advise on magazines and periodicals that are worth your time to read and keep for a long time. some sites even provide comprehensive directory listings on magazines and periodicals with extensive explanation on the different categorization of magazines and periodicals. Spending some good efforts on these areas can definitely go a long way to help us become better informed readers.




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Ben provides consultancy to real and virtual estate owners. Magazines and Periodicals serves as part of his publishing network. The site is most well known for their wide coverage on Discount Magazines and Free Magazines and related information.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/water-harvesting-in-hobby-farm.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/water-harvesting-in-hobby-farm.html Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Water Sources

The restricted availability of town water during dry periods means one has to come up with other solutions regarding water.

Metal, concrete and now the more popular plastic rainwater tanks are now a standard feature on most farms. Farms that have access to a permanent source of water such as a large dam, spring or river frontages are in a good position to survive extended droughts. Farmers with access to good quality bore water are generally able to utilize some of the available underground water.

Water Harvesting System For My Hobby Farm

In my case I have developed a small scale water harvesting system using graded earth mounds that have been covered with a layer of plastic. The mounds meet at the lowest point from which drainage pipes direct runoff of rainwater to a nearby below-ground storage tank. Any excess of rainwater is then channeled to a trenched area between plantings.

Water Piping In My Hobby Farm

Before the plastic was laid upon the mounds I waited for a good rain in order to check how the collected rainwater would flow, and once satisfied the system worked the next task was to lay plastic and secure this cover using anything that would stop strong winds from blowing the plastic away.

Simple plumbing using standard storm water pipes have the system connected and now several hundred square metres of the farm acts as a catchment feeding a small tank. As well, should there be a good downpour excess water is automatically directed to a part of the farm which needs extra moisture.

Collecting Runoff

There is also some runoff from the top of the mounded area to the outside of the catchment area. This water will collect at the bottom of the mound and will be used by a row of plantings used to landscape what presently an unsightly area.

A Passive Water Harvesting System

There will be some maintenance of the plastic as eventually it will start to degrade in sunlight and also some leaves may block up pipes, but I am happy to see how the system develops and hopefully this system will last a relatively long time.

The most satisfying aspect of this system is that it is completely passive using only the force of gravity to move water.





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Ben provides assistance and consultancy to real and virtual estate owners in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. This article is taken from his Hobby Farm site. Ben also writes in details on Irrigations and Lawn Care.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/technology/voip/cheap-call-to-singapore.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/voip/cheap-call-to-singapore.html Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

All major Service Provider are now offering entire suite of Voice-over-IP, messaging and entertainment services for hard phone and soft phone. Unlimited number of calls can be made from an anywhere, anytime to your family, friends and relatives in Singapore at as low as $10 per month. Value added services such as Short Message Service (SMS) over IP, Internet Messaging (IM), Email Retrieval, Chat Service and many more are also available.


Though Voice-over-IP is able to deliver complete services for messaging, communication and entertainment seamlessly across mobile, PCs and other IP-capable devices with unprecedented value, there are still very few users for this service. Some cite voice quality and delay as the reason. However, the real fear among users is the technical complexity in integrating mobile and internet technology into a single hardware. However, once the configuration is done, there is always very little to be worried about as the usage will be the same as normal handphone.


Ben Chua of Japan-hiWays has been a user of Voice-over-IP service for many months. He highly recommends this service to students who has easy access to wireless access point. There are many low cost Wifi handphones in the market now and they are easy to configure. Selecting Wifi access point within range is just by pressing of a button. In his opinion, voice quality of Voice-over-IP is even better than GSM. He has been providing advices and configuration services on freelance basis and most his customers are extremely happy with this service.





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Yumiko Lee is founder of Japan hiWays. Ben Chua provides advices and configuration services on voice, data and internet connectivity. Japan hiWays website provides comprehensive information on living in Singapore and living in Japan, including the article on Cheap Call To Singapore and many other related stories.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/society/marriage/international-marriage-expect-negative-first-impression.html http://www.articletrader.com/society/marriage/international-marriage-expect-negative-first-impression.html Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600
On the Singapore Airline flight, I read the feature article on Singapore in the flight magazine and found the sights of town very exotic. Is this Singapore? Eric said that Singapore and Japan is not much different. Is it true?


A Warm Welcome - Singapore Style

At Changi Airport, only Eric welcomed me. Strange, I thought. A Japanese fiancée coming all the way from Japan and no family member showing interest!? I arrived at night and everything was dark outside when we took a taxi home. I began to feel afraid. Where am I? At Eric's terrace house only his parents were waiting for us. They were about my grandmother’s age. Half an hour later after our arrival, all Eric's sisters and their boy friends came back to the house. I later understood that they did not want to make me feel uneasy by meeting all the family members at one time and so they deliberately delayed coming back home to meet me. That was a little relief, knowing their true and “good” intention, but still I felt strange.

My first culture shock came when I found myself not able to communicate with Eric's parents. The father spoke Mandarin and the mother spoke only Hainanese. This was a shock to me as I thought I was a culturally adaptable, having lived alone in the States for many years

The second cultural shock came soon when I found the toilet adjacent to the kitchen area. This shock had a long lasting impact as every time we eat at the kitchen at his house I lost appetite quickly, being aware of the toilet location. If I could hear the flushing sound, that’s it. I would not eat any more!

Be Prepared For Tropical Living

But the most unbearing thing about Singapore in the initial period was the heat in the air. I could not stand the heat. I could not wear anything but cotton material no sleeve clothes only. This lasted a couple of years. I told myself no way I would wear polyester clothes which Singaporeans liked. All I wore in those initial years were either from Japan or hand made in cotton. I could not wear ready made clothes.

That first night, in Singapore, I stayed awake a whole night. Early in the morning, I heard a rooster crow. Yes, there were roosters crowing in Japan. But I was a city girl, I didn’t grow up with the roosters. I looked out of the window and saw an Indian man riding a bicycle. It was exotic, all right. But that was not what I had expected.

At the end of 3-week stay in my first visit to Singapore, I told Eric that I wanted to cancel the whole thing as I did not like Singapore. These initial cultural shocks were so great that it took me some time to open myself to Singapore, especially to Eric’s family. I knew their good hearts, yet, this feeling that they would never understand that I am Japanese persisted for many years.






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Yumiko Lee is founder of Japan hiWays. Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Yumiko married Eric Lee in 1984 and has since been staying in Singapore teaching Japanese with regular Japan Immersion Program for students and working adults. She provides information and news on Japanese Language and Japanese Translation.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/women/international-marriage-cultural-shocks-and-adjustments.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/women/international-marriage-cultural-shocks-and-adjustments.html Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Sales And Services Quality

At department store sales girls stood behind counter, bear-footed with no shoes. I had only a traveler’s check and when they took it for verification, it took them a long time to come back. As I was trying to take out T shirts from the rack, the sales girl immediately tried to put it back. As I touched the clothes on the hangers, the same thing happened. To me, this action was saying “I don’t want you to mess up my work. Don’t touch anything!” Often they were also not familiar with the products they were selling. No advise, no help for customers. Just an unfriendly glare, especially when I decided on no-buying. Having used to Japan’s customer service, I was often put off by Singaporean’s sales personnel’s manners and unprofessional behaviour.

Singlish

Moving around with public transport was equally challenging. Asking a bus driver for direction and I thought he spoke in English but I could not understand. This inability of understanding English later on occurred even at NUS tutorial times with my students. I could not understand their English, neither did they with my English. I always thought my English is good as I am in the profession of simultaneous interpretation. I then learned there was Singlish and vowed secretly to myself that I would never let myself be corroded by it. However after 25 years, now I speak it beautifully! Whenever Singaporeans say to me, “Your English is very good!”, I don’t know if I should take it as a compliment or not. My son spent 6 years in American School and he switches back and forth between American accentuated English and Singlish depending on who he talks to on the phone.



Yumiko Lee is founder of Japan hiWays. Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Yumiko married Eric Lee in 1984 and has since been staying in Singapore teaching Japanese with regular Japan Immersion Program for students and working adults. She provides information and news on Living in Japan, Japan Travel and Japanese Brands.





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Read more about Yumiko Lee and her company at www.japan-hiways.com. Yumiko provides information and news on Living in Japan, Japan Travel, Japanese Language, Japanese Brands, Living in Singapore and Singapore Travel.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/society/marriage/celebrating-my-25-years-of-international-marriage.html http://www.articletrader.com/society/marriage/celebrating-my-25-years-of-international-marriage.html Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600 Singaporean-Japanese Marriage

I met my husband Eric Lee, Singaporean, at a church in Tokyo when I moved from Fukuoka in mid 1981. Since then, Eric has been my best friend, true soul mate. I became a Christian in August 1981 and was the first one to become a Christian in my whole family tree. Not long after that, I decided to marry Eric.

I decided to release the news of those two most important decisions of my life at the same time to my mother who was in Fukuoka, Japan. During then and even now, the Christian population in Japan has been smaller than 0.5%. As the majority of the Japanese Christians are ladies, often times it is said that a girl is doomed to be a spinster once she becomes a Christian. So I figured out that if I told my mother that I had already found a husband to be, it would soften her shock over my becoming a Christian. Alas, I underestimated the gravity of these two news! In hearing my news, my mother had a “double punch shock” which caused her to be bedridden for 10 days, and had a 10 cm sized-bald patch at the top of her head. Who could imagine then that 5 years later, she herself became a Christian?

Any Question? Girls And Boys


It has been more than 25 years since I first stepped into Singapore to prepare for my international marriage. I thought it useful to share my experiences for the interest of anyone, especially the girls, who find it relevant - not only to those who are preparing to marry overseas but also for those who are contemplating of staying long term and settle down overseas. Do write to me if you wish to clarify more. I also look forward to communicate with young Japanese girls (and boys) who wants to become a Christian.

Read more about Yumiko's Cultural Shock. Yumiko also provides information and news on Living In Singapore and Singapore Travel





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Yumiko Lee is founder of Japan hiWays. Yumiko also provides information and news on Living In Singapore and Singapore Travel.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/micro-environments-what-the-plant-doctor-ordered.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/micro-environments-what-the-plant-doctor-ordered.html Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Microclimates

Small-scale changes create modified climates called micro-climates or modified environments called micro-environments. Features such as temperature, humidity, moisture levels, sunlight and soil acidity can all be changed resulting in better growing conditions for plants.

Plant nursery operators regularly advise customers about the best way to look after a plant. For example, the location and type of soil will have a big influence on the level of success a gardener will achieve with any particular plant. In essence, gardeners are being advised on how to create the best microenvironment for that plant.

Keeping in mind the optimum requirements for a crop, the next challenge comes when providing the required conditions in a practical way. Matching the correct growing season when planting will help to provide the broad climatic needs for the plant.


Wind, Sunlight, Soil ...

Local conditions can then be modified further by making changes to factors such as exposure to wind, sunlight and humidity. Farm structures such as buildings will provide a range of environments allowing a wider range of plants to be grown successfully.

North facing walls in the southern hemisphere trap more sunlight and heat creating a warmer microclimate

Concrete or brick walls and paths will also radiate heat at night keeping a frost prone area warmer. Shelter spots behind walls and under trees will provide protection from excess heat in summer and suit plants requiring cooler conditions. The shape and density of windbreaks will also change the way in which wind moves around these structures. A solid brick wall for example will cause wind to swirl, while a more open structure composed of shade cloth or plant vegetation will provide a more gentle flow of air.


Frost Damage

Planting on hillsides will allow for an increase or decrease in the level of sunlight received depending on the aspect or direction chosen.

Hillside plantings generally have a reduced incidence of frost during cold weather. Locations near the sea or lakes will also have a reduced risk of frost damage due to the moderating influence of water on temperature.

Inland locations will usually have a wider range of temperature changes between day and night and may need more changes to the microenvironment for success.


Soil microenvironments

Soil cultivation and general cultural activities such as the application of organic matter, lime and gypsum will improve soils in relation the specified crop. Deep ripping of soil before planting trees will also break up compacted soils and rock layers allowing improved penetration of water and plant roots. These activities usually result in improvements to the soil microenvironment and lead to better plant growth.

Water and irrigation management, often necessary for summer crops, modifies levels of moisture and air in soil. Should there be an excess of moisture in winter provisions for drainage may be required modifications in order to prevent soil waterlogging and damage to plant roots.


Microenvironment And Hobby Farming

The range of modifications is endless and often takes time to achieve. Getting the right mix of microenvironments requires experience and patience. There is always a level of uncertainty regarding weather and climate, disasters will always occur, but good management can reduce these risks.

Getting the microenvironment right is well worth the effort. You will be rewarded with a wider range of healthy plants that may not normally grow in your area.



This article is taken from Alf's Hobby farm site at My Hobby Farm. Alf also writes in details on Greenhouse and Small Farm Irrigation.





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Ben provides assistance and consultancy to real and virtual estate owners in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Ben is also in the process of publishing a eBook on hobby farming.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/why-buy-a-hobby-farm.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/why-buy-a-hobby-farm.html Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

For Investment Interest

Astute investors will often purchase a parcel of land close to the urban fringe with the expectation that the urban sprawl will inevitably produce handsome profits from subdivisions or redevelopment. Such farmers will often carry out a minimum of work and may graze some animals in order to keep the property tidy. It is unlikely that long-term activities such as re-vegetation will take place.

For Lifestyle Or Privacy

More commonly hobby farmers have a desire to live away from the prying eyes of neighbours, but be near enough to the city in order to commute to work. Some owners may have little interest in working the property as a place for agricultural production, and as a result, carry out a minimum of work maintaining the site.

A pleasant environment for the children is often cited as the reason for moving to a rural property. Others may combine the benefits of a rural lifestyle with the personal aim of land regeneration. The land may not be used for agricultural purposes, but there is a desire to see the site nurtured for the sake of fauna and flora. These are certainly noble ambitions.

For Retirement And Memories

I have met quite a few older migrants who want to relive past rural experiences, similar to their native homeland. Many such people migrated to the city, spending a lifetime working at menial tasks within a factory setting. An element of nostalgia is apparent, yet they take lavish pride in their farm and usually develop highly productive farms. Often these farmers choose to live in the city near their families and commute to the farm. Unfortunately, time is often against such people, and due to an inability to maintain the property with age, there is no choice but to sell.

For The Enterprising Spirit

There is also a brave and adventurous group of hobby farmers who want to try their hand at something new or novel. The range of enterprises is only limited by one’s imagination and in general a few years are needed before the enterprise is deemed a success or failure. In the meantime the owner may work full time, operating the enterprise on weekends. The majority of such enterprises are doomed to failure, but this is often a learning experience leading to success in the future.

A very wide range of enterprises such as emu growing, native bush foods, snail production and garlic cultivation may be attempted. From hundreds of new projects, some will be a success, but the majority will be a learning experience at best and a financial disaster at worst. In many cases insufficient planning and research is carried out, or the owner soon comes to the conclusion that far too much work is involved for the potential returns.

For Passion And Challenges

In my case I have no great illusion or grand plan, but I look forward to the physical challenges involved in maintaining 5 acres with limited capital. I hope one day to look upon my farm with pride and to grow and share some of the fruits of this labour.



This article is taken from Alf's Hobby farm site at My Hobby Farm. Alf also writes in details on farm machiney and implements covering Tillers and cultivators as well as Farm Tractors.




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Ben provides assistance and consultancy to real and virtual estate owners in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Ben is also in the process of publishing a eBook on hobby farming.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>