Saturday 24 June 2017

10 Of The World's Most Beautiful Gardens (PHOTOS)

Few spaces are more calming and zen-inducing than a beautiful garden. It's hard not to feel at peace when you're surrounded by flowers, fountains and the sounds of nature, and research has shown that walking through green spaces can put the mind into a state of meditation. A University of Michigan study also found that subjects had improved memory and focus after walking through an arboretum.





HuffPost Travel sought out 10 of the world's most be autiful gardens, from Arizona to Marrakech, that should be added to every traveler's bucket list. The oases of serenity are the perfect destinations for relaxing travel, renowned for their natural beauty, abundant flora and walking trails. Even if you're not planning a trip to any of these destinations this summer, looking at beautiful pictures of nature has been shown to have https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsaVuq0ULck greater cognitive benefits than walking through the city. Scroll through the stunning garden photos http://ambler.temple.edu/events/ambler-campus-winter-garden-volunteer-days-1 in the slideshow below for an instant dose of tranquility and stress relief.

Tell us: Are there any gardens you'd add to the list? Share your picks in the comments or tweet @HuffPostTravel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsaVuq0ULck href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/worlds-most-beautiful-gardens_n_3314346.html'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/worlds-most-beautiful-gardens_n_3314346.html

Saturday 17 June 2017

Toro's Award-Winning Drip Irrigation Recycling Service Expands

EL CAJON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toro is pleased to announce that, effectively immediately, its

award-winning drip irrigation recycling service will now offer expanded

service capabilities in California's Central Coast Region. The service

is a result of Toro's ongoing commitment to help farmers maximize

production with efficient, sustainable drip irrigation practices,

including the recycling of spent drip irrigation tapes and driplines.

The service is offered in partnership with Revolution Plastics, a

national leader in agricultural plastic recycling with operations in

Arkansas, Wisconsin and Texas, and now a new facility in California.



"Toro knows that drip irrigation is innovative technology that helps

farmers produce more with fewer resources, but also recognizes that at

the end of its lifecycle, drip irrigation becomes plastic that needs to

be recycled," says Phil Burkart, vice president of Irrigation and

Lighting Businesses at The Toro Company. "For this reason, we have

partnered with Revolution Plastics to offer superior, sustainable

recycling services to drip irrigators http://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Landscaping-Landscape-Rocks/N-5yc1vZbx5d nationwide." Revolution Plastics

recently expanded service in California to include improved facilities

in Ballico, and a new location in Camarillo to better serve California's

coastal growers.

Jeff Dosio, from Modesto, California, and co-owner of Pacific

Agri-Lands, grows 12,000 acres of wine grapes, and has used the service

for over five years. "I've been pleased with the service - plus it's

free! Otherwise I'd have to pay to take my old vineyard hose or dripline

to the dump."



Dave Bricker of Victoria Island Farms of Holt, California, routinely

recycles drip tape from their 6,000 acres of asparagus, tomatoes and

other crops. "Toro referred me to Revolution Plastics when my other

recycler was full. They showed up the next day, exactly when they said

they would, and left the site neat and clean, which is very important to

us. I'm definitely calling Revolution Plastics next time."

In honor of the recycling ser vice's growing presence, Toro is giving

away free Sprinkler System Denton product during its "Free Pallet of Drip Tape" promotion. To

qualify for a free pallet of Toro drip tape, growers must recycle 25,000

pounds of drip tape or dripline (of any brand) with Toro's Drip

Irrigation Recycling Service, operated by Revolution Plastics, after

June 1, 2017 and buy a truckload of 480 reels of Toro drip tape from an

authorized Toro dealer. This introductory offer is available until

October 31, 2017, has no limits to quantity per farmer, but may not be

combined with any other offer.

"This offer is too good to refuse, considering many farmers pay to

dispose of used drip tape and driplines. Revolution Plastic's

state-of-the-art grapple hook trucks make field prep easy for the

farmer, and pickup turnaround time fast," says Inge Bisconer, techni cal

marketing and sales manager for Toro.

Toro's Drip Irrigation Recycling Service recently gained nationwide

recognition at the Irrigation Association's (www.irrigation.org)

annual convention in Las Vegas, where it won the 2016 New Product

Contest - Specialty Agriculture. The service's Ag Plastic Pickup mobile

application impressed judges, as did its unique, sustainable business

model.

"The app is ridesharing for ag plastic - it really is that easy," says

Louis Vasquez, director of corporate development, Revolution Plastics.

Farmers use the mobile app to conveniently schedule their plastic pickup

service in a few easy steps. Simply upload a photo of the plastic to be

recycled, drop a pin on the location, and then press submit.

Revolution Plastics uses the recycled plastic materials to make Ecologo

plastic can liners and other agriculture and construction sheeting

rat her than shipping recycled resins overseas. "This creates local jobs,

reduces the need for virgin resins and has resulted in a sustainable

business that has provided superior agricultural recycling services for

over 20 years," says Vasquez.

About The Toro Company

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a

leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor

environment including turf, snow and ground engaging equipment, and

irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With sales of $2.4 billion in

fiscal 2016, Toro's global presence extends to more than 90 Sprinkler System Installation Denton countries.

Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and

integrity, Toro and its family of brands have built a legacy of

excellence by helping customers care for golf courses, landscapes,

sports fields, publi c green spaces, commercial and residential

properties and agricultural fields. For more information, visit www.toro.com.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170614005101/en/Toros-Award-Winning-Drip-Irrigation-Recycling-Service-Expands

Friday 16 June 2017

Irrigation on rise in Africa as farmers face erratic weather| Reuters

STOCKHOLM (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Sub-Saharan Africa is seeing a surge of interest in irrigation among small-scale farmers as climate change brings more erratic weather and as rising populations in countries from Nigeria to Kenya mean demand for a reliable harvest is growing, agriculture and water experts say.



The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimates that more than a million hectares of small farms are now irrigated in the region, based on limited government data and satellite images.

In Tanzania, the area of small farms with access to irrigation has risen from just 33,500 hectares in 2010 to about 150,000 today, institute figures show. But up to 29 million hectares in the East African nation alone potentially could be irrigated, said Ruth Meinzen-Dick, an IFPRI researcher.

Boosts in irrigation could help protect the region's food security in the face of more extreme weather conditions driven by climate change, and be an engine of development, she and other experts said at the recent World Water Week gathering in Stockholm.

"Small-holder farmers' irrigation is a climate resilience option," said Dawit Mekonnen, an IFPRI researcher based in Ethiopia.

SCALING UP

Increases in irrigation have been driven not only by more extreme weather conditions but by growing access over the last decade to more affordable Chinese-made water pumps, said Jennie Barron, a sustainable water researcher with the International Water Management Institute.

But expanding access to irrigation to a much higher number of farmers will require a range of other changes, from cuts to taxes on imported irrigation equipment to better training of farmers - particularly women - in the latest irrigation techniques, the researchers said.

Ensuring women - who make up about half of Africa's agricult ural labor force - have legal ownership of farmland is also key to ensuring they feel confident in making costly investments in irrigation, the experts said.

"Women are more disadvantaged because they lack control over assets," Barron said.

Mekonnen said access to irrigation is increasingly key https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqSm2OQEnw to helping farmers in countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania provide enough food for their families throughout the year and get ahead financially by selling produce at dry times of year when demand and prices are highest.

ROADBLOCKS

One problem, he said, is that most sub-Saharan African countries have not yet mapped their most easily accessible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqSm2OQEnw groundwater resources, which makes it hard for small farmers to know what water is available.

Boosting rai nwater harvesting and building small dams to capture runoff may help many farmers in areas where groundwater is limited, the experts said.

Because pumping water requires energy, helping small-scale farmers get access to clean renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, will also be key to helping them afford to irrigate, Mekonnen said.

Revolving funds - in which members join savings clubs and pool money to make loans to each other - and micro-credit loans also will be key to help small farmers afford irrigation equipment, the experts said.

But Tim Prewitt, the chief executive officer of charity organization International Development Enterprises (iDE), said that financing of irrigation for small-scale farmers remains a challenge, in his organization's experience.



"In Ghana we started working with 12 micro-finance organizations but only two are still with us," he said, in part because of problems ranging from defaults to high administrative costs.

According to IWMI, only 7 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's farmland is irrigated, the lowest proportion of irrigation anywhere in the world.

(Reporting by Justus Wanzala; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit news.trust.org/climate)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-ir rigation-farming-idUSKCN11F2DT

Tuesday 13 June 2017

John Deere Landscapes Unveils New Name as SiteOne Landscape Supply

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Deere Landscapes today unveiled its new name and logo as SiteOne

Landscape Supply, effective October 19. The new brand represents the

next step for SiteOne as an independent company after its acquisition by

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in December 2013. With over http://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Watering-Irrigation-Lawn-Sprinklers/N-5yc1vZc63c 460 locations in

the U.S. and Canada, SiteOne is the largest wholesale distributor of

landscape supplies for green industry professionals in North America,

including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products,

landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes, and outdoor lighting,

along with a broad array of services designed to help green industry

professionals operate and grow their businesses. SiteO ne will formally

introduce customers to the new brand at the GIE+EXPO in Louisville,

Kentucky.

"As a market leader, our vision is to make our customers the most

successful landscaping professionals in the green industry--and that's

what our new brand represents," said Doug Black, SiteOne's chief

executive officer. "We have over 2,500 passionate and knowledgeable

associates across North America, all focused on the success of our

customers. The new brand reflects our unique position as the only

national full-line provider of landscaping products which, along with

the deep knowledge and state-of-the-art solutions that we offer, will

form our foundation for future growth."

SiteOne's tagline, "Stronger Together" defines its partnerships with

customers, associates, suppliers and communities, and its commitment to

excellence in product offerings and service delivery. "By working
together with our suppliers and customers we can achieve great things

for all stakeholders," said Black.



The rebranding effort began shortly after the purchase of John Deere

Landscapes by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. SiteOne performed an extensive

18-month branding process, which included gathering input from

associates, suppliers, customers and key stakeholders. The brand roll

out will be completed by December. "We have an exciting new look, with

the same exceptional associates who will continue to deliver the high

quality products and services our customers know and trust," Black said.

About SiteOne Landscape Supply LLC

SiteOne Landscape Supply

(formerly John Deere Landscapes) is North America's leading wholesale

distributor of landscape supplies for green industry professionals

including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjreVlmEbis irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products,

landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes, and outdoor lighting,

along with a broad array of services designed to help green industry

professionals operate and grow their businesses. With over 460 locations

in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjreVlmEbis the U.S. and Canada, the broadest product and service offerings, and

over 2,500 knowledgeable associates, SiteOne is committed to making its

customers the most successful landscape professionals in the green

industry.



http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150814005051/en/John-Deere-Landscapes-Unveils-SiteOne-Landscape-Supply

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Legal

What You Need to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

Feb 09, 2017

by ArticleCity Blog





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