Guidelines For Constructing Your Commercial Greenhouse

Guidelines For Constructing Your Commercial Greenhouse

The productivity and efficiency of operating a greenhouse is primarily dependent on the kind of growing materials used.

Kinds of Greenhouses
Detached greenhouses generally independently stand from each other. However, they can be joined to gain access by way of a corridor to the other greenhouse.

The Quonset is the most common detached type of greenhouse for use in commercial production.  These types are constructed using arched rafters that normally have end solid walls for added support. Quonset greenhouses types are appropriate for most crop varieties however the growing capacity is to a certain degree restricted close to “the side walls” which reduces productivity and efficiency.

Ridge greenhouses are joined through the eave with a shared gutter. Normally, an interior wall located underneath the gutter is absent permitting increased productivity.

Ridge greenhouses can either be curved arch or gabled. Gabled greenhouses are generally suitable for substantial coverings such as fiberglass or glass, whereas curved arch greenhouses are usually covered with much lighter materials such as polycarbonates or polyethylene. Many connected ridge greenhouses often are called "range".

Planning

This is one of the very important steps which have to be taken into careful consideration by the grower.  Proper area selection with connection to labor, markets, utilities as well as future expansion really makes a lot of difference in how the business will profit and grow.

Here are basic things to consider:

•  Crops that you will be growing (potted plants, Bedding plants, perennials, herbs, vegetables, etc.)

•  The growing period of the crops (seasonal or year-round)

•  Plants that will be grown (flats, pots, hydroponics bed, troughs, etc.)

•  Growing medium (no soil, soil, mix, compost, nutrient solution, etc.)

•  Growing methods (flooring, movable or fixed benches, growing bags, beds and flood)

•  Annual productivity (space that is required)

•  Marketing technique (retail, wholesale or both)

•  Investment or capital

Buying a Greenhouse

Thinking of Buying a Greenhouse?

A farmer who has worked the land and still faces the same problems will eventually get tired. That person has to then make a choice. That is whether to sell the farm or try a new approach to make it profitable.

This decision will not be easy. Perhaps this is because the land has been with the family for years. Every known pesticide and herbicide has been used but still during the same time each year, the same pests still come and do considerable damage.

This approach will require something new and this is the best time that scientists and other experts will suggest that the farmer buy a greenhouse.

The greenhouse is an enclosed structure that allows the farmer to grow crops in a controlled environment. This means that the right nutrients and proper sunlight are provided all year round without anymore having to worry about pests.

This can be made of glass, metal, wood or plastic. The farmer just has to decide where the greenhouse will be placed and the size to get.

Greenhouses can grow a variety of things. People first used this to grow flowers but tests have shown that this can increase the productivity of crops 10 times more than traditional farming.

How to Build Your Own Greenhouse

How to Build Your Own Greenhouse

A person may have the pleasure of building his own greenhouse. He may choose from various designs and sizes he would like to build. A greenhouse gives a person comfort whenever he attends to his plants, vegetables, flowers, and orchids. It also provides the needed sunlight and humidity for these plants. He may relax and enjoy every time he visits a place where he has exerted all his effort of building such a wondrous place.

He may save more money if he decides building a small greenhouse. There are supplies and materials that he can use which should be just enough according to his prepared budget. If there is enough space that can accommodate a larger greenhouse, which is more advisable because he may maximize the place where he wants to develop more plants and vegetables.

If he really desires to build a greenhouse where he can develop and propagate more plants, he may consider different factors that would be necessary on the type of greenhouses he would like to build. Here are some tips and factors he would like to consider in building his own greenhouse.

A Primer on Medical Acupuncture

A Primer on Medical Acupuncture

Have you ever had an uncontrollable urge to be pierced by a dozen needles? This is the image most people get when someone mentions the word “acupuncture”. It comes as no surprise that most view this technique with suspicion, even downright horror. The fact is, however, that this relatively painless ancient Chinese technique has helped relieve the symptoms of millions of people. Properly used, it can help in the management of many medical conditions including chronic pain and fatigue.

How does needle puncture work?

Practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine believe in energy flows. This energy, called Qi, circulates around the body using pathways called meridians. Meridians run very close to the surface of the skin in certain areas and can be accessed by needles. Much like plumbing, these pipes can get blocked or go the wrong way, causing health problems. The insertion of needles at these points is aimed to help loosen blocks and normalize flow.

It sounds like a made-up explanation with no basis in reality, but there are numerous scientific studies which support the effects of acupuncture. Although the exact scientific basis is still unknown, recent theories seem to suggest involvement of complicated neurochemical effects in the brain, nerve to spinal cord impulse modulation, and microscopic connective tissue changes. 

What risks and side effects are of concern?

The use of things not completely understood for the treatment of medical conditions is nothing new. Penicillin and aspirin were used for decades solely on the basis of their beneficial effects, without doctors knowing exactly how they worked. Results are what are truly important. However, it is equally important is to ensure that the technique is used safely.

Like other strategies used in treating health conditions, acupuncture may have some side effects. Medications have side effects and allergic reactions, surgeries have risk of infection and complications. For needle puncture, there is a risk of injury, rare infections, minor bleeding, small bruises, and some dizziness.

You can minimize the possible side effects by choosing a licensed acupuncturist. Most countries either have government licensing in place or have professional organizations with very strict rules and regulations.

Eliminate Red Meat

Eliminate Red Meat

If you’re thinking of changing to a vegetarian diet, how do you start? Do you just start shopping in the produce aisle of the grocery store? You might have some anxiety attached to this change as well, and this is understandable.

Try to think of this as adding to your dietary habits, rather than a drastic change. If your diet has consistently included red meat, perhaps you can start substituting other foods for the red meat. Or eliminate the most processed and high-fat meats first, such as bacon and hamburgers. Certainly try to eliminate fast food burgers, which have such a high fat and sodium content. If you think you’ll miss the taste of bacon in the morning, try substituting a turkey or vegetable-based bacon substitute. It won’t be the same, but you won’t be giving up the foods you’re used to all at once.

If you’ve had a health scare and feel the need to change everything at once, make sure you include a lot of variety in the foods you buy as you begin to discover new flavors and textures that you’ll like to replace the ones you’re used to eating. If you don’t need to make a dramatic change all at once, you’ll have a much greater chance of long-term success if you take it slow. Reduce the amount of red meat that you eat on a weekly basis, even if it means substituting pasta with marinara sauce for meat just one night a week. Increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables you eat. Start with raw vegetables at night before dinner so you’re not so hungry when you get to the main meal. Start reversing the proportions of meat and vegetables and make meat a side dish, with vegetables and grains your main course.

We’re creatures of habit and resistant to change. This is why so many diets fail, because we make drastic changes to facilitate dramatic results, quickly. This is a decision and a change you want to make for a lifetime. Make it a natural and gradual change and you can look forward to many more years of healthy living.

Beginner Mountain Bike Skills

Beginner Mountain Bike Skills

Mountain biking is an exciting sport that can be enjoyed by anyone who knows how to ride a bike.  Compared to the average bike ride, it does present some danger.  Therefore, you should master these basic skills before you hit the trails or the  dirt. 

You can practice these beginning skills at a local park, school, bike path, or simply around your house. If you can, try to find a location with a steep hill.

Get a feel for your pedals 

Practice moving your foot away from the pedal,  first while sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground.  Next, move on to releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around for a bit.  Those with toe clip and clipless type foot pedals will want to spend a bit more time practicing.

Sit and spin for position Simply sit on your bike and pedal around.  You should keep your arms slightly bent.  You should also adjust your seat height so your leg is 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal.  Keep your body relaxed, as there will never be a position where you should have either your knees or your elbows locked.

Shifting gears 

Get a feel for shifting gears with your bike.  The higher gears are harder to pedal and will go faster while the lower gears are easier to pedal and will help you ascend hills.  As you get to steeper hills, its best to shift before you get to the hill rather than while your on it.

Coasting
You should spend a bit of time coasting while standing on your pedals, without actually sitting on the seat.  Keep your arms bent but don't lock your knees.  Now, try experimenting with shifting your body towards the rear end of the bike.

Pedal while standing
You should get as comfortable as you can with pedaling while standing on your bike.  Try lifting yourself off the seat while standing on the pedals, then crank them around.  You should try this in higher gears on flat ground then again in lower gears while on a hill.

Dropping down a curb
Try finding a curb where you can easily get to the upper portion of it.  Practice at a moderate speed, standing and coasting right off the curb from the upper level to the lower level.  Try this atdifferent speeds until it becomes second nature.

Once you practice these techniques and get the hang of them, you'll be able to hit the trails feeling comfortable on your mountain bike.  Even though it may take some getting used to, it'll become second nature before you know it.

All Styles and Sizes: The Basic Types of Cigars

All Styles and Sizes:  The Basic Types of Cigars

For the new smoker, the different styles and sizes of cigars can seem mind-boggling.  It helps to know that all cigars can be divided into two broad categories:  parejos and figurados.

Parejos refers to cigars that are basically straight.  They are subdivided into three categories:  coronas, panatelas, and lonsdales.  Coronas come in a variety of styles and famous brands.  They are known as cigars with an 'open foot' (or tip) and a rounded head.  Panatelas are generally longer than coronas, are thinner.  Lonsdales are also longer than coronas, but are thinner than panatelas. 

The second basic category consists of the figurados.  Figurados refers to cigars with that are irregular or somehow hand-shaped so that they are not strictly straight.  The smallest type of figurados is the belicoso cigars, which are known for a larger foot and a smaller, rounded head. Another basic figurado cigar is the pyramid, which have pointed heads that taper to a large foot.  The perfecto is a figurado cigar that is tapered on both the head and foot, with a thinner middle.  The largest figurado is the diademas, known as the 'giant' of cigars because it is always eight inches or longer. 

A Short History of Cigars and Tobacco

A Short History of Cigars and Tobacco

Have you ever wondered where cigars were first produced?  It is widely believed that cigars were first produced in Spain.  But before cigars became all the rage in Europe, tobacco was needed to make them.  Tobacco is indigenous to the Americas, where native peoples have produced it for hundreds of years.  It is believed that the Maya of Yucatan peninsula in Mexico and parts of Central America cultivated tobacco, and even smoked it!  Tobacco use spread to other tribes, both north and south.  It is believed that its first use in the United States was probably among the tribe along the Mississippi.  It wasn't until Christopher Columbus sailed his famous voyage to the Americas in 1492 that the rest of the world came to know tobacco.

It is said that Columbus was not impressed by tobacco or its use among native peoples, but many sailors grew found of the strange plant.  Soon it quickly caught on in Spain and Portugal.  From there, it spread to France, where the French ambassador Jean Nicot lent his name to the scientific name for tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).  The origins of the word tobacco itself are still suspect, although many believe it is simply a corruption of the word Tobago, which is the name of a Caribbean island.  Still others believe it comes from the word Tabasco, a region (and now state) in Mexico. 

The first tobacco plantation in the United States was established in Virginia in 1612.  More tobacco plantations followed in Maryland soon after.  Although tobacco became a popular crop, it was only smoked in pipes.  The cigar was not introduced to the United States until the late 18th century.  Israel Putnam, an army general who had served in the Revolutionary War, is credited with introducing the cigar to the United States.  He had traveled to Cuba after the Revolutionary War and returned with a box of Cuban cigars.  Their popularity quickly spread, and soon enough cigar factories were established in the area of Harford, Connecticut, where General Putnam resided. 

In Europe, cigar production and consumption did not achieve widespread popularity until after the Peninsula War in the early 19th century.  British and French veterans returned to their homelands after years of serving in Spain with their tobacco pipes in tow.  Among the rich and fashionable, the favored method of taking tobacco was the cigar.  Cigar smoking remains a habit associated with the rich and discriminating of upper society. 

4 Tips for Lighting a Cigar

4 Tips for Lighting a Cigar

For new smokers, lighting a cigar can seem as daunting as learning to choose a good single.  Here are four tips to guide you in lighting a cigar for the first time.

1.  Use cedar matches, if possible.  If you prefer to use a lighter, make sure it's butane lighter to avoid strong odors. 

2.  Warm the open end of the cigar (aka 'the foot' of the cigar) slowly over the flame, without touching it to the fire.  Let a black ring form around the end.

3.  Place the cigar in your mouth and draw in slowly.  Hold the cigar over the flame, about half an inch above it, again without touching.  Continue to draw in until the cigar draws the flame.   Turn the cigar slowly, spinning it to establish an even burn.

4.  Once your cigar is lit, take it out of your mouth and observe the burn you have established.  If the burn appears to be uneven, simply blow on the unlit sections to draw the burn, and then take one or two draws from the cigar to reestablish an even burn.