Homestretch Farming

  Written by Peter Otieno                 Amaranth,we call it mchicha or ododo, is an indigenous vegetable grown for its leaves and seeds. When cooked together with greens such as collards, African nightshade or spider plant, it adds a sweet tender taste. Amaranth exists in varieties including those eaten by goats and poultry but on this post we will consider the green variety which is great for family consumption and commercial use. It has a large oval shaped green leaf with a tall thick stem. During the first weeks of germination leaves appear reddish but later takes their normal green color. The leaves and stems can increase in size depending on ground fertility. This green variety produces white seeds that turn yellow after drying which are later grounded into flour. Seeding On a well tilled farm or garden, sow amaranth seeds in holes or furrows of 60cm apart. Add  well decomposed farmyard manure then cover with little soil. As you s...

    Written by Peter Otieno Eating fruits? What a better and faster way to get vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, A, calcium and fiber necessary within our body. All you do is just wash, cut or peel the fruit, then eat raw. As people all over the world continue to add fruits in their diet either as an appetizer or desert hence the need for more fruit gardens to meet the demand. A fruit garden is simply a type of garden whereby trees that bear edible fruits are planted. It can also be referred to as an orchard, vineyard or fruit farm. Some of the fruit trees grown include apple, mango, lemon, grapes, orange, berries, banana and avocado trees. Fruit trees are considered to be perennial crops in that you only plant once, take care and maintain them until they mature. Afterwards, they will start bearing fruits and you can harvest your produce season after season and year after year as opposed to a crop like maize which you plant then harvest the first season and in the next sea...

          Written by Peter Otieno Want to build your home? As we grow older, reach ages thirty, forty and fifty, building and owning a home does comes as a goal to achieve whether you live in the city or village. Moreover if you plan to live in an apartment, bungalow, villa or mansion. Where do you start and do you have money? Yes, besides planning, finances are vital in your home ownership journey hence whenever this topic is brought up, money is always cited. As a matter of fact, you must have a budget for this endeavor and it will vary bearing in mind the location, size of land, design of the house and cost of building material used. To emphasize, please cut your coat according to your cloth. When you are ready use the resources you have to build your dream home. After you've bought land or plot and received a title deed for it, these to do list will be the basic preparation steps towards building a new home. Legislation - The first step is to obtain a const...

 Written by Peter Otieno                                                                                                                      In today's world where there is a multitude of information concerning agricultural best practices and farming methods, not many farmers and individuals understand how to make compost manure. The use of inorganic fertilizer is the trend as it saves time and results come faster on your farm. On the other hand, compost manure allows plants to absorb nutrients gradually but it is vital in the long run if used continuously and regularly. What is Compost Manure? Compost manure is an organic fertilizer made from farm waste, animal manure and plant materials no...

  Hey, do you know that over the years animals have managed to build a closer relationship with human beings even with continuous industrialization, climate change and technology advancement. This is why you and I now refer to them as family members or use a common term, a pet. Whichever place you are, in the countryside or urban centers,you can identify with these animals whether big or small. These animals now have names,we shelter and some people dress them. They are beneficial to us in so many ways. An important thing to do is to ensure they feel loved, happy and comfortable. Now here is my list. Chicken There are common birds in many homes and breeds like Kenbro, Isa Brown, Leghorn, Kuroiler and Silkie. For a start you do not need a big number. The prices are fair and a cock or hen fetches not more than 1000 Kenya shillings, so you can start with about five or ten chickens. Why You Need Chicken At about twenty weeks they will begin laying eggs. If you have a large flock you ca...