Polystyrene eating super worms 6 Organic tips for your garden 18 Free ewe production history card 11 11 COMPETITION WINNER ANNUAL ART COVER COMPETITION Issue 05 Contents 7 4 6 5 10 9 3 Editors note 4 Potatoes in a bag 5 Alpha Bonsmara Auction 6 Super worms 7 Irvine’s Botswana 8 Immunisation for small stock 9 Bio fortification 10 Ad space 11 Annual art cover contest 12 Organic tips for your garden 13 Alpha Bonsmara Group 14 Ewe production history card 15 Online Agricultural Courses 17 Sunlight solar tunnels 18 Science experiment for kids 19 Brain twisters 20 Magazine special promotion “Together we can share knowledge, and feed our Nation” TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 3 Dear Readers , My heart is very passionate about our planet, animals and mother earth Our well - being solely depends on this planet which gives food and water to all living things, so it is our responsibility to take care of it I believe that a clean environment is essential for healthy living, and enhancing our relationship with nature It is our duty to protect our earth, because caring for our earth means maintaining the existence of living beings and our future generations I trust that every reader shall thoroughly enjoy our second issue of this magazine under the Temo Thuo Farmers Directory EDITORS NOTE Jerileigh du Preez Temo Thuo Farmers Directory Founder It’s time to bring into being a new future, feeding the world, caring for the earth In this edition of the Temo Thuo Farmers Magazine, we will be shining a light on growing potatoes in a bag, super worms munching polystyrene , matters on biofortification , and announcing the winner of our Annual Art Cover Design 2022 There are also a few tricky riddles for great minds to try and solve I certainly hope this issue highlights some agricultural news We are in search of creative solutions as well as inspiration for readers to set goals, and become the new era of entrepreneurs Jerileigh du Preez (+267) 754 84 559 info@farmersdirectory.co.bw Issue 5 – June 2022 Potatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow Here is an idea to inspire your home garden, and even venture into business by testing out different techniques Remember to use good compost which would supply sufficient nutrients to any vegetables POTATOES IN A BAG This is an easy way to get fresh potatoes at your convenience This method takes up minimal space Step 1 - Get a bag (a livestock feeding bag would also be good enough) Step 2 - Add a bit of soil to the bag as a base for the potato plants to develop the tubers Step 3 - Cut seed potatoes into the size of a golf ball, but each one needs to have at least one eye in the cutting I dentify it as a dent or a green bud sprouting from the side of the potato (This is where the potato will begin to sprout up outside of the bag) Step 4 - Place each seed potato cutting into the bag, with the sprout facing upwards, and top the bag up with about 50 mm of soil Step 5 – Water inside the bag to keep the soil moist, and do not let the bag dry out Step 6 – as the plant grows up to 150 mm, you would want to add more soil to the bag ( T his will help to bury the potatoes and giving them more room to expand bigger) Continue to do this until the potato plant gets taller If it grows another 150 mm, add more soil You will continue doing this until the bag is full If you try this technique, share your thoughts with us in this editions comment section on F acebook TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 4 POTATOES IN A BAG Issue 5 – June 2022 Issue 5 – June 2022 A species of insect larvae with a taste for plastic could help transform recycling Australian scientists at the Universaty of Queensland have found the Zophobas morio - often known as a superworm , which can survive on a diet of polystyrene, due to a bacterial enzyme in their gut Their long - term objective is to identify which enzyme is the most effective, followed by re - creating the super worms enzymes which would degrade plastic waste in recycling plants through mechanical shredding, then followed by enzymatic biodegradation These superworms could be like mini recycling plants, and this bio - upcycling will encourage plastic waste recycling to reduce landfill, to live in an eco - friendly manner, where we could sustain the earth with love, for our future generations TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 6 POLYSTERINE EATING SUPER WORMS Why is polystyrene so harmful to the environment ? It is one of the most widely used packaging resources due to its low cost, mouldable qualities, and it’s light weight However, polystyrene is extremely slow to degrade, and if disposed of it incorrectly, the foam can leach hazardous chemicals into the terrain, harming our water sources Polystyrene manufacturing is an vast creator of dangerous waste, and hence why polystyrene manufacturing is an immense contribution to global warming today It is also a problem that most of our meat at local stores is packaged in polystyrene, and lunch on the sides of the roads are roads, since the foam contains the chemical styrene, which has been linked to cancer, loss of hearing and vision, impaired memory concentration, and nervous system effects ... the list goes on The worst part about it all, is that It takes about 500 years for it to decompose Imagine something you threw away today, would only decompose within the next 20 generations ... is that efficient at all, and how does this make you feel concerning our environment? “The secret to life, is working within nature’s laws.” SUPER WORMS Issue 5 – June 2022 Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 8 SMALL STOCK SHEEP AND GOATS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN VACCINATED BEFORE SUSTAINED IMMUNISATION FOR SHEEP AND GOATS NB: Always check and make sure that you are at all times assisted by a certified veterinarian for any vaccinations. Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 9 Let’s talk about BIOFORTIFICATION How do we assess nutrients’ density in food? A tool named a refractometer has been around for a long time, and it measures dissolved solids in a liquid The dissolved solids measured in the sap from fruit or veggies like plant sugars, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and hormones Another tool that is used, is a spectrometer which sends out a light beam to the vegetable The light is then reflected back to the machine which can be analysed further However, there are existing teams globally working on developing more effective tools in measuring the different types of vitamins and minerals in our vegetables, along with the quantities Biofortification is a method of breeding staple crops to have higher levels of essential nutrients either through genetic modification or selective breeding Hoe does out fruit and vegetables lose more nutrients? Vegetables are typically a great source of vitamin C, but a great amount of it is lost when they're cooked in water In actual fact , boiling vegetable reduces vitamin C content more than any other cooking method Spinach and Broccoli, can lose up to 50 % or more of their vitamin C when boiled, hence why light steaming is a better choice To determine any nutrient deficiencies with your crops, most growers rely predominantly on visual symptoms, plant tissue analysis and soil analysis Plant analysis and soil testing go hand in hand A soil test provides an index of the nutrient that is potentially available for the crop Biofortification essentially plays a big role in the horticulture industry, as it helps in achieving overall health improvement in people and are much more resilient to pests, diseases, droughts, etc and definitely provides better yields, and to fight hidden hunger (Hidden hunger is caused by undernutrition and occurs when intake of vitamins and minerals are too low Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 10 Issue 5 – June 2022 an original and bright design In second place we would like to congratulate Brandy Joseph for a unique and beautiful design In first place, we would like to congratulate Ontiretse Rebobonye for submitting the winning design, which is featured in this magazine, our 6 th edition - June 2022 Send us a WhatsApp and join our e - mag groups, where you will automatically receive every edition of our magazine, and never miss out on any news, giveaways, and competitions TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 11 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF OUR ANNUAL ART COVER CONTEST Temo Thuo Farmers Directory Magazine hosted an annual art cover competition during the month of may, and we have had a tremendous amount of contestants enter All of the designs we received were stunning with a lot of effort that went in from young designers, and it was a difficult decision to pick a winner Thank you to all of our contestants for entering! Our finalists with quality designs were Katso Keletso Gaolaolwe , Thomas K Kahaka , and Edward Branson Motona In third place, we would like to congratulate Tebo Osekeng for Ontiretse Rebobonye started his graphic designing journey during lockdown, around March 2020 , as he was forced to transform his services because of the pandemic’s restrictions and regulations He is also interested in farming and working on a farming project where he could hopefully receive funds for his future in the farming industry Issue 5 – June 2022 EGG SHELLS : Instead of throwing away your egg shells, you could dry them, crush them and keep it in a jar Their purpose is to sprinkle some at the base of plants like peppers and tomatoes to prevent blossom rot and it’s great to keep away pest as well It’s also suggested that you could scatter the egg powder in your home garden SOIL TEST : A good way to see if your soil is too acidic by collecting some of your soil, adding baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and if it bubbles, your soil is acidic If your soil is too acidic, and would like a natural solution, you could mix 1 sbsp of bicarbonate of soda with 4 litres of water and stir Apply the solution to your soil Other natural ways is to use Pure PH up concentrate, wood ashes, organic manure or compost, garden lime, dolomite lime, or cement kiln dust To see if your soil is alkaline, collect some of your soil, add some vinegar and if it bubbles, your soil is alkaline If your soil is too alkaline, and looking for a more natural solution, you could always add sulphur to your soil, as well as good quality compost, leaf mold , pine needles, vinegar, lemon juice or coffee grounds FERTILIZERS : Fertilizers that are from an organic compound, are always best Instead of throwing out your banana peels, add it to a jar full of water and let it sit in the jar for 2 days, then use that water as plant fertilizer There are many articles online with fermented recipes that you could use as organic fertilizers EPSOM SALT : Epsom salt ( magnesium sulfate ) – helps seeds to germinate , makes plants grow bushier, produces more flowers, increases chlorophyll production and deters pests, such as slugs and voles It also provides vital nutrients to supplement your regular fertilizer ORGANIC TIPS FOR YOUR GARDEN TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 12 Organic gardening assists in preventing a loss of topsoil, toxic runoff, water pollution, soil contamination, soil poisoning, death of insects, birds, insects and other beneficial soil organisms, as well as eliminating pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide residues on food from synthetic fertilizers Nitrogen - and phosphate - based synthetic fertilizers leach into groundwater which increases toxicity , causing water pollution Fertilizers that leach into streams, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water disrupt aquatic ecosystems Synthetically extracted fertilizers are manufactured from minerals, gasses from the air and inorganic waste materials, whereas fertilizers derived from organic compounds obtain their nutrients from natural sources such as microbes, organic waste, and other similar materials ORGANIC VS SYNTHETIC FERTALIZERS Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 13 The Bonsmara has been scientifically bred and exactly selected for economizing production in the expansive cattle grazing regions of South Africa The Bonsmara has come so popular that it has grown to be numerically the strongest beef breed in South Africa in less than 25 years encourages cow efficiency, and the outstanding mothering ability under all environmental circumstances, even extensive african climates, and this is the reason for their admiration, hence, why the Bonsmara should be at the top of the commercial cattle farmer’s list Bonsmara breed is used mainly for beef, and produce high quality meat Bonsmaras have a calm temperament, which makes it easy to work with them, and the cows have a good maternal ability Physical characteristics : The breed has a uniform red and brown coat, medium horn, a slight hump in the bull and a good beef formation Average Originating in South Africa as a scientific experimentation of professor Bonsma , the Bonsmara was created after numerous cross mating's and back - crosses conforming of five - eighths Afrikaner( Sanga - type), three - sixteenths Hereford, and three - sixteenths Shorthorn( both taurine types ) The breed was recognized in 1964 , and was officially registered in 1972 At present, the Bonsmara breed isn't solely in South Africa, but is also found in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Mozambique, DR Congo, Angola, Rwanda, as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and in US Bonsmaras are selected and bred through a system that effectively height at withers in adult males is about 123 cm Weights : Mature cows weigh on an average between 500 to 550 kg, producing calves with an average weaning weight of around 230 kg each, where as the bulls can weigh around 800 kg The main difference between beefmaster and bonsmara : B oth breeds comprise 25 % Hereford and 25 % Shorthorn, but the Bonsmara has 50 % Afrikaner, whereas the Beefmaster has 50 % Brahman Greenway Bonsmara Jan Bekker (+267) 716 26 752 janbekker1972@gmail.com EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 14 Get your FREE printable ewe production history card! Available to download from our website or our Facebook page Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 15 Agricolleges international is becoming a beacon of excellence in the education of aspirant students wishing to train in the disciplines related to all allied industries of the agri - sector The Tzaneen Chamber of Commerce awarded Agricolleges international a 2022 Prestige award for outstanding service to the community Agricolleges offers affordable opportunities to students in Africa, and across the globe, through cloud - based and shared e - learning of agricultural content, and promotes the principles of sustainable production to further food security around the world Our courses are designed with different learning needs in mind and aim to equip students with much needed knowledge and competencies that can be used to bridge the existing skills gaps in the industry Our course - work is being developed to the highest standards in collaboration with relevant subject matter experts Every feature is crafted to save course facilitators, course consultants and students time and effort and to make teaching and learning easier The platform provides a complete service that includes registration, payment, automated course administration support, integrated course design, payment processing and more Our one - year NQF Level 4 National Certificate in General Agriculture gives students the opportunity to develop in - depth skills and experience that are widely recognised across the agricultural sector ; while our agricultural short courses enable those already working in the industry to refresh or improve existing skills and gain new ones within a specific focus area Through our e - learning platform, you will have access to blended and shared learning opportunities that provide a combination of : ⇝ Independent online learning ⇝ Collaboration with course facilitators and ... .. other students in the online environment ⇝ On - the - ground practical experience at our ... .. Practical Destinations “THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE IS IN YOUR HANDS” Issue 5 – June 2022 Temo Thuo farmers Directory is in collaboration with Agricolleges international which is a modern, cloud - based online learning institution We provide students with affordable, accessible and industry - relevant education and training in the fields of agriculture and related agri - industries ACI’s unique offering provides access to information in an online, blended and shared learning environment, available from anywhere at any time ACI offers various short courses in Agribusiness, Plant and Animal Production, as well accredited one - year NQF Level 4 National Certificate courses Contact us today for more information education@farmersdirectory co bw (+ 267 ) 76 25 22 44 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 16 INTRODUCTORY COURSES; ⇝ Introduction to Agribusiness. ⇝ Introduction to Animal production. ⇝ Introduction to Plant Production. FUNDAMENTALS COURSES; ⇝ Fundamentals of Agribusiness. ⇝ Fundamentals of Avocado production. ⇝ Fundamentals of Good Agricultural Practices. ⇝ Fundamentals of Macadamia Production. ⇝ Fundamentals of Maize production. CITRUS COURSES; ⇝ Citrus Harvesting. ⇝ Citrus Packaging. ⇝ Citrus Planting Management. ⇝ Citrus Propagation, Plant Structures & Functions. ⇝ Citrus Pruning. ⇝ Integrated Pest management for Citrus. NATIONAL CERTIFICATES; ⇝ National Certificate in general Agriculture. ⇝ National Certificate in Plant Production. ⇝ National Certificate in Animal Production AVAILABLE COURSES Issue 5 – June 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 17 SUN PIPE – SUN TUNNEL - SOLAR LIGHT TUBE - Capture, Transmission and diffusion of natural lighting Our SUN PIPE – SUN TUNNEL - SOLAR LIGHT TUBE are systems for capturing and transmitting natural Daylight to the interior of the buildings where they end with the solar diffusers The dome is placed on the outside and maximizes the capture of natural light that will enter the SUN PIPE – SUN TUNNEL - SOLAR LIGHT TUBE and route it to the solar diffuser placed inside the installation In the background it’s as a Light Tunnel The great advantage is that it can bring natural light to spaces that were otherwise was practically impossible to illuminate : lighting for indoor bathrooms, corridors, cellars etc The domes, SUN PIPE – SUN TUNNEL - SOLAR LIGHT TUBE and solar diffusers have unique and selective features, so they transmit the “good” light and eliminate harmful light (UV, and part of the Infrared) so that the heat or cold transmission to the interior is residual Studies have shown that on average about 80 % of working hours in closed environments can be done under natural lighting, thus contributing directly to the reduction of energy consumption and consequently to the improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings The physical and psychological health of all workers depends on the working conditions and if it takes place in natural spaces, provided with natural light (illuminated with SUN PIPE – SUN TUNNEL - SOLAR LIGHT TUBE, with Persian light tunnels, Uranus integrated lighting), then it will be better than elsewhere without these conditions Capture, Transmission and diffusion of natural light Cell: (+267) 71 61 4007 Email: jerrysteamenergy@gmail.com Issue 5 – June 2022 This fun science experiment is for kids, and it’s all about leaves ! We use coloured water and observe how liquids move through the leaves of plants Are your kids interested in plants and flowers? Have them look more closely at the leaves of plants and trees in your yard with this exciting leaf experiment for your kids In this fun science experiment, we will be observing how liquids travel through leaves over a period of only three days Materials needed for this specific leaf experiment ; 1 Leaves 2 Scissors 3 Clear plastic cups 4 Water 5 Red food colouring 6 Magnifying glass (optional) TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 18 Issue 5 – June 2022 SCIENCE FOR KIDS Procedure for this Leaf Experiment ; 1 Start off by taking a walk outside and collect various leaves 2 cut off the bottom of each leaf stem, and then place each leaf in a plastic cup filled a third of the way with water 3 Add your red food colouring to the water (You could add quite a bit for the water to be a very dark shade of red to increase your chances of seeing changes in the leaves ) 4 Now you can observe the leaves closely (You can use a magnifying glass if you have one, but this is only optional ) Record your findings of how they look on Day 1 of the experiment 5 Observe the leaves for the next two days, and be sure to record your finding What changes do you see? You should notice the red colour move slowly through the leaves The coloured water moves through the xylem tubes of the leaves The xylem tubes of plants transport water and minerals up from the roots through the whole entire plant Did your kids enjoy this experiment? C heck out more fun experiments and activities for your children in our in future magazines, join our WhatsApp group to never miss any of our editions! SUPER WORMS How Water Travels Through Leaves SCIENCE FOR KIDS B RAIN - TWISTERS 1. I belong in the moth of December, but not in any other month. I am not a holiday. What am I? Hint: It doesn’t have to do with a day or temperature. 2. When Billy's asked how old he is, he replies, "In two years I will be twice as old as I was five years ago." How old is he? 3. I'm everywhere and a part of everyone. I am at the end of space and time and existence itself. What am I? Hint: Think more literal than metaphysical. 4. What English word has three consecutive double letters? Hint: This word actually refers to someone who loves numbers. 5. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? 6. The more there is, the less you see. What am I? 7. What is full of holes but still holds a lot of water? 8. A word I know, six letters it contains, removes one letter, and twelve remains. What am I? 9. If you have it and you show it to other people, I’m gone. What am I? TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 19 DO YOU HAVE ANY TRICKY FARMING RIDDLES , ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING FARMING FOR OUR NEXT Q&A PAGE, OR ARE YOU A CREATOR OF COMIC STRIPS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN OUR MAGAZINE ? Give us a call, send us an email, or a WhatsApp for more info ANSWERS 1. The letter “d ” 2. 12 years old 3. The letter "e “ 4. Bookkeeper 5. Footprints 6. Darkness 7. Sponge 8. Dozens Issue 5 – June 2022