October 2022 Issue 08 Vertical Farming & Aquaponics 13 Alpha Bonsmara Cattle Auction in October 18 Fun Toys for your Goats 11 19 LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 11 FLOUR PAINT NON - TOXIC AND COST EFFECTIVE Contents 4 9 7 5 11 14 3 Editors Note 4 Recycled Irrigation System 5 Make Your Own Sun Dials 7 Pick The Perfect Water Melon 9 Fun Toys for Goats 10 Healthy Food For Your Liver 11 Natural Flour Paint 12 The Bonsmara Breed 13 Vertical Farming & Aquaponics 14 Crop Management Systems 15 Alpha Bonsmara Cattle Auction 16 Fun Kids Project – Can Guitar 18 Brain Twister Riddles 19 Livestock Management System 20 Online Agricultural Courses “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 8 th edition 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 new ideas for farming cost - effective and non - toxic formulas, and a fun experiment for kids! 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 8 – October 2022 Step 1: Get a plastic bottle. A 2 - liter bottle will work the best, but you can use a smaller one for a smaller plant. Clean the bottle thoroughly with water, and remove the label Step 2: Poke 4 to 5 holes in the cap. Remove the cap and set it down on a piece of scrap wood. Use a drill or a nail and hammer to poke several holes into it. The more holes you poke, the faster the water will flow out. Place the cap back onto the bottle when you are done, but avoid making the holes too small, or they may get clogged up by the soil Step 3: Approximately c ut the bottom off of the bottle. You can do this with a serrated knife or a pair of sharp scissors. Plan on cutting the bottom (2.54 cm) off of the bottle. If your plastic bottle has a moulded line around the bottom, you can use that as a guide instead Step 4: Dig a hole into the soil. It needs to be deep enough so that you can fit your bottle halfway into it, then plan on making the hole about 10 to 15cm away from the plant's stem. If you are digging next to an established plant, be careful not to cut through the roots. Step 5: Place the bottle into the hole, cap - side - down. If you have not already, screw the cap back onto the bottle. Flip the bottle upside down, and insert it cap - side - down into the hole. Gently pat the soil down around the bottle You can insert the bottle deeper into the soil, but you will need at least 3cm sticking out of the soil. This will prevent soil from getting into the water. Step 6: Fill the bottle with water, and invert the bottom of the bottle so it rests on the water, ready to catch any debris that would otherwise sink and clog the system. Leave your drip irrigation to do its work. Make as many drip irrigation as you need for all of your plants. TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 4 CREATE YOUR OWN IRRIGATION SYSTEM RECYCLED IDEAS AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE Issue 8 – October 2022 A sundial is a way to keep track of the time using the sun It works by casting a shadow as the sun moves across the sky, due to the Earth’s rotation on its axis The shadow will rotate around the center point (called the gnomon), which allows you to tell the time ! Sundials have been around for thousands of years! Around 1500 BC, the ancient Egyptians began to use them regularly There are many different types of sundials, and some can be very elaborate and complex Here we will make the most common type, which is often found in gardens or backyards It is called a horizontal sundial TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 5 MAKE YOUR OWN SUNDIALS What You Will Need : - Wooden dowel or stick - Pebbles - Marker / Paint for numbers to use on the pebbles Choose a sunny day to begin and start at noon First, find a well - lit spot on your farm Next, plant the dowel or stick standing straight up and down Place a stone at the end of the shadow cast by the stick You can have your little ones paint or decorate the stone if they’d like, or mark the number 12 on it Repeat this step every hour until the sun sets You'll find that the shadow will have moved each time At this point, you will only have completed half of the sundial Return the next morning to mark each hour from sun up to noon “The secret to life, is working within nature’s laws.” Issue 8 – October 2022 (+267) 392 2326 (+267) 72 728 717 / (+267) 76 700 083 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 7 How to pick the perfect WATERMELON Issue 8 – October 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 9 FUN TOYS FOR GOATS There are many different ways to keep goats occupied and entertained Just like any entertainment, however, not all goats will enjoy the same activities, and it is best to offer several options to give each animal something fun to explore Change of Scenery Entertaining goats can be as simple as letting them explore someplace new If you have different corrals or pastures the goats can use, move them between locations periodically so they don't get bored always staying in the same place Ball Games Different sizes and colours of balls make great toys for goats, and they will kick, butt, and push them around Choose balls with different levels of firmness as well, A bored goat without any means of entertainment will seek to entertain itself, possibly in damaging or dangerous ways Because these animals are agile climbers, have powerful muscles, and a propensity to chew on just about anything, they could b utt or push on fences, knocking them down and leading to escapes, c hew on posts, debris, or other items and cause damage or suffer mouth injuries, climb onto unsafe surfaces that may lead to slips and falls They could also resort to bullying or aggressive, territorial behaviour that impacts your other farm animals and goats may even try to climb or balance on larger balls Recycled Toys Toys your human kids have outgrown can be perfect for your four - legged kids Plastic slides or playhouses, kiddie pools or see - saws are great options, and goats will also love "big kid" toys as well such as a camper shell or small boat that has seen better days Tunnels Tunnels , nooks and hideaways are fun for goats to explore A simple tunnel of half - buried tires can provide hours of entertainment, or a large section of pipe, a series of A - frames or trellises, an open tent or hay bales stacked with secret spaces will keep goats happily occupied Issue 8 – October 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 10 waste products and foreign substances from the bloodstream, regulating blood sugar levels, and creating essential nutrients The five major functions of the liver include: - Filtration. - Digestion. - Metabolism and Detoxification. - Protein synthesis. - Storage of vitamins and minerals The liver helps your body maintain a healthy level of blood sugar. Your liver supplies glucose to your blood when it's needed. It also removes glucose from your blood when there's too much The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions These include removing Fascinating Facts About Our Liver: Largest glandular organ – Our liver is the largest glandular organ of the human body and the second largest organ besides our skin. Multifunctional – Our liver simultaneously performs over 200 important functions for the body. ... It contains fat – 10% of our liver is made up of fat. Issue 8 – October 2022 Flour Paint, really? Really! In fact, all paints are prepared according to a simple basic recipe: They are made from pigments (for the color ), binders (to bind all the ingredients together), solvents or thinners (to dilute and make the paint easier to apply), and additives (to add specific properties to the paint, such as quicker drying, or protection against mold , etc .). Cheaper and better alternatives, instead of using toxic products is always possible, this is called The Swedish Flour Paint. Flour Paint, is colored with natural earth pigments , such as ochre, replacing Falu red. This explains why it’s also commonly called “Ochre Paint”. It’s important to note that this paint can also be colored by using other pigment types, such as iron oxides and other pigments, in TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 11 AN AGE OLD RECIPE, FLOUR PAINT, IS EASY, CHEAP, NON - TOXIC, NATURAL AND IS SAID TO LAST FROM FIVE TO TEN YEARS, VEN APPLYING THE PAINT OUTDOORS. order to have a wider color choice than earth pigments offer, which are mostly available in yellows, browns and reds The recipe will make 3 litres of flour paint RECIPE ; - 300 grams of basic flour - 3 litres of water - 600 grams of pigment - 300 millilitres of linseed oil Use an old pot You are making paint , so you won’t be making food in this pot again Step 1 : Put the pot on the stove and heat with 300 g of flour Step 2 : As it starts to warm, gradually add 3 l of water Stirring as you add the water, again use a spoon you don’t want to use again, except to make more paint Step 3 : Bring it to a boil Let it boil for about 10 minutes, until it thickens Step 4 : Add your pigment (colour) of choice and 300 ml linseed oil Bring back to a boil Let boil for 30 minutes When time is up, let it cool You now have paint If you have iron sulphate, it would be more effective when painting outdoors, as It will add resistance against moss If you are painting on wood, remember to properly prep your wooden surface before applying, removing any existing paint or stain and sanding Once you are finished painting, it should be dry in about 1 hour, but with the extreme heat in Botswana, it would probably dry within minutes No heavy cleansers are needed, so you could just clean your brushes in water F LO UR P a int Issue 8 – October 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 12 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 8 – October 2022 times ; lower water use ; fresh produce grown much closer to where it's eaten, improved food taste Not only can this be used for creeper vegetables, but any other vegetable plants too Vertical farming is the practice of growing produce in vertically stacked layers The practice can use soil, hydroponic, aeroponic or aquaponics growing methods Vertical farms attempt to produce food in challenging environments, like where arable land is rare, limited space, or is unavailable AQUAPONICS Aquaponics is a cooperation between plants and fish and the term originates from the two words aquaculture (the growing of fish in a closed environment) and hydroponics (the growing of plants usually in a soil - less environment) Aquaponic systems come in various sizes from small indoor units to large commercial units Benefits of Aquaponics Use 1 / 6 th of the water to grow 8 times more food per acre compared to traditional agriculture! All - natural fertilizer source from fish waste No reliance on mined and manufactured fertilizers Efficient, sustainable, and highly productive Produce is free of pesticides and herbicides Fish are free of growth hormones and antibiotics Allows continuous production of food Produces both a protein and vegetable crop The integrated system is sustainable and earth - friendly Eliminating soil eliminates soil - borne diseases When combined with Controlled Environment Agriculture, you can grow year - round in any climate The fish and plants that you select for your aquaponic system should have similar needs as far as temperature and pH As a general rule, warm, fresh water fish and leafy crops, such as lettuce, greens and herbs will do the best Most commercial growers raise leafy crops, but you can grow all kinds of plants in aquaponics Tilapia is one of the best fish to grow in aquaponics because they are hardy and can adapt to their environment and withstand less than ideal water conditions They are resistant to many pathogens and parasites and in handling stress The best vegetables for vertical growing are pole beans, climbing peas, sweet potatoes, vining tomatoes, and sprawling types of zucchini, cucumber, melon and squash that can be trained up supports One of the great advantages of vertical gardening that many people don't think about is that it makes harvesting easier. Vertical structures bring your crops up to eye - level, making them much easier to harvest. Plus , vegetables will hang down from their growing support, making them easier to spot, higher productivity in a much smaller area; shorter growing VERTICAL VEGGIE FARMING & AQUAPONICS TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 13 Issue 8 – October 2022 CROP MANAGEMENT MONITORING SYSTEMS ON - SITE MONITORING REMOTE MONITORING Cell: (+267) 71 61 4007 Email: jerrysteamenergy@gmail.com Powered by: NECESSARY MATERIALS : - A tin can - 6 rubber bands - A sheet of strong paper - Adhesive tape - Scissors - A ruler - A pencil HOW TO MAKE THIS TIN CAN GUITAR : Put the can onto the sheet of paper Make a point on the paper where the bottom of the can reaches Roll the can on the side, and make another point Now you can draw a line between those two points, and cut the sheet of paper along it Put two rubber bands around the can lengthwise Put a third rubber band around the box, widthwise , around the two first rubber bands Hold the top of the first rubber band tight and pull it back over the top of the can Start over with the second rubber band The third one must have gone to the top of the can Pull it back over to the bottom of the box Watch the video, and look at the picture below to understand You can ask an adult to help you Everything must be straight, and tight INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CAN GUITAR - SIMPLE TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 16 Here’s a fun project for your kids Not only is it fun, but assists with focus Yet this ability to concentrate and sustain attention on all kinds of tasks is crucially important, because it helps kids learn and improve, which leads to self - confidence and positive self - esteem MAKE YOUR OWN CAN GUITAR Issue 8 – October 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 17 adhesive tape Ask an adult to cut the sheet of paper if it is still to big Now you just need to decorate the can, and play music with it plucking the rubber bands! The can is the sound box, You can adjust them so that they are properly separated Put one last rubber band around the can, at the bottom to help maintain everything securely Roll up the can into the piece of paper you first cut, and stick it to the box with and the rubber bands are the strings Children need to be able to focus on a task and practise an activity to improve their skills Learning to concentrate and finish things helps reduce impulsive behaviour and restlessness, and be calming Issue 8 – October 2022 BRAIN TWISTERS 1. A father told his three sons he would die soon and he needed to decide which one of them to give his property to. He said, “Go to the market and buy something that is large enough to fill my bedroom, but small enough to fit in your pocket. From this, I will decide which of you is the wisest and worthy enough to inherit my land.” They all went to the market, and each came back with a different item. The father told his sons to come into his bedroom one at a time and try to fill up his bedroom with their item. The first son came in and put some pieces of cloth he bought and laid them across the room, but it barely covered the floor. The second son came in and laid some hay on the floor, but there was only enough to cover half the floor. The third son came in and showed his father what he bought. He wound up getting the property. What did the third son show his father ? 2. There’s a girl who has a large family. She has an equal amount of brothers and sisters, but each brother only has half as many brothers and sisters. What’s the correct amount of brothers and sisters ? 3. Sally lives in a place where six months of the year is mild summer and the temperature drops significantly the other six months. She owns a lake where there is a small island. She wants to build a house on the island and needs to get materials there. She doesn’t have a boat, plane, or anything to transport them to the island. How does Sally solve this problem ? 4. How many letters are in the alphabet? TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 18 ANSWERS 1. A box of matches. Whenever he lit a match, it filled the room with light 2. Four sisters and three brothers 3. She waits to take the materials over during the colder months because the lake will freeze over, so she can walk over it 4. Eleven letters are in the word “the alphabet”. IV’E GOT A JOKE FOR YOU... KNOCK KNOCK WHO’S THERE? AN ELECTRICIAN, CAUSE YOUR DOORBELL ISN’T WORKING! 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 20 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 8 – October 2022