Organic Gardening

The false fruit in which the inflorescence's stalk becomes fleshy is called a "pome." In pomes, such as apples and pears, the fleshy part is derived from the receptacle or floral tube rather than the ovary itself. This adaptation helps in seed dispersal, as the fleshy part attracts animals that consume the fruit.

How Do You Tell if Your Food Is Organic?

Although Singapore doesn’t have an official agency that certifies organic food, there are other ways you can tell if, say, your brown rice or quinoa is organic or not. These include:

• A certification from a recognised certifying body — typically overseas organisations
• Follows the WHO and UN’s Codex Guidelines and Singapore’s Standards for Organic Produce
• Detailed product information on the labels as per the SFA’s labelling requirements

Let’s review these pointers so you can make the right choice when shopping for organic food.

Look for Organic Certifications

This is the simplest way to see if the food is genuinely organic — by checking if the item has a mark signifying that it’s been certified by a recognised authority.

For instance, suppose your organic chia seeds were imported from Australia. You'll want to check if it contains a certification from the NASAA. This stands for National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia, the country’s globally recognised organic certifying body.

Check the Ingredients List

Besides checking for certification symbols, don’t forget to review the label for its ingredients too. They typically have a straightforward list that doesn’t contain any synthetic food additives, preservatives, and other chemicals.

After all, a pack of organic quinoa shouldn’t have a complicated catalogue with names of unfamiliar substances on it.

Does It Follow Singapore’s Labelling Standards?

The Singapore Food Agency has regulations regarding how food products should be labelled before they’re sold. This extends to organic produce that’s packed and sold in health shops.

As a general rule, food labels should have easily understandable information that’s enough for the average consumer to make an informed choice on whether to buy or not.

Buy From Shops You Can Trust

Regardless if you’re buying organic chia seeds, organic brown rice, or other produce, it’s better to practise caution when shopping. Why not eliminate the guesswork by buying from a known organic retailer? Many stores in Singapore like Nature’s Glory sell certified organic goods. They would make your search an easier and safer one, especially since many of them don’t mind answering questions about the brands they have and where their stocks come from.

Let’s explore our organic options with the right shops — they can help us take more steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

The scent of a gumamela, also known as a hibiscus flower, can vary depending on the specific species and variety. Generally, the scent is described as having a sweet, floral aroma with hints of citrus or spice. Some varieties may have a stronger fragrance compared to others, but overall, the scent is pleasant and fragrant.

Oh, dude, in Singapore, you'll find some pretty common shrubs and climbers like Bougainvillea, Frangipani, and Morning Glory. They're all over the place, adding a touch of greenery to those roadsides. So, like, if you're ever stuck in traffic, at least you have some nice plants to look at, right?

Oh, dude, ladybugs don't really have a thing for watermelon. They're more into chowing down on aphids and other tiny insects that mess with plants. So, if you're trying to lure ladybugs with watermelon, you might be waiting a while. But hey, who knows, maybe one will take a tiny nibble just for fun!

Using only natural and on-site resources is how organic gardening works. The cultivation method in question operates best when attention is paid to nature's challenges -- food chains and webs, pests, soils, water cycles -- and ameliorated, impacted, and treated with mechanical means (fences, row covers, trenches) and nature's solutions -- beneficial organisms, natural controls, natural enemies, organic fertilizers.

The number of worms that can be put in one container depends on its size and the type of worms. Generally, you can house a dozen or more small composting worms in a gallon-sized container, while larger fishing worms may require more space. It's important to provide adequate space, ventilation, and food for the worms' well-being.

The internal temperature of a compost heap will fluctuate, due to the amount of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in the active pile. When all influences are in balance, the internal temperature will be between 90 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Provision of an environment in which compost's nutrients can go to work and keep on working is a reason why soil is good for compost (and vice versa). Compost represents the breakdown of recyclable materials into dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter. Soil serves to gather together gases, humus (organic matter), liquids, and minerals to provide anchorage for building and nutrients for feeding chains, food webs, and soil food web members.

One billion (1,000,000,000) is a likely number of bacteria in a working compost pile. There may be 400 to 900 feet (121.91 to 274.32 meters) of fungal hyphae. Protozoa tend to total anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000.

Yes, you can put paper towels in a worm bin as long as they are plain, unprinted, and not treated with any harmful chemicals. Tear them into smaller pieces to make it easier for the worms to break down. Just be mindful not to add too many at once to avoid creating an imbalance in the bin.

It depends on the species but the female will normally have a more rounded belly as she fills up with eggs. Also you will notice that the males will be paying her more attention and chasing her around the tank as she gets ready to lay her eggs.

No more than 50 percent of a given volume of soil can be represented by adding sand to a garden. Equal amounts of clay and of sand respectively contribute to nutrient retention on the one hand and to aeration and drainage on the other. They ensure that soil will have 50 percent occupancy by air and moisture pore spaces and 50 percent by minerals and organic matter.

The exchange of useful chemicals between organisms and their abiotic environment is an example of a biogeochemical cycle, such as the carbon or nitrogen cycle. These cycles involve the movement and transformation of elements through different components of ecosystems, including living organisms, air, water, and soil.

Flax grows best in cool, temperate climates with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. Regions such as Canada, northern Europe, and parts of the northern United States are known for producing high-quality flax due to their favorable growing conditions.

Supplemental watering by cultivational, manual or mechanical means according to plant-specific moisture needs and without chemicals is a definition of organic farming irrigation. Cultivational means reference the use of gravity in surface irrigation. Manual or mechanical methods respectively refer to the use of hand-held cans and of pumps in center-pivot sprinkler systems and in drip irrigation.

Forty (40) pounds (18.14 kilograms) is the amount of compost that is needed to fill an empty bag of soil. A bag that intends to hold compost and soil may have just 8 pounds (3.63 kilograms) of compost and 32 pounds (14.52 kilograms) of soil. The general ratio of compost to soil tends not to rise above a maximum of 20 percent in most cases.

A symbiotic relationship occurs when both parties benefit from the exchange. This does occur when organisms in the soil exchange minerals for food from plants and they will help protect the plant from attack so they should be encouraged.

The composition of animal and plant matter is the reason why humus is called the organic part of soil. Something organic may be living or once-living. It will be carbon-based, as in the case of dead, decaying, dying and living animals and plants in the soil food web that humus sustains.

The addition of nutrient rich organic matter is the help that compost gives to the earth. Organic content in the soil encourages the passage of air and water. So at the same time, it encourages the well being of plants and the critters of the soil food web. Soil that has adequate air and water pore space, as well as appropriate levels of nutrients, is less likely to compact or erode. It therefore is more likely to be supportive to healthy plants and soil food web critters. Healthy plants tend to lead to healthier environments, without the rampant use of chemicals; and to healthier people in the process.

Bearing capacity and shrinkage tendencies are reasons why organic soils are unsuitable for foundation support. Organic soils have low bearing capacity and therefore may not be counted upon to tolerate extensive floor plans and multiple stories. They tend to shrink so more and more of the building will be exposed with time.

[1] Rich topsoil has the 16-17 nutrients [major-league nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium; and minor but nevertheless important nutrients such as cobalt and molybdenum] that plants need to grow. [2] And it's rich in organic matter. [3] Heavy in the organic matter contributions is carbon. [4] Playing the game by nature's rules, organic matter's built up from the ordinary death and decomposition of the soil food web. The soil food web's made up soil-inhabiting residents such as beetles, earthworms, microathropods, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria and nematodes. [5] The soil food web's important in rich topsoil, because bacteria and fungi combine soil particles into large groups ka aggregates by way of their glue and their threads, respectively. [6] The combination of nutrients and soil food web make soil a better place to grow and live in, by way of improved drainage and fertility at the bare minimum.

Moisture needs to be at 60-85%. Compostable material shouldn't be soggy or sopping wet. A 21"x15"x16" container could hold a week's worth of newspapers and 3-5 lbs of kitchen scraps. It wouldn't need more than a quart-sized watering container. The material needs to be moist, not soggy or sopping wet.