How to Cure Garlic

By Mary Nakirya

Garlic can be dried for long term storage. This will take 3 to 4 weeks of drying.

How to do it:

Place the entire garlic plant (bulb, roots and stalk) in a cool, dry place. You can tie the garlic in bunches and hang it, or spread your harvest out on a rack. Either way, good ventilation is a must.
Allow the garlic to dry for a few weeks (elephant garlic needs at least four weeks to cure). The outer wrapper will papery and shrunken when the garlic is dry.

Garlic drying

Once dry, trim the roots close to the bulb (leave about a half-inch remaining).
Use a soft brush to remove any dirt from the bulb. The outer layer of the wrapper can be removed, if further cleaning is desired – but try not to remove much more than that.

Leave the stalks intact, if you plan to braid your garlic. Trim them to within an inch or two of the bulb if you plan to store your garlic loose.
Your garlic is now ready for storage! Keep it in a cool, dry place and it should stay fresh for months.

Save some of your  bulbs for planting next year
Only undamaged bulbs should be dried for storage. If you nick a bulb while digging it up, you’ll need to use it right away.

How to make home made Garlic Powder

Peel your garlic cloves, and slice them thin.

•  Then, place the garlic slices in a 150 degree oven or in a dehydrator, and heat until dry.
•  The garlic is dry when you can crush it in your hand and it crumbles easily.
•  Allow the garlic to cool. Then, grind with a coffee grinder, spice mill, food processor or mortar and pestle until you reach your desired consistency.
• Store your finished garlic powder in an air-tight container in a cool, dry spot or freeze.

Photo from http://finefettlefarm.wordpress.com/

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How to Use Banana Stems in an Inovative way

Mary Nakirya

Source of picture: Organic Farming

Banana stems are known to keep for a long period of time. Some farmers have gone ahead to utilize these stemas and plant short root crops within these stems. This is done by diging small holes in the stem with the help of a knife or panga,add a little soil, and plant as required. This allows plant growth even during dry periods without irrigation. This type of planting also helps to minimise space and resources. It is affordable since banana stems are readly available to farmers in almost all African Countries.

Due to their water retaining capacity,banana stems once rotten can be used as fertilizers. This works even in plantation crops.It is important to cut them into pieces before using as a fertilizer so as they do not act as a hiding place for insects.

crops planted in banana stems

Why every Farmer Must Grow Onions

Onions grown in sacks

The onion is one of the most valuable crops to grow in the garden or in the compound.

It is mainly grown as a flavor for all types of food but also it has so many other values to humans as well as crops.

This article picks out a few uses of onions to humans.

They can be grown either in the garden or in the compound. Some people grow them in sacks in case the land is small.

Onions are also a high in food value that contains protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C and calcium depending on the type and maturity stage and storage.

It can be used to cure cholera. Get about 30 grams of onion and seven black peppers, pound finely and add a little sugar. Give to the patient. This calms thirst, restlessness and lessens vomiting and diarrhea in a short time.

Onions are used to treat the burning feeling while passing urine. Get 6 grams of onion and boil in 500 grams of water. Leave the water to reduce to half, then cool, sieve and give to the patient to drink.
Because of its iron content, onions are beneficial in treating anemia.

Injection of its juice to animals may prevent the development of tuberculosis in animals.

It increases sexual activeness and strengthens the reproductory organs. Peel off the white variety of onions, crush and fry in pure butter.

To kill germs in the mouth, chew raw onion for 3 minutes. And cut a small piece of onion and place on the affected gum to cure tooth aches.

If onions are planted around the garden, the smell will repel snakes.

By Mary Nakirya