Juan D. Rivera started learning everything he could about plants, farming, livestock, and ecosystems at a young age. Since then, he’s earned a Master’s degree in wildlife biology (Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México) and a PhD in forestry (North Carolina State University), both with an emphasis on conservation farming and renewable technology. He has worked in planning crops for companies and workshops, as an educational consultant and writer.
Let’s face it: when most people think of poultry, they picture a plump, golden-brown chicken sizzling on the dinner plate. It’s the classic staple, the go-to option for almost every meal. Duck, on the other…
When I first brought ducks into my backyard flock, I didn’t know what to expect. I figured they’d waddle around, splash in their kiddie pool, and maybe lay an egg or two. What I didn’t…
The Blue Sapphire Ceanothus, or Ceanothus X ‘Blue Sapphire,’ is a popular tree among gardeners. It’s also known as Himalayan Cedar ‘Aurea,’ Deodar Cedar ‘Aurea,’ Golden Himalayan Cedar, and Golden Deodar Cedar. This tree is…
When I first brought home a few ducks, I figured keeping their little pond clean would be a once-a-week chore at most. But within hours, their water turned from crystal clear to something that looked…
Raising ducks is one of those experiences that combines a bit of country charm with a lot of hands-on work. Whether you’ve just brought home your first ducklings or are considering adding new ones to…
If you’ve spent any time around ducks or geese, you’ve probably marveled at their unique personalities and playful interactions. You may have even pondered an intriguing question: can ducks and geese crossbreed? After all, they…
If you’re new to the world of ducks, you may have heard conflicting opinions about how males interact with ducklings. On one hand, you have the charming image of a loving drake gently guiding his…
I’ll be the first to admit it: raising ducks wasn’t exactly on my bingo card when I started dabbling in backyard farming. I imagined chickens, maybe a goat or two—but ducks? They waddled into my…
When I first considered housing my male ducks and roosters in the same coop, I figured they’d learn to get along like distant cousins at a family reunion—maybe a few awkward stares, but mostly peaceful…