When it comes to feeding rabbits, many people have it all wrong thanks to Bugs Bunny, Easter decor and every other image that pairs rabbits with carrots. So what do rabbits eat? In reality, domesticated rabbits thrive on a diet that consists of hay, leafy greens and grass-based pellets. 
 

Carrots are just a treat, and one that should be offered sparingly.

So if you’re a rabbit owner or you’re considering becoming one, here are a few tips for creating a healthy food plan for your rabbit, one that includes plenty of variety, including an occasional slice of carrot.

Pile on the hay

Hay should make up between 70 and 85 percent of a rabbit’s diet, according to information on rabbit careprovided by the NC State Veterinary Hospital.

The most common types of hay available in pet stores and feed stores are timothy and orchard grass. Both are great for rabbits. Another hay you’ll run into in pet stores is alfalfa hay. This type is good for young rabbits (younger than six months old) and lactating females but contains too much calcium and protein for other adult rabbits.

A good source of fiber, hay protects a rabbit’s intestines and prevents fur chewing, hairballs and overgrowth of bacteria that can lead to diarrhea and death, according to a publication on rabbit nutrition by the University of California. 

Hay also keeps a rabbit’s teeth healthy, according to West Boulevard Veterinary Clinic in Vancouver, B.C. A rabbit’s teeth grow continually throughout its life, and by chewing hay, they keep their teeth worn down to a healthy length. If a rabbit’s teeth grow too long, they can end up with mouth sores and infections.  
Prepare a daily salad

In the wild, rabbits forage for a wide variety of plants, so it makes sense that domestic rabbits also benefit from eating a variety of fresh leafy vegetables and herbs. In fact, the fresh portion of a rabbits diet is just as important as the hay, according to Northwood Animal Hospital in Irvine, Cali. Fresh vegetables provide rabbits with important nutrients and water.

Rabbits should be fed a minimum of 1 packed cup of green foods per 2 pounds of body weight each day, or about half the size of the rabbit if placed in a loose pile, according to Northwood. This salad should consist of at least three different types of dark green leafy vegetables. Some examples of good greens for rabbits include mustard greens, parsley, beet greens, swiss chard, radish tops, basil, cilantro, red lettuce, carrot tops and kale.

Don’t go overboard on pellets

High quality rabbit pellets can provide vitamins and minerals that a rabbit might not get if fed only hay and fresh vegetables, according to Dana Krempels, a biology professor at the University of Miami who authored the online resource “What Should I Feed My Bunny?” However, Krempels cautions against feeding a rabbit too much pellet food, which can cause them to become obese. Pellets can also cause rabbits to stop eating hay, which is crucial to their health.

Many veterinarians suggest feeding your rabbit no more than ⅛ cup of quality pellets per 5 pounds of rabbit per day, according to Krempels. Furthermore, not all rabbit pellets are equally nutritious. Steer clear of pellets that contain dried fruit, seeds, nuts and colored bits, which can cause serious digestion problems. A good quality rabbit pellet should have at least 22 percent crude fiber and no more than 14 percent protein, 1 percent fat and 1 percent calcium, Krempels said. 

Treats are OK, in moderation

It can be fun to feed your pets treats, but keep in mind that rabbits have sensitive digestive systems and can’t tolerate most of the foods that humans eat. Fruits are the best treats for rabbits, and more specifically, high-fiber fruits, according to a publication on rabbit nutrition by the University of California. 

Papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, raspberries and strawberries are all OK bunny treats — but only in small amounts. A small slice or a couple small berries is all your rabbit should have in a day. If a rabbit eats too much sugar, it can cause an imbalance in its digestive system. It can also cause obesity.

Always provide fresh water

Like every other mammal, rabbits require water and plenty of it. While rabbits will drink from a bottle or a bowl, a 2011 study conducted by the University of Zurich found that rabbits preferred to drink from open dishes. However, rabbits also tend to knock over dishes. To prevent this, try using a heavy bowl. Refresh the water every day.

Rabbits create their own “pellets”

If you catch a rabbit eating its poop, don’t worry. Rabbits produce a special type of dropping called a cecotrope, which is greenish, made up of several little balls and covered in mucus. Rich in nutrients, cecotropes are usually eaten by rabbits directly, according to Northwood Animal Hospital. Therefore, you likely won’t see them scattered around the cage. If you do, then the rabbit may have a diet that’s too rich in nutrients or your rabbit may have a health problem.

Monitor your rabbit’s appetite

If your rabbit stops eating and pooping, it could be serious, and you may have a short window of time to act. A condition known as gastrointestinal stasis is fairly common in rabbits. This is when the rabbit’s intestines essentially stop working, and it can be fatal. 

In an article about this “silent killer,” Krempels states that if a rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped for 12 hours, it should be taken to the veterinary clinic immediately for treatment. 

Having a relationship with a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about rabbits is important for all rabbit owners. In addition to helping in emergency situations, a veterinarian can offer advice on what to feed your rabbit and help you monitor its weight and overall health. While there are many good resources out there about rabbit care, sometimes consulting an expert is best. 

Yours,

Owen Atwebembire. 

This interesting prayer was by Joe Wright given in Kansas, USA, at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people. 

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, 

but this is what they heard: 

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says: "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done. 

1. * We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. 
2. * We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism. 
3. * We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism. 
4. * We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle. 
5. * We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. 
6. * We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. 
7. * We have killed our unborn and called it choice. 
8. * We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. 
9. * We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. 
10. * We have abused power and called it politics. 
11. * We have embezzled public funds and called it essential expenses. 
12. * We have insitutionalised bribery and called it sweets of office. 
13. * We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. 
14. *We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. 
15. * We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. 

Search us, Oh GOD, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!" 

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. 

In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.   

The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea. 

With the LORD'S help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and WHOLEHEARTEDLY become our desire so that we again can be called "ONE NATION UNDER GOD.”

I first take this opportunity to appreciate our brothers and sisters aboard for having supported the 2022 Jinja conference….

The conference helped me and my group members as well to get more interested in the Urantia Book and increased the love of the Book… And we covered more about the URANTIA AND THE URANTIA BOOK as well…

The main and major points we knew about the UB are the following:-

1. The Urantia Book is a spiritual, philosophical, and religious book that originated in Chicago sometime between 1924 and 1955. The authorship remains a matter of speculation.

2.Building on the world's religious heritage, The Urantia Book describes an endless destiny for humankind, teaching that living faith is the key to personal spiritual progress and eternal survival.

Another good question I understood with my students and the Ibanda group as well is..,,What is a thought adjuster?

IN MY OWN WORDS: Thought Adjusters are, essentially, the pre-personal (neither impersonal nor personal) "fractions" of God endowed into every human being - in the soul-level. So the Thought Adjuster us not "Divine Technology" ... the Thought Adjuster is Divinity, Himself.

Thank you!
KatoPare,
Uganda,
Founder at Youth Urantia Scholars.

[embed title="August 2022 Jinja Conference Report by Moses Kaharwa" url="https://spiritualfamily.net/file/view/53956/august-2022-jinja-conference-report-by-moses-kaharwa" guid="53956"]

The main and major points we knew about the UB are the following:-

1. The Urantia Book is a spiritual, philosophical, and religious book that originated in Chicago sometime between 1924 and 1955. The authorship remains a matter of speculation.

2.Building on the world's religious heritage, The Urantia Book describes an endless destiny for humankind, teaching that living faith is the key to personal spiritual progress and eternal survival.

Another good question I understood with my students and the Ibanda group as well is..,,What is a thought adjuster?

IN MY OWN WORDS: Thought Adjusters are, essentially, the pre-personal (neither impersonal nor personal) "fractions" of God endowed into every human being - in the soul-level. So the Thought Adjuster us not "Divine Technology" ... the Thought Adjuster is Divinity, Himself.

Thank you!
KatoPare,
Uganda,
Founder at Youth Urantia Scholars.

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Announcing a Special Youth Urantiathon

Dear Friends and Students of The Urantia Book,

The Urantia Association International with Urantia Young Adults International (UYAI) and Young and Young Adults (YaYA of Urantia Book Fellowship) Committees is organizing a special Youth Urantiathon with the theme “The Fruits of the Spirit.”

Join us as younger students of The Urantia Book share their unique reflections, engage in discussion, and experience moments of communion. The program will feature presentations given by students from Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America, with simultaneous translations into English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Students of all ages are welcome to enjoy “The Fruits of the Spirit.”

This event will take place on Saturday, December 10^th, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EST (UTC-5). Here are the times in some main regions of the world to help you adjust to your own time zone:

Spain, Netherlands, Nigeria: 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Brazil, Argentina, Chile: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Ireland and Ghana: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sydney: Sunday, December 11^th, 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

To interact in the live Zoom presentations, you must register beforehand via this link.

If you prefer, this event will be live-streamed on Facebook, so you may view it there. It will also be recorded, and the presentations will be available on Urantia Association’s YouTube channel for those who want to catch up outside of the scheduled times.

Stay tuned for more information.

  BY: Joseph Mulopi

  Agriculture Officer - Youth in Act-Uganda

  Snake River Music Gardens

  Donate to Food Forest Program by clicking HERE

Cashew nut is a hardy tropical evergreen perennial tree which spreads vigorously; old trees can have canopies with diameters of up to 12m and their roots grow up to a radius which is often twice that of canopy. It can grow to a height of 12 m with alternate leaves which are simple, leathery and ovate in shape. The lamina is glabrous, 6-20cm long and 4-15cm broad, rounded and often notched at the apex. It is tapering at the base with Promina veins, lateral veins spreading. The petiole is 1-2cm long swollen at the base and flattened on an upper surface.

Cashew nut is a cross pollination species and is highly heterozygous; it produces a mixture of male and female hermaphrodite flowers at the tip of the inflorescence. The inflorescence is a lax terminal with many flowered panicles. The flowers are sweet scented and has pubescent bracts. It has fine narrow, green sepals 5cm long, and fine linear petals which are 1cm long which is reflexed in an open flower pale greenish-to cream with red stripes, later turning red with 10 stamens.

Hermaphrodite flowers per inflorescence are about 60 in number and the ratio of male to hermaphrodite flowers is about 6:1. Most flowers open between 6.00am and 6.00pm with peak opening period between 11.am and 12.30pm. The flowers are visited by flies and other insects; these transfer the sticky pollen to the stigma. Not all flowers pollinated produce mature fruits as there is uneven fruit fall due to physiological causes. About 10 percent of the hermaphrodite flowers produce mature fruits with an average of 5-6 fruits per inflorescence.

Cashew nut is a native plant of American tropics extending from Mexico to Peru, Brazil and West Indies, Mozambique, Tanzania, Benin, Kenya, Malagasy, Malawi, Nigeria, and Senegal. Cashew nut as a tropical crop can tolerate a wide range of soils except poorly draining swampy or water logged soils, with excessive salinity or alkalinity. It prefers loam and sandy loam to very sandy soils. In Uganda it does better in well-draining high soils of the eastern and northern regions. The trees are unusual crop in that they flower, set fruits, and maintain a full leaf cover during the driest part of the year.

Cashew nut is a drought resistant tree which is explained by the great horizontal growth of roots enabling it to thrive well in areas with marginal rainfall. It can resist drought if spacing is wide enough to avoid overcrowding of the trees.

Cashew nut can be planted from both seeds and vegetative in a nursery bed or directly in the field using seeds or cuttings. Seeds are soaked overnight in water and only those that sink and are of higher than average size are selected for planting. Plant cashew nut seedlings at the spacing of 12mx12m or 18mx18m.

Seedlings are raised in the nursery bed early in the season; a shade should be constructed to protect the seedlings from direct sun rays. Select seeds which are uniform in size and shape plant in polythene with the scar on the seed pointing downwards to allow radical to push out from the scar. The nursery is watered regularly if in dry season between November and February. The seedling will be ready for planting in the field within 6 weeks.  While planting remove the polythene by cutting the bottom of the polythene pot. The advantage of planting seedlings from a nursery bed is the uniformity of the plants.

USES

The most important products of cashew nut are the kernels which are used for dessert or confectionary purposes. The cashew nut shell can be used in a number of industrial products such as medicines, paint plastics, food preservatives, brake linings and ink.  Cashew nut apple has 45-50 percent non-drying apple which is used in beverages, jam; Fein. The sap from the bark is mixed with tree wax for making shoe polish.

NUTRITION VALUES

Cashew nut apple is said to contain 88 percent water, 0.2 percent protein, 0.2 percent fat, 11.6 percent carbohydrate and is rich in vitamin C. The nut contains 5 percent water, 20 percent protein, 45 percent fats, 26 percent carbohydrates, 1.5 percent fiber, and 2.5 percent mineral matter. The shell (pericarp) contains almost 50 percent cashew-vesicant oils. Cashew-shell liquid oil is composed of 70 percent anacardic acid, 5 percent cardanol, and 18 percent cardol.

PESTS AND DISEASES

Like any other plant, cashew nut can be attacked by two species of Helopeltis bug that do considerable damage by sucking the leaves, young fruits and flower which cause fruits to fall off. The Helopeltis schoutedeni do the same damage to the plant and these two species cause black lesions on the plants and plants get die back of the new shoots. The shoots grow into witch broom, e.g. growth of the twig at one point on branches. The pests can be controlled by spraying with summithion, dimecron, thiodan etc.

The most serious diseases appear to be anthracnose which is considered to be responsible for heavy crop loss, powdery mildew, and die back or pink-disease.       

Lignite trading as a fertilizer

Where is the future starts Humic acids which are highly concentrated in lignite have multiple functions for agriculture producers:

My name is MULOPI MORIS from Uganda, a final year Biomedical engineering student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and one of the young readers and lovers of the Urantia book and am here to tell you about my experience about The Urantia Uganda August 2022 Conference which took place from the 24^th to 27^th August, 2022 at the Jinja City Hotel with the theme “The Gift of Revelation”, “The Life and Teaching of Jesus.”

Since am a student, the conference commenced in the last days I was writing my tests at school and I therefore take this opportunity to apologize because I could not make it for the very first day the conference started an I really felt so bad and felt like I missed a lot because the first day is always interesting.

Because the conference was so important to me, my mind could not settle before I reached Jinja and immediately I wrote my last test on the 25^th of August, I had to board a bus there and then to Kampala and finally to Jinja. Since it is a long journey from Mbarara to jinja, it took me some good number of hours to reach Jinja and I reached the Hotel at 11pm in the night.

At that time I found the place so silent because it was time for people to have rest for everything they did during the day. I had to also find a room to rest as I wait for the following day since I was also too exhausted by the journey.

In the morning of the following day, I woke up very early since I was eagerly wanted to attend. So I got up, organized myself and headed for morning breakfast at the Hotel restaurant. To my surprise was to see a very huge number of people of different age brackets lining up for breakfast and they had all come to attend the conference, my happiness started to raise seeing such a big population which had come to receive the revelation.

After breakfast, we headed to conference hall and the day’s program commenced.  There were presentations from different people and it was so interesting as the different presenters were speaking about the nice and useful information embodied in the Urantia book and I really felt so happy once more. It was also such an interactive moment where people were asking questions here and there and every person’s opinion was listened and explanations provided where necessary.

Everything concerning the basic necessities was provided at the conference for example feeding with all meals, accommodation, and medical care for those who got some health challenges etc and everything was a success.

Attendees having one of the meals

During my stay throughout the entire conference, I met and interacted with many people from the different parts or regions some of whom I knew, some I didn’t know, some I had just heard of them but at the end of it all I was able to make many friends.

The conference also raise and increased my love for the book. Since my joy is always seeing people happy, I was really so happy at the conference as I saw very many people happy and everyone was just appreciating and testifying the goodies of the Urantia book and family and how their lives have changed. The conference as really a unifying factor of different people.

As I conclude, it is my humble request and appeal that this should not be the last conference and we need more of such events to make more people love and embrace the Urantia book.

Thank you very much and may God bless and continue to protect you.

GROUP PHOTO