Latest news with #Koi
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Marion County entrepreneur a staple at area farmers markets
KATY — Every morning for 22 years, Sudawan Richardson rises at 5:30 in the morning to tend to her five-acre farm atop a mountain in the unincorporated community of Katy. Farmer's market season began over two weeks ago, and for rest of the hot summer months, Richardson alone will do everything from maintaining and harvesting her crop to selling at market. At 70, her farm, with its nine gardens, three green houses and one koi pond is a one-woman operation. 'Yesterday I go to Bridgeport Farmers Market,' she said. 'So busy. I don't have time to stay and bring the water. I'm so tired and I think, 'oh I come home and take a nap.' But I walk over there, open my greenhouse for it because too hot. I see some insect, I have to put the trap. Sometimes on Saturday, I work the green onion, I cut the lettuce. I have to wash it first before I go to the market. I work until 10 p.m.' The green hill Richardson's farm sits atop is picturesque. Small black birds with orange fringes flit between trees and chirp their annoyance at having to share their space with humans. At the end of a path descending down a hill is a small pond, turned muddy from the deluge that has fallen on the state in recent weeks. Richardson throws a handful of fish food onto the surface, and at first a few tiny fish appear to peck at the pellets, but with enough patience the ghostly outline of two Koi appear just beneath the surface. However, perhaps shy at the presence of a stranger, they disappear out of sight to join the rest of their bretheren in hiding. The only signs there's more fish in the pond are concentric ripples that regularly expand on the surface. Richardson arrived in the United States in 2003 from Udon Thani, Thailand, the capital of its province and the sixth largest city in the country. Richardson taught physical education in Thailand. 'My dad wanted I to be pharmacist, because we have the land and open the pharmacy, make a lot of money,' she said. 'But I love sport. I love to play sport. That's why I did physical education program.' Richardson also held positions at high paying jobs in coveted industries and with the country's court system. Richardson met Curtis Richardson, a Fairmont native, through online dating. They got to know each other for a brief period virtually before he offered to move her to West Virginia. While she helped her family take care of the animals on her family's farm in Thailand, she didn't garden. After arriving in the United States, she told her husband she wanted to work and not stay at home. Initially, she was interested in babysitting but he worried about liability in case a child got injured. The language barrier kept her from teaching. So, she started to garden, and found happiness in that. However, in the early 2010s, her husband developed cancer and retired from his job. He also had diabetes. He passed in 2016 at the age of 80, according to his obituary. She was now alone on her farm on top of a mountain. Planting starts in February and takes about four weeks. She does all the work by herself. Her neighbors worry she plants too early, that her seedlings will die but Richardson is prepared for the remaining cold weeks. She uses covers to keep the plants warm and once cold season is over, her plants are healthy and ready to soak up the sun. Right now, in early June, she's harvesting potatoes, green tomatoes, kale, broccoli, strawberries, sugar cane and more. She has several varieties of tomatoes growing in her green houses. Harvesting doesn't take as long as planting. She picks her product the day before market so her produce is the freshest. The zucchinis she grows are giant, and go well in a cast iron pan with oil, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese and served with a sauce made from greek yogurt and dill. Kent Leonhardt, agriculture commissioner of West Virginia, said the state has tripled the number of farmers markets in the state since he was elected eight years ago. The state now has 275 registered licensed farmers markets. Leonhardt said most farmers in the state, like Richardson, are independent farmers. 'We've got just shy of 23,000 farms,' Leonhardt said. 'Most of them are independent. We have some farms that have contracts, like our poultry growers but the farmer owns the farm. It's just contracted for the poultry house. We have some turkey farms that are corporate but for the most part our farms are independent.' The West Virginia Grown program, developed in 1986, lists more than 500 companies throughout the state and more than 34 product types in its 2025 directory. The typical West Virginia farm focuses on cow-calf operations, but there's more high tunnels for seasonal fruits and vegetables. 'People are going more and more to these markets and buying local produce,' Leonhardt said. 'It's fresher, it doesn't spoil in your refrigerators rapidly. You may pay a little more, but it's worth it.' Leonhardt said the state has eased regulations and encouraged independent farming, to promote the West Virginia Grown brand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also promotes the program. Last year a historic drought struck the state. While the prediction from meteorologists last year was the drought would continue into this year, so far it's been a wet and rainy season. However, it's been too wet. Farmers are behind in planting their crops, Leonhardt said. And he hopes this summer doesn't get as dry as last year. Leonhardt said last year it also rained heavily in the spring but dried out over the summer. Also, the heavy rains are running off and not rebuilding the water table. Soil moisture hasn't rebuilt. 'That's why I say we should have a little bit of rain a lot, rather than a lot of rain at once,' he said. Richardson isn't worried about the rain or dry spells. She deals with each situation as it comes. Part of the reason she's not worried about a dry summer is because the USDA came and installed water lines to feed her crops directly and the City of Fairmont can provide the water she needs. Richardson's season lasts 29 weeks. She wishes she could find someone to help her sell her product at market, but is wary about who she hires because she's been the victim of theft from an employee before. More than anything else though, she said hiring someone might mean raising prices to pay the employee, and she wants to keep her prices low. She has also gotten offers for her farm, but she's not eager to sell to just anyone. As far as she's concerned, there should always be a little farm on top of a mountain, with its koi pond, producing good food for people to afford. 'I don't want people to throw down the ground, the water system, the high tunnel — everything perfect for the garden,' she said. 'A lot of people call me, 'you want to sell farm?' I hear, oh boy, you're not a farmer. I want to sell my farm for people work in the farm.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Most expensive Koi fish sold for a worth of $1.8 million; here's what makes the fish so special
Most expensive Koi fish sold for a worth of $1.8 million; here's what makes the fish so special Nishkigoi, commonly known as Koi fish, are a popular and striking species recognized for their vivid red and white coloring. Admired for their elegance and beauty so much so that even predators are captivated by their appearance. High value Koi are typically bred by prestigious Japanese breeders with decades of experience. Koi fish are not only elegant but possess other notable characteristics; they are strong, intelligent and resilient creatures that can live longer,with a life span ranging from 25 to 40 years. This fish is loved by many pet owners because of their friendly nature. Spending millions on Koi fish may sound surprising, but the factors such as- bloodline, pattern, size and gender, significantly determine their value. Female Koi are more valuable than males, as females grow bigger and have better body shape and color retention. S Legend Koi fish sold for a worth millions According to A-Z-Animals reports, in October 2018, S Legend, a Kohaku variety, brought in a whopping $1.8 million. The 39-inch colorful female carp was bought by Ms. Ying Ying Chung, a Koi enthusiast and collector, from the renowned breeder Kentaro Sakai. While a standard Kohaku koi that costs just $50, the price paid $1.8 million for S Legend was shocking. The reason for the high price was pretty clear, the particular fish species could lay up to 1000,000 eggs during one breeding season. Even if only 1/% matches the high-quality standards, it would yield a significant number of premium Kohaku koi- making a profitable investment. Additionally, Kohaku Koi can grow up to 50 inches, and their value increases as their size increases. But, the million dollar S Legend died in 2019 Types of Kohaku koi fishes There are a variety of Kohaku koi in the market, including: Asagi These are characterized by a blue or indigo body, and red at the base of the pectoral fins. They are one of the oldest koi varieties and are recognized by their 'net-like' pattern of scales. The red at the base of the pectoral fins is called Motoaka. Bekko Bekko koi are a simple, beautiful koi variety characterized by a solid colored body (white, red, yellow) with black sumi markings. Bekkoi koi have a simple stepping stone pattern. They are essentially Taisho Sanke Koi without the red (Hi) markings. Doitsu Doitsu are German carp that are scale-less. Depending on the type of Doitsu, there may be scales along the lateral and dorsal lines of the koi or no scales at all. Ginrin Ginrin indicates the group of koi varieties that have diamond scales on their entire bodies. These scales are different from metallic and Platinum koi due to their scales being reflective and shining in the light. Hiirenga / Butterfly Hirenaga Koi are the butterflies of the water, and are known for their graceful, flowing fins. The long fins and tail of the Hirenaga should be solid without tears and ideally should be symmetrical. Platinum Platinum Koi can grow to be jumbo and are most treasured when they have a beautiful solid metallic shine with no blemishes or scars. They shine beautifully in a dark pond, with their almost reflective bodies. Showa Showa are beautiful koi, with colors of white, red, and black painted across their bodies. Showa are one of the 'Big 3'koi fish along with Taisho Sanke and Kohaku Koi. All these fishes have different price tags, depending on their physical characteristics. The most valuable ones have a bright white on their tails, pectoral and dorsal fins. The value of Koi fish decreases due to the soft edging of a koi colour's pattern. Some less valuable species are Komoyo, Makibara, Kuchibeni, and Shiromuji. Colours of Kohaku koi fishes The colors of Kohaku Koi, depend on their age and sex. Female koi fish take more time to attain their red coloration, and they continue to retain as they grow older. Whereas, male koi fish develop their coloring early, but the color tends to fade as they age. Diet of Kohaku koi fishes Additionally, the diet of the Koi fish plays a major role in developing and retaining health and coloration. The diets of the fish should contain plenty of protein, spirulina, and krill to achieve the best results.
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Says 'Sorry' to Neighbors After Realizing What Cat Keeps Stealing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a twist on the classic "look what the cat dragged in," one feline has left people in stitches with her domestic take on hunting. TikToker @beccagagg, thought to be based in England, shared a now-viral clip of her black and white cat pressing its face against a window, proudly gripping a large yellow sponge in its mouth. The video, caption read: "If anyone keeps losing sponges sorry it's probably my cat stealing them," while the overlay text said: "Most cats bring home a mouse or a bird." Viewed more than 696,000 times since being posted last week, the video has struck a chord with fellow cat owners who know all too well the chaos that comes with curious felines. "Mine went through a phase of bringing home fried eggs. Clearly off someone's plate as they had pepper on," wrote one commenter. Another wrote, "My cat once brought home a full cooked still-warm rotisserie chicken—I was lowkey impressed she carried it." "My old cat stole someone's budgie, brought it in all proud and mum's just about to go get rid when it starts moving. que my mum chasing a budgie round the house with a shoebox whilst the cat tries to," said viewer Shan. While user nickycraig1969 said: "My late cat Ronnie stole a Koi out of a neighbors pond." While other pet owners said they would probably rather get cleaning supplies than the things their pets keep bringing home: "Not gonna lie I would prefer this over mice lol. Once my cat Piper brought me someone else's bra," said TikToker Megan. A picture from the viral video of the cat who brings home unexpected items for her owner. A picture from the viral video of the cat who brings home unexpected items for her owner. @beccagagg/TikTok Shedding light on why some cats bring home their prey, pet food website Purina said: "It used to be thought that cats bringing home presents was an indication of affection and that we should look on it as a compliment. Or maybe that they thought that we are obviously totally useless at hunting and need some help in that department. "It is however now thought that cats quite simply prefer to bring their prey back to their core territory where it is safer to eat it – or store it for a bit later. This 'core territory' is the house – and often in the space they share with you." Becca's cat isn't the only one to go viral for bringing home some unexpected prey, though. Last year a cat dubbed a "thief" arrived home with something very unexpected—a full pack of cigarettes. Megan filmed her cat coming through the window with a "pack of 20 and some rizla," or a full pack of cigarettes and rolling papers. "I'm not sure where she goes or how she gets it," the owner told Newsweek. While an indoor cat won Newsweek's weekly Pet of the Week for his unconventional gifts for his owner. "Instead of bringing us gifts of rodents or birds, he chooses to bring us random furniture," Monkey the cat's owner Miguel told Newsweek. Newsweek reached out to @beccagagg via TikTok for comment. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want toshare? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- Telegraph
Perfecting the art of relaxation at a contemporary Cyprus hotel
You may have heard of Fig Tree Bay Beach in Cyprus – an idyllic stretch of powder-soft sand lapped by bright aquamarine waters. This Blue Flag beach in the east of the island is where you'll find Capo Bay Hotel, a contemporary resort that really makes the most of its sublime setting inches away from Fig Tree Bay's shores. The interior is as appealing as the location – this is a modern hotel defined by contemporary lines, rooms filled with natural light, white walls and sheets and duck-egg blue cushions and sofas. The public spaces of the hotel feature paintings by local and international artists – one-of-a-kind pieces that have been created for the hotel, inspired by the sea views and beauty of the island. This is a place where you can do as much or as little as you like. That could be a long day at the beach, sunbathing on a lounger or snoozing in the shade of an umbrella, taking regular dips in the sea to cool off from Cyprus's guaranteed balmy temperatures. Loungers are spread across the lawn, perfectly placed near a breezy outdoor lunch spot. There are three pools to choose from, with bars for ordering drinks, whether it's smoothies, iced coffees or something stronger. The hotel is close to restaurants and bars, but there are more than enough in the resort. The main restaurant serves up wow-factor views alongside delicious freshly made Cypriot and Mediterranean dishes. Cucina is the informal Italian just a few metres from the sand with its menu of seafood pasta, mozzarella salads and more; if you're craving Asian cuisine you'll find it at Koi, another al fresco dining spot. For something more romantic, you can book a private meal at perfect locations around the resort grounds, with a chef and waitress on hand to take care of you. If you're travelling with kids everything will feel relaxed and effortless, from the short stroll from the rooms and suites to the beach to the shaded gardens and toy-filled kids' club, which runs from April to October. Two padel courts are also on site; this popular sport is an easy one to pick up and master, and as it is mostly played in doubles, it is perfect for families – and anyone else who is feeling sociable. For some solo quiet time, the Oneiro Spa Center is just the spot. It was designed by renowned architect and sculptor Joseph Caspari who has created a minimalist space in calming shades of grey and black. Along with an indoor pool, sauna, aromatherapy steam room, ice fountain and more, there's a long menu of detoxifying body wraps, hydrating, soothing and plumping facials, tension-easing massages and manicures, as well as pedicures.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Beloved Koi Fish kidnapped from Aiea home
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Koi Fish in Aiea has been kidnapped and police are asking for the public's help in helping solve this case. Two men found unresponsive on Kailua Beach According to Honolulu police, sometime between February 7 and 9, a Koi Fish was stolen from a backyard pond on Palula Way in Koi was given to the owner as a gift 20 years ago by her late husband. She said it's a 'comfort fish'. The Koi is described as being black and white and weighs between 20 to 30 pounds. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Anyone with information is asked to call the Honolulu Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
