Plant Gardens 101

Because of the toxins associated with fertilizers and pesticides, many people are turning to organic gardening. The Bonsai is one plant that people are adding to their organic gardens. Originating in Asia, bonsai gardening has become very popular throughout the world. Bonsai plants require a lot of loving care. Growing them is often considered an art form.

Organic Soil and Fertilization

The proper soil mixtures and fertilizers are essential for healthy bonsai growth. Research shows that the best bonsai soils are soils that have organic matters. Bonsai soil tends to be a loose, quick-draining mix of natural and non-chemically treated soil. The foundation is a mixture of sand or gravel, fired clay pellets, or shale, which is mixed with an organic compound such as peat or bark. Volcanic clay soils are a preferred selection in Japan. Kadama and Kanuma are two popular choices. (more…)

Instead of chemicals in your soil and on your food, why not try organic gardening? You can start with just a few plants in pots or a small patch, or you can go whole hog and dig up half your yard!

Actually, if it’s your first garden, it’s better to start small. Gardeners have a tendency to plant more than they can reasonably care for – everything looks so great in the catalogs! But even though gardening is a lot of fun and a satisfying pastime, it’s also a lot of work. Half way through the growing season you may wish you’d been a little more moderate in your planting. It’s better to work your way up to that huge garden!

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By using only organic gardening supplies; your gardening tasks will be easier and more enjoyable.

Compost, an all natural soil amendment is made through the use of composters. Composters break down organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps to make a 100% organic, all natural soil additive. Composters come in varying shapes, sizes and designs. Research composters and choose one that meets your needs. Making your own natural compost is a great alternative to other organic gardening supplies you would ordinarily have to buy, and it’s free!

Rain barrels collect water from your roof and store it until needed. Rain water is softer and chemical free. Rain Barrels are great for keeping your plants healthy and saving water. Many rain barrels are made from reused food drums and recycled plastic, keeping with the commitment to sustainable living. You can collect approximately 675 gallons of rain off your roof from a single rain storm. Stored rain water supplies much needed moisture to your gardens during extreme dry spells where rationing is necessary.

All Natural and organic fertilizer supplies much needed nutrients to plantings. Natural and organic fertilizers generally have a slow release so nutrients last over time. Natural and organic fertilizers such as liquefied worm poop and tea from composters, are among the top natural and organic fertilizers and an essential ingredient to your organic gardening supplies. (more…)

Organic gardening is a chemical-free and earth-friendly method of gardening. Organic gardening and conventional gardening differ on how they control pests and nourish the soil. Conventional gardening uses chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers while organic gardens use organic means of enriching the soil and organic weed killers and fertilizers.

Organic gardens follow natural practices that include:

Organic Soil: Quality soil is the main component of creating a successful garden. By providing nourishing natural substances to the soil, you will be well on your way to growing healthy plants and vegetables. For an organic garden, it is essential to add natural additives such as organic compost, manure, chopped leaves, and mulches. Before adding natural compounds, you should do a soil test to determine whether the soil has any mineral deficiencies. To improve the quality of the soil, you can add a number of natural products that are rich in nutrients. Natural additives can include organic compost, fish emulsion, and blood meal. If you do not have the time to make your own natural soil feed, there are many natural products available for purchase. Such products that are rich in nutrients include seaweed meal, straw mulch, and worm casts. Making worm compost is a great way to compost organic waste (more…)

If you would love to grow healthy, fresh vegetables and vibrant, beautiful flowers but have limited space, organic container gardening can be the answer you’ve been looking for. This creative type of natural gardening can be done just about anywhere and it can even be easier than maintaining a traditional garden plot.

Here are three things to consider for simple organic container gardening, regardless of the amount of space you may have.

Start With Organic Soil

It only stands to reason that for any successful venture in organic container gardening, one would need organic soil. A regular, outdoor garden begins with the soil or dirt that you already have and then organic materials are added to increase nutrients. But you’ll be ahead of the game if you start with organic soil to begin with. (more…)

Typically, people new to organic gardening are excited by the whole concept of “organic,” but don’t know where to start. I remember when I first got the organic “fever”; I was so excited to “discover” many things—not realizing immediately that organic gardening has been around since creation. I was reading everything I could find on the subject. Some articles were very entertaining but gave little practical information. Other articles seemed to focus on a particular product as being the miraculous answer to all gardening problems. I remember early on in my learning curve, reading an extremely interesting article about liquid organic fertilizer. It made a lot of sense and I was sold on the product, ready to run out and buy it. Problem was, I hadn’t even planted anything yet!

I put on the brakes and backed up a bit, but still eagerly absorbed the guiding principles for organic growing that enabled me to be successful. In retrospect, I always recommend to anyone who is just discovering organic gardening to start on a small scale. Container gardening, for example, is a perfect place to start. You can move your container easily to protect it from the elements, even indoors! (more…)

Organic gardening is the practice of growing vegetables, herbs and fruits relying only things found in nature. An organic gardener aspires to work in harmony with natural systems and to minimize and continually replenish any of the resources the garden consumes. The organic gardener prefers to use natural and organic materials and methods, while trying to avoid using practices and synthetic chemicals that may be detrimental to his or the environment’s health. As a reward, organic gardens can be both attractive and productive – and it’s simpler than you think!

Organic gardening differs from “conventional” gardening mainly in what regards fertilization and pest control. If pests are present, it is important to assess whether or not they are causing sufficient damage that action must be taken against them. Plants such as marigolds, sunflowers, and dill can attract beneficial insects that prey on pests that would otherwise damage nearby plants. Some plants have a tendency to ward off specific pests, especially when planted next to susceptible plants. They do this by emitting chemicals from their roots or leaves, called allelochemicals, which repel pests. Also, birds, ladybugs and praying mantises are to be considered the gardener’s best friends when it comes to insect control. (more…)

It’s time we started showing some respect and gratitude for the underappreciated earthworm and his boy back-up band, fungi & bacteria. They are the true humble heroes and workhorses who do the necessary dirty work to keep your soil full of nutrients.

Yet, in our home gardens, we’re constantly killing earthworms with synthetic fertilizers. We’re baking them to a crisp with unnatural, high-levels of nitrogen and salts. Worms don’t want to see any neon colored manmade crystals.

Remember, earthworms are garden superstars, but they don’t insist on the center-stage spotlight! They thrive in moisture and dark. All they require is some good old fungi, bacteria, a banana peel or two and yesterday’s sports page to create nature’s best fertilizer in their castings, for free!

5 Dirt Diva Reasons Why Gardeners Should Love Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) (more…)

Most home owners take lot of pride in caring for their homes both inside and out, and try to make their home the best that it can be. Nice landscaping makes a person feel welcomed to the home.

Having the correct tools and lawn care products is essential to getting your garden and lawn looking its very best. Far too many people believe that the way to achieve this is through the use of pesticides and other chemicals to eliminate weeds and keep bugs under control. People do not realize that they can have a really beautiful lawn and garden using organic gardening methods, and they won’t be harming the environment in the process.

Fertilizers used on today’s lawns are full of chemicals the worst of these being nitrates and phosphates. Since it takes several pounds of fertilizer to treat one lawn, you are exposing your family and pets to a great deal of toxic products. Fertilizers are known to trigger asthma, are a known carcinogen, and cause neurological problems in young children and pets. Worse yet these chemicals get into the soil and into our drinking water supply. (more…)

If you are considering whether it will be right for you to grow your own vegetables organically, here are a few of the most common asked questions.

Why should I consider organic gardening?
Organic gardening is for the individual that would like to control food quality. You should consider it if you are concerned about high food prices, low quality of commercially grown food, and if it is at all even healthy for you.

How hard is it to do?
Organic gardening is very simple. With the proper instructions and guidance, you will soon learn that it almost takes care of itself. Preparations are simple and will last for seasons with minimal care.

How much space is needed?
All you need is enough space for a pot and a plant to get started. Expand as you go. You will be amazed at the amount you can grow in very limited space with potted vegetables. (more…)

What is organic gardening? It is gardening using materials and or matter that comes from compost, manure and other living matter. It is also a way to garden without using pesticides, insecticides and other harmful ingredients.

Organic gardening is an excellent way to grow your trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and plants. Start Spring color for your garden Organic composting comes from worms, food waste, grass clippings and old leaves. If left alone in some type of tumbler or rotating container it will eventually be consumed by bacteria. You can then use this type of “Compost” to amend your soil for your gardening needs. Humus comes from composted vegetable matter. You can make your own organic compost using a Compost Tumbler. Mulching is another form of organic gardening. Mulch is added to the top layer of any gardening bed, tree, or plant thus keeping moisture in and suppressing weeds from growing. This helps in eliminating harmful herbicides and or insecticides into the environment. Organic fertilizers are cottonseed meal, blood meal, Fish Emulsion, manure and sewage sludge. Many of these type of fertilizers are high or low on the three types of nutrients needed for your plants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potash.

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Organic gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruits with the use of things only found in nature. Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that organic gardening does not use chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health. Organic gardening is an excellent way to assure that your plants will be free and clear of all pesticides and, if taken care of properly, will be as healthy as possible.

Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants grown organically. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other things. The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. (more…)

We only have one world to live in. We need to take our own share to keep this world going in a natural way and as clean as possible. So many people are leaving a huge footprint on the world by using the natural resources and not replenishing or limiting their consumption. At this rate we could really be in trouble when it comes to
Nowadays, large numbers of individuals are using organic products and that number is growing. From organic food, to organically grown products like clothes, extra long hemp shower curtains, bedding and even household furniture.
“Green house” is the new term for an environmentally clean home. The house is built using organic, environmentally friendly materials. Walls and floors are made of wood while the decor, bedding and long shower curtains are also made from natural materials. With tankless water heaters, solar panels and triple pane windows, these homes are designed to keep the energy consumption to a minimum. The ability to generate power and water in your own home makes going organic very unique and it intrigues many people. Being less wasteful and more organic at home can be done in many different ways. (more…)

Give them their own ‘patch’. This is a great way for kids to learn to be responsible for something. It’s best if their patch is small, at least in the beginning. If they love it and want to do more, you can always make it bigger.

You want to encourage them by getting results as quickly as possible. When I was a little tacker it seemed like time almost stood still – especially when I was waiting for something. Start with seedlings of lettuce, cherry tomatoes or snow peas – foods that they love and are quick to give results. Potatoes are always a winner. Digging them up is like digging for buried treasure!

Take your little one(s) with you to select seeds that they can grow in their plot. They’ll probably choose plants with bright colours and interesting textures, which will add interest to your dinner table. You’ll find they are really keen to eat what they’ve grown, so you’ll have them trying new things. This also gives them a valuable sense of contribution to the family and pride in themselves. (more…)

A very old, and newly popular, concept in the proper management of the land. It involves growing plants without using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and the addition and preservation of humus, primarily by making and using a compost pile.