Articles and Tips May, 2009
More isn’t Better: Organic Fertilizer Myths Busted
With the rabid interest in organic vegetable gardening reaching a fever pitch, questions about the amount and timing of fertilizer applications are bound to appear. Wait – I sound like I’m writing a really bland paper to be delivered at a government conference. Let’s start over.
Don’t you love that show Myth Busters? I do. They save me from trying out all …
The Garbage Can Compost Bin
We all want to be greener, healthier and wiser, but we don’t have to break the bank to do it. Here’s my garbage can composter. It’s simple, chic and wallet friendly, not to mention, a good family project.
To Build a Trash Can Compost Bin
A plastic or metal garbage can; it must have a locking lid
A drill
A hole saw bit for metal doors—I used the size for the peep hole
Three or four cinder block-should have holes …
Basil: Powerhouse of Flavor, Nutrition and Healing
Organic sweet basil – seeds available at ParkseedBasil has been cultivated in India and Asia for over 5,000 years. Revered for its flavor and healing qualities, it is a traditional herb in Mediterranean, Italian and Thai dishes. Its name comes from the Greek word for king, and it reflects the reverence attributed to …
The Pincushion Flower: Butterfly Blue
One of our favorite perennial plants for the garden is Scabiosa columbaria “Butterfly Blue.” This delightful little plant blooms all summer long and is an important addition to the butterfly garden.
There are many different colors of pincushion flower. You can get plants that bloom white, pink, purple, blue and maroon. There are annual and perennial varieties of Scabiosa. …
Using Organic Fertilizers
Sometimes, your garden needs a quick boost of nutrients, but you don’t want to resort to using synthetic fertilizers, and your compost still needs time to cook. There are good organic fertilizer options out there to jump start your garden. To find and use the best organic fertilizer for your garden, you first need to understand the different types of fertilizers available. Here are some common organic fertilizer types that you …
Topsy Turvy Tomatoes
Picture a traditional garden plot of tomatoes. What do you see in your mind’s eye? Probably a sea of tomato cages, a sprawling jungle of tangled leaves, blossoms and tomatoes. There are probably more than a few rotten tomatoes lying around on the ground, cast offs because the gardener couldn’t harvest them fast enough, or find …
Organic Herb Gardens: From Garden to Kitchen to Medicine Cabinet
Mmm, the savory fragrance of sweet basil, oregano and thyme wafting in your warm, welcoming kitchen… Now imagine that you just walked out into your own garden and picked those delicious organic herbs fresh for your culinary masterpiece. Or, maybe you just reached over your kitchen sink and plucked them from their growing pots on the windowsill.
Herb gardening isn’t difficult or reserved for experts requiring special skills or talents. Think of herbs as any other …
Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: May 2009
Today is Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day! Each month on the 15th day, rain or shine, bloggers from around the world take pictures of everything blooming in their gardens, and showcase it for everyone to see. You can go on a little virtual garden tour by visiting Carol over at May Dreams Gardens. Be sure to add your blog to the list!
Here is what’s …
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
I’m not even finished reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver, but I can’t wait to tell everyone in the entire world how much I love this book. Plus, it isn’t the type of book you have to read …
Composting with Worms
We’ve lately had a few questions about composting with worms. Can you put them in a tumbler? Will they get too hot? How do you compost with worms? (Disclaimer: I am not yet a worm farmer, but I have turned to one of my most trusty sources: The Rodale Book of Composting to bring …
