Mindzle

Posts Tagged ‘Organic Garden’

Herbal Compost Activators
By Henry Allpas

You may have heard about herbal compost activators or perhaps you have not. Either way, they help your compost pile rapidly produce compost for you to use in your garden. If you find that your compost is taking forever to mature you can add some of the following to give it a jolt.

1. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is rich in calcium, potassium, nitrogen and phosphates. Its leaves are hairy and they break down quickly. This provides a nutrient influx for the inhabitants of your compost heap.
2. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has the ability to attracts earthworms. Why? Who knows? But having earthworms in your compost pile helps your compost mature more quickly. After Earthworms eat the organic matter in your compost pile they leave their nutrient-rich castings which are great for your garden. The leaves of Valerian are also very nutrient rich.
3. Dandelions (Taraxacum sp) are rich in iron, copper and potash. All three of which are excellent for keeping your compost pile healthy. Not only that, but now you have a place to put those pesky dandelions when you pull them out of your lawn.
4. Yarrow (Achillea sp) has a big impact on your compost pile, even if you only add it in small amounts. It provides nitrates, phosphates, potash and copper.
5. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) concentrates the potassium from the soil where it grows. When you add Tansy to your compost pile you are adding loads of potassium, which is great for your hard working worms and bacteria.

The great thing about herbal compost activators is that they are an all natural way of getting your compost pile steaming along at high efficiency. However, these plants cannot save your compost from everything. For example, if your compost pile is too cold then no matter how many herbal compost activators you add, it will not increase production until the temperature increases.

Composting is an art and there are lots of things you need to know to compost successfully, but once you have it it becomes a piece of cake. Learn more about composting, worm composting and the like on my website: http://www.bigsteamypile.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_Allpas
http://EzineArticles.com/?Herbal-Compost-Activators&id=1722479

Container Gardening Essentials – Discover Nature’s 7 Most Nutritious and Power Packed Herbs
By Eric Samms

Scientists and nutritionists insist that we pack in as many raw and organic fruits and vegetables for maximum health and vitality. But the humble herb’s inner vigor is often overlooked. But not anymore, through the charms of organic container gardening, it’s time to not only add a melody of tastes, but a great source of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

The Finalists Are:

1. Mints : There are a variety of mint leaves, the most common being spearmint, peppermint, apple mint, and ginger mint. Use mints in salads, dressings, in teas, with lamb, in summer drinks and sorbets, and also as a garnish.

It has been used for centuries in Asian cuisine and herbal treatments. It was considered so usefull that it was an accepted as a tax payment. Jesus even scolds the Pharisees in Luke (11:39) “you pay tithes of mint and rue…but have no care for justice and the love of God.” Not only does it taste great, but it freshens the breath, helps settle the stomach and aids digestion, and has been found to slow the growth of some fungi and bacteria.

2. Basil : A clean and distinctive flavor, it especially works great with fresh tomato and cooked tomato based dishes, such as those from Italy. It can be added to soups, salads, breads, and pasta and forms the key ingredient in pesto.

Research studies on basil have shown unique health-protecting effects in two basic areas: basil’s flavonoids and volatile oils. Flavonoids are chemicals components – and Basil’s have been found to protect cells from radiation and oxygen damage. It’s oil has been found to have antibacterial properties, and it is a rich source of Vitamin A which helps prevent free-radical cell damage.

3. Parsley : A light and refreshing herb, with 2 main varieties curly and flat leaf. It is very versatile, and is wonderful added to just about any dish – soups, salads, breads.

It is also no modest herb – bursting in Vitamin C, an important component to disease prevention and great skin. Plus it is also a rich source of other nutrients such as Vitamin’s K and A, and Folic Acid, an important factor in good cardiovascular health.

4. Chives : They are delicate in flavor, and as such more suited to light dishes and salads, or as wonderful garnishes or decoration. If you have more than you need just store them in the freezer, and use as required.

Chives are from the allium family , and All alliums contain iron, and vitamins. Low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium , and High in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Thiamin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Zinc.

5. Thyme : This herb is one of my favorites. It has a warming and satisfying flavor, and works great with chicken, sprinkled on vegetables, and in light salads.

Derived from a Greek word meaning courage, thyme is said to be an invigorating herb, and is also renowned for it’s antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, and anti-spasmodic qualities – useful to soothe digestion and menstrual cramps and is an excellent source of iron and manganese, calcium and a food source of dietary fiber.

6. Dill : A light a refreshing herb which works wonderfully with salmon, in salads, and dressings.

Dill’s name comes from the old Norse word “dilla” which means “to lull” reflecting it’s traditional uses as both a stomach soother and an insomnia reliever. The total volatile oil portion of dill has been shown to have bacteria-regulating effects, much like garlic, and is good source of calcium.

7. Sage : A strong and meaty herb, it partners well with some chicken dishes, as well as onions and potatoes, and form many herbal teas.

Similar to rosemary and thyme, sage helps reduce depletion of the brain’s concentration of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is crucial to proper brain function. A combination of ginkgo biloba, sage, and rosemary may help prevent or slow the development of Alzheimer’s. More research is needed to find out why sage is so effective but researchers think it could be a combination of chemicals in the oil which have an effect on acetylecholine and which give it antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, also considered to be of value in Alzheimer’s therapy.

It helps promote digestion health, its antiseptic action is especially important in relation to intestinal infection and is said to reduce gripping pains by relaxing the intestines.
It is an excellent remedy for helping to remove mucous congestion in and numerous studies have confirmed that Sage leaf helps to reduce menopausal sweats, and helps reduce pain associated with menstruation.

Who ever would have thought that herbs could be such nutritious powerhouses? So before you reach for the salt, think ‘Fresh Nutritious Herbs’, and add these to your breads, pasta dishes, salads, soups, meat dishes, hot teas, and anything else you’d like to try! Organic container gardening is the tool to growing your personal, pesticide free herbs, plus it’s fun, fulfilling, a great way to save money, and it keeps you and the family bursting with health and vitality.

I’m Eric Samms and I’m here to share my passion for Container Gardening with you all. After years of starting, maintaining and developing my own Container Gardens for the last 11 years – it’s time to give away my secrets. Now it’s your turn to learn all about Container Gardening and it’s many amazing benefits in your life! Visit http://www.containergardeningexpert.com today for more great container gardening tips plus your two free gifts!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Samms
http://EzineArticles.com/?Container-Gardening-Essentials—Discover-Natures-7-Most-Nutritious-and-Power-Packed-Herbs&id=1733878

Be Healthy Wealthy and Feel Great by Taking Up a New Hobby
By Hilary Bassakaropoulos

7 reasons why organic gardening makes you healthier, richer and happier

It’s a well known fact that getting closer to the earth relieves stress – when did you last spend a few hours in the garden? Even in wintertime you can put some warm clothes and spend an hour or so in your garden. It can be very invigorating.

Have you ever tasted organically grown vegetables and fruit and wished that you afford to have them more often? Have you smelt the difference as they were being cooked in your kitchen? The smell of a pot of vegetable soup made with organic vegetables is so inviting on a cold winter’s day.

When did you last have the pleasure of sharing something with your family that you know is good for their health? How pleased would your friends and relatives be to receive a gift which cost so little and tastes so good? Do you know someone who is ill or frail and would benefit by getting some wholesome fresh non-contaminated food into their system?

If you are a parent or a grandparent what better gift for your children or grandchildren than the gift of health. Children really do enjoy spending time in the garden and delight in growing their own carrot and peas and potatoes

Do you know that many farmers don’t relish eating their own products because they know what chemical sprays and fertilizers have been used on them? Eating more vegetables is known to help prevent heart problems,cholesterol,diabetes,colon cancer and other cancers.

What are you waiting for? It takes so little time and effort to grow your own fruit and vegetables. You don’t need to be an expert you can learn how to do it by reading a short book. Just start today and you will be healthier and wealthier in no time at all.

Hilary Bassakaropoulos

If you would like any further information email me at hilarybassak@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Bassakaropoulos
http://EzineArticles.com/?Be-Healthy-Wealthy-and-Feel-Great-by-Taking-Up-a-New-Hobby&id=1741547

Companion Planting and It’s Benefits
By John Yazo

Companion planting is a way of gardening. It is also a part of gardening that is needed if you are going organic with your gardening practices. With this method of gardening you are creating an environment that works with nature. It is a system of growing two or more plants in the close area of each other to deter insects that are pests, attract beneficial insects, attract wildlife like birds and toads to help control insects, to help prevent plant or soil bore disease,add nutrients to the soil to benefit it’s companion or they are planted to improve the growth or flavor of different crops.

There are hundreds of plant combinations and it takes some trial an error to make it work. There are plants that will benefit one but not the other when planted next to each other and others that will benefit each other.

Planting a combination of plants together like corn, squash and beans is a perfect example of companion planting. The corn acts as a support for the beans as the beans supply nitrogen to the soil for the corn to feed and the beans also serve as a ground cover to suppress weeds while keeping the ground shaded and becomes a living mulch.

The method of companion planting is an ideal way of gardening when you are limited for space. Raised bed or container gardening are two ideal types of gardening that the companion planting method will be a benefit to your crops.

Companion planting is a fun and interesting method of planting that has been around for hundreds of ages.

Experiment yourself and see what combination works for you.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Companion-Planting-and-Its-Benefits&id=1669216

Winter Planning For Your Spring Organic Garden
By John Yazo

Now is the time to plan your organic garden for spring planting. Winter is a great time to sit back and think about how your garden did this past season and what you would of done different or would like to do different in the spring.

Winter is a good time to make a sketch of your garden and make changes to the layout. This is also a good time to research different methods of gardening that can be incorporated into your gardening practices like crop rotation and companion planting.Crop rotation and companion planting are two good methods to incorporate into organic gardening. They will help in the defense of insect and disease problems in you garden along with the improvement of your gardens soil structure and to replenish nutrients back into to the soil that your plants need to thrive.

Composting is another thing you can experiment with through the winter months. Try new methods like worm composting. It doesn’t take much room to do and the end product of compost is excellent to be used to add nutrients to household plants and your outdoor gardens.

If you are thinking of trying to plant a different crop or a different variety of the same crop you have been planting, now is a good time to look through seed catalogs and research the different options that you may be interested in planting in the future.

This is also a good time to experiment with germinating your own seeds and to start a small indoor garden. Try planting just a few plants to get started. See how they do indoors. You just may be surprised on what you can grow all winter long.

Winter is a great time to get organized for your spring gardening. Your not as rushed with all the other chores that hit you all at once in the spring..

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening.Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Winter-Planning-For-Your-Spring-Organic-Garden&id=1655640

Organic Gardening Soil Maintenance
By John Yazo

The key to success in any organic garden is the soil. Building a healthy nutrient rich soil and keeping it maintained is very important. This needs to be the top priority on your gardening list. To have a healthy and productive crop you need healthy soil.

There are two things that need to be known before you can put a plan together to maintain your gardens soil. First you will need to know what type of soil you are working with and second you will need to know what types of crops you are growing in that location.

To find out hat type of soil you have you will need to do a soil test. There are two different tests that you will need to do. The first test is to find out what the texture of the soil is and the second test will be to let you know the ph level and the nutrient values in the soil. These tests can be done by purchasing a soil test kit at your local garden center and preforming them yourself or you can take a soil sample to a agricultural testing lab.

Once you have the results from the soil tests you can start putting a plan together for what is needed to improve your garden soil. There are two parts to the plan that have to be thought out. A short term plan so you can start planting, which includes what types of soil amendments are needed to improve the soil structure and what nutrients are needed for the crop you are planning to plant.

Then there is the long term plan that is more involved. It includes the maintenance of the soil. This will include a three year plan that includes crop rotation. You will need to put a list together of what crops you are planning on growing. Then you will need to know what type of soil conditions and nutrients that each of these crop like. For example, if you rotate corn with beans the beans will replenish the nutrients that corn like back into the soil. Beans are a high producer of nitrogen. Beans can also be planted as a companion plant along with corn.

Soil for organic gardening needs to be feed regularly with organic matter like compost. This is what keeps the life in the soil thriving. The use of compost tea enhances the microbes in the soil that create the nutrients that the plants need to feed from.

With a little planning you can create a healthy environment that will benefit your organic garden greatly.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Organic-Gardening-Soil-Maintenance&id=1669213

Propagating of Plants From Seed
By John Yazo

Plant propagation by the method of seed is also known as sexual plant propagation. It is the least expensive, easiest and quickest way to produce a large amount of plants quickly.

This is a method that is a essential part of heirloom gardening. The seeds are open pollinated and are saved year after year from that years parent plant. This helps to create for a healthier plant when good organic gardening practices are used. Planting from the same plant generation after generation helps to strengthen the plant, making it healthier and better adoptable to the area.

The proper care needs to be taken when harvesting and storing the seeds. The seeds need to be saved from the healthiest plants to avoid disease from being carried to the next generation. When purchasing seeds each year the plants don’t get the opportunity to adopt to the area that they are planted. Commercially sold seeds are produced under controlled conditions and it is very unlikely that the conditions are going to be the same in the garden that they get planted.

Once the seeds are harvested they need to be properly dried. If they are not dry before they are stored they will mold and rot. These seeds will no longer be any good for planting. The properly dried seeds then need to be stored in an airtight container and a then labeled. Most seeds will keep for up to five years.

When the time comes to start planting you should use the oldest seeds that you have stored first. If you have any doubt that the seeds are to old you can simply do a germination test on then. This is a simple test and can be done by soaking a few seeds and then placing them on a damp cloth in full sunlight and they should germinate in seven to fourteen days. You should always store more seeds than you need so if you have a year with a bad crop you wont run out and have to start all over from bought seeds.

Some seeds have a tough exterior shell and you can use a technique call scarification to help the seeds germinate. This can be done by two methods. The first is soaking the seeds for twenty four hours before planting to soften the exterior shell or by the second method of scratching or cracking the shell to allow moisture to penetrate the shell.

There are also other seeds that need to go through a low temperature change in order for them to break out of there dormant state. This period of going through this temperature change is known as stratification.

With the proper potting soil mix, atmosphere and lighting propagation with seeds is a simple and easy way to produce the plants you will need for your gardens.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Propagating-of-Plants-From-Seed&id=1766025

Tilling Your Garden Soil Can Do More Harm Than Good
By John Yazo

A gardeners dream is to have a soil that is naturally airy and one that they can just plunge there fingers into. A soil that they can just scratch with no effort a furrow to plant there seeds. The truth is that tilling garden soil to the point where it meets these conditions can do more harm than good.

Garden soil is full of life. It is a complex community of insects and microorganisms. They are a beneficial part of organically maintaining a good healthy soil. These microorganisms are what aid in the decomposition of organic matter in the soil and add nutrients back into the soil. Earthworms along with other soil dwelling insects are a beneficial part of the soil maintenance process. They tunnel there way through the soil tilling and aerating it naturally. Along with this they contribute more organic matter and nutrients to the soil by the distribution of there waste. This is the natural process that makes a healthy soil.

Tilling of garden soil can harm or even kill the beneficial insects and other microorganisms in the soil. Soil also contains pathways that were made by plant roots tunneling and earthworms. These pathways is what allows air and water these spaces. The tilling of soil will destroy these pathways allowing the soil to compact. Another thing that happens hen soil is tilled is it brings to the surface weed seeds that have been buried to deep to germinate. Bringing these dormant seeds to the surface will allow them to now grow and add to the never ending weed problems in the garden.

A no-till garden is a garden that has a good healthy soil structure with plenty of organic matter that will give the food supply to the beneficial insects and microorganisms that live in the soil. In return these insects and microorganisms will work the soil for you by tilling it naturally and providing the nutrients needed for plants to thrive. Just by a continuous top dressing of organic matter like compost ill add the food supply needed for these beneficial insects and microorganisms to survive and work hard for you to have a healthy garden soil.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tilling-Your-Garden-Soil-Can-Do-More-Harm-Than-Good&id=1777743

Interested in Organic Gardening? Consider These 10 Tips
By Amy Nutt

Imagine providing your family with food that you know is healthy, because you grew it yourself without the help of chemicals. With organic gardening this is possible. Organic gardening involves using natural pest control and fertilizers to grow flowers, vegetables, and fruits, rather than commercially produced and environmentally hazardous pesticides and fertilizers. If you are interested in organic gardening, consider these ten tips.

Tip 1 – Use Natural Pest Control

Your garden is going to have pests. Once you have identified them, research natural controllers you could add to the garden. These natural controllers could be other insects, such as ladybugs to control an aphid population, or plants, such as garlic to prevent armyworms or apple maggots.

Tip 2 – Rotate Plants Regularly

Rotating your plant sites will keep them healthy and also help control some pest populations. When you rotate your plants, the soil has a chance to recoup. Each plant takes different nutrients from the soil, and some even return nutrients to the soil. Properly rotating your plants each year will keep your entire garden healthy.

Tip 3 – Prune Plants Carefully

Remove any dead parts you find on your plants. They are not going to heal, and they will cause the plant to become diseased. Do not leave them on the ground near the plant, either. Remove them from the garden and destroy them right away.

Tip 4 – Make Good Compost

Compost is the best way to feed your organic garden. Compost is not difficult to make. Simply layer leaves, lawn clippings, and organic kitchen waste in your compost heap. If you need to get the compost started quickly, you can add a compost starter to the mix. Keep in mind that the good compose is at the bottom of the pile, so you will need to have a way to turn it or access the pile from the bottom. Once you have a nice amount of compost, work it into your soil to create rich organic soil.

Tip 5 – Air Your Compost Pile

Compost needs air to properly decompose. You can add air by turning the compost pile regularly. You can also provide the pile with air by putting a PVC pipe into it in the center of the pile. Also, build the pile on a layer of branches and sticks to provide some air from the bottom.

Tip 6 – Choose Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizer will help your plants grow bigger and healthier. This is particularly important if you are growing food. Choose a low-dose fertilizer, however, because they will not burn the roots of your plants or provide too much of any particular nutrient.

Tip 7 – Purchase Organic Seeds

Since seeds come from plants, the only way to have a truly organic garden is to buy organic seeds. You cannot sell your produce as USDA certified organic if you do not use organic seeds. Organic seeds must come from open pollinated or hybrid plants. Seeds from non-organic plants have been exposed to pesticides and other chemicals, so they may not grow properly.

Tip 8 – Test Your Soil

Your soil is not going to contain all of the nutrients your plants need. Test it to determine what nutrients are missing. Then, alter your fertilizer and compost materials to provide the missing nutrients to the soil.

Tip 9 – Water Carefully

The soil in your garden needs to feel moist, but over-watering can lead to disease and strip nutrients out of the soil. Typically, plants need an inch of water per week. You can keep a rain gauge in the garden to help you determine how much water it needs.

Tip 10 – Intercrop

Intercropping, which refers to growing one crop in between rows of another crop, is an important organic gardening technique. Planting herbs and flowers, such as mint or marigolds, in between your vegetables will keep some pests away. Also, intercropping improves the soil nutrient levels.

Organic gardening guide features tips and solutions to common garden issues – Redenta’s is committed to a natural and sustainable approach to gardening.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt
http://EzineArticles.com/?Interested-in-Organic-Gardening?-Consider-These-10-Tips&id=1777196