Organic Gardening

In the present society with an ever watchful eye toward health consciousness we are forever looking for those elements which will give us the edge in reaching maximum health. As we’ve learned, a good diet, a consistent regime of exercise, and masses of rest all has a surpassing effect on our overall vigour.

Under these suggestions, organic produce is grown and packed without the usage of any chemicals or insecticides. Historically grown, non-organic produce is subject to a profusion of chemicals almost all of which are haven’t been studied totally enough to grasp or consider their long term effects on the body. Analysts are still uncertain as regards whether or not these chemicals can be linked to everything from food sensitivities to specific sorts of cancer. The advantage of organic food is they aren’t the subject of these untrustworthy substances. Beef and dairy produced under organic suggestions are also chemical free.

Normal rural farmers frequently subject cattle to a clutch of chemical additions engineered to speed their expansion and weight. The advantage of organic food is that cattle is given only organic feed that’s chemical and supplement free. Historically grown produce are treated with chemicals, naturally the chemicals are then in the soil, changing the landscape and contaminating the ground and surrounding water supplies. The advantage of organic food is the ground in which it is grown is left untouched. Further, the advantages to the environment are varied and long-lasting. The choice to go organic is a good and responsible one.

Ecological gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruit with the usage of things only found in nature. Growing them organically is also simple and you only need to learn some general beliefs. Here are the advantages of eco-friendly gardening : one. Naturally raised foods aren’t sprayed with chemicals.

That suggests less health hurting chemicals on the food that you and your folks may consume. Remember that insecticides are made with just one purpose, to kill living things. Bug control must be done with utmost thought to safety, safety apropos the plants, people and animals. This often leads to numerous sicknesses later in the child’s life. With eco-friendly gardening, these events are reduced. Naturally grown foods are healthful and full of taste though they may not look as colourful and nicely presented as shop produce. Two. Besides, the key point of looking after veg and eco-friendly gardens will be beaten if they become ‘tainted’ with pest elimination chemicals. In ecological gardening, pest management depends on a collection of plan, not on a very poisonous chemical. Compost can be made using plant waste.

You can add tealeaves, coffee grounds, eggshells and banana skins. Less damage to the environment.

As an addition, it has long lasting effect on ground water. According to The Environmental Protection Agency, 38 states have cases of polluted ground water.

There are plenty of different kinds of plant you can use to form Bonsai plants. Some plants need extraordinarily accurate care routines to maintain a good and exquisite plant, but no matter what kind of plant you are using there are some basic rules to follow which will keep your plant in condition. All these tips will rely on the kind of plant you purchase but are meant as coarse guides only. Temperature. The singly most efficient kind of protection is bringing them inside.

The humidity inside may cause dehydration of Bonsai plants, which is the largest killer of these shy plants. Watering.

It is really important to water Bonsai early in the day before the temperature lowers in the evening. The kind of plant you have will decide the watering regime you want to try.

How much moisture the plant wishes is a crucial factor and you should generally water the soil as totally as practicable to be sure that all of the roots get a good watering. As the sun is at it’s brightest and strongest between the hours of eleven a.m. And two p.m. You must try as far as feasible to keep your Bonsai out of the daylight between these hours. It’s also vital to remember that electric items round the house give off a damp heat that will damage not just the leaves of you Bonsai but can also dry your plants or trees and ultimately kill them. It is also crucial to change your watering schedule to satisfy the needs of increased light, heat and humidity. Fertilizing. You need to use manure to help the expansion of your Bonsai plants, but it’s smart to use mild ones that only contain trace elements. Trees are generally fed in the growing season to help with their expansion and should not be utilized in either plants or trees during quiescent expansion periods.

Organic Foods Through Our Life

Have you ever thought of the affect that organic foods through our life changes us? As a small child, everything is ripe. Not just the fruits and vegetables that you eat, but the dawn of each new day. Each event held that sense of wonder that only inexperience, youth, and a lack of life’s responsibilities that come with adulthood can bring.

Teens and Eating

As the teen years progress, life begins to speed up. The pace quickens and you begin to have the first inkling that there is much more to life than you can possibly comprehend. You begin to notice little things that tickle your brain, but that you can’t quite wrap your head around. You remember visiting the local farmer’s markets when you were younger with your parents and grandparents, but you don’t really have time for that now. With all the activities and commitments to friends, fast-food will have to do. You just don’t have that much time.

As you move into adulthood, marry, and have children, the rate of life’s passage increases yet again. During your day you hear snippets about pesticide usage on produce, and something or other about this chemical or that being outlawed by the FDA. It sounds important, but there is so much to do and the kids need to get to their soccer games and piano recitals. Besides, if the insecticides and pesticides were really that bad for you, surely the companies that make the chemicals, or an agency within the government, would do something about it before it hurt anyone.

During this time you remember thinking to yourself on your way to work how it’s amazing how many of your co-workers have children that have been diagnosed with autism. At other times you notice that your kids certainly have a lot of friends with asthma. These thoughts lead to brief questions and concerns about your own kids, or their kids. But those thoughts go away, replaced by thoughts regarding the new cell phone technology that an advertisement mentioned during the game last night.

Affect of Non Organic Eating

You go out to dinner with neighbors and one of them happens to be a teacher. At one point during the evening’s discussion, you recall hearing something about the explosion in the number of kids diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). You’re amazed at the numbers, and even briefly contemplate what in the world could be causing such a problem. At this point in your life, you reason, you just don’t have that much time to look into it, but you’re sure someone’s working on it.

Your parents grow older, and when possible, you grab a moment or two with them when you can. During one visit, as best your memory can recollect, they speak with you about their concern relative to a news story they’ve seen indicating a perverse amount of antibiotics and hormones being used on feed animals in some sort of animal concentration camp. They mention being worried about so many people becoming susceptible to new more aggressive strains of resistant bugs and some other things that sound like science fiction.

You try your best to participate in the conversation, but your parents are growing more frail, and you just want to spend as much time with them as possible without having to focus on a lot of substance. But again that familiar tickle in your mind springs to life, as if just to ask “do you see the connections yet?”. Your mind races through things you should be doing, steps you should be taking, and then time leaps ahead again.

Concentration Problems

The gown is coming untied. You don’t have to see it, you can feel the air on your back, but you can’t lift your arms to pull it tight. Your mind struggles to take in what your doctor has said. You can’t possibly have cancer, and you’ve never even heard of the kind of cancer that you have. You’ve never smoked, you’ve taken reasonably good care of yourself, and until a few months ago, you’ve never felt better.

You struggle through the words….”we’re really not sure of the cause”, “we’re seeing more and more of this”, “could be traced to chemical runoff…..water supply…….limited studies…….”. He’s telling you that the form you have can certainly be defeated, but your thinking of the past now. You’re thinking of yourself, your wife, your children, friends, co-workers, acquaintances. Your mind shifts and suddenly your thinking, with all the information available, with all of the signs that now seem so obvious, why didn’t I make better choices when I had the chance?

Organic Food is The Only Healthy Alternative

Was the savings by not buying more organic produce and fruit, or more grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free beef really worth it? Did I really sacrifice my own health, and the health of those that mean the most to me because I was too busy to prioritize what was really most important? And at that point you realize…….it’s never too late to make a positive change. Especially when it’s something as important as your life, and the lives of those you love.

Tom is a strong advocate for organic foods and gardening. He is also a contributing member to http://www.organicfoodsalive.com which is a site intended to help individuals find Organic Foods, Gardening Supplies, and other Organic Products in one convenient location.

Almost all vegetables can be grown in containers depending on your initiatives and favorable climate for the kind of vegetables you want to plant. Although container vegetables are easy to manage, it’s a little bit tedious because container gardens needs more frequent watering, as water easily dries up in the soil of the containers than in the garden.

To maintain a balance of your water supply in containers, you should always water the pot before the entire soil becomes dry to avoid plant damage. A rich soil should be used in your soil mix to enjoy a healthy plant growth.

I have listed 5 vegetables that you can plant in containers to get a better result

Tomatoes – Lycopersicon esculentum var. esculentum.

Tomatoes are easy to grow in containers. They’re not a choosy type of plant, they grow favorably, however in rich organic soil. Once planted and fully established, what you need to do is monitor the plant until fruiting stage.

To supplement the soil nutrients in the container, fertilize them with a balanced organic fertilizer and let them grow freely.

Select a hybrid variety and disease resistant to get a good harvest and quality fruits.

Beans – Phaseolus vulgaris

One of the favorites of the legume crops by gardeners, beans are prolific that provides you with a continuous harvest for several months during the summer months. Once the plant starts producing the beans, it only takes two days to harvest again giving you continuous supply for your table.

To plant beans in containers, you needs to use a rich soil mix and the plants should placed in a location with at least 6 – 7 hours of sunlight a day. Don’t miss to water the growing plants when they’re already in there blooming period and fruiting stage.

Lettuce – Lactuca sativa

This leafy vegetable plant is the favorite of the home chef because of its tender leaves and easy to prepare. It can be eaten raw, mix with salads and other main ingredients or as a solo dish.
Lettuce is easy to grow, but does not tolerate too much hot climate. They should be planted in areas that gets some shade part especially in the afternoon. Always keep them watered during its entire growing period to give you plenty of lettuce for salads throughout the growing season.

Carrots – Daucus carota

Rich with carotene and other essential food nutrients, carrots grow well in containers, as they are unlikely to find the rocks or obstructions for the fleshy root below the soil surface. Select a bigger size container with excellent drainage and deep enough to contain the carrot’s root and fill with a potting soil or a soil-less mix. Plant the seeds on the pot and slightly cover with soil and keep the soil moist, but not wet, as the seed germinates.

After a couple of weeks, you can harvest your fresh carrots for your table use.

Summer Squash – Cucurbita pepo

This plant is rich with vitamin A and other food nutrients necessary for your body to ward off illness and other serious diseases. Given their prolific nature, you really only need two or three plants to feed a family of four throughout the summer. Summer squash tends to be a bit less prolific than zucchini, but you’ll still be growing a bounty of squash either way.

There are lots of vegetables you can grow in containers depending on the availability of space, location, and sunlight requirements. Just select which one would fit your area and easy to grow for your convenience.

Happy gardening!

Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest e book “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening” and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy”, also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: http://www.crisramasasa.com

I provided, in a recent previous article, instruction on preparing a tincture from your herb garden plants, so if you have carried out those instructions you are ready to learn how you can make your own throat sprays, gargles, mouthwashes and inhalants which can all be made from your tinctures. What better herb garden delight is there than that.

The tincture is the result of extracting the oils – the chemical components of each herb, made by soaking the herb in a mixture of water and alcohol. Because the alcohol acts as a preservative, the tincture is wholesome and usable for at least two years if stored in a cool dark place. Read the rest of this entry »

Composting is in essence recycling, that is to reuse and recycle what earth has bestowed to us. It is about the love for our environment and ensuring those future generations will continue to reap the rewards that we are bestowed with.Compost is essentially an organic substance that helps to fertilize our soil, to allow it to have the nutrients and minerals to grow. There are fundamentally two types of compost, the greens and the browns. The greens are rich in nitrogen and protein while the browns contain high amount of carbon or carbohydrates.

We can each do our duties by contributing to composting as composting entail materials from nature that are recycled. Among them are vegetables, animal manure, grass, dried leaves, sawdust, etc. Those can be used for the sole aim of gardening especially if you are into organic gardening unlike the broader term of recycling, which comprise synthetic materials. With compost, it gives rise to healthy plant and in turn healthy produce. Read the rest of this entry »

To start with, you will have to buy some plants. After they are well established, you can propagate yourself. Some will spread by themselves.

Chives are a “must” by the kitchen door. Your clump of chives will send up green spikes even before the snow is gone. The purple heads of their flowers are pretty among the long green leaves. Chop the leaves into anything which will take an onion taste. Read the rest of this entry »

DILL (Anethum graveolens)

This annual is characterized by its small yellow flowers arranged in umbrels and by its quickly forming seeds. Famous for their use in pickles, the seeds of dill are also excellent in sauerkraut, sauces and salads. The fine feathery leaves are also used by Europeans for flavoring.

The self-sowing dill should be sown thickly and does not require thinning. Like other herbs, it needs a great deal of sun.

FENNEL (Foeniculum duke)

Sweet fennel is a beloved seasoning of Italians. You may eat the stalks raw, use the leaves with fish, the seeds with eggs, cheese, vegetables, fish and in cakes.

Foeniculum vulgare, another type of fennel, is a tall, aromatic plant which does well in almost any soil. Stems, leaves and seeds are all useful for flavoring. Fennel has bright green, feathery foliage and tiny yellow flowers in umbrels.

Start fennel from seed in a sunny spot. Although the sweet variety requires a rich soil,  vulgare does better in a limy location.

GERMANDER {Teucrium chamaedrys

This hardy perennial makes a fine, attractive hedge. Its leaves are dark green and glossy and its flowers are a bright purplish-rose hue. The dwarf form {var. þrostratum) is a good ground cover, growing to a height of about 6 inches. It is slow to start, but spreads rapidly and is particularly charming in a rock garden. The spiked pink flowers are not fragrant. Nevertheless, they are very handsome against the plant’s glossy, dark green leaves. This type of germander is not very hardy and will have to be replanted every few years. Start germander from seeds, or beg some cuttings or roots from a friend.

HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare)

Horehound has been known since ancient times for its medicinal properties, and since the nineteenth century as a flavoring for candy, but only in relatively recent years has the culinary value of its leaves and flowers been recognized. It has small, oval, crinkly, greyish-green leaves. The tubular white flowers grow in whorls close to the stalk at the upper end of the stem. Both leaves and flowers may be used to season cakes, candies, sauces, meat stews and in teas.

It is becoming a weed in much of the United States and spreads rapidly by seeding and spreading roots. The bushy plant grows to about 18 inches in height. Start horehound from seed.

HYSSOP (Hyssopus officinals)

With its smooth, dark green leaves and blue flowers blooming from early summer until frost, hyssop makes a lovely hedge. About every 4 years, however, the plants will become scraggly and should be replaced. Remember to cut back your hyssop hedge after the first blossoms appear. This herb has a spicy, minty fragrance. You can use its leaves, stems and flowers in medicinal teas and sparingly to season vegetables and stews.

Start growing hyssop from seed sown indoors, from cuttings or by root division.   It does best in partial shade.

LAVENDER (Lavandula spied)

Beautiful lavender not only has a lovely aroma, but it is nice to look at, too. Its long narrow leaves are bluish-green; its flowers are blue, and the whole plant is fragrant. Valuable as an ingredient in sachets and potpourris, lavender makes an attractive hedge which will last as long as 3 years if your climate is a very warm one. In most parts of the country, however, you will have to bring it inside during the winter. L. spica or spike lavender is most hardy in the northern states. L. vera or L. qffìcinalis, the English lavender, is the most fragrant.

Start lavender from young plants or root cuttings.

LEMON BALM (Melissa offcinalis)

This lemon-scented plant is wonderful for seasoning iced drinks and hot tea as well as for use in potpourris, sachets and floral bouquets. It spreads so quickly that unless you watch it closely, it will cover your entire garden. Lemon balm grows to 1½ or 2 feet tall. The oval leaves have slightly serrated edges and clusters of small, whitish flowers.

Start from seed or young plants. Lemon balm will sow itself, but a second method of propagation is by root division.

LOVAGE (Levisticum qfficinale)

This handsome, hardy perennial makes a good background plant, for it grows as high as 6 feet. It puts out fairly inconspicuous yellow flowers growing in umbrels and pale green, shiny, celery-like leaves. For a celery taste use the young tender leaves either fresh or dried in soups. The seeds are excellent in cakes, candies, meats and salads, and if you like, you may blanch the stems and eat them raw.

Start lovage indoors from a plant or a root which you might get from a friend or herb dealer, or sow seed early. Let lovage have a rich soil in a sunny or semi-shady place.

CAMOMILE (Anthemis nobilis)

The English variety of camomile makes a beautiful ground cover, for it grows low and spreads gracefully over the earth. It blooms from midsummer until the first frost, producing small white and yellow daisy-shaped flowers. It has light green pinnate, or feather-shaped, leaves, and should get plenty of sun even though it does fairly well in shade. Plant seed, and camomile will self-sow from then on.

CARAWAY (Carum carvï)

With its delicate finely cut leaves and small creamy flowers growing in umbels similar to Queen Anne’s lace, caraway is quite lovely. Dry the seeds for use in cakes, rye bread, kraut, cabbage, pickles, cheese and stews. Bake a sprig of caraway with fruit.

It grows to about 2 feet, but if planted in the spring, it will only reach 6 to 8 inches the first year. If sown in the fall, seed may be harvested early the next year. Buy your first seed and it will self-sow thereafter. Read the rest of this entry »