We all know how relaxing it is to listen to the trickle of water, to watch fish swim lazily in an aquarium or pond. Backyard ponds also have the benefit of taking up space that might otherwise be taken up by lawn, and lawns are notorious water users. As we all move to more sustainable living, backyard ponds have increased in popularity. They provide habitat and reduce water usage in a yard.
However, there is the big headache that ponds come with - blue algae. It can quickly suck all the enjoyment out of having a backyard pond when you find yourself researching algae removal products, finding a supplier, mixing and adding, and adding some more. Well, I have five very important words for you...BiOWiSH™ Pond and Tank Conditioner. This is the most powerful Microbial Enzyme technology available anywhere, and it will rapidly remove organic contaminants from your water. These contaminants are converted to their final elements, which are off-gassed as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. In the process your water is kept clean, free of nutrients and algae and in good chemical balance just as nature intended. You'll want to order a packet along with the backyard pond building materials you'll be using so that you're all set to go. Then follow the easy steps below for a lovely water feature of your own.
How to Build a Backyard Pond Courtesy of Sutherlands Lumber
Step 1 - Locate
To determine the location of your new pond, keep in mind the layout of your yard and the type of plants that you wish to use. Place a preformed pond liner in the predetermined location, stand inside it and outline the shape on the ground with a shovel. If you will be using the sheet-style of pond liner, use a garden hose to outline the shape you’ve chosen.
Step 2 - Excavate
Dig a hole just a little larger and deeper than the pond.
Step 3 - Backfill
Bed the hole with a layer of compacted sand, place the preformed plastic pond or sheet liner in and level it. Using loose dirt or sand, fill in around it. Stop when perimeter is half full.
Step 4 - Fill With Water
Alternately fill the pond with water and backfill perimeter with dirt or loose sand a little at a time so that both the pond and the hole are completely filled and these steps are finished concurrently. If you are using chlorinated water, wait 24 to 48 hours before placing plants or fish into the pond. Place stones or paving bricks naturally around the perimeter to cover the edge.
Step 5 - Now Enjoy!
By installing two or more ponds adjoining each other, you can create a small water park or borders for a bridge. Washed, decorative stones may be placed on the bottom of the pond. Dirt and sediment that fall in will be less noticeable. Sutherlands also carry water runs to make installing a custom waterfall easy. Aquatic lighting will enhance your pond at night.
Some flowers that do well in the moist soil around your pond are Marigolds, Irises, Forget-me-nots and mint. This last you might want to consider planting in containers as they are famous for spreading! Choices of plants for in the pond are numerous, including a prolific variety of lilies. Some plants are restricted in certain states, so be sure to check before ordering.
Fish are a nice addition to your pond, but beware of critters that eat them! You may want to go with inexpensive, hardy goldfish rather than expensive koi. You’ll be less concerned that way if you look out a window one day, wondering where your fish are going, and you see a heron standing next to your pond with a fish in it’s beak. There are decoy herons available online that may discourage live herons from eating your fish, as they are very territorial birds.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Classes for Composting Project
Pepsi has a very cool philanthropic streak. Did you know that Pepsi has a website, http://www.refresheverything.com/, where individuals, non profit organizations and businesses (those earning less than $250,000/year) can apply for grant money? How cool is that?!?!
A few years ago I attended a grant writing class and was fascinated at the thought of getting funded for charitable projects. I even wrote the idea down in my goal planner – “Within 5 years, write a grant”.
My notes from the class resurfaced from the depths of my stacks of notebooks, rather unexpectedly last week. This happened right after my husband and I were discussing a project dear to our hearts. See, we know that in Sweden, Joraform composters are being put to use in preschools and grade schools throughout the country. In this project, the students learn about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling, and the impact that these practices have on our environment. The amount of kitchen waste from the cafeteria and the water used to run a garbage disposal are greatly reduced by composting. An added benefit is the compost that results and can be put to use naturally fertilizing gardens and lawns.
All good, yes? We think so too, which is why we would like to provide composters, BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost (a composting accelerant), some extra composting supplies and tools, and training in schools in our area. That’s what we were discussing when I found my grant writing class notes! Just a strange coincidence? Maybe.
I have to say, though, that the notes, and memories from the class that came back to me made grant writing sound a little like a military campaign. According to the class, you need a group of people for the grant writing process, which includes plenty of researching, planning, writing and follow up time. Unfortunately a daunting prospect!
Then yesterday I saw an advertisement for the Pepsi grants website and got jazzed again at the thought of being able to do charitable projects (with other people’s money!). (Another coincidence?) I’d love to be in a position to fund my own projects with my own riches…if I had any, which I don’t, so I won’t. But the Pepsi application process was straightforward and fairly easy to complete, walking you through the procedure. The biggest difficulty I encountered was deciding which category to enter my project under, education or the environment? Really it should be under both categories, but as a teacher, I chose the former.
Pepsi accepts 1,000 project ideas each month! I found out about it too late for the February submission. But I did complete my application, which will be posted on March 1st. So PLEASE help me get approval for my project in March. You can go to: http://www.refresheverything.com/categories/education and (make sure you’re in the education category) PLEASE, PLEASE consider voting for my “Classes for Composting” project! Thank you!
A few years ago I attended a grant writing class and was fascinated at the thought of getting funded for charitable projects. I even wrote the idea down in my goal planner – “Within 5 years, write a grant”.
My notes from the class resurfaced from the depths of my stacks of notebooks, rather unexpectedly last week. This happened right after my husband and I were discussing a project dear to our hearts. See, we know that in Sweden, Joraform composters are being put to use in preschools and grade schools throughout the country. In this project, the students learn about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling, and the impact that these practices have on our environment. The amount of kitchen waste from the cafeteria and the water used to run a garbage disposal are greatly reduced by composting. An added benefit is the compost that results and can be put to use naturally fertilizing gardens and lawns.
All good, yes? We think so too, which is why we would like to provide composters, BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost (a composting accelerant), some extra composting supplies and tools, and training in schools in our area. That’s what we were discussing when I found my grant writing class notes! Just a strange coincidence? Maybe.
I have to say, though, that the notes, and memories from the class that came back to me made grant writing sound a little like a military campaign. According to the class, you need a group of people for the grant writing process, which includes plenty of researching, planning, writing and follow up time. Unfortunately a daunting prospect!
Then yesterday I saw an advertisement for the Pepsi grants website and got jazzed again at the thought of being able to do charitable projects (with other people’s money!). (Another coincidence?) I’d love to be in a position to fund my own projects with my own riches…if I had any, which I don’t, so I won’t. But the Pepsi application process was straightforward and fairly easy to complete, walking you through the procedure. The biggest difficulty I encountered was deciding which category to enter my project under, education or the environment? Really it should be under both categories, but as a teacher, I chose the former.
Pepsi accepts 1,000 project ideas each month! I found out about it too late for the February submission. But I did complete my application, which will be posted on March 1st. So PLEASE help me get approval for my project in March. You can go to: http://www.refresheverything.com/categories/education and (make sure you’re in the education category) PLEASE, PLEASE consider voting for my “Classes for Composting” project! Thank you!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Have You Heard About Green Roofs?
There was a program, I think on The Discovery Channel (should've written it down, but didn't think of it at the time - obviously!) about two months ago about the concept of greening up roof tops. Some countries in Europe even mandate new buildings have green roofs! This program was filmed in an urban setting, with lots of apartment and office buildings that had flat, tar paper roofs at one time. Many of these roofs had been turned into gardens at the edge of the sky, with a variety of plantlife from mosses to wildflowers, and almost anything in between. The program made some very strong points in favor of this type of gardening because of it's impact on the environment:
Rain is absorbed into and by the plantlife and medium, to be released slowly through evaporation (an additional cooling factor). This reduces the chances of flooding in heaving rain. Additionally, the photosynthesis of the plant life removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere! Imagine if green roofs were required in the U.S.! What an impact it could make on our carbon footprint!
Green roofs also provide insulation to the room(s) below them, keeping it/them cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold. Clearly the insulating nature of green roofs will reduce energy consumption and thereby save on the costs of heating and cooling.
So now I bet, if you have any flat surfaces exposed to the outdoors, whether roof, deck, shed or outbuilding, you're probably thinking that having one of your own is a good idea! If you like the idea of having a green roof and have a large area to work on, you'll want to enlist the help of a structural engineer, and/or a company that makes living roofs. Smaller areas can most likely be tackled on your own. You'll need to keep in mind the structural frame of your roof before deciding on the type of green roof for you. You don't want a lot of heavy garden up there if your roof won't support it!
With that in mind, you should know that there are basically two types of green roofs:
- reducing temperature of the city
- weather protection for the roof
- reducing energy costs
- potential flood reduction
- providing habitat for wildlife - birds, butterflies and bugs
- cleaner air
- providing food
Rain is absorbed into and by the plantlife and medium, to be released slowly through evaporation (an additional cooling factor). This reduces the chances of flooding in heaving rain. Additionally, the photosynthesis of the plant life removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere! Imagine if green roofs were required in the U.S.! What an impact it could make on our carbon footprint!
Green roofs also provide insulation to the room(s) below them, keeping it/them cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold. Clearly the insulating nature of green roofs will reduce energy consumption and thereby save on the costs of heating and cooling.
So now I bet, if you have any flat surfaces exposed to the outdoors, whether roof, deck, shed or outbuilding, you're probably thinking that having one of your own is a good idea! If you like the idea of having a green roof and have a large area to work on, you'll want to enlist the help of a structural engineer, and/or a company that makes living roofs. Smaller areas can most likely be tackled on your own. You'll need to keep in mind the structural frame of your roof before deciding on the type of green roof for you. You don't want a lot of heavy garden up there if your roof won't support it!
With that in mind, you should know that there are basically two types of green roofs:
- A shallowly planted roof (for smaller areas)
- A more deeply planted roof (for larger areas)
Shallowly planted roofs can be planted with lichens, mosses, small alpines, grasses. For deeper planting areas, you might consider wildflowers and some shallow rooted vegetables (or potted, like those fab garbage can potatoes!!) Biodiversity is the idea, to provide more available habitat for the fauna.
Plant in early spring or early fall or you may find that hot weather may defeat your efforts. Use high quality 100% organic compost to provide a perfect blend of nutrients to your plants. Choose the right mix of plants (with suggestions from your friendly neighborhood nursery or college horticulture organization) and your garden will be low maintenance, requiring just a little weeding and deadheading to keep your garden looking great!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Creating a Seed Starter Pot Out of Newspaper
I found a cool video to watch that teaches how to make starter pots for seeds out of newspaper that is well put together and includes simple six step-by-step instructions. I'm certainly going to try them this year, since I know I'm going to be starting those new variety of tomatoes from seed. Plus it's great when newspapers can be used and reused!
All you need is black and white print newspaper, a straight sided glass or jar, soil and seeds. You'll note that in the video, the presenter suggests using a full sheet of newspaper. I think that makes for a very sturdy pot, but a half a sheet is just as good for purposes of starting seedlings, and the newspaper will break down much quicker in the ground.
Speaking of the pot in the ground, when you watch the video, you'll note that it's recommended that you take the newspaper off before planting. I personally don't think that's a good idea, because no matter how careful you are, the delicate roots of the seedling are going to be disturbed by the removal. Instead, I recommend a good soaking of the root ball/newspaper pot, then carefully poking through the newspaper at 1/4 inch intervals around the pot and then planting the whole thing.
And when you plant your seedlings, remember to use organic compost mixed into the garden soil for the nutrients the plants need, and the water retaining properties of the amended soil. The nutrients will be in slow release mode and will continue to nourish your seedlings as they develop. The compost will reduce the need to water by helping the soil naturally retain the moisture in the soil.
So here's the link for this how-to video: ehow.com seed starting newspaper pots
Happy Composting!
All you need is black and white print newspaper, a straight sided glass or jar, soil and seeds. You'll note that in the video, the presenter suggests using a full sheet of newspaper. I think that makes for a very sturdy pot, but a half a sheet is just as good for purposes of starting seedlings, and the newspaper will break down much quicker in the ground.
Speaking of the pot in the ground, when you watch the video, you'll note that it's recommended that you take the newspaper off before planting. I personally don't think that's a good idea, because no matter how careful you are, the delicate roots of the seedling are going to be disturbed by the removal. Instead, I recommend a good soaking of the root ball/newspaper pot, then carefully poking through the newspaper at 1/4 inch intervals around the pot and then planting the whole thing.
And when you plant your seedlings, remember to use organic compost mixed into the garden soil for the nutrients the plants need, and the water retaining properties of the amended soil. The nutrients will be in slow release mode and will continue to nourish your seedlings as they develop. The compost will reduce the need to water by helping the soil naturally retain the moisture in the soil.
So here's the link for this how-to video: ehow.com seed starting newspaper pots
Happy Composting!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I'm all into this!
The internet gardening community is really something. There are, seemingly, unlimited inventive ideas for growing things that often astonish me over and over again. Take, for example, the following article that details how to grow potatoes in a (clean) garbage can. Yep, you heard me, potatoes in a garbage can! I'm excited now, because with our garden plot I never thought that I could grow potatoes, and I do so love the way those homey vegetables stretch my food budget. So now I'm pretty confident that I can have my suburban garden plot with enough room for what I'd already planned for, AND my potatoes too! I happen to have an extra garbage can. We used to use it for actual garbage, but since our trash company added single stream recycling at the curb as a service, we only need one trash can. (BTW, we've increased our recycling bins from two to four - yes!)
That trash can is pretty groady though. I hate to say this, but it may be that it's never been properly cleaned out. So I'm going to take some BiOWiSH™ Bin Wash and have all those lovely enzymes do the work for me, set them loose on those germs, the mold and fungus until they've eaten it all up - 100% organically and environmentally safe. And when it's all cleaned up, I'll put in a good helping of the compost that we've been creating all winter with the help of BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost to provide those cured tater pieces with the perfect blend of nutrients to grow and multiply in. Bam! New potatoes for hubby and me. I think you'll enjoy this article from ezine.com as much as I did!
Happy Composting!
By GreenGardenChic
User-Submitted Article
Article Rating: (233 Ratings)
Why in the world would anyone want to grow a crop of potatoes in a plastic garbage can? Well let me tell you, potatoes grow deep, and it's hard to dig them all out! Plus, they like soft, well-prepared soil that's easy for them to root in. Then of course, they're space hogs, eating up precious planting room in the veggie garden. Last, but not least, potatoes should never be planted in the same place year after year, because they infect their own soil and cause next years crops to get blight (anyone remember a little potato famine that knocked down the population of Ireland?).
So for those of us who don't have much space in our gardens and can't or don't like to dig giant holes looking for our food, this is a great alternative. And for the city gardener , growing potatoes in garbage cans is perfect.
Instructions
1. Step 1
Grow new kinds you can't find at the grocery store.
Turn your garbage can upside down and drill several holes in the bottom of the can. Add a few around the outside wall, 3 to 6 inches up from the bottom. It's really important to have good drainage or your potatoes will rot in a hurry.
2. Step 2
Good soil is the key ingredient.
Dump about 2/3rds of your bag of potting soil in the can. Mix in 1 cup of your fertilizer and set aside.
3. Step 3
This potato could be cut into at least 4 pieces.
For your seed potatoes, small ones can be planted whole. The larger potatoes should be cut up into pieces with no less then 3 "eyes" per piece ("eyes" being those brown dimples that the roots will grow out of). Let your potatoes dry out on the cut side before you plant them.
4. Step 4
Once your cut potatoes have cured, plant them in your can 5 inches apart and cover with the remaining soil. You'll only need 4 starts to a can. Set the can in an area that receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.
5. Step 5
Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist but not soggy during the growing season. Don't let the soil dry out or you'll end up with misshaped potatoes. On the hot summer days, your potato garbage can might even need to be watered daily (you might move the can to a slightly shadier location on the hottest days).
6. Step 6
Potato flowers
As the plants start to grow in the can, mound up compost around plant stems keeping the leaves uncovered. As they grow a little more, add some more compost. You'll be able to fill up the entire can with compost by the end of the growing season. Keep it watered.
7. Step 7
Fall harvest
At harvest time, you can wait for the flowers to start to fade and grow what looks like berries. Harvest a few potatoes now, by reaching into the soft soil and picking a few, then covering everything else back up with compost. These early potatoes are "new potatoes" and they spoil quickly, so eat them now. For your bigger, storing potatoes, wait to harvest after the green plants have turned brown and dried up or died back. Just dump the entire can over (onto a tarp, maybe) and pick out your potatoes. The soil can be collected and added to a flower garden. You just don't want to plant potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant in that potting soil/compost because the soil will likely harbor some insects or disease from this season's crop.
That trash can is pretty groady though. I hate to say this, but it may be that it's never been properly cleaned out. So I'm going to take some BiOWiSH™ Bin Wash and have all those lovely enzymes do the work for me, set them loose on those germs, the mold and fungus until they've eaten it all up - 100% organically and environmentally safe. And when it's all cleaned up, I'll put in a good helping of the compost that we've been creating all winter with the help of BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost to provide those cured tater pieces with the perfect blend of nutrients to grow and multiply in. Bam! New potatoes for hubby and me. I think you'll enjoy this article from ezine.com as much as I did!
Happy Composting!
By GreenGardenChic
User-Submitted Article
Article Rating: (233 Ratings)
Grow Potatoes in a Garbage Can
Why in the world would anyone want to grow a crop of potatoes in a plastic garbage can? Well let me tell you, potatoes grow deep, and it's hard to dig them all out! Plus, they like soft, well-prepared soil that's easy for them to root in. Then of course, they're space hogs, eating up precious planting room in the veggie garden. Last, but not least, potatoes should never be planted in the same place year after year, because they infect their own soil and cause next years crops to get blight (anyone remember a little potato famine that knocked down the population of Ireland?).
So for those of us who don't have much space in our gardens and can't or don't like to dig giant holes looking for our food, this is a great alternative. And for the city gardener , growing potatoes in garbage cans is perfect.
Instructions
1. Step 1
Grow new kinds you can't find at the grocery store.
Turn your garbage can upside down and drill several holes in the bottom of the can. Add a few around the outside wall, 3 to 6 inches up from the bottom. It's really important to have good drainage or your potatoes will rot in a hurry.
2. Step 2
Good soil is the key ingredient.
Dump about 2/3rds of your bag of potting soil in the can. Mix in 1 cup of your fertilizer and set aside.
3. Step 3
This potato could be cut into at least 4 pieces.
For your seed potatoes, small ones can be planted whole. The larger potatoes should be cut up into pieces with no less then 3 "eyes" per piece ("eyes" being those brown dimples that the roots will grow out of). Let your potatoes dry out on the cut side before you plant them.
4. Step 4
Once your cut potatoes have cured, plant them in your can 5 inches apart and cover with the remaining soil. You'll only need 4 starts to a can. Set the can in an area that receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.
5. Step 5
Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist but not soggy during the growing season. Don't let the soil dry out or you'll end up with misshaped potatoes. On the hot summer days, your potato garbage can might even need to be watered daily (you might move the can to a slightly shadier location on the hottest days).
6. Step 6
Potato flowers
As the plants start to grow in the can, mound up compost around plant stems keeping the leaves uncovered. As they grow a little more, add some more compost. You'll be able to fill up the entire can with compost by the end of the growing season. Keep it watered.
7. Step 7
Fall harvest
At harvest time, you can wait for the flowers to start to fade and grow what looks like berries. Harvest a few potatoes now, by reaching into the soft soil and picking a few, then covering everything else back up with compost. These early potatoes are "new potatoes" and they spoil quickly, so eat them now. For your bigger, storing potatoes, wait to harvest after the green plants have turned brown and dried up or died back. Just dump the entire can over (onto a tarp, maybe) and pick out your potatoes. The soil can be collected and added to a flower garden. You just don't want to plant potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant in that potting soil/compost because the soil will likely harbor some insects or disease from this season's crop.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
How Does My Garden Grow?
I recently received my 2010 Burpee Gardening catalog and had a load of fun perusing the more than 75 new varieties of plants it contained. Seventy five! I’m trying to decide what I want to plant this year in my garden…what worked well last year, what wasn’t so great, and some new stuff that looks promising!
My most favorite garden vegetable has got to be tomatoes. We usually have four plants that give us a nice crop throughout the growing season, with extras to give to neighbors and friends. I don’t can or freeze them, but I’ve thought recently that I may want to do that. This is mostly because I add tomatoes to so many of my recipes, and it’d be nice to know that they are organic and home grown yummy. So if I do want to freeze some, perhaps I want to add one or two plants. I’m sure there’ll be Early Girls and Better Boys, probably a Beefsteak, and I see that Burpee has a new variety called Tye-Dye Hybrid Tomato. It’s got better disease resistance, is bicolor and non-acidic. Yum!
Next on my list are the green beans that we love so much. A new, Burpee exclusive is the Beananza Bush Bean. Burpee says they’ll grow for twice as long as most beans, so I’ll add them to my list as well. Snap’em, rinse’em, steam’em and eat! I think we’ll need twenty plants at least…maybe thirty for freezing these too.
Beets, beets, beets. Gotta love’em. I think I like the greens as much as I like the roots. Chicago Red Hybrid is ready in 49 days, according to the catalog, with disease resistant leaves. My mother-in-law likes to pickle beets, and that will keep them on the shelf for months after harvest. I like them that way, too, but prefer them steamed until tender, then sliced and sautéed with a little chopped onion and butter…mmmmmm.
And to round out the garden, I’ll be planting two zucchini plants and two acorn squash plants. Burpee Hybrid zucchini matures in 50 days and is “still the standard variety for over 40 years”. High yielding on compact bush plants sounds like the ticket. Add to that the Acorn Table Queen takes 80 days to harvest, but is an Heirloom variety. I’m adding garden space on the north side of my house (the front) and plan on putting one of the squash plants there next to the driveway. I’ll get sun all day, and I can pick right when I get home. I like my zucchini sliced and grilled, with olive oil and some lemon pepper.
Planning a garden is such fun, but no where near as enjoyable as eating the 100% organic, picked and prepared on the same day garden veggies. I’m extra excited about the garden this year, too, because we have been composting all winter long and have lovely dark rich compost to till in to our garden soil and mulch on top to keep the soil airy and moist in our dry Colorado heat. All the nutrients from the BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost that we’ve been adding to the compost will bring an added boost to the soil. And this year, we’ll be ‘fertilizing’ with BiOWiSH™ for added size and top performance. Take a look at what it did for hydroponic lettuce (three weeks old!).
My most favorite garden vegetable has got to be tomatoes. We usually have four plants that give us a nice crop throughout the growing season, with extras to give to neighbors and friends. I don’t can or freeze them, but I’ve thought recently that I may want to do that. This is mostly because I add tomatoes to so many of my recipes, and it’d be nice to know that they are organic and home grown yummy. So if I do want to freeze some, perhaps I want to add one or two plants. I’m sure there’ll be Early Girls and Better Boys, probably a Beefsteak, and I see that Burpee has a new variety called Tye-Dye Hybrid Tomato. It’s got better disease resistance, is bicolor and non-acidic. Yum!
Next on my list are the green beans that we love so much. A new, Burpee exclusive is the Beananza Bush Bean. Burpee says they’ll grow for twice as long as most beans, so I’ll add them to my list as well. Snap’em, rinse’em, steam’em and eat! I think we’ll need twenty plants at least…maybe thirty for freezing these too.
Beets, beets, beets. Gotta love’em. I think I like the greens as much as I like the roots. Chicago Red Hybrid is ready in 49 days, according to the catalog, with disease resistant leaves. My mother-in-law likes to pickle beets, and that will keep them on the shelf for months after harvest. I like them that way, too, but prefer them steamed until tender, then sliced and sautéed with a little chopped onion and butter…mmmmmm.
And to round out the garden, I’ll be planting two zucchini plants and two acorn squash plants. Burpee Hybrid zucchini matures in 50 days and is “still the standard variety for over 40 years”. High yielding on compact bush plants sounds like the ticket. Add to that the Acorn Table Queen takes 80 days to harvest, but is an Heirloom variety. I’m adding garden space on the north side of my house (the front) and plan on putting one of the squash plants there next to the driveway. I’ll get sun all day, and I can pick right when I get home. I like my zucchini sliced and grilled, with olive oil and some lemon pepper.
Planning a garden is such fun, but no where near as enjoyable as eating the 100% organic, picked and prepared on the same day garden veggies. I’m extra excited about the garden this year, too, because we have been composting all winter long and have lovely dark rich compost to till in to our garden soil and mulch on top to keep the soil airy and moist in our dry Colorado heat. All the nutrients from the BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost that we’ve been adding to the compost will bring an added boost to the soil. And this year, we’ll be ‘fertilizing’ with BiOWiSH™ for added size and top performance. Take a look at what it did for hydroponic lettuce (three weeks old!).
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A Healthier Home
I’ll read just about anything that mentions gardening, composting, sustainable living, helping our environment. Could be that I’ll eventually end up skimming through the main part of the article, but on the other hand, it may be that I’ll delve deeply into the heart of it to glean every idea put forth. Wanting to know what others of like mind are thinking and suggesting as ways to improve our lifestyles is a driving force for me.
Knowing this about me, it will not surprise you that on my way to checking my email today I happened upon and read word for word an article by Debra Lynn Dadd about ways we can make our homes healthier. The author listed ten ways to do so; the numero uno way Ms. Dadd said we could make our homes healthier was to “nix ammonia” as a means of cleaning glass in our homes. Hurray for Ms. Dadd! I heard about this “alternative” cleaner a couple of decades ago and use it religiously…not only to clean glass but for my wood floors and to kill bacteria when I clean my humidifier. One part white or apple cider vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle for window and glass cleaner. One-quarter cup vinegar to one gallon of water cleans my wood floors, and I use full strength vinegar to clean my humidifier.
Another way Ms. Dadd suggested that we could make our homes healthier was to use organically grown produce. Her reasoning was that most (if not all) non-organically grown produce available in our grocery stores is heavily sprayed by the growers with pesticides and herbicides. And we know from scientific studies that these poisons can cause cancer. Ms. Dadd suggests buying organic fruits and vegetables that are in season for a healthier home. But we don’t have to just buy it. We can grow it ourselves! We can reduce our reliance on oil and gas, and decrease emissions by cutting out the need to transport that produce to the market. Growing and eating our own garden produce is one of the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint that I know of. Tasty too!
This last method of cleaning up our living spaces made me think of one of the reasons I fell in love with my husband! The first time I met him he told me about the organic garden he cultivated. It was love at first bite when he shared some home grown organic corn on the cob! Making your own organic compost is the right way to start down that path to organic gardening. And, of course, composting also reduces our carbon footprint by reusing our kitchen waste instead of sending it off to the landfill or reduces water usage by not running that waste through the garbage disposal. At BestComposters.com we want to make it easier than ever to have an organic garden and enjoy those fresh vegetables and fruits. We love our tumbling composter, since all we have to do is add our composting materials and give it a couple of cranks on the handle. Spinning the materials inside the tumbler gets air to the compost and helps those wonderful organisms to break things down more quickly. And by adding BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost (six sachets per $13.99 packet, one sachet per month) to the tumbler according to package instructions, we don’t have to be so careful in adding the exactly proper mix of nitrogen (40%) and carbon (60%). It’s 100% organic and biodegradable, reduces odors and helps in the nutrient absorption of the plants. Using BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost also reduces the amount of time it takes to achieve the finished batch of compost, so we can make twice as much! Our garden is going to love us, and our home will be a healthier place. Thanks for getting me thinking, Debra Lynn Dadd!
Knowing this about me, it will not surprise you that on my way to checking my email today I happened upon and read word for word an article by Debra Lynn Dadd about ways we can make our homes healthier. The author listed ten ways to do so; the numero uno way Ms. Dadd said we could make our homes healthier was to “nix ammonia” as a means of cleaning glass in our homes. Hurray for Ms. Dadd! I heard about this “alternative” cleaner a couple of decades ago and use it religiously…not only to clean glass but for my wood floors and to kill bacteria when I clean my humidifier. One part white or apple cider vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle for window and glass cleaner. One-quarter cup vinegar to one gallon of water cleans my wood floors, and I use full strength vinegar to clean my humidifier.
Another way Ms. Dadd suggested that we could make our homes healthier was to use organically grown produce. Her reasoning was that most (if not all) non-organically grown produce available in our grocery stores is heavily sprayed by the growers with pesticides and herbicides. And we know from scientific studies that these poisons can cause cancer. Ms. Dadd suggests buying organic fruits and vegetables that are in season for a healthier home. But we don’t have to just buy it. We can grow it ourselves! We can reduce our reliance on oil and gas, and decrease emissions by cutting out the need to transport that produce to the market. Growing and eating our own garden produce is one of the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint that I know of. Tasty too!
This last method of cleaning up our living spaces made me think of one of the reasons I fell in love with my husband! The first time I met him he told me about the organic garden he cultivated. It was love at first bite when he shared some home grown organic corn on the cob! Making your own organic compost is the right way to start down that path to organic gardening. And, of course, composting also reduces our carbon footprint by reusing our kitchen waste instead of sending it off to the landfill or reduces water usage by not running that waste through the garbage disposal. At BestComposters.com we want to make it easier than ever to have an organic garden and enjoy those fresh vegetables and fruits. We love our tumbling composter, since all we have to do is add our composting materials and give it a couple of cranks on the handle. Spinning the materials inside the tumbler gets air to the compost and helps those wonderful organisms to break things down more quickly. And by adding BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost (six sachets per $13.99 packet, one sachet per month) to the tumbler according to package instructions, we don’t have to be so careful in adding the exactly proper mix of nitrogen (40%) and carbon (60%). It’s 100% organic and biodegradable, reduces odors and helps in the nutrient absorption of the plants. Using BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost also reduces the amount of time it takes to achieve the finished batch of compost, so we can make twice as much! Our garden is going to love us, and our home will be a healthier place. Thanks for getting me thinking, Debra Lynn Dadd!
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