Organic Gardens Network™: 66 Things You Can Grow In Containers Growing your own food is exciting, not only because you get to see things grow from nothing into ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, but you also don't have to worry about the pesticides they might contain, and you definitely cut down on the miles they -- and you -- have to travel. As it turns out, with pretty minimal effort, anyone can be a gardener. My boyfriend and I are essentially first-timers this season and so far have the beginnings of strawberries peeking out, tomatoes are on their way, the basil's about ready for a big batch of pesto, and once the last frost hits, the peppers, kale, spinach, chard, and mesclun will be on their way, too. All on a tiiiny little terrace (with the help of a little DIY carpentry). If you're up to the challenge -- and it really isn't much of one -- growing your own food can be so rewarding. And so much cheaper! Here's a starter list of all the crazy things even urban gardeners, without space for a garden, can grow at home.Tree Fruits - Including Apples
How to get Superpowered Garden Soil Ya’ know what makes me happy? Dirt. I’m not talkin’ about crappy dirt on the side of the road, I’m talkin’ about real, dark, rich & moist dirt. The kind you can dig your fingers into. The kind that when you kneel on it, feels soft and squishy. Know what I’m talkin’ about? Well, if you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about, or you’ve never experienced fabulous dirt, then you’ve come to the right place. Know that brown thumb you’re always complainin’ about? Determining your Soil’s Superpower Capabilities The first thing you must do is find out what kind of soil you have to work with.Is it sandy? Here’s how you find out: Image courtesy of Homesteady ( I’ll wait here while you determine your soil type. Now that you’ve figured out what type of soil you have, let’s go over what all that means: Clay soil is opposite of our sandy soil. Silt is a perfect combination of particles allowing for proper watering and proper draining. Getting your Garden Soil “just right” Share
Make Your Own Fertilizer Learn how to make your own fertilizer, and keep your garden green without spending a lot of green. Here are several great homemade fertilizer recipes to try: Epsom Salt Fertilizer Photo Credit: Erin Huffstetler Use in Place of: Houseplant food Vegetable fertilizer Rose plant food What You Need: 1 Tablespoon Epsom Salt 1 gallon water A watering can What You Do: 1. Why This Works: Epsom salt is made up of magnesium and sulfate – both vital plant nutrients. Coffee Ground Fertilizer Rose plant food Used coffee grounds A cookie Sheet Newspaper 1. Note: Be careful not to over do it with the grounds. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium – all important plant nutrients. Egg Shell Fertilizer Lime Egg Shells A blender 1. Eggs shells are made up almost entirely of calcium carbonate – the main ingredient in agricultural lime. Vinegar Fertilizer Houseplant fertilizer Rose plant food 1 Tablespoon white vinegar 1 gallon water A watering can 1. Fish Tank Water Fertilizer Any fertilizer 1. 1.
Milkcrate Composter (vertically stacked) How to make a vertically stacked composter using milkcrates. This instructable is based on Terracotta home composter by artworker and the creators of the terracotta composter, Daily Dump ( ) When I saw the terracotta composter, I though it was the most brilliant composter I have ever seen. Then I though of the perfect substitute, a milkcrate! The only down is the aesthetic of it, the terracotta pots are so beautiful. So here's my milkcrate composter!
$300 Underground Greenhouse Grows Produce Year-Round, Even in Severe Climates | Wake Up World By Carolanne Wright Contributing Writer for Wake Up World With staggering food prices and shortages looming, there’s no better time to grow your own produce. Sadly, most greenhouses are expensive to build and impractical to heat during cold, wintery conditions. Thankfully, a solution is found with the Walipini. Developed for South American mountainous regions over twenty years ago, it allows edibles to be grown year-round – even in the most inhospitable weather. Unlimited growing season Known as a pit or underground greenhouse, the Walipini utilizes the advantages of passive solar heating along with earth sheltering properties. “The Walipini, in simplest terms, is a rectangular hole in the ground 6′ to 8′ deep covered by plastic sheeting. The Institute continues with an explanation of how the earth acts like a battery, storing heat during the day while releasing it during cooler nighttime temperatures: Sources for this article include:
How To Use Diapers To Create Super Growing Potting Soil - One of the most difficult gardening tasks is managing the water your plants receive. You can easily and cheaply provide the “perfect” mix of soil and water to your plants by taking advantage of diapers amazing absorbency. Filling a diaper with water to its capacity and mixing with fresh soil produces one of the best potting mixes available, full of water and oxygen and nutrients, everything a healthy plant needs. Learn more about using the super-absorbent power of diapers with plants in the video below: Begin with this life changing eBook where you will find: Natural Home Remedies - Discover how to live a healthier life with more natural remedies to treat illness you can make at home using natural ingredients like coconut oil, apple cider vinegar and honey. Every month there are things to do in the garden and November is no different. As the season changes the - garden - is a wonderful place to hang out with lots to do!
Identifying Plant Nutrient Deficiencies Not all plant problems are caused by insects or diseases. Sometimes an unhealthy plant is suffering from a nutrient deficiency or even too much of any one nutrient. Plant nutrient deficiencies often manifest as foliage discoloration or distortion. The following chart outlines some possible problems. Unfortunately many problems have similar symptoms and sometimes it is a combination of problems. Be sure you eliminate the obvious before you kill your plants with kindness. Check first for signs of insects or disease. Plants require a mix of nutrients to remain healthy. There are a handful of additional nutrients that are required for plant growth, but in much smaller quantities. All of these nutrients are taken in through the roots. Plant Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms Macronutrients Calcium (Ca)Symptoms: New leaves are distorted or hook shaped. Micronutrients Boron (B)Symptoms: Poor stem and root growth.
All Praise To Barack Obama For Stiffing The War Party—- Peace Is Finally Being Given A Chance I have rarely found anything President Obama has done to be praiseworthy, and believe his domestic policies of Keynesian borrow and spend and incessant statist intervention in capitalist enterprise to be especially deplorable. But finally he has stood up to the War Party——and that could mark a decisive turning point in rolling back Washington’s destructive interventionism and imperial pretensions in the Middle East and, indeed, around the world. The Iranian nuclear agreement is a decisive refutation of the War Party’s hoary claim that Iran is hell-bent upon obtaining nuclear weapons. This deafening but untruthful narrative was long ago debunked by the 2007 National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs). These authoritative findings were issued by the nation’s 16 top intelligence agencies in November 2007, and they held that what had possibly been a small-scale Iranian weapons research effort was abandoned in 2003 and never restarted. Here’s the thing, folks.
Gardening with Epsom Salt | Wake Up World By saltworks.us Epsom salt has become a popular and well-reputed supplement in organic gardening. With the recent push towards “green” living, Epsom salt is an ideal answer to a variety of organic gardening needs. Both cost effective and gentle on your greenery, Epsom salt is an affordable and green treatment for your well-tended plants—both indoors and out. Completely one-of-a-kind with a chemical structure unlike any other, Epsom salt (or Magnesium Sulfate) is one of the most economic and versatile salt-like substances in the world. Throughout time, Epsom salt has been known as a wonderful garden supplement, helping to create lush grass, full roses, and healthy, vibrant greenery. Why Epsom Salt Works in the Garden Composed almost exclusively of Magnesium Sulfate, Epsom salt is intensely rich in these two minerals that are both crucial to healthy plant life. Magnesium is beneficial to plants from the beginning of their life, right when the seed begins to develop. Tomatoes & Epsom Salt
Foraging Meetup Groups - Foraging Meetups Organic Gardens Network™: Frost Dates Here is an exciting new way for you to determine your last frost dates to ensure you are planting your garden at the right time for growing success in your location. Don’t leave it to chance! This new and innovative frost date tool is brought to you from Green Thumb Weather by a team of 3 meteorologists. Between the 3 of them, they have done weather forecasting for almost every climate on earth. They are all gardeners so you can rest assured that not only do they understand how important protecting your garden from the weather is, they have the experience to help you do the same. Green Thumb Weather is an interactive website that features frost dates in a way that you have never seen before, ultimately helping growers to make decisions about their gardens that save time and money. Based on which part of the growing season you are currently in, the website customizes the display. Watch this brief video tutorial on how to use the interactive maps.