Video - Harvesting The Whitehouse's Winter Garden

I thought this video was pretty interesting - who knew the Whitehouse had a winter garden growing under simple hoop houses all winter? Watch them harvest all the greens and veggies that grew last winter even through all the snow and cold of D.C. - pretty awesome!  And stay tuned later this winter - we have an exciting new series on winter gardening coming up - if they can do it in D.C. - you probably can too!

Note: We won't be posting next week, due to the holidays, but we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Be sure to check back after January 1st for more great gardening tips and articles. We look forward to sharing an awesome garden year with you in 2012!

Harvesting the Winter Garden
The White House kitchen garden has been growing under "hoop houses" on the South Lawn throughout the snowy winter months in Washington. Join the chefs of the White House as they gather a harvest that exceeded expectations from the winter garden.

Choosing The Right Plants for Your Sustainable Garden

When it comes to gardening plants, there are too many to name.  Gardening plants can refer to flowers, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, fruits, and many more.  There are also gardening plants that are in season at different times of the year, some in fall and winter, others in spring and summer. Whatever type of gardening you decide is your forte; there are plenty of gardening plants available to suit your preferences.

Image via WikipediaIf you want gardening plants that you can actually use instead of just look at, vegetables, herbs, and fruits are all very satisfying.  Edible plants add an excitement to gardening because of the produce available at harvest time.  The main vegetables grown in smaller, home gardens as well as larger ones include corn, peas, cucumbers, potatoes, squash, peppers, onions, carrots, spinach, lettuce, and beets.  Popular fruits are pears, plums, tomatoes, blueberries, apricots, cherries, and strawberries.  Herbs are used for their wonderful fragrances, to spice up a salad, and in cooking.  Herbs that are often home grown include thyme, sage, dill, mint, lavender, and chives.

It is fairly easy to have a colorful garden in the spring and summer months, but it is a whole different ball-game during the cold, winter months.  Even though it is difficult, with planning and a little more care you can have a colorful garden year round.  One gardening plant that thrives in the fall and winter months is the Rudbeckia, a beautiful yellow perennial.  Others include the Christmas rose, the Japanese Anemone, and Cosmos.

Image by RaeAllen via FlickrWhen you think of flowers you might automatically think of a spring garden full of many different, beautiful colors.  Spring and summer gardening plants are some of the prettiest things on earth and give inspiration to all who grow them.  Some of the most grown spring plants are tulips, daffodils, and violets.  Favorites of the warmer months of summer are lilies, dahlias, and roses.

When gardening, many people will opt for decorative grasses or shrubs.  Monkey grass is an all time favorite, especially for a sidewalk.  These will gardening plants can be for looks, can act as a border or fence, and can be used for privacy.  Shrubs are easy to take care of and add a defining look to any yard or garden.

There are so many different kinds of gardening plants available.  Many gardening plants actually have a purpose and can be used, whereas many of them are just for looks.  The kind of plants you choose to have in your garden is completely up to you, but remember, no matter what kind it is, it will require some maintenance and without proper care you will end up with a garden full of just dirt! (Check out http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html for some helpful sustainable gardening tips and resources.)

Gardening Products Make Great Gifts

If you're looking for a last minute gift for the special gardener in your life, it's not to late to pick up some great gardening products. Because gardening has evolved into such a popular activity, gardening products are not hard to come by.  You can buy gardening products in various stores or nurseries, or you can order gardening products from catalogs, or even order them online.  Gardening products can range from equipment to fertilizer to actual plants and shrubs.


You will obviously need the basic gardening products no matter what you are planting, such as a hoe, spade, fork, and maybe even a shovel.  You must have watering supplies, like a water hose and perhaps a sprinkler.  Other possibilities include a spade, a pot (if you are pot planting), and a pair of gloves for comfort, some secateurs, or a rake.  When first starting a garden you will definitely want some type of mulch or potting soil to get your dirt ready.  There are a few types of potting soil to choose from, including organic potting mix, seed starting potting mix, cactus potting mix, and root development potting mix, just to name a few. (You can easily find all of these online - for a one-stop shop, try http://www.newholisticliving.com/products.html#SGProducts.)

Once you have your garden planted, you must have gardening products so that you can add nutrients to the soil to ensure a healthy plant life.  Miracle-Gro is one of the most popular growing enhancements for plants.  There are many different types of Miracle-Gro to choose from and what kind you choose will depend on what you are trying to grow. For sustainable and organic gardening, of course you will want to look for the organic varieties. You will also want to add fertilizer, such as compost or manure.

If you are growing vegetables or herbs, you may need different gardening products than flower gardens require.  If you are growing tomatoes you will need a tomato cage and ties to protect the plants against the wind.  Many plants, especially vines, are designed to grow on something and you will need to have a fence or trellis of some sort.

Gardening products are not limited to just the gardening necessities; they can also come in the form of decoration.  There are decorative flower pots, sundials, plastic figurines, stones or bricks for a pathway or looks, and even lawn furniture.  Decoration will add to the charm and uniqueness of your garden and are an excellent way to give it a personal touch.


The winter months will bring a whole new set of gardening products to store shelves.  When the frost hits, the prime place to put your plants are in a greenhouse.  Mini-greenhouses are pretty easy to find nowadays, and can be relatively inexpensive to purchase (or very inexpensive to build, yourself). However, if you do not have a greenhouse, a tarp or row cover can be used to cover plants up at night.  You also might need a light source, like a heat lamp, to both keep plants warm and give them extra light.

New and upgraded gardening products are always popping up on the market.  It seems like every day there is some gardening product that claims to be bigger and better than the last.  While many gardening products are not a necessity, they sure make the job a lot easier and more enjoyable.

So why not grab one of these gardening products as a gift for your favorite gardener this holiday season? (Even if that gardener is you!) :-)   Just click on any of the links above for some great suggestions, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.

Video - Worm Farming - Why & How

Here is a really quick video on why worm farming is important, and how you can get involved, whether for your large commercial business or small family home or apartment. Worm farming is a great way to get wonderful organic compost which can be used for gardening, or even sold commercially (or donated to schools and other organizations if desired). It keeps decomposable waste out of landfills, and provides valuable nutrients to the soil.

This video shows a variety of different solutions for different sizes of worm farms. You can find a couple of family-sized worm farm solutions listed below the video as well.

Worm Farm Introduction and Guide
Worm farming. An introduction to worm farming and Worms R Us worm farm products.


Easy Worm Farming Resources:
   

Why Is Worm Farming Important?

It may come as a surprise to some that worm farming is beneficial to our environment.  After some research into the topic it may be shocking to learn how important these hidden crawlers really are.  There is more to them than just crawling through the garden.

Image via WikipediaWorms have been around since the beginning.  All the way back to the age of the dinosaurs, worms ploughed through rotting debris and excrement, composting it into a more usable substance.  Millions of years ago they were efficient creatures and today they remain the same. 

So why is worm farming so important?  There are three common reasons for worm farming both commercially and individually.  The first reason is for composting. 

Worm farming provides an effective and efficient way for composting food waste and other biodegradable items.  On the larger scale, worms are used in place of landfills by commercial companies.  The worms compost waste, eliminating unnecessary overflows in landfills.  Certain landfills also use worms to help compost the waste that has build up over time to try to prevent an overflow. 

On a smaller scale, home owners and apartment dwellers are able to run their own personal worm farms.  The purpose is to provide a more natural way for composting discarded food products and other items, instead of sending them to the local landfills.  Various sizes of personal worm farms are available on the market today.  These can typically be used both outdoors and indoors for those with limited space. 

Having a personal worm farm means that individuals are able to employ worms to naturally compost items such as fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, paper products, soaked cardboard, egg shells and hair.  What is given in return by the worms is a naturally nutrient rich organic substance that can enrich soil for gardens, crops and house plants.

This brings us to the next reason for worm farming.  Vermicompost, or worm castings, is the product the worms produce as they compost and digest their provided diet.  These castings are as rich in nutrients as the food items provided to them. This substance is so rich in nutrients that it can be used as an effective plant food for a small pot for up to two months.  Vermicompost is one of the best organic fertilizers available.

Chemical fertilizers can be replaced by using natural vermicompost.  Chemical fertilizers often produce a fast effect, but when the soil is analyzed, it is found that the nutrients in the soil are being further broken down by the chemicals.  This requires that even more fertilizer be used later on to produce the same effect. 

Chemical pest removers and poisons have led to the destruction and evacuation of worms in many areas.  The worms are either killed by the poison or they leave the area as the soil is no longer healthy enough for them to live in. 

Image via WikipediaUsing vermicompost as a natural fertilizer helps eliminate the need for chemicals that destroy the soil and rid the area of these helpful worms.  Some worms can be used in garden beds, improving the quality of the soil as they plough through pulling water into the soil and aerating the bed as they go. 

Another reason for worm farming is the production of worms to be used as live food and live bait.  Many exotic pets, birds and aquarium fish require the addition of live worms to their diets.  Offering worms for this reason gives pet owners an opportunity to purchase live food that has not been chemically altered or treated. 

Professional fishermen, bait and tackle shops, and the fishing hobbyist are often on the search for good suppliers of various worms that are best suited for live bait in both freshwater and salt water.  Worm farms offer these buyers a chance to purchase organically raised worms that will produce the best results when fishing.

As surprising as it may seem, worms are a very important part of our environment.  Worm farming is just a way to be able to appreciate their effects on a more personal level.  They are hard workers and keeping them happy in a worm farm will help ensure a healthier environment, less overflow of the landfills and a higher level of plant growth.

Starting your own worm farm may sound like a lot of work, but it's actually very easy. Stay tuned to this blog for more info on worm farming, and by the time summer rolls around, you can have some great worm compost to add to your garden!

Why Plants Make Us Happier

We are now learning that surrounding ourselves with growing plants helps relieve stress, as well as providing many other benefits. By taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Martians!) :-) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will also learn how to love and care for both others and ourselves.

Image by wockerjabby via FlickrBy taking on the care of a plant (sort of like a pet) we are assuming a new responsibility - we are adopting a breathing being. This helps us become more aware of our surroundings, as we have to pay attention to other needs that are exterior to ourselves. We become aware of the needs of another being: we learn how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and how to keep it alive and thriving. At the same time we also become more aware of others, and the natural world. Visual contact with a beautiful plant can even help us realize our own beauty!

More and more studies show that taking care of plants can be an efficient method to improve the physical and emotional general condition. Plants have a serene effect that can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the moods of those in their surroundings.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants in the home can help reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. And the oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Image by epSos.de via FlickrLarge plants placed in the right spot can help insulate us from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, Xerox, printer or coffee maker, making these sounds in your home less distracting and stressful.

So why not plant a plant indoors this winter, or gift someone with a lovely plant for the holidays? It is giving the gift of peace, and isn't that what the season should be all about?

Video - Houseplants You Can't Kill!

Here is a short video which will tell you a few great houseplants to green up your home, and how to care for them. If you're looking for beautiful plants you can grow indoors year-round, and you have trouble keeping plants alive, this is a great video to help you get started with some houseplants that will prosper and look lovely for years to come - even if you're new to growing indoors!

Check it out, and see how easy it can be to make your home beautiful and green, without spending a lot of time maintaining your plants:

Choose Indoor Plants You Can't Kill!
Garden television host and designer, Shirley Bovshow explains to viewers on NBC's iVillage Live show, what are the best indoor plants to select if you are a serial plant killer! No such thing as black thumbs, only bad plant selections.

Choosing Your First Indoor Houseplant

When you are choosing a house plant you need to go beyond the appearance of the plant although that is a good place to start.  If there is a certain kind of plant that you want to have, look into the care instructions first.  Some plants need more care and others are best left to an expert gardener as opposed to a novice one.  If you fall into the latter category of gardeners you will want plants that are easy to care for, are hardy, and have a low maintenance schedule.

Image via WikipediaFerns are a popular choice for indoor gardens as they are easy to care for, do not need to be repotted very often, and are attractive.  There is a wide range of fern varieties available and each one has a unique look.  Some of the different ferns great for houseplants are:

*    Maidenhair Ferns
*    Davallias
*    Fishbone Ferns
*    Cretan Brake Ferns

Begonias are a great choice for the indoors too especially if you do not have a great light source.  This plant can survive on very little light each day.  Some will flower indoors but the leaves are beautiful on their own too.  They also don’t mind cooler temperatures either, but it should not get colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).  Here are a few of the most common begonia varieties available:

Image by cbcastro via Flickr*    Rex Begonias
*    Iron Cross Begonias
*    Begonia Masoniana

The fern and begonia aren’t the only breeds of houseplant that will survive even the newest of green thumbs.  Here is list of different kinds of plants you can try too:

*    Spider Plants
*    Devil’s Ivy
*    Cast Iron Plants
*    Chinese Evergreen

Once you have a few plants in your indoor garden and are comfortable with the care required, you will have the skill and confidence needed to take care of a higher-needs variety.

These Plants Should Be Left Outside For the Winter

When you are an indoor gardener the same rules apply to your plants as they do to any other type of gardener.  Your plants will need water, food, and plenty of light as do the ones grown outside or in a green house.  Of course there are special considerations such as temperature and humidity control but they can be overcome with relatively minor adjustments.  With that being said, there are some plants that are best left to the outdoor garden.

Image by Michael Sarver via FlickrThe type of plant that won’t do well indoors is really dependant on the climate you live in.  If you live in a warm area and have the air conditioning or fans on during the day a plant that is used to higher temperature will not do well inside your home and should be left outside.  The same goes for the opposite, if your house is overheated a plant will most likely dry out from lack of moisture in the air.

Other plants that are best left outdoors are perennials and bulb plants that need the seasonal rains and temperatures outside to grow again.  You could bring some tulips or daffodils inside in a pot but they will do much better outside. 

Most trees are best left outside too; by trying to grow certain trees inside you will only have a smaller and  less sturdy version than its outside mates.  If you do decide to grow a tree indoors plan ahead for a transplant that may have to occur.  You do not want to wait until the tree becomes too heavy to move.  When a larger plant is repotted or planted elsewhere it will usually go into shock – meaning it will not grow for at least one season (it may be more depending on the size and age of the plant). 

As with other types of gardening, a little bit of planning ahead goes a long way in ensuring the success of your indoor garden.

Video - Controlling Pests In Your Indoor Garden The Natural Way

Here is a short video with some ideas for getting rid of bugs on your indoor garden or houseplants, without using harmful chemicals that can pollute your home. Check this out for some quick tips, and keep your indoor plants healthy and pest-free this winter!

Indoor Gardening Tips : How Do I Kill Little Bugs on House Plants?
House plants will likely attract all sorts of little bugs throughout their life. Kill little bugs on house plants with help from the owner of a nursery in this free video clip. Expert: Oscar Carmona Bio: Oscar Carmona owns Healing Grounds Nursery, lo...



For more sustainable gardening tips, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.

How to Bring a Plant Cutting Indoors for the Winter

If you love an outdoor plant but it is too big to bring indoors for the winter you have the option of taking a cutting from that plant. Once you have taken a cutting, you can start a new plant that is smaller and more appropriate for an indoor garden. Depending on the type of plant you are taking a cutting from, there are a few methods you might want to try.

Image via WikipediaTaking a cutting from a plant is also known as propagation. If you have a hardwood plant that you want to propagate the process is slow but easy to do as the cuttings are quite hardy. Take the cutting (about 5 inches worth) when the tree is dormant (in the middle of winter) and place the cutting cut-side up in a pail of sand. Fill the pail with water and wait until spring. Then submersed side will have little nodules that will turn into roots once planted.

When you are taking a cutting from a soft-wood plant, it will require more care and attention. Taking cuttings from soft-wood yields quicker results and you do the actual cutting when the plant is in the active growing phase. You are cutting off the new growth back to a nodal (from the point it stopped growing the year previous). This method benefits from the use of a root-producing medium found at nursery stores. It is important to place the cutting (cut-side down) into the root medium immediately. If the cutting dries out it will lessen the chances of a successful propagation.

Next, pick a pot or container suitable to the type of plant you are growing and plant it once the roots have developed. At this point, you can follow the regular care instructions for the type of plant you have just propagated.