Sustainable Gardening News – Fall and Winter Gardens

Image by thekitchendesigner.org via FlickrWell, sad to say, summer is coming to a close!  For us gardeners, it is a time of both sadness and relief (especially in those areas where this summer has proven extra-hot and dry, to the point where watering adequately has become an unsustainable proposition. Luckily, here in central Ohio, we’ve finally been blessed with some MUCH-needed rain.).

However, those who have a long enough growing season, warm enough climate, or are lucky enough to have an enclosed garden are excitedly preparing for fall and winter gardening efforts.

Here are a few interesting notes from some such hardy souls:

Sustainable Gardening, Winter Style | Sustainable Food
A new group of sustainable gardening advocates has arrived in the mainstream: the winter gardeners.
Publish Date: 09/21/2010 6:15
http://www.justmeans.com/Sustainable-Gardening-Winter-Style/31858.html

Celebrate Fall! Harvest Time is Best for Visiting Local Farms …
Celebrate Fall! Harvest Time is Best for Visiting Local Farms. Stop! Just stop what you are doing, and put down your tools, be they gardening trowels or smart phones. It is time to take a break from the weeding, shoveling, organizing, … “ The FruitGuys supports Hoes Down as part of our commitment to sustainable agriculture and community building. We work with a number of small farms in Capay Valley as well as other small farmers around the country who feel it is part of …
Publish Date: 09/24/2010 14:17
http://fruitguys.com/almanac/2010/09/24/celebrate-fall-harvest-time-is-best-for-visiting-local-farms

October In Your Patch – Temperate Zones « Sustainable Gardening …
But the one thing that remains the same for all zones and regions is this: sustainable gardening doesn’t mean no maintenance gardening… so spend some time, pull some weeds, and enjoy your patch of paradise! …
Publish Date: 09/12/2010 22:38
http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=3313

Related articles on Fall and Winter Gardening:

• Annie Spiegelman: Time to Get Dirty: Autumn Chores in the Garden (huffingtonpost.com)
• A vegetable paradise in the middle of winter (teabreak.pk)
• The Fall Garden (glenns-garden.com)
• Planning for that winter vegetable crop (mysanantonio.com)

The History of Organic Vegetable Gardening

Here’s a quick history lesson for those interested in organic and sustainable gardening practices.

Read on to learn some interesting facts – I promise I won’t let it turn into a long, boring, history book!

The history of organic vegetable gardening dates back many centuries, as ancient civilizations relied on this (plus fishing or hunting) to put food on the table.

Back then, nobody used fertilizers and pesticides, but as the world increased in population, the demand for food also went up. To fill the gap, scientists discovered it was possible to introduce chemical fertilizers to cut the harvesting time, eliminate the need to let the land lie fallow to replenish itself,  grow more in a smaller amount of space, and make the vegetables bigger.

Image by cafemama via FlickrOrganic vegetable gardening made a comeback in the 1980’s, when the US department of Agriculture  encouraged small farmers by giving them incentives. This made more farmers revert to this old method of farming, both in the US and Europe.

But organic vegetable gardening is not just eliminating the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers will have to use other means to make crop grows such as compost, crop residue, crop rotation, integrated pest management and mechanical cultivation in order to preserve soil productivity and combat pests.

The  International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements is the regulator these days that tells farmers across the globe how this should be done. Their recommendations help organic crops grow on 75 million acres of land across the globe.

Their strategy is focused on sustainable development so that the land used today can maintain a healthy ecosystem, and therefore may also be used by the next generation.

Organic vegetable gardening has proven to be as effective (or almost as effective) as conventional methods. For example, one study has pointed out that the amount of corn and soybeans produced using this method was almost the same compared to those who used chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The best part is that this was achieved without using as much energy and without the risk of leaving behind harmful chemicals to enter our bodies.

It has been estimated by one university that if developing countries also practice good organic vegetable gardening techniques, they may be able to double or triple their crops without spending scarce resources on buying pesticides and fertilizers.

Because organic vegetable gardening is so easy, almost anyone can do it.  The key to a successful harvest using organic farming is planning. You will need to make sure the land you are using has adequate sunlight and an efficient drainage system, as well as a method of irrigation.

If you are able to figure that out, the only thing you have to worry about is what to plant – which can be important, as some vegetables do not well under certain conditions, climates, or soil types. Those who know what they can and cannot plant will save themselves time and money so they can focus on what works.

The history of organic vegetable gardening has now come full circle as we are once again using methods that ancient civilizations practiced long before we were born. You can do your part by planting your own organic garden, or, if you are not able to garden, supporting your local organic farmers by purchasing your groceries at your local farmer’s market or though a CSA.

The end result is that you eat healthy without worrying so much about consuming chemicals that may be harmful to your body.

Related articles on Organic Gardening:

• Growing Organic Foods the Natural Way (rawlivingfoods.typepad.com)
• Planting a cover crop this fall will make spring gardening easier (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Great Sustainable Gardening Video

Here is an excellent, inspiring video which has important implications for our future. I like this video because it does allow you to see how much can be accomplished holistically even on a short term basis – not just in the long-term permaculture context.

It is great to see people like this out there doing this kind of work and bringing the topic to our attention. I was in a hurry, but SO glad I took the time to watch this — It’s definitely worth a watch, and I am glad to be able to spread the word and share it with you!

An Experiment in Back Yard Sustainability
Peak Moment 51: Tour Scott McGuire’s “White Sage Gardens” in the back yard of his rental home — a demonstration site for suburban sustainability. He ponders, “How might a household produce and preserve a significant portion of its own food supply?” …



My favorite quote from this video: “There’s NOTHING that isn’t food for something else.” 

Related articles on Backyard Sustainable Gardening:

• Self-Sufficiency Versus a Backyard CSA (Video) (treehugger.com)
• How to Create a Sustainable Garden (gogreenstreet.com)

Sustainable Organic Vegetable Gardening With Organic Matter

Sustainable organic vegetable gardening can only happen if you know how to use and prepare organic matter.

Use of this fertilizer method improves the soil and prevents it from compacting and crusting. It increases the water’s holding ability so earthworms and other microorganisms can aerate the soil and it slows down erosion and in later stages of decay so that organic matter is able to release nitrogen and other nutrients which help the crops grow.

Such a technique is old but is now making a come-back because the conventional method of using synthetic materials like fertilizer and pesticides have ruined the soil and depleted it of organic matter so it cannot be used for replanting (or if it is, the food that comes from it is extremely lacking in nutrients).

Image via WikipediaSo where do we get this organic matter? Believe it or not, the best form of organic matter comes from animal manure. The fresher the better because you can apply this directly to the soil, but this should only be done in the fall and plowed down to give it adequate time for sufficient breakdown and ammonia to release before the planting season begins — otherwise it can burn the roots and leaves of the new plants.

If you don’t have access to fresh animal manure, you can use the dried version that is being sold in nurseries and garden stores.
For those who don’t want to use manure, you can use compost instead. This can be made from lawn clippings, leaves, food waste and other plant materials. It is cheap but its nutrient content is lower. (See previous posts on composting for more on this).

There is also another kind of manure better known as green manure. This comes not from animal waste, but rather by growing a rich cover crop in your garden and then plowing it under so you are adding organic matter to the soil. The best way to maximize this is for you not to use the garden for one season.

You can also seed the green manure in the fall and then turn it under with a plow or a large tiller in the early spring. That way, you can use your garden normally in the summer season, while at the same time building up the soil during the later half of the year.

Annual ryegrass is a good example for green manuring and covering. This should be seeded 1 to 2 feet per 1,000 square feet. If this is not available, you can use seed rye or wheat and place it 3 to 4 feet per 1,000 square feet. This also helps prevent weeds from growing;  in order for this to be most effective, wait at least 2 weeks before you start planting.

Sewage sludge is also a good source of organic matter. There are two types namely digested sludge and dried activated sludge.

The first is relatively low quality. It contains from 1 to 3 percent of nitrogen and should only be applied during the fall. But you should be careful when you use it because it sometimes contain metal ions that are not good to use on vegetable gardens.

The second which is the dried activated sludge has been separated from coarse solids, inoculated with microorganisms and aerated. This is better than the other one because it is filtered, dried in kilns and screened. It contains 5 to 6 percent of nitrogen and 5 to 7 pounds can cover an area of 100 square feet.

Take note that these two types are different from raw sewage, which should NEVER be used to garden in any soil. 

Sustainable organic vegetable gardening can only happen with the prudent and educated use of natural organic matter. Choose from the methods above to find what will work best in your situation, and get gardening!

And as always, we’d love to hear your tips and comments on what organic fertilizer methods have worked best for you in your garden, so please feel free to post below!

Related articles on Organic Fertilizers & Sustainable Gardening:

• Preparing to Prepare: Amending Your Garden Soil, by Windwillow (survivalblog.com)
• Recycling animal and human dung is the key to sustainable farming (energybulletin.net)
• Identifying Your Soil Type and Preparing Your Site (gliving.com)

Recent Sustainable Gardening News…

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the lack of posts recently! It was a much busier summer than anticipated. It’s been a great garden season, except for the extreme lack of rain for the past month…. (Actually it’s drizzling a bit right now – for the first time in over 3 weeks!) Most everything is done now, but I’ve just planted my fall garden (salad and a few other greens), and some of the flowers are still going strong!

Image via WikipediaHere are a few good recent videos and articles on sustainable gardening practices to check out:
What is Urban Sustainable Living | Tallahassee Home and Garden
Patti Moreno the Garden Girl explains her Sustainable Living methods. Also check out www.gardengirltv.com
Publish Date: 09/11/2010 9:28
http://www.tallahasseehomeandgarden.com/what-is-urban-sustainable-living/


Garden Plan – The Edible Garden series
Making The Edible Garden has been about finding a way to garden that is as gentle as possible upon the world. A garden that will please and feed me and still be a home for all others that visit it. By choosing to grow my vegetables …
Publish Date: 09/11/2010 13:32
http://permaculturetorrent.blogspot.com/2010/09/garden-plan-edible-garden-series.html

Survival Gardening Tips: Planting an Edible Food Garden at Home
WATER;in an emergency water supply will be crucial and a learning how to maximize that will take just as long as learning sustainable gardening. As for security, community with common interest will be key. Relocating might be an …
Publish Date: 09/11/2010 8:05
http://www.raisedbedsgardening.net/survival-gardening-tips-planting-an-edible-food-garden-at-home/

Sustainable Saturday – Gardening with Children: A Series …
Sustainable Saturday – Gardening with Children: A Series Documenting our Garden 2010 – The Finale. We’re nearing the end of our growing season . . . well we may still plant some fall lettuce and spinach, but the bulk of our harvest is …
Publish Date: 09/11/2010 7:30
http://symhomemom.blogspot.com/2010/09/sustainable-saturday-gardening-with.html

Related articles on Sustainable Gardening

• Homegrown LA on Starting An Edible Garden (thekitchn.com)
• “The Edible Garden” opens this weekend (timeoutny.com)
• From Community Harvest: Drop-in gardening, ‘Edible’ tour, seeds… (westseattleblog.com)
• Eco-inspired rain harvesting table greens your garden in style (greendiary.com)

Why Should You Eat Organically Grown Food?

Good morning, and welcome back!

We’ve talked a lot about organic and sustainable gardening. So perhaps we should review exactly why we are doing this in first place…. This is the topic of today’s post.

If you have gone to the doctor, chances are at some point he or she has told you to watch what you eat. If you have been eating the right amount of fish, meat, fruits and vegetables then you may think you have nothing to worry about. But because some of these contain harmful chemicals, many people have started switching to organically grown vegetables and other food products.

So exactly why is this a concern? Many commercially grown products, besides being Image via Wikipedia treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, have been genetically modified. Farmers have used various techniques, chemicals and fertilizers to make fruits and vegetables grow bigger, even if this may be dangerous to your health. (Or, as is the case with GM foods, we don’t exactly know the long-term effects they may have.)

No magic or anything fancy is used to make organically grown crops. You only need fertile soil, sunlight, water and some compost to make it work.

A recent study shows that following this simple plan helps vegetables have 50% more vitamins and minerals than those grown using conventional methods. If you eat them regularly, you are able to have a healthier life.

You will probably enjoy your food more too as organically grown vegetables often taste much better! This is because although fertilizers and pesticides have their advantages, they result in stripped and over-used soil. Plants subsist on the chemicals, instead of on the essential vitamins and nutrients that used to be there, so you are not getting the required daily allowance that your body needs. In short, you may think you are eating right, but in reality, your body is missing out.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in buying food from the supermarket is that the US imports a lot of vegetables from countries that use a lot of chemicals – sometimes even worse than what are used here at home. It can be difficult to regulate “organic” standards in another country, so eating local is the best way to go, if you can.

Another benefit of eating organic vegetables and food is that you help the environment, as organic farmers generally use more sustainable practices, and replenish the soil as they use it.

This even helps the community, as land which they have worked on can be planted by the next generation because the land that has been cultivated for so long is still fertile.

When you go to the supermarket, one thing you will notice is that the price of organically grown vegetables and other items are sometimes much more expensive than those conventionally grown.

Image via WikipediaShould you always buy something just because it is cheaper? In the case of food, the answer is no because you can’t put a price on the lives of those who eat it.

As more people buy organic food and support organic growers, these farmers will be able to provide more and more to local supermarkets, and thus the price of organic items will go down. (At least in theory!)

However, large-scale organic farms often don’t operate as sustainably as they should, so if at all possible, it is best to buy from local farmers, whose farms you are familiar with. Buying through a local farmer’s market or CSA is a great way to go.

Or, you can grow your own! (See previous posts, or click the link to visit our main website, for more info on how to do this.)

With a little help and encouragement, hopefully the majority of people will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of organically grown vegetables and fruits.

Keep your eye out for next week’s post, and ’til then – happy gardening!
Rose.

Organic and Natural Garden Guide for Managing Garden Pests: Part 3

Welcome back!

Today we will wrap up this short series on organic pest control by discussing a few pests that are specific to certain plant types, and what you can do about them. (We’ll also provide a few specific product recommendations.)

Beside those most common pests which attack many kinds of plants, there are special pests for specific plants. Beans have pests of their own; so have potatoes and cabbages. In fact, the vegetable garden has many inhabitants. In the flower garden lice are very bothersome, the cutworm and the slug have a good time there, too, and ants often get very numerous as the season advances. But for real discouraging insect troubles the vegetable garden takes the prize. (Although, if we were going into fruit to any extent, perhaps the vegetable garden would have to take second place to the fruit garden.)

Holes in leaves caused by cabbage worms.

Cabbage Worms
Neem oil is the cabbage worms’ worst enemy, so if you spray them with it, they will be out of your garden in a jiffy. You can usually determine whether cabbage worms are in the garden if you find small green caterpillars and holes on the leaves of your plants. You can also pick them by hand if you are more courageous or if you don’t have neem oil handy at the time of infestation. (Try Green Light Organic Neem Concentrate.)

A common pest in the vegetable garden is the tomato hornworm. This is a Image via Wikipedialarge yellowish or greenish striped worm with a spiked horn on its tail. Tomato hornworms strip the leaves from the plants, and also eat the young fruit. They are usually the same color as the plant, but are generally easy to spot as they are large, so if you see a lot of damage, look for these (they can completely destroy a tomato plant in just a few days, so if you do see a lot of damage, be sure you find the culprit quickly!). Since they are large and usually there are only a couple of them (at first), you can usually pick these by hand and dispose of them quickly.

A great, light green caterpillar is found on celery. This caterpillar may be told by the black bands, one on each ring or segment of its body.

The squash bug may be told by its brown body, which is somewhat flat and diamond-shaped, and by the disagreeable odor it makes when disturbed or killed. The potato bug is another fellow to look out for. It is a beetle with yellow and black stripes down its crusty back. The little green cabbage worm is a perfect nuisance. It is a small caterpillar and smaller than the tomato worm. These are perhaps the most common of garden pests.

Diatomaceous earth (a fine powder made of ground fossils) is an organic substance which may work well for controlling some of these.  This non-toxic powder may be sprinkled on and around plants, and is safe around pets. It works via mechanical means — it gets between the grooves of an insect’s body (or skin), and dessicates it rather quickly. However, it washes off easily, so will need to be re-applied after every rain, or until the problem is gone. (Be sure when using this that you wear gloves and avoid breathing it or getting it in your eyes; although it is non-toxic, it is highly abrasive, and may cause irritation or drying of the skin.) (Look for Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. You may also want to check out GOING GREEN USING DIATOMACEOUS EARTH HOW-TO TIPS: An Easy Guide Book Using A Safer Alternative, Natural Silica Mineral, Food Grade Insecticide for practical consumer tips, recipes, and methods.)

There are many other kinds of pests that you can control in your garden given the right handy tools and knowledge on how to best eliminate them from your organic garden. For some great tips and recommendations, check out www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html 

And be sure to check back next week for our next post  — we will cover some of the benefits of eating organically raised vegetables. Yummy!
Rose.