Comments on: Why Mulching Needs to be Part of your Organic Gardening System http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips The Smarter Organic Gardening Blog Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:42:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: knowwhereimgoin http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3346 knowwhereimgoin Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:49:47 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3346 Over the counter you can use Neem, or Safer-soap From home, use mild dish detergent, like Ivory with a drop of vegetable oil and water to spray on your flowers and veggies. Over the counter you can use Neem, or Safer-soap
From home, use mild dish detergent, like Ivory with a drop of vegetable oil and water to spray on your flowers and veggies.

]]> By: deerocs http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3322 deerocs Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:07:38 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3322 First of all, way to go in trying organic!!. Ok now I would try to get rid of the granite rocks because they dont really serve a purpose. As for removing the the top twelve inches then bringing in newer topsoil, I wouldn't do it. You'll waste money. The soil that the city put in probably is light brown because yes it is sorta dead. But you got it right with the humus. Also well rotted and composted manure will help also. A cubic yards worth of organic material would do wonders to about 50 square feet of area. Look for these materials at the garden center or if you can look for yards that sell bulk material. First of all, way to go in trying organic!!. Ok now I would try to get rid of the granite rocks because they dont really serve a purpose. As for removing the the top twelve inches then bringing in newer topsoil, I wouldn't do it. You'll waste money. The soil that the city put in probably is light brown because yes it is sorta dead. But you got it right with the humus. Also well rotted and composted manure will help also. A cubic yards worth of organic material would do wonders to about 50 square feet of area. Look for these materials at the garden center or if you can look for yards that sell bulk material.

]]> By: GG http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3303 GG Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:35:47 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3303 Absolutely no chemicals! When you use chemicals to garden, you end up eating those chemicals as well. You will find that the taste of organic verses chemical gardening is outstanding. No comparison. There is also heirloom organic...I will use tomatoes as an example. Tomato plants have been genetically altered to produce more and for better looks. (Beefsteaks, Early girl, etc...) But the Brandy wine, my favorite, has not been altered. It is the same tomato plant that our forefathers have grown. And the taste.....All I can say is that you have never had a tomato until you taste an organic brandy wine. Absolutely no chemicals! When you use chemicals to garden, you end up eating those chemicals as well. You will find that the taste of organic verses chemical gardening is outstanding. No comparison.

There is also heirloom organic…I will use tomatoes as an example. Tomato plants have been genetically altered to produce more and for better looks. (Beefsteaks, Early girl, etc…) But the Brandy wine, my favorite, has not been altered. It is the same tomato plant that our forefathers have grown. And the taste…..All I can say is that you have never had a tomato until you taste an organic brandy wine.

]]> By: millylouise http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3328 millylouise Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:25:29 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3328 To get a good organic garden going takes years of soil building. start small as a big garden will get overwhelming come the hot part of summer. I would say a garden no bigger than 10 feet by 20 feet the first growing season. Now is the time to start garden prep by choosing where you want the garden and opening up the sod. smothering the area where you will have the garden is a good first step or you can plow the sod open and till it in next spring. plowing is a lot more effective than tilling for killing grass. You will also need some tools. Get a couple of hoes, my favourite is the shuffle or stirrup hoe. You can find these at any box store. they are lighter and easier to use than the standard concrete hoe most people think of when they think about hoes. You will also need a wheel barrow or garden cart, a potato fork (looks somewhat like a pitch fork but fatter), a shovel, a spade, a couple of trowels. You will need seeds. My favourite place to get seeds is Johnny's Selected Seeds in Maine. http://johnnysseeds.com Start with easy things to grow and pay attention to the fact not everything grows in every season. Lettuce for example is best planted in the spring, it likes cool damp conditions. Tomatoes and peppers like it hot. A good seed catalogue will tell you such information. You will likely want to use seedlings for a lot of things such as tomatoes. Do not buy these at places like Wal-Mart. Go to a local nursery and tell them you are just starting out and you will get a lot of advice. One caveat, most nurseries (and box stores) are NOT organic and do not know much about organic growing so ignore all advice to use chemicals. But you will find healthier seedlings at most local places than box stores. Good luck To get a good organic garden going takes years of soil building. start small as a big garden will get overwhelming come the hot part of summer. I would say a garden no bigger than 10 feet by 20 feet the first growing season.

Now is the time to start garden prep by choosing where you want the garden and opening up the sod. smothering the area where you will have the garden is a good first step or you can plow the sod open and till it in next spring. plowing is a lot more effective than tilling for killing grass.

You will also need some tools. Get a couple of hoes, my favourite is the shuffle or stirrup hoe. You can find these at any box store. they are lighter and easier to use than the standard concrete hoe most people think of when they think about hoes. You will also need a wheel barrow or garden cart, a potato fork (looks somewhat like a pitch fork but fatter), a shovel, a spade, a couple of trowels.

You will need seeds. My favourite place to get seeds is Johnny's Selected Seeds in Maine. http://johnnysseeds.com
Start with easy things to grow and pay attention to the fact not everything grows in every season. Lettuce for example is best planted in the spring, it likes cool damp conditions. Tomatoes and peppers like it hot. A good seed catalogue will tell you such information. You will likely want to use seedlings for a lot of things such as tomatoes. Do not buy these at places like Wal-Mart. Go to a local nursery and tell them you are just starting out and you will get a lot of advice. One caveat, most nurseries (and box stores) are NOT organic and do not know much about organic growing so ignore all advice to use chemicals. But you will find healthier seedlings at most local places than box stores.

Good luck

]]> By: andrea http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3306 andrea Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:12:45 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3306 dig over the ground to the depth of a spade, as soon as possible. spread fertiliser, ( animal , veg compost) when you have sown, or planted what you need. only use organic sprays if necessary, like vegetable oil mixed with garlic, to get rid of pests. Straw for mulch is good, seaweed liquid fertiliser also very good.Keep the weeds at bay. If you put out water for the birds and a little food, it will encourage them in your garden, and they will eat the snails and slugs etc. Good Luck! dig over the ground to the depth of a spade, as soon as possible. spread fertiliser, ( animal , veg compost) when you have sown, or planted what you need. only use organic sprays if necessary, like vegetable oil mixed with garlic, to get rid of pests. Straw for mulch is good, seaweed liquid fertiliser also very good.Keep the weeds at bay. If you put out water for the birds and a little food, it will encourage them in your garden, and they will eat the snails and slugs etc. Good Luck!

]]> By: Hope's_My_Girl http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3311 Hope's_My_Girl Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:52:49 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3311 Pepper plants are good for unwanted insects. You can also use dish soap. Nothing fancy just regular "Joy" soap cheap soap only. But, there is a good chance you will kill the good insects too. 1st: Get a bucket, fill it with water 2and: Pour the soap in (not to much because you don't want to get rid of all the good insects) 3rd: stir it up so it can blend. (not to much suds) 4th: Let the bucket of soap sit out in the sun for at least a couple of hours. 5th: Use a sprayer and distribute it all over your plants. See the soap gets in the insects esophagus and the insect dies because it can't breath. You can use this anywhere in your yard. works GREAT for cinch bugs. Pepper plants are good for unwanted insects.

You can also use dish soap. Nothing fancy just regular "Joy" soap cheap soap only. But, there is a good chance you will kill the good insects too.

1st: Get a bucket, fill it with water

2and: Pour the soap in (not to much because you don't want to get rid of all the good insects)

3rd: stir it up so it can blend. (not to much suds)

4th: Let the bucket of soap sit out in the sun for at least a couple of hours.

5th: Use a sprayer and distribute it all over your plants.

See the soap gets in the insects esophagus and the insect dies because it can't breath.
You can use this anywhere in your yard.
works GREAT for cinch bugs.

]]> By: lilnoelbell http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3332 lilnoelbell Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:05:43 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3332 The best way to fertilize your organic garden in the long run is to vermicompost. Vermicomposting is easier and has more nutrients than traditional compost. Just how the directions of the following website. http://www.vcompost.com The best way to fertilize your organic garden in the long run is to vermicompost. Vermicomposting is easier and has more nutrients than traditional compost. Just how the directions of the following website.

http://www.vcompost.com

]]> By: Asfvfan http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3344 Asfvfan Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:41:22 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3344 Contact your county extension agency and ask if there are any gardening classes. Some websites http://www.rodaleinstitute.org http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/organic http://forums.farm-garden.com/index.php http://alanbishop.proboards60.com/index.cgi http://www.johnnysseeds.com Contact your county extension agency and ask if there are any gardening classes.

Some websites
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org
http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/organic
http://forums.farm-garden.com/index.php
http://alanbishop.proboards60.com/index.cgi
http://www.johnnysseeds.com

]]> By: rachel_grace@sbcglobal.net http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3302 rachel_grace@sbcglobal.net Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:49:50 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3302 This is a good first step: http://successfulgardening.50webs.com/ This site has hundreds of organic gardening tips http://www.organicgardentips.com/ I like this site because, as an organic gardener, knowing the nutritional content of compost materials is valuable information. This site offers an easy to interpret table of nutritional values. This is a good first step:

http://successfulgardening.50webs.com/

This site has hundreds of organic gardening tips

http://www.organicgardentips.com/

I like this site because, as an organic gardener, knowing the nutritional content of compost materials is valuable information. This site offers an easy to interpret table of nutritional values.

]]> By: mom of 3 under 4 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-3309 mom of 3 under 4 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:10:38 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/why-mulching-needs-to-be-part-of-your-organic-gardening-system.gardening_tips#comment-3309 Study up on what plants ward off pests. Like onions and marigolds. Then be prepared to plant those along with your tomatoes and cucumbers and pumpkins, and maybe your watermelon too. Go to the library and look up some information. Your local gardening club organization could probably help too. Study up on what plants ward off pests. Like onions and marigolds. Then be prepared to plant those along with your tomatoes and cucumbers and pumpkins, and maybe your watermelon too. Go to the library and look up some information. Your local gardening club organization could probably help too.

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