Creative Organic Gardening. Just what is Creative Organic Gardening?

Most people know that Organic Gardening is going back to basics in gardening. Many people use natural pesticide control and grow gardens with heirloom seeds.  They often make their own compost for growing plants and garden use, and make compost tea, which is made from fresh compost.
photo credit: Sbocaj

The purpose is to grow the healthiest most chemical free produce to feed their families that they can. They also have an interest in nature and preserving our planet and keeping the environment healthy.

So what is Creative Organic Gardening? Simply stated it is using organic gardening methods but in a way that saves you money. This would take in making your own pesticides, putting together cold frames and greenhouses with salvaged items and experimenting with gardening t

Another example of creative gardening is to start many of your own perennials and shrubs from other plants. I have an entire garden area that is for growing perennials to divide and replant for more plants. I either sell or swap my extra plants.

I start shrubs from clipping and later sell them for $4 a plant. This income buys me more trees and shrubs for my property.

By using a greenhouse that is solar heated I start most of my annual and perennial plants. I use healthy soil and know that my flower plants and vegetable plants have been grown without many of the stress factors purchased plants have. Plants left in the cold overnight or that receive improper lighting while growing often do not produce well during the season. Plants bought in stores often do not get the proper amount of water and have suffered from wilting too many times to recover properly.

Garden art is also an important part of creative gardening. The art can be for the garden or money saving ideas. Who doesn’t want a nice bench for the garden or a planting bench made from recycled wood? Mini Greenhouses, storage sheds and garden tools also can be made or salvaged.
photo credit: aJ Dy

And most important as with all gardening, Creative Organic Gardening should be fun! Gardening can be work but if you grow healthy plants in a healthy way your work should be cut back.  And you also have the added benefit of fresh air, sunshine and enjoying your backyard.

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If you start perennial plants from seeds they needed to be started earlier than garden annuals. Perennial seed take longer to germinate and grow when they are young.  I start my perennials in January first in the house, then move to a greenhouse with the plan to transplant them into a larger pot at least once before setting them out. My plants are grown using creative organic gardening methods and no chemicals.

My planting plans for perennials always depend on our winter weather but through the years I have learned that January seems to work well. I also include starting perennial herbs.

Many perennial seeds need a cold treatment (putting the seeds in cold temperature to shock them into sprouting when they warm up.) I place my perennials seeds in the refrigerator for several weeks. When I take them out I place them in wet paper towels to help soften the outside of the seed covering for a day, then plant according to the directions on the back of the package.

I start the plants in the downstairs apartment kitchen area. It has the perfect lighting for seed starting. As soon as they are two inches tall they are moved out to the solar greenhouse. In a few weeks they will be transferred into bigger pots and depending on the weather may be moved to cold frames. Pennsylvania winters are very unpredictable so the plants may have to stay in the greenhouse.

I start about 30 varieties of perennials each spring and fall. They are added to my perennial gardens. I try to choose plants I am either low on or new plants. This will be my first year for being open to the public as a perennial gardening business. Before this I grew plants for friends, family and as gifts.

I find starting my own perennials gives me a wider selection of plants I can grow. The plants are also healthier due to not being transferred in cold temperatures and left in unsuitable conditions. They are also grown in fresh organic compost that I make myself just for the plants and fed my own fertilizer tea blend.

Tips:

I use clear milk jugs to add extra warmth to the greenhouse, cold frames and in the gardens in the spring.

Perennials also make great indoor plants. They may need a timewhere they can rest or that you cut them down to let them rest and regrow, but they really add to your house and creating an indoor garden oasis.

It seems rather early to be thinking of planting and composting in January but spring creeps up quickly even in a zone 5 growing area. Those who live in warmer areas are already selecting seeds and plants.

I will also be starting plants both in my cellar and solar heated greenhouse in a week or so. These are early crops or perennial seeds that take additional time to sprout and grow. I enjoy playing in the dirt in the winter plus I save money starting my own plants. The plants are also healthier.

Another way to save money and have fresh compost is to compost indoors. Yes, this sounds rather strange but a gardener always need fresh healthy soil. And compost is wonderful for starting plants and keeping your indoor plants happy and healthy.

On of the easiest ways to compost indoors is with a trashcan. I keep the can in a warmer garage, utility room or spare bedroom. A greenhouse or sunroom will work equally as well. I myself select two 30-gallon trashcans. One trashcan will be started earlier and I will have compost material to use and the other will be a working compost can.

To start and use an indoor trashcan composting system put a pebbles or rock in the bottom for drainage – about 6 inches. Collect any composting material you can find. These would include leaves, sawdust, old plant dirt or shredded newspaper. You can also use manure, pine needles in moderation and straw or grass clipping if you can find them in your area. Table scraps help speed up composting but make sure the scraps are vegetables only. Do not compost meat or grease. Meat and grease can smell and attract mice and other rodents.

You can layer any compost material you have in 6 or 7-inch layers. This helps the compost to break down faster. I have learned that by using a blender and blending your table scraps the compost will turn into soil quickly.

For a compost pile to break down it needs to be warm and to have a small amount of moisture. This is why you use a garage or spare room. I also add a small amount of water but using an indoor composting method you need to use it sparingly or you end up with a soupy mess. I use a mister and lightly wet the top of the soil.

Turn the soil mix once in a while and you should have workable compost in a few weeks. Just in time for starting seeds and your spring garden.

P.S. Properly composted compost does not have an odor, so except for the fact it takes up room it’s not a nuisance.

Tags: Creative organic gardening, compost soil indoors, money saving garden tips, indoor plants