photo credit: Mick E.Talbot

Herbs such as basil, catnip, lemon balm, rosemary and rose geraniums are a few of the plants that have insect-repelling qualities. By growing an herb container garden or mini herb garden you can have these herbs close at hand for making a natural insect repellant ointment.

Catnip and Lemon balm are especially good for warding off mosquitoes. Researchers at Iowa State University found the essential oil in catnip to be about 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, the widely used synthetic repellent.

photo credit: kthread

To create an ointment, crush the leaves of any of these plants to release their scents and rub them on your exposed skin. I usually store the ointment in a brown or blue glass container and store in the refrigerator. Unfortunately my cat really likes catnip so he tends to get a bit wound up when I am making the catnip ointment.

Tip: You can grow you own herbs and make an essential oil or stop at a health food store and pick up top quality essential oils.

The recipe below will make an insect repellant for various pesky insects

Herbal insect repellent

• 2 teaspoons total of any of the following essential oils: basil, catnip, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, pine, rosemary or rose geranium. (You can use one herb or a combination or two or three.)
• 1-cup 190-proof grain alcohol (available at liquor stores)

Place the ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Place in a small glass jar for storage. I prefer dark jars to keep light out. Light will weaken the mixture in time.

To use, rub a small amount on exposed skin. When ever you make any ointment or cosmetic place a small amount on the skin and wait to see if you have any reaction such as a rash or red skin.

Rose geranium is also excellent for keeping ticks off of you dog and cats.

Herbs have many  medicinal , natural cosmetic  and crafting uses. They also can help control insects just by being planted among you vegetables and flowers.

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It can seem daunting to begin with an organic vegetable or herbal garden for the first time, but there are few better ways to be good to the planet while also being good to yourself and enjoying yourself.
photo credit: themissiah

As you may know organic herbs and vegetables are a better alternative than industrially grown ones, but they can be quite expensive.

By setting up your own organic garden you will be able to have a fresh supply for a fraction of the price!

Te first thing that you should do, as it will take a little while for this to be ready, is to separate your kitchen waste from the rest and build a compost heap. This can also be done indoors. Compost will prove a great boon as it is the best natural fertilizer for an organic garden and its vegetables and herbs.

Besides eliminating the need for fertilizer, compost retains moisture and therefore allows you to use less water on your organic garden. You can put all kind of kitchen refuse and garden cuttings on your compost heap, just make sure to avoid big quantities of meat or fish, and don’t add human or pet dung! These are too acidic and also the wrong kind of bacteria.

You’ll also need to source organic seeds or sprouts for your organic vegetable and herbal gardening project. In most cases, commercial seeds are not organic so you will have to make doubly sure to get the right starters.

There probably are specialized shops that sell organic seeds for gardening in your area, but you can also buy them through an online shop and have them mailed to you. Online is probably better for most users, as you get the convenience of choosing from home from a bigger catalogue, and as for all mailed products you can return organic gardening supplies if they are not up to your expectation.

To begin seeding, don’t start your organic garden outdoors right away! Use a glasshouse or put your seeds inside the house, where it’s warm. Let them sprout on a piece of damp cotton or paper and then transfer them to small pots and let them grow a bit.
photo credit: Aka Hige

Once there are two little leaflets on your seedlings, put them into bigger containers. The best are pots made of plant material, as you can plant these straight into soil and let them biodegrade. If you are planting organic herbs, you can put them outside or in window pots next to your kitchen.

Vigorous, organic soil is fundamental for organic vegetable and herbal gardening. Like compost, good organic soil will not only grow healthier plants that taste better, but will also act as a natural pest controller. If you’ve had a non-organic garden before, it may take some time to clean the chemical laden soil, or you can dig it all out and start anew with organic soil.

Once you have some good compost, spread it over your soil. The layer should be about two inches thick. If done correctly, the compost alone will contribute all the necessary nutrients and minerals that your organic vegetable and herbal garden needs to grow and flourish.

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Broom corn is not truly a corn plant. It is a grass-like sorghum plant that grows in a large fan-shaped bloom and it is striking in a garden. You can purchase seeds for a natural broom look or corn seed that will give you blooms in soft natural colors. The colored blooms are wonderful in arrangements while the natural color makes great natural-bristled brooms. The uses for this dried crafting material are endless.

You may be able to find the seeds in a larger garden center but I have found I need to order seeds in my area. Most seed catalogs will have them or check online for seeds.

Planting Broom Corn

Choose an area to plant your broom corn that receives full sun. You can also mix the corn in with other ornamental plants to be used as a background later.

First prepare the soil and make sure to add plenty of nutrients; any corn plant is a heavy feeder and produce better in fertile soil. Next make a 1-inch furrow in the soil the length of the row. Corn seed does better in rows of at least four deep; it helps pollination. If space is limited plant short rows, but keep the depth in planting to insure a good crop.

Plant each broom corn kernel 1-inch deep making sure you have waited until two weeks after the last frost in your area. Cover the seed with soil. You will want to Water the broom corn very well once a week. Proper watering will mean that the soil is soaked down into the ground to about 5 or 6 inches.

Water plants in the early morning or late afternoon so that the water does not evaporate in the sun. It is always best to water deeply and not as often. Deep watering gets to the roots and is absorbed into the plant at a high rate.

As the season progresses watch you plants for disease and insects. Remove any diseased plants immediately. The insect you will be watching for are
Corn earworm caterpillars. You can prevent their bothering your plants by placing a small amount of mineral oil at the very tips of the plant. This discourages the moths from laying their eggs. The mineral oil is harmless and if you have a small patch this does not take long. And its much better than using a chemical spray.

Your crop is ready in the fall when the stalks turn tannish brown. The seed packet will give you an idea of how many days it takes to mature.

I cut the stalks on a sunny day and lay on the ground to dry. Pick up the corn before dark. I also tie it up and hang it upside down so that the corn heads dry straight. It will take a few weeks to totally dry. You can remove the seed from the head or leave on, depending on the use you have in mind for the corn. 
photo credit: saebaryo

Broom corn has many uses and you will find it’s a fun crop to grow. Add other decorative corn, pumpkins and a few dried flowers and you will have a festive fall arrangement.

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Michele Obama, along with help from twenty-three fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington, started to dig up the new 1,100-square-foot Victory garden plot in the White House Lawn on Friday March 20. The gardens location is near the Obama girls’ swing set and will be visible to people passing by the White House if using E Street.  
photo credit: Super Is Sunny

There has not been a vegetable garden on the White House lawn since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. With the tough economic times facing Americans and other countries this is the perfect time to realize the importance of growing your own fresh organic vegetables and fruit in you own backyard. And for a small amount of money spent you save hundreds or thousands of dollars on your food bill.

The organic garden will help provide food for the first family’s meals and formal dinners, but its most important role, according to Mrs. Obama, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern.

“My hope,” the first lady said in an interview in her East Wing office and as reported originally in the New York Times, “is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities.”

There have been many successful school community gardens in the last few years and the students from Bancroft Elementary have had such a garden since 2001. These student will be helping through the growing season to plant, harvest, and cook the produce grown. Vegetables, fruits and herbs are planned for the garden. Vegetables top the list with 55 different varieties being planted. Heirloom seeds are are being used in the garden.

The Obama family will also help, including the President. As gardening is relaxing and great exercise, the garden will benefit them  with better fitness and fresh organic quality produce. Promoting healthy eating has become an important part of Mrs. Obama’s own agenda.

As reported in an internet article, The first lady, who said that she had never had a vegetable garden, recalled that the idea for this one came from her experiences as a working mother trying to feed her daughters, Malia and Sasha, a good diet. Eating out three times a week, ordering a pizza, having a sandwich for dinner all took their toll in added weight on the girls, whose pediatrician told Mrs. Obama that she needed to be thinking about nutrition.

The Obamas having a garden that is set up along the Victory garden or Recession garden idea of organic food production and saving energy with small farm principles should send a message about healthy eating. I think it also sends a message to save money and help you, your family and the community.

The Obamas White House garden will be a focal point of interest this summer. And as interest in garden has picked up all across the United States you may want to consider you own recession garden or join in a community garden near where you live. Check out the $20 Recession Garden challenge for additional information

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As many of us are about to start gardening, its time to think of those garden pests that try to take over you garden if you let them. It’s been many years since I used chemical sprays in my yard but sometimes you need a way to control insects. I use natural insect control methods only. Here are a few techniques that work for me.
photo credit: Arthur Chapman

First if you keep weeds down in the garden (mulching is great) the insects will not have a place to hide.

Remove all unhealthy plants. In their weakened state they will attract insects. Proper watering and nutrition will help keep you plants healthy.

And as strange as it sounds, the best control I have found for cabbageworms are pantyhose. I take the bottom toe section of pantyhose and cover the entire cabbage plant. The white moths that lay the cabbageworm eggs cannot get to vegetable so do not lay eggs. This works for broccoli and cauliflower as well. One added benefit for cauliflower is that you can wrap the leaves around the cauliflower head when dressing the plant and it will self blanch.

Here are a few proven natural insect control sprays that work.

Tomato leaf spray: Soak one to two cups of chopped tomato leaves in two cups of water overnight. Next strain through cheesecloth and add two more cups of water to the strained liquid. Shake well and use it to spray plants to protect them from insects that feed on the liquid in plants. This will cause disease and plant death.

Potato starch spray: Mix two to four tablespoons of potato flour in one quart of water. Add two to three drops of non-detergent liquid soap. This will also protect the plants from insect that feed on liquid, also called sucking insects, in the plants.

Rodale’s all-purpose spray: Chop and grind one garlic bulb and one small onion. Add one teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper and mix with one quart of water. Let steep for one hour and strain through cheesecloth. Next add one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap to the strained liquid. Mix well and spray plants thoroughly. This kills the sucking insects.

Garlic spray: Blend 1/4-pound of strong garlic for five to 10 minutes with a quart of water and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and collect the liquid. Next dilute the solution with one part per 10 parts water before spraying. This solution will last about one month if refrigerated. It will repel ants, mole crickets and sucking insects.

Hot dust: Grind dried homegrown red or chili peppers or dill weed (including seeds) to dust. Sprinkle along seeded rows of vegetables to repel ants. Store-bought black pepper, chili pepper, dill, ginger, paprika and red pepper all contain capsaicin, which repels ants. Note: when using red peppers or chili peppers take care not to get the dust in your eyes or on your hands.
photo credit: a. venefica

A garden that is well taken care of usually does not get many insects, but sometimes you may need a little natural help. But avoid the chemical sprays in the store is at all possible. They are hard on the environment, kill good insects and harm birds. They also leave chemical on your fresh healthy vegetables.

By using organic gardening ideas and green gardening techniques you will have better produce and a cleaner environment

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I saw this blog article and it is a wonderful challenge. I plan to watch its progress and hope that other will follow too and start a victory garden. Gardens can be costly to start but with care you can create one for very little cash output and raise wholesome food that is better for your family. You will also cut down on you grocery bills.

Check the article out! Twenty Dollar Organic Victory Garden Challenge

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My first gardens were very successful although it took a bit of practice to plan the succession planting or using garden space several times during a growing season.  I also liked growing in raised bed gardens. The gardens were easier to mow around. I had fewer problems with rabbits and could cover any garden area easily with a shade cloth, net or plastic it the temperatures dropped. Water and weeding the garden was also easier.

Below is a you tube on Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. If you haven’t tried this form of gardening I recommend it.

I use Mel’s methods and a form of straw bale gardening. It’s just a process that works for me and cuts down on time spent working in the garden. It also saves on gardening space, a big plus for those with limited gardening room. And its perfect for apartments and urban gardening. I like to garden but I also enjoy sitting and enjoying the gardens beauty!

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photo credit: Antoaneta

There are two very important reasons to grow heirloom seeds. One is you can save the seeds from year to year and save money on your gardening costs the following season. I like saving money in the garden. I apply my savings to other seeds or plants for the yard.

The second reason and most important in my opinion is that heirloom seeds produce vegetables with a richer taste. A friend of mine recently said, “vegetables like Grandpa used to grow.” I feel heirlooms grow better, are stronger plants and seem to ward of insect problems.

One of the other seeds that you often find in garden centers is hybrid seed. These are seeds that have been chemically and structurally altered to produce a more consistent size or color vegetable or flower. For example many of the newer tomato seeds are hybrids and have been altered to produce a firmer tomato so they will ship better. Yes they ship better but they lack the taste and have a tough outer skin.

Another problem with hybrid seeds is that they do not germinate well or produce crops true to the original seed when you save seed from the crop. So if you save seeds for the following year from a hybrid crop you will have no produce or very poor vegetables.
photo credit: jillclardy

By not being able to save seeds from vegetables, varieties may die out. Great tasting or producing varieties are becoming lost, and seeds will only go up in cost. So save your seeds from your favorite heirloom variety. It’s easy and can be a fun project, particularly for children.

You can also ask your friends and neighbors to share and trade seeds, You will be saving money and helping to preserve great seeds, crops and history. Its also a form or organic gardening, which benefits us all.

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Green Gardening is the new “garden term.” But what does it really mean and why is green gardening important? And how does it differ from organic gardening?
photo credit: The Shane H

Gardening has a valuable purpose of supplying food and growing plants of all varieties help the environment. But gardening, even done properly, manipulates nature and changes the environment. If gardening is poorly planned it can cause erosion. Heavy chemical use in the garden can harm plants, animals, and the soil and water. It also will lead to weaker plants.

The easiest way to explain green gardening is when the gardener works more with nature. Is has the same principles as organic gardening but with green gardening you try to match plants more with location and often use no dig methods to protect the soils structure. The less you disturb your soil and backyard garden area the greener your garden will be. Here are a few steps that will help you keep your garden environmentally friendly.

The best principal of Green Gardening is “to Keep it Simple”

Selecting your garden site

Your garden needs to be located in an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight and that has adequate drainage. You also need to check the soil and add nutrients if needed. A poor soil creates sickly plants, which leads to more insects and plant disease.

It’s also important to select plants for your garden that will grow in the climate that you live in. If you want a tropical plant but it will not grow in your garden climate consider having it in a container and on the patio or indoors. You will also want to plant sun loving plants in the sun and shade loving plants near buildings or trees for best results and healthy plants. Plants that are grown in the wrong area and poor soil will require more time to keep them healthy.

Know your soil.

Have your soil tested so that you understand what it is made of and what it needs to grow healthy plants and drain well. You can purchase soil-testing kits at most garden centers. You can improve your soil by adding nutrients, compost and by using the no-dig or lasagna gardening methods.

Stronger synthetic fertilizers will improve the soil quicker but they hurt the soil and nature Organic soils building methods take longer but build a better soil that will only improve over the years.

Annual flowers or vegetables exhaust the soil nutrients faster than other plants so you will need supplemental feeding during the growing season. Again you can find natural organic fertilizers but natural methods are preferred for green gardening and over extended time.

Organic matter, compost, and mulch will all add nutrients to your soil and build your soil from year to year. And side dressing your gardens adds the extra boost during the growing season for your flowers and vegetables.

My soil is a heavy clay base. I always keep mulch on my ground and work it in at the end of every growing season. This practice alone has dramatically improved my soil and drainage.

I also have used no chemicals on my land in at least 12 years. I live too close to a creek to take the chance of any chemical working into the creek, plus I don’t like chemicals on food, plants or my land.

If you do have an insect problem there are many natural insect controls and natural home insect sprays you can try.

Green gardening is friendlier to your yard, garden, pets and family. It’s also a healthier way to live. If we all try at least one green gardening idea we can help our communities and our world.

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I have used companion planting for years and have seen remarkable changes in plants health and growing by planting certain plants together or apart!

You can plan ahead and lie out the garden using this companion list or if your garden is planted try a few extra plants near it companion plant to see if there is a difference.

The following are a list of the top 12 vegetables and their ideal planting companions.

Beans–they like celery and cucumbers but dislike onions and fennel. I also plant near the base of my tomato plants.

Beets–Bush beans, lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, and most members of the cabbage family are companion plants. Keep pole beans and mustard away from them.

Cabbage–Celery, dill, onions and potatoes are good companion plants. They do not like strawberries, tomatoes, and pole beans.

Carrots–Leaf lettuce, radish, onions and tomatoes are their friends. Carrots do not like dill so plant it at the opposite end of the garden.

Corn–Pumpkins, peas, beans, cucumbers and potatoes are nice companion plants. Keep the tomatoes away from them. The main reason for this is both corn and the tomato is susceptible to the corn worm.

Cucumbers–They like corn, peas, radishes, beans and sunflowers. Cucumbers dislike aromatic herbs and potatoes so keep separated.

Lettuce–It grows especially well with onions. Onions will also deter the rabbits from munching on the lettuce. Strawberries carrots, radishes and cucumbers also are friends of lettuce and good companion plants.

Onions–Plant them near lettuce, beets, strawberries and tomatoes but keep them away from peas and beans.

Peas–Carrots, cucumbers, corn, turnips and radishes plus beans, potatoes and aromatic herbs are their friends. Keep the peas away from onions, garlic, leek, and shallots.

Radishes–This is one vegetable that has a lot of friends; they are excellent companion plants with beets, carrots, spinach and parsnips. Radishes grow well with cucumbers and beans. It’s said that summer planting near leaf lettuce makes the radishes tender. Avoid planting radishes near cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kohlrabi or turnips. I also use radishes as a natural repellant for squash bugs. Let the radish mature and go to seed. It works wonders. 
photo credit: kthread

Squash–Icicle radishes, cucumbers and corn are among their friends. They seem to get along with most plants and have no real dislikes.

Tomatoes–Carrots, onions and parsley are good companion plants. Keep the cabbage and cauliflower away from them. Again the tomatoes, cabbage and cauliflower share the same problem with insects and do better planted away form each other.

All plants are not Friends Plant friendships can be one-sided. Carrots are said to help beans, but beans don’t reciprocate. Though beans will help nearby cucumbers.

Other plants have bad companions and you’ll be doing them a favor to keep them apart. Beans and onions are natural enemies so I keep them on opposite sides of the garden.

Organic sites and books will have more information on companion planting and trail and error works the best.

All I know is companion gardening has worked wonders for me. It makes better crops and controls insects. “Carrots Love Tomatoes” is an excellent book for learning more about companion planting.

One other thing I like about companion gardening. It breaks you out of clumping all vegetables; herbs and flowers in one spot and gives your garden a more natural look.

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