It is unfortunate that some people think all insects are harmful to the garden. Many are, but just as many are beneficial to the garden. They eat other harmful insects or their eggs and save the garden from being eaten alive.
It is important to know which insects you want to attract and keep in the garden and those that can do harm. Using beneficial insects to control problems in the garden is an organic method and it extends to the flower garden, vegetable garden, fruit trees and lawns.
Earthworms are essential to a healthy garden. They are but one type of organism in the soil that turn waste into black gold or rich soil. They also tunnel through the soil and bring oxygen to the roots of any plants in the garden.
They loosen the soil so that roots have an easier time growing through it. They eat organic matter and their output is called castings, which are very rich and full of nutrients considered a natural fertilizer.
Attracting worms to the garden only makes your garden grow bigger and better. There are several ways to make worms at home in your garden. Continue reading
Balcony gardens are a good option for those that live in apartments, and love to garden. Most plants including vegetables, flowers, herbs and some fruits grow beautifully out on a balcony during the summer months.
One of the most important requirements in starting a balcony garden is to assess how much sun the plants get. A good 6 to 8 hours is necessary so that flowers bloom, vegetables produce and herbs stay healthy. Some balconies are just not situated in the right direction to get that much sun, or they may be shaded by trees and other buildings. Continue reading
Can you make money microfarming? Well, decades ago, the only way to make money from agricultural pursuits was to invest the time and money necessary to build up a major farm operation.
But these traditional, sprawling farms are beginning to become less and less common. In their place is rising a new trend, and it’s providing average hobbyists with opportunities to pursue their passion while potentially making some money along the way.
Urban farming has become very popular in the last few years. Growing food in heavily populated municipalities is becoming mainstream. Large cities often boast several urban gardens and farms and some may also have community gardens.
What differentiates an urban farm from a community garden or urban garden?
The urban farm actually sells their produce either to local restaurants or at farmer’s markets while community gardens and those in the backyard of a city lot are for consumption of the people that keep the garden maintained. Urban farms can also grow food that will be given away to a soup kitchen or at a food pantry. The food is grown and exchanged in some form of commerce to another person or entity.
Normally, when we think of greenhouses, we think of really large gardening areas covered in glass. But did you know that you can still build a small yet convenient and working DIY greenhouse for your home organic garden?
Depending on your land area size and choice of materials, you can easily build an economical greenhouse for your organic garden. However, of course, you need to have an initial investment for building, which includes the materials needed to construct it. Continue reading
This method is very good for those that can’t bend down to the ground any more as it is in a raised bed and just big enough to be able to reach across. Not too many weeds grow in the garden because you are using a soil mix of your own. It is a form of organic gardening because you do not have to use chemicals or pesticides and you make your own soil mix. Continue reading
When considering pest control on the garden, some people immediately run to the garden center and pick up chemicals to get rid of them. Not so in organic gardening. There are other ways of containing, maintaining and preventing pests that do not involve unwanted chemicals and you can do it right in your own yard.
Organic is all about creating an ecosystem and insects are a part of that ecosystem. The garden needs bees and even some harmful insects to stay healthy. These insects feed the birds that control insect overpopulation. Nature is a delicate cycle and if you break that cycle, your garden might not grow well. Continue reading
Back in the day, most people thought that greenhouses were a luxury. But today, technology makes certain compact greenhouses available for an affordable price.
Measuring 8 by 12 by 8 feet, the Essence Silver Greenhouse is a great starter for your home organic garden.
It has a galvanized steel base which makes it both durable and anti-rust. There are also rain gutters if you want to use rainwater for irrigation. Continue reading